Lillian

What percentage of top MLB prospects become the stars, that they are projected to be? What are the odds concerning how many of Boston's top 5 prospects will become really good Major League players? Unless the odds are really good that at least 2 or 3 of them become stars, even getting all 5 of them is not a good gamble, when contemplating giving up Sale and his contract. You guys tell me what those odds are, and then we can all intelligently discuss the merit of any proposed deals for Sale.

Jake Peter, however what about Saladino?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:44 PM) No, if I set his value at 5 top prospects, and you don't want to meet it, goodbye. There is zero guarantee any of those prospects do anything at the major league level, we are handing you a consistent Cy Young contender. If you want that shot at the World Series and feel Sale is your final piece, then pay up. Rarely do these large prospect heavy deals work out for the team giving up the all star, I want as many lottery tickets as I can get I don't disagree with your opinion about prospects. My only point was that i think the #5 was his bargaining position. In other words, if Hahn really wanted 5, he probably would have asked for 6. It just doesn't seem logical that he would state his ultimate demand, and not leave some room to negotiate.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:32 PM) No, I'm not being sarcastic one bit. You have not one but two of the top left handed starters under team control with very good deals. You don't concede at all. You don't settle at all. There is literally no need for the sox to make any move that does not greatly benefit them So, if Boston agreed to Moncada, Benintendi, Devers and Kopeck, you wouldn't be satisfied with that haul for Sale? I think the quality here is more important than the quantity. I don't care if it's 4, instead of 5, as long as they are the right 4. Again, I would guess that Hahn's insistence on "5 prospects" was always just a starting position, from which he was willing to negotiate. Just as I suspect the Dombrowski's refusal to deal Moncada is posturing. No one is going to start right out with their ultimate position.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 06:20 PM) No. I don't settle or concede for either Quintana or Sale You're just being sarcastic, right? I mean, you wouldn't be happy with 4 top, Major League ready prospects? Of course, it depends upon exactly which prospects, but I wouldn't be stuck on the quantity, which Hahn has been openly demanding. I'd settle for 4, instead of 5, providing they are the right ones. Oh, and I inadvertently left out the Dodgers, which you can add to the Red Sox and Rangers. So, none of those teams have acquired a starter, which they all need.

Until the Red Sox and, or Rangers acquire a starter, which both teams are openly seeking, there is still a very good chance that Hahn trades Sale or Q. I can't believe that those teams are just going to stand pat, without adding an arm. He has insisted that he wants 5 prospects for Sale, which I would guess is posturing. So, if he settles for 4 really good ones, who are near Major League ready, that would be his "concession". I'd take that, wouldn't you?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 31, 2016 -> 08:43 AM) I'd deal Sale now and look into dealing Quintana in the offseason. The big difference between these two guys is stuff and the potential to dominate a playoff game or series. As good as Q is, if I needed a starter for a one game playoff (as the Red Sox would at the moment), it's going to be hands down Sale. The same goes for any playoff series, as Sale simply has the stuff to carry a team in October. The idea of having Sale for four post-season runs has to be incredibly attractive to the Red Sox as it fits perfect with their core of position players. Quintana, on the other hand, is the definition of durable/reliable top of the rotation starter. While he would no doubt help a team in the playoffs, his value is in his ability to greatly help a team get there. With an extra year of control and ever more team friendly contract, there should be plenty of interest in him from both large and small market teams. I would rather have as many suitors as possible, including the losers in the Sale sweepstakes, bidding on him. That requires dealing him in the offseason. Not against dealing him now if blown away, but I think you're better off putting teams against one another for Sale than having teams competing for two similar assets. The idea there can only be one winner should drive up the return. That's a very good point. The Sox should make it clear that they are not dealing both Sale and Quintana. Let the interested teams bid for one of them. Limiting the supply is a very effective way to increase the price.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 30, 2016 -> 09:33 PM) Sox win 6-5.....................now get on the dam phone Hahn. Hopefully, he has already wrapped up the deal, or deals, and can now announce it.

So now we have to hope that Robertson doesn't blow both the save, and his trade value.

Just speculating and venting!!!

I'm not watching the game, but rather following it in this thread. Has there been any farewell hugging going on in the dugout, please?

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 30, 2016 -> 09:09 PM) Then DL him because he can't hit with any power or field last 40 games. Yes, and after tonight's "pending loss", and the first of our anticipated trades, they should begin to address whatever injury he has, and start the mending process, so that he will be ready for next year. Does anyone have a suspicion regarding what his health issue might be?

I really don't want another extra inning game tonight. Come on Twinkies, score a run and send this one to Cooperstown. The trades are so much more intriguing than watching this team.

There must be something wrong with Jose. He is playing like a shell of the guy we saw the last two years.

Let's get this game over with and announce a couple of deals. There just has to be a few things in the works. I don't buy the Frazier's flu. I'll bet he caught the same thing that Sale had, earlier in the week. LOL. The Mets may be closing in on him. And remember that neither Boston, Texas or L. A. have acquired a top starter yet. I really think someone is going to get Sale.

Forget about Lucroy. It's hard to believe that Hahn would be adding.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jul 30, 2016 -> 04:29 PM) Was going to say. I was a little worried we might do good against Cubs and then sweep twins causing possibly no trades but the way they've lost the last 3 and possibly today, I don't think I have to worry. That is precisely the "silver lining" here. Not only are we headed for another top draft pick, but this should also help the front office to decide to trade some of their coveted players. This is way more preferable than deciding to go for it again. Be grateful.

Until the contending teams, which are looking for starting pitching, have acquired the arms they seek, I remain optimistic that Hahn will be able to make a good deal for Sale, or Quintana. Boston, Texas and L. A. have not yet acquired anyone, and they are running out of time. They are the ones who are up against the deadline, if they want to win it, this year. The Pale Hose can wait, if they have to. There is always the off season. I just hope that Hahn doesn't screw it up.

The idea of trading both Sale and Quintana seems very unrealistic. That not only suggests a total rebuild, which is not the White Sox way, but the task of building a formidable staff, with both of them gone, would be Herculean. A staff led by Quintana, as the Ace, Rodon as a #2 and Fulmer, with another youngster and a veteran, would be feasible. Of course, there is no guarantee, but it's doable. Without Sale and Q, they would need to rebuild the whole staff. Even a rebuild requires a core, and without either Sale and Quintana, what would be the core of the pitching staff? Doesn't it make more sense to trade one of the two, aa well as other veterans, such as Frazier, Melky and Robertson, in order to acquire the other pieces for a rebuild?

I really hope that they trade Sale and keep Quintana. If they do, they better get back the position players who could fix this pathetic offense. I'd love to see several trades, like some of those, about which guys have been speculating. With a productive offense and a bunch of new players, who don't have a mental block, which prevents them from scoring runs when Q pitches, he could not only become the Ace of the staff, but one of the most coveted, elite pitchers in the game. It just can't be a coincidence that this team almost never scores runs for Jose. It's apparent that it has gotten into their heads. I'd just rather keep him, and trade them. For me, Sale is a much better choice to be traded, for the following reasons: 1) He has one year less of control than Q. 2) He will likely bring back more talent, because Quintana is underrated. 3) He probably represents a greater injury risk 4) He is not my kind of team leader. He seems selfish and childish, which doesn't set a good example for young players, more of whom would make up the roster, after trading for top prospects.

How would Betts rate as a centerfielder, if he were moved there?

I don't understand all of the hype with Profar. What has he done, in either the Majors or Minors to merit the label "elite"? I don't see anything about his offensive game that is worthy of that assessment. Help me out here.

Can any of you explain what has enabled Shields to so dramatically turn things around? He has been terrific, after that brief awful stretch.

He has had 11 quality starts, out of 14 chances. That is extraordinary for a number 4 or 5 starter. He has one more year of control, before he becomes a free agent after next season. His current $5 million contract is a bargain. What do you think he will get in arbitration?

In response to the argument that the Sox would need to fill 3 holes in their lineup, I disagree. I continue to assert that they don't need to fill every hole with a plus offensive player. There is nothing wrong with going with a solid defensive centerfielder, as they did with the acquisition of Jackson. He, or someone like him, would be fine. The problem continues to be that they need to bolster and balance the heart of the order. To me, the biggest short coming with the offense this year has been the #3 - 5 hitters. Jose has not been the offensive force, which he had been in his first 2 seasons, and Frazier has been a two outcome hitter, home run or strike out. A .200 AVG and an OBP of .300 doesn't qualify for a spot in the middle of the order. Melky has arguably been the best of the three. Eaton and Anderson are fine at the top of the order. If this roster had included one really dangerous, productive left handed bat, and Jose had been himself, I think that the offense would have been OK. Unfortunately, La Roche was never the answer, and his retirement didn't afford any opportunity to acquire anyone, any better. Guys like Frazier and Lawrie are fine, as long as they are batting in the lower third of the order. Even the lack of offense from he catchers would be tolerable, if the Sox had a potent middle of the order. Now, how you find that big bat, preferably left handed, (as Hahn has stated many times) and how you get Jose back on track, I have no idea.