JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Let’s do this!

Cease has nothing else to prove in AAA. Hopefully they are eying a debut against the Yankees at home the weekend of 6/14. Four game series that I’d love to see Gio and Cease get two of those starts.

Dare I say THE best pitcher in the AL right now?

I like Betances too but there’s a good chance his best days are behind him, will he be healthy the rest of this season and beyond and, if so, there’s a good chance the Yankees extend him.

You said it’s easy to find a good closer in free agency. So this should be easy. Who’s your guy and how many years/$ would you give him?

Betances hasn’t pitched all season due to injury. He was throwing upper 80s in spring training. Giles is arb eligible next season. He won’t be available. Rondon was demoted by the Cubs from the closers role 3 years ago when he was running an ERA in the mid 3s to low 4s and hasn’t served as a primary closer since. So that’s your guy then? How many years and how much money would you pay Rondon entering his age 32 season next year?

Which closer, specifically, would you want them to sign this winter?

Is it that simple? I thought Hahn is a horrible evaluator of talent in free agency so how are you now so sure he can replace a top closer like Colome next winter via free agency?

Every good team not including Houston and Yankees, so you mean basically just the Rays and Twins then? Boston is in the same category as Indians, White Sox, and a slew of others hanging around .500. Striking distance of the wild card is what I said, not the division. And yes, 2 games back is striking distance. Being in a crappy division and a mediocre league after the top 4 teams is exactly the reason that the White Sox have a chance for the playoffs. Take advantage of it while it is there. Get in the playoffs and anything can happen. How many people thought the 2014 Royals were World Series bound? That team was 48-50 on July 21 and even after making the playoffs were completely discounted by fans and experts alike all the way through game 7 of the World Series.

You forgot McCann again. And didn’t realize those guys cost $300M ?

Lol. Now we’re making excuses for the $300M man? wRC+ adjusts for ballpark factors and his current 104 is VERY average. It’s going to be hilarious if Yolmer Sanchez ends the season with a higher wRC+ than Manny Machado.

Machado in one of his “prime” year seasons (age 26/27 is his prime you know) is on pace for 25 homers, 75 RBI, 255 BA and mid 700s OPS. I’m sure he will only get better once he hits age 30+ in a few years. ?

Singlehandedly? Wtf are you talking about? This team is within striking distance of the playoffs with essentially one starting pitcher through the first two months of the season. The Sox are on the verge of promoting a top 3 MLB pitching prospect and another top 3 MLB position player prospect in the near future. And throwing good money away? Is there any guarantee that the $16M they don’t spend on Keuchel is used for next year’s payroll? That’s a rhetorical question because we know the answer. I’m advocating for a one year deal only, which he is reportedly now open to. Anything more and I pass.

And thank god he did

It’s not just what we are seeing at the major league level but also the fact that the Sox have arguably the best position player prospect and pitching prospect in baseball (both in the top 3 in those respective categories at least and very close to big league promotions). Meanwhile, the team payroll sits at only $90M with very few future commitments and essentially zero bad contracts on the books. They are in a great position to open the contention window sooner than expected if they decide the time is right to do so.

And what’s the big loss on a 1 year deal even if he does get injured immediately? Jerry is already making record profits. I don’t think $15M or $16M for Keuchel will do much to affect that when team payroll is still sub $100M.

But Keith Law said he’s a top 25 prospect in baseball immediately following the draft

Next week

And that’s why McCann = MVP of this team even if he doesn’t hit.

Sox fans be like:

He may be a bit rusty but pitcher’s miss several months at the start of the season often (due to injury) and many find a way to be effective upon their return. He can’t be any worse than Banuelos’ 7+ ERA, can he?

It was reported recently that he would seriously consider a 1/$18M offer. I’d float him $16.5M next Thursday and see what happens. If he gets a better deal elsewhere then so be it.

He better not if he wants to get PAID this winter. Free agent in five months, low risk signing for the Sox on a 1 year deal, guy that will be pitching with a chip on his shoulder because he feels disrespected by the rest of baseball. Sounds like a good combination to me.

Yep. Only 1 game back with only one good starting pitcher the first two months of the season. Sox already had $31M earmarked for Machado this season. Why not use half that money on Keuchel on a 1 year deal? I love the idea of a 1 year deal because you know you’ll be getting a very motivated Keuchel if he’s set to hit free agency again in another 5 months. I’d like to see what this team can do the rest of the season with potentially 3 good starters in the rotation. Who knows, maybe it even takes pressure off Lopez and Nova as well. Let’s go Jerry, “the money will be spent” time to spend it. Talk is cheap.

It’s just money (money that was already earmarked for Machado mind you) and a one year deal has no effect on payroll or offseason plans for next season and beyond.