JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Free agency

When TA is your #7 or #8 hitter (legitimately, not because RR is a dumbass), you’ve got the makings of a fantastic lineup.

Still looking ? 1. Madrigal - 106 wRC+ in A+, 294 wRC+ in AA 2. Moncada - 128 wRC+ in MLB 3. Martinez - 137 wRC+ in MLB  4. Jimenez - 96 wRC+ in MLB 5. Robert - 297 wRC+ in A+, 169 wRC+ in AA 6. Vaughn - 1.242 OPS in college 7. Collins - 123 wRC+ in AAA 8. Anderson - 122 wRC+ in MLB 9. Basabe - 144 wRC+ in A, 76 wRC+ in AA

In other words, see this thread:

Nice to see the offense wake up tonight. Hopefully they carry it over into the Yankees series next.

One of the most overrated players in baseball. 95 wRC+ this season. That’s approaching Yolmer Sanchez territory.

It really is that simple. The only thing that will upset me is if they trade him for a mediocre prospect. I won’t be upset if they hold on to him or if they unload him for a top 100 prospect.

That OPS is creeping up too. 746 now. I’d be surprised if he ends the season under 800.

Nick’s slash line for the year is now 300/367/410 (OPS 777). With his defense and baserunning, I think that’ll work.

Madrigal with a cool 1.615 OPS in AA ? ?

Now has a batting average and on base percentage comparable to last season but his slugging percentage is .399 this year compared to .348 last year. And that’s at higher levels. Seems he’s developing just fine over the past 12 months since he was drafted.

He’s already surpassed his fWAR total from last season and this season isn’t even yet half way complete.

and if that’s the extent of the return in a trade next month you keep him. Simple. I’m good with a 100 save percentage. Especially next year when this team should be very competitive.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DevanFink/status/1137470472516460544?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

The single most important stat for a closer is save %. And in that category Colome is a perfect 13/13 this season. I don’t give a shit if a guy strikes out 2 per inning on average and has great advanced stats if he’s blowing 2 out of every 10 save opportunities as the team’s closer. Nothing more demoralizing to a team than blowing 9th inning leads.

This one is far more shocking though considering he was the worst qualified starter in baseball just last year.

Oh yea, Giolito doesn’t have the track record yet but this season he’s pitching at a higher level than Sale ever did in a single season for the White Sox.

Think about this. Sale’s highest single season fWAR with the White Sox was 5.6. Giolito is on pace for 7.2 this season ?

Actually, he’s already there this season.

Giolito now has the second highest fWAR of all pitchers in baseball ?

Yea the Alonso chapter is coming to close, won’t have to worry about that

Those 7 players have combined for 1.2 fWAR at a cost of ~$40M this season ($33M per fWAR if the season ended today). But the beautiful thing is that the only liability beyond this season is Herrera’s $8.5M. Machado has produced 1.0 fWAR at a cost of $30M this season ($30M per fWAR again if the season ended today). BUT Machado has $270M remaining beyond this season. Similar production per dollar comparing those two groups this season BUT a huge liability to the tune of $270M remaining on Machado’s contract after this season. Yea, if I’m picking between those two groups I’m definitely taking the first, which has produced similarly per dollar spent this season and comes with basically no future liabilities after this season concludes.

That’s my opinion as well. And this isn’t hindsight, I said this before the season even started.

If he was hitting .241 with a 96 wRC+ for the Sox 40% of the way into this season like he is now, this board would be having a complete meltdown. “We’re stuck with this albatross of a contract for another 9.5 years!” You don’t pay a guy $300M to play very good defense when his hitting and baserunning are both below average. He’s supposed to be in his “prime” years right now (after all, he turns just 27 next month). Why does he have career lows in most offensive categories and a career high in K%? He has time to turn it around this season still but I wouldn’t consider 63 games/265 plate appearances a very small sample size either.

Then if you are the White Sox, it’s simply enough. If the trade market next month becomes overly saturated with relievers, you hold on to Colome for another year. This is truly a win-win from the Sox perspective.