Chicago White Sox

This deal is a $1M above league minimum. And we’re talking about a weak-side platoon OF, so it’s not like he’s even blocking any of the AAAA OF prospects we have anyways. Honestly, this is actually a pretty solid move to potentially add some offense against LHP. May not work out but worth the gamble at the price.

Fair price and worthy addition IMO.

I just can’t see it. The only way you can keep both is if you can find a position for Vargas outside of DH (not sure an obvious one exists) and, if so, you plan on making no other upgrades at 1B / DH this offseason. At some point, you’re not even trying as GM if you’re willing to accept below league average production at 1B / DH for another season. Sheets at a minimum is gone IMO. He’s very hard to roster as a role player with the addition of Slater as a legit bench piece for the OF. Again, unless Getz is ok with Gavin as our primary DH, I just don’t see how he fits. And let’s be honest, Sheets wasn’t even a league average hitter against RHP last year. He’s literally a zero dimension player at this point. The concern with them keeping Vaughn is he is arguably our best hitter against LHP. Paying $6M for a weak side platoon 1B would be the definition of insanity, but he is still young and maybe they think Fuller can unlock something there. While I really want to see Vaughn gone myself, it’s not a stellar FA class for 1B and we don’t exactly have a ton of in house options (sorry Elko fans). Ultimately it’s a tougher call to keep him vs. Sheets who is simply bad at everything.

I don’t think so. The team is going to make other moves in the coming weeks and months. Those two spots will be used soon enough and they don’t need to unnecessarily protect guys if they don’t view they as risks of being selected. I’m not sure either of the two main relievers in question qualify as guys I’d be overly concerned about protecting.

The lack of development is more on Hahn than Getz. Having him skip all of the upper minors because our major league LF got injured in spring training was an all time stupid decision and almost certainly stunted his growth to some extent.

I hope both are gone, but have a bad feeling that Getz hangs onto Vaughn for another year despite zero reason to believe he’ll ever be a productive player.

I doubt both Sheets and Vaughn are back.

Honestly, if it’s $2M or less, then I hope it stops some of the complaints.

Still no dollar amount here?

People keep saying this but I really doubt it’s true.

Yup, we need to see the price tag before complaining.

Slater had a 137 wRC+ vs. LHP from 2019 to 2023 and then put up a 66 in 2024. He did put up a 114 wRC+ with the Orioles, so there is some reason to believe a partial bounce back is very possible. Depending on the price, there is some logic to the signing, especially when almost all our non Robert OFs are lefties in Benintnedi, Fletcher, DeLoach, & Colas. Again, just depends on the price.

We really need bats. I get Painter could be awesome, but we got to find a way to add some high impact offense.

Dream trade from the Red Sox would be Mayer, Montgomery, Zanetello, and a filler piece. I would do the same trade with Mayer swapped for Campbell.

Fully agree. And too early to give up on Nastrini & Leasure.

I’m 90% optimistic that Getz will get a really good package for Crochet. The other 10% fears that Harold is Getz and we are going to do something really stupid.

Crochet + prospects for Lux? Who says no?

He won the Robbie Grossman trade if you want to call it “major” 😁

It truly is sad, but they would make some sense to have some veteran bat in the lineup on the cheap. I agree Joc is harder to imagine happening.

Something like this would work for me next year: Baldwin, SS# Robert, CF Conforto, DH* Vargas, 1B Benintendi, LF* Ramos, 3B Quero, CA# Sosa, 2B Fletcher, RF* Although admittedly Vargas at 1B / batting 4th sucks, but he’s got to play somewhere and might as well surround him with two veteran hitters.

Oh I agree, don’t think we can get Lux for $800k in bonus slot. But I think Batista is a pretty decent prospect.

Joc or Conforto. Someone like that who will take two years or less.

This is a very weird take. That trade was a great move for us.

I would go out and buy at proven bat in free agency on a very short term deal.