Chicago White Sox

Why does any of this matter?

Same here…not going to keep poking the bear and risk upsetting the baseball gods until a deal is actually final.

I’d wager that most baseball front office types would place more value on Hall than Leiter right now. I’d put Porter and Hall on somewhat equal footing even if the latter has significant reliever risk. Leiter is tough because he has talent but you’re gambling on your org being able to fix him. I’d take the 34th pick in the draft and corresponding bonus allotment at this point over Jack. And as I said in a different post, I’d take definitely Ortiz over Duran. At some point we need to value plate discipline and smart swing decisions and nothing suggests Duran will ever fit that billing. It’s a disappointing package and only hope would be Bannister being “all in” on Porter & Leiter.

34th pick…which is significantly more valuable than the 64th pick. I’d also definitely Ortiz over a guy with a 7th percentile chase rate and poor K & BB rates over the course of his minor league career.

That Lynn trade is looking fantastic!

Yankees or Padres for me

Interesting nugget from DVS’ latest article: I find that hard to believe, but if true, Sox using the Yankees to help drive up the price for the Rangers & Padres?

Balta doesn’t like fake insiders like Ronsenthal

@Balta1701 - Where you at?

I also think that’s a big part of it. I haven’t seen any actual spring training games since they aren’t televised, but the velocity being there and likely the slider looking sharper helps alleviate any concerns about 2024 being a redux of 2023. And the chance of landing a possible cost controlled ace this late into spring training is super fucking valuable. Maybe the baseball gods are finally go to reward us with a mega package after years of torture.

Sure seems that way. Just got to hope that all the rumors of a high price still hold true and this is the market coming to us vs. Getz actually caving.

Yeah, this would be much more ideal

Duran being a key piece of a Cease trade makes no sense to me. The versatility is nice, but a RH hitter with zero discipline is the last thing we need to kick off our rebuild. Porter is a nice SP prospect but not good enough to be the other big piece if paired with Duran. I’m ok with Leiter as a secondary piece assuming Bannister is pushing for him, but again, not overly exciting when combined with the top two pieces. Very meh package to me.

And this one as well:

Worthwhile quote from Rosenthal‘s article for context:

Also, apparently we are engaged in talks with Michael Lorenzen as a potential Cease replacement, so it sounds like s%*# has turned up a notch. I do not like that Rangers package at all though.

Rosenthal is saying that’s what we are looking for. Sounds like Getz may be lowering his demands some too and that the Padres are also in the mix alongside the Rangers & Yankees.

Yankees fans are delusional on what Cease would cost. One dude on Pinstripe Alley said he wouldn’t give up any of their top 10 prospects, but would consider anyone else in the farm. May need to go recruit some friendly New Yorkers to get some real discussion going here.

This game on TV?

Oh good…now it’s time for a Jones, Arias, & Hampton return to end this once and for all.

It would only be fitting for a massive Cease trade to be imminent and for Pedro to push Dylan an extra inning which results in an injury.

Unlikely to get a WR #2 in the 3rd, at least not one who can provide that type of production right away.

The only thing I can think of is Poles is pursuing Ridley and then feels he can trade down at 1.09 and land both an EDGE and more picks. That probably allows you to add WR #3 in the 3rd and more depth later. But I don’t actually believe Poles will sign Ridley and more likely signs a Reynolds type at WR to be the WR #3.

No one wants Fields though, so I wouldn’t worry about him too much. But it would be nice to beef up the line somewhere and yes I’m aware we traded for Bates. Banking on the draft to provide that depth is risky with so few picks at the moment and a massive hole at WR and still real on the D-Line.

Super disappointing start to free agency. Not addressing the O-Line or D-Line is highly concerning given some of the options at Center & EDGE. Still quite a few WRs available, but don’t love any of them all that much outside of Ridley. Hopefully there is something else to come, but I generally hate the “spread the wealth” approach when there is legit impact talent at positions of need.