Jerksticks

But on the flipside lineup construction is going to be crucial and needs to be done perfectly. With so many prospects and interesting fringy prospects, the Sox need to somehow give everyone a shot. The problem might be TOO many prospects in between AAA and the majors to give everyone enough time to see what's what. Gotta figure out a few to cut bait on by the end of this year. For example, I'd love to see a whole year of Engel. But Leury was killing it and Tilson might be a sleeper. "Where they gonna play???" Only got a year or two til the Big Tymers lock down spots, good or bad. Burger, Robert, Eloy etc won't be splitting time when they come up. It's going to be tough to see who's good or bad in the upper levels in a year+. Took Avi like 4 years and some people STILL aren't sure about him, and justifiably so. Don't have that kinda time everywhere. Maybe Narvaez and Smith have some rope.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 08:57 AM) Although the rebuild, aka; "house cleaning," is likely not quite finished, it's not too early to begin to think about the Major League roster for next year. Almost all of the young guys will be vying for their various positions down on the farm, while the parent club bides its time, and looks forward to a few more high draft picks next June and in 2019. Nevertheless, there are benefits to grooming a few players, who may either become part of the equation for 2019, or be decent trade candidates, used to fill other needs. In any case, someone has to play!!!! In that context, it would be fun and interesting to consider whom you all think might comprise the starting lineup, next year, while we all wait for 2019. Here is my suggestion: CF Adam Engel or Cordell. (Both are Right Handed). My rational is that both guys possess good enough tools and are now too old to waste more time in the Minors, where they would be taking up roster spots, needed for the very promising younger prospects. It's time to find out what they can do. Tilson is another name, but you have to wonder if he can stay healthy. 3B Jake Peter. (Left Handed) His recent emergence as an offensive contributor should boost his stock. I'd like to see him at third, as he is supposed to have a pretty good arm, being a former pitcher. He seems like a good candidate for the 2 hole, because of his good plate discipline and contact skills. 2B Yoan Moncada.(Switch Hitter) I realize that hitting him third may be putting some extra pressure on him, but having Abreu and Avi behind him, should provide a little protection for him, and help ensure that he sees more hittable pitches. DH Jose Abreu. (RH) He is clearly the best hitter on this team. It's time to see if he can still be productive, while DH'ing, as that is likely to be his long term role, once the rebuilt team matures. RF Avi Garcia. (RH) If he can finally realize his power potential, and learn to take his walks, he may be worth extending, but if not, he could be traded to fill any hole, in the next wave. LF Nick Delmonico/Cody Asche (Both bat LH) The lineup needs another left handed hitter, and I'd like to see if either of these guys could produce at the next level. They are both having pretty good years, at AAA, especially vs RHP. Maybe one of them could platoon with Willie Garcia, whom I like. 1B Matt Davidson (RH) He has established himself as a legitimate power threat, but probably is better suited to first base, than the hot corner. C Omar Narvaez (LH) I like his plate discipline and ability to draw walks. You may be surprised to know that he leads the team in OBP, even if he has no power. I'm not sure if he's good enough defensively. ???? SS Time Anderson (RH) Well, he is signed long term, so these next 2 years are his chance to demonstrate that he can be part of this promising Sox future. I am still convinced that he must develop better plate discipline, if he is ever going to realize his potential. If not, SS will be a hole, going into that window of contention, starting in 2019 or 2020. You'll note that this projected lineup does not include the acquisition of any veterans. I don't see the point in taking that route. Let's see who can either be part of the future, or provide a trading chip. Sanchez and Leury top my list for the bench. That leaves the pitching, which is going to be very interesting. Unless they start bringing the prospects, it's hard to imagine who is going to fill out the rotation, as well as the bullpen. That would be another interesting discussion. Any suggestions?? Love most of this if not all of it. Engel has to play. Davidson has to play. I want to see the Narvaez Smith platoon for another year as well. Narvaez has some batting skills you can't teach. Agree on no vets for the offense. The FO needs to focus their attention on signing as many Swarzaks and Kahnles possible to flip. Easier said than done, but if any team has an advantage, it's the Sox. Use our strength. Find pitchers to flip. Put Shields out to pasture. Nice post.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 23, 2017 -> 11:13 AM) He's supposed to return this week. Also, he said he's coming to America in September Sweet. Looking good Luis!

Did anybody see that kid just get nailed in the face? For MLb.tv people, Bot 9, 2 out, 3-1 pitch. I hope he's ok. It's funny as hell how the ball bounced 50 feet off his face back into the outfield and just leveled him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 08:39 AM) What's clearing dragging down America is making the filthy rich pay taxes, and making sure the poor have health care. The best way to build up the middle class and lower class is instead of giving them breaks directly, give them to the rich so they can pass them down. It works really well. Lol dudes whoa. Whoa dudes whoa. Simmer simmer simmer. I was just commenting on the exploding debt and deficits. Please don't tell me that "George W started it!" or "Obama exploded it!"- blame doesn't matter. All I'm saying is we better hope that we continue to print the world's currency or else the social programs are the first things to go, because, gasp, they account for the majority of the "budget". I thought that was something everybody could agree on. Mercy.

I just think we all need to pray that the US always remains in charge so we can always print the money. That's the only way the assistance programs don't end up killing our very way of life. Isn't it really that simple? IF it is that simple, you'd think the liberal people would want the biggest mightiest military with shark lasers to protect the off-the-rails spending. But that goes against peace and love and globalism. Tough situation, stuck in a bit of hypocrisy. Fortunatley for them, that issue isn't in the public realm...yet.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 10:29 PM) I'm really surprised people don't understand my point about this. You have to consider this team's record in grading the rebuild. All seasons are equal. You have to take the bad with the good. Let's say half the prospects make it and the Sox never creep about .500 in this rebuild. In that case you have to balance that with the miserable seasons to see if it was worth it. Look ... all seasons count the same. This one is horrific to watch. Next season will be the same. The rebuild will remain a failure. If and when the team gets good with the prospects, the grade starts to improve. If the team makes the playoffs it improves more. If it makes the WS the rebuild becomes a 9. What is so controversial about what I am saying here? They said to rate the rebuild as it stands now. Well, as of now I'm sickened by this baseball team trotting Holland, Shields and Pelfrey out there. So the rebuild is a 2. Can it become an 8, 9 even a 10 at some point? Sure. What an interesting way to look at it. Moncada is pretty much must-see TV though right? Lopez coming up will be cool as s*** too. To me it's a different kind of fun with the Sox right now. The Kids Can Play was when I first got into the Sox. I don't mind it, just try to shrug off Chris Sale at another level and I'm pretty happy.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 10:29 PM) I'm really surprised people don't understand my point about this. You have to consider this team's record in grading the rebuild. All seasons are equal. You have to take the bad with the good. Let's say half the prospects make it and the Sox never creep about .500 in this rebuild. In that case you have to balance that with the miserable seasons to see if it was worth it. Look ... all seasons count the same. This one is horrific to watch. Next season will be the same. The rebuild will remain a failure. If and when the team gets good with the prospects, the grade starts to improve. If the team makes the playoffs it improves more. If it makes the WS the rebuild becomes a 9. What is so controversial about what I am saying here? They said to rate the rebuild as it stands now. Well, as of now I'm sickened by this baseball team trotting Holland, Shields and Pelfrey out there. So the rebuild is a 2. Can it become an 8, 9 even a 10 at some point? Sure. What an interesting way to look at it. Moncada is pretty much must-see TV though right? Lopez coming up will be cool as s*** too. To me it's a different kind of fun with the Sox right now. The Kids Can Play was when I first got into the Sox. I don't mind it, just try to shrug off Chris Sale at another level and I'm pretty happy.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 07:44 PM) In some ways I'm more excited about Eloy than Moncada. Moncada is the sort of player, much like Cano, that will (hopefully) put up a "quiet" 6 WAR because he's a solid defensive 2B hitting 285/350/500 but Eloy is a guy that could put up Judge like numbers with the bat. Ah spoiled farm system problems

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 12:08 PM) Let's be clear: regardless of what you think of who is different than who, you have to recognize that the regime that is making moves right now is NOT the same regime that went for it every year. We simplify it by saying "Williams vs Hahn" but what we're really saying is the "Williams FO" vs the "Hahn FO". This is clearly a different, Rick driven, regime. Yes it is the same. Look they rode the Paulie Core as long as they could, supplementing it along the way by trading our prospects, who almost always amounted to nothing anyway. JR is probably to blame for never spending the extra 10-20M to put the team over the top. Always a player or two short. Then Rick & KW realized Sale was thr next piece to build around so they tried to flip cores really quickly. It almost worked but it didn't. So now Rick & KW decided to trade everybody to restock the farm only because the cheap deals they were on allowed them to get the top prospects in the game, skipping years of sucking for draft picks. It's f***ing genius. I think they realized they needed to change their drafting and international scouting once the rules changed and leveled the field. But to think KW isn't a HUGE part of the brain behind all of this is insane.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 10:50 AM) WTF was Kenny doing the deal with Cashman? Hahn was generous and said he could negotiate a deal after he traded Sale, Eaton, and Q? Just think, some people still actually believe that Hahn and Williams are separate entities, have different philosophies etc. So ignorant to think that Kenny hates prospects, Hahn likes rebuilds etc. so ignorant to think they are separate. They are a brotherhood. A two-headed snake that always shares the same goal.

Sox could also sign him for a year or two and unload him next deadline.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 09:47 PM) He looks very composed at the plate Love that he recognizes junk and more importantly high heat.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 08:32 PM) Sounds like if Fulmer had spent all of 2016 in A+ and started this year in AA, you'd love him. I don't see how these guys repeating AA or in Stephen's case reaching AA at 24 years old is supposed to be some conclusive proof that Fulmer is an inferior prospect. It's fairly logical to think if we slow-walked Fulmer's development, he'd have a fan club following his AA debut this year with interest. I've been wondering if he might be hurt since about mid-May this eyar, but what seems most clear is the Sox are paying the price for pushing his development timeline harder than was reasonable. I get that point but not throwing strikes in AAA is the same as not throwing strikes in A or AA. I still think the Sox called him up last year to show him that something he thought he was doing well would never work against MLB batters.

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 02:09 AM) Robertson for two C level prospects? While he's not Chapman or even Andrew Miller, you are undervaluing him a lot here, especially with him being one of the few true closers available for trade. There are already several teams called about Robertson, and Yankees were bidding against the Red Sox here. Remember when most people expected a Top 100 prospect for Robertson just a couple days ago? That should have been the target. Let's not move that target to justify this trade. We also traded Kahnle prematurely, given how underwhelming the total value we got in return. There is always a chance he's only a flash in the pan, but his peripherals and stuff says it's unlikely. He's making real improvements to his velocity and and absolutely shatters his previous swinging strike%. Both FB velocity and SwingStr% are among top 10 in the league. FIP and xFIP suggest he's elite. He's actually been unlucky with a BABIP much higher than career norm. There is a real chance he could be Andrew Miller (or close to it), if we waited it, we could have gotten a much better return next year. Yea but I think ultimately, as others have posted, the Sox wanted to cash-in on Kahnle and avoid NateJones-style risk. And as Hahn mentioned in the presser, Rutherford is a guy the Sox have been really high on for some time. Seems like a perfect storm of being able to get the guy you want for only bullpen arms and shedding a BUNCH of salary. Can't dismiss the money savings- just the other day it seemed like the Sox would have to kick in a bunch of money just to get B&C level prospects for DRob and Frazsh. The cost is selling Kahnle at maybe .80 on the dollar. The plus side is no more Kahnle risk, the guy you want, and about 20M dollars. Not bad for .80. I get both sides and I hated the deal at first, but now I'm all aboard. The other guys have serious upside too!

Love future lineup threads. More fun than ever boys & girls! New to reading about Rutherford but he strikes me as a perfect #2 hitter. Now when all is said and done and it's 2019-2020, where do you think the team will be lacking? It's hard to say outfield now.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 11:51 PM) Derailing the thread , but the Sox basically bet on TA being a 1 WAR or better SS over the next 5-7 years. That's not exactly a bad bet. You have to pay him one way or another. 25 million is almost ash tray money. Tell me more about ashtray money. Thats hilarious and true

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 11:26 PM) IMO he is bored in AAA at this point. I would rather him develop here, he has no pressure because we aren't competing to trying to compete. He isn't a savior and can just focus on playing baseball and getting use tot major league pitching I totally agree that he's bored in AAA. I was going to post that.

I'd like to change my opinion. Gordon Beckham for Rutherford is hilarious. And after reading how pissed the Yankees fans are this is great. I went from thinkin that the package was light to now thinking we fleeced the Yankees. Kahnle is the key but whatever, I'm just looking at him as gordon beckham not Kahnle. #Ghengis

That was awesome how Hahn delivered the news. "I'll give you all 25 seconds to get that out on twitter" ?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:51 PM) Sox are telling media there's going to be an announcement but be patient. LOL. I think Ghengis logged on to Soxtalk and realizes his loyal subjects are split on the deal...Might be telling Cashman to open up his mouth for more hose water.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:48 PM) Sorry to break it to everyone but Robertson and Kahnle are nowhere near Chapman/Miller level. Kahnle has had 3 great months Correction: Otherworldy months.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:33 PM) We just acquired another top 50 OF prospect, I think this signals Avi is as good as gone. Interesting. Think he's too old and too close to FA? Just cash in now like Kahnle? I wouldn't be opposed.

QUOTE (TomPickle @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:28 PM) Don't disagree that Kahnle as the potential to net you more than what it looks like the Sox will get in this deal, but I actually think his value would have been higher next year's deadline. Had he kept up his current performance the rest of this year and the first half of next year he would then elevate into more elite reliever deals we've seen recently, even if it was with one less year of team control. I think it's worth it to get ~85% of his potential value now rather than having him get hurt or turn into a pumpkin. Fair enough. Yea this deal all depends on which side of the pumpkin you're on.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:19 PM) It's not outrageous to want one more good piece when you're trading two very good relievers and taking back some money as well. I'm not going to flip out if the last piece isn't a top talent as I'll be thrilled to have Rutherford but overall the deal would feel a little light to me. It's possible that some people overvalued Kahnle or Robertson but it's also possible some of you guys are undervaluing them, who knows. Like I said, I'll be thrilled to have Blake but overall not going to be thrilled about the deal. Excellent take. I think some of us believed Kahnle to be worthy of grabbing desperation talent on deadline day. Welcome aboard Blake- please make me look dumb. Clippard, go f*** yourself