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Mark Payton is headed to Japan for 2023. He just signed with the Seibu Lions. Sox are going to need to add more minor league guys because we're literally looking at Reyes and Hamilton and that's about it for depth.

How did Kimbrel convince Dombrowski he is worth $10M?!

Give me Duvall for the 4th spot. Reyes and Billy can stay in Charlotte for depth.

It's arguable they still need more balance. As it stands, Varsho probably won't bat any higher than 5th at best. Plus Kiermaier isn't exact known for his bat. Still massively righty heavy.

Yep, they literally had an entire right-handed lineup before getting Varsho and Kiermaier. Their OF defense has improved dramatically with the moves they've made.

Plus, wouldn't he want to try to show he can still play the field? That's a cavernous park. Just seems like he has a lot going against him.

What a terrible park to try to re-establish value in too. I really think Conforto is a terrible fit for the Giants.

He sucks man.

I’d suppose they could but then I bet you see a RP moved to offset the cost. We just don’t know where payroll is going to fall. Makes it hard to judge if they are still players in FA.

Yes.

Because they still have to pay him regardless. He’s put in a ton of work trying to get his body right, there is no harm or reason to not at least see what he can give them this year. There isn’t anyone knocking down the door. If he is just as bad as last year, cut him like they did Keuchel.

You'd think so, but who knows. With the budget still a huge question, and Hahn operating literally in the exact opposite manner that he said he would (FA vs. trades), I'm not I'd lean towards the Sox adding more FA.

Not saying you aren't wrong, but this is the Sox and they will surely be looking for the Mets to retain most of those contracts. That is going to diminish whatever possible return you can get.

He wore 18 on the Yankees.

Kelley still doesn’t impress me. He still walks way too many guys to be anything more than a future bullpen arm. Which, yeah there is *some* value there, but for being a second round pick he has been extremely disappointing IMO. Walks and conditioning continue to hold him back.

BA's writeup on Burke is really interesting. Not only is he ranked 5 overall and the 2nd best pitching prospect behind Schultz, but they also gave his fastball and curveball 60 grades a piece. He seems like a super interesting arm for the Sox. I think people get too hung up on his ERA, but his underlying advanced stats has a lot to like. I don't think he is ready yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him called upon later in the season.

Yeah, it certainly seems like a lot of money coming to the Sox unless they start doing the very White Sox thing to do and start throwing prospects at the Mets to retain salary.

You guys think those are random, you’ll love this:

If you'd like to believe in his small sample size, by all means go for it, but I've followed him his whole minor league career and I would be FLOORED if what we saw last year was real. He is nothing special IMO. If he proves me wrong, I'll happily eat crow, but 178 AB's with a .400+ BABIP and a 30%+ K% is not even close to convincing me a 29 yr. old journeyman catcher has suddenly figured it out.

I like Perez a lot, but I'd rather let him start in Charlotte as depth if/when Grandal clearly can't cut it anymore. Honestly, Perez should be replacing Seby right now. The only thing holding Seby on this team is his lack of options remaining.

I think you almost have to give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he has left in the tank after what sounds like some changes to his conditioning this offseason. It's not like the Sox have stud backup options knocking at the door.

No. He's a very troubled individual - they don't need that kind of negative PR, headache, or distraction to the team. I'm pretty shocked he got off with no charges. Breaking someone's skull while having sex (whether it was consensual or not) is extremely fucked up.

Hedges is better in every aspect of fielding and behind the plate action than Seby. This argument comes down to whether you value a hitting catcher over a fielding catcher. Don't mistake this for me wanting the Sox to sign Hedges (I don't). But between the two - without $5M - I would rather have Hedges as a backup than Seby.

Eloy didn't have to jump and hang from his arm on that play. He should have known better. Running to 1B is a damn requirement on the game. Do you have the same feelings towards Anderson and his hamstrings? Why isn't he on this list to vote for when he has a fair share amount of nagging injuries each and every year?

Seby had a over a .400 BABIP last season with little power. Based on his minor league career, I'd be he returns to his career tendencies over maintaining what we saw last year.