ChiSox59

Palacios must not enjoy being a big leaguer

The 30.5% K rate vs 6.7% BB rate against minor league pitching might be a pretty good indicator this dude would get torched by big league pitching. I am fine with Elko playing over those 2. But those two aren't really going to be playing much with Quero up and Beni back, and soon Lee returning. I think one of Quero / Beni will be at DH most days.

Sure. But Vaughn was also pretty playable June on last season. I believe his wRC+ was around 115 after June 1st. Not really defending the guy - he's been a huge disappointment - but cutting him under 20 games into this season to make room for a guy that is the same age and isn't really much of prospect is pretty silly. But he's shown stretches as recently as the last four months of last season that he is at least a playable major league bat. Obviously the fact he brings next to nothing to the table certainly does not help. I just think unless he continues to be absolutely terrible into the early summer and trade season, we may as well just see if he can get hot and become tradeable. Though admittedly, he's not going to return much even if that scenario plays out.

Call me crazy, but I don't think under 20 April games is enough to validate anything at all.

I get it. Don't get me wrong, I'd be fine seeing Elko. The roster construction just doesn't make a lot of sense unless AV is cut. I just don't see that happening just yet. I certainly understand why people want him cut. But those same people are the people talking about how great Sheets is now after slamming him for 3 years. Best case scenario for the Sox is AV starts hitting and you can get a live arm for him in July.

Palacios is is in fact out of options. He's probably safe until one of Tauchman or Slater return.

Ya. They are not cutting Vaughn 20 games into the season for a guy that is like 4 months younger and almost certainly worse. I'm not an AV guy (who can be at this point?), and the writing is on the wall that this is his last season with the Sox. I don't see how he can play himself into a tender for 26. And I'm not against cutting him if he continues to blow for another 50 games and confirms he untradeable. At that point, ya cut him and try Elko. I'm not even opposed to Elko taking Matons roster spot for the time being. But your bench just gets really inflexible with 3 catchers and 2 1B only at that point, and Elko plays maybe 2 days a week. What's that accomplish?

Elko will get his shot at some point this season. The current outcry for Elko cracks me up a bit. Same people will be moaning about how bad he is when he starts 5/50 with 30 Ks. It'll be interesting to see how Sox manage the catcher situation. I think Quero will be DHing a lot and Thaiss and Lee will still be catching most of the time. That means Elko doesn't really have a spot to play unless they cut AV, which we all know isn't happening 20 games into the season.

Clevinger was on a minor league deal. So there isn't much to eat here.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say catcher.

I don't really see how it couldn't get better. Ishbia's were not scared to spend $ on the Suns. JR is stuck in the 80s. Not saying the results on the field will necessarily change, but I think the ownership strategies most certainly will.

I mean I haven't followed the details of this super closely, but it was reported not long ago that Ishbia owned ~5%. Now it's 35%. It seems like pretty good news even though we know they were adding shares. They aren't adding shares for any reason other than to acquire the rest when available, one would think. Seems like good news, even if this stretches on a few years.

And it was a really bad game.

Pretty tough to call at guy with a 4.2 fWAR per 162 games play an "all time under-achiever". Obviously staying on the field has been a challenge, and Robert has not reached his potential, but he's still a very productive big leaguer when he plays. He's frustrating as hell because he is so talented and the 24-25 have not been good, but this is guy just entering his prime years. He's far from an all time under achiever.

I was on team hold Robert until this summer to increase value. But honestly, I'd happily take De Paula or Freeland + one of Kyle Hurt/River Ryan/Nick Frasso/Maddux Bruns + James Outman right now. Robert is a couple more bad months away from being a salary dump if he doesn't improve. He's a very talented player, and I fully expect him blossom with his next team, but at some point something is better than nothing. Outman does nothing for me in particular, but De Paula or Freeman do, and Dodgers have slew of major league ready or close to MLB ready SP that we could get a 20+ starts to. But I'd happily play Outman in an OF corner over most of our current options.