ChiSox59

The sentiment is shared.

When is Colas expected to be official?

Yep. Just like he was told Scherzer would be a Sox!

Mmmk.

Considering it was fairly well reported that Crochet was available in the Kimbrel deal (Cubs chose Madrigal instead), I think he’s very much available for the right return. I am with you on Vaughn - hope the Sox are too!

We've got at least a month before Opening Day is in jeopardy IMO. A shortened spring training by a couple weeks isn't going to impact OD.

Sheets is useful to have around because we need lefty bats, but we don't need another DH and he sucks at 1B and in the OF. I'd keep him in AAA for insurance because he will certainly be needed at at tines. If we can get something more useful than that - I would have no issue whatsoever trading Sheets while he has some semblance of value - but I have a hard time seeing that come to fruition.

And the luxury tax line is certainly going to increase at least a little.

People freaking out about Burger taking reps at 2B in personal offseason workouts when his natural position is very much blocked are comical. Relax people. He’s just doing what he can to get himself big league reps. Chances he’s ever anything but an emergency 2B are remote.

Sox can go cheap on 2B if they want. Just sign Conforto.

Would have been an interesting flyer at 2B.

Off White Sox great Juan Minaya too!

I'd certainly rather lose Ramos and/or Rodriguez than Crochet and/or Vaughn.

I think the Sox do this in a second, which means is probably not enough.

THIS! Get Conforto. Keep Crochet and Vaughn. See where the chips fall on 2B thereafter. Grab Villar or Owings off the scrap head as utility player to work with Leury at 2B. It's really that simple.

Who exactly are these valuable long term pieces? There isn't a prospect in Sox top 10, besides maybe Montgomery, I wouldn't trade in a heartbeat to improve this team. Subtracting from the MLB team - ie: Vaughn and to a lesser extent Crochet, and all the other obvious names (Kopech, Eloy, etc.), are a different story. I want to expand this window as much as possible as well. But we're past prospect hoarding days. We barely have any of note to begin with - no prospect should be off limits to improve the club as much as someone like McNeil would. This excludes the names in the 2nd paragraph, but I probably would part with Crochet for McNeil, but would certainly try to get him without including Crochet first. Just don't really see a realistic fit.

Got to give to get. McNeil is a much better player than you're giving credit for. No one is jumping up and down to move Crochet, but they aren't going to just hand over McNeil for a pile of trash.

I would agree that I don't see McNeil happening without us giving up Crochet.

Crochet. But hopefully they'd bite on something like Cespedes/Burger, Thompson/Dalquist and Rodriguez/Ramos. Doubtful, but a guy can dream.

Well that's not getting you Jeff McNeil. I personally DGAF about the perceived attitude issues coming out of NY. Lack of recent success is BS. Dude is a 26% above average hitter across 1500 PA and fills a multitude of team needs. He's a 4 WAR player per 162 across his career, including his down 21. He's a very good player. A 26 YO corner IF with injury and body concerns isn't getting it done. I'd rather spend Jerry's money in FA than use the few bullets we have via trade, but if trade route is necessary, McNeil is a wonderful fit.

Probably only have about 6 weeks to figure this out before a shortened spring training becomes a reality and Opening Day becomes jeopardized.

FIFY

Dude, Jeff McNeil is really good and a near perfect fit for the Sox. His 2021 certainly wasn't great. but lets not dismiss the player he was from 18-20 just to fit your narrative. McNeil isn't going to be cheap. I'd prefer to the Sox just sign Conforto and a cheaper 2B that won't kill you on the FA market as opposed to giving up near MLB talent. But Villar, Solano, Owings is about all that's left there. I certainly wouldn't be trading off assets for McNeil in lieu of signing Conforto. But both makes this team as good as anyone in the AL. I'd do everything I can to build a package for the Mets that doesn't include Crochet (Vaughn is a non-starter for me). Some combination of Cespedes, Burger, Kelley, Dalquist, Thompson, JRod, Yolbert, Vera, and Ramos could maybe get it done.

31 here. Active lurker/poster on WSI since I was a young teen, hard to believe I didn't join here until 2013. Never looked back once I made the switch.

I read some comments from Giolito a couple weeks ago that sure made it seem like he thinks this whole thing is stupid. He understands it is a business, but his comments made it sound like he's not all that passionate about this and would like to report to ST as normal. I am sure he'd love a bigger piece of the pie like anyone would, but his comments certainly didn't reflect a guy that would be willing to sit this year out fighting for it.