ChiSox59

I don't follow the structure of the MLBPA close enough to really know - so this is a legit question. Do the individual players themselves really get much of a say? Isn't it moreso up to Tony Clark and the board of players, and the rest of the players are just sort of along for the ride? Obviously Tony Clark and the union are supposed to represent what the greater group of players themselves want. But is there any true polling amongst the players that goes on with respect to these decisions? I have to imagine once we get closer to ST, there is a solid contingent of players that are going to want to go to work and make money as opposed to continue fighting for the extra scraps from their employers. Not taking the owners side here, but after all, baseball players - even ones on pre-arb deals - are paid handsomely for playing a game. They've certainly earned that right and I think there is plenty that players have to argue for - but ultimately - are they willing to potentially give up a years pay and a year of their shelf life to fight it? I have to imagine that is pretty split amongst the players.

Then why did Fegan tell FutureSox that the Sox thought they had? I don't doubt the Sox could have had EE if they wanted him - if they would have paid him more than the Mets. But it sounds like Fegan - who is as plugged in as anyone - told the other guy who is as plugged in as anyone (Jimmy) that the Sox wanted him, so I think that's safe to assume that's good info.

Right. I like him alot and would prefer not to trade him. McNeil is a guy I would probably trade him for. It hurts our pen though, for sure. Best case scenario - the Sox use Crochet like they did Kopech last year. Get him up to 80-100 innings and he takes some spot starts during the summer. He's in rotation in 2023, albeit maxed around 150 IP. Then you have him for 24-26 ideally a TOR starter. Its a lot to give up. Typing this out is making me talk myself out of it. But he's also an arm injury in the next 18 months away from never being a SP. You definitely trade those guys. Problem for me is if he has a dominant season in 22 doing what I mention above, you can get alot more than McNeil for him next winter. Idunno. I'd certainly try to get McNeil without Crochet (and definitely without Vaughn), but just don't see how that's possible unless Mets are desperate enough to shed $ that we could take a bad contract with him. For me, this offseason still predicates on Conforto. Sign Conforto, and I am largely unconcerned about 2B. Conforto + McNeil is a dream, but its also probably overkill in this division. Keep Crochet if you have Conforto, go grab Villar or some shit on the cheap and go to battle.

I wouldn't have loved it at the time, but would have liked more than the Kimbrel trade. Both with hindsight, and without it. Ahhh - thanks for clarifying. So basically, Sox were not willing to go 2/$20M on EE? Not super encouraging.

Interesting. Wonder who that is.

I am with you. Just stating that the Sox did make some very questionable decision making in 2021 that certainly deserves some criticism. But the overarching BS that guy pushes is way over the top.

While I am not a fan of this poster's constant charade against the Sox FO, this paragraph is definitely accurate: When they moronically failed to get the year of control back on Kopech, they shortened the window. When they stupidly failed to start stretching out Crochet, they shortened the window. And when they fucking added an old, expensive closer in decline to the BP w/the 3rd most FWAR, while giving up 2 league minimum pieces, they shortened the window. Each one of those moves was in fact stupid and short sighted. They were moves made by a team that was trying to win now - I get it. But they were all minor trade offs that could have seen this whole thing have more longevity. You can add Vaughn not starting in the minors last year to the list. All moves that in a vacuum are not the end of the world, but when you total them up - its obvious that the Sox are less concerned about the back end of this window than some of us fans. Its a tight rope and I get it. I want to win now too. But if they took the longer term approach on any one (or frankly even all) of those moves, competing in 2021 wouldn't have been impacted all that greatly. I too hate short term thinking, and in 2021 we saw a lot of it.

Huh?

Putting aside what it may take to acquire McNeil, he is a fantastic fit for the Sox. Conforto + McNeil and Sox easily have the best lineup in baseball when healthy.

Jeff McNeil is really good. I don’t want to trade Crochet, but have to give to get and Sox seem committed to him being a reliever so it’s probably a deal I make.

If McNeil is actually available, he’d be about as good as we can do via trade. Hate to give up Crochet but probably would.

FIFY

Samesies.

That is a guy I was hoping the Sox would talk to last offseason. Would happily take Kotsay over Old Man River.

Jimmy Muscles to NYY on minors deal. Kinda sad. Was a big fan.

I don't think we need a superstar at 2B. I just continue to assume the Sox will do the right thing and sign Conforto. With Conforto in hand, you can go any number of directions for 2B. Prieto would be a super interesting add for 2B, along with a bench piece like Josh Harrison, Jose Iglesias, Chris Owings or Niko Goodrum to help fill the gap until he's ready or just give us a little insurance. That only make sense (in the short term) assuming Prieto is 1) close to MLB ready (he is 22 already) and 2) can actually play stateside in 22. Even if the answer to one or both of those is no, its still a name worth monitoring.

Prieto is an interesting option for 2B. Definitely fills some team needs. Is he someone that could theoretically play in the bigs right away, or would he need to hide out in DR for a year so he gets more $ too?

If Cespedes is the Sox RF by May 2022, some things have gone horribly wrong.

I was a big fan of this kid when he came with the Royals. Here is one of the “find lightning in a bottle” bullpen additions that could yield a nice return if something clicks, however unlikely that may be.

Any other team is going to have the same issue with him that the Sox have. That is, he is out of options. If he had a lick of value, he’d had been traded last July.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Gonna be a part of me sad to see the Micker era end without ever starting. I do think he can be a Franmil Reyes type and run into 30 or so homers a year somewhere while racking up the Ks. Butttt he quite simply has absolutely no spot on this club moving forward, and certainly not on the 26 man in 22.

Ahh my bad. First I'd seen it.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/white-sox-sign-yacksel-rios-to-minor-league-deal.html Has a decent amount of MLB experience.

Crazy its been half a decade already.