ChiSox59

It could definitely be done. Heck, give Harper an opt out after 4 years. The Sox just need to be willing to operate in the $150M-200M range for 2020-2025. But Hahn has already said 2 isn't happening. Maybe if Machado gets 7/$220M or something it opens the door a crack, but I doubt it.

I bet Sox try to rekindle the talks if they do eventually land MM. I'd still really prefer to see someone other than Engel in CF everyday, and I don't think Jay in a legitimate everyday option in CF.

Did Hahn already do his presser today for 1st day of ST?

Looks like he used a block glove with orange lettering for the majority of his time in BAL. Used a tan glove with black trim in LAD and perhaps his final season in BAL as well.

I agree the deal isn't done. There are just a lot of people seemingly speculating that MM and the Sox have agreed to terms and they're waiting for *something to announce. I just don't buy it. The black and silver gloves are very intriguing tho.

I just don't understand what the Sox and Manny would be waiting for to announce if he's actually agreed to anything. There is definitely a ton of smoke , but what is the benefit for anyone of not just getting on with it if there is actually an agreement.

Stroman knows no more than any of us.

I'd rather roll with the guys we have in the pen. Our pen in Charlotte is loaded with major league ready guys. This is the year to give those guys experience. Its already a crowded group. I suppose go to town on minor league deals, though. I would rather see them do that with a few SP.

This. This is really all there is to it. Hahn and Jerry have played this correctly, but man it has been a tough process to follow for the die hards. And if they do ultimately get outbid, they only have themselves to blame.

I definitely would have rolled the dice on Hudson had we not added Colome and Herrera.

Oh I agree. I don't think Narvaez is this great player. Just in hindsight, we could have just signed someone similar to Colome on the FA market, likely for less money, and still have Narvaez (who I'd much rather have than McCann). If Narvaez has another offensive season like last (BIG if), and improves his framing some, he could be a pretty decent trade chip, or a worthwhile platoon catcher. Oh well. Not that big of a deal at the end of the day. Narvaez is more likely to be out of the bigs in 2 seasons that he is a legitimate major league catcher.

I'd prefer Moncada lower in the lineup so he can just focus on hitting and not worry about the other things that come with leading off or batting second, but think he probably will bat 2nd against RHP. He should definitely be lower against LHP. Batting in front of Machado, Abreu and Eloy would theoretically give him better pitches to hit, however.

Really? Why? Don’t like it.

The Marlins are an awfully run baseball organization.

The ranking among our OF prospects is somewhat irrelevant. He do have an abundance of good OF prospects, but that doesn't mean we should sell low on them. As I just said in the post above, I'd be fine moving Rutherford in a deal, but not in a deal for a guy with 2 years of control in a window that is unlikely for hte team the be competitive. And to answer your question, I would put him 4th or 5th. Eloy, Robert, Adolfo, Rutherford/Basabe, Gonzalez. I think Rutherford, Basabe and Gonzalez are on about equal footing in terms of future value IMO, though I am not saying they are comparable players.

I agree that Rutherford is a guy I would be OK losing. But not for 2 years of Joc Pederson. I'd trade him a significant piece of deal to get a controllable SP. But not 2 years of control of Joc Pederson when the Sox are still unlikely to be competitive.

Yah, personally just not a huge Alfaro far. I also think Cease is a better get than Sanchez, mainly because he's closer and more certain to be a big leaguer, so that helps close some of the gap. Mainly just playing along with the question, tho.

Same. I wouldn't trade Rutherford for Joc straight up.

I think Joc is fairly valuable to the Sox if they land Machado. I understand that you likely disagree. We have a black hole in CF for the next 2 seasons at least. I think Bummer + Fulmer is a pretty good trade for the Sox, I just personally like Fulmer and would like to give him one last real shot at a pen spot without jerking him around.

I'd love to do that deal without Fulmer, but gotta give something to get something.

In other news, the Marlins are going to be really bad next season.

I'd says Cease, Collins and Flores is as close to a comp as we'd get. Alfaro was more highly regarded than Collins at one point, but his stock has definitely faded.

I was moreso referring to a discussion about fan and fan interaction regarding Machado. If they don't know how good the guy is, their opinion on the matter is rather worthless. Obviously the common fans opinion is valuable to the organization itself. Not sure how you categorized that as gatekeeping, but whatever.

Who even cares about someone's baseball opinions who doesn't know that Machado is one of the best players in the league. Its a worthless opinion.

I completely agree. Didn't love the Narvaez trade when it happened - and as the RP market has developed, it looks even worse. I was all for moving Narvaez, but didn't really get it for a appropriately paid solid RP on a 2 year deal, when similar assets were available for the same or less cost on the FA market. At the end of the day, I just don't think there is a large market for bad defensive catchers, with minimal track record and a perhaps flukey season of success under their belt. But I too would have held onto Narvaez if the best return was Colome - all things being considered.