ChiSox59

Pollock took $1M less guaranteed $, but gave himself the ability to earn that $1M back plus another $2M in incentives. So there's a bit more to the story. $5M buyout + $7M guaranteed with an additional $3M in incentives versus $13M player option. Not saying all is rosey in the Sox clubhouse, but AJ Pollock didn't exactly seem like a guy that was super fun to be around. Frankly, he did the Sox a favor by saving them $7M on a poor defensive weak side platoon OF, though honestly, I'd probably have rather give him those RF at bats against LHP than Clint Frazier.

I don't really think its that weird. Moncada has a bad back. Its bothered him all season. If you've ever dealt with any kind of back injury, you know it can be debilitating. You can be feeling better for a week, and then one weird movement and you're back to square 1. Its a brutal turn of events for the Sox and for Yoan, but back injuries can be brutal. TA is hurt. Hanser fucked his knee. He changed his batting mechanics and was hardly using his legs for awhile. He completely lost his swing, and now he's mentally fuc*ed. I do honestly think 2023 is a lost season for Tim at this point, but I also believe he will come back in 2024 looking more like the TA we all know. Whether or not that will be with the Sox remains to be seen, but I see no good reason to trade him. The FA SS market is putrid and headlined by Ahmed Rosario, Brandon Crawford, Enrique Hernandez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Elvis Andrus. That alone should give TA at 1/$14M a lot more value than once might think before they look into the larger picture.

Grandal isn't even close to the worst FA in Sox history.

I mean, this was obviously going to happen.

Someone would definitely take TA. I don't think he gets moved though, nor do I think he should get moved. Let him get his head right in the offseason, and then watch him bounce back in a big way in 24, and THEN trade him. TA wants to get paid, which means TA is going to show up a reinvigorated man in 2024.

I don't think Perez can catch better than Grandal tbh. But I think you gotta try. I have been as big of a Yaz guy as there is around here, but just no reason to continue to play him. The Sox absolutely need to target a blocked catcher in some of these trades.

I doubt there is much turn over on the position player side. Perhaps an Elvis DFA or giving him away, and maybe someone grabs Grandal for a couple million bucks. Otherwise, I doubt the lineup looks much different than now. The pitching staff should look a lot different, tho.

Pretty sure Colson will be in BHam after the break.

I am always jealous when I watch dead pull lefties come into the Cell and rake homers to RF. It feels like....forever...since we've had one of those.

Fitting poll for a Scott Merkin fan.

Sounds like Beni received a minor wrist procedure and will be ready to go after the ASB.

Lol, I will be sure to run my complaints through Balta1701 moving forward.

Rick Hahn deserves to lose his job. I said nothing to the contrary. Just pointing out the the Rays do in fact make mistakes, and giving away major league ready Joe Ryan for 200 PA from Nelson Cruz is one of the worst trades in the last few seasons.

Right. The guy I quoted was basically saying Rays only trade garbage and don’t make mistakes. They made an enormous mistake with Joe Ryan.

Sox need to target close to MLB SP for Giolito. MI prospects are the one thing they have a tiny bit of depth in. Highly doubt Cease and TA get moved so the other deals don’t make much sense - If you’re moving Cease tho, gonna need different package than that. Williams a nice prospect but another MI, and last thing Sox need is more 1B.

Kinda like when the Rays traded Joe Ryan for 2 months of 40 YO Nelson Cruz? If the Sox made that trade, this fanbase would be crucifying the FO.

Hahn is licking his chops at the possibilities a Sox sweep presents.

Back to 14 under.

No Colas. But Elvis continues to play.

Touche

Well, TBF, three days ago they kind of were still in contention in this shitty division. Thankfully (I guess - I'd still rather watch meaningful baseball), the Sox sort of removed any doubt the past few days, while the Twins swept KC. I imagine after the ATL, NYM and MN series following the break, all doubt will be officially gone.

The return on Giolito will not be light. Outside of the slight chance of Ohtani getting dealt, Giolito will be the best SP available in a market with over half the league in contention and pretty much everyone needing SP.

I hear ya, but Clevinger was cleared by the league and teams are absolutely desperate for SP. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him traded IF he comes back and makes a couple decent starts after the ASG. I don't think there is anyway a team would trade for Moncada AND pay him $19M next season. $10M I could see someone betting on the talent in a walk year. Of course this is all assuming these discussions happened in the offseason, if it happened the next month or so there is another $7-8M that needs to be accounted for. If you think Benintendi is stuck on the Sox at 4/$64M, not sure how Moncada is movable at 1/$29M.

Moncada simply is not tradable. Dude is owed $29M in 2024. Sox would have to eat $20M+. There is no way that is happening, and even if you want to pretend JR would allow it, nothing would make me more sick than paying Yoan $20M to play 140 games and put up a 4 WAR season elsewhere next season. I bet Benintendi is movable if Sox kicked in ~$6M to pro-rate his next 4 seasons down to $15M per. Benintendi has more or less been the same player he's been 2019-2022 this season. I don't think Sox will trade him, but none of the Sox OFs are "bad contracts" IMO. Eloy might not return you a ton, but he's absolutely moveable (if you want to consider him an OF).

Biggest thing for me - I am just ready for some new blood. This team so badly needs an attitude reset. I was hopeful that Pedro would the guy that could flip that script, but honestly - he's just not. I obviously don't know what he's like in the clubhouse behind closed doors, but in his interviews he seems like just about the biggest push over possible. Guy is way too nice. Its such a sad state of affairs. Amazing the Sox just absolutely squandered this window.