ChiSox59

The Sox have been super reluctant to move meaningful pieces around, so I kind of doubt we see that happen. But I totally agree. Positional flexibility is something the good teams have been doing in recent years. It helps solve log jams, work around injuries and get players at bats. It makes a ton of sense. I don't see Ricky as someone who is willing to implement that with key players though.

Engel will be back regardless. At worst, he's the 4th OF.

Yep, totally agree.

I'd love to give Rondon a chance. That's one benefit of moving Moncada now. But realistically, you don't move a guy like Moncada to give a guy like Rondon a chance. You'd moreso be doing it for Madrigal down the line. I just think Rondon has a chance to be something. His power last season was no joke. One benefit to Rondon, is he does have an option left so he can start the year in AAA.

Sox also added Kopech back to 40 man, which now sits at 34. Only super easy fat left to trim is Tilson and Gomez. Guys that may be on chopping block but harder decisions: Leury, Avi, Delmonico, Cordell, Minaya, Clarkin and Covey. By my count the 34 does not include Gonzalez or Santiago, both FA.

I know you live in Boston or whatever, but man, all your posts are about the Red Sox. Like every single one.

As expected.

Watch the Sox shock the world and sign both Machado and Harper. Wouldn't that be sumthin'...

Exactly, and i think the dodgers are a long shot. They already have plenty of infielders with Seager back next season. It's really Phillies, Yanks or White Sox.

Not to interrupt in dick measuring contest but.... I'm keeping Moncada at 2B at least for 2019. CF is intriguing, and I wouldn't hate them at least letting him get some PT out there assuming the Sox don't go out and sign AJ Pollock, but Moncada is still my primary 2B heading into next season. Madrigal at the very least is one full season away, so I am not messing with Moncada more than just perhaps adding some positional versatility (which I really wish the Sox did more often) in 2019.

I'd take Ozzie over Ricky any day of the week.

Who cares?

Several people have suggested that LaMarre should be in the Sox plans next season, yes.

To answer my own question, Scahill and LaMarre. So there goes a bunch of poster's theories that Ryan LaMarre was actually a thing and would be retained.

Do we know who else was outrighted besides Farquhar and Smith?

Wish kevan the best. A little surprised they didn’t want to ship castillo off and keep kevan but no big loss.

One of the top 3-4 FA and another top 10 or so FA signed with the Phillies after a 66 win season last year. Not every major FA decides to sign with the "blue bloods". Signing MM is a long shot, I get that, I just don't think the Sox will have to blow the rest of the market out of the water to land him (they probably wouldn't anyway).

Who do you consider to be MM main suitors?

I was probably off a bit on Ryu. With his injury history and age, I kind of doubt he's going to get a monster deal. But perhaps something like 3/$45-50 is more realistic. With regard to Machado and the bolded, your take is that the Sox will have to pay $20-30M above the next highest bidder to get him? Why? Just because the Sox haven't typically played in the monster FA pool? I've never understood that seemingly common opinion of many Sox fans on here. You really think the Sox are that looked down upon by players around the league? Just seems so little brotherish. I don't think Machado is going to take a discount to play for the Sox, or for anyone, but I do think he'll go to the highest bidder, assuming its not super close to his preferred location (where ever that its). If the Sox are the highest bidder, he probably signs here. They won't need to blow the next closest bid out of the water by like 10-15% as so many around here seem to think.

Right. But Hahn has specifically mentioned he'll be looking to do prospect for prospect deals this winter, so it definitely merits some discussion.

Hah, is this 100% confirmed? This changes everything on Jones. I was always assuming he'd be around because I thought he'd cost more to buy-out than to retain, but if this is true, this is a much tougher decision for the Sox than I thought.

Well, in my proposed deal of Avi, Rutherford and Lambert for Gray and Welker, we're also acquiring a similarly ranked prospect in Welker that plays a position of need in the Sox system (3B). Its basically a prospect for prospect deal. You'd really be trading Avi and Lambert for Gray.

What do you think Ryu will get?

Congrats to Adam!! a big accomplishment in itself.

A little bored at work today, so decided to start a fun thread on offseason moves. The idea isn't necessarily to predict what you think would happen, but what you would try do if you were in Rick Hahn's spot. I decided to have a little fun with mine, so its definitely far-fetched. But I think this is a team that could be super interested, adds guys to the next core without compromising the future, and stays within a payroll range that the Sox have operated at before the rebuild. My offseason moves: Sign Machado - 8 years @ $290M Sign AJ Pollock - 3 years @ $68M Sign Hyun-Jin Ryu - 2 years @ $19M Sign Daniel Hudson - 2 years @ $11M Trade Avi Garcia, Blake Rutherford and Jimmy Lambert for Jon Gray and Colton Welker Trade Kevan Smith or add him to DFA list below if needed DFA: LaMarre, Tilson, Scahill, Gomez and Farquahar Let FA to be Shields, Gonzalez, Santiago walk Roster as of May 1st (estimated 2019 salary): 1B: Abreu ($18M) 2B: Moncada ($570k) SS: Anderson ($1.4M) 3B: Machado ($37M) LF: Leury Garcia ($2M) CF: Pollock ($23M) RF: Eloy ($560k) DH: Palka ($560k) / Davidson ($1M) platoon Catcher: Castillo ($7.25M) / Narvaez ($570k) platoon BN: Davidson, Narvaez, Yolmer ($3.5M) and Engel ($560k) Rotation: Rodon ($3.5M), Lopez ($570k), Giolito ($570k), Ryu ($10M) and Gray ($2.5M) Bullpen: Jones ($1.25M), Hamilton ($560k), Hudson ($5.5M), Fry ($560k), Frare ($560k), Ruiz ($560k) and Burdi ($560k) Total payroll: ~ $122.75M