BaconOnAStick

Fisher HR

On his way to W-S?

I see next year as a contention year. The sell off is over and it's not worth throwing away entire years to get one draft pick, especially in baseball where the draft is even more of a crapshoot. Don't have a problem with doing it this year, but all the Sox top assets next year will be future cornerstones that won't be traded away. Theyve done a great job building a talent pipeline for the next three years, no point in just sitting around waiting for Rutherford or Robert. They've got Moncada up now, Giolito and Lopez aren't far behind and Dunning, Jimenez and Kopech will probably debut next year. Try to win around that, so when Robert, Rutherford, Burger, Hansen, Burdi etc. come up they are piling onto what is (hopefully) an already successful group. Knowing Hahn and Kenny I think this is their plan. Expect to be around .500 in 2018 and start really going for it in 2019 with their eyes on the prize.

Cubs people thought his bat was MLB ready in Spring Training this year. I think the Sox are keeping him at W-S because that's the level he played at for the Cubs, he's clearly ready to move up.

I think it will help him a lot, but they will wait for one of his good starts before the org brings him up. Everything else today has been great

So when does Zavala pass Collins?

Worth exploring, I have serious doubts they would actually do it. If the Astros offer Tucker or Rockies offer Rodgers then fine, but he's a guy they don't need to trade away.

I like Avi and his work ethic a lot. But if they are trying to just completely flip over the roster I get it. Depends on the return, Avi is IMO worth much more than Kahnle but I doubt the market agrees.

Rutherford has almost the same offensive profile as Robles, it's just that Rutherford's power hasn't developed (yet) because he's been a part of a major league organization only a year compared to Robles' three.

I was messing around with this in my head and it took until like #25 before I felt comfortable ranking Fulmer and Basabe. I think Polo is really being underrated, his production in an age appropriate league is eye opening. I cannot understand ranking Basabe ahead of Adolfo...one is trending way up and the other is fading into irrelevance.

2018 team could be sneaky good, especially if the Sox keep Avi (though personally I'd rather trade him). Infield of Narvaez, Abreu, Moncada, Anderson and Delmonico and Yolmer as a utilityman with a kinda patchwork OF of Polo/Leury(probably a FA tbh)/Avi. And there will be midseason reinforcements, Jimenez is closer than his level indicates. A Rodon/Giolito/Lopez rotation is risky, but the upside there is stratospheric. Not to mention the absolute tidal wave of arms they have coming up behind them. I don't think they are going to be terrible for very long, this is an org designed for a quick turnaround that builds on itself with a steady amount of call ups between today (Moncada!) and Opening Day 2020.

Rutherford is not struggling.

Rutherford has a wonderful K/bb playing among first round draft picks only a year after being drafted out of high school. There's really no major warts on him, even if the power never comes he's got what it takes to be a standout LF.

I somehow thought Kahnle only had a season and a half of control left.

But there is not as much control left on Kahnle, and if he's dealt next deadline it would be as a rental. Also, if there is one thing the White Sox have in spades it's right handers with explosive stuff. They are in a pretty good position to replace Kahnle without ever noticing hes gone.

Even if he is the next Andrew Miller he's gone after next season. And what more could the Sox really have gotten for him next year? Rutherford is now where Torres was last deadline, I doubt they get more for him next deadline than Rutherford. Robertson and Frazier for Clarkin and Polo is a wash.

Before last year's draft their best OF prospect was probably Courtney Hawkins.

Sox killed the Yankees on this trade. They only took Frazier to spite the Red Sox, and seeing what JD Martinez fetched there's not a lot of interest in average-ish second half rentals so even if he was only used to grease this deal its worth it. Robertson is nowhere near the big relievers traded last year, you really think his stock improved that much from the Trade That Wasn't which would've netted the Sox Luzardo and Ward? Clarkin or Polo alone are worth Robertson. Kahnle for Rutherford is robbery.

Waivers.

Would've rather seen Delmonico.

Yea I don't like this call up now that I think about it. Moncada has work to do, this is not being done for baseball reasons.

Tito Polo will probably see ML innings later this year.

Rutherford only has to experience normal development to elevate himself to being one of the ten or so best prospects in baseball. He has no real red flags.

Weird timing.

Until a couple months ago I wanted to take back the Almonte/Kahnle trade, now we just dealt Kahnle with two guys of middling value for a lefty hitting 20 year old OF prospect who just needs to develop his power to become a top 10 overall prospect.