Construct A "Going For It" 2017 Roster

[Panerista]

Most of these scenarios have the appeal of projectile vomit during a one night stand.

[harkness99]

The only hope is that a new coaching staff somehow changes the culture and attitude...

 

Different players... same coaches basically the last 4 years and some of the most tight arsed offensive production I've seen in a 4 year span.

 

 

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Most of these scenarios have the appeal of projectile vomit during a one night stand.

 

But they are totally realistic scenarios! The likes of signing Gomez and/or Castro, taking on a contract and giving up almost nothing for Ethier, dealing lower level prospects hoping Norris bounces back. All these guys will be linked to the Sox by reports due to the holes on the roster and I think it'll be legitimate interest.

[caulfield12]

But they are totally realistic scenarios! The likes of signing Gomez and/or Castro, taking on a contract and giving up almost nothing for Ethier, dealing lower level prospects hoping Norris bounces back. All these guys will be linked to the Sox by reports due to the holes on the roster and I think it'll be legitimate interest.

 

How is that going to lead to any type of sustainable success?

 

The ONLY way to do that is position players who are under the age of 30.

 

This is more of the throwing darts against the wall strategy, and it just doesn't work anymore. And maybe only 5-10% of the fans will continue to fall for it.

[Lemon_44]

Trade Q, Frazier, Fulmer. + a prospect, or 2 to Colorado for Arenado and CarGo.

Trade some fringe prospects to Cincy for Homer Bailey(taking his contract) and Billy Hamilton.

 

LF-Cabrera

CF-Hamilton

RF-Eaton

3B-Arenado

SS-Anderson

2B-Lawrie

1B-Abreu

C-Avila??

DH- CarGo

 

SP-Sale, Rodon, Gonzales, Shields, Bailey

[fredmanrique]

This would involve spending a lot of money and still crossing fingers hard on guys like Shields. (What a pointless mostake that was, sigh)

 

I would like to spend this pretend $60 mil in incremental FA money on guys who are performing and still under 32. More of a get overall WAR approach.

 

Also, if this were a last stand for KW and crew (I doubt that it is) there will be one major deal that involves fulmer, adams, etc.

 

- Fulmer, Adams, plus ? for McCutchen (Such a Sox move)

- Sign Chapman, Jansen, Fowler and Ramos (Impossible, just an example of what it would take to actually win it all next year given the current situation. And does this team win it all? It would be up to major contributions from Abreu, Shields, Gonzalez, Robertson. ....)

 

It would at least contend with a farewell 170 mil payroll

 

[Lillian]

In a previous post, I argued that I'd prefer the Sox trade Sale than Quintana, and I gave several reasons. Although I don't advocate trading either one, I'd like to add one more reason why I would trade Sale over Quintana; The evidence is mounting that, at least this year, Q is actually a slightly better pitcher. I know that sounds ridiculous, but look at their respective game logs, and see if you don't agree. The margin isn't very great, but Quintana barely edges out Sale as the more consistently reliable Ace. What a shame that this team can't score enough runs to make him the Cy Young candidate that he deserves to be.

[shysocks]

In a previous post, I argued that I'd prefer the Sox trade Sale than Quintana, and I gave several reasons. Although I don't advocate trading either one, I'd like to add one more reason why I would trade Sale over Quintana; The evidence is mounting that, at least this year, Q is actually a slightly better pitcher. I know that sounds ridiculous, but look at their respective game logs, and see if you don't agree. The margin isn't very great, but Quintana barely edges out Sale as the more consistently reliable Ace. What a shame that this team can't score enough runs to make him the Cy Young candidate that he deserves to be.

Q's luck has really been one of the great shames of this team the last few years. SSS captured the perfect gif from his last start. This gif is everything you need to know about Jose Quintana.

 

http://www.southsidesox.com/2016/8/11/1243...e-extra-innings

 

(Can't get an embed link for whatever reason)

[Bob Sacamano]

In a previous post, I argued that I'd prefer the Sox trade Sale than Quintana, and I gave several reasons. Although I don't advocate trading either one, I'd like to add one more reason why I would trade Sale over Quintana; The evidence is mounting that, at least this year, Q is actually a slightly better pitcher. I know that sounds ridiculous, but look at their respective game logs, and see if you don't agree. The margin isn't very great, but Quintana barely edges out Sale as the more consistently reliable Ace. What a shame that this team can't score enough runs to make him the Cy Young candidate that he deserves to be.

 

He also makes less and has a year more of control which kind of plays into my thoughts as well. He also kind of reminds me of Buehrle and just goes about his business.

 

[FT35]

Here's my hypothetical. Obviously if they decide to "Go for it" I expect they believe most of the pieces to be on the current roster. So trades would be less radical and any major additions would be through FA signings (even though that hasn't worked out for us in recent years). I believe championship contending teams are built around pitching--when it comes to winning a post season series, it really comes down to who you run out there on the mound. You might as well start by rounding out your pitching staff so you go into the season with no theoretical "holes." But also maintaining the expectation of making a major SP acquisition if you're in a position of contention around the trade deadline so you can run 3 strong in the post season.

 

Pitching Staff:

 

Sign K. Jansen or A. Chapman as your main off season FA signing.

Sign J. Hellickson, B. Cecil, J. Smith

Trade Robertson and cash for a partial salary dump and whatever decent prospect you can get.

 

2017 Staff:

Chris Sale

Jose Quintana

Jeremy Hellickson

Carlos Rodon

James Shields/Miguel Gonzalez

 

Bullpen:

 

Kenley Jansen or Aroldis Chapman--closer

Nate Jones--setup

Joe Smith

Brett Cecil

Zach Putnam

Jake Petricka

Dan Jennings

Miguel Gonzalez--long relief

 

Position Players:

 

Sign Adam Lind or Justin Morneau, Dexler Fowler

Trade for Cameron Rupp

 

2017 Lineup:

 

CF Dexter Fowler

RF Adam Eaton

1B Jose Abreu

LF Melky Cabrera

3B Todd Frazier

DH Adam Lind/Justin Morneau

2B Brett Lawrie

C Cameron Rupp

SS Tim Anderson

 

Bench:

 

Tyler Salidino

Charlie Tilson

Zack Collins

Edited August 12, 2016 by FT35

[Quin]

In a previous post, I argued that I'd prefer the Sox trade Sale than Quintana, and I gave several reasons. Although I don't advocate trading either one, I'd like to add one more reason why I would trade Sale over Quintana; The evidence is mounting that, at least this year, Q is actually a slightly better pitcher. I know that sounds ridiculous, but look at their respective game logs, and see if you don't agree. The margin isn't very great, but Quintana barely edges out Sale as the more consistently reliable Ace. What a shame that this team can't score enough runs to make him the Cy Young candidate that he deserves to be.

 

It's also much easier to root for Q.

[lasttriptotulsa]

Bench:

Tyler Salidino

Charlie Tilson

Zack Collins

 

No chance in hell Collins will be on the bench. If for some reason he is in the Majors next year he will be starting everyday. Otherwise he will be in AA/AAA working on his catching.

[caulfield12]

The ship has sailed in terms of Fulmer/Adams (even as part of a bigger package) bringing back guys like Arenado, Cargo or McCutcheon...

 

You're not going to be able to trade Q for Arenado...no team would give up one of the five best young position players in all of baseball for a pitcher, considering how many pitching injuries there are these days.

[FT35]

No chance in hell Collins will be on the bench. If for some reason he is in the Majors next year he will be starting everyday. Otherwise he will be in AA/AAA working on his catching.

 

Yeah that was my stretch. I don't think he will make their opening day roster, but I think they may call him soon. I put him in there because he'll be 22, he has 3 years of college under his belt, he's already on the mature side as far as his hitting. But mostly I put him in there because they rush any sort of value in their system and having him on the roster makes it possible for them to only sign 1 cheap, low level backup catcher as a "Jimmy Rollins place holder" till they call up Zack. I figured we got a full year of Adrian Nieto and he was only 24, below average defensively and couldn't hit at all--why not Zack?

Edited August 12, 2016 by FT35

[lasttriptotulsa]

Yeah that was my stretch. I don't think he will make their opening day roster, but I think they may call him soon. I put him in there because he'll be 22, he has 3 years of college under his belt, he's already on the mature side as far as his hitting. But mostly I put him in there because they rush any sort of value in their system and having him on the roster makes it possible for them to only sign 1 cheap, low level backup catcher as a "Jimmy Rollins place holder" till they call up Zack. I figured we got a full year of Adrian Nieto and he was only 24, below average defensively and couldn't hit at all--why not Zack?

 

Apples and oranges with Collins and Nieto. Nieto was a fringe prospect who was acquired through the Rule 5 draft. Had he not been on the roster he would have had to been offered back to the team they acquired him from. Collins will be a top 100 prospect with sky's the limit potential. If he's here he's playing. He'll never be up to sit on the bench.

[caulfield12]

Yeah that was my stretch. I don't think he will make their opening day roster, but I think they may call him soon. I put him in there because he'll be 22, he has 3 years of college under his belt, he's already on the mature side as far as his hitting. But mostly I put him in there because they rush any sort of value in their system and having him on the roster makes it possible for them to only sign 1 cheap, low level backup catcher as a "Jimmy Rollins place holder" till they call up Zack. I figured we got a full year of Adrian Nieto and he was only 24, below average defensively and couldn't hit at all--why not Zack?

 

Well, if they want to destroy 2 out of 3 kids they draft from the 1st-3rd rounds by rushing them up because there are no better options or they don't want to spend on free agents, they're really going to run this franchise into the ground.

 

Collins shouldn't even be on the radar until 2018 if they're going to develop him as a catcher. That's where he has a premium value, and we haven't had a better than average catcher since AJ's prime years. It has been a long half decade of really bad performance at that position for the Sox.

 

Rush him up as a hitter, you might get an average AL DH in a couple of years, but that's not going to move this franchise into contention like having a Top 5-7 catcher would.

Edited August 12, 2016 by caulfield12

[tray]

Well, if they want to destroy 2 out of 3 kids they draft from the 1st-3rd rounds by rushing them up because there are no better options or they don't want to spend on free agents, they're really going to run this franchise into the ground.

 

Collins shouldn't even be on the radar until 2018 if they're going to develop him as a catcher. That's where he has a premium value, and we haven't had a better than average catcher since AJ's prime years. It has been a long half decade of really bad performance at that position for the Sox.

 

Rush him up as a hitter, you might get an average AL DH in a couple of years, but that's not going to move this franchise into contention like having a Top 5-7 catcher would.

 

I don't buy the notion that a player can be "ruined" by bringing him up to the major leagues to see what he has and to get some experience seeing major league pitching, especially when a team is out of contention. Epstein had Schwarber in the line-up for his bat and that was in the National league.

Bring Burdi up and let Zack take a few swats against major league pitchers this season. A side benefit of baptism by fire, like they are doing with Fulmer, is that it helps tank the team in the standings and raises the Sox position in next year's Draft. Win/Win, or maybe Lose/Win, but it's all good. Let the kids play, the season is ovah.