The Big Moves

[Panerista]

Most experts in baseball seem to think that, among rebuilding teams, the White Sox have done the best job situating themselves for future success. Unlike other organizations in rebuild mode, the White Sox are in the enviable position of having a system with the most top end talent.

 

I don't care how you justify the trade (if you want to go simply based on return, fine. If you want to deduct points for player lost, fine). Which do you like best?

Edited July 19, 2017 by Sox-35th

[Quin]

Sale deal has highest potential payoff, but getting the Q deal was a better deal.

[KnightsOnMintSt]

I think I would say the Sale trade just because the guys we got in return are so much closer to the big leagues and have had more success at higher levels.

[BaconOnAStick]

The Eaton trade was perfect. They got three arms that all figure to have ML success, all with wide open potential to be all star caliber, for an injury prone good-not-great OF that despite some nice plays and good OBP still never OPS'd over .800 in a Sox uniform. The Quintana trade was really nice too.

 

They settled on the Sale trade when they probably didn't need to. If Moncada is Robinson Cano nobody cares, though.

[Rowand44]

I'll go with the Sale deal. For my money we got the best hitting and best pitching prospect in baseball in that one, not to mention 2 other players that at least have some upside to be Major League players. Obviously you're trading a guy who is one of the 2 best pitchers in baseball so you better be getting a haul but the upside of that deal has the chance to be enormous.

[Panerista]

They settled on the Sale trade when they probably didn't need to. If Moncada is Robinson Cano nobody cares, though.

I felt that way at first, as well, but Kopech looks better than I thought he would be (the deal was kind of presented as MONCADA++). The last part is pretty much key. Moncada could alone make the Sale trade far and away the best.

 

I really only considered return, but when you consider what the trades cost, Eaton's trade gets honorable mention to me. If one of those guys pans out, I'm happy with that trade.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Sox-35th

[Buehrle>Wood]

We should have gotten a third piece in the Sale trade so I think settled is the right word. That's the worst trade of the bunch. He's a generational talent and about to be Cy Young winner. But yes, Robbie Cano and all that.

 

The fact we got 3 legit prospects for Eaton and not Q and Sale is something

[hi8is]

The Eaton trade was perfect. They got three arms that all figure to have ML success, all with wide open potential to be all star caliber, for an injury prone good-not-great OF that despite some nice plays and good OBP still never OPS'd over .800 in a Sox uniform. The Quintana trade was really nice too.

 

They settled on the Sale trade when they probably didn't need to. If Moncada is Robinson Cano nobody cares, though.

My exact sentiments

[knightni]

I chose Sale because Moncada is as good as two guys in value, but the Eaton trade had the most depth for Eaton's value.

[Dam8610]

They sold ridiculously high on Eaton. That trade has the potential to produce 3 TOR starters for the White Sox. That trade has the potential to be a Herschel Walker type trade, the other two don't.

[hi8is]

I think the Eaton deal easily has the lowest likelihood of regret by far. If one of the pitchers reachers their ceilings or two perform 75% of peak protection we win easy.

 

Sale is a Kopech injury from getting hairy. You really need Moncada to be a star. Sale has been the best player in baseball this year. Basabe/Diaz made up what I thought to be a surprisingly weak backend and their stock has gone way done since joining our Sox.

 

Q trade is basically if Jimenez is as advertised we win and anything else from the package is gravy.

This. 87,562 Ninja power up points for you my dude.

[steveno89]

I think the Eaton deal easily has the lowest likelihood of regret by far. If one of the pitchers reachers their ceilings or two perform 75% of peak protection we win easy.

 

Sale is a Kopech injury from getting hairy. You really need Moncada to be a star. Sale has been the best player in baseball this year. Basabe/Diaz made up what I thought to be a surprisingly weak backend and their stock has gone way done since joining our Sox.

 

Q trade is basically if Jimenez is as advertised we win and anything else from the package is gravy.

 

Moncada absolutely must pan out an be an above average mlb regular, or Kopech discovers how to harness his stuff and becomes a quality starter for that deal to make sense. Basabe/Diaz arrows are certainly trending downward.

 

Eaton deal looks to be the best, as we received three players that all have the potential to become starting and/or mlb contributors. Eaton's injury aside, I'm not sure the Nationals do not end up regretting sending three quality arms they could have used in a few years to the Sox. Outside of Fedde/Watson/Romero their system is very weak on arms after dealing Luzardo as well.

 

Q deal is 100% Jimenez or nothing basically. If he does not pan out we screwed up. Cease is a long way away from the majors, and I feel he likely ends up in the pen. Flete/Rose are organizational depth for a team that plans on contending.

Edited July 18, 2017 by steveno89

[ChiSox59]

The Eaton trade was perfect. They got three arms that all figure to have ML success, all with wide open potential to be all star caliber, for an injury prone good-not-great OF that despite some nice plays and good OBP still never OPS'd over .800 in a Sox uniform. The Quintana trade was really nice too.

 

They settled on the Sale trade when they probably didn't need to. If Moncada is Robinson Cano nobody cares, though.

 

Good post. I agree with most of it. But Adam Eaton is really really good; much better than a good OF. His contract makes him an incredible asset, injury be damned. But I agree - it was probably the best trade.

 

That being said, I think the Sox expected more out of Basabe this year. There was a a lot of chatter about him being a top 50ish prospect by 2018. That obviously isn't going to happen.

[steveno89]

Good post. I agree with most of it. But Adam Eaton is really really good; much better than a good OF. His contract makes him an incredible asset, injury be damned. But I agree - it was probably the best trade.

 

That being said, I think the Sox expected more out of Basabe this year. There was a a lot of chatter about him being a top 50ish prospect by 2018. That obviously isn't going to happen.

 

Basabe is the classic toolshed prospect who is missing a hit tool. To his benefit he is playing most of this season as a 20 year old in A+ ball. He is very likely to repeat in Winston Salem next season and will need to show considerable improvement with the hit tool. His stock is down for sure.

[knightni]

Basabe is the classic toolshed prospect who is missing a hit tool. To his benefit he is playing most of this season as a 20 year old in A+ ball. He is very likely to repeat in Winston Salem next season and will need to show considerable improvement with the hit tool. His stock is down for sure.

He hit for low average (.264) last year, but showed power (12 HR) in low A.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

Sale dale has highest upside, but Eaton deal has lowest risk. And as it stands extremely early in the moves, Eaton has been lost for the year, so Nationals have extremely little to show for the trade so far, while Lopez has looked very good recently, and Dunning has been exciting all year.

[beautox]

I felt the Sale deal was one piece light and would've preferred a higher prospect instead of depth in Basabe and Diaz, there is still plenty of time for both of them to turn around their poor showing this year. The Eaton deal I was over the moon with and still am; I was pleasantly surprised when Hahn decided to sell high and I hope that trend continues with Avisail. The Q trade was fair, I was expecting it to be a 3 piece deal and the third piece having some more weight like Jose Albertos, Adbert Alzolay or Aramis Ademan.

 

[Chicago White Sox]

I think the Eaton deal easily has the lowest likelihood of regret by far. If one of the pitchers reachers their ceilings or two perform 75% of peak protection we win easy.

 

Sale is a Kopech injury from getting hairy. You really need Moncada to be a star. Sale has been the best player in baseball this year. Basabe/Diaz made up what I thought to be a surprisingly weak backend and their stock has gone way done since joining our Sox.

 

Q trade is basically if Jimenez is as advertised we win and anything else from the package is gravy.

I agree 100% with this take. We sold high on Eaton and were able to land three quality prospects. While I think the media's view on the trade being a complete heist was over the top, I think Hahn easily extracted the most value he could for Eaton.

 

Obviously it's hard to do much better than Moncada & Kopech as centerpieces, but the backend was definitely weak. I think the overall return was pretty much fair for a 6 WAR type pitcher with three years of control, but we definitely didn't receive a premium (which we should have) and we definitely did not receive best pitcher on the planet value. It's a trade we had to make ultimately, but it still feels a little light to me.

 

As for Jose, you're spot on with Jimenez. He pretty much makes or breaks the trade. And given how he's pitched this year, I think it was a somewhat fair return and a trade we had to make, but I do think the Cubs got off a little light. Cease is fine as a #2 piece, but I fully expected at least a Basabe caliber prospect to round things out.

 

Overall, I think Hahn did well with all three trades, but the Eaton one still stands out as his best move.

[steveno89]

He hit for low average (.264) last year, but showed power (12 HR) in low A.

 

Sox were hoping he could build on his solid numbers from 2016, but he has taken a step backwards against better high A competition. He is young for the level, and repeating should help him. Next season will be very telling if he is a trending towards bust or still a prospect.

[Panerista]

Not that I think this is the best move, but last night's move is now in the poll.

[iamshack]

I love the Eaton deal, but I think both Moncada and Kopech are going to be studs. Could be the only two prospects in all of baseball, taken together, that could make me feel ok about watching Sale in Boston right now.

[RockRaines]

Moncada has to become a star and Kopech has to stay healthy. If that happens its a clear decision.

[ChiSoxJon]

Not sure what my favorite deal is (probably the Eaton deal considering the haul of 3 major prospects), but I don't love this NYY deal, it's confusing to me, wish JR would have ate the money thus keeping Kahnle and not having to take on Clippard, I find it hard to believe D=Rob and Frazier bring back Clarkin and Polo, D-Rob should bring back a guy on the back 50 of the Top 100 at least

[Balta1701]

Not sure what my favorite deal is (probably the Eaton deal considering the haul of 3 major prospects), but I don't love this NYY deal, it's confusing to me, wish JR would have ate the money thus keeping Kahnle and not having to take on Clippard, I find it hard to believe D=Rob and Frazier bring back Clarkin and Polo, D-Rob should bring back a guy on the back 50 of the Top 100 at least

I very much disagree with this and if I were an opposing GM I would not have given up a top 100 prospect for Robertson unless the White Sox took on much of his contract.

[Soha]

Not sure what my favorite deal is (probably the Eaton deal considering the haul of 3 major prospects), but I don't love this NYY deal, it's confusing to me, wish JR would have ate the money thus keeping Kahnle and not having to take on Clippard, I find it hard to believe D=Rob and Frazier bring back Clarkin and Polo, D-Rob should bring back a guy on the back 50 of the Top 100 at least

 

I think there's a little bit of a glut of relievers available this year - as opposed to last year. Probably from teams seeing what the Cubs and Tribe paid last year. I'm skeptical that the Sox would have landed a top 100 prospect for Robertson. Maybe, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Edited July 19, 2017 by Soha