Jordan Hicks To White Sox

[moonslav59]

42 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Neither are good enough.  I'd pass on Rengifo completely.

But Andujar could be interesting if we trade Duran.  He could platoon with Yoshi, and back up LF and 3B (poorly).  And we've traditionally done well with rightly ex-Yankee OF..

Yes, these options only look interesting if we trade someone from the 26. We will likely be adding an infielder, so the need for a platoon beyond Romy might still be questionable.

[JoeBrady]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Romy rakes against LHPs. How many slots are we platooning?

Be specific.

Assuming we trade Duran (or Abreu), I see it as 10 games each for Anthony, Ceddanne, and Abreu, 15 games subbing Mayer, and it could be 50 games platooning Yoshi.  I don't think Yoshi needs a lot of platooning, but Andujar has roughed up lefties recently.

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Romy rakes against LHPs. How many slots are we platooning?

Be specific.

I guess we may choose to platoon Masa with Romy at DH, but we also have Campbell, if needed at DH. (It might be his best position... LOL)

Now, if we don't add anyone, Romy may platoon w DHam at 3B and Mayer plays FT at 3B. You wanna platoon Mayer with Andujar? Is there room for DHam, then? We only get 4 subs and one is a catcher and one is an OF'er. Romy-DHAM plus ____?

If they wanted another platoon OFer, they would have re-signed Refsnyder. I'd be surprised if they signed Andujar. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, UtahSox said:

The no trade route: thoughts on 

 Andujar+ Rengifo add?

platoon Andujar and M Mayer at 3b

platoon R Gonzalez and Rengifo at 2b

I can’t believe this is where we are. 

Rengifo seems unexciting, but he’s a pretty good bounce back candidate.   He’s not much for power, maxing out in the 15-18 HR range, but he’s is a very good 2b defensively…

[mvp 78]

Just now, JoeBrady said:

Assuming we trade Duran (or Abreu), I see it as 10 games each for Anthony, Ceddanne, and Abreu, 15 games subbing Mayer, and it could be 50 games platooning Yoshi.  I don't think Yoshi needs a lot of platooning, but Andujar has roughed up lefties recently.

Andujar is great at hitting lefties, but there are only so many platoon guys that you can put onto a roster IMO.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Rengifo seems unexciting, but he’s a pretty good bounce back candidate.   He’s not much for power, maxing out in the 15-18 HR range, but he’s is a very good 2b defensively…

A switch hitter who doesn't pull the ball at Fenway? Not sure he's getting to 15 HR in BOS. He had a good defensive year at 2b last year, but was not good the few before then. Can't say I watch a lot of late night Halos games though.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

They very well might think some combo of Romy-DHam-KC will be "good enough" to cover 2B and also maybe platoon with Mayer at 3B (Eaton in that mix?)

It's not a horrible idea in isolation, but when you look  at the lost 1150 PAs from 2025 from our top batters, where else can we make up some ground.

Fine, say Anthony will get 300 more PAs and Contreras will outhit Toro, but is that enough?

I think many of us don't think so.

We're not getting KMarte. The best players we might get are Paredes, Hoerner, Shaw of Donovan. If someone has a 5th player, let us know.

Seager

[drewski6]

42 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

A switch hitter who doesn't pull the ball at Fenway? Not sure he's getting to 15 HR in BOS. He had a good defensive year at 2b last year, but was not good the few before then. Can't say I watch a lot of late night Halos games though.

Well like Utah said, cant believe this is where we are.

Im not sure why but Rengifos name has always sounded a little like he could be a character on street fighter to me.  Maybe something about my ears hear Rengifo and think Zangief?

1. He lets us keep Duran (our best acquisition of this offseason)
2. I like his name
3. I had him on a fantasy team 4 years ago

This is where we are, might be fine. Certainly better than trading Duran to sure up the defense.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I actually thought we could manage with him at 1B, until we needed a DH, and with an OF'er trade, that could happen, despite Masa still being on the 40. (Masa has 2 years left.)

Playing some 1B could happen, too, but Contreras has 2 years + an option year.

We'd have a better offense with Suarez at 3B not DH.

We would have a better offense with Suarez at DH, it would push Cedanne to 2b and Suarez > Masa

But Breslow doesnt care about offense

[drewski6]

54 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If they wanted another platoon OFer, they would have re-signed Refsnyder. I'd be surprised if they signed Andujar. 

Well things have changed since we deprioritized Refsnyder

[drewski6]

52 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Andujar is great at hitting lefties, but there are only so many platoon guys that you can put onto a roster IMO.

6 platoon guys, 3 platoons and backup catcher for bench.  Unless you platoon at catcher, than 8 but thats not something teams usually do (platoon C)

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

We would have a better offense with Suarez at DH, it would push Cedanne to 2b and Suarez > Masa

But Breslow doesnt care about offense

How much better is Suarez than Yoshida?  
 

In the past 3 years, Suarez’ OPS is .775.  In that same timeframe, Yoshida’s is .762…

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

How much better is Suarez than Yoshida?  
 

In the past 3 years, Suarez’ OPS is .775.  In that same timeframe, Yoshida’s is .762…

That's Suarez playing fulltime vs Masa having to be platooned. 

Last 2 years:

Suarez 806

Masa 742

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

That's Suarez playing fulltime vs Masa having to be platooned. 

Last 2 years:

Suarez 806

Masa 742

How is Suarez outside of Arizona?

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

How is Suarez outside of Arizona?

Better if you can exclude the 195 games in SEA 82 tOPS+.

BOS 218 tOPS+, 10 G, 4 HR

NYY3 124 tOPS+4

CIN 112 tOPS+ (he should do well there as a DH)

 

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Assuming we trade Duran (or Abreu), I see it as 10 games each for Anthony, Ceddanne, and Abreu, 15 games subbing Mayer, and it could be 50 games platooning Yoshi.  I don't think Yoshi needs a lot of platooning, but Andujar has roughed up lefties recently.

Last year, we faced 45 LH'd SP'ers. Since Romy is not playing OF, I don't see that platoon there for Romy- maybe 15-20 for Mayer and 20-25 for Masa at DH and 5-10 at 1B. 

That leaves none for 2B, assuming we add someone who does not need a platoon vs LHPs. (Donovan might.)

I know people will hate hearing this, and I don't love the idea, but if Duran is traded, I think Masa plays LF when an OF'er needs a rest. I doubt we add KC to the 26 to rise the bench.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, drewski6 said:

We would have a better offense with Suarez at DH, it would push Cedanne to 2b and Suarez > Masa

But Breslow doesnt care about offense

But on offense, Masa>Rafaela. Talking just offense...

The offense would be better with Suarez at 3B, Masa at DH and Rafaela on the bench.

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Seager

So, Paredes, Hoerner, Shaw, Baty & Seager?

Donovan

E Tovar???

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

That's Suarez playing fulltime vs Masa having to be platooned. 

Last 2 years:

Suarez 806

Masa 742

If you go to the two previous years, before Yoshi's injury, it was .750/.775.  If you go to Sept, after Yoshi was recovered, he had .837.  I expect Suarez to be a better offensive player, but I wouldn't expect a material difference.

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If you go to the two previous years, before Yoshi's injury, it was .750/.775.  If you go to Sept, after Yoshi was recovered, he had .837.  I expect Suarez to be a better offensive player, but I wouldn't expect a material difference.

I kinda see the same comp on offense between Duran and Masa at DH, and that's one major reason I think a trade makes sense.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

But on offense, Masa>Rafaela. Talking just offense...

The offense would be better with Suarez at 3B, Masa at DH and Rafaela on the bench.

I dont think Suarez as a 3b (everyday) was realistic.  This could have been the lineup sometimes, but I dont think Suarez could give you more than 70 games at 3b.  Which is fine cuz Raf shouldnt sit for 100% either, but it doesnt really matter anymore.

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I dont think Suarez as a 3b (everyday) was realistic.  This could have been the lineup sometimes, but I dont think Suarez could give you more than 70 games at 3b.  Which is fine cuz Raf shouldnt sit for 100% either, but it doesnt really matter anymore.

E Suarez is not crippled: he just sucks on D.

He started 152 games at 3B in 2025 at age 34, and will age so quickly he can only go about 70 in 2026?

I would not be happy with his D at 3B anymore than I was on Devers, but Devers was always an overall plus. Suarez may not be with any sort of decline on offense. The short term deal and lower than expected pay makes me wonder, and not that he can't trot out to 3B 140 times this season.

[UtahSox]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Romy rakes against LHPs. How many slots are we platooning?

Be specific.

I guess we may choose to platoon Masa with Romy at DH, but we also have Campbell, if needed at DH. (It might be his best position... LOL)

Now, if we don't add anyone, Romy may platoon w DHam at 3B and Mayer plays FT at 3B. You wanna platoon Mayer with Andujar? Is there room for DHam, then? We only get 4 subs and one is a catcher and one is an OF'er. Romy-DHAM plus ____?

Here is what I envision… No room for DHam

RHP	LHP
J Duran CF	J Duran DH
T Story SS	T Story SS
R Anthony LF	R Anthony LF
W Contreras 1B	W Contreras 1B
W Abreu RF	W Abreu RF
M Yoshida DH	R Gonzalez 2B
C Rafaela 2B	C Rafaela CF
M Mayer 3B	M Andujar 3B
C Narvaez C	C Narvaez C
C Wong C/inf	C Wong C/inf
K Campbell ?	K Campbell ?
M Andujar 3B/LF	M Mayer 3B/2B
R Gonzalez 2B/3B	M Yoshida OF

 

[UtahSox]

8 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

A switch hitter who doesn't pull the ball at Fenway? Not sure he's getting to 15 HR in BOS. He had a good defensive year at 2b last year, but was not good the few before then. Can't say I watch a lot of late night Halos games though.

I did……. Rengifo can play 3rd too. Solid defensively… offensively very meh

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Here is what I envision… No room for DHam

RHP	LHP
J Duran CF	J Duran DH
T Story SS	T Story SS
R Anthony LF	R Anthony LF
W Contreras 1B	W Contreras 1B
W Abreu RF	W Abreu RF
M Yoshida DH	R Gonzalez 2B
C Rafaela 2B	C Rafaela CF
M Mayer 3B	M Andujar 3B
C Narvaez C	C Narvaez C
C Wong C/inf	C Wong C/inf
K Campbell ?	K Campbell ?
M Andujar 3B/LF	M Mayer 3B/2B
R Gonzalez 2B/3B	M Yoshida OF

 

That could work, but KC will not used as UT. He'll play everyday in AAA or have a significant role at the MLB level. Sub Cora's binky, DHam, for KC and that could be a cheap way out of it for JH.

[drewski6]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

E Suarez is not crippled: he just sucks on D.

He started 152 games at 3B in 2025 at age 34, and will age so quickly he can only go about 70 in 2026?

I would not be happy with his D at 3B anymore than I was on Devers, but Devers was always an overall plus. Suarez may not be with any sort of decline on offense. The short term deal and lower than expected pay makes me wonder, and not that he can't trot out to 3B 140 times this season.

Have you ever looked at Suarez?  Hes got a bowling ball belly and hes 35.  Im not worried about him being a butcher at 3b.  I literally dont think he could do it even if we wanted him to and he wanted to.  For 165 games. Im sure he could get through a game.

There comes an age when you just cant play 3b anymore. I think its harder than 2b because the ball comes at you fast and so you crash around out there, plus you need a bigger body to make the throw.  I think thats why we prefer Mayer at 3b because he's 6'3 and its harder to find a big athletic guy than it is to find a 5'11 guy for 2b

Cant teach size

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Have you ever looked at Suarez?  Hes got a bowling ball belly and hes 35.  Im not worried about him being a butcher at 3b.  I literally dont think he could do it even if we wanted him to and he wanted to.  For 165 games. Im sure he could get through a game.

There comes an age when you just cant play 3b anymore. I think its harder than 2b because the ball comes at you fast and so you crash around out there, plus you need a bigger body to make the throw.  I think thats why we prefer Mayer at 3b because he's 6'3 and its harder to find a big athletic guy than it is to find a 5'11 guy for 2b

Cant teach size

Justin Turner switched from 3b to 2b when he couldnt play 3b anymore.  Than he switched to part time 2b / part time 1b when he couldnt play 2b 160 games anymore. Then he switched to part time 1b/part time dh when he couldnt really field anymore. Then he switched to pure backup/bench player.

Ive seen a few times the ability to field goes before the ability to hit. Old Mike Lowell comes to mind as a guy who would limp to the plate get solid wood on the ball and smash it into the gap then limp to first. And he couldnt field or really move but he could still hit and im not sure if theres value in carrying those kind of guys on your 26 man in 2026 (no offense to lowell).  

But I honestly dont think that suarez could get through 160 games or even 140 at 3b right now , and I dont mean "because they wouldnt be pretty"  I mean because his body would break.  Hes not an in shape 35.

[drewski6]

Hes chubby

[drewski6]

Like my cat

[moonslav59]

Again, I would not be happy watching Suarez at 3B on D, but he played over 150 games there in 2025. 

Suarez is gone. We can and should do better. Let's move on.