Jordan Hicks To White Sox

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

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.

Seems like people really wanted Suarez at 3b? Can't stop talking about it. 

Interesting that some posters are now saying that he couldn't be a 3b when all along they were saying he'd be fine. Cope? 

Sox didn't want him. Maybe HOU/CHC trade? Maybe stick with what they got? Time is running out as I've said before. 

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Seems like people really wanted Suarez at 3b? Can't stop talking about it. 

Interesting that some posters are now saying that he couldn't be a 3b when all along they were saying he'd be fine. Cope? 

Sox didn't want him. Maybe HOU/CHC trade? Maybe stick with what they got? Time is running out as I've said before. 

Me I wanted Suarez at certain points in free agency, these things twist and turn.  But I never wanted him 160 games at 3b.  Maybe 60 though.

[drewski6]

but sorry, i dont mean to prevent us from moving on - the convo on suarez can be over as hes now a red

I would like to re-bring up something ive said in the past however, which is my willingness to trade entire rosters with the reds, cuz for me, thats back on the table.

26 Red Sox for 26 cincy reds.  BTW if we are parking tolle and early in minors so they dont even get swapped, im prob leaning towards "id do it"

[moonslav59]

I wanted ES more than most and more after Alonso signed than right before he signed with SEA. 

I disliked his defense but think the need for a power RHB was and still is too high to not want him. Plus, he was the last big bat standing.

If he could hit .790 with 30+ bombs, I could handle his defense for one year and 140+ games. (Hell, if Contreras gets hurt he might have played there, instead. If Mayer & Romy do great, maybe we could have DH'd him more.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Interesting that some posters are now saying that he couldn't be a 3b when all along they were saying he'd be fine.

IMO, all the options are 'okay'.  It just depends on the price.  Too many variables.  My suspicion is that the RS want to start Mayer at 3rd, so he doesn't have move for the next 6 years.  If that's their plan, the Suarez doesn't fit and we move on.

[moonslav59]

52 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

IMO, all the options are 'okay'.  It just depends on the price.  Too many variables.  My suspicion is that the RS want to start Mayer at 3rd, so he doesn't have move for the next 6 years.  

Or he plays 3B until Story moves on or is moved to 2B. (Arias might have a say in that, too.)

[moonslav59]

I like mayer at 2B better, where he can be readily and more functionally platooned with Romy, if needed.

That's why I want Paredes as the #1 possible option.

Matt Shaw might be my #2.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I like mayer at 2B better, where he can be readily and more functionally platooned with Romy, if needed.

That's why I want Paredes as the #1 possible option.

Matt Shaw might be my #2.

It was reported the Red Sox like Mayer at 3B better, and I don’t know if they are concerned about platooning him, or not.

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Or he plays 3B until Story moves on or is moved to 2B. (Arias might have a say in that, too.)

I’m not so sure the Red Sox consider Mayer the SS of the future. If he gets entrenched at 3B the next two years they may leave him there. Of course that may depend on the health of Story, and Mayer too.

[Old Red]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Seems like people really wanted Suarez at 3b? Can't stop talking about it. 

Interesting that some posters are now saying that he couldn't be a 3b when all along they were saying he'd be fine. Cope? 

Sox didn't want him. Maybe HOU/CHC trade? Maybe stick with what they got? Time is running out as I've said before. 

It’s evident the Sox didn’t want him. Dealing with Houston, or the Cubs won’t be cheap either.

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I like mayer at 2B better, where he can be readily and more functionally platooned with Romy, if needed.

That's why I want Paredes as the #1 possible option.

Matt Shaw might be my #2.

I really don't want Romy at 3b. Is Mayer really going to try and play 162 this year? 😱

[JoeBrady]

25 minutes ago, Old Red said:

It’s evident the Sox did want him. Dealing with Houston, or the Cubs won’t be cheap either.

If the RS wanted Suarez, there is -0- doubt in my mind that they'd have beat the Reds' offer.

[moonslav59]

28 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I really don't want Romy at 3b. Is Mayer really going to try and play 162 this year? 😱

Mayer/Romy at 2B makes me feel more at ease.

If Mayer gets hurt...

If Mayer needs a platoon...

Yes, let's try to keep Romy off 3B. Since our DH may need a platoon, we can do that instead. If Mayer plays 3B, we may platoon Romy at 2B, depending on who the "other guy" is.

Paredes makes too much sense, to me.

[Old Red]

11 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If the RS wanted Suarez, there is -0- doubt in my mind that they'd have beat the Reds' offer.

Obviously an mis click. Fixed, but thanks.

 

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Mayer/Romy at 2B makes me feel more at ease.

If Mayer gets hurt...

If Mayer needs a platoon...

Yes, let's try to keep Romy off 3B. Since our DH may need a platoon, we can do that instead. If Mayer plays 3B, we may platoon Romy at 2B, depending on who the "other guy" is.

Paredes makes too much sense, to me.

I agree. I wish Mayer could just take over at 3b as an everyday guy, but that's just wishful thinking at this point. He's not ready to hit LHP and his body will push him to the IL sooner than later. 

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree. I wish Mayer could just take over at 3b as an everyday guy, but that's just wishful thinking at this point. He's not ready to hit LHP and his body will push him to the IL sooner than later. 

Realistically, maybe Eaton offers the best platoon and back up option for 3B, but hey, I was willing to roll the dice with E Suarez at 3B for a full year, so why should Romy at 3B scare me this much?

2B is easier to fill than 3B, although out putrid record at 2B since 2018 shows otherwise.

I'm pretty sure HOU wants Abreu and would give us Paredes. I just think the hang-up is with the Sox not wanting to trade Wilyer, wanting Duran to go instead, or wanting something with Paredes that HOU just won't add what we want, if anything (yet.)

I really do not want to give up 4 years of Abreu for 2 from Paredes. I think Paredes + King is fair, but maybe Brez wants more or HOU says no.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Mayer/Romy at 2B makes me feel more at ease.

If Mayer gets hurt...

If Mayer needs a platoon...

Yes, let's try to keep Romy off 3B. Since our DH may need a platoon, we can do that instead. If Mayer plays 3B, we may platoon Romy at 2B, depending on who the "other guy" is.

Paredes makes too much sense, to me.

Makes sense for you , not to you, hes a win now player on a win now team

[drewski6]

If you want a deal to happen go after win now player on win later teams.  Trade a younger player to a team that isnt ready to compete for a better player.  This is the tried and true way of trading that has been in existence since I started following baseball in 1990.

Getting win now players (prime or post prime) off win now teams (competitive) or win later players (young) off win later teams (not competitive) - for every 10,000 trades of this ilk that get kicked around, maybe 4 have happened.

We arent going anywhere because we are a win now team trying to get better, so we shouldnt be trading with other win now teams (if we want one of these trades to come to fruition).  We keep trading with St Louis not because Bloom knows our players but because Bloom is trying to trade for the future and we are trying to fortify the present.

Trading with the cubs or astros directly, is a long shot.  Just like at the deadline last year, when they were like "baseball trade, 2 teams trying to get better. Old school" and it never happened because they dont happen 99%.

Either trade young for prime or trade prime for young, but if the latter Crochet has to go cuz it would be a reset.  Stop trying to trade for 23 yr olds or 29 olds off competitive teams if you want to make a trade.  Someone like Brent Rooker is perfect. Cuz hes like 28 and the As are probs not gonna be competitive in his prime window but I could be wrong, I can see them passing us soon.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Realistically, maybe Eaton offers the best platoon and back up option for 3B, but hey, I was willing to roll the dice with E Suarez at 3B for a full year, so why should Romy at 3B scare me this much?

2B is easier to fill than 3B, although out putrid record at 2B since 2018 shows otherwise.

I'm pretty sure HOU wants Abreu and would give us Paredes. I just think the hang-up is with the Sox not wanting to trade Wilyer, wanting Duran to go instead, or wanting something with Paredes that HOU just won't add what we want, if anything (yet.)

I really do not want to give up 4 years of Abreu for 2 from Paredes. I think Paredes + King is fair, but maybe Brez wants more or HOU says no.

Problem is buyer-buyer trades are very very very very infrequent and very very very very hard to execute.  Find a team with a good 2b who is 28-31 on a team that is not gonna go anywhere. Its a challenge to find that guy, but if you do, it wont be hard to find a deal that works for both sides.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Either trade young for prime or trade prime for young, but if the latter Crochet has to go cuz it would be a reset.  Stop trying to trade for 23 yr olds or 29 olds off competitive teams if you want to make a trade.  Someone like Brent Rooker is perfect. Cuz hes like 28 and the As are probs not gonna be competitive in his prime window but I could be wrong, I can see them passing us soon.

The A's have talented young position players, but their rebuilding has a ceiling with no cellar; in other words, they rebuilt from the top down -- opposite of most of the successful blueprints that pour a foundation with...

... Starting Pitching.

The frequently last place Red Sox did it that way by finally acquiring their Crochet. Even the Boston champs from earlier this century knew the value of trading for a Pedro or Schill or Beckett or Sale. Start with an ace, then add another ace to put you over the top. 

Ranger Suarez anyone? Sonny Gray? It's folly to say they're the best when they haven't even played together yet, and the Dodgers have Cy Youngs from all over the world. But Boston's Big Three Arms -- if they can just maintain their past professionalism, will be tough to beat.

Here's a spin on your team-for-team trade proposal: while most of us (you and I, at least) would trade the Red Sox regulars for the A's regulars, would you swap entire 26-man rosters? I would venture to guess 99% of Talksox wouldn't... but maybe 98% of A's fans.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Makes sense for you , not to you, hes a win now player on a win now team

I'm giving them a win now return.

I guess they can put Altuve in LF again.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Problem is buyer-buyer trades are very very very very infrequent and very very very very hard to execute.  Find a team with a good 2b who is 28-31 on a team that is not gonna go anywhere. Its a challenge to find that guy, but if you do, it wont be hard to find a deal that works for both sides.

Buyer-buyer trades are more difficult and nearly impossible at deadline, but not winters. Not all winter trades are MLB players for prospects. ML'er for ML'ers are not plentiful, and some are more salary dumps than good player for good player, but they do happen.

I've never said the odds are this deal gets done. I do think HOU will trade Paredes, and they are a win now team, so that does set up the situation I am suggesting. They won't trade him for prospects.

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

The A's have talented young position players, but their rebuilding has a ceiling with no cellar; in other words, they rebuilt from the top down -- opposite of most of the successful blueprints that pour a foundation with...

... Starting Pitching.

The frequently last place Red Sox did it that way by finally acquiring their Crochet. Even the Boston champs from earlier this century knew the value of trading for a Pedro or Schill or Beckett or Sale. Start with an ace, then add another ace to put you over the top. 

Ranger Suarez anyone? Sonny Gray? It's folly to say they're the best when they haven't even played together yet, and the Dodgers have Cy Youngs from all over the world. But Boston's Big Three Arms -- if they can just maintain their past professionalism, will be tough to beat.

Here's a spin on your team-for-team trade proposal: while most of us (you and I, at least) would trade the Red Sox regulars for the A's regulars, would you swap entire 26-man rosters? I would venture to guess 99% of Talksox wouldn't... but maybe 98% of A's fans.

It’s amazing how many folks go out of their way to praise the Dodgers rotation like it’s some previously unseen collection of talent.  Last year, they had one pitcher in the top 12 in fWAR; Philadelphia had FOUR.  That’s the true best staff.

In fact, since Suarez (12th with 4.0 fWAR) is now in Boston, the Sox have more pitchers that were in the top 12 than the Dodgers did last year…

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

It’s amazing how many folks go out of their way to praise the Dodgers rotation like it’s some previously unseen collection of talent.  Last year, they had one pitcher in the top 12 in fWAR; Philadelphia had FOUR.  That’s the true best staff.

In fact, since Suarez (12th with 4.0 fWAR) is now in Boston, the Sox have more pitchers that were in the top 12 than the Dodgers did last year…

And that's not factoring in the fact that Dodger pitchers get hurt even more than Astros pitchers.

Projected 2026 fWAR and 2025 fWAR

BOS

5.8 Crochet 5.8

3.7 Gray 3.6

3.4 Suarez 4.0

1.9 Bello 1.9

12.9 Top 3 (13.4)

_________________

LAD

3.6 Yamo 5.0

2.9 Snell 1.9

2.6 Glasnow 1.6

2.3 Sheehan (2.1)/2.3 Ohtani (1.9)

9.1 Top 3 (9.0)

__________________

PHI (even w/o Suarez)

4.8 Sanchez 6.4

3.5 Luzardo 5.3

3.1 Nola 0.9

2.9 Wheeler 4.0

11.4 Top 3 (15.7)

_________________

DET

6.3 Skubal 6.6

2.5 Flaherty 2.5

2.2 Mize 2.4

2.0 Olsen 1.4

11.0 Top 3 (11.5)

[notin]

9 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Seems like people really wanted Suarez at 3b? Can't stop talking about it. 

Interesting that some posters are now saying that he couldn't be a 3b when all along they were saying he'd be fine. Cope? 

Sox didn't want him. Maybe HOU/CHC trade? Maybe stick with what they got? Time is running out as I've said before. 

I never thought he’d be a good 3b.  At least not in the past 3 years.

There was a time when he was pretty good there, but if you sign any player to a one year deal, apparently MLB is real stickler about it being the current year, and not, say, 2019…

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm giving them a win now return.

I guess they can put Altuve in LF again.

These trades still happen.  SD traded Soto and Houston traded Tucker.  Mil traded Burnes.  It's unusual, but it happens.  It's really just an excess for a need thing.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

These trades still happen.  SD traded Soto and Houston traded Tucker.  Mil traded Burnes.  It's unusual, but it happens.  It's really just an excess for a need thing.

This winter, we saw Semien for Nimmo, but they are kinda rare.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 hours ago, notin said:

It’s amazing how many folks go out of their way to praise the Dodgers rotation like it’s some previously unseen collection of talent.  Last year, they had one pitcher in the top 12 in fWAR; Philadelphia had FOUR.  That’s the true best staff.

In fact, since Suarez (12th with 4.0 fWAR) is now in Boston, the Sox have more pitchers that were in the top 12 than the Dodgers did last year…

I didn't go out of my way; I just mentioned LA because they have two rotations -- no one can ignore a club so rich it can basically rest Snell, Glasnow and Ohtani all summer so they'll be fresh in the postseason. They could care less about regular season WAR... as long as they win all the playoff wars.

[drewski6]

13 hours ago, notin said:

It’s amazing how many folks go out of their way to praise the Dodgers rotation like it’s some previously unseen collection of talent.  Last year, they had one pitcher in the top 12 in fWAR; Philadelphia had FOUR.  That’s the true best staff.

In fact, since Suarez (12th with 4.0 fWAR) is now in Boston, the Sox have more pitchers that were in the top 12 than the Dodgers did last year…

I agree with you, that the phillies pitching was 4x better than the dodgers pitching last year and yet the phillies (at least in my mind) never really had a chance to win that series.  I think LAD wins 8/10.

[drewski6]

15 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

The A's have talented young position players, but their rebuilding has a ceiling with no cellar; in other words, they rebuilt from the top down -- opposite of most of the successful blueprints that pour a foundation with...

... Starting Pitching.

The frequently last place Red Sox did it that way by finally acquiring their Crochet. Even the Boston champs from earlier this century knew the value of trading for a Pedro or Schill or Beckett or Sale. Start with an ace, then add another ace to put you over the top. 

Ranger Suarez anyone? Sonny Gray? It's folly to say they're the best when they haven't even played together yet, and the Dodgers have Cy Youngs from all over the world. But Boston's Big Three Arms -- if they can just maintain their past professionalism, will be tough to beat.

Here's a spin on your team-for-team trade proposal: while most of us (you and I, at least) would trade the Red Sox regulars for the A's regulars, would you swap entire 26-man rosters? I would venture to guess 99% of Talksox wouldn't... but maybe 98% of A's fans.

I do like the A's position players lol