Liu is ranked 24 at SoxProspects: https://soxprospects.com/players/liu-chih-jung.htm
Perales is ranked 42 at SoxProspects: https://soxprospects.com/players/perales-luis.htm
@BenBadler
Our top 100 international prospect signings of 2019.
Includes up to date scouting reports on every player heading into 2020.
It’s our deepest dive ever on an international signing class.
@SPChrisHatfield
Sox on list:
26. RHP Chih-Jung Liu
27. RHP Luis Perales
49. OF Juan Chacon
97. OF Jhostynxon Garcia
Astros owner Jim Crane, realizing what lies ahead, had to find the man that would best insulate the clubhouse from the outside noise, and threats, keeping them together.
He chose Baker.
Baker is a cult of personality apparently?
So then they have to sell the salary dump to a fanbase that pays through the nose for tickets. Yikes.
I think that's why it's still 50/50 they just ride with Mookie for one more year.
The Padres are a "small market team" that wants to limit payroll and horde prospects. They'd love to have Mookie, but don't want to cover $27M since that's like a quarter of their team's salary. They are willing to take on additional salary, but only to a certain extent.
Henry has stated that he's fine going into the season with not resetting. My guess is the Padres since their GM is on the hot seat. Another bad season and he's gone.