Jack Flap

Sounds like a job for Chris Sale. Get it done, DD!

I assumed absolutely none of that was serious, but whatever.

Yeah, the haul the Yankees got for Chapman is scary...imagine if they decide to move Miller after all, too. Kimbrel should be back soon, it sounds like. Dave did a great job striking early to land Ziegler, and with the Pomeranz deal and the apparent re-emergence of E-Rod we have the makings of a solid rotation at last. I don't see us needing to make another major move at this point, unless something favorable drops into our laps.

Now I have to root for the Cubs to lose so people don't start thinking trading a bunch of prospects for a 3 month rental reliever is a good idea.

Whatever one thinks of the whole situation morally, it was and is a brilliant baseball move.

Yup. Price is a bum, but let's get the guy with the 5.49 ERA and 4.66 FIP to ride in and save our season. The A's would have to be selling stupidly low on Gray for me to have any interest.

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst Clubs talking with Red Sox say they're still trying to do "something big." But for what high-end starter? Chris Sale? Sonny Gray? Mystery P?

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 11m11 minutes ago Manhattan, NY #Yankees plan is deal Chapman, play next 4-5 days, see if make inroads in race. If so, will go for it. If not, Miller, Beltran, etc in play

Lifted from that link: Betts said he's been dealing with the issue the "last couple of days" and that he felt it Friday after throwing Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier out at second in the top of the fourth inning. Betts was removed from Friday's game for precautionary reasons before the top of the fifth and was replaced by Michael Martinez. "[i feel] pretty good today," Betts said. "Have to go for the treatment, make sure everything is clear before I get back out there." Betts said the treatment has mainly consisted of icing his knee in order to get the swelling down. Red Sox manager John Farrell said that Betts might need a couple of days to return, but "everything points to this being a short-term situation." I'm not a doctor or anything, but I haven't seen anything here to indicate this is a major concern or a potential long-term issue. I'm not much into trying to psychoanalyze players based on media reports, but Sale does seem rather...combustible, shall we say. It's mainly the obscene cost that would keep me away, though.

Jacoby did it in 2011.

An MRI showed some swelling and fluid in his knee, but no structural damage. He's expected to be back tonight. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/17131831/mookie-betts-boston-red-sox-no-structural-damage-injured-right-knee

Sounds like Torres will not be the only Cubs piece coming, either. Very nice deal for you guys if it goes through.

Yeah, anything involving Mookie should be a non-starter...he's a superstar in his own right at this point and probably worth more than Sale by himself. Betts controlled through 2020 2015 bWAR: 6.0 2016 bWAR: 4.8 Sale controlled through 2019 2015 bWAR: 3.3 2016 bWAR: 3.2

I don't think I'd do Betts for Sale straight up , to say nothing of Beni + others. The more I think about it, the more I hope we're done dealing, other than maybe another bullpen arm if one can be had at reasonable cost.

Was Ziegler a nice pickup or what?

Hung over Jack Flap is not so sure.

Any speculation about a trade involving Chris Sale is going to sound fantastical almost by definition... but it's in the news, so people will speculate. But if you mean the talk about what we woulda/coulda/shoulda done with Espinoza, Margot, etc., then I agree...that ship has sailed (no pun intended).

I'm Jack Flap, and I approve this message.

I can't really see it happening either, but if there's even a chance, we need to be all over it. If I'm Dombrowski, I'm basically stalking the White Sox GM until the deadline passes without either guy being moved.

I haven't seen anything saying they were close, just that the two were talking. Chicago supposedly wanted Gallo and Profar plus more. I don't doubt this...it's just a matter of how far we want to go. Would something like Moncada, Rodriguez, Swihart, Owens, and another prospect (not top 5) possibly be enough for Sale? That's one of the best prospects in the game, a major league ready SP and position player with years of cheap control, another potential back end starter, and a lottery ticket. I might even substitute Kopech for Owens. If we could pull this off while holding on to the Bogaerts/Betts/JBJ trinity and at least one of Moncada and Benintendi, I'd be very sorely tempted.

Circling back to the Sale/Quintana discussion.... The White are being inundated with calls of interest in ace Chris Sale, who may be the best pitcher in the American League, and All-Star left-hander Jose Quintana on the day after it became public that they are contemplating a serious sale. The Red Sox, who already have made four trades, are said by some insiders to be greatly interested in the star pitchers, especially Sale, but the list of interested suitors is expected to be extremely long. The Red Sox have indeed checked in with Chicago. Closer David Robertson could fit Boston as well, considering three of their best relievers are on the disabled list at the moment. http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/knuckleball-news/white-sox-taking-calls-on-sale-quintana-with-red-sox-among-suitors/

I can see Ben doing a pretty good job with a rebuilding team.

Slasher is also a big Manny Ramirez fan, if I'm not mistaken.

Good point.

The only thing I've seen is that Sale and Quintana are likely not available: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/white-sox-sellers-trade-deadline-rumor.html ...so I'll hold my crazy trade proposals for now. If either of those guys did come on the market, we might wish we still had Espinoza as a trade chip. I will say, though, that we now have Price, Porcello, Wright, and Pomeranz under contract for not only 2017 but 2018 as well. If we did make a surprise run at a big fish like Sale or Quintana, I think E-Rod would be part of the package.