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Closer prospects have always been preferred targets, but ranked A-ball players still have value. Sometimes it’s their peak value. Arias might continue down the path towards lofty prospect/MLB player. But he also might not. We’ve all seen numerous ranked players simply disappear, because ranking prospects, like any endeavor that involves predicting the future, is rife with errors. Remember when Garin Cecchini was ranked one spot ahead of Mookie Betts? Im not saying “trade Arias NOW”, but I am saying if I had to include any of the Sox top Gus, he’d be my first option. Of course, he might also be the least desirable for those same reasons. But it only takes one believer!

I’m not as convinced Anthony has that much more trade value than Mayer. They’re similarly ranked (Anthony #2. Mayer #7) on MLB.com. And their surplus values on BTV (Anthony $65.8mill, Mayer $59.8mill) are also fairly close. To me, if Anthony is that much superior as a hitter - and I’m not questioning that - then Mayer being a SS gives him significant value over a corner OF…

Until he gets to AA, I can’t consider Arias anything more than trade bait. Once upon a time, folks got excited about Miguel Bleis…

But this roster with Hye-Seung Kim and Ha-Seung Kim does become the most confusing one ever…

David Robertson? Was Goose Gossage not available?

If Story/Grissom is an upgrade over Rojas/Lux, why are the Sox settling for Rojas/Lux when we already have the former? If they’re not an upgrade, why is LA making this move?

Wilson fits into the category Jeff Passan used to describe as “is left-handed, has pulse.”…

If the Sox do that, I promise a Sale injury…

Once Fulmer is officially added, my guess is Hendriks, Fulmer, Whitlock, Slaten, Wilson, Bernardino, Criswell, and Winckowski. But I would accept Weissert, Kelly, Booser, or Guerrero over Winckowski…

Actually I need you to add options like Whitlock and Fulmer to the bullpen. I’ll play by the existing rules…

Since you brought it up, those are both guys Bloom has acquired before. Of course if he turns it down, f*** Helsley. I keep Hamilton and Winckowski and demote Sogard. And at that point I have still 1. Added two ace caliber arms to the rotation 2. Upgraded the bullpen 3. Added Juan Soto to the lineup and 4. improved the defense at catcher and 5. Made all those upgrades and still stayed under budget while only trading away one top prospect, and not one of the Big Four. Lets see Breslow do that…

So Hamilton was a 2bWAR second baseman with excellent defensive metrics, came in 5th in the AL in stolen bases, and has 5 full years of control, but you’re saying all that is overshadowed by him playing FIVE GAMES in Worcester. And we didn’t even discuss the progress Hamilton made last year as a hitter and a laughably bad fielder initially. And despite all that, he still only played FIVE GAMES in Worcester. Its a good package for the privilege of paying Helsley $7mill for one year, which might amount to all of 45-50 IP. Maybe the Sox should have tried to acquire Helsley a year ago, when he was coming off a season where he played FIVE GAMES in the minors…

I sold high and got 5 years of an All Star, while also making room for my own internal budding superstar. That move was a win for everyone involved!! But if you’re going to be that way, I’ll take my blueprint to NY, and use it to force my way into Cashman’s job, and then I’ll take over the AL East! And then tomorrow, the world (series)!!!! Insert evil laugh emoji here…

Crochet was 107.1 IP / 3.02 ERA in the first half, 38.1 IP / 5.12 ERA in the second half. Looks like he tired out as well, and did so with 40 fewer IP…

Not at Brock’s price point. I tried to go over as little as possible. But for the same money I got Ryan Helsley and Kyle Higashioka.

Trade Abreu and Montgomery for Garrett Crochet. Trade Hamilton and Winckowski to St. Louis for Ryan Helskey (who is reportedly on the block). Sign Kyle Higashioka to catch. Add Garrett Whitlock to roster. Trade Duran to Philly for Cristopher Sanchez. Sign Juan Soto. Play ball!! C: Kyle Higashioka ($7.5M) 1B: Tristan Casas ($0.80M) 2B: Vaughn Grissom ($0.80M) 3B: Rafael Devers ($27.07M) SS: Trevor Story ($22.50M) LF: Juan Soto ($46.00M) CF: Ceddanne Rafaela ($1.25M) RF: Roman Anthony ($0.80M) DH: Masataka Yoshida ($18.60M) 4th OF: Rob Refsnyder ($2.25M) Utility: Nick Sogard ($0.80M) Utility: Romy Gonzalez ($0.80M) Backup C: Connor Wong ($0.80M) NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Tanner Houck ($4.50M) SP2: Garrett Crochet ($22.00M) SP3: Cristopher Sanchez ($4.90M) SP4: Kutter Crawford ($3.20M) SP5: Lucas Giolito ($19.00M) RP: Liam Hendricks ($6.00M) RP: Michael Fulmer ($1.50M) RP: Ryan Helsley ($7.00M) RP: Justin Wilson ($1.50M) RP: Garrett Whitlock ($3.50M) RP: Brayan Bello ($2.66M) RP: Justin Slaten ($0.80M) RP: Brennan Bernardino ($0.80M) NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 3.54% over budget

Tyler O’Neill? 1.180 OPS vs LHP in 2024, .923 for his career. Also Suarez’ option was picked up by Arizona; he’s not a free agent. And is Santander listed twice because he’s a switch hitter?

How much pull does Fernando Abad have?

Tyler O’Neill does have a career OPS of .923 vs LHP. The problem with O’Neill is he doesn’t hit RHP particularly well, whereas Soto has a career OPS of 1.000 vs RHP…

Soto also fits into the Sox decades-long tradition of Cooperstown Caliber left fielders…

Or the Sox could get a pitcher via trade. Garret Crochet is on the table and the White Sox seem to like Wilyer Abreu. Ir maybe the Phillies would be willing to trade Cristopher Sanchez for Jarren Duran. Both Duran and Sanchez have the same control/arb years. The Phillies do need a CF (current starter according to Roster Resource is a platoon of Brandon Marsh and some guy named Weston Wilson, who is apparently a 30yo career minor leaguer and in fact NOT the secret identity of some MCU superhero. Plus DD originally drafted Duran…

Soto would also be 3 years younger than Manny was when the latter signed with Boston…

Also Soto has a career OPS of .857 vs LHP. Even if the Sox don’t get Soto and instead get a RH bat, chances are good the new RHH will have a career OPS less than .857 vs LHP…

Game is too fast-paced for him..

This is the solution for a much needed LHRP? I can’t wait to see who the Sox add for a RH bat! I’m guessing Yan Gomes…