OH FOY

Sox are in Catcher limbo with all 3 of their Catchers. You don't know what you have with any of them. So you might as well hold onto them and see what happens. Here's the plus side, they are young, and improvements or decline is better to evaluate while they are in organization.

I were the Sox I would sign Doug Fister for 7 million, what he mage last year, just in case for Injury, performance, just for emergency. Guy pitched 180 innings last year, will do about what Buchholz would do and cheaper.

Not in favor of a Knuckler coming out of BP in tight situations, or close games. 1 walk, stolen base, pass ball, you can score a deciding run without the benefit of a hit. Long relief, if a game is out of hand, to save innings more like it for me. Otherwise I rather Start him, to get his feel for the Pitch, you can almost tell if a Knuckler has it or not, to see if he should continue.

I still like Holland. Reason BP's get tired, he should be ready just when this happens.

That's not it my friend. Dodgers are a smart team. They will be close to being under when the new Luxury Tax penalties come into effect. They really studied the new CBA.

Dodgers just added 192 million in pay-roll, how's that possible?

Last year with games caught by Vazquez (15) Price's ERA was 4.62 97.1 innings 14 HRS In games Leon caught him (16) Price's era was 3.23 108.2 innings 12 HRS

Great article from a guy who threw 4 no-hitters. https://www.wired.com/2011/03/why-sandy-koufax-and-the-curveball-rule/

Your right, teams can work out Trades to original team, so you can option him to Minors. If that's the case wonder who's player to be named later?

Not doubting you, but you'll have to show me that rule. Thanks.

Good for Rutledge, he was signed to a Minor League deal with the Rockies, he's guaranteed Major League Salary with the Sox, if he stays.

Yep, you can Trade Rutledge, but same rules apply for Team Trading for him.

Rutledge was a Rule 5 pick, he has to be on 25 man Roster all year. Or returned.

Good point I just read, you sign him this year, you lose the Draft Pick, but then you cant give him a QO year after that, to try to get pick back. Double whammy.

Good article on him. Sox and Yanks have been scouting him for years. http://climbingtalshill.com/2016/12/08/astros-could-the-astros-be-in-on-the-japanese-babe-ruth-shohei-otani/

The next Dwight Gooden is possibly in Japan Shohei Otani. Here's his stats. http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=otani-000sho

Glad you didn't include Julio Urias, because he was 16 when he Pitched in Low A, which is where Espinoza is now, and turns 19 in March. Urias had a 2.48 ERA too, that year.

Good article to read how hard it is to come from High School to the Pros. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=12960 This kid was the best High School Prospect there was in 14. Nation #1 ranked hitter in High School.

E-Rod can get more efficient and get his Pitch count down. Watch out. He's still young.

9 hrs in 29 innings 1st half 7 HRS in 77 innings. 2nd half 77 innings 60 hits. Innings to hits, old school.

Last 14 games E-Rod started he held opponents to a .210 BA, and had a 3.24 era.

Patience, one or two Spring Training Injuries, with some Starters, you'll be fighting off teams. If not so be it.

Mozeliak surprised me taking Fowler, but it makes sense. He needs a CF plus he weakens the Cubs. Fowler was big asset to the Cubs. Time will tell. Cubs had an unreal record with Fowler in the line-up, so-so without him.

Teams signing FA's this year with QO's makes 0 sense to me, when next year you sign them and wont lose a 1st Rounder. Wait a year wont kill you. JB is smart he would take QO, next year he wont be blocked. Get his numbers up, and make 18 million this year. According to new CBA, you can make 1 QO to FA's, but that's it. That's why Buchholz has value, he can still get a QO next from a team, split the difference in Salaries this years and next, and your still getting value. QO's should be around 19 million next year.

98 Yankees were mostly made up by great trades. Lost a lot of Prospects too. Yes, some FA's, but they did great Trades, and had a great young core in Jeter, Williams, Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera. I cant remember the Yanks in last place, or for that matter below .500 Even last year. No Trades, No Pitching Prospects in the future, only way to go is FA, or Trading Prospects at Positions of strength, to help out at Positions of weakness. Another thing Ownership could have handcuffed DD, we are not going over Salary Cap this year, that stops the FA signings, only way to strengthen team is through Trades. I'm shocked the White Sox didn't ask for Benintendi, E-Rod, plus Prospects. This was a great trade. I love Dubon, sorry to see him leave, but we'll survive. Like I said Espinoza did good in Rookie Leagues, that doesn't impress me. Dominance in Pitching goes with you as you jump Leagues. Age means nothing at that Position. Until you reach your ceiling against the Competition your facing. He struggled as soon as he hit Low A ball, tougher competition. If He jumps 3 Leagues like Pedro did at age 19 then I'm wrong. Espinoza makes Triple AAA this year, then Trade was no good.