Hugh2

It's all the internet. These types of moves never really got reported on back in the 90's but they happened. Today, everything is front and center and in your face with how quickly information spreads with Twitter, the internet, etc. So people see that story posted about the Sox adding a guy in the minor league rule 5 that years ago they never even would have heard of. I mean, I get it, but it's a little frustrating to see people undermine such moves. You have to field a minor league roster. Franklin Arias has to throw the ball to someone at 1B down in Portland, Payton Tolle has to pitch the ball to someone in AAA, etc etc etc. Someone might call them suspects, but we all know that some of those "suspects" are going to bloom into studs.....and I think it's important to have good people around them while these kids are developing. I just never get worked up over such moves. IKF is fair game, because at this point we just don't know what he is. Starting second baseman? or infield utility guy?

I wonder if people would look at this deal differently if the Sox signed or traded for a better 2B first and then signed IKF? If he was perceived as the utility type that he should be (hopefully is) then it's actually a great signing.

I think if you acquire Paredes you gotta bring that grade up to an A- Sure, I can see a B for the offense alone, but they aced the pitching staff this offseason. They drastically improved their defense at 1B and Contreras is an offensive weapon (albeit, not Schwarber) and IKF drastically improves the defense as a backup SS/2B/3B player. But if he's your starting 2B the offense has the capacity to look very ugly. If more goes wrong than right you're easily a bottom 1/3 for runs scored in all of MLB.

When?

While I still think adding offense up the middle is a concern that has gone unaddressed I think people are underselling the 2026 offense. I don't think it's going to be as bad as people think it is.

Maybe the Sox plan on moving IKF back to catcher. 😁

Yup, all day long. The Sox could make me like this move a whole lot better if they add an upgrade to the infield. This move also puts them back over the 2nd luxury tax line threshold.

Fwar last several years has average 1.3 Fwar thats worth about $10 million in FA. if its a bench bat/glove its a cheap deal. If hes a starter it’s disappointing

I like this move, as long as this isn’t the main move to fix the infield. typing those words, I’m immediately reminded of how convinced I was when the Sox re-acquired JBJ that he would be their defensive 4th outfielder and another move was coming. It did not. Sox are saying they’re not done here, if Breslow wants to avoid the Bloom comparisons he will make good on those words

Fair enough haha

At this point in the offseason "other options" are pretty thin. No free agents left, teams are fairly settled, and the Sox are certainly not going to add more payroll. If they are swinging a trade, their #1 priority should be to fix the infield.

It's certainly not the top of my worries, but Yoshida has very little value as a guy who is not playing everyday. You want your bench guys to have some combination of E.G. ability to play multiple positions well and to run fast, a back up catcher, and maybe a platoon bat. What can Yoshida do? he has a decent hit tool but he's a lefty, he doesn't run, he can't field, he has little pop. He's very limited in the bench role. Again, at this point I'd live with him there to keep someone like Duran on this team and keep the lineup intact. Might pay dividends if an outfielder goes down and he moves into the DH position full time but Yoshida as a bench player is certainly less than ideal.

Yeah, I know...It's Yoshida.

Hypothetical, if dogs doubled in size (cats X5) to both be bigger and weight more than humans. I think your dog would still love you. Your cat would almost immediately eat you.

I think at this point it makes more sense to trade a package of prospects and/or pitchers to acquire a player to fill in the IF hole. The four outfielders can rotate the three positions with the DH position. Sure, this creates a headache with Yoshida, but we've been dealing with that regardless. At some point they might have to make a decision with him but for now.....that's probably the easiest path to a good lineup. Adding someone like Paredes opposed to Shaw or Marte looks a lot better if you're not taking Duran out of the lineup.

The slash is an underscore, and it’s on the CUBS side of the equation. that makes more sense, but it’s worded like Shaw plus (some other guy) for these three outfielders. obviously an absurd fantasy trade, but adding Crow-Armstrong would make it equal (ish) value and would honestly give me pause. i probably still say no.

Add. THat package is giving 70 surplus value to Chicago. That's like Chicago receiving a whole Garet Crochet extra in value. To fill in the void and make it even Chicago would have to give up Pete Crow-Armstrong who is an elite CF on his own. I guess you throw Yoshida in LF and just have Armstrong and Anthony round out CF/RF. Not the worse ideal, but insanely unrealistic in my book.

#4........what is your 2026 outfield????

I think we can do better than a .738 OPS

Is Teoscar Hernandez an elite hitter?

I think the ideal of trading an OF for an IF is dead. That was totally beginning of the offseason

4 outfielders can only get at bats for 3 players, unless you DH one....in which case you already HAVE A DH. You still need an IF. The Theory in trading an outfielder was you had 4, instead of one riding the bench half the time you cash your chips in and get an IF. It's almost like Moving Duran to 2B without actually moving Duran to 2B. YOu're totally ok with moving an outfielder on our team to 2B BUT NOT OK with trading one for a better IF? and it didn't have to be Duran, could have been Rafaela or Abreu.

Rafaela losses almost all his value by switching to 2B. It seems we want every solution on earth other than just going out and getting a 2B or 3B???

we literally have like 3 DH's on the team. We need a 3B and or a 2B.

Does Teoscar play 3B???