Malike

Apparently, the Sox have the next Randy Johnson. He's a tall LHP who has all of 27IP in Low A. They think that many teams would select him over players the same age in much higher leagues. Forget the fact that HS pitchers bust more than anyone, 15 years of SABR data, and HS pitchers were drafted in the first/supp rounds 172 times. A whopping 13% played in the major leagues.

He is a good hitter, he's not going to be in the TEX bandbox, but he can hit. He can't carry that offense and they need more than just J-Rod. He's never gotten a full season of ABs, who knows what he'll hit like with more than 250-350 ABs at 33 years old?

Imagine having a 180M+ dollar payroll and then topping that off with being nearly devoid of talent. I get why the people on that forum are so salty. At least when we sucked we weren't spending close to 200M for the privilege.

I mean, Haniger hasn't played much in years and Garver is a backup catcher, unless they think he's going to Pip Cal Raleigh. I don't know if I'd call that offense.

Cease isn't the final piece to the puzzle. Nice, sure, if he has a decent season, but we likely have bigger issues in the pen than we do in the rotation barring health.

Eh, they are trying to sell it that we can't win without Cease. It's much more important that they hit on the prospects they acquire, as their development is complete trash and they've busted on other big-name trades. The reality is, that they need to trade Cease to have any chance of rebuilding, we are going to the playoffs with or without him most likely. They can pretend the O's are desperate and there is a sense of urgency, but I'm sure there is none at all. I know they'd love to add him but they aren't banking the entire season on him and making panic trade decisions like the he/him/they there on that board think will happen.

They have a glaring need for bats.

They keep saying they want a top prospect and Cowser who has a FV of 60 and would instantly be their top prospect, because their top 10 is full of garbage 45/50 FV types isn't good enough? I hope this trade happens with another team so we can move on and they can keep being a doormat in the Central. I'd reluctantly do number 1, but their team would still be a huge number 2.

Well, sure. Kershaw is old and has nothing left and deGrom is hurt, so not really going out on a limb there. Like I said, every year someone pitches like an Ace, let's see it sustained over several years before we start labeling them as such.

When you think of bonafide Aces, which names come to mind? In the past 10 years or so. deGrom? Kershaw? Guys you know, when they take the mound, you're going to have a chance to win the game. There are a lot of very good pitchers, but true Aces are few and far between. It's more than 400 innings of dominant stuff, an Ace isn't made overnight, there is longevity involved and the term gets tossed around quite liberally when it shouldn't.

He's basically acting like he'd take Mayo as a last resort and he's his biggest fan also. Weird stuff man.

Oh, no, it's Cease or bust. At least according to the experts on the Sox forum. We're toast without him, like a 70-win team, they really think our season is a bust without him. Hilarious.

That original guy, I don't know what his name is here, maybe Chicago White Sox or whatever keeps saying Mayo is too risky, then gets salty when he's told Mayo won't be included in the trade if it ever (hopefully not) happens. The dude has a huge man crush on Mayo and is trying to play it off like he's a lumbering giant who has no position lol.

One of the admins over there on Soxwhatever said The White Sox have 5 former top 10 prospects including 2 number 1's in the starting lineup next year so can't miss prospects mean nothing to them. So, they'll take whoever then? What's the big snag if the prospects mean nothing to them? That place is a legit clown show. I'll never complain about the stuff that goes on here. Probably.

Do they have a gender option? Progressive, I like it. Do they also have pronouns showing?

I would delve into anyone not named Holliday for Luzardo.

If Cease loses another MPH on his fastball and his slider doesn't rebound, he'll be worth a bag of balls at the trade deadline. His pitch values were complete garbage in 2023.

I would much rather pay the appropriate prospect tab for Luzardo, and Miami claims everyone but Perez is on the table.

I think it's hilarious that they think they're getting a King's Ransom for Cease. Like I said before, after getting burned by Sale, I guess they don't want to have to hang their heads in shame again. They did get 2 good seasons from Moncada before he forgot how to hit, so there is that.

There are thousands of examples of guys who have had a season where they pitched like an Ace. There are not many bonafide Aces in MLB, that's the main difference. By definition, every team has a number 1 pitcher, it's their best starter, even if they aren't that great.

A playing card with one large symbol on the face? Lots of guys have "Ace" stuff, but they aren't Aces. Chris Archer for example was in a similar position as Cease is right now. He was the hottest trade chip, the Rays' "Ace", despite never putting up an ERA+ greater than 121 and having a career ERA+ of 102.

It's along the same lines as we need a .900 OPS MOO bat. There were ten .900+ OPS guys in 2023 in all of MLB, but people act like they grow on trees.

Don't get me wrong, I think he'd help the team but he's not close to an Ace or a true number 1. I would not be in the least bit surprised if any of our top 3 starters right now put up similar seasons in '24 to Cease.

I mean, Flaherty came here and struggled. Much like prospects busting, trades do too. I assume they did the same due diligence on Flaherty that they are with Cease. Cease is overrated here, mostly because he's a strikeout pitcher. He walks the yard, gives up too many hits, and is close to a 5 and dive guy thanks to all of his warts. If you think the statcast data was a blip in the matrix and he's going to be a true number 2 starter that's one thing, but he has stuff trending in the wrong direction for several years in a row now. I get he's like the "best" available arm for a trade, or the most established at least, but he's overrated on here.

I wish they'd add more BP depth than anything. Our pen is set for a pretty big regression and its' the main reason ZIPS has our overall pitching WAR so low. Our starters are "projected" to have more WAR with only 4 starters listed than TBR and .2 WAR less than BOS with 5 starters listed. Our pen is slated for less than 3 wins combined.