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I know all about the Reinsdorf block, his friends and his history. I get the skepticism. I don’t need to fucking clarify my sources for you or anyone else but it’s definitely not a White Sox employee in this instance. Your mind is made up any way though so I don’t really care.

I really don’t see how Conforto is a luxury item. This team struggles against tough RHP and our RF defense got exposed in the playoffs. Our team desperately needs to address both areas to be successful come October and more so than adding a 2 win SP. Realistically, we need both a big left-handed and another #3 type pitcher. Can’t be afraid to lose a trade at the peak of our competitive window.

The White Sox CBT payroll is $194 million right now. It'll be the highest payroll in franchise history pretty easily. They'll subtract Kimbrel but I'm very confident that additions are also on the way.

I think we need to acknowledge that Jerry doesn’t have a ton of time left on this planet and right now an increased CBT is helpful to him. Back in 1994 he had 30 years of ownership ahead of him and breaking the union made much more long-term sense. His focus right now should be winning a championship and hopefully that’s the reason he’s not actively fighting for reduced spending limits.

Or maybe it's because he is 86 years old?

By next offseason Kopech could be our ace with Giolito, Lynn, & Cease behind him. At that point you just need a #5 starter and that should be easy enough to add via free agency. I can’t stress this enough, but our rotation is the one thing that could prevent us from making the playoffs. If we suffer any injury to one of the big three starters and Keuchel doesn’t improve substantially from his 2021 form we could be in legit trouble. Serious contenders don’t enter a season with two question marks and limited depth. A starter needs to be added even if it weakens the farm.

If they wanted Rodon, he’d have been extended a QO. Ship has sailed.

I love how we’re supposed to be celebrating that JR is not being a jackass this time like Moreno….

The problem is...he kinda doesn't. He's not a great OF, and he's probably a particularly bad RF. He's "not going to murder you there if Eloy gets hurt", but you also don't want to ink his name into the starting spot anywhere other than 1b/DH. And especially since this team is already RH heavy...the fact that he is a righty means he's a guy who might get squeezed out of the lineup just to provide some balance.

While I get what you’re saying…the White Sox have a system that is very weak and low on assets with trade value, a roster that has several obvious holes, a narrow amount to spend beneath whatever the luxury tax will be, and a roster that will be starting to lose pieces each offseason (with big losses 2 years from now so the window seems like it could be 2 years). The White Sox don’t have enough resources to park an asset at AAA to let him get better right now. If he needs time at AAA, it should be someone else’s.

Not a lot of people want to hear this, but I think Vaughn could use a season in Charlotte.

This international draft idea rules. Way better than the current system.

I think that SP is the biggest need, as per your comment and Jimmy's article. Trading for one would be a disaster, both from the aspect of RH/KW getting humiliated once again in trade, but also given that there will be needs at the TDL. And that's with the already-depleted MiLB system. I also agree that whoever they get for 2B will be disappointing, be it Miller and him being ancient, or Villar's questionable glove. Just get a warm body that won't fuck up the clubhouse, and who can bring cromulence to the position. Honestly, in looking at what's available in the marketplace, I think we should be happy if they don't add negative WAR to the position, and/or are forced to overplay Leury. But asking this FO to first win a negotiation vs. Boras for Conforto, THEN win a negotiation against Billy Beane or a 33 year old, pre-injured Bassitt whose numbers may be artificially inflated due to pitching in Oakland is suboptimal, TBH. Especially in a shortened FA period. For SP, I'd look at: Kershaw, Greinke, Rodon, Pineda, Perez, Kikuchi, or Kim. Find the best one at the best price first. For RF, after securing a SP, I'd look at Conforto or Suzuki, or possibly Pederson; I'm more interested in someone being able to field the position/reduce wear and tear on Robert, TBH. But I wouldn't squander time chasing one of these while whatever value in the SP market is swallowed up by our enemies before we can get a SP. Lastly, for 2B, either Miller or Villar; both kinda suck, but that's what happens when your FO does stupid things.

I don't think there was any QO agreement with Boras. Rodon barely got a major league deal last year. That just wasn't on anyone's radar. Bottom line is - Reinsdorf is risk-adverse. That's why I figured they wouldn't offer the QO. He doesn't want to pay someone 17.8 mil to sit on the DL for 3/4 of the season. And I agree with CWS - a starter is a must here, though I suspect knowing the Sox past, they will look for a reclamation project to fill that hole on the cheap. And that's ok if they spend the cash on other holes. You cant spend a fortune on every hole.

Good article from @Y2Jimmy0 on this very subject https://www.southsidesox.com/2022/2/14/22925472/chicago-white-sox-offseason-needs-pitching

Rodon is too fragile physically to sign for big money.

I will add that 33 to 11 free throws is a travesty by the refs. DJJ's dunk on Giannis is a perfect example - that's a foul if you switch the jersey colors for what the refs were giving Milwuakee

It's easier to control a damp ball when you lick the fingers. Not a wet ball like in the rain.

Was not a fan of that change. I like el rancho chips but it doesn't work at the park with that nacho cheese and stuff