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I'm 16 and a half if you must know.

A catcher who can't catch would be the most on brand signing ever.

All these replacements are just awful

Hopefully a legit 4th OF like Duvall instead.

Grandal was a great signing (at the time)

I think the only way this is possibly true is if the Sox believe Grandal is cooked. Problem is that no matter what they do, they're still stuck with Grandal's salary.

Sanchez would help with the HR issue, but realistically, I don't think he's any better than a Seby/Perez combo at backup C. Would be an odd signing unless he signs for practically free.

Actually this would be an excellent value signing. Despite his reputation as a bat first catcher who can't catch, last year he had positive defensive numbers (FG had him with positive defensive stats and baseball savant had him in the 79th percentile in pop time, framing was league average at 50). Xwoba was above average and xslug was well above average. He was a reverse splits hitter last year with 99 wrc+ vs RHP and only 64 vs LHP, which is fine for us. On a cheap deal this makes alot of sense. A catcher who is a league average hitter against RHP is great esp if his defensive improvements hold. We have literally nothing reliable at C this is a good bridge until when Yaz is off the books.

Some of the fans on this board are smart fans of all baseball teams and statistical probabilities merged in with old fashioned traits of teams such as enthusiasm, want-to, or our fave 'will to win.' So I am asking ... do any of you have a strong feeling (keeping fandom out of it) the Sox "could" be a surprise team this year? A team in which all the major rebuild pieces excel and the roster clicks to where the Sox could dominate the Central and make SERIOUS noise in the playoffs? I'm so negative about the team now I'm not a good one to measure the team's "possible" upside. But some of you understand trends of teams, etc. So are ANY of you thinking Sox could be THE surprise team of baseball this year and have the bodies to win, win, win?? Any reason for hope it clicks and Sox check in and complete the rebuild deal?? Thanks. Notice I have interjected no opinion on the team's strengths and weaknesses. I'm just all ears, listening, reading ...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html

Which is something Jerry rightfully gets dunked on for. Not being willing to spend at the top of the market is extremely inefficient and has held the Sox back significantly during this window.

If he does they win the division most likely. So let's all root for him to dominate!

Yup. I am expecting a very big season from Lucas, tbh.

Cuz they got no money

I’d much rather they spend that money on another OF than a third catcher that is not a good catcher.

Giolito in agreement, 10.4

Anxiously awaiting Giolito news.

Leury

Although MLB entered into a new collective bargaining agreement in 2022, the system from the previous CBA carried over for the 2022 and 2023 signing periods. SO therefore : Can MLB teams trade international pool money? Teams are not allowed to trade their pool space during this signing period, which opens on Jan. 15, 2022, and runs through Dec. 15, 2022.Jan 11, 2022.

Luis Robert comes up lame the last week of Spring Training, who plays CF?

Here's the tracker if you want to add it to the original post @Sleepy Harold. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html

As it sits right now, Jake Marisnick. And that's alright.

The injuries to Eloy and Robert have basically ruined the rebuild. They have played in only 57.8% of eligible games since signing their extensions. What makes it even more devastating is how few games they have played together when each was at their best. This cannot be emphasized enough !!! Not even going to try to figure out Moncada at this point. I have compiled this from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. any games with 1 PA or defensive replacement games I didn't count. Basically trying to get at least 5 innings played together each game. I may have missed a game or 2 but this is very accurate compiled from batting game logs. 2020 was the year they played the most games together. It was only a 60 game season and they played 49 games together. That "year" was peak Eloy. Unfortunately it was Roberts rookie year. He flashed a great glove but still was raw at the plate, .738 OPS. Also unfortunately despite this being the short season it would be the most games they ever played together. Eloy at his best, Robert a rookie and .738 OPS 2021 Roberts break out hitting "year", .938 OPS. Unfortunately his year only lasted 68 games. The torn hip flexor kept him out over 2 months but surprisingly he hit even better when he came back. Unfortunately 2021was Eloy's worst year (55 games played .740 OPS) due to the torn pec he suffered in Spring Training. Only 29 games played together. 2022 More injuries for both. 84 games for Eloy and 98 games for Robert. Once again we saw near peak Eloy. Unfortunately Robert tried to play through injuries and dizzy spells and was barely better than he was his rookie year. This was the singles hitting Robert. Swinging at everything. BB% worst of his career but K% best of his career.ISO 1st time under.200 was .142. Together they only played 32 games and once again couldn't get both at their peaks at the same time. They have only played 110 games together of a possible 384 games in 3 year. Not once where each of them playing their best at the same time. Both at their peak performances together in 140 games would go a LONG way to making the Sox so much better. But injury free years and both at peak performance at the same time has never happened. One of these years maybe that can happen and if it does watch out baseball !

You aren't alone there.

According to MLBTR, the numbers are the projections White Sox Lucas Giolito (5.080): $10.8MM Reynaldo Lopez (5.004): $3.3MM Dylan Cease (3.089): $5.3MM Jose Ruiz (3.048): $1MM Michael Kopech (3.041): $2.2MM

It's not his bat that scares me.

Well that would be ideal, but we all know the name on teh front of the jersey so...

I am going to be brutally honest, I would rather see Leury out there, than see Sheets out there.

In the limited time I’ve seen him play first…. He was just as bad as behind the plate.

Well there went my lunch.

It's from the trailer. It's not really a secret.

I mean yea but he is also not on the team lol

It IS possible, yes. I do not have a feeling that it will.

That person has tried (and failed numerous times) playing "insider" this off-season

Grandal will be grand gone by May. Pup. Book it Danno.

The Sox will play much better because they have a new manager. Most first yr managers on decent teams ending up playing great the first yr. Just ask Rocco baldelli, even robin Ventura had the Sox in first in late August before they collapsed. If healthy, the Sox will win the division this yr. The Indians are the same team they were the beginning of 2022. Nobody really gave them a chance then but they caught an over confident Sox team that had no heart and at the end ran away with it. My prediction, Grandal will have a great yr at the plate and everyone will be bitching that Jerry is too cheap at the end of the yr because he won't extend him.

I think they will be better than last year which isn’t saying a lot. First, they have to stay healthy. Second, some attitude adjustments are in order especially from Moncada and Anderson. Third, who will be the closer now that Liam is out probably for the year. Fourth, I hope I’m wrong but I think the loss of Abreu is going to hurt, who is going to step up and be the leader. Fifth point, who is the rightfielder? 6th point and on the good side is I think that the addition Benintendi is going to help and that Grifol is going to be a damn good manager. If things go their way, I say the Sox go 86-76 and contend for a WC.

Yes - its absolutely possible. They need stars to play like stars (and be healthy), have positive health, and have some young players / other positive surprises. It is certainly possible. For example: Moncada, Anderson, Robert, Eloy, Vaughn play to their hype and are healthy. That alone has a MASSIVE impact on production. I will say loss of Liam is real tough and while I half expect White Sox to do nothing - it really will be pathetic if they don't look at things and decide they have to dig deeper and spend more (even if it is for '23) only before we get into spring training to upgrade this club.

Sure, it could happen. There’s still a lot of talent on the team, so the upside is there. And maybe the new manager and staff are able to harness all that talent and turn it into success. Realistically, though, my expectations are not very high. They have too many “if” scenarios where they’d need those outcomes to be very favorable. It’s a lot to ask and a lot to overcome, and I don’t particularly like those odds.

The Chicago Royals

So human rights is leftist and or political. Cool cool. Seriously, GTFO with that noise.

As an aside, The animated MODOK show on Hulu was actually hilarious if you like Teen Titans Go type spoofs

This is a good signing. Surprised he signed a NRI. Makes you realize how FUCKING ASSININE the Leury contract is.