Sarava

in the winter of 2014/15 the White Sox were crowned the winners of the winter meetings, but once the dust settled, it ended up being far from a good off-season. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2335445-highlighting-the-best-and-worst-2014-2015-mlb-offseason-makeovers#slide11

Well that was bad

I'd offer him a 3 year deal, 15-18 mil total. Maybe he ends up backing up, maybe he wins the job. It gives the Sox options. I don't like Zach Collins though, and would prefer a different 2nd catcher going in to next year, be it a different backup or a starter like Grandal.

I wouldn't be surprised if Moncada signed an extension. He doesn't have to for reasons people have spelled out already. But I'd suspect he is comfortable here with his fellow Cubans and the organization as a whole. That would be a huge step in the right direction if they could lock him up and nab some free agent season(s) with that deal.

I don't think being in the top 10 matters anymore since the changes a couple of years ago? But please correct me if I'm wrong. From: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2016/11/30/breaking-down-mlbs-new-2017-21-collective-bargaining-agreement/#3168424811b9 Clubs signing a Free Agent subject to compensation will no longer forfeit a first round selection, but will be subject to the following: A non-market disqualified Revenue Sharing Payee Club shall forfeit its third highest remaining selection in the next Rule 4 Draft. A Luxury Tax offender shall forfeit its second-highest and fifth-highest remaining selections in the next Rule 4 Draft and shall have its International Signing Bonus Pool (described below) reduced by $1,000,000 in the next full Signing Period. All other Clubs shall forfeit their second-highest remaining selection in the next Rule 4 Draft and shall have their International Signing Bonus Pool reduced by $500,000 in the next full Signing Bonus Period. All forfeited International Signing Bonus Pool monies will be distributed equally among all other Clubs. Competitive Balance Selections will be exempt from forfeiture.

That's an interesting thought. I really don't want to trade Cease, though. Lopez? Sure for the right return. I've also mentioned I would consider a discussion around Andrew Vaughn for the right return. There's many ways to skin a cat. Regardless, the Sox hopefully should consider the rebuild phase as over and that it's time to go for it now. That doesn't necessarily mean it will all come together next season, but the foot needs to be on the gas starting this winter.

I never said the rotation wouldn't be 'fine' without a TOR starter. But 'fine' doesn't win the World Series. I want dominant. If the Sox want to win the World Series, they're going to have to get past teams like the Astros, who are loaded both in the rotation and in their lineup. I understand you don't consider Madigral a potential star at this point and that's fair. We'll see how he pans out. I'm a bit surprised you dont list Tim Anderson though. He's been great this year. But getting to the greater point - while wanting a TOR starter, that doesn't mean I'm telling them to ignore the gaping holes in RF and DH. The Sox have a insanely low payroll committed going forward and should be able to plug a few of these holes with premium talent. If they signed Gerrit Cole and JD Martinez, plus plug a few holes here or there, they still have an average payroll at best...and have the potential to be one of the better teams in baseball.

Imagine the Price and Sale contracts happening here. Our franchise would be crippled for the next 3-5 years. Luckily for Red Sox fans, they're team spends and can probably get around it.

First of all, all wins are equally easy or hard to get. Just as fast as we've seen a team like the Twins jump up in these last two years, we just watched last year's World Champions fall on their face this year and have their GM fired. Second, this team is littered with potential stars. From Tim Anderson, to Yoan Moncada, to Eloy Jimenez, to Luis Robert, to Nick Madigral. That's over half the lineup that has star potential, and it's even possible they're all stars next year. Third, and this is where you and I disagreed recently. The Sox need to sign a TOR starter. You said last week they don't need a TOR starter - I disagree with you on this one. This staff needs a TOR guy to lead them. You combine a TOR starter with Giolito and you have a dynamite top 2 - with ridiculous potential if any of Lopez, Cease or Kopech really put it together next year. Another reason they might make the jump next year is all these bad players they keep playing over and over. During the rebuild they've left these gaping holes as gaping holes, which was fine during a rebuild. Guys like Engel, Goins, Alonso, Cordell, Tilson, Santiago, Covey, etc...if the Sox decide the rebuild is over and make an effort to fill all positions with major league quality talent, and get rid of guys of this caliber (minus perhaps one or two as bottom of roster fill-in's), this team could go through the roof. It just depends on how badly Jerry wants it. Gerrit Cole is out there for the taking. Will Jerry have a stroke when he hear what Boras wants? LOL, well of course he will. I guess the question is - while he's having this stroke, will he back away from his 'seat at the table', or say screw it and sign him?

Glad to hear you didn't change it. I was going to say, I wonder about people who talk about themselves in the third person. That said, I don't want Girardi. Wasn't he known to not work well with youngsters, which is what our whole rebuild is about? But yeah, I'd love to see Ricky replaced, though it doesn't look good.

They absolutely get credit for getting the deal done. I was trying to find a list for highest paid prospects, and I couldn't find one. I'm pretty sure most teams would balk at throwing 50 mil at an unproven prospect, no matter how heralded they are. So kudos to the Sox on that.

Remember all the complaining about Madigral a year ago...weak contact and all. What a difference a year makes.

Bad night for Bummer. Can't throw strikes and the inning extends when he makes a bad throw to 2nd. Now he cost Giolito the win.

Just rewound it and watched it slowly. You're right. Abreu should of got that. I wonder if Gio was mad at himself or Abreu? He still looked pissed coming off the mound to end the inning.

He's had a really nice season. Why do you think he will only get 5th starter money?

Nice play Tim

Hey Abreu tagged up!

TA!

Not sure why you're trying to spin my words. They deserve credit for cutting the check, which many teams won't do on a prospect, regardless of the caliber of the prospect. They also did a nice job of selling the Sox to him, as I recall, the Cardinals had as good or better of an offer? What else do you want them credited for? Do you want us to lie and say he was this unknown prospect that the Sox discovered through good old fashioned scouting? You just seem like you want to argue for no reason. Are you having a bad day?

There's only so many teams that will drop $50 mil + on a prospect, and most of them were ineligible. That's where I'll give the Sox credit, for spending that money.

It was over $50 mil with penalties. But otherwise, yes the whole baseball world knew he was en elite prospect. Maybe except you I guess.

Well in the case of Luis Robert, it's true. Are you trying to re-write history? The whole baseball world knew he was super prospect. It was just a matter of who of the teams with international money, decided to splurge the most and could lure him in to signing. There was even a scout calling Luis Robert the best baseball player in the world already at that point.

I definitely could see Robert struggling early on. He strikes out a lot in AAA, so that's likely to get worse up here in the early stages. But yeah, that shouldn't stop the Sox from being all-in this winter.

I think this team could be on the verge of exploding, into possibly a 90+ win team at least. Sign a TOR starter. Fill all holes, and stop depending on subpar players like Engel, Sanchez, Goins, Cordell, Tillman, Covey, Santiago, Alonso, etc. It's going to feel weird hopefully not having bad placeholders in our lineups or starting rotation. Being competitive not only every game with whoever our starting pitcher is, but every inning with our lineup. Not having 2 or 3 AAA quality players in the lineup every night will be huge. The potential is massive. It will be a shame if the Sox go the cheap route again this winter They could be on the verge of greatness if Jerry is willing to spend some money.

Hilarious that 7 of the 9 worst positions are the Royals, Tigers or Sox. Must be nice being a Twins fan this year.