A-Train to 35th

I get it, I'm here too, it's just interesting how many fans it attracted. And this list keeps growing.

I gotta say America loves drama, look at all the Sox fans currently commenting on this topic, while the Eloy to RF story has no one viewing.

I knew he was goofy, but tripping on acid daily. Kinda looks the part if that makes sense.

The White Sox said they were not aware of these allegations when they signed Clevinger. “Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox take any and all allegations very seriously. If this was true, then how do you explain the Sox hiring TLR knowing that he was arrested for his second DUI?

I don't even want to imagine it, but then my memory clicks in and I remember seeing, Leury, Eaton, Mazara, Goodwin, Vaughn, and Sheets out there the last 4 years. And that's just the ones I remember.

Ricky, held player's accountable. TLR ruined that by trying to be a player's manager. Jury's still out on Pedro, hopefully Benintendi stay's in LF and Eloy becomes the primary DH.

It's interesting that Eloy has a surprise for us by coming to camp in shape and supports my theory that once the team handed out the rookie contracts to Eloy, Robert, and Moncada that they came unprepared to play since in their mind they had already made it. He say's he been working hard this offseason, why wasn't he working hard the previous season is all I ask? Maybe because he actually has to earn playing time this year instead of it being handed to him simply because he doesn't want to be a DH. This team need's more player's that are hungry to prove themselves instead of handing out long term contracts before the player proves they are worthy of one.

Sadly you are correct since we currently have 5 OF's listed on our 40-man roster in Benintendi, Eloy, Robert, Sheet's and Vaughn. Leury makes 6, however only Benintendi and Robert when he's healthy and not distracted are actual outfielders, the rest are IB, DH, and our utility player who according to Tony is a regular player who plays all around. WTF kinda statement is that besides the definition of a utility player.

I agree that service time should have no impact, but let's face reality. Colas may not be ready for MLB pitching and a month in the minors could have a positive effect on his performance and buy a year of service time. Of course that's meaningless if the Sox continue to offer players contracts without playing a MLB game (Robert) or shortly thereafter (Eloy, Moncada, Bummer). The only one that's worked out so far is TA's. Another reality is Leury's not going anywhere, so I'd prefer Leury in RF opposed to Eloy, Vaughn, or Sheets. That's sad, but thats the roster we currently have.

I'm thrilled to hear Eloy won't be playing LF, and we actually signed a LF that's not going to be moved to RF so Eloy can play LF. I would play Leury in RF until we call up Colas in May and not lose a year of service time because Eloy wouldn't last a week in RF. Eloy should be our DH period, but we all know Grandal will also get a lot of time at DH which is probably why Pedro is asking him to try RF.

I agree, this team is too complacent with all the long term contracts that were signed by the young core. At first I thought these were great moves by ownership in locking up the core for an extended "championship window", however they became too comfortable knowing they had the job for years to come. In hindsight It would have been better if we just let them play out their rookie deals which would have made them train and play harder to earn that BIG contract they all seek that will set them up for life. Our problem is our core is already set for life, it may not be the generational wealth like contracts being handed out to 27-31 year old players. The difference is those players had to earn it, where the Sox core has already made it. Watch how they perform in the last year of these deals, my guess is they all become hungry and do what it takes to train and play hard. Moncada is a prime example of someone that has all the natural talent and the physical tools, who not hungry enough to figure out why he's not performing up to his potential. Yoan Moncada signed a 5 year / $70,000,000 contract with the Chicago White Sox, including a $4,000,000 signing bonus, $70,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $14,000,000. In 2023, Moncada will earn a base salary of $17,000,000 and a signing bonus of $1,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $17,800,000. In 2024 his deal bumps up to 24 million. Call me out if I'm wrong but somehow I bet Yoan tries a little harder in 2024 which will be the last year of his deal if the Sox don't pick-up the 25 mil option in 2025.

Agree, I took at look at the Sox 2023 road schedule and there's some great options for a 3 day week or weekend get- away. I canceled my 20 game plan, with a goal not to give JR any of my money. I'd rather take in the sights of a new town and enjoy a game in Boston, NY, KC (BBQ), CA, Seattle....

True, but I'm not counting 2020 since it was only 60 games.

Swanson's a player the Sox could of used now that Jose's gone since Dansby has only missed 2 games the last 2 seasons.

Conveniently came up just short on Machado probably thinking signing Jay and Alonso was going to make up the difference. That's the difference between teams that want to go for it, and the Sox who seem to be fascinated by seats, tables, windows, streets, and a parade.

No, but he can pinch run for Grandal or Vaughn if needed in a late inning rally.

It still averaged over 31 mil for 8 years. I'm just saying the GM's were allowed to make offers, while the offer to Wheeler wasn't as big as Machado's it was still reported to be more than the offer he accepted from Philly. That's what I'm saying nothing more, big offers to free agents were allowed by JR. If they added clauses that any agent would deny, then shame on the Sox for trying to outsmart everyone. I said, it may have been the player or agent that weren't impressed with the Sox and signed elsewhere.

You are correct, sorry the base offer to Machado was supposedly $250 mil over 8 years (31.25 mil per year), and supposedly there were player incentives that would have added millions more. They also offered more to Wheeler than he signed for with Philly. To say they weren't allowed to make offers is wrong, the players took the offer that was more comfortable to them, whether it was climate, money, or love, it can't be said that JR didn't allow his GM's to make big offer's. My take is the player's weren't impressed with the Sox and went elsewhere

A hitter who can recognize the situation, and actually hit the ball to the hole instead of grounding into a double play or striking out.

They were allowed to offer Machado 300 million and Wheeler 120+ so I disagree with your assessment.

Leury

The deal is expected to push the White Sox's payroll over $200 million for the second consecutive season. For a team that's the second option in the third biggest market how can we keep saying JR's cheap when our payroll has been higher than the Cubs the last two years. I don't blame JR as much anymore, the real blame should go to the GM's Williams and Hahn.

I have a sense these rumors are just Cub fans pulling our chain.

From his rookie scouting report.....Arm (55) – Benintendi’s pure arm strength is a 50. I bump the extra +5 on the grade due to the tremendous accuracy Benintendi shows, his ability to use his instincts to throw to the right base at all times and the way he positions his feet every time to be perfectly lined up for his throws. All those things maximize every bit of his arm ability, so while he may have average raw arm strength, he gets more out of his arm than most guys with “bigger” arms.

Mediocre is better than last years choices of Eloy, Vaughn, or Sheets.