GreatScott82

Does anyone else wonder if Machado and Harper will be in communication during this free agency process? Similar to what Lebron, Wade and Bosh did back in 2010.... hmmm. What other teams can afford both guys? Phillies and Reds?

Yeah.. that was the 'old mindset' at least that's how many of the whitesox reporters are spinning it. From what they are saying now, it seems as if they are ready, willing and able to go beyond their comfort zone for the likes of Harper and/or Machado. But until they finally connect on a big ticketed superstar, I have a hard time trusting that they will actually do it. The 'middle of the road' above average free agent is usually who the White Sox end up with. No offense to guys like Josh Donaldson and Andrew McCutchen, but the White Sox need a big fish, a superstar, the coup de gras of free agents. A guy who will be the face of this next generation of white sox baseball. Go get him, Rick Hahn- shock the freakin baseball world!

So Heyman, Rosenthal and Morosi all say the Sox are ready to spend big. And Nightengale says that aren't ready for that yet? Hmm.

Screw it! Sign both!!! They are what, 26, 27? Didn't they both play together in club ball with Delmonico?

This is absolutely horrible news. I wonder how this impacts their decisions this winter? Do they even consider adding impact veterans to the mix, or is it premature? Do they wait until 2020? Outside of Eloy and possibly Cease, it doesn't look as if other prospects are ready to move up just yet. A majority of the farm is down in Winston Salem.

I think Hahn made the right choice. He is stressing patience and sustained success. He likely would have done the same with Moncada if Boston didn't bring him up in 2016. Looking at the 2019 schedule, it appears as if April 15th would be the most appropriate time for his call up. They will begin a series at home against KC. They can also opt to call him up against the Yankees the series before that. But that series is on the road. See you in April, Eloy!

KW and Hahn keep praising Renterias efforts. Listen, I get that the major league roster is trash and Renteria should not get the blame for all these losses. All practical White Sox fans know that these losses will lead to more high draft picks. This will be better for the longer term success rate for the organization. However, how do we trust KW and Hahn to make the difficult decision to pull the trigger on a managerial change when the time is right? Hahn and KW were the same guys who kept supporting Ventura after failing annually for 5 straight seasons. During these 5 seasons the white sox were supposedly going for it. Well except for maybe 2014, when Hahn labeled the season a reboot year after a 2013 diasterous campagn. If Hahn and KW did not want Ventura to leave after a failing and forgettable 5 years of managing (Remember, Ventura walked away on his own). I just can’t see KW and Hahn upgrading the managerial spot when the time is right and these prospects are coming up, free agents are getting signed and necessary trades are being made. Do you guys see them making this decision?

Can you please elaborate on this progress? I do appreciate that Steverson isn't a lifer and its always nice to get an outside perspective on hitting. But I just don't see dramatic evidence to warrant him staying here long term.

I know many fans and analysts believe that coaching doesn’t have much of an impact on a players performance. But if there was one coach who can have more of a personal impact on players performance, isn’t it a hitting coach and pitching coach? Since Stevenson took over in 2014, the white sox have produced some poor offensive numbers. And seeing that so much is invested in guys like Moncada and Anderson, after seeing them struggle, perhaps it’s time for a new voice? Granted much of the Sox struggles is due to a poorly constructed roster, but the entire organization has been on the bottom half of the league in run production and average since he took over as hitting coach. Listen, I’m not putting all the blame on him for the perennial suck of this team. And I know the hitting coach is usually the first to get axed when a team struggles. I just want to see guys like Moncada and Anderson (who are supposed to be a big part of the future) start making leaps of offensive progress. Perhaps it’s time for a new offensive voice? What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks man!

The site looks great! Well done guys! Well worth the wait. The site is rebuilt, our team is being rebuilt and I just found out my 2nd baby and future sox fan will be a boy! Life is good. Great Scott!

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Feb 10, 2018 -> 10:14 PM) Problem isn't the money it's the length it will eat past the arb years of their top guys. Basically in Bryant is a FA in 22. Rizzo 22. Schwarber 22. Russell 22. Basically they have two guys now in Heyward and Darvish locked in past that date for over 50 million both likely at that time in their significant decline phase. Hell Heyward is already there. Also remember Q becomes free agent in 22 as well. Quintana’s deal expires after the 2020 season. But you are right about the other guys all having contracts that expire after the 2021 season. And with Lester and Darvish on the wrong side of 30 then and Heyward being himself, the Cubs likely have 3 years left in this current window. The funny thing is, that’s when most people expect our White Sox to be contenders with the window just opening up.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Jan 26, 2018 -> 10:17 AM) The Yelich trade makes sense if they wanted to use the savings of not signing Cain for a SP. Signing Cain makes sense if they wanted to save their prospect capital for a SP trade. The both together make zero sense at all. Brewers spinning their wheels. I'm sure there is a method to their madness. Acquiring a veteran starter with the OF surplus is likely their next move. Perhaps they still pounce on a Darvish or Arietta as well. Watch out for the Brew Crew in '18. They should be fun to watch. In a perfect anti-Cub world, Darvish signs with the Brewers and Arietta signs with St. Louis.

I wouldn't mind 720AM. Since the Cubs went to 670, it would be kind of funny if the White Sox became the WGN radio team. Not to mention, I enjoy the WGN White Sox TV broadcasts.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 11:35 AM) Not exactly an encouraging report: He's on the dreaded "there's no timetable for his return" it appears. Sox do not expect him to be ready by April. Realistically he will likely be ready by June the earliest. I wouldn't be surprised if they wait as long as August to get him going. There is no reason to rush him back in a developmental season in which the 2018 campaign will most definitely be. Hopefully Fulmer can take advantage of this opportunity and turn some heads this year. This is a very important year for him .

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 10:39 PM) I find it humorous that every trade or potential free agent signing has now become a “flip” scenario I don't think its humorous. I think it's smart. At least in 2018. If that is still going on in 2019, than it's safe to say they are behind schedule on this rebuild.

Starting pitcher for sure. With Rodon on the shelf until June (most likely), having another veteran available to eat innings is essential in this year of growth. Guys who come to mind are: Clay Bucholtz, Miguel Gonzalez, Jaime Garcia and Big Sexy Bartolo Colon. Yes i said it. I want the big fat dude back for a third time.

Dombrowski has to be feeling the pressure in Boston. Any deal for Machado would completely gut the remains of their thinning farm system.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 24, 2017 -> 02:40 AM) Careful. You'll have an angry mob of cubs fans at your doorstep for talking about their pitcher like that. I read somewhere that the TB Rays owner will not trade with the Cubs. He is still pretty upset the way Joe Madden up and left for them. I can see a team like St. Louis trading for Archer. Can you imagine? Cub fans would go nuts. In regards to Hahn, I’m happy he is kicking tires on everyone. The market is pretty stagnant, if you can get a really good player for pennies on the dollar— go for it! The goal is still 2020. If he can land younger veterans that fit into that timeline but doesn’t cost premium prospects, it’s a win-win.

QUOTE (Scoots @ Dec 18, 2017 -> 05:31 AM) Same. All overvalued speculation for a slow ass off-season and posturing... nothing else. I’m thinking Baltimore holds onto him until the trade deadline. Playoff contenders tend to give up better value at that time since they are competing with the other contenders. Look at what the Cubs gave up for a few months of Chapman? Not to mention, if a contending teams 3b goes down to injury, it would force them to overpay for renting Machado. I just don’t see the importance of Baltimore dealing him during the winter? Unless the White Sox or Diamondbacks truly have ‘the best packages out there’? Which I don’t understand since apparently they are holding onto their top prospects? Anway, time to move on from this rumor....

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Dec 11, 2017 -> 10:32 AM) Pretty sure the Sale deal happened at like lunch time on Monday last year. Yes. It was around noon when my phone blew up.

Sounds like the Red Sox want to replace JBJ with a power hitting run produer in the corner spot. I'm thinking they will sign JD Martinez, put him in LF and shift Benintendi to CF. It will be interesting to see how the market lines up for Abreu. Bruce Levine said the teams who missed out on Stanton-- SF and STL can come calling for Abreu. (No surprise there) Hahn would be selling really high on Abreu and i'm assuming he would have to be extremely overwhelmed to deal him. What does the market look like for Avi?? I feel he is the biggest wildcard going into these meetings. I say there is a 70% chance he gets traded and a 20% chance Abreu does.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Nov 29, 2017 -> 02:57 PM) I'd rather use our last great veteran trade piece to improve on our next core of players, not a guy who is going to be an impending FA next time we're good. I kind of agree with this. He is coming off an amazing 2017 season. There are no guarantees that he will be as good in 2018 either... Selling high on a veteran player albeit tough, is necessary when you are in the middle of a rebuild process. And from what I read, Hahn won't budge unless he is completely blown away by an offer. I'm not too worried by these rumors.

Another component to keep an eye on is Baltimore's short term plan with Machado. I'm sure they know there is real good chance of losing him for nothing. What if suddenly they put him on the market? Not that it is necessarily related to this Abreu-Red Sox thing, but crazy three-team deals can occur during winter meetings..... Something to ponder.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 01:43 PM) How many of those teams invested 52M in a 19 year old prospect? Good point. Times are changing. I feel like that Jose Abreu record deal will be shattered next offseason.