GreatScott82

It looks like Robin is here to simply score us a couple of top 5 picks in the draft. He will be gone after 2014. He is too cheap to let go now and the White Sox will likely not be competitive next year as well. (I hope i'm wrong with my last comment, but there are waaaayyy too many holes with this squad.)

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 4, 2013 -> 10:20 PM) Just curious how early in the season in 2014 the draftniks on this board will start rooting for the Sox to lose every game. It's pretty damn annoying. So lets say we go 8-20 to open the year. Will you be rooting for all losses in May, June, July, August and September? Just curious. Greg, Absolutely not. I hate that I am even pulling for a high draft pick right now instead of a chance at a postseason birth. Lets face it, it has been hard to cheer for this club this season. They were pretty much out of the race as early as June this year. I want this team to win big next year! However, if they tank hard early once again- there is nothing wrong with getting excited for obtaining yet another high pick. Its not like we are cheering against the White Sox, if anything we are getting excited for a very possible potential impact player who can make a difference for this team for many, many years!

http://www.mymlbdraft.com/MLB-Mock-Draft Start getting familiar Trea Turner!

The goal for the remaining portion of 2013 is simply 2014. Keep losing, keep developing the younger dudes and get back to the drawing board this winter.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 3, 2013 -> 01:11 PM) I've tried to figure out anyone who made sense as obviously an improvement over a Gillaspie/Keppinger platoon and I've struggled. Outside of the guy in Minnesota there's not a lot of high-flying 3b prospects right now that I can recall who would be a sensible target if the Sox moved one of their starting pitchers, and the FA class is more than weak: About the only bat that could possibly help at 3b would be to sign Jhonny Peralta and move him to 3b, but there's the whole "signing a guy just off a steroid suspension" thing to deal with. You have any other ideas? Are there any 3b prospects coming out who will be high on the draft board? We can possibly continue the Kepp/Gillapsie platoon until someone like that is ready... There just really isn't a whole lot of talented 3b out there these days. If they are talented, they are likely locked up for 6-8 years already.

Super excited to see this kid pitch.

I think the Sox will end up landing this guy. With the previous successful relationships to guys like Contreras, Ramirez and Viciedo- Abreu can truly find comfort with the Sox. This guy is exactly what this team desperately needs! If they can get this dude on board- we have our 1b of the future! They can then focus in on improving the 3b, C and CF positions moving forward.

Avi Garcia is a very nice step in a younger/ cheaper direction. However, before we call Hahn a 'genius' lets see what else he can do in attempt to set us up nicely moving forward. I was a little disappointed in our return for Rios, at the same time he shed a pretty big contract and saved the organization 14 million dollars. I was a skeptic of Hahn 3 months ago but he is slowly showing me that he actually can be creative. Here is to even better moves to come in the near future!

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 15, 2013 -> 01:02 PM) Avisail Garcia. Because he's young and exciting and has actual top prospect promise. Yes. This is one of only two reasons I am interested in watching a full Sox game. The other reason is the phenom himself- Christopher Sale!

Hahn clearly mentioned that he would spend that money saved on the Peavy/Rios deals for international signings and prospect development. If this dude is the #1 guy out there overseas- im sure they will be all over this.

The smartest approach would be to continue selling off guys like Danks and Dunn. Use some of that saved money on international signings and the future. I know it sounds ridiculous but the Sox are better off long term if they have another down year in 2014. If the Sox have consecutive years of obtaining top 5 draft picks ('14 and '15) they will be in great shape. I believe signing guys like McCain, Ellsbury or Morales to mega deals will not do us any good for the long term. It honestly defeats the purpose of trading Rios IMO. If the Sox truly believed they had a chance at competing in 2014, they would have kept Rios and just moved Garcia out to LF. I think Hahn is thinking long term with these moves. He is thinking draft, international signings and more development for the prospects in the system. The worst thing the Sox can do this winter is spend just enough money to be average at best (81-81). This would not help us long term. This offense has too many holes to patch up in one offseason. I truly believe the plan is to be aggressive in the FA market in 2015, which in my opinion is the right thing to do.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 10, 2013 -> 11:36 AM) I don't think it's a good idea to sign a top-shelf free agent until we know what holes we have to fill. I advocate nothing longer than a two-year deal this offseason. Well said... the White Sox simply need to wait one more year, see who develops and see who regresses. Then they can make an overall assessment of the roster while at the same time, obtain 2 high first round picks. (2014 and 2015). We all know the farm can use top 5 draft picks to boost it up. I am banking that the Sox will go for it all in 2015 and spend big that winter.

I hope people realize that the Sox will not be buyers this winter. They will be in a situation where they will see who develops next year. They will be buyers once again in 2015.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 9, 2013 -> 02:51 PM) I would say at this point it is a lock. Well... we get a minimum utility infielder and at best a guy who can eventually earn his way as a starting infielder. Not to mention we dump 13 million in salary? Yea... i'm okay with this move. Time to start preparing for the future.

Do we know for sure that we are getting this Leury Garcia dude as the ptbnl ??

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Aug 9, 2013 -> 10:06 AM) So you guys think Rios is gone today or still be with the Sox or the rest of the season? I believe there will be a nice compromise between the White Sox and Rangers and a deal will be made tonight. I think the Rangers will include Odor in such deal after all. The White Sox will contribute about $3 million to the deal which will cover the rest of the season- however, the Rangers will take on his remaining salary for 2014 and beyond (if they take his option). I know Reinsdorf hates including money in any deal, but if it means getting a high ceiling prospect back, I can see him giving Hahn the green light.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 9, 2013 -> 07:43 AM) What day and time is the deadline on this Rios thing? I think at some point tonight is the deadline. My question is, If they fail to make a deal can another team claim him? I am pretty sure they can't.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 11:22 PM) Type A,B,C free agents do not exist anymore. We'd have to make a qualifying offer on him to get compensation after his contract runs out. That basically means you're offering a very expensive one year contract to the player, if they decline and sign somewhere else then you get a first or second round pick. If they accept, you're stuck with paying them a bunch of money, this year the qualifying offer amount was about 13.3 million if I recall. It's pretty much like the franchise tag in the NFL except in the NFL nobody ever signs someone who's been franchised and this season many players who received qualifying offers were signed to other teams like Josh Hamilton, Kyle Lohse, etc... Thank you for this post. I knew there were changes in the way free agency works but I wasn't clear on the new policy. After reading this, and finally understanding the new system, it makes perfect sense to deal him now and not wait for the winter.

QUOTE (HeGone7 @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 08:00 PM) The Sox do draft well. We should definitely opt for the picks instead of the payroll flexibility. Payroll flexibility doesnt necessarily matter next offseason. They will not be buyers in the free agent market until after the 2014 season. Get ready for another atrocious year in 2014.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 07:53 PM) Who would the Sox be able to sign for next year at 12.5 million that would produce like Rios? Don't give him away to save money. Yep.. no need to make a deal if the prospect isn't right. At this point I would much rather bank on those supplemental draft picks. I am sure he will at least be a type B free agent.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 07:16 PM) JIM BOWDEN ‏@JimBowdenESPNxm 1m White Sox are not getting Perez, Jackson or Odor for Rios but if price drops to Nick Martinez it could get done...tick tick tick tock Expand I am honestly shocked that the rangers are not willing to include Odor. I guess they are expecting to get Rios for next to nothing like we did... If that's the case, we are better off keeping him until the winter. I am sure he would make a nice trading chip for those GM meetings in December.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 03:14 PM) Agreed, I think Alfaro would be a great get. But that is their top prospect and Sardinas is their 2nd. Odor could be reasonable, I hope. If not I would go with Mazara or Luke Jackson if we want SP After looking at their numbers, If i'm Texas, I am likely not dealing Sardinas AND taking in Rios's remaining contract. However, if I'm Texas, I would eat his entire salary AND deal Odor to make sure this deal gets done.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 03:13 PM) http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...amp;position=2B http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...amp;position=SS Much appreciated!

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 8, 2013 -> 03:10 PM) Alfaro would be my top priority, but after that I think it would go Odor then Sardinas. Can someone provide stat info on each one of those players, please?

Wow! This is great news. I really hope they can work out a fair deal. If this works out, we have saved another 15 million between this year and next year. Fantastic! This would also create an opening for Garcia, which is very much necessary at this point in the season. I'm hoping for some lower level guys with high ceilings (A or AA). The White Sox are in a serious need for offense for not only in the bigs, but also in the farm system. Get this done, Mr. Hahn!