Chicago White Sox

Fully agree.

Definitely possible, but I think that would be super risky with how bad Keuchel looked last year and with Kopech on an innings limit. I also think smart clubs find a way to roll with six starters. Obviously paying Keuchel $18M isn’t ideal for that type of role, but neither is relying on a guy who posted a 5.23 while averaging a sub 90 MPH fastball.

Yup, terrible game with a pretty brutal penalty that had serious implications. At the least the halftime show lived up to expectations.

Pretty much outside of Rodon on a cheap deal.

Yup. And let’s be honest, I think most people would be happy if Cespedes ended up being a solid 4th OF. As for Colas, the kid has never even played stateside. I really like Oscar’s potential, but if you’re worried about blocking him while contending for a World Series title then you probably shouldn’t be a major league GM. And finally, how many years do we need to go before Hahn realizes a left-handed power bat is a must for this offense? This team consistently gets beat up against tough RHP and that’s going to be a recurring obstacle come October. Conforto is fucking elite against RHP while not killing you defensively in RF. Given his expected price, this is the most logical free agent target since Grandal & Wheeler. Honestly, if Hahn can land Conforto, a solid 2B, and a quality SP prior to Opening Day then I’m moving back to Chicago cause this team is winning the World Series next year. Get this the fuck done Hahn!

Conforto has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball against RHP over the past half decade, so not sure we’re talking about the same player. Also, it sounds like you are scarred for life because of Adam Dunn failing which is unfortunate.

Which is why Engel is so valuable to us as 4th OF and why I was so mad they signed Eaton to be their RF last year.

I think people need to remember that the White Sox have barely begun their offseason with the only two moves being Graveman and Leury. They still need to add a left-handed power bat, a 2B, and some sort of SP at a very minimum. They will also almost certainly trade Kimbrel for something, potentially to address one of those three needs. Once a CBA happens they will be as busy as any team in baseball and I would expect multiple trades to happen because the free agent market is limited in certain areas where we need help. And regarding the financial situation, Hahn didn’t trade a cost controlled asset in Madrigal if it was going to hamstring him the following offseason. There is definitely room to spend and they will likely push the payroll to the lowest luxury tax threshold. And it’s almost certainly going to end up higher than the owners’ current proposal, so I agree we should be able to sign Conforto and address our other needs. I do think we’re going to see more trades than most people here will like, but now is the time push some chips in.

Look, it may be light, but Bassitt only has one year of control and teams are starting to show an unwillingness to part with top prospects for one year rentals. I also think that Burger probably has more value than what the big prospect publications believe. Finally, the A’s typically think outside the box a bit when it comes to trades as evident by the trade they acquired Bassitt in the first place. Regardless, I’d be willing to pay more if need be, but I still don’t think Bassitt is going to command a crazy haul.

The rest of the offseason should be pretty simple IMO: Sign Conforto to a 4/$80M deal Trade Kimbrel to the Phillies for Marchan & Alvarado Trade Burke, Burger, Sosa, & Adolfo to the A’s for Bassitt & Kemp Trade Mercedes to the Marlins for a lottery ticket Sign Ryan Tepera to a 2/$10M deal Roster would be under the luxury tax and would look like this: Lineup: 1) Robert, CF | 2) Moncada, 3B# | 3) Abreu, 1B |4) Jimenez, LF | 5) Conforto, RF* | 6) Anderson, SS | 7) Grandal, C# | 8) Vaughn, DH | 9) Kemp, 2B* Bench: IF) Mendick | OF) Engel | UT) Garcia# | BC) Marchan# Rotation: 1) Lynn | 2) Giolito | 3) Cease | 4) Bassitt | 5) Kopech Bullpen: CL) Hendriks | SU) Bummer* | SU) Graveman | MR) Crochet* | MR) Tepera | MR) Alvarado* | LR) Lopez | LR) Keuchel* That roster is absolutely stacked and we’d actually have some depth in AAA with guys like Sheets, Collins, Gonzalez, Yogurt, The Basabe, Stiever, Lambert, Bilous, McClure, Burr, Foster, Severino, etc. Kemp is the biggest wild card there, but 2B upgrades should be easily attainable at the deadline. And I’m sure people will dislike the Phillies & A’s trades I’m proposing, but I think they allow us to build the most complete roster without disrupting the future too much.

Engel has proven he can’t be relied on to stay healthy over the course of a full season. He’s an excellent 4th OF and late game defensive replacement for Eloy and should not be used for anything more than that baring injury.

Those Sox teams had Scott Podsednik in LF his first three seasons and Dye’s defense was epically bad and value destroying. He’s a great comp for what we might expect defensively from a Vaughn/Sheets combo but a horrible justification for why they make sense for RF.

What makes it a “lazy” move exactly?

I mean, you trade Kimbrel for salary relief. And the thresholds will almost certainly go up once a CBA is agreed to.

Defensive wise and he’s right. I think with Robert you can easily hide one shitty defender in the corners, but flanking with him with Eloy & Vaughn/Sheets is a disaster waiting to happen. No need to get cute here, just get Conforto. Dude is a perfect fit.

Sox also need a left-handed bat. Conforto is a perfect fit for us.

Oh fuck yes

Just for discussion purposes, who might we target from Miami for Burger?

Just came here to make this joke! But seriously, hopefully Mercedes can now be traded for a lottery ticket.

Manfred may be a great negotiator, but he’s as unlikable as they come. For the love of god keep him out of the press to avoid angering your fanbase with his BS & lies.

Not sure about his health status, but Gallup is going to be the best mix of upside and value when it comes to WRs in free agency. I fucking love that idea. Draft another WR in the 2nd / 3rd round and sign a couple offensive lineman in free agency like you suggested and Fields might have the pieces needed to take a big leap forward next year.

Misael Gonzalez ranked 37th in the worst system is wild to me.

So what HC jobs are still open? Dolphins, Saints, & Texans? Pretty nuts that six roles have already been filled and not one has been black. At a bare minimum, Leftwich should get a job somewhere with all the offensive oriented hirings, but don’t believe he’s connected to any of the remaining roles. Flores is technically one of three finalists for the Texans job, but it would be a shocker if he got that job after the lawsuit. Sounds like Bieniemy will get an interview with the Saints, but who knows whether his past issues will be held against him. Honestly, McDaniel to the Dolphins (if it happens) might be the only diversity we get amongst the HC hires this offseason despite 28% of the total jobs being open. The NFL really not doing themselves any favors with that lawsuit…lol.

Oline and a legit WR should be the focus in free agency. I like Mooney as the next guy, but we desperately a #1 type in addition to a WR prospect in the 2nd or 3rd round. Good news is both free agency and the draft are pretty deep in that regard.

Huge momentum swinger and really stupid to not just take the points with five seconds.