ChiSox59

There was a report that come out a few weeks ago (definitely since the season starter) that was posted here that said the Sox were very aggressive on Harper asfter Machado, despite it not really getting into the media. I spent a couple minutes trying to find it, but this board's search capability isn't the strongest. I believe it came from a notable writer - Heyman maybe?

You didn't blatantly say it, but if you don't think they're going to sign anyone but "low cost veterans", then they're going to be in the bottom tier of payrolls moving forward. The Sox need pitching help bad. Gio, Kopech and Cease isn't going to be enough to actually be a good.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=brenna001bra Don't see people complaining about this one any longer...

If you fail to see the difference between last offseason and this coming, well....you clearly don't pay much attention.

The White Sox offered more than 28 other clubs for Machado. We don't know what the final offer for Harper was, but there were reports a few weeks ago that the Sox were super aggressive after missing out on Machado, even though the offer was never publicized. It seems safe to assume they were at least in the top 3-4 in bidding on Harper. I am not giving them brownie points, but the Sox were pretty damn close to getting Machado at $250M. The man had purchased custom Sox gloves FFS. Obviously it doesn't matter because they didn't get either of them, but the fact that they were that they offered a quarter billion+ dollars to those guys is certainly something they haven't done in the past. I am willing to believe Hahn when he says that when the Sox are ready, they will spent on marquee free agents. They're definitely closer to ready this coming offseason as opposed to last. I also understand why some Sox fans are reluctant to believe that the Sox will sign a marquee free agent. We all had our hearts ripped out last winter. I just find the folks that don't seem to grasp the fact that the Sox have under $20M committed to 2020 payroll, and if the go bargain hunting again, they could legitimately be sub $50M in payroll. I see a higher likelihood of being north of $100M as opposed to sub $50M next season. The Sox aren't suddenly going to operate as one the lowest payroll teams in the league from now on. They have ALOT of money to spend.

So you too are of the opinion the Sox are now going to operate as one of the 3-4 lowest payrolls in the game moving forward. K, got it. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when the Sox open up the pocketbook the next two years. Will they beat everyone out for Cole? Maybe not. But they're not going to fill in the gaps off the clearance aisle any longer, IMO. That's not to say they won't make minor signings, but I think they days of being a bottom 5 teams in payroll won't last very long.

The Sox have broken several of their previous norms in recent seasons. I don't doubt that they'd prefer not to go over 4 years on a SP; I would assume most teams are in that school of thought. I am far from convinced that they're going to refuse to go over 4 years on SP in the next couple seasons, because if they don't they're just going to burn the cheap years from the young core. The Sox just offered 2 players over a quarter billion dollars to play for them mere months ago. When is the last time that happened? I will answer it for you: NEVER.

So your thought is that the Sox are going to have a payroll below $60M?

Encarnacion, while a better bat, was due a decent amount more than Abreu. $5M opt out alone is significant on Encarnacion.

1/14 seems unnecessarily rich, honestly. May be harsh, but Sox have all the leverage and frankly could probably get Abreu as cheap as 2/$18M.

Yah just a typo. Moncada in the 2nd Anderson spot.

Now with Collins and probably Jay not too far behind, I'd say: vs. RHP: Leury CF, Moncada 3B, Abreu 1B, McCann C/DH, Eloy LF, Collins DH/C, Anderson SS, Jay RF, Yolmer 2B vs. LHP: Leury CF, Anderson SS, Abreu 1B, Eloy LF, McCann C/DH, Moncada 3B, Castillo DH/C, Yolmer 2B, Cordell RF I could also see Jay and Leury flipped against RHP.

He would likely be the Twins best reliever, so yah. Red Sox bullpen could use some work.

He's definitely more than just "a guy".

I would agree.

Merkin straight up said he's here to stay. I don't think he makes that definitive of a comment of the org didn't tell him that was the plan.

I always find it a bit strange for someone to spend legitimately hours per day on a message board talking White Sox, but then open admit they hardly watch any games. To each their own I guess, but it seems a tad backwards.

Frankly, I have no interest in trading for anyone unless the acquisition cost is very low, or they are long term solutions. I have very little interest in giving up top 10 prospects for a guy like Stroman who is only going to be around for 14 months.

I'd rather see Kopech start in AAA, pitching 3-4 inning outings to start, slowly making his way up to 5 innings. Give him some extra rest here and there. Call him up this time next year, with 45-50 IP in AAA under his belt. And hopefully let him go another 100-120 in the bigs without much restriction. The bonus carrot is the Sox get a year of control back. It makes wayyyyyyy too much sense.

Dude, Robert and Magridal are not appearing this season, nor should they. You can stop wishing.

I don't know how many times this bears repeating, but the Sox didn't call up Collins to be McCann's backup. They are both going to be in the lineup most days. The only way that is possible on more than an occasional basis is there is a third catcher on the team. Castillo isn't going anywhere, frankly, nor should he. He serves a purpose as a platoon catcher / DH with McCann and Collins. If Castillo gets DFA'd or traded for a pack of gum, Collins is now your backup and you can't DH him everyday against RHP.

He’s going to get way less at bats if Castillo isn’t around because he’ll need to be the backup catcher.

He can split DH / catching duties with McCann. Get 2 or so starts at catcher a week. I highly doubt he catches more than that. It forms a pretty solid DH / catcher rotation as the Welington does hit LHP well.

Castillo will be back after his DL stint. That allows McCann to catch most days with Collins DHing against RHP and Castillo either catching or DHing against LHP. alonso will be the one to go when Wellington is back.

This x1000000000