ChiSox59

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:58 PM) Funny read from an Astros writer POV. He makes some good points that won't be popular with folks that want the Sox to sign Cespedes. http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/18/107...igning-cespedes "Second, Cespedes isn't a great hitter. I'll pause while the over-reactors pontificate. Done yet? He's not a great hitter. He's a good hitter coming off of a magnificent walk year. And the most important thing to know is: never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less important is this: never overpay for a free agent after an awesome walk year that could be classified as an outlier." I agree. And apparently Rick does too. Don't overpay for Cespedes. I'd like to see them go above the reported 3 years $55M, up to maybe $75M. But going 5 or 6 and nearing $150M would be a mistake. I continue to think Rick has played this out the right way.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 11:42 AM) We will be devastated if Fulmer and Adams both flop and Montas becomes a star...but what are the odds of that happening, all three together? It will nevertheless be more disappointing in the next two FA signing periods if we do have to buy starting pitching at the going rates because we don't have sufficient quality depth left to trade from. Watch out for the alien hiding behind the bush on your way out the front door today!

I love me some Alexei, and I will miss him. But it was time to move on. Alexei isn't the most intelligent baseball player of all time, and he's the type of guy the Sox need to shed themselves of to play winning baseball. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Alexei raked for the Pads in 2016.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:28 AM) Why haven't the teams, for which Cespedes has played, used him in RF? His arm would be much more valuable there. If the Sox do acquire him, I certainly hope that is where he plays. He would obviously be the best candidate, on the roster, to fill that hole in right. He doesn't like RF.

QUOTE (BigFinn @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 11:13 AM) Denard Span is getting $35M over three years guaranteed ($43M if his fourth year option is picked up). Span is three years older and a better defender than Fowler, but Span is also coming off an injury. Fowler should get a similar contract. That said, I don't see much difference between Dexter Fowler and Jacob May or Adam Engel. May and Engel are probably better defenders, too. Green sox is that you? May and Engel may become to decent to slightly above average big league players, but this comment is crazy. And I don't even like Fowler that much.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 11:09 AM) FWIW: This ESPN writer sees Sox getting Fowler. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14531913...-larry-reynolds The linked article does not say that. But it does say the sox low balled Upton on a short term deal.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 03:09 PM) When was it said that Upton was uninterested? It wasn't. Pure speculation.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:21 AM) I honestly wouldn't mind Sands as a bench option. He could play RF vs LHP if the Sox land Cespedes. And Avi at DH?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:44 AM) If Upton signs a one year deal before Cespedes signs, that could really put the Sox into a bind as it will put teams interested in Upton back into the Cespedes market. Unless it is with the Sox..

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) It seems obvious to me the hold up is Cespedes and Upton want to see what Baltimore does with the pile of money it offered Davis. If one of those guys signs there, Boras will be left trying to save face. I don't see another team offering $150 million for Davis, so how he may do this is a one year contract higher than the AAV he turned down. He has played RF and LF, maybe not so well, but throw $25 million at him for 1 season to see what he could do. It would be a huge gamble, but he would be playing for a contract, and USCF does play well into Davis' offensive game. If he hits 40 or 50 homers, he would wind up paying for himself in spades. I am somewhat warming to the 1 or two year deal idea. I could see Upton or Davis perhaps liking the idea when looking at next years FA crop. We will recoup the lost pick next year anyway if they sign somewhere else. I'd prefer that to paying Cespedes north of $25M AAV over 5 or more years. I don't think Davis is a realistic option in the OF, however.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 08:26 AM) How about that Danny Santana kid in Minnesota. He plays SS and CF for the Twins And was more useless than Avi last year.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:52 PM) Well it seems like caulfield has ruined this thread. What a shocker!!!!

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:54 PM) He's from Virginia. Fair enough. But still yet to see any credible source say that Upton is against signing with the White Sox

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:50 PM) The weirdest thing to me has been Upton's clear coldness toward sox. He seems crazy to limit his market even further. Has there been any real reports about that? I've heard he's not real keen on the Sox, but I think I just read that here. Not sure why he'd prefer Baltimore to Chicago.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:03 PM) I'm not worried about this yet. Until these guys sign with other teams I still have a little hope. I obviously hope the Sox can make a splash, but perhaps Cespedes/Upton aren't the best options. Throwing 5 years and ~$125M at Cespedes is going to bite you in the ass at some point, and perhaps very, very hard. I'm not against trying to get one of those guys, but there is more than one way to make this team a competitor, and those players aren't without their flaws. Gordon was the guy I was hoping for most.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 03:21 PM) With the roster as constructed now, if Avi is on the bench, who is starting in the OF? Its not "as currently constructed", but I'd be floored if the Sox didn't acquire a starting caliber outfielder in some manner before the start of the season.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 02:56 PM) What would be your bench with the current team? Navarro/Avila C Sanchez 2B/SS (can still make a ton of starts if he gets at bats from LaRoche while Frazier or Lawrie get some DH at bats) Shuck OF And then another infielder? Garcia or a minor league signing? Or say screw the 4th spot and go 8th reliever? Actually thinking about it, they play what 7-8 games in a row to open the season? They could break camp with a crowded bullpen and send a guy down when they need another position player. Navarro/Avila, Sanchez, Shuck, and Avi. Perhaps Saladino instead of Sanchez if they bring back Alexei on the cheap for one year after signing Cespedes.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 02:00 PM) Um, because it was a mutual option that seems like it only will be plausible in a very specific circumstance What are the odds the team thinks he's worth an extra $19 million that season and his side is content with a 1 year, $23 million deal? That probably means it gives each side a tiny bit of leverage to hold onto him and negotiate an extension if he decides to finish a career there and if the Royals can afford his last couple years. I think he was moreso referring to the 4th year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:38 AM) The "present day value" is a BS tool owners use to try to make a contract look less valuable. Look at interest rates and tell me how deferring $2 million for 2 years, $2 million for 3 years and $4 million for 4 years lowers the actual value of the contract significantly. Besides, that "savings" is apparently being spent elsewhere, therefore not making the Royals anything sitting somewhere. Simple economics. $1 today is worth more than $1 in a year. Not that complex.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:25 AM) If Gordon got $18M a year, is this expected to the be 'cheapest' deals of the 3 OF's? Most likely, but also have to factor in that the KC didn't have to give up a pick, and there are reportedly significant deferrals which lower the present value of the deal.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 08:30 AM) Are you still in the camp that really believes we're getting Cespedes or Upton? I'll ask this. Other than maybe 2005-2007, when has the White Sox payroll expanded 10-15% over two consecutive seasons...in this case, losing seasons where the team profits were low or marginal compared to that time period? 2009, when we added Peavy and Rios, we were coming off a playoff appearance. 2011, we were coming off a season where we led the division for a large chunk of time. The only other time would have to have been 2013-2014 with Abreu (and then last offseason), but I'm pretty sure overall payroll decreased significantly despite that addition as we shed a lot of payroll throughout a disappointing 2013. You just listed 7 of the past 11 seasons. Do you even think before you just type away?

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 07:04 AM) http://thegoldensombrero.com/wordpress/wp-...oxWereAllIn.jpg Ahhhhh...Dunner. How could I forget!!!

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:45 PM) Funny how a once "sexy" player like Markakis has turned into boring. I think that's overstated. He's a pro. Given the construction of this team and the window to succeed, his skill-set is a nice match with the Sox. There are time to take a wild flyer on potential and there's a time to make a good bet -- pay some value, but be pretty confident that even the likely "floor" will give you good overall improvement. It's why for me, I rated the big-3 OF'ers for the Sox: Gordon > Cespedes > Upton (albeit that Cespedes gets an asterisk because his ceiling might be devastating game changer). Taking on Markakis @ $11M, giving up Danks @ nearly $16M, and signing a veteran 4-5 level starter at whatever is inconsequential for a team going for it. And I trust in the Sox ability to select that vet -- personally, I like the idea of Latos, wouldn't touch today's Fister, but might consider E. Jackson as long as Coop continues to whisper in his ear. Assume the other EJ (Johnson) can get it done as a #4 and go from there. If the team performs as expected, but the back end of the rotation looks weak down the stretch, then pony up and rent a starter at the deadline. Finally, past history and performance tells me that many NL GMs will have their eye on John Danks in this last year of his contract. Soft-tossing lefties with guile have a way of spinning some magic facing 8-man lineups with lots of slap hitters and big ballparks. NOT saying I love the idea of trading for Markakis; just saying I wouldn't go crazy over budget to sign Cespedes because the money savings could intelligently make this year's squad a better team in a variety of ways. Marlins signed E Jax.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 07:20 PM) +1 Awesome signature. Who'd that use to be? Buehrle, Peavy, Rios, PK, and AJ?

Markakis would be cheap if we picked up the whole tab and have to imagine ATL is motivated to move him. Wouldn't be my first choice, but he'd definitely be an upgrade.