ChiSox59

It's honestly hard to imagine where all of these FA OFs are gonna sign. After the big three, there are still multiple guys who can be productive pieces on a winning team, but there just doesn't seem to be much of a market for these guys to this point. I see no possible scenario in which several FAs (including Cespedes and Gordon) do not sign for far less than what they were projected to receive in November. And I think Parra, Span, Jackson and especially Fowler with the QO will get pretty friendly deals compared to some of the crazy inflated contracts we saw in November and early December. I could definitely see a scenario where the prices drop to a point that more teams get involved in any number of those guys, but it's a pretty crazy atmosphere out there right now. Supply is will in excess of demand (at current asking prices). Rick Hahn has played this perfectly to this point. The people who have voiced otherwise in a strong fashion don't understand the economics of the game. The Sox are very well positioned to land Cespedes or Gordon, and likely at far less than we would have felt possible a mere 30-45 days ago. Being patient sucks, but I feel it will be worth it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 02:43 PM) Yahoo Sports you'd have to believe is in danger as well with the company outside of Alibaba and Yahoo! Japan hemorraging money... Not sure what you're referring to here or how this in any way related to yahoo, but Yahoo will be fine for the simple fact that their fantasy sports platforms will keep them alive. Far and away the best out there, IMO. Yahoo has never really been top in notch in terms of reporting.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 03:30 PM) I'll try. But, with the acquisition of both Frazier and Lawrie and feeling like we may be just that one player away from being a much better team - - - I really would like to see something good happen real soon! I think we all would! Yes, but not worth getting all worked up until the chips have fallen.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 03:01 PM) You must assume that the players pay no attention to the signings of the free agents! Nothing has happened. All three are still FAs. Relax.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) I wonder how Todd Frazier feels now? What are you even talking about? Smh.

Melky can hit. The improved lineup will help him. The priority needs to be getting him as many ABs as possible at DH before shifting there full time next year.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 06:54 PM) Cant believe that any team considering signing Alvarez to dh wouldnt take Laroche first. He can still play a solid 1b and is a vet with one poor season on his record. Id rather trade for Laroche, what's the thinking on that around the league i wonder. I guess right now nobody wants either guy, and that silence speaks volumes. I'd prefer Gordon but would be thrilled to add Cespedes assuming the price isn't asinine. Pretty pumped that it appears well get one of the two.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) It's a line from the movie Tropic Thunder. No need to call the PC police on this one, I'm sure he's just having a bit of fun. Ahhh, over my head, but that is a funny movie.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 01:04 PM) People going full retard.. You never go full retard!! ...yikes...

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 10:46 AM) Just looked up the numbers again, I didn't realize Parra's defense fell off that much, yeesh. So Parra/Garcia could maybe put up a league average RF offensively, but would still be a disaster on defense. You're right, Span would be a much better fit. A Parra/Avi platoon in RF would be better than league average offensively. Avi kills the defense platoon, but I am not ready to call Parra (the strong side of the platoon) a bad defender quite yet. He was among the best in the league a mere 2 years ago. LF - Gordon CF - Eaton RF - Parra/Avi platoon DH - Melky Late inning defensive replacement / PH - LaRoche That alignment IMMENSELY improves the OF defense and gives the Sox a great lineup. This is the best case scenario in my mind.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 11:11 AM) Was it ever officially confirmed there was an offer out there? No, but Bucket said the Sox were going to make "an offer" on Monday, presumably their "final offer".

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) Interesting. Maybe I'm just ignorant when it comes to the splits. Either way, I think Parra would be a solid upgrade for sure. Would still much rather see one of the top 3 but we'll see. Edit: FWIW, Merkin told me a few weeks ago that he doesn't usually throw specific players names out. Could mean something the more I think about it. As I've been saying for awhile, Parra AND one of the big 3 make this team very, very good.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 10:24 AM) Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought they went with 4 bench players & 7 pen arms for the majority of last year, right? Yes. It'll be a 4 man bench. 12 pitchers, 9 regulars/starters, 4 bench.

QUOTE (fredmanrique @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) If we add Gordon there is no sense in wasting time with Avi or LaRoche in the lineup. Send LaRoche off to Colorado with $10M and whichever prospect not named Anderson/Fulmer/Adams it takes to get Blackmon coming back perhaps? At least be realistic.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 10:02 AM) I just don't see how they deal LaRoche for anything. If an offer of LaRoche & $8M in cash for a lower-level prospect didn't get it done, I don't think anything will. Judging by Hahn's comments, it sure looks like they don't want Avi starting out there. Plus he has another option. I think they hold on to LaRoche. Me too. A LaRoche/Avi platoon wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, either. Especially if LaRoche figures it out. Avi hits LHP very well. I still prefer to see Melky DH, but it probably isn't in the cards this year unless they sign two OFs.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:33 PM) Ok...so go make a post that says..quit following the Sox because all of their past moves suck and move on. None of this has to do with the topic at hand. This is my last and final warning...enough of this nonsense. If you want to post in this thread, post about Gordon...if you want to post about all the other moves the sox could have done and how their past destines them for failure than create another thread or just give up cause what joy is their in even following a team if you truly think they never have any chance of ever succeeding based upon the past. THANK YOU!

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 03:55 PM) Honestly, Gordon to the White Sox doesn't happen because we are never on the right side of the ledger in these deals where we add and subtract from a divisional foe... 2003 Kenny Rogers cheaply to the Twins, Sox have no fifth starter and fall short 2010 Thome to the Twins, Kotsay/A. Jones to the Sox Miguel Cabrera to Detroit because of better minor league talent in Maybin and Miller at time of trade 2011 Dunn to the White Sox, Victor Martinez to the Tigers That's three White Six playoff teams alone (2003/2010/2012) and the likelihood of even more with Miggy Cabrera in the fold that whole time. See below. You could make the same arguments even about last year...had the White Sox brought in Morales instead of LaRoche, C.Young/Madson/Volquez/Cueto instead of Shark, Robertson and Duke...Zobrist over Cabrera. Granted, the Royals were willing to sacrifice much of their farm in the process, as they didn't pick up any of the two month remaining salaries for Cue-to and Zobrist. I can't think of any time predating 2000 where we hurt a divisional foe and helped ourselves simultaneously. Guess it has to happen someday, right? Hahahaha, all of that garbage has zero bearing on anything relating the the 2016 White Sox.

QUOTE (staxx @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 03:18 PM) Age, limited power, position switch from LF to RF, and the fact that his speed skill set will likely degress is what I'm talking about. For the price, I'd much rather have upton. I'm not saying Gordon wouldn't help, but there are better options. He'd play LF. They're not signing Gordon, an elite LF, and moving him to RF. He doesn't have limited power. He has 7 less HRs per 162 than Upton, while playing in a pitchers park that is hard to hit homers in his whole career versus Upton playing in Arizona's bandbox for most of his career. I agree that age is the biggest factor, but if you can get him for a 4 years rather than 6 or 7 for Upton and/or Cesepedes, it ends up not mattering all that much in the end, for comparisons sake. I don't worry too much about Alex Gordon falling off a cliff of 34. Regarding speed skillset - you could say that about any of the big three. His positives - great OBP, excellent defense and left handedness far outweigh your perceived negatives in his game, IMHO. That said, give me any of the three and I will be giddy.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:55 PM) He is 32 yr old at 20 mil a year pass. Doubt he gets that much.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:57 PM) He's owed $29M over two years. The point was how nice it would be to cut him and the salary. As recently as 2014, Melky was worth significantly more than what he is due the next two years. He had a bad year and still put okay offensive numbers. I am the biggest proponent of getting him out of the outfield everyday, but I think if the Sox wanted to just get out from under his contract they could. I also think he'll be worth his contract the next two years..the dudes a pretty good hitter.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:41 PM) why the hell not? smh

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:34 PM) I believe you but that's ridiculous for a player like Gordon. Man, NFL teams have it made. They get to cut guys and those 8 year deals mean nothing. They don't have to pay up like baseball teams do. Think of all the guys the Sox would have just cut. LaRoche, Dunn, Melky, Rios. Zero chance the Sox would cut Melky.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:30 PM) Why does everyone want Gordon or Upton? Am I the only one that would be ecstatic to see the Sox get Cespedes? No. Everyone (well, most everyone) would be happy with any of the three. Cespedes might be the sexiest (for lack of a better word) of the three, but the dude has warts. He never walks, which is something is team badly needs. He isn't a great defender and will likely continue to get worse. And while I don't have any evidence of this, I don't get the feeling he is a team first type of player. Alex Gordon is the epitome of a team player and leader - plus he brings high OBP, elite defense and a left handed bat. Oh and about $5-8M in AAV to spend elsewhere.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:24 PM) The thing that makes me nervous that goes with his age, is that he just came off his first injury shortened year. I feel nervous that injuries could become a regular occurrence now and if we are giving out our largest contract ever, I'd feel much better doing it to Upton for his age/health/other things. Meh. Defense matters. Upton is at best a mediocre defender that will probably get worse as he ages. If they were both in line for 4/year $70-80M deals, I'd agree, but Upton is going to cost $40-$60M more. Use the savings to make the team better in other areas. Don't get me wrong, I'd be estatic if the Sox signed Upton; I just think Gordon is the best fit of the the three.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:23 PM) That name actually isn't as crazy as it sounds if the Sox lose out on the big 3. Worst case scenario is that they could get a guy like Rios to platoon with Shuck in RF. Avi would be a much better option to platoon with Shuck.