steveno89

To me it seems obvious that the Sox could be the primary suitor for Encarnacion, as not that many teams need help at DH, and our need is glaring. We absolutely cannot go into 2020 with the DH being Palka/Collins and hope to have any chance at contention. Encarnacion is still a solid hitter, and would offer lineup protection in the middle of the order. He's aging, but still has pop and takes walks. I see no risk in a one year deal for 10-12 million.

Agreed, it used to feel closer to 55-45 Cubs than it does today, but the Sox have not been relevant in a decade. Sustained success will shift some of that as the Cubs are likely to decline as the Sox begin to rise.

Sox cannot likely afford a Cole/Stras, but we need to land one of Bumgarner/Wheeler/Ryu AND a backend starter. Sprinkle in Encarnacion, a RF either in trade or FA, ideally Grandal and a pen arm and we would be cooking in 2020.

Hell no on 4/72 on Puig. I do not think he will get anywhere close to that and might even have to settle for a one year prove it deal. 5/110 is tall money for Bum, but we really might have to step up to make a player like that happen. I'm all for it, we could use veteran leadership and he gives us a chance each time he takes the mound. I like adding a left handed starter as well.

Our standards for this rebuild should be much higher than lets add a #4 starter, aging DH, stopgap RF and a reliever and expect to be relevant in 2020. We do not need to win the division next year, but we better make some damn noise and start turning the corner.

If this offseason amounts to: Keuchel as the marquee signing, Encarnacion, Abreu, Calhoun/Puig and a pen arm I would be pretty damn upset, yes. That will not help us move all that much closer to contention. We need premier talent in this club, not just stopgaps on reasonable deals.

I'd be nervous to give Keuchel anything beyond two years and $30 million or so with a club option for a third year. Questionable peripherals and declining velocity concern me as anything more than a backend starter.

Replace Odorizzi with Keuchel and the rest of my post holds true

This organization is perfectly capable of trotting out Odorizzi, Calhou/Puig, Encarnacion and middle reliever and saying "Look! The money was spent!". Resulting in us winning a handful more games in 2020. .Fans have every reason to be skeptical until proven otherwise. The Machado pursuit was a total disaster, but it could happen again. Pains me to say this, but we are not a first class club, or even a second class club. Our MO has been sit back while the bog boys do there thing and wait for the scraps.

Qualifying offers really hurt all except the premium free agents Competition for all of the top free agents should be fierce this offseason. Buckle up.

I have concerns about Keuchel on a multi year deal. He has been homer prone, which does not work in the Rate. As a #4/5 he could work, but expecting anything more is a mistake. Remains to be seen what his market is like.

Can't fault Kiley, or anyone expecting the Chicago White Sox to be the...Chicago White Sox until proven otherwise though

I'm not sure the Sox can sit back and rely on internal options again, the fanbase would be livid. In 2021 we have Betts, Springer, Bauer, Semien, Tanaka, Stroman, Ray, Realmuto, Minor, Simmons, Kluber, Hand, and a slew of lower tier free agents. Long story short, it's not a stellar class. Additions will have to be made this offseason, it cannot all happen a year from now.

I think Kiley is light for Cole, Stras, MBum and Wheeler's markets. Teams crave starting pitching, and I could see a feeding frenzy for what quality FA options exist. Clubs in contention windows will feel the pressure to stockpile arms. I see Bum and Wheeler both getting at least 4/80 million, if not substantially more. Each could have 5-10 teams all over them.

No chance I let MBum sign with the Twins for 4/72 and not be involved. Expectations for him should be kept in check as he has a ton of mileage on his arm and his best years are likely behind him. He's a really solid #3/4 on a contender moving forward, but I would not expect him to be a #1 or 2 option.

Bumgarner would be a really welcome addition. His best years might be behind him, but he still takes the mound every fifth day and keeps you in the game. I'd be on board for sure. Hard to see him leaving SF, but he would be a rock solid signing.

I agree the elite free agents are not realistic. If the front office actually inks a second tier free agent I will be pleasantly surprised, but hard to be shocked when we have the lowest damn payroll in the MLB going into 2020 onward. If they give the fanbase the "seat at the table treatment" there might be no coming back. Wheeler/Bumgarner make sense as a major signing, with guys like Odorizzi/Keuchel/Wood/Roark/etc. as a second starting pitcher?

Very true^ The Sox have always been about the shrewd, business savvy signings, but free agency is not for the timid when you are competing against other clubs. It requires leaps of faith from the organization to pony up when the time is right to help improve the club. The fanbase has every right to criticize ownership and the front office for the rebuild being a total sham until they spend the money, The time is now to start turning the corner towards contention. No more BS, no more tanking, no more being cheap. Hell, now might be the time to make a huge splash and show the MLB the White Sox have arrived by bringing in a Rendon/Cole/Strasburg with a pile of cash

Sarcasm? Either way happy to chime in and/or entertain

His glove is flat out bad. I can't see him getting beyond 3-4 years tops due to his poor RF defense that is only likely to get worse.

Dick, what would you define as a "household name"? Is that a premium free agent a la Cole/Rendon/Stras? Or a second tier free agent like a Wheeler/Grandal/Donaldson/Bumgarner/Ozuna? Guys like Odorizzi/Castellanos/Keuchel/Moustakas/Gibson/Smith/Puig/Hamels constitute the third tier? They trot out an offseason of Odorizzi, Encarnacion and a middling pen arm I will be furious.

Stiever is certainly a prospect I can see the Sox trying to sell high on this offseason. Him combined with others won't get you a star, but it could help swing a deal for a solid regular.

Bingo^ Hahn better be smart enough not to pay anywhere close to retail for Abreu in this environment. Vaughn might be knocking on the MLB door by next season anyway, and I truly believe the Sox do not want to go multi year with a player who will be 33 on opening day. Love Abreu, but the writing is on the wall. I hope he rejects the QO and we nab him later on for 1/11 or something.

5/100 for Castellanos is crazy town Modern MLB does not give a guy like him longer than a three year deal given how poor his glove is

Money aside, I doubt Cole/Stras would view the White Sox as their desired free agent destination. Strasburg is likely to remain in Washington on a larger deal, and the Angels are rumored to be preparing a huge offer for Cole. I'd love to sign either, but I do not think it's in the cards.