SoCalSox

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 07:00 PM) Yes. I have this fear that they're waiting this out and someone will outbid us. We'll see. Heyman also saying KC trying to land Gordon. I hope the Sox aren't stupid enough to wait too long... That's my big concern right now.

Just read a blurb from Jim Bowden saying that both Upton & Cespedes market has picked up a bit since the beginning of the year in terms of interest. For the Sox, that's not particularly good news but could mean nothing, too.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 3, 2016 -> 07:18 PM) Definitely think things will be picked up this week. I think the first signing happens by mid week if not sooner.

Somebody needs to give me some good news, here. I've already got end of football season depression. The time from week 17 to opening day of baseball take forever...

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 04:17 PM) I'd much rather let Saladino play then Alexei. I'd rather sign Desmond than bring back Alexei. I do think if they sign Cespedes they may think harder about Alexei. Longer he's out there, the cheaper he is.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 04:04 PM) Abreu and Cespe 3/4 sure sounds sexy but so does Gordon in the two hole. Speaking of batting order... The add of either one of these guys would be huge. IF they were to bring back Alexei or someone else at SS, where do they bat? Only spot I can really see is either 7th or 9th... CF Eaton LF/RF Cabrera 1B Abreu RF/LF Cespedes 3B Frazier DH LaRoche 2B Lawrie C Avila/Navarro SS Saladino/Ramirez Seems to make about the most sense, right?

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 04:04 PM) I think Sox and Gordon are using each other to get what they want. Gordon back to KC, CWS Cespedes. I expect another update of some sort Monday. I agree. Either help this lineup but I think Cespedes fits the overall need better. Saving that pick would be pretty damn nice, too.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 04:01 PM) I guess so. I'm not sure. I think Cespedes signs first. Which is convenient, because I think that's exactly who the Sox end up with.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 03:50 PM) I just hope we strike first. I think that's the only way they get one of the top 3 guys.

So Nightengale basically said what he's been saying for the past few days? I still don't buy it.

The common theme I keep seeing amongst twitter & here seems to be an opt out with these guys & I see 1 big issue with that. It's been said the Sox would probably need to backload the first year of a deal to make it work since they obviously aren't dealing LaRoche to clear cap room. If they need to backload the first year, it would not benefit a player at all to have a lower salary year 1 & on top of that have an opt out a year or two later. It would involve them losing out on money. From what I've read, it sure just seems like the market is not developing & these FAs are having a hard time coming to grips with that. From what I can tell, no teams have made any offers & even if they did, they haven't been nearly good enough to warrant an agreement. Sooner rather than later, players are going to have to sign & simply bite the bullet.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 08:41 PM) What you see then 5 years 110 million I'd say $19-21M annually sounds about right. 3-5 years, too.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 08:22 PM) I will say gordon signs for 4 years 80 mil and cespedes 5 years 120 mil. P.S. that be there contract with any teams. The Gordon projection seems about on give or a take a mil or two per season but Cespedes' numbers are high. I can't see him getting $24M AAV.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 07:26 PM) Oh absolutely. It's not done til it's official. I get that. I remember seeing years ago that Cliff Lee was a Yankee. We all know how that ended. Same thing with Chapman being a dodger. I don't remember Nightengale saying it. I think Joel Sherman did. Heyman had us as possible favorite for Gordon in an article. I just want us to get this done. I think adding Lawrie and Frazier to a solid core helps with it. I think it'll be Cespedes and Abreu will help. I think adding Cespedes/Gordon would be huge to complete their lineup. I also think if they sign Cespedes, they'll bring Alexei back on a cheaper deal (1 year/ $3-5M w/ 2nd year team option) & an upside SP for the back of the rotation. Although, I'd be fine with Saladino at SS, if they can afford to bring Alexei back for a year or two until Anderson is ready, I won't particularly mind.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 07:21 PM) Ken Rosenthal saying he expects us to land one of the two was good enough for me. Nightengale & I want to say Heyman does, too. I am a worst case scenario type guy, especially with the Sox. Just want to see it official, lol.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 07:16 PM) Thanks for the heads up. Many of us suspected that's what was going on. I think it's posturing for sure, I just don't know why the Sox would have done that. Garfien seems to think they could have done this as well, too. I guess what it does confirm, yet again, is that they are right in the mix for one of these guys.

Max Wildstein is a buddy of mine & just told me that he spoke w/ a source that told him Nightengale's tweet was pure posturing on the White Sox's part. Take it FWIW but he went out of his way to tell me about it.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 06:31 PM) I really like this trade a lot. I really think he's going to be the player we look back on & say "Wow, that was a great acquisition."

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 06:42 PM) I'd really feel good about our offseason if we got Frazier, Lawrie and Cespedes and still have 3 top 50 picks. Now they just need to get that last guy to complete the list.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 04:32 PM) If they sign an OFer I wouldnt mind them doing it. It's just if they dont where it gets harder to swallow. I'd rather see them re-sign Alexei for another year or two & get a guy like Latos to fill out the rotation.

FWIW, I have yet to meet one person within baseball's media who respects anything Bob has to say... Have spoken with two different people tonight within the industry who have both said to act like he didn't even say it. One of the guys never has anything bad to say about anyone, so that was a first for him.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 10:38 AM) If that happens, I will definitely cry and then buy a ticket plan. I get the feeling that if they add one of the two OF'er (especially Cespedes), I think they'll bring back Alexei on a cheap 1-2 year deal.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 10:35 AM) Looking back on this trade, I still can't believe that the Sox have Todd Frazier. We could be in for a treat in 2016. Add in Cespedes/Gordon & I might cry a tear or two.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) Don't sleep on the Giants and Tigers. Detroit is the team that worries me. It would hurt to lose out on these guys & even worse if two of the three go within the division. It's a very real possibility right now.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 10:01 AM) Another thing to remember is Cespedes is coming off a 4 yr $36 mil deal which was a pretty good bargain for him. He wants to get paid big time and hired Jay Z's firm to represent him. Any idea of the Sox getting him on a discount probably isn't realistic. If they want him, they're going to have to spend like the big boys. I think that's the issue that Cespedes is having right now. He can want to get paid whatever he wants but it's obvious there is a big divide in what these guys/agents aren't asking & what teams are willing to pay. He's not going to get what he originally thought. It's just a matter of how long it will take them to find a price that can work for him & a team.