Superstar Lamar

realism sucks

Unlike some, I don't think the first signing will be a high end pitcher. It seems from recent past that second tier guys at a position (for example Wheeler) are keyed in to the amount the top tier receives. The top tier meanwhile, plays a game of chicken to see who signs first. Boras always seems to wait it out when he represents the top tier, then after someone on his client's level signs, he looks to beat that number. As everyone has agreed, Jose signs first. On some level it may have been brilliant for JR to announce that Jose will never wear another uniform with Jose subsequently supporting the statement. That should retard the offers he receives as teams won't waste their time on a futile gesture. The first non Jose I think will be a relief pitcher. You can move pretty quickly in FA to transform a bullpen.

I'll admit it if he doesn't opt out after 5 years. If he plays well enough to opt out in five, the cost would have neither prevented them from signing additional free agents nor extending their emerging core.

and the Packers lost as well It might be wise to play the lottery today

Maybe. He sounded like he would in the right situation in the quotes from him in today's Tribune. He said he feels great and thinks he has more baseball in him. I would imagine being able to stay in Chicago would be attractive to him.

Renteria subtley questioned his focus yesterday. Hopefully that is something the Sox work to improve in the off season

There is no reason to take team stats and extrapolate them as indicative of anything in the future with the 2019 White Sox. There are maybe 3-4 players who will be here in 2021. If you limit it to Moncada, Anderson, Jimenez and the numbers are troubling, then there is cause for concern

I am going to continue to beat the drum for Zobrist on a one year deal with a team option as our RF next year: switch hits, high obp, low K, may be rejuvenated after most of the year off, veteran leadership and movable should a minor league OF develop. He can bat leadoff and played 100+ games as a corner OF last year. Get Wheeler as a front end starter as your big(ish) signing. Sign Cole Hammels for the back end on a one year.

some far outside the box thinking: Ben Zobrist on a one year deal. He'd be a placeholder who provides lots of veteran leadership. He played over 100 games as a corner OF for the Cubs last year. He switch hits, doesn't strike out and gets on base better than anyone one the team currently. My guess is he wants the stability of staying in Chicago and would probably come cheap.

I still consider him to be until he has pitched a full MLB season as I expect he will have the peaks and troughs of a developing pitcher

Cease

remember, we have to have room for Collins to get 450+ AB as well in a C/1B/DH role. I don't think next year is going to be a championship year regardless of the lineup. We are relying on 2 rookie starting pitchers, with all the inconsistency that brings, as well as projecting Lopez to be better. Give Collins his AB, Abreu a short term contract and find a reasonable RF. Lots of questions will be answered in one more year.

Did I read correctly that Renteria only intends to give Collins 4-5 starts behind the plate the rest of the way? Why is no one from above having a conversation with him to correct his role in the player development process.

That seems pricey for a 36 year old Alex Gordon whose best attribute is his defense

2 years and 26 million puts him at a nice, even 100 million earned from the Sox.

They understood it last time. Last off season was all theater. Sure they would have taken Machado at their price but they knew they weren't going to compete. They will offer Cole 8/240 but with a team opt out if he doesn't throw 300 innings in each year.

Is there any doubt JR is conjuring up one of his heavily deferred money contracts and telling Abreu he doesn't need an agent to look it over?

I'm aware of that: 1. I think he would fall a bit behind that pace as the season wore on resulting in a final total of about 30; and, 2. While he may gain a bit more power with experience from an eye test, the ball situation will not be as optimal as this year so the total will be the same. I think 30 is his best. 30 is very good

I think you guys are a little generous on his HR power. I think he maxes out at 30. I do think in the future though that he is going to take his OBP to the .400 range

that is not really on renteria

but that's not really on Renteria whoops, I thought I was adding a quote

They aren't going to win anything next year with all those rookie starting pitchers anyway. They may compete but it is a development year.

Ricky is the Washington Generals of baseball coaches. He is on his second job where the implicit, if not explicit job is to lose gracefully. He is like one of those executives who is made CEO for a month as new ownership sells off parts of the corporation. His only task is to hold the position and not do anything to embarrass the organization. In exchange, he will make a great salary (with an extension) and have the title on his resume....at least I hope this is how the Sox view him.

He would have to have a bigger set than I gambling on himself as a 31 year old free agent catcher with much more bad history than good in the league. My guess is that he would jump at the security of a long term deal

I got banned for a week by that fat hump who played the peanut butter game with his beagle. I was a long time member at that point without any history of problems. I think the site's undoing was based in the pr they received during the world series run. There were indications before that time with moderators but 2005 seemed like a catalyst for them to all become self important.