Sox Sign Jose Abreu - 6/$68 million

[caulfield12]

Exactly. The Sox had the top "sealed bid" on the wrong guy.

 

And so did 28 other teams. It was pretty much common knowledge from the very beginning that nobody was going to outspend Yankees' West.

 

Lots of swing and misses. For the best GM's in the game.

 

Like Mike Trout.

 

Or picking up Chris Davis when he was available to practically every team in the league, etc.

 

The last big time player we picked up was Quentin who had a huge impact on the offense.

Edited October 6, 2013 by caulfield12

[Marty34]

And so did 28 other teams. It was pretty much common knowledge from the very beginning that nobody was going to outspend Yankees' West.

 

Lots of swing and misses. For the best GM's in the game.

 

Like Mike Trout.

 

Or picking up Chris Davis when he was available to practically every team in the league, etc.

 

The last big time player we picked up was Quentin who had a huge impact on the offense.

 

Thanks for reaffirming my point.

[caulfield12]

Thanks for reaffirming my point.

 

 

But the thing is, you will spend the next two years (at least) complaining about Hahn/KW before any type of change is made.

 

Might as well be optimistic they might stumble upon the right player.

 

 

Some of the former stud prospects like Domonic Brown, Davis and Pedro Alvarez finally emerged as impact players this season...so maybe Viciedo, Beckham and Avisail Garcia will likewise start becoming the players they were projected to be.

Edited October 6, 2013 by caulfield12

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

It'll be interesting to see what the winning bid is. Unfortunatly all bids will not be revealed nor will we know if it's only the top money that gets him. Any team seriously interested would offer in the range of 5-8 years and $60-80M.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Like with Viciedo and Puig?

 

They were in to the very last second on both of those guys. Cespedes, to a lesser extent.

 

The only one they weren't pursuing hard was Soler.

 

That's not true. Gammons tweeted last year that Sox bid of upwards of $25 million was right there with Atlanta competing for the 2nd highest bid on Soler.

[caulfield12]

That's not true. Gammons tweeted last year that Sox bid of upwards of $25 million was right there with Atlanta competing for the 2nd highest bid on Soler.

 

Sometimes I wonder if the White Sox (KW) wanted that put out there intentionally just to create the perception "the Sox were in on the bidding" but yet they realistically weren't going to finish first.

 

There was a big firestorm in the media in Toronto about this, I think it was over the Darvish bidding process.

 

Somehow, the White Sox almost always finish 2nd/3rd. In the end, "almost" doesn't count.

[Quin]

Sometimes I wonder if the White Sox (KW) wanted that put out there intentionally just to create the perception "the Sox were in on the bidding" but yet they realistically weren't going to finish first.

 

There was a big firestorm in the media in Toronto about this, I think it was over the Darvish bidding process.

 

Somehow, the White Sox almost always finish 2nd/3rd. In the end, "almost" doesn't count.

 

A blind bid of $25M is a whole damn lot to gamble.

[witesoxfan]

Thanks for reaffirming my point.

 

The last two guys that Sox really wanted were Dunn and Keppinger. Those two had historically terrible years their 1st year, but they fit a huge need for the team and the Sox paid a pretty penny for both.

 

If the Sox bid $60-70 mill for Abreu, and come in 2nd, are you really telling me you'd be upset?

[Dunt]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/...ing-jose-abreu/

 

Looks like Marlins, Giants, or Rangers.

 

Blind bids are supposed to be in today.

 

How long does the bid process typically take to play out?

[caulfield12]

The last two guys that Sox really wanted were Dunn and Keppinger. Those two had historically terrible years their 1st year, but they fit a huge need for the team and the Sox paid a pretty penny for both.

 

If the Sox bid $60-70 mill for Abreu, and come in 2nd, are you really telling me you'd be upset?

 

 

The most they've ever spent on an invidual contract is Danks' $65 million, right?

 

That's more than the last contracts that Buehrle and Ordonez earned with the Sox, right?

[witesoxfan]

The most they've ever spent on an invidual contract is Danks' $65 million, right?

 

That's more than the last contracts that Buehrle and Ordonez earned with the Sox, right?

 

Yes. I don't believe that matters. Comparing Ordonez's last contract is silly, especially considering they were ready to give him 4/$60 before he went down with injury.

[Lillian]

I won't be surprised if someone bid 7 years at $12 million per year. This is an opportunity to acquire a player in his prime.

He will be 27 to 33 over that 7 year contract, and with the kind of money that free agents are getting, $12 million is not

exorbitant.

 

The only issue should be how they assess Abreu's ability to perform as a Major League hitter. If he is clearly the best hitter in Cuba, and maybe the best hitter in Cuba's history, then there is a reasonable expectation that he will be a pretty good Big League hitter.

"Pretty good" hitters routinely get $12 million a year, even if they are not in their primes.

 

A guy who hits around .300 with an OBP north of .350 and a slugging percentage near .500 is considered a bargain at $12 million.

Hunter Pence just got $18 million for the next 5 years, when he will be ages 31 to 35. Last year he averaged very close to his career numbers of .285/.339/.476.

 

Abreu will have a better chance of producing numbers like that, at his age, than Pence will have, when he is 34, 35. Moreover, Abreu's upside is much higher. He could be a monster, which can not be said of Pence. If some team did not bid at least $84 million, I'll be shocked, and it shouldn't be surprising if he gets $100 million or more.

[Chicago White Sox]

Abreu will have a better chance of producing numbers like that, at his age, than Pence will have, when he is 34, 35. Moreover, Abreu's upside is much higher. He could be a monster, which can not be said of Pence. If some team did not bid at least $84 million, I'll be shocked, and it shouldn't be surprising if he gets $100 million or more.

Abreu is a compete unknown. Sure he's faced some major leaguers in international competitions, but he very well could get exploited here with with regular at-bats. What we do know is he's doesn't have the tools that Puig & Soler have and he's restricted to 1B/DH. Those two factors hurt his value. I will be shocked if he gets $84M and any GM that would give him $100M is basically playing Russian roulette with his career. I see 6 years, $60M being close to the top bid for Abreu, which is is still a huge gamble.

[southsider2k5]

I won't be surprised if someone bid 7 years at $12 million per year. This is an opportunity to acquire a player in his prime.

He will be 27 to 33 over that 7 year contract, and with the kind of money that free agents are getting, $12 million is not

exorbitant.

 

The only issue should be how they assess Abreu's ability to perform as a Major League hitter. If he is clearly the best hitter in Cuba, and maybe the best hitter in Cuba's history, then there is a reasonable expectation that he will be a pretty good Big League hitter.

"Pretty good" hitters routinely get $12 million a year, even if they are not in their primes.

 

A guy who hits around .300 with an OBP north of .350 and a slugging percentage near .500 is considered a bargain at $12 million.

Hunter Pence just got $18 million for the next 5 years, when he will be ages 31 to 35. Last year he averaged very close to his career numbers of .285/.339/.476.

 

Abreu will have a better chance of producing numbers like that, at his age, than Pence will have, when he is 34, 35. Moreover, Abreu's upside is much higher. He could be a monster, which can not be said of Pence. If some team did not bid at least $84 million, I'll be shocked, and it shouldn't be surprising if he gets $100 million or more.

 

I am going to guess that his contract looks more like Cespedes with a larger amount of money in a shorter amount of years, with the agreement that he can become a free agent in less than six years, if he wants.

[Lillian]

I am going to guess that his contract looks more like Cespedes with a larger amount of money in a shorter amount of years, with the agreement that he can become a free agent in less than six years, if he wants.

 

Yes, that might be more appealing to Abreu and his agent. At his age, and with the kind of money that is being awarded free agents, if they have confidence in his ability to be a star in the Big Leagues, he could have an enormous pay day, after having proven his value.

If I'm management, I'd rather gamble and lock him up.

[Lillian]

I wish we had a pool on the years and amount of the winning bid.

That would be fun.

 

Were teams allowed to submit a combination of choices, such as: 3 years $45 Million, or 6 years $70 million?

Edited October 8, 2013 by Lillian

[bmags]

If its more money and less years is it really like Cespedes at all?

 

Hahaha

[southsider2k5]

If its more money and less years is it really like Cespedes at all?

 

Versus a longer term deal that spreads money out over more years? Yes, that is exactly who it is molded after.

 

http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2017500650_base14.html

[Dick Allen]

This sealed bid thing, if true, is puzzling to me. Unless they only think one team is going to offer a boatload of money, why not open him up for auction?

[Quin]

When do we find out who won?

[Steve9347]

Work has me busy and I don't have the time I used to - so can someone sum up why Abreu looks like a can't miss?

[Quin]

Work has me busy and I don't have the time I used to - so can someone sum up why Abreu looks like a can't miss?

 

.453 batting average; .597 on-base percentage; .986 slugging percentage. Thirty-three homers and 93 runs batted in … in 212 at-bats.

 

As Abreu matured, so did his numbers. By his third season, he was one of the league's better hitters. He hit .337/.423/.538 that year, numbers that would make him an MVP candidate were they posted on an MLB roster. Baseball Prospectus co-founder Clay Davenport devised a stat called Equivalent Average (EqA), which takes all of a hitter's contributions (power, on-base ability, etc.), compares those results to league norms, and calibrates them on a scale that mirrors batting average. A .260 EqA is about average, .300 is very good, .350 is fantastic, .400 is astronomical. Abreu posted an EqA of .308 during the 2005-06 season … the year he turned 19.

 

It's in the past two and a half seasons that Abreu's become a bona fide superstar. In 2009-10, he hit .399/.555/.822, good for a .396 EqA. Through 54 games this year, he's crushing Serie Nacional pitching to the tune of .371/.526/.724, leading the league in OBP and ranking second in slugging.

 

Miguel Cabrera was the best hitter in Major League Baseball in 2011. Jose Abreu, even after adjusting his numbers to reflect A-ball competition, blew Cabrera out of the water.

 

From Grantland: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/760160...e-weapon-planet

[Steve9347]

Want.

[witesoxfan]

Work has me busy and I don't have the time I used to - so can someone sum up why Abreu looks like a can't miss?

 

In 2009-10, Abreu hit .399/.555/.822 over a full season

In 2010-11, Abreu hit .453/.597/.986. He missed 23 games, but still broke the Cuban record for home runs with 33 in 66 games. There is talk that the ball was juiced a bit, but those are still pretty impressive numbers.

 

Meanwhile, Cespedes and Puig were hitting .330 in this time frame

[Quin]

Want.

 

Hahn clearing the books has never looked better.

 

Sox could realistically sign Abreu, McCann, and Ellsbury.

 

CF - Ellsbury

SS - Alexei

DH - Dunn

1B - Abreu

C - McCann

RF - Garcia

LF - Viciedo

3B - Semien

2B - Beckham

 

Bench: Jordan Danks, L. Garcia, Gillaspie, Phegley

 

Trade DeAza for some piece.

 

The rotation and bullpen are basically set.

 

Boom, rebuild over.