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Y'all can pay $2 to FutureSox for all the free content you get. It's incredibly poor taste to ask the author to give you paid content for free. FutureSox isn't BA, BP, FanGraphs, or ESPN. It's posters here operating on a shoestring budget to bring you A+++ quality content specifically for the team you love.

Probably asking for a smaller commission. Expect an extension shortly.

I am only one fan, but if they add any more teams to the playoffs, I will lose interest. The regular season is supposed to mean something. This will only cheapen it. One thing that was great about MLB is that it was different than other sports. Making it similar to the NBA of NHL is a dumb idea. And playing the World Series on the eve of November is also dumb. MLB can shove this crap.

Excited to see Kopech and Madrigal very much even if it won't be right away. Super excited to see Robert , You keep hearing about the speed, power and fielding and the stats back it all up. Just to throw a little tidbit out there; Robert was the 1st minor leaguer since 1961 who was 30/30 (HR's and Stolen bases) +300 Total bases.

Rob Mackowiak

He said it again today on Chuck’s podcast (must listen). I still think Holt is an amazing fit though.

And Hahn did say in an interview at Soxfest (I think?) That it is a 2 way street. I think they have kicked the tires on some of these guys. But They're just not interested knowing Madrigal is about ready.

I pick and choose what I pay for as well. I pay for The Athletic because it's awesome. ESPN comes with my Disney Plus subscription and I have to have Baseball America. FutureSox is basically still free. Everything we did before, we are still doing. It's rankings week. Our patreon subscribers are getting separate articles with each of our individual rankings all week. They will also get insider content and weekly podcasts all year. I completely understand not paying for it. I get it. I have a good international source and I'm the only person who has published the names of the 6 players I listed today. I'm sure that will come out eventually and when we do the International Preview, there will be more info on them free for all to consume. For now though, the only people who will see the names are patreon subscribers or someone that takes the names from the post and puts them somewhere. I'm a teacher. That's my full time career. I don't need the money. The site does though and every little bit helps.

How does it really stop tanking though? Teams like the Royals, Tigers, Orioles, Marlins, and Pirates still aren't competing even if 14 teams make the playoffs. I don't really see how it changes anything. Maybe a few more of the .500ish teams hold onto expiring assets as you head into July in hopes of grabbing one of the last playoff spots, but in reality, this change would do nothing to stop tanking, and would greatly diminish the importance of regular season for all but the #1 seeds.

You’re the only person on the planet to do this.

The White Sox are signing Norge Vera and would like to sign Oscar Colas. They have agreements in place with 6 other players as well though and I wrote about all of it for Patreon subscribers! http://futuresox.com/2020/02/11/report-white-sox-active-in-international-market-leading-up-to-2020-period/

Hopefully an extension is next!

I think Holt first but then probably Miller due to his defensive versatility. Miller looks like he can hit a bit with some pop as well. I wouldn’t be upset with either guy and they are definitely the most “utility” of the guys in the list.

I was nervous that this was going to say Boras when I clicked in here.

I agree with you on Holt.

They project the Sox at about 83 wins. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/#ale

Probably directed at me, so I'll respond. That's a fair comment. I am not acting like $2 is a lot of money. I also get being a writer is a tough gig and all - I was a journalism major in college and literally dreamed of being a sports beat writer for the majority of my teenage years - I get it. I decided to change my career pretty much immediately upon graduation because I didn't want to make $35k or less a year for the majority of my young adult life. Fast forward 8 years, and I couldn't be happier with my decision to ditch that plan. I will pay the $2 to support the futuresox crew for their great content - but I will also say that people are always going to get content for free whether one likes it or not. Poor taste? Maybe. But its also reality. Especially when its content people have historically had access to for free. Roast me for that opinion if you'd like - that's fine - and I get why the FS guys want to make a few bucks for their work. Making money writing about sports ain't easy.

So the Sox will be able to get Colas and this kid without going over the limit? Is there someone out there next year worth the penalty for going over? Good to see them spending the money regardless. This pitcher looks like he might have a 1/4 shot to be a decent 3rd starter and if not looks like he projects as a decent middle reliever if his fastball plays up a bit out of the pen.

I agree with this. I always think its such a misrepresentation when playoffs roll around. In the regular season you have to survive on SP depth and your 4/5 guys are very integral part of winning 100 games. But then you get to the playoffs and theres so many off days that teams just basically play their top 3 SP. Thats how you end up with the Nationals winning it all ... not saying they weren't deserving ... but that's the recipe right now. Get yourself a 3 headed monster and you can win the WS.

I don't have the info handy, but it seems to me purely off recollection we've seen a decent amount of two games series the last couple seasons, no? Certainly more than we've seen from 2000-2015 range.

Yah, I don't really think the travel logistics issue matters much.

All playoff baseball series should be 7 games. Eliminate some of the offdays during the playoffs. These guys play 6.5 games a week during the season. No reason for so much off time during the playoffs - that is part of the grind of baseball. You also can't do this proposed format and make the first round 5 games. The teams that get the #1 seed and a bye then sit around for 10 days. It doesn't work.

True. Sox for sure. We haven't won in a decade either - so we're going to have to get used to paying more soon, but yes for right now I've found Sox games extremely affordable & fun. There's even a part of me that's going to miss the ease of beer lines, bathroom lines, putting my feet up, a seat in between me, etc. I'm not sure people who are fans of the Cubs though would agree. And yes, I also get that the NBA and NFL and NHL tickets cost more ... but there is also a bit of supply and demand going on there. Half the games in NHL and NBA, half the sized arena .. NFL has 8 games, etc. So there are other factors - which in theory should actually help baseball be more popular. I still think the biggest issue is the duration. I personally am a HUGE baseball fan. I think all of us on a message board in February would qualify. I am in several fantasy leagues, get the MLB package every year, watch random games, etc. However when it comes to the playoffs and are supposed to be the BEST games? I find myself losing interest sometimes when the games are clocking in at almost 4 hours and don't end until 11-12pm. That's just not a sustainable product. If the games started at 6:30CST and lasted 2hr 30m you'd be bringing in more kids which are ultimately the lifeline and future of sports. If I was the Sox - and I'm sure theres a whole set of guidelines I'm unaware about - but I'd have game time start at 6:30pm CST during school -- so April through memorial day. I'd do my best to tell my batters and pitchers to shorten the game (i.e. no steppign out of the box, stepping off mound, etc.) While everybody else is moving so slow, I'd use it as an advantage both in the real world to drive tickets and viewership, as in baseball. I have no doubt some of Buehrle's success came from keeping batters off balance by firing the ball in quickly and taking them off their routine.

Nothing that's ever been free will cost anything now either. Patreon subscribers will receive extra stuff and extra perks throughout the season.

The NBA system is fine, people just dont understand its purpose. Only half the teams make it, and they play 7 game series now. The top 3 teams in each conference are essentially rewarded with lesser opponents to tune up for difficult series that follow. It's like in college basketball how the top 3 seeds get tune ups. Baseball playoffs are rough because the top two teams typically play opponents just as good as they are in the first round. Since only 4 teams make the playoffs, you are only allowing the elites to play. The same is true for the NFL to a lesser degree. This is why you really don't know who is gonna win it all.

14 teams making the playoffs is gross. What is even more gross is getting 2nd in the AL and then matching up with the 6th place team in a 3 game series. Anything can happen in a 3 game series in baseball, and this would devalue the regular season so damn much. I hate it. I hated adding a 2nd WC, and I hate this even more. If you're going to go this route, you have to ditch divisions and leagues, and go to a full balanced schedule.

Alright, I expect you to "lose interest" in the playoffs should the Sox benefit from this change ever. Go ahead, try. The regular season will still mean something. You will usually need to win more games than to lose to earn a playoff chance. I'd argue it doesn't cheapen the regular season at all. More teams will decide to compete since there will be more spots available. What's cheapening the regular season right now is teams like the Royals, Tigers, Orioles and what was our beloved White Sox for several years giving away free wins to other teams by fielding garbage teams. In your opinion, what cheapens the regular season more? Teams who basically forfeit games or adding more playoff spots, giving incentive to teams to compete? I'd argue for the former. MLB is still different from other sports in so many ways. It is still great, it is still going to be great, and unless they add hoops or ice to the ballparks, will still be able to differentiate itself plenty from the NBA or NHL.

Are any of the 6 names worth being excited about?

I don't really do video games anymore, but probably will buy the show this year. When does it come out?

It says the Sox have a deal with Norge Vera, it lists the other 6 players they are signing with some video and discusses the possibility of signing Oscar Colas.

The idea from MLB perspective - make it so that more teams are in the race until the end and have a chance. Therefore it will drive trades, FA signings, etc. This should in theory drive attendance and viewership - therefore ad money. Once you make the playoffs anything can happen within reason (think more NFL rather than NBA) and this is good for business. The reality -- the MLB is missing the point. The MLB just doesn't seem to get it - it's not how many teams are in the running - it's the fact that you aren't bringing in young viewership. This starts at the ballpark - where it's generally too expesnive nowadays for a family to attend. Now the bad teams have done their best & I actually think it's affordable in many locations ..... as long as you adhere to the deal -- aka the Sox for like 4UD tix + 4 dogs + 4 drinks for like $48 or something. That's a good deal. But you can't freely go to the park and get whatever food you want or park where you want, etc. for a good price. But that horse has been beat to death & we all know it needs revising like the Atlanta Falcons have tried to do thus far - that's only like 25% of the pie. The remaining 75% of the pie has to do the at home viewing experience. Biggest issue is the duration .... not how many playoff teams. Duration of both season & games. Every game should be like a Mark Buehrle game. If you take the duration from 3hrs+ to 2hr 20mins you now have a product that is sustainable. Additionally if you're expanding playoffs then you need to shorten ST and Regular Season. 140 games and cut 10 games off ST. Each game counting for more = viewership. Finally the last part of this -- the MLB needs to learn how to market their star players better. Mike Trout is a pleasure to watch and I barely get to ... the MLB network does a great job each night covering games. Need more of that. Likewise these TV deals are a joke. The cubs are a great example this yaer. Dodgers in the past. The fact I need cable or streaming to watch the Sox is dumb. Let me pay $200 to watch the Sox for the year if I want - no blackouts. Where else in the world can you want to buy a product and not be able to? If i want a car - i go buy it. food go buy it. watch a movie? go buy it. Why is it so hard to pay to watch the Sox?

That seems to qualify as a "big" tidbit.☺️

Just remember, most other teams will add similar amounts of talent via Latin America and the draft though. It’s not like we have bigger bonus pools and additional picks to quickly narrow the gap. It’s going to take hitting big on a couple of classes before we are back to being middle of the pack IMO. Hopefully the 2019 draft is the start of that.

Expand the roster to 30 players and eliminate off days. Let's make this shit a real war of attrition!

Yeah because I always framed it from the defender's perspective. I've never understood why RF and LF weren't reversed. I always thought it was weird that a RH batter pulls the ball to LF and a LH batter pulls the ball to RF. Just my opinion, but if I created baseball RF would be to the right of the CF and LF would be to the CF's left, and thus the opposite of current convention.

Im petrified. Please do so

Good lord. I can't stand Manfred but dragging the sport into a modern format by getting rid of the AL/NL schism and expanding the playoffs is a worthy goal.

Moncada, Engel, Madrigal and Mazara also in camp. Chomping at the bit.

More playoff teams is fine, but picking your opponent is dumb. Top seed plays lowest seed and this continues on down. Having a bye for 3 games is also dumb for baseball, as that much rest may hurt the top seeds. They can just do a few play in games in each league and then the series start after that.

I assume it's going to be treated as a minor league. Talent drain could really hurt them unless players know they have a shot at the NFL from the XFL, then that might help if they don't want to sit on a practice squad for a year or play Arena football/in the CFL. I think the XFL is going to need to get really creative with recruiting some under the radar players from small schools or develop a reputation as a great place to learn how to transition to the NFL, otherwise they'll just fail in a year or two again.

Also helps being available for vet minimum vs. asking for several million dollars.

this is how you fire a team up at halftime

46 days is way too far out. I live a couple of hours away from KC and am planning on going to 7-9 games to watch the Sox play. Last year I went to 0 games. Thats how excited I am! If anyone is going to those let me know

Can't wait to see (our best player) Moncada bunting again like last year.

A manager loses 20 games on his own?

No. But he is a friend of mine. He didn't kick him, he punched him. AJ took a bounced pitched to the balls. When the trainer came to him to ask him how he feels, AJ punched him and said "like this, what do you think."

Parasite was great. There was so much going on and it incorporated to many different themes.