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But can Kenley do this?

So I’ve been chewing on this Kimbre role speculation, and I gotta say it comes across to me like Hahn fucking up way more than TLR

Psh that’s nothing, that’s what we spend on 3 relievers

Laurence Holmes baseball IQ is very limited, as is most of the Score Radio these days. Stick to Bears talk Laurence.

I hope we see a storm before the storm kind of weekend.

Yes but who ISN'T a huge risk? Robbie Ray is two years older and as recently as 2020 had an ERA of nearly 7. Yes he's coming off a great year...but he's pitched 8 years in the majors and has had a WAR above 1 twice. Plus the predictions are he will be 4/$100m and costs a draft pick. Would you bet your life that he would have a better year than Keuchel? Keuchel's had 6 seasons with WAR above 2. Yes Ray's stuff is sexier and he had a much better 2021...but Keuchel's already on the team and had a MUCH better 2020. Stroman? Would be our 5th righty and probably #5...5/$90 plus draft pick would be a lot to pay for a guy that is 31 and been a 2 WAR pitcher. Max, Verlander and Kershaw have been amazing...but huge risk. Again part of the goal I think should be threading the needle and getting multiple WS's. Rodon was 3rd overall pick in the draft, had brief touches with greatness and then arm trouble. There are pitchers that have a history of early arm trouble that then come through it. I detailed in an earlier thread about Mike Minor...missed two complete seasons and then put up 14 WAR in the next three. Rodon was amazing last year...what everyone thought he could be. Yes he wore down after 130 inning but he basically didn't pitch for two years before that...building up arm strength IS a thing. A dominating lefty power pitcher is what the White Sox need. There are really only three reasons the White Sox didn't put a QO on Rodon--1, Soxtalk preferred belief that the White Sox are idiots, 2. They think his arm is about to fall off and they are worried he would accept the free $18 million. 3. They are keeping everyone guessing...playing footsie with Boras and Rodon and if his market is soft they have good will to get him for say 3/$50, Of all the moves they could make this winter I would most like to see that.

He had to have known he would be at least a part time setup man. I haven't seen anything indicating he would be a full time closer, and there's no way they would promise that and remove Hendriks from the closer role. I guess if he was promised he would be a co-closer this would make sense. Not sure the results would have changed much, since he sucked as a setup man and would likely continue sucking as one. It's pretty mind boggling he never got a shot at closing.

I knew both fangraphs and MLBTR had him taking a 1 yr pillow deal . I tried to take that into consideration because it just may be the best plan for him to get a higher contract if he can regain his mojo. However if he prefers the security of at close to $50M he may bite unless interest that Boras says exists is true. Teams could be trying to get him cheap for all we know . So I kind of settled in a place that could be tempting for him.

Deadlines are cool. Good things happen when teams have a date they need to do stuff by. Now I'm not sure we do anything by then but I bet this is only the tip of the iceberg for the rest of the league. Should be a fun next few days.

Yep I think I’d rather just get a huge superstar for that money

If you find her, don’t let go.

Que Mr. Burns “excellent” gif.

Well, there's nobody in or around baseball that can question our young core...other than some lingering doubts on Kopech and Cease, or Crochet starting. On the position side, no way. Unless we want to go back and quibble over the Madrigal pick.

We’re so getting Harper AND Wheeler.

Acquiring a player mid season and promising them a closer role is a defacto demotion for one of your best performing players to that point. That TLR may have gone rogue and undermined it just highlights that it was a pretty complicated plan to impose mid season on a role that was working reasonably well.

The White Sox and guys that Keith Law hates, match made in heaven.

Yep Segura and Marchan for Kimbrel

Kimbrel trade, as the hitters are being patient it seems

I still vote for #3. Three years for 12-15 million.

In what league is a 5.05 ERA 1.307 WHIP -.7 WAR considered "Solid?"

You absolutely love putting words in everyone's mouths and creating fantasy scenarios in which you hold the moral high ground and were right about what did not happen. what does what he thinks about the dodgers or rays signing Rodon have to do with what this discussion is. He is a fan. It doesn't change anything. Who fucking cares what another message board thinks???

Now that would be my favorite place for him to sign, as I think he will underperform a large contract more than the rest.

Not going all-in on Harper was yet another tragic mistake by this ownership group.

If Conforto had Schwarbers power… The sox are at the win now stage that they should pay for a players proven consistency and track record-particularly vs AL east and west pitchers-the teams the Sox need to get past. That’s why I particularly liked Semien. For the right guy, a NL player could fit-both bat and glove. But Conforto if he’s not hitting won’t be a plus defensively.

You can’t say we have no solid defensive catcher and then say Vaughn and Sheets should play RF a lot. Same problem.

I still think the Sox have a big trade to add a big lefty bat. The options such as Conforto, Schwarber, in free agency will be too costly in terms of years and dollars.

Eloy in LF and Vaughn/Sheets in RF would be one of the worst OF defenses in the majors. They might give up as many runs as they produce. And banking on Engel playing regularly after last season seems unwise. Sox can and should do better in RF.

Yeah, I'm not really sure what to make of FG's write up as it seems to contradict itself with the high ranking and favorable comparison to Ruiz who is/was one of the best catching prospects in baseball. For what it's worth, Pipeline is more in line with BA.

“Elmer Bible” is an 80 grade name, though

Anyone remember those football tables from the 70s/80s where you'd line up the toy football players, turn the power on, and the vibration of the table would have the players moving in random directions? This is roughly equivalent to watching the Bears offense.

He’s saying that some are projecting adding 75M to 2022 salary and is affirming that’s unrealistic. He‘s then advocating an in house solution in right to address the rotation and second base with expenditures at a realistic level for 22. If you re-read his post, you’ll see it.

Yep I have also mentioned coming back to Carlos a few times already. it may not happen but I think he'll be in the mix.

Team sucks.

So wait, they told Kimbrel he might close sometimes and they planned on letting him close sometimes, but he pitched himself out a closer role before he got a chance? Then he continued to pitch poorly because of this? And he was big mad? Is that the story? Honestly asking.

Yeah, unless Tony basically went completely rogue, I’m not following here.

Has Hahn confirmed that he was brought in to be a closer? Where is that idea coming from? Because he obviously wasn't used as a closer.

So La Russsa went against what was decided within the organization when they traded for him? From everything I understand, La Russa is essentially the second GM, and he wasn’t involved in the talks about acquiring him and what the game plan would be when they did?

So he was brought in to be the closer or co-closer? His usage tells otherwise.

If you have approximately 75 million available to have top-line signings for RF, 2nd base, and SP...go sign Conforto or whoever you think is this dream player for RF. Those of us who what the Vaughn/Sheets/Engel right field combo in order to use the available money elsewhere are living in the real world IMO.

I enjoy the White Sox acquiring good players. I enjoy the White Sox improving their team.

Yup, Hahn gambled that the guy who put up a 1.64 FIP in the 52.2 innings prior (including all but the first IP in that “rocky” 2020 season) to the trade and with a HoF track record would somehow remain good. What a fucking idiot. Too bad one of those other morons Friedman or Neander didn’t acquire Kimbrel first so Hahn couldn’t land such a ticking time bomb. My god the amount of revisionist theory here is truly astounding.

I see this as well. Very rarely do I see them score and think, "that was a nice drawn up play". There doesn't seem to be a lot of easy baskets right now for the offense in a half court set. The half court offense runs strictly through Zach and DeMar's talent as scorers. Vucevic figuring out his shooting problems would help as well. His COVID stint really came at a terrible time because be was just starting to shoot and play better right before he got it.

Buying at the market high for Schwarber without considering all the reasons the Cubs basically gave up on him...will end up with the White Sox following the same ultimate descent as the Northsiders. With Sheets and Grandal on the roster, we're just not going to spend that much money on the DH position...especially if they add a legit veteran catcher to really share the load with Yasmani. Including Collins, we already have 5-6 DH types on this team, as is. Why would would we keep spending FA money instead of addressing RF, 2B and the starting rotation?

versatility is one way to describe it.

Way to work Tony's DUI into the post. I had butterscotch pancakes for breakfast, I bet Tony would say hold the butter. Lol. Let's all play the game.

Cralos actually sounds like a brand of Dollar Store Crayons.

Robbie Ray is the guy that wears EXTREMELY tight pants right?

All three of them can miss. They earned it.