MLB 2021-2 off season thread

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

1 minute ago, whitesoxwinner said:

right but it's interesting that we were in the mix

 

For what he signed for, the Sox better have been interested.

[caulfield12]

37 minutes ago, whitesoxwinner said:

right but it's interesting that we were in the mix

 

What other logical choices are/were remaining?

Ray?  Unlikely, too much of an overpay off Cy season.  Stroman, no way, TLR hate.   Gausman, too expensive.   Scherzer too expensive 10X.   Kershaw about as likely as Corey Seager one day being called Mr. White Sox.

 

That leaves Trevor Bauer and Zach Greinke.

(Note, I'm sure there are some pitchers like Daniel Hudson and at least one veteran starter in the $8-12 million range, but even that might take getting rid of Keuchel, and not a supplement to the current rotation.)

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, whitesoxwinner said:

right but it's interesting that we were in the mix

 

Unfortunately Nostradumbass is full of shit

[Flash]

6 hours ago, hi8is said:

Castellanos + Schwarber + Bassit/Montas/Meada/Gray + Romy

or

Conforto + Rodon + Segura 

Much prefer Castellanos to Conforto despite handedness.

[caulfield12]

4 minutes ago, Flash said:

Much prefer Castellanos to Conforto despite handedness.

They’re not going to add another defensively-challenged player for the type of money Castellanos will be asking for…

[maloney.adam]

BREAKING NEWS

Rick Hahn: JR I just saved a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to Geico.

Edited November 29, 2021 by maloney.adam

[Flash]

29 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

They’re not going to add another defensively-challenged player for the type of money Castellanos will be asking for…

Comforto isn't Mookie Betts either and won't come cheap. Castellanos rakes with the best. 

[Bunt Ritual]

I'd be very on board with Castellanos. His statcast page is sexy as hell.  Just stick Engel or whoever in right in the later innings.

Edited November 29, 2021 by Bunt Ritual

[Rey21]

4 minutes ago, Flash said:

Comforto isn't Mookie Betts either and won't come cheap. Castellanos rakes with the best. 

Conforto is a better defender than Castellanos but it’s not by a huge margin from what Mets fans have said. Give me the dude who hits over the defense in RF. 

[poppysox]

9 hours ago, Baron said:

I mean. The Mets are probably the last team I'd go pitch for. Just a mess. 

Gee...doesn't everyone want to live in New York?

[caulfield12]

Many White Sox fans became skeptical of the team’s commitment to rebuilding and desire to win a championship as an inability to spend money during free agency became apparent. Hahn assured Chicago fans that the money that was supposed to be used for Machado and Harper would be spent one way or another. In 2019 and 2020, the White Sox would spend money on quality free agents, including Yasmani Grandal, Dallas Keuchel, and Liam Hendriks. Although not the best free agents available, Grandal, Keuchel, and Hendriks were the best available players at their position.

Another tactic utilized by the White Sox front office has been to substitute a free agent signing with a call-up of one of their top minor league prospects. In 2019, Chicago called up slugger Eloy Jimenez to appease the fans upset about failure to sign Machado or Harper. A year later, the White Sox would call up their number one prospect in centerfielder Luis Robert while calling up outfielder Andrew Vaughn this season to fill the void by not signing a free agent outfielder or designated hitter.

The issue with the prospect callup tactic is that the White Sox will not have a top prospect to call up before the start of the 2022 season. The lack of a readied prospect will now force the team to sign a premium free agent during the offseason. Furthermore, for Chicago to compete for a World Series in 2022 and 2023, the team will need proven veteran talent and not players that will need a few years to develop.

What potentially works in the White Sox favor if the team were to target either of the three free agents (Matz and Semien gone, only Castellanos remaining) is that they wouldn’t be the most expensive free agents on the market. Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, and Trevor Story are projected to be the most expensive free agents of the 2021 offseason. These free agents could enable the White Sox to work on more affordable but still expensive contracts with either Castellanos or Semien.

The White Sox will need to sign free agents to bolster their roster before the 2022 season as none of their prospects will put the team over the top to compete for a World Series. Chicago does not have a premium prospect to fall back on and call up if they do not wish to spend on a free agent. If the White Sox are serious about winning a World Series in the next few seasons, it will be up to Reinsdorf and Hahn to spend the money they have been reluctant to spend on premium free agents the last few off-seasons.

 

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-white-sox/white-sox-ownership-cant-afford-any-more-half-measures-during-upcoming-offseason/

[bmags]

6 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Of course he is . I know everybody hates the Astros but Springer 5.0, Correa 6.7 , Altuve 7.7,  Bregman 4.0, Reddick 4.5, Marwin Gonzalez 3.9 . That's 6 position players with basically 4 and above bWAR which was a good combo of hitting and fielding from most of those guys. 31.8 bWar total from 6 guys.

Ok so the Sox got Robert ,Anderson and Moncada who can give you that. They lost their best starting pitcher and no one seems to want him back. Age is a concern in the rotation be it the older guys or the younger guys fulfilling their promise. Lots of DH types who can't field so they aren't going to rack up WAR. Conforto is still a $100M dream capable of that kind of WAR but i wouldn't pencil him in to get it or even to acquire him.

Robert is just 1 guy and outside of Moncada and Anderson the rest area bunch of bad fielders . Grandal , Abreu arent getting any younger.

I'm going to stand up for our core here. 

Robert, Anderson, Moncada can get 4 WAR, Grandal can get you 4 WAR. Eloy despite it all was on pace for 4 WAR in 2020, defense and all, and showed signs of improvement defensively last year.

And you included Marwin Gonzalez and Reddick. So yes, you could get 4 WAR from Conforto, it has happened before. And you could get 4 WAR from Abreu. And you could get 4 WAR from a Jean Segura in a career high BABIP year. 

Correa, Springer, Altuve, Bregman - that was their core. Then they had solid players around them, some of which had career years.

The nice thing about Moncada establishing a very high floor with his OBP, is it will not take huge jumps in slugging to become much more productive. And he has plus D.

Everyone on this team is apparently incredibly annoying to this board. Unless your name Yadier Molina, some portion of the fanbase probably hates you too much.

[Baron]

 

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by Baron

[Baron]

 

[bmags]

Definitely at the period where I'm already sad that it will be over rather than enjoying the moment.

Every CBA should be 1 year.

[bmags]

relevant: 

 

[Baron]

 

[EloyJenkins]

 

[Bunt Ritual]

Waiting to make any bigger signings until a new CBA is agreed to seems like such a Reinsdorf thing to do.  

[bmags]

Just now, EloyJenkins said:

 

[Baron]

8 year deal...uh huh

[Jack Parkman]

Just now, Baron said:

8 year deal...uh huh

Don't underestimate Scott Boras. 

He got Semien his 7 years. 

[fathom]

3 minutes ago, Baron said:

8 year deal...uh huh

That’s it?  

[caulfield12]

“As a strong season for Nick Castellanos progressed in Cincinnati, it became increasingly obvious that the slugger would opt out of the remaining two years and $34MM on his contract in favor of a return to the free-agent market. Castellanos, however, is perhaps seeking an even larger payday than most would expect; MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets that Castellanos and agent Scott Boras are eyeing a contract of seven or even eight years in length. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted this morning that the Marlins still have interest in Castellanos even after landing Avisail Garcia, though Feinsand suggests Castellanos’ asking price is too rich for Miami’s liking.”

Goodbye Castellanos.

 

Pretty much guarantees Conforto gets at least $90-110 million and five years. 
Better off doubling or tripling Contreras’ coaching salary to get the very best out of Vera and Colas.

Edited November 29, 2021 by caulfield12

[Flash]

7 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Of course he is . I know everybody hates the Astros but Springer 5.0, Correa 6.7 , Altuve 7.7,  Bregman 4.0, Reddick 4.5, Marwin Gonzalez 3.9 . That's 6 position players with basically 4 and above bWAR which was a good combo of hitting and fielding from most of those guys. 31.8 bWar total from 6 guys.

Ok so the Sox got Robert ,Anderson and Moncada who can give you that. They lost their best starting pitcher and no one seems to want him back. Age is a concern in the rotation be it the older guys or the younger guys fulfilling their promise. Lots of DH types who can't field so they aren't going to rack up WAR. Conforto is still a $100M dream capable of that kind of WAR but i wouldn't pencil him in to get it or even to acquire him.

Robert is just 1 guy and outside of Moncada and Anderson the rest area bunch of bad fielders . Grandal , Abreu arent getting any younger.

Nailed it. Its conceivable that teams can win and win big with a hodge podge of talented athletes but for that to happen, you need a coach who can provide the right mix of nurture, instruction and discipline. The Sox could have hired AJ Hinch but opted for TLR. Okay...bad move, so now we have to supplement what we are calling the Core with players who can not only perform at a high level but also bring some of the chemistry, winning culture and baseball IQ to help turn our individual contributors into a team. Thats why I am now leaning toward Chris Taylor.