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Even with the Colts ND Purdue?

NW Indiana?

Cool. You said can’t afford.

Can afford not equal to will spend. Otherwise, Cincy would have Schwarber and the Pirates would actually have a legit middle of the order bat to go with that pitching. "Cincy GM Nick Krall refuted that narrative. Deferred money was part of the effort to get Schwarber. “I never said we were going to extend [payroll]," Krall said. "I’ve always told you guys that where our payroll was … we were trying to figure out how to be creative to get him to fit in. We were trying to be creative in year one to figure out how to continue to get him.” mlb.com The problem here is that the main strategy behind Schwarber was a theoretical attendance bump for the hometown hero. The only player in this market Cincy believed could have that type of impact. And still short $25-30 million in the end.

The idea the Sox couldn’t afford any of these guys is absolutely absurd.

You have their financials back to 2009?

Sox can only afford Takahashi. Maybe.

What’s radically different between now and the 2013 season? I’m really not following here.

Indiana will welcome the Bears with open arms.

Bears now threatening to leave Illinois.LMAO.

They hadn't lost money five years in a row and racked up 9 figures of debt when they signed Abreu.

Did Jerry Reinsdorf not own the team when they signed Abreu?

The White Sox.

What financial situations are you referring to?

The financial situations are night and day though.

While I don’t disagree and hope you’re right, I think the White Sox legacy with Cuban players was a factor in the Abreu signing. The Sox don’t have the same history with Japanese players. Though it is worth mentioning that Shingo Takatsu was Murakami’s manager in Japan.

While it makes some sense... given the current environment, how things are going in the country everywhere, including Illinois, I don't see many politicians sticking their necks out to help the McCaskey family who are worth let's just say a s$%^ load of money. This letter kind of reminds me of desperation setting in by the Bears, I think they know they are between a rock and a hard place regarding the politicians. I don't know if the political will is there and how much political capital the Bears have or leverage. And remember the debt still owed to the renovation in 2002. I mean what are they going to do? Move to St. Louis? 😉

Makes sense but remember who is running the show here.

We signed a 27 year old, international 1B coming off a 99 loss season back in 2013 despite concerns over his “slider bat speed”. With a solid young core starting to form, some bigger prospects on the cusp, and the 1.01 pick in place next year with a rare elite college SS at the top, now is the time to take a swing on a 26 year old, international 1B with “contact issues” despite coming off a 102 loss season.

Honestly it makes sense. Double the house, half the taxes

Unless the Sox are an American League juggernaut already by the time Ishbia takes over and there’s no need, gotta figure he makes a big splash in free agency at least once right away.

Almost every blurb is a variation of "questionable fit due to cost/position/timing" including the Sox: Chicago White Sox Adding Murakami would be a fun way to inject some much-needed excitement on the South Side and would offer Murakami a lower-stakes setting to adjust to major-league pitching, but it would also be a sizable risk that this front office (and ownership group) is probably uninterested in taking at this stage of their rebuild.

Some tidbits on the new guys: Denorfia and Venable were platoon mates in RF for SD in 2012. He comes over from 5 years with the Rockies, managing AA and then as outfield/baserunning coordinator. Also was on the 2019 Cubs staff as quality assurance coach. Local product Tony Medina shares Schaumburg Boomers ties with Shomon. His most recent title there was director of analytics, was a hitting coach before that. Has also worked in development/analytics with TEX/KC/HOU. His Twitter header is "chicks dig the xwOBA" and his timeline (which includes back to back reposts of the Ishbia news and Teel's call up) suggest a Sox fandom that predates his hiring. Markinson is the youngest member of the staff at 22. He's coming off of being Northwestern's starting catcher in 2025. Signed as an UDFA with the Phillies, but decided to pivot from a playing career last month. Matt Wise is the oldest member of the staff...and he's only 50. His title has changed from assistant pitching coach to bullpen coach, and Bobby Hearn gets his old role. 3 pitching coaches feels new? Hearn comes over from the Twins where he was assistant pitching coordinator. He was teammates with freshman Shane Smith at Wake Forest. This might be the youngest staff in the league. The staff is bigger than last year, but no longer has a dedicated catching coach. McKinven will handle most of those duties now. Leger is currently managing a DWL team. He comes over from STL where he worked his way up from their DR complex to "assistant field and baserunning coordinator." Won a manager of the year honor for leading their AA team to a franchise wins record in 2024. Also spent 7 years managing in the Mets MiLB system. Winning record over 1300+ games in the minors, seems on track to be interviewing for MLB managerial openings sooner than later. Definitely seems to be an emphasis on guys who can connect and communicate with players based on youth/playing experience/track record. Far cry from having TLR at the helm.

I specifically said I didn't like it but it was at least a "solution." Since the MLBPA will NEVER agree to a salary cap so that is a pipe dream. As a thought experiment I'd divide things up into three groups. The franchises spending/really trying to win, the middle group that spend somewhat and does try to compete and the bottom group that spends very little, has bad ownerships and basically is coasting along. And like in European soccer if you are successful/ get new ownership you can move up if you wish. I just put it out there because again the only other suggestion I saw was a salary cap/salary floor which is never going to happen under any circumstances. Here's roughly how I'd divide it: A: Toronto, Yankees, Boston, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia, Mets, Dodgers B: Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, Texas, Angels, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Cubs, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona. C : Kansas City, Minnesota, White Sox, Athletics, Miami, Washington, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Colorado Again you can debate/move teams around like Tampa, Cleveland and Cincinnati for example. Just a thought experiment remember, not liking the idea myself.