All Activity

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-mlb-star-potential-analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DiiRRNlzXYuM&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwihkIjI_sWRAxU_kmoFHZvhBsgQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw13w_67O5GSLvRqS0HvQV_g It's all about scouting and making adjustments coming over from NPB. Do you trust your people or not? We can compare offensive profiles...but still apples and oranges when you look at the mostly offspeed/high spin rate diets over in Japan vs. the US. "Murakami's walk-off double His hardest-hit ball tracked in the tournament was a 115.1 mph home run off Merrill Kelly in Japan's win over the U.S. in the championship game. This year in MLB, only 19 players hit a home run 115 mph or harder."

This data is why I think his contract is going to be much, much smaller than people have been anticipating. Why is why I think there's a non 0 chance the Sox do actually sign him.

"Teams that are willing to take on more risk and bet on the big upside may wind up having more interest in Murakami, while scouts view Okamoto as a more polished hitter who has a little bit more defensive versatility than Murakami. Okamoto could be targeted more by win-now teams that are looking for a higher-floor player. One evaluator believes Okamoto may out-hit Murakami during their first two or three years in the Majors, but assuming he signs a long-term deal, Murakami will have time to work out the kinks in his swing and become a very productive player." mlb.com Conclusion: Sox pretty much have to roll the dice on players that can be stars versus just very good/solid pros. Wasting first two years of Okamoto doesn't make sense at age 30-31. Murakami Robert, Jr. Braden Montgomery Schultz H.Smith Cholowsky 2026 #2 pick (CF/SS) To hopefully go along with Teel/Colson...Carlson has way too many unknowns at this point.

Big Christmas DFA'd. I'd take a flier

You're going to draw the Ire of He Who Shall Not be Named.

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-kazuma-okamoto-contract-prediction-aligns-one-exception 4/$64 million for Okamoto? He can actually play 3B well. Big differentiator. Higher offensive floor than Murakami. Biggest problem is he will be turning 32-33 in 2028/29 competitive window years. Seems a number of teams are hesitating on that fourth year. Basically Murakami the sizzle, Okamoto the steak. "FanGraphs' international scouting page lists Okamoto as having an average hit tool (50-grade) and above-average raw and in-game power. Murakami, by comparison, has a well-below-average hit tool (30-grade), but elite raw power (80) and high-end in-game power (70). Given that Okamoto is more than three years older than Murakami, he is unlikely to command a significant investment in terms of the length of his contract. It's an appealing package for teams that might be concerned about the long-term viability of free agents like Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber, who could reasonably expect to receive deals worth at least $100 million." https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25305984-who-will-sign-kazuma-okamoto-latest-top-mlb-landing-spots-and-contract-projections

If the Sox snag Murakami they better credit WBWSF and Chisoxfanmike

Maybe if they actually put a good team on the field more than once every 15 years, people would show up. Maybe they should think of that.

Given those circumstances you wonder what they could possibly be thinking regarding the TV move and starting their new network. That was foolish given the environment, capital outlay and resistance from carriers.

Covid, attendance and TV deals have killed their budget

Days before their biggest game in years, Warren pisses on everything.

Pritzker responds: “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.” Pritzker and other Democratic legislative leaders who pull the levers in Springfield have suggested the team needs to find a mechanism to pay off the $500 million-plus that taxpayers still have left to foot from Soldier Field’s 2003 renovation. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/17/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-kevin-warren-shift

Maybe and maybe their politicians will feel the same way as the ones in Illinois after their voters let them know how they feel and I don't see where that would be a catastrophe if they moved across the state line. The Giants and Jets don't play in New York state.

December 17th: The Cards officially announced May’s signing today. May will make $12.5MM in 2026 and the mutual option is worth $20MM, per Passan. It’s a $12MM salary and a $500K buyout on the option, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat. mlbtraderumors.com

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.