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Just reading the tea leaves, and Kelenic choosing free agency over going down, and that the ST invite was written in, this guy fully expects to make the team. And who knows about starting. I bet a spot is his lose. Kelenic didn’t necessarily have to come to Chicago. But Chicago is where as Mr Fox says, the worst outfield in MLB may exist.

We haven't done this for a few years and some posters wrote that they enjoyed reading these so I'm bringing it back for the year 2026. Have added a number of new entries particularly from the first four decades or so of the franchises history. I hope you will enjoy them. Feel free with comments, memories that you have for any of the factoids. Maybe you were at the game mentioned, or watched on TV...things like that. January 2, 1986 – Former two-time owner of the White Sox, Bill Veeck died at the age of 71. Veeck owned the club from March 1959 through June 1961 and then again from December 1975 to January 1981 when he sold it to the group headed up by Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn. Veeck buying the team the second time, with considerable help from then Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, a big Sox fan, saved the franchise from being moved to Seattle with the Oakland A’s relocating to the South Side. Major League Baseball was trying to settle the lawsuits filed by Washington state, the city of Seattle and King County over the Pilots being relocated to Milwaukee in 1970. Moving the financially strapped White Sox to the Pacific Northwest would have ended the legal issues. Veeck saved the team but never really had the financial resources to make them competitive especially with the advent of free agency in his second time owning them. Part of his syndicate included some of the richest people in America but he had made a promise to never go to them for additional funds and to always turn them a profit. He was however known for his promotions, stunts and off-the-wall ideas which ranged from installing a shower in the center field bleachers at Comiskey Park, to broadcaster Harry Caray leading the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the seventh inning to the infamous “Disco Demolition” night. Veeck was voted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. January 2, 2020 – The White Sox signed Luis Robert to a multiyear contract without him having played a single Major League game. The future Gold Glove winner agreed to $50 million for six years, with team options worth $38 million more over two final seasons. Robert showcased five-tool talent finally staying healthy in 2023 with 38 homers, 36 doubles, 80 RBI’s and 20 stolen bases in an All-Star season, but injuries always seemed to dampen his great potential and limit him.

No one else can offer him 11 mil in reality. Tampa would punt 5+ signings to save a million bucks to do it.

And if the Sox make him the nominal offer, they get the 2nd overall pick as well as their regular 1st rounder in next year's draft.

That's what I thought. That's why I didn't understand this talk of "what if the Rays have a deal with him for more money."

No, which is why this discussion is pointless. The Sox will sign the top pick in the draft, regardless of who it is.

But they can't do anything if the Sox pick him. What, he chooses to go back to college over a $1mil difference?

Even if he has "demands", he has no leverage if they pick him 1st. If he wants 11m but they offer 10m, all he can do is go back to college which is a HUGE gamble.

I’m going to champion this for @Chicago White Sox’s sake. Verdugo is the perfect signing for this team. He hits righties, plays good defense in the corners, has a good arm, isn’t an absolute injury-prone relic like Tauchman, and will likely sign for not much more than the veteran minimum. Tauchman can go to Japan or Korea where he belongs.

The idea is they would have an above slot agreement at 2 on hand. But yes, I’m sure I’m overthinking.

It won’t happen. This is overthinking.

They will know his demands when they draft him. Also keep in mind the slot difference between pick 1 and 2 is almost a million dollars. If someone demands full slot and overplays their hand and drops from 1 to 2, they cost themselves a lot of money.

How can they even do that? If the Sox draft him, he either takes the deal or takes a massive gamble on going back to college to make $1-2 mil more on his contract next year? While delaying his free agency timeline by an entire year.

And even just the extra money they get in the top slot for the 5% overage adds up to some decent cash cash, let alone what they can save under slot.

He definitely sees an opportunity to start here. DFAd but chose free agency. Could have gone where he wanted. “Invitation to camp” basically means an opportunity not to play himself off the team

Not worried yet. It’s not really their style. Sox can just take the player. He’ll sign. Only potential issue is not knowing how much you have throughout rest of draft.

How do all those words you typed have anything to do with the post you quoted? We were discussing how players can sometimes struggle in AAA and then succeed in the majors, like Colson. It had nothing to do with using Smith in the bullpen.

So true. From $150+ million dollar contract estimates to not being worth $21 million a year and $63 million total if he hits all incentives due to the opt-outs in his deal. Meanwhile, the Sox just gave $20 million plus a potential $2 million dollar buyout to a player no team will give up anything of value for. 🤣

He’s just another Jim Parque (now that he’s gone)

Or if he is cooking and looking that good you deal him at the deadline for prospects. Downside of those deals is if they aren’t good then you are stuck. Such one sided deal to a player. Boras sucks just like JR sucks.

Already moved on to Kelenic 🥹

No I don't think they've handled Taylor appropriately thus far. I dont know where it stated i did. Nor did my post you referenced say anything about the decision to possibly use Hagen in the pen. I think that decision is unique to each player. And im not privy enough to his development to make a completely accurate decision but I've never been a fan of taking a starter, making them a relief pitcher, then a starter again. Does it work sometimes? Sure but I feel like it could throw an unnecessary wrench in development as well.

Have you missed all the kvetching around here over Taylor starting his MLB career in the bullpen to ramp up his innings?

I'm sorry but I have to use some serious sarcasm here: You're right, starting out in the bullpen just destroyed Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet. Oh my God! It ruined both of them and their careers! I am surprised that so many people are against this. Do the fans here have no sense of history, no memory of Sale and Crochet? I've been thinking the Sox should move him up for the bullpen since watching him in the AFL. He is a strikeout machine, and since the Barons' playoff run and in the AFL, his walk problem has really improved (or become less bad). Plus the White Sox really need help from the left side in the bullpen. Plus, with a quality bullpen (Get a closer, Getz), I think there is a very real possibility that the White Sox will be competitive next year. (My definition of competitive is to win around 75 games and be able to claim you're in the hunt for the last wild card spot into early September) Plus, I want to go one step further: After you put Hagen in the bullpen, now you can start working on making Grant Taylor the starter that he wants to be and should be. Are we not worried about Taylor's psychological makeup at this point in his career? Only Hagen's?