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Or when Ricky calls for a bunt

This is the weirdest fucking thing ever to be angry about.

Sale and Quintana are both free agents after the 2019 season . The Sox could go after one or both if they want to next off season. Keeping them would mean no rebuild no Moncada, Kopech, Eloy, Cease and Basabe.

If 28 seems like a lot, wait until they see the "Site Too Busy" error when all hell breaks loose.

I changed too and basically it's over believing I'd rather take the better bat. Machado's formula is good-to-great bat + good to great defense + high valuable position. That's amazing and he's a great player. But for a 10 year contract, things like the hits and xbh he may get from speed may diminish, and his lower % of walks makes me nervous that he could become just a slightly above average offensive player in some years. Harper's plus obp means he's going to be a good bat every year, with years of being an amazing bat. Not that machado can't grow in power too and have a sensational year. And the argument is there that in average harper years you get no to negative defensive value while in average Machado years you get plus defensive value in a better position, but i just really want to make sure i'm getting an elite bat with $350 million.

Except now we have a good farm system with players that can come up and supplement the roster. If Corbin is only a #3/#4 type pitcher, I have no problem with him being in the middle of a rotation with guys like Rodon, Kopech, Lopez, Cease, Dunning, Giolito, etc. (even if he is getting ace money). Then you try for another big name guy next year and the year after through free agency or trade.

Whether you agree with this move or not has NOTHING to do with keeping Sale or Quintana. There’s literally no connection other than they’re pitchers. As for Corbin, he’s an ace based on last year’s performance. Whether that’s repeatable I have no idea.

Sorry Ron

Machado has no star power? Hasn't he been one of the most talked about names in the league for a year now? Wasn't he just in the World Series? I think he's more of a household name than many around here seem to believe.

The White Sox might need to field a second team for all these free agents they are going to sign.

Believe everything. This offseason could be historic for this team.

Let's get ready to get drunk tonight after he signs a 20 year contract for 500 gazillion dollars!

As Harper ages i can see him being a force in the clubhouse, I have always laughed at Hawk's TWTW but if anybody has it its Harper. That much is clear.

I have changed my position and would prefer Harper over Machado.

This is the weirdest thread

lol thats not really a lot

So we can cross the Phillies off the list of possibilities.

So you would have the Sox trade their young controllable assets for a pitcher with 3 years of control, or whom are you trading for Gray? When have the Sox actually gone out and signed Top available free agents? Albert Belle? Jose Abreu? Is that it? Personally I'm leery of signing Corbin because there are major red flags: Tommy John in 2014, velocity down at the beginning of the year this year, slider usage way up, one season over 3.5 fWAR in his career doesn't translate to a 5 year $100 mill+ deal for me, is his elbow a ticking time bomb? I'm not going to complain if the Sox show that they are willing to spend on top free agents and sign some though, in fact I would welcome it. It's something they haven't done in a long time. The payroll is low now with barely any $ tied up long term, they have talent in the minors waiting in the wings, at what point do the Sox start adding pieces via free agency to help them compete for the playoffs and more in the 2020-2023 time frame? The 2014 off season they signed: LaRoche was signed for 2 years 25 mill. He accumulated 6.4 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He was 35 when he signed. It was a dumb signing. Cabrera was signed for 3 years 42 mill. He accumulated 11.3 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He was 30 when he signed, and had multiple instances of PED use. Robertson was signed for 4 years 46 mill. He accumulated 8.1fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He was 29 when he signed, and lived up to his contract value. The top Pitching Free Agents (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) in 2013 were: Masahiro Tanaka (age the next season after he signed as a FA 26). He got 7 years 155 mill, he has been worth 15.5 fWAR so far in that contract. The top Pitching Free Agents (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) in 2014 were: Max Scherzer (31). He had accumulated 21.6 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 7 years 210 mill, he has been worth 25.4 fWAR so far in that contract. Jon Lester (31). He had accumulated 19.1 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 6 years 155 mill, he has been worth 13.4 fWAR so far in that contract. The top Pitching Free Agents in 2015 (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) were: David Price (31). He had accumulated 21.6 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 7 years 217 mill, he has been worth 8.8 fWAR so far in that contract. Zack Greinke (32). He had accumulated 22.4 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 6 years 206.5 mill, he has been worth 10.8 fWAR so far in that contract. Johnny Cueto (30). He had accumulated 17.0 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 6 years 130 mill, he has been worth 6.9 fWAR so far in that contract. Jordan Zimmerman (30) . He had accumulated 18.7 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons. He got 5 years 110 mill, he has been worth 3.2 fWAR so far in that contract. The top Pitching Free Agents in 2016 (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) were: No one. The top Pitching Free Agents in 2017 (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) were: Yu Darvish (32). He had accumulated 14.7 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons (ZERO in 2015). He got 6 years 126 mill, he has been worth 0.2 fWAR so far in that contract. The top Pitching Free Agents in 2018 (pitchers that signed for $100 million or more) are: Patrick Corbin (30). He had accumulated 11.3 fWAR over the previous 5 seasons (ZERO in 2014). Of those 8 pitchers who received 100 million + I would say that Tanaka, Scherzer, and Lester lived up to their contracts. Greinke so far has lived up to the contract, but most likely will take a tumble. Price has slightly under performed, but made up for it in October. Cueto had one good year and looks to be a fail. Zimmerman has been a complete fail. Darvish after 1 year has been a fail, but has time to make up for it.

Maybe. Maybe not. I never met Harper. And sure, if the money isn't right, it's meaningless. But other teams are doing it, so how would it look if the Sox said, you don't care about that, so we didn't bother? It isn't going to change their money offer. Maybe he is a Bulls fan. Maybe he loves Michael Jordan. If so, I bet they have MJ give him a message. It doesn't hurt the White Sox position. It might help. It's a small part of their pitch. I assume you have a resume. Do you know that depending on the employer, most can give a shit about most of it? But you have it on there anyway. Why? Because there is the possibiltiy it could matter in some small way.

If they signed Bryce I'm sure Kopech would have no problem giving up the number.

Does anyone really believe Patrick Corbin is the signing that would convince one of these guys the Sox are on their way? Who knows if this tweet is even accurate, but if it is, as Geddy Lee once sang, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

? This makes no sense.

They may feel that the SP market is going to move faster than Machado/Harper. If they think they can get this done faster, then I’m ok with it - although Corbin does worry me a little for that price. I don’t think signing him will remove them from trying on the big two, might help their chances of selling either of them on the team. Going to be a hell of an offseason with all these rumors every other day!

I'd be surprised if the team that gives him that doesn't regret it.

Was just about to post this.

My gosh he blasted a lot of homers last season for a 37 year old. This six time all star would look good in the Cell if Father Time treats him well.

I love Jose Abreu. Cheers to you, Jose. If Greg had his way, you'd be a White Sox til you are 37, keeping you around as long as Paulie.

Sign Harper then next year Arenado. Everyone profits LOL

I always hate the welcome posters for players Chicago sports teams try to sign. Have a bad taste in my mouth still from Carmelo Anthony.

Come on man. You don't worry about that kind of issue until that point.

That goes completely against what Hahn has said what the goal is, which is to find core players. Even if you add the 4 you suggest, is that even a .500 team?

Probably but I'm dreaming big based on all the rumors remember ? I believe them all . since it's more fun that way. Besides even looking at it objectively if the Sox really are seriousl about Machado then that advances the timetable on the rebuild . It also lines up with the new TV deal and they have the payroll to do it. SO me dreaming is also based on the cold hard facts. I'm just speculating on all the pieces and how they can be moved around. Brantley is a very solid piece when he's healthy.

God help this rebuild if they don’t think the OF prospects can help down the line.

Not completely unbelievable. That would tie up about $45-$50 million per, and they can afford that. But signing both would signify going for it, and without adding some pitching there's no way.

Sure then put Harper at 1st base, non tender Avi. ABreu traded. Eloy in LF Brantley in RF, easy peazy

Believe it all. Just because they could be targeting a bunch of guys doesn't mean they intend on signing them all. Like looking for a corner OF bat, they would obviously grab one and stop pursing others. Off-season talks are always fluid and things are always changing.

Manny Machado has about as much star power as Leury Garcia. Michael Jordan has about as much star power as the pope. You don't see the difference?

I think if all these rumors tell me one thing, it’s that agents are using our payroll flexibility to create leverage in the marketplace.

have fun i hope there wont be to many boo for the new head coach

I'll be at the Hawks game tonight boys, If i see Harper I'll make sure to take a pic for all of Soxtalk to get hyped! ?

THAT'S BRYCE HARPER IN JERRY'S BOX! BRYCE HARPER IS IN JERRY'S BOX!

are you gonna complain about paying MJ again

Welp guys its over. Why even try? What is the point? What else do the Sox have better to do right now than try and go after free agents? What else should they be spending their time on?

why not both?

To be honest I'd rather sign Dallas Keuchel and Brantley with Corbin's money. I think they need to add talent to this roster and give the young guys a taste of winning some games. I do not trust Corbin because he hasn't consistently been good, and that's not worth 100+ million.

Maybe they wanted Zunino because he is a really good backstop. Top 1-7 in many defensive categories and pitchers do better with him back there, For a young staff Zunino is a great catcher, Can't hit a lick though.

I copied the template below from SouthSideSox's Offseason plan. Offseason Plan Introduction My plan, because it's more fun, is to vastly accelerate the rebuild for 2019, in hopes that Kopech steps back in to a situation in 2020 where the team is ready to take the division. I'm going to be spending a ton of money. A ton. So the chances of this happening are slim, I grant you that. But without further adieu....here we gooooo. Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR? José Abreu – $16 million - TENDER Avisaíl García – $8 million - NONTENDER Yolmer Sánchez – $4.7 million - TENDER Carlos Rodón – $3.7 million - TENDER Matt Davidson – $2.4 million - TENDER Leury García – $1.9 million - TENDER Impending Free Agents Miguel González (2018 salary: $4.75 million) - Cut loose Hector Santiago (2018 salary: $2 million) - Cut loose CURRENT PAYROLL GOING IN TO FREE AGENCY - $52M Free agents Using the list of free agents, tell us who you’d sign, keeping in mind our salary cap, and good, old-fashioned logic. Include your maximum offer (total years, total salary). Explain your choice at least briefly, even in the case of the most obvious, superstar signs. There is no minimum or maximum number of free agent deals. For illustrative purposes, here’s an idea that by no means you should implement: Bryce Harper (11 yrs, $424 million, $38.5M AAV, Opt outs after years 5, 6, 7) I don't really feel the need to explain this one. Sox need an absolute thumper in their line-up to pair with Eloy. Imagine the nightmare of these guys batting lefty and righty next to each other in the line-up. I would also welcome Machado, or certainly Arenado next year, but the idea of this bat coming from a lefty makes me tight in my White Sox male romper. Opt outs are a trend. Everyone wants opt outs. Fine, Bryce, take your stinkin opt-outs. But you aren't getting one until we get 5 years out of you, sir. The Sox may not even be a playoff team for the first 2 years of that deal. Can't give an opt out any sooner than 5 years in my world with the possibility that this rebuild fails and we blew unbelievable amounts of cash to go no where and see him walk. LHP Patrick Corbin (5 yrs, $115 million, $23M AAV) I honestly did not have him originally in my plans until I saw a rumor suggesting that a White Sox source said he was #1 on their offseason target list. I'm choosing to bite completely on that rumor. A 29-year-old lefty than can be the Sox veteran anchor of the competitive window. The Sox have recently been extremely left-handed, with Sale, Q, Rodon, and Santiago all in the rotation at one point. But now, Rodon is the only lefty in the system for.....a while. Giolito, Lopez, Kopech, Cease, Dunning, Stephens, Hansen; all RHP. The next lefties anywhere on the future radar are Pilkington and Medeiros, but they are both likely ranked after all of those guys in the pecking order. Corbin has completely blossomed as a starter and Arizona is a tough, TOUGH place to pitch. Nearly every single metric has trended positively for him over the last 3 years (GB% has gone backwards 3 years in a row, interestingly enough). I know the Yankees are suppose to have big interest in him, and he's publicly said it would be great to pitch for his childhood team, but I am going to assume the Yankees play in to that leverage and offer him a little less than his asking price, hoping they can get a discount for his childhood fantasies. RHP Garrett Richards (3 yrs, $27 million, $9M AAV, with a team option for $17M for 4th year with $3M buyout) This would be a relatively low risk-high reward situation. Garrett Richards is can be a stud. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery (sup Kopech), but as we know, that's nothing to be afraid of anymore. For this reason, he will miss the entire 2019 season. So this signing would really be more like 2 yrs/$27M, with a team option. Drew Smyly got 2 yrs/$10M last season in the same situation, and he's not even close to the level that Richards is on. Richards gets $30M promised with this deal, with a chance at $44M over 4 years if he proves healthy and successful. RHP Trevor Cahill (2 yrs, $20 million, $10 AAV) Cahill had one of his best seasons ever in 2018. But more importantly, he actually saw his velo tick back up, to the 2nd highest it has ever been. That's encouraging for an oft-injured 30 year old. He also uses his slider a lot more now, and gets a lot of groundballs leading to a very good HR rate last year. He is basically just a guy we would sign to give us some innings and then hopefully flip either next offseason or July of 2020. He is keeping the seat warm for Kopech and Richards return, or Dunning. RP Adam Ottavino (3 yrs, $27 million, $9M AAV) Ottavino found a couple years of decent success out of the Rockies bullpen in his late 20s. But it wasn't until he dove completely head first in to analytics and advanced technology that he saw a breakout year in 2018 at age 32. He turns 33 in a couple of weeks, so there is certainly some risk here, but the guy seems smart enough to adjust to what his arm is allowing him to do. His strikeout rate soared, and his HR rate plummeted. Get him out of Coors and let him set up Zack Burdi in the future. CURRENT PAYROLL AFTER FREE AGENCY (using AAV) - $141.5M Trades White Sox acquire RP Shawn Armstrong from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for 1B Gavin Sheets and RF Ryan Cordell The Mariners are tearing shit down. Unfortunately, the guys they likely to want to move don't fit my contention window for the Sox, or cost too much money. Shawn Armstrong, fits that window and doesn't cost much. Would the Mariners have any motivation to move Armstrong? Maybe not, but oh well I'm offering them prospects for a RP, just take it, Jerry. Why would the Mariners want Gavin Sheets when they have Evan White in AAA who plays 1B? I dunno guys, maybe they need a DH? Stop asking the tough questions. Swap out Sheets for Alex Call or Steele Walker or AJ Puckett or any other back-end top 25 guy. The point is that Shawn Armstrong has seen a slight tick up in velo since his short stint with the Mariners. He's throwing his plus curveball more, and his cutter more. He struck out 97 batters across 70 innings between AAA and Seattle (12.47 K/9) to go along with a 3.6 BB/9 and 1.67 ERA with only 4 HR allowed. He is still pre-arb, so the Sox would have him under control through 2022. He's 28 years old. White Sox acquire 3B Nick Senzel from the Cincinnati Reds for SP Dylan Cease, SP Alec Hansen, and 3B Jake Burger Oh boy is this one juicy! You like how I buried it after the Armstrong trade? I'm a sneaky b****. Nick Senzel is a fucking stud. He's an easy top 10 prospect in baseball, maybe top 5. This trade would be an effort to even out prospect needs. The Sox need someone who can play 3B in their org. The Reds desperately need pitching. We give them a stud pitching prospect in Dylan Cease who is exploding up the charts. But given that Cease is likely a top 25-40 pitcher on most lists, the Sox will have to sweeten the pot a bit more for Senzel who has never stopped hitting since he was a small child. What the Reds will get are 2 guys who could easily be mid to back-end top 100 guys, if not for injuries. They are rather risky prospects, for that reason, and ones the Sox should be willing to gamble away if a deal presents itself. Senzel is only on the table because the Reds currently have the revelation of Eugenio Suarez at 3B, and even Senzel's 2nd position, at 2B, is blocked by Scooter Gennett who has also bloomed. Senzel was then tried out at SS to help find him an unblocked path to the Reds, but even there they have Jose Peraza who had a very good 2018 season as well and is only 24 years old. This is all to just add to the fact that the Reds 2018 1st RD draft pick was 3B Jonathan India at #5 overall and is an advanced college bat. They also happen to take a SS with their 1st RD pick in 2017 in Jeter Downs. AND THEN they also have a prospect named Shed Long who is a top 100 prospect who plays 2B. The Reds are LOADED in the infield. The Sox could honestly make a trade for Jonathan India and do it without losing Cease, but Senzel is lined up perfectly with this wave of prospects, whereas India might be more of a late 2020 debut guy if everything goes great for him. White Sox acquire C Keibert Ruiz and SS Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for SP Carlos Rodon I love Rodon. I really do. But he only has 3 years left with the Sox, and his shoulder issues scare me. This may be the right time to move him, before he has another injury and tanks all of his value. I would say even this trade may be a little lobsided in the Sox favor, if not for the fact that, like Senzel, Ruiz is so totally blocked in the Dodgers system. Yes he is their #2 prospect according to Fangraphs....but their #1 prospect is ALSO a catcher, Will Smith. And Smith is just about ready for the majors. But they also have Austin Barnes in the majors. So Ruiz is a 20-year old switch hitting catcher with amazing plate discipline at his age, and spending half of his 2018 season as a 19-year-old in AA. He struck out only 8% of the time in AA, and walked almost as much, to go along with 12 HR. Also considered an above average defender. Gavin Lux is a guy who myself and many others really really wanted in the 2016 draft with our 2nd pick at #26. The Dodgers ended up popping him at #20 instead. Lux spent his age 20 season in A+ and AA where he hit .324 with 15 HR, 13 SB, a walk rate of about 11% and a K% just under 17%. Another kid with great plate discipline, a bit of pop, but plays a premium position with 60 grade speed. Oh, and he bats lefty. Still love me some Gavin Lux. He is rated the Dodgers #8 prospect. Summary A lot of my moves are more for the year 2020 and beyond. Not too much for the 2019 season, as I would expect most of these plans to be laid out. But I also continued to stockpile high end prospects by adding Senzel and Ruiz to the mix. Senzel is an easy top 10 prospect. Ruiz could be a top 25-30 guy. I also spent a ton of money. I doubt the Sox add $90M in AAV, but I'm not the Sox, and I want to win. 2019 projected team Line-up: 1) SS Tim Anderson 2) 3B Nick Senzel 3) RF Bryce Harper 4) 1B Jose Abreu 5) LF Eloy Jimenez 6) 2B Yoan Moncada 7) DH Daniel Palka/Matt Davidson 8.) C Wellington Castillo 9) CF Adam Engel Bench: Omar Narvaez, Luery Garcia, Yolmer Sanchez Rotation: 1) LHP Patrick Corbin 2) RHP Reynaldo Lopez 3) RHP Lucas Giolito 4) RHP Trevor Cahill 5) RHP Dylan Covey Bullpen: Nate Jones, Jace Fry, Ian Hamilton, Caleb Frare, Aaron Bummer, Shawn Armstrong, Adam Ottavino Payroll - $137.8M The next year, Covey gets kicked out or bumped to the 'pen, and Cahill gets traded as Richards and Kopech take their spots. Dunning possibly takes over for Giolito if he continues to struggle. Burdi takes over for Nate Jones if he can't stay healthy. Ruiz will hopefully be ready to take over the catching duties by then as well.

I'm talking about the amount he got. Michael got 30m+ for multiple years back in the fricken 90'. Reinseorf forked up unprecedented dollars to the best player in the league for multiple years. I don't think it's unbelievable that he will do the same with these generational talent type FAs. He has shown he can go balls to the wall.

Yea I said 500 times a year and it might be more if you take plate appearances and minus the K's and HR's in Manny case thats around 500 to 600 plus times a year. if you want him to sprint out every GO and FO. Now if your going for double and triples than its 60 or 90 yards. Then there's all the times you get a hit or walk or HBP and you have to sprint more to the other bases or to score on those hits or sac flays. Then you throw in all the slides . Did you slide on your elliptical ? Then throw in all the wear and tear from fielding your position and all the air travel , changing time zones. These are all things you left out conveniently The silliest argument you can make if that you riding your elliptical is comparable to playing ML baseball in all weather conditions

My neighbor is out putting his Christmas lights and decorations up. I think they were still up on Groundhog Day last year.