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I've seen Texas speculated for Conforto but I've heard similar on their reluctance. They are forfeiting their 2nd and 3rd rounder. In theory, it makes sense to just add the player and forfeit your 4th as well. The issue is that there are 3 stud prep position players in this class and the Rangers may need to go over slot at #3 to land one of them. Conforto is in a tough spot. I don't think anyone is meeting the perceived asking price of 5/100. A short-deal with opt-outs is likely preferred at this point but there's a very limited market for that I'd think. .

What to do? I dunno. Watch Opening Day and about 90% of the other game this season because I am a die hard Sox fan and we have hands down one of the best 2-3 rosters in my 31 years on this earth? I think that is what I will do.

Where do you come up with this shit?

The offseason has been awful, but I'll be excited as soon as the real games begin. Even if they do nothing else.

Problem with rolling with no further OF additions is we're relying on the OFs to stay healthy when 3 of them have shown they struggle with that to varying degrees. Sox are pretty much fucked as soon as Eloy gets hurt. When Eloy and Engel are both hurt, they're royally fucked. Questionable decision making at its finest. I really cannot fathom that Hahn's thought process on RF and lineup balance has completely changed since the fall. He's just playing chicken with Conforto, likely because JR won't let him add on that 5th year, and to this point, Conforto/Boras are holding out for it. We know the Sox are interested - the guy with consistently the best info that actually uses his name has said they've made him an offer than frankly is probably the best he's received this offseason or he'd be signed elsewhere.

Adolfo is gone within the next three weeks. And let’s not overreact to four spring training games, Yoelqui needs to prove himself in AA before we make any plans around him.

Over/under 7.5 different players appear in RF this year?

I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but man, I'm so excited to hear Benetti again

I actually agree with him. We should ALL have the expectation that the Sox were going to improve their team in the offseason, especially after two back-to-back first round playoff exits. Thus far, they have lost a 5 WAR pitcher and replaced him with Vince Velazquez, I guess? They have made multiple high-dollar bullpen investments and signed a soon to be 35 year old 2B who put up a - 0.5 WAR in the second half of the season. Yes, this team is very good on paper. I don't think many are arguing that. But this is a franchise that made a large time investment into being bad on purpose (instead of just being bad on their own) to get to this very point. And they did a very good job getting here! They built a team that can compete! But what looks to be the final 2-3 years of this core being together, they don't seem all that interested in actually pushing this team over the top, and improving. It seems like they have taken the attitude of "Eh, this team seems pretty good as is, let's see what happens, maybe we'll get lucky in the playoffs, who knows!" Doesn't exactly get the fan base fired up.

This isn't a thing. Anywhere. Honestly, what are you even talking about?

A. Worry about Giolito in 2 years and TA in 3 years.

Jays and Mets very unlikely. The others are possible though. And Heyman will be good on this because it's Boras.

I think the Correa deal is illustrative for why the white sox will not sign conforto or any big free agent (esp. one with Boras). Reinsdorf does not believe players have any power or right to create their market value. Teams decide it, and if teams decide they are X, that is their value. So they ignored Machado's desire to be a $300M player. They would never entertain with Harper ways to get him to the largest deal ever. And with a Correa, I could never see the sox nudging a deal to a player's desire, like adding an additional $100k to make him highest paid infielder on an AAV basis. There is something that Conforto believes about himself and the deal he should get, and if the white sox are even interested, they will lecture Conforto about supply and demand or some shit. And another team will take it seriously and find a way to get the player what he wants, even narratively, that still makes the team comfortable. For the Phillies, Padres that was more years. For the Twins, it was less years. But the sox can only sign a free agent if that guy happens to be of the same mind of his value and the white sox value. Meanwhile, the white sox will be smugly and loudly declaring their interest so we get all of these leaks, but they will be false because the white sox are delusional and worse at judging the market than every...and I mean every... other participant in the market.

All offseason I think the Sox FO has assumed they were going to cruise to another division title, and they'd make another move at the deadline like they did last year to shore up what they see as their biggest need. In that vein, I'm glad that the Twins signed Correa and have reportedly been heavily involved in trying to acquire one of the A's starters. Hopefully a bigger perceived threat to the division will motivate the Sox FO to act now to improve the team rather than wait 4 months into the season.

I believe they will pay the guys who are really good bets. Others, no. The first example is Abreu. If he doesn't retire after this year, we may have two very affordable 1B/DH types in Vaughn and Sheets who approximate Abreu's historical production. I wouldn't expect him back if that happens. With Giolito, Moncada, TA etc, it will depend on the circumstances. This is not an org that regularly gives us nice presents in the winter months, but they're not fine with paying guys market rates when it makes sense and fits into the larger picture of things. Models have no ability to predict the maturation of young stars coming off injury-ridden years. As I've said before, we could have at least 5 major breakout years from certain guys and it wouldn't be the least bit surprising. No model is gonna predict 6.5 WAR from Robert, or 40 homers from Eloy, or CYA-vote-getting years from two of our starters. But again, it wouldn't be shocking for us. This just where we are as a franchise, which is good — it means a lot of potential for steep development curves and a lot of surplus value. I don't necessarily disagree if assessing the situation in a vacuum, but I think it's obvious that he's operating in a way that ownership approves of. This is not an org that is committed to excellence. Winning, yes. Excellence, not really. And they are not 'cheap' tout court, but they clearly are in certain ways. The payroll is indeed high, but it's high due to short-term deals in low-competition markets. There's a cheapness there. I have said this org is cheap and have gotten corrected, but yet why on earth would we be wanting for a true RF for any other reason? It's nothing to harp on and shout from the rooftops, but there is a Sox way of doing things that has been consistently observed for as long as I've watched this team. They are not committed to excellence per se, and that type of commitment is often fundamentally irrational on some level, or at least in certain ways. Given the same circumstances, it would be a Dodger or Yankee thing to sign Conforto, but it is an inefficient move from a dollar/WAR standpoint. Even with Conforto, we still need a lot of things to go right to win it all. The most rational thing to do — which is not equivalent to saying 'the best thing to do' — is play the young guys who will approximate Conforto's output and save money over that time frame. This also leaves room for other needs forthcoming, which may be more urgent than RF. And I expect that they will address those needs in some way, either a 'very Sox-like' way or a more conventional way that pleases the crowd here.

Fun fact: that post contained eleven player names.

Yermin for Trout. Book it.

Yeah, I tend to agree with you on this one. I don't totally buy the negotiation tactic defense, especially in this case. If the Sox are actually engaged with Boras on Conforto, they're talking an Boras knows where the Sox are currently at. One side picks up the phone when something changes. But they don't need Bruce Levine sending messages on the radio to communicate their position.

Do you know what's stopping the Sox from doing both? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

“Being excited about the team” and “being happy about the offseason” are not the same thing. It is possible to BOTH (1) feel that the team is in a good position to win, and (2) feel that the FO squandered opportunities to put it in a much better position to win. You just have to be able to hold a couple different thoughts in your head at the same time.

This whole thing could have been said 12 months ago and it went well and the post season was a failure, same as 2020. As they saw last year injuries happen that leave holes and they did nothing to address this. People understand that there is talent but have all seen that this talent is not enough and the organization ahs no depth.

Bold prediction time- Conforto is signed tonight. Kimbrel, Sheets, and Burger are all traded in the next 10 days. Sox add pitching and a catcher, and we see a roster on opening day that can compete for a championship.

You and Jerry gonna go out to some nice dinners when he saves that 5 million you won't budge on? I never understood why fans care if a FA is perceived to be overpaid. Conforto will be more entertaining to watch and better for the roster than what they have now. The 5 million isn't going to show up in your mailbox via an invoice stamped with past due. What do you care? and for those who say "well it might hurt the budget or their chance of signing a big free agent down the line." How about we get that first ever big free agent signing out the way before we start worrying about future ones.

I laughed, but this is a pot-kettle situation if ever.

Essentially in the middle of talking, one of the guys gets a text and says it is an insider trade that hasn't made its way to twitter. He describes it as a "multi-layered" trade, doesn't want to name teams, and guesses it is a possible "1 of 2 trades." His hint is "big contract" and he doesn't want to say more because he doesn't want to ruin anything. The other guy asks if it involves the Cubs or White Sox, and there is an awkward pause and some laughing, with "White Sox, potentially" finally being admitted. Who knows.

I don't get it. Scott Boras is eagerly tuning into 670 The Score and punching air when he hears Levine say the Sox aren't looking to upgrade in RF?

This is absolutely hilarious. You think Hahn is pursuing relief pitching because he thinks it’s a market inefficiency? ???. At least we finally found Rick Hahn’s Soxtalk account.

Negotiation tactic

This is a lot of straw man arguments. No one is suggesting that the Sox should push all in for short term gains. No one is suggesting that good bullpens aren’t important, we ARE suggesting that top bullpens very rarely seem like they’ll be top bullpens going into the season, and so blowing resources trying to build one (particularly when ignoring bigger needs) is a clearly bad strategy. No one is suggesting anything remotely close to trading for a Dexter Fowler bad contract, lmao. No one ever thought the Edwin Jackson contract was a good idea, even for a moment. This White Sox DID spend a bunch of money, they just didn’t get anything that they needed with it. ”Conforto over Vaughn/Engel does NOT put us in a ‘much better position to win’” is a bizarre statement. I’d love to hear you support that. It’s a dogshit offseason, man. It doesn’t make you a bad fan to admit that, and admitting it doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to root for the team still.

As well as “boy, that ball seemed like it should have gone a lot farther”

The problem is that they have this amazing team and the resources to bolster it. Nothing in sports is guaranteed, so shoring up any weakness is key - and they just aren't doing it. It's incredibly frustrating. It's like if you were a kid and your parents take you to Disney World. You really want to go on the new Star Wars rides, see the animals in Animal Kingdom, etc. Instead, you're stuck on It's A Small World for fucking eternity. On the flip side, there are definitely people who are acting like this team is going to crater because they didn't shore up their weak spots.

Ohmigod Soxtalk has now officially lost their minds. You can't get excited about THIS team?? Their outfield (Robert, Eloy, Vaughn) could hit .300 with 120 homer runs. Grandal and Moncado could hit 50 home runs and get on base 40% of the time. Tim Anderson could win the batting title again. Abreu will probably hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 rbi's as always. Four of their starting pitchers could win the Cy Young award and the fifth starter HAS won the Cy Young award and finished 5th as recently as 2020. Their bullpen was #2 in all of baseball last year and have replaced their two worst pitchers with two pitchers that threw 100 innings with a 2.5 ERA. The amount of moaning about Conforto who the Mets don't want...is unbelievable. The ridiculous take that our window is "only 2-3 years" is just crazy...the core of our guys won't even be in their PRIMES in 3 years. What is the matter with all of you?? I can't WAIT for the season to start. I can't wait to see this core of young players grow into a dynasty. .

Well said. Watching this FO basically sit on their hands all winter and once again spend only on the periphery has made some of us recalibrate. They seem to be resting on their laurels instead of doing everything possible to push this team over the top. Division titles and multiple playoff appearances are great, but I don't know if I can call them a championship contender, let alone competing for multiple championships.

Fixed.

I liked fat Palka a bit...he could hit with some pop. I did not like skinny Palka...he could not. It's a lot like Santa....skinny doesn't work. And I do know....neither version of Palka could play the OF worth a damn.

If Leury gets more than 300 PA short of a major injury, this ownership/front office has no interest in winning.

I truthfully don't believe you could trade Eloy today and improve the club. He has the upside of one of the very best RHH in the game. Will he reach that upside? Probably not if the Sox keep running him out in LF everyday, but its enormous. You'd be selling low and it just doesn't make sense.

I have never once said I want to pay him $22-25M. I think 4/$80M gets it done at this point. You had previously said you wouldn't give him more than $13M AAV which is comical.

Gio is gone in 2 years. He isn't taking an extension unless its an overpay. TA we have plenty of time to figure out, but realistically, he's probably gone too. Just hard for me to get too worked up about the 2025 season right now. Sox best window is closed by then and they'll be fully in re-tool mode.

Yet you've been assuring all of us 50x a day Conforto has 0% chance of signing with the Sox. Interesting.

Don't tell @Polar Bear! Dude's got a 50% chance of eating the biggest crow sandwich on earth!

Not me . He must go!

A. Worry about extending the other 2 when their current deals are up and when Abreu is possibly gone (if anything, at least making less money), Yaz money off the books, relievers we signed gone, Keuchel gone, etc.

Everyone knows that you're either all the way in or all the way out! Life is the hokey pokey!

The other thing that will always, and forever, drive me nuts, is the idea of "X team spent $400 million this offseason". It's team PR. Every team should have the assumption that they will have payroll over the next ten years. They will also have some revenue projections for each year. Some of the revenue will be fixed, like certain media deals. These contracts just become fixed portions of your future payroll. They didn't pay a player $250 million. They allocated portions of their future budgets just to that player. And they need to figure out the rest. Every thing about following this sports finances makes it seem like some lump some. For sure if they sign a whole bunch of future talent, that may feasibly raise the forecasts as they need a minimum number of players, etc etc. But they can also trade out these contracts. It's all very stupid. And it's the owners driving the stupidity because they want credit.

You’re not getting a Top 50-60 prospect in baseball even if you ate all Kimbrel’s salary. Why would OAK possibly need him? Just to turn around and try to flip him again, leverage his upside? Teams in the position of OAK always want to be acquiring prospects. If we (the Sox) had added someone like Kimbrel from 2017-2018, most would have thought it was all a bit crazy…

I agree with you, but I'm still holding out hope for a quality OF addition anyways. I wish all of the position player injuries from last season were a wake up call to Hahn & KW that expecting all of the core position players to stay healthy for ~150 games isn't a realistic plan. I understand wanting to let Vaughn & Sheets develop at the big league level, that makes perfect sense, but all it takes is *one* injury at `1B/RF/LF/DH and all of a sudden those guys are thrust back into every day roles. An addition like Conforto or Meadows wouldn't just make the RF position stronger, it also would add more depth to the roster overall and reduce the number of PA's we'd end up seeing this year from replacement level types like Goodwin, Billy Hamilton, Lamb, Yermin, etc

The overwhelming negativity on this site gets horribly tiresome for at least some of us. I enjoy having a reputation of being optimistic about the Sox, since it clearly stands out. It's so easy to be a naysayer. And how many Conforto threads do there have to be before you say -- ENOUGH!!! There is a lot RIGHT about this Sox team. Why not celebrate it at least SOME of the time??

Herb FTW.