Leaderboard

I absolutely agree! Escobar or Wendle would have been great pickups. I would have preferred Wendle and I’m still hopeful that they’ll address second base adequately. I also wouldn’t have been completely against trading Madrigal for the right type of player. My preference would have been to upgrade the starting rotation if he was going to be moved. Bottom line is it was about the worst utilization of using him as an asset and we’ll see where things are in March.

I get the sentiment, but I still believe this but it requires the Sox to like, try. Escobar and Wendle weren’t just solid replacements, they improved LH balance and defense and were reasonable deals. Yeah if Sox don’t get any reasonable additions eventually there are not any. And the other thing about that sentiment - they were all about sending out Madrigal for good additions, and not someone for 3 months shipped out for salary relief.

Checking new activity in this thread...

What the fuck does all of this mean

Anyone who could make wearing a helmet in the field look cool deserves to be in the HOF for that alone.

So happy to see Minnie in, very disappointed for Allen.

Fucking finally.

Wow. How the hell is Dick Allen not a Hall of Famer? Anyhoo, psyched for Minnie and Tony Olivia. Cuban connection

Judge KKK Landis would have a solid base of support here on Soxtalk, for multiple reasons.

Is it $30 million in addition to Craig Kimbrel because that's doable for sure I'd think. Maybe something like this: Trade Craig Kimbrel and Matt Foster to Philadelphia for Jean Segura, Jose Alvarado and Rafael Marchan Trade Gavin Sheets and Zack Collins to Oakland for Sean Manaea and upside reliever of some sort? Sign OF Michael Conforto to 4 year $88 million deal. Backload the deal. Re-Sign Ryan Tepera for 2 years $14 million 1. Tim Anderson SS 2. Yoan Moncada 3B 3. Luis Robert CF 4. Yasmani Grandal C 5. Jose Abreu 1B 6. Eloy Jimenez LF 7. Michael Conforto RF 8. Andrew Vaughn DH 9. Jean Segura 2B Bench C Rafael Marchan INF/OF Leury Garcia OF Adam Engel LHB Bench bat of some sort Rotation 1. Lance Lynn 2. Lucas Giolito 3. Dylan Cease 4. Sean Maneae 5. Michael Kopech Bullpen Liam Hendriks RHP Kendall Graveman RHP Ryan Tepera RHP Reynaldo Lopez RHP Aaron Bummer LHP Garrett Crochet LHP Jose Alvarado LHP Dallas Keuchel LHP

Hockey fans kill Bettman every chance they get.

Yea they did such a great job of replacing a temporary injury for negative value at the position last year.

When the lockout is over let’s sign a Rodon and maybe Tepera and move ahead. If we can’t trade Kimbrel I am fine with him staying. W we have options at 2B. We have a real good team

Free Agency: Trevor Story - 112 career wRC+ estimated cost: $18M-22M+ Annually Pluses - Defense (while this has been very muted outside a tremendous 2019, lots of signs he should be a great 2b - he is excellent at DP depth), Power (career .251 iso) Walks (9% walk rae) Minuses - Unknown coors effects Below Avg vs. RHP (98 career wRC+, 83 last year, our division has excellent RHP) Contact (23% K rate) Josh Harrison - 103 2021 wRC+ estimated cost ($4-5M+ annually) Pluses - Contact (13% krate) Not bad vs RHP (98 wRC+) Defense (outs above average loves, loves Josh Harrison) Minuses - Inconsistent offense (career 98 wRC+) BABIP dependent no power Age of decline (34 years old) Jose Iglesias - 91 2021 wRC+ estimated cost ($2-3M+ annually) Pluses - Contact (14% krate) Defense (outs above average likes his 2b more than his SS at this age) Minuses - BABIP dependent offense Bad vs RHP (81 wRC+) Doesn't walk Donovan Solano - 105 2021 wRC+ estimated cost ($2-3M+ annually) Pluses - Slightly above average offensively Average power 96 wRC+ (counts as positive with this group) Minuses - Bad defensively unreliable walk rate, higher k rate 34 years old Andrelton Simmons - 56 2021 wRC+ estimated cost ($6-9M+ annually) Pluses - World class defense at shortstop Can backup TA Plus Contact Minuses - Horrendous offense Zero power BABIP driven offense Career 85 wRC+ vs RHP Trades: Jean Segura - 103 2021 wRC+ COST 14M + 1M 2023 buyout Pluses - Great defense at second Contact (13% K rate) Average vs RHP Minuses - Fathom says he is mopey and has bad vibes Lacks power Expensive money wise Tony Kemp - 127 2021 wRC+ COST $2.5M Pluses - Great OBP in 3 of last 4 years (STEAMER predicts .350 OBP) Career 103 wRC+ vs RHP, 130 wRC+ last year Good, versatile defense by OAA Seems like he should be cheap prospect wise Minuses - Not a strong history of reliable performance to trust any of the above aside from defense Jeff McNeil - 93 2021 wRC+ COST PRE-ARB did not see value Pluses - Career 126 wRC+ 3 years of control Career 132 wRC+ vs RHP Contact 14% kRate Walk Rate 13% Walk Rate Great defense at 2b by OAA very likely the most perfect fit possible Minuses - Bad 2021 Expensive by Prospects/talent likely Ryan McMahon - 95 2021 wRC+ COST PRE-ARB did not see value Pluses - Above average vs RHP (106 wRC+) Good power (.195 iso) Good walk rates Minuses - Bad contact (25-30%K) While excellent last year, in 2019-20 was a ground ball machine a la Leury Garcia Amazing at 3rd, but only average to slightly below average at 2b by OAA Likely requires a very strong package of talent Tommy LaStella - 94 2021 wRC+ COST $6M Pluses - Madrigal-level contact Good BB rate Good GB% career 107 wRC+ vs RHP Minuses - Bad 2021 Back injury in 2021 and struggled after Not good defensively, possibly very bad late bloomer Possible platoon bad w/ Leury Easiest way out of this appears to be Kemp trade. Best way out seems to be McNeil, but I have 5% confidence he's traded.

Recognizing the Negro Leagues as major leagues is just about the only good thing Manfred has done.

Why is Nico Foles still on this team.

Yeah!! I have tears in my eyes.

So far he thinks Soxtalk is pro ownership and pro racist, yet is still actively posting here.

Gotta love the color guy (Schlereth?) giving credit to JJ Watt for AZ’s d-line effort. Theses guys get a narrative and stick with it.

Bob Dole, a war hero, I salute you. Bob Dole, one of the greatest Kansans of all time, I salute you. And Bob Dole, a man from an era in which some politicians actually worked across the aisle to get deals done for the betterment of America, I salute you. (Now of course if you are on one side and work to help the other you get followed in parking lots and malls and airports and yelled at by political zealots). I doubt there will be many if any in the future willing to work with both sides so Bob Dole, thank u for your service and for all you tried to do and may you rest in peace. https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/at-98-bob-dole-reminds-us-of-a-time-when-republicans-and-democrats-could-work-together

No, he wouldn't.

That sound you hear is Judge Kenesaw Landis turning over in his grave.

Comments: Good signings @Chicago White Sox. I agree with your assessment @TheFutureIsNear, I also suggested to broaden the trade net to try to open up flexibility across the high priced FA/extensions of the past two offseasons, and also agree the Schwarber would be one of the best high impact bats, he was the top consideration for me in terms of impact bats, but I only passed due to the overload of DH/LF options on the current roster. @Y2Jimmy0 - While I do agree it likely the Sox will at minimum attempt to flip Kimbrel and your moves make sense in that context. For the purposes of this thread, I tried to keep the parameters the same as last year (strictly an assessment of $30M for free agency). Introduction: My initial plan focused on three aspects. 1. Clearing some of the higher priced veterans for young talent which can win now. 2. Improving the team defensively. 3. Adding free agents to bring a TOR starter and improve defensively behind the plate (Contreras and Gomes, ironically the current two Cubs catchers). Robbie Ray, Yan Gomes and Leury Garcia were my three Free Agent targets in late October. The three came in at slightly over the $30M range we are using for this excercise. Leury returned as expected, Ray and Gomes signed solid deals which I wish the Sox were able to offer and secure. Matz was not an initial target, but his deal was also team friendly and something I wish the Sox were able to match / exceed and sign, almost as much as Cohen. My four current acquisition targets at this stage are: Carlos Rodon (Age 29 $19.0M AAV - $76M/3+1 KH terms) - Assuming his medicals check out, he is the top starting pitcher. Perhaps have a creative terms like the Hendriks deal, giving Carlos a higher guarantee with a flexible final year. Now that he is working off of a solid innnings base, a return to his form of last year will make him a formidable playoff starter able to help navigate the team through the postseason. Josh Harrison (Age 35 $5.0M 1 year + team option) - I preferred Lux or another solid trade acquisition, and while I wouldn't have renewed Kimbrel, I would prefer a trade for Segura at this stage, but for the purpose of this exercise, Harrison provides the best opportunity to provide a solid presence at 2B. Villar and Iglesias both have 2B listed in the Fangraphs Free Agent list, but their primary experience is other positions, and the Sox would be best served by a regular 2B, not converting one on the fly and hoping it works out. J Hey is an adequate fielder with a decent bat, providing a 1.5 fWAR last season / 1/2 projected for 2022. He will allow Leury to do what he does best, provide the team flexibility across many positions. Stephen Vogt (Age 37 $3.5M 1 year) - Of the remaining catchers, he is the best defensive option and will provide a solid veteran presence to help work with pitchers. He can work with Lucas and Carlos (Grandal can DH or play 1B those days) while Grandal can work with Lynn, Cease and Keuchel. Jake Diekman (Age 35 $2.5M 1 year) - While I considered a 5th OF with the remaining funds (Schwarber and Pederson far out of reach with the available budget), I believe adding one more reliever, in part to allow flexibility with Kimbrel, is the best use of the remaining budget. Signing him more for his October possibilities than to get the Sox through the regular season, as the can muddle through with Ruiz/Burr for the final spot. Has playoff experience and is another solid piece to the bullpen at a reasonable cost. Fan Graphs White Sox Roster 2022 Free Agent Tracker 2022 Offseason Take Two Final Roster: (Steamer Projected 2021 Games (or Innings for pitchers) / fWAR) Infield: C Grandal (127 / 4.5); 1B Abreu (150 / 2.1); 2B Harrison (118 / 1.2); SS Anderson (150 / 3.3); 3B Moncada (149 / 3.8). Outfield/DH: Robert (149 / 4.8) Jimenez (146 (HA!) / 2.5; Vaughn (115 / 1.5) & Sheets (110 / 1.0). Reserves: INF Garcia (112 / 1.1); OF Engel (87 / 0.5); C Vogt (45 / 0.2); INF/OF Mendick (39 / 0.3). Starters: Giolito (184 / 3.3); Rodon (154 / 3.8); Lynn (187 / 3.4); Kopech (145 / 2.7); Cease (170 / 3.0) Keuchel (161 / 1.2). Relievers: Hendriks (68 / 1.5); Bummer (64 / 0.9); Crochet (74 / 0.9); Kimbrel (66 / 0.7); Diekman (69 / 0.6); Graveman (62 / 0.4); Lopez (57 / 0.3). Minor League Standby: Lambert, Adolfo, Ruiz.

I am pretty sure this poster is NSC.

I am the egg man. I am the walrus. Koo-koo-ka-chu. Koo-koo-ka-chu.

The loss of a season doesn't work for anyone.

Unless killer variant phi comes along, this year could not possibly get any better. Looking forward to minor league baseball. If the labor dispute gets resolved we need a national boycott day for the fans.

??? The crowd was great game 4.

Tim Anderson wasn't drafted as a 1B and shoehorned into SS. Vaughn is going to be a very good player... but at 1B, maybe LF. They need to keep him out of RF though if they plan on keeping Eloy in LF.

Yes, there are some posts so ridiculous they are beyond the need to respond. Anyone here can look up the tax rates for Capital Gains (Unrealized taxed at 0%) or Long Term Capital Gains vs. Federal, State and Local Wage rates. Most also can understand the difference between home owners of a non income producing asset which they pay property taxes on each and every six months vs. a business which not only has their capital expenses paid for by the rabble, but also the fact the billionaire's business pays no property taxes on said capital. You can't have a rational discussion with someone lacking in the basic economic realities of taxation rates, rates on capital vs. labor, fairness, etc.. Mega dittos, silly Rabbit.

https://www.fool.com/taxes/2020/09/25/why-does-billionaire-warren-buffett-pay-a-lower-ta/ This is not rocket science, here. Or simply look at the net taxes paid by corporations like Amazon/FB by domiciling in Ireland or the Caribbean. Or a certain former president the past 10-15 years. Not something any middle class taxpayer can do, exactly. Even the billionaires know it’s a joke. “A 70% marginal tax rate. A 77% estate tax. A 3% tax on every dollar over $1 billion of net worth. As various plans to tax the ultra-rich gain steam in American political discourse—and after a recent bombshell report that the 400 richest Americans paid a lower tax rate than other income groups last year—many billionaires have been challenged to address their very existence amid growing income inequality. At least a dozen billionaires have made public statements that call for the super-rich to pay more in taxes. On Monday, Salesforce chairman and cofounder Marc Benioff penned the latest in a string of billionaire op-eds calling for higher taxes on the wealthy. The California software entrepreneur, who ranked No. 93 on The Forbes 400 list of richest Americans released earlier this month, wrote that “increasing taxes on high-income individuals like myself would help generate the trillions of dollars that we desperately need to improve education and health care and fight climate change.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/cartercoudriet/2019/10/15/billionaires-more-taxes-gates-buffett-bloomberg/?sh=7cfe5bf57792 Even Forbes of all publications is sympathetic. In 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world’s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. He achieved the feat again in 2011. In 2018, Tesla founder Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federal income taxes. Michael Bloomberg managed to do the same in recent years. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn did it twice. George Soros paid no federal income tax three years in a row. ProPublica has obtained a vast trove of Internal Revenue Service data on the tax returns of thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people, covering more than 15 years. The data provides an unprecedented look inside the financial lives of America’s titans, including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and Mark Zuckerberg. It shows not just their income and taxes, but also their investments, stock trades, gambling winnings and even the results of audits. Taken together, it demolishes the cornerstone myth of the American tax system: that everyone pays their fair share and the richest Americans pay the most. The IRS records show that the wealthiest can — perfectly legally — pay income taxes that are only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, their fortunes grow each and every year. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax

Been saying this for a while now, I'm not all that bothered by the lack of participation in the Mega Free Agent deals as many here are. However, I'll be in the front of that line if they come out crying poor when it comes time to start paying our own guys. The clock is ticking on TA and Gio. I better not see the 90s be repeated here.

I think it is safe to say they will not be trading for Nick Madrigal.

Cubs got the best of Hahn on that one. A major win in an otherwise lousy year on Clark & Addison.

RIP big guy, you come from one of my favorite yrs as a Sox fan. Sadly many entertainers be they sports figures, rock stars or actors and actresses are starting to pass away

Lol, these were the seasons that gave the team "unprecedented flexibility" as Hahn put it. It's incredibly frustrating that covid is their excuse for not using all those savings like they claimed they would. I guess there is still time for them to spend it, though. We shall see.

ive never seen adult men hold a grudge over one disagreement like southside2k and chicago white sox. It's a shame because I considered them friends on this site. Until i ripped on our MLB front office for their mlb evaluations (which, in my eyes, has since been validated by harold's left leg saying they wildly misunderstood the market). Lesson learned dont disagree with either of them or you're a problem

Not unless Ron and/or Jose Abreu are somehow involved. Or Greg775's palatial Lawrence estate.

I’ve never carried water for Jerry. He’s a shitty owner and has been my whole life.

Y’all really wanna kill Luis Robert by flanking him with Eloy and Castellanos?

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone at SOx Talk 😄

Obviously he should have been in long, long ago and enjoyed it himself. He was second best AL player 1951-1961, after a late arrival to the American League for obvious reasons. It’ll be nice when they right a wrong, but completely bittersweet.

3 and done. Thats r white Sox

With the exception of 2005 and I guess 2008 if you count that, this franchise has a long and storied (ha ha) history of getting bounced out in the opening round. This yr will be no exception. Houston is the superior team

Like the Sammy Sosa trade. The Cubs saw us coming. Totally fleeced

We were completly disillusional thinking we could beat a good team like Houston, may as well get swept

We're just not a complete good team, we won a bad division and beat up on some bad teams but when we meet a quality team see what happens, our misery will continue into the off season

good ass movie... if some of you haven't seen it - must watch.