WestEddy

Taylor pitched about 63 innings this season. Maybe they want to ramp him up to about 100? That's Mike Vasil usage. 30 starts at 4 IP each is 120 IP. Maybe they don't want to guarantee a bullpen day every 5.

MLBTR surmised Ponce at 2 years, $11M per to the Sox (by 1 of 4 writers). Kazuma Okamoto also strikes me as a not crazy option at 1B.

My eyes opened this morning. That's about as much rejoicing as I can handle in a day.

In an act of desperation to get a middling bat into the lineup, they overpaid Benintendi in both money and years. He outlasted everybody from that short-lived window, and now he the only "veteran" bat who can contribute league average offense. Had they paid him normal, 2025 would have been his walk year. What would we be adding Naylor to?

So, do you think the White Sox are a few players away from being competitive, or would you be sales-lying to him?

That's how we ended up with Benintendi as our clean-up hitting left-fielder for 5 years. Overpaying.

Trade and signing rumors are, in essence, hypotheticals. So my question is, why are you here reading about hypothetical signings?

What if he did, but Naylor's agent told you to sod off, and don't call again until you have a winning team, because Naylor wants to be in the playoffs, and Seattle's going to top your offer anyway? And then, when you checked in on Pete Alonzo, his agent said the same thing? Then Framber's people, Kyle Schwarber's people and Murakami's people all told you roughly the same thing? Would you then have a Plan B beyond "Spend as much money as it takes to sign all the best players"? Because that's literally the first thought every single person has when thinking about putting together a winning team.

Every MLB Pipeline ranked prospect not on 40-man rosters and needing protection: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/rule-5-draft-prospects-protected-on-40-man-rosters-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Just racking up the off-season awards:

Apparently, a Seattle writer gave Monty his one 2nd place vote, and also voted for Shane Smith 4th or 5th.

Actually, Dick Allen's comment got me thinking. Your's was just easier to find and respond to.

Story at Royals Review and oddly enough, none of the commenters bemoan the hiring of a White Sox castoff. https://www.royalsreview.com/royals-news-transactions-signings/90310/royals-hire-marcus-thames-connor-dawson-to-hitting-coaching-staff#comments

Teams around the league looking at the 2025 White Sox and thinking, "I gotta get me some of dat!"

South Suburban Harvey, IL. Maybe the trick is to fill the team with White Sox fans, so they start screaming about how they should all be DFAed before fans get a chance to?

Offseason budget bin article about the Guardians that probably covers some of the same dudes the White Sox will be looking at - https://www.coveringthecorner.com/cleveland-guardians-analysis/63820/more-bargain-free-agents-for-the-guardians-to-pursue

Enough with the ex, future and maybe never Royals!!!

Actually, here's an article that lays out the labyrinthine options of the Imanaga contract - https://blogs.fangraphs.com/shota-imanaga-has-the-chance-to-do-the-funniest-thing-ever/

They're also looking at 65 years.

During Dallas Keuchel's last season with the Sox, his ERA was around 7.80, he was walking 5.9 per 9 IP, and putting on 2 baserunners an inning. Leury Garcia had an OPS+ of about 42 during a .500 season they were supposed to be competing in when he was released. Jeff Keppinger had an OPS+ of 64 when the Sox ate two years of his contract. Benintendi had an OPS+ of 104 last year, slightly better than average. I understand he's taking up ABs that could go to someone else, but I'm not sure why it's so important the White Sox DFA him and eat all $30M left on his deal.

I thought the Cubs turned down the option. I've seen it spelled out (maybe even here, somewhere) that the Cubs would give a QO, Imanaga takes it, then he can pitch in Japan if the lockout goes longer than expected.

Yes, I said that in response to a remark comparing Bendix' finish after year 2 to Getz' 2nd 100-loss team. And I compare the system they were left by Ng and Hahn, respectively. Bendix had more to work with than Getz, thus a better record in year two. Beyond that, this reads like classic Holden gobble-dy gook. Maybe somebody will have the completely unrelated conversation about whether Hahn was handcuffed by TLR being chosen over his head. I wish you luck.