Look at Ray Ray Run

Oh look, this narrative again. No one is asking for them to operate like the Dodgers or Yankees; how about the other 26 teams in the history of league who have signed 100+ million contracts? My goodness; everyone plays in that range in baseball but for five teams. The Sox have no business being one of those five but they are. No one is asking them to operate like the Dodgers; we're asking them to stop operating like the Oakland Athletics.

When you say consistent, you mean bad right? Since 2015, he's had one season where he's graded out + defensively. Every other season he's been below average to bad. He's not an impact right fielder being a bad fielder and having no power. Adam Eaton hasn't been an average or above Major League player since 2016. It's amazing how anyone can paint this positively.

Supposedly the PA has told players to assume that negotiations will lead to a DH in 2021; this is after the owners told teams there would very likely not be a DH in 2021. I imagine this was just a negotiating tactic, but I would listen to the players side in the ordeal. I also assumed there would be no DH following all the reports from within.

More than 50% of mlb players are conservatives. Can we stop with that stupid narrative that Republicans and conservatives aren't prevalent and welcome in the game. They're everywhere, and no one cares. It's a job and it's baseball.

I agree on your first sentence I just dont think tim strikes me as a guy whose gonna hate on a fellow player to his bosses. Lets grind and get it done seems more up his alley. Could be way off base though as I've never met the guy.

Yeah, I think it would be really rare for a fellow union member to say don't pay that guy; especially when their boss asks them. I also don't think Timmy gives a shit about Adam Eaton, and Abreu likely isn't the kind of guy to blast anyone. Neither of those guys strike me as big drama queens.

97 appearances in 222 games is scary. Thats a ton of wear and tear; A's really got their money worth. Would be a fine signing but wish the resources were allocated to something more reliable than a late inning reliever. Hes awesome though if he can stay healthy and maintain his stuff which is always a concern for relievers.

Yeah this really cracks me up. You sign a guy and immediately have Garfein write a puff piece arguing that he's not actually an asshole and then have another writer release a story saying don't worry guys, the sox talked to the players about the asshole they're signing and they said whatever , its fine. Not a great sign when you have to defend a signing two ways right after making it.

??? isnt that the truth. Guy will probably extend gio tomorrow.

Completely understandable. I have been the same way for every year prior to this one as well. I was defending the failures the past couple off seasons. I've lost faith in their ability to execute at this point but I really hope I'm wrong and that my Maroney optimism returns, they've gotta prove it to me though. Me and Ricky need to rebuild our trust, he cheated on me and lied to me and now we have trust issues.

Adam: wow, what a beautiful day outside Ray Durham the GOAT: it's 0 degrees out with blizzard conditions Adam: wow, what a whiny negative baby you are. Maroney, you're my new favorite poster. Thanks for the laughs and have a wonderful night!

This is a fair point; although the Sox said today he's going to be their starting right fielder so that move in particular will always suck regardless imo.

What? I have no idea what you're rambling about. Nothing i said was whining. I pointed out a real fact and it upset you and I'm very sorry for that. Ill do better to respect your feelings in the future when posting a fact. The White Sox have never signed a 100 million dollar contract but they tried very hard to convince you they were going to spend big the past two off season, and thoughts count so let's all thank them for giving it the old college try. Hopefully that's the positivity you were seeking buddy.

The Eaton moved has been ripped by anyone in baseball with a clue.

I'm whining by stating a fact? Huh? I'm sorry that facts hurt your delirious mindset regarding the team. I love that a fact constitutes whining. I guess we can pretend reality doesn't exist to help you feel better.

Oh my I'll post this here as well, just for you. Of largest contracts signed in team history, the only teams the White Sox rank ahead of are the Indians, A's, (Royals - I missed this one last time) and Pirates. The biggest contract the White Sox have ever signed was for 73 million guaranteed (Royals was 72 million). The Tampa Bay Rays have given a contract that was 26 million more than the largest one the Sox have EVER given. The Sox act like the 5th cheapest team in MLB. IDK how many years you need to see this to understand the White Sox don't pay out big contracts. The White Sox are one of five teams in the history of the game to have never paid out a 100 million dollar contract. Let's wait for it to happen once before we start believing they'll do it.

Yeah, I think Charlie was at that point where he was considering retiring; I think it's more likely I would be signing Quintana in my example above but I'm fine with that. It's not the upside of Charlie but it gives me some stability.

So, with this stipulation it makes it difficult; this just isn't a deep free agent period. All that said, I would try and get creative; without knowing what people are going to sign for I will do my best to estimate. 1. I'd sign Marcell Ozuna - 4 years, 68 million. This would take some creative lineup creation, but assuming Vaughn isn't starting in the big leagues (because he hasn't played a professional baseball game above A ball), I'd have Ozuna play in right field when lefties started, and I'd have him DH with righties on the mound. It would be hard on Robert in CF but that's what you have the fastest and best defensive CF'er in the game for. Additionally, Engel would still be there to as a defensive replacement every game late. 2. I'm fine with the Lynn trade - I would have preferred eating salary and getting another pitcher who was similar for a lesser asset. For the sake of this discussion, I'll leave Lynn on the roster for Dunning. 3. I'd sign Joc Pederson to a 1/2 year deal at 11 per. Joc might be willing to take one year and hit the market again after the CBA. I'd play Joc in right field vs righties and I'd bench him entirely vs lefties. Engel will have plenty of chances to play with poor defenders in left and right much of the year, and given the injury problems with someone like Eloy he'd be a nice safety cushion. 4. I'd have signed Drew Smyly for 1 year 12 million. I'm a big fan of Smyly but his health concerns and inconsistencies are concerning; this is why he'd be a swing starter for me and potentially an elite lefty out of the bullpen. He's got real good stuff. 5. I'd have signed Charlie Morton for 1 year 15 million. This was a perfect 2nd arm fit for the White Sox - I don't know if Charlie had any interest and you'd like have to pay more as I heard rumblings he was considering retirement if not for Atlanta. I'll assume this one was out of reach for the Sox given those circumstances, but he was a perfect 2nd arm to sign. He only wanted one year, which would have worked well for a team who wanted to give arms some time. Those would be my big moves. All in all, it frees up 38 million next off-season and in time for some internal raises, and it fills all your biggest holes. While there are questions in that group, there's also a lot of upside. This likely would be what I would try to pull off if I were the Sox. If you think Morton wouldn't come here, I'd take Quintana on a 1/2 year deal. This gives the Sox a lot of depth and roster flexibility and it doesn't break the bank. All in all, it adds 63 million to the payroll for next year, but much of that money clears after next year. Sox go all in - like they claim they are - and they improve their roster depth and abilities vs righty starters.

It's a great question; I'm getting ready to head out for a few but will answer when I get back. It's not a deep pool of free agents to chose from, but I wouldn't invest heavily in a RP.

So we poach Kasper and the Cubs swoop in and hire white sox legend Willie Harris.

Haha possibly... I guess. 85 appearances 2 years ago and 25 last year is a ton of work. Pair that with his ground ball rate plummeting and the reliance on velocity, and I'm less than enthusiastic about his next three years.

The A's have rode hendricks into the ground, hes entering his mid thirties (32-34) and relies on fastball velocity to dominate hitters. Its not a recipe for success in the least bit.

Yup, I just dont get it. Paying closers, especially when you have done a nice job developing RP arms, is a horrible way to invest money which is right up the Sox alley.

You know you signed a bad clubhouse guy when you have to release a puff piece from a former teammate saying he's actually not bad as the first story post signing.

All I can say to this is there are plenty of arrogant loud mouths in high level sports clubhouses. Imo, Eaton is not a classic example of that. Every team has someone who pushes or shoves all day, and some guys definitely can be bothered by that. The difference is, in those clubhouses people get that. That's not what Eaton was. How do I know? Because it takes a special breed of dick for many teammates and players to publicly rip you in the press. I'll use Carl as an example. From all I have heard, Carl was a psychopath and impossible to get along with. You still didn't have people putting their name on their slander of him publicly. Even AJ - with the exception of garland calling him a horrible person post retirement lol - didn't have teammates putting their name on slandering him. Aubrey huff was a horrible teammare - shocking news - but no one hated him so much they were gonna call him out in the press. When you see guys say everyone hates this guy, and they put their name on it in those clubhouses, it means Eaton is above and beyond the guys youre explaining. Maybe he's matured but it seems unlikely. And Kendrick is backing his guy, that's fine. I'm not saying everyone in baseball hates Eaton. Baseball is full of tons of personalities, but for him to be laughed at by so many shows he's a special breed of bozo. There was the outfielder the cubs signed Milton Bradley- he had that kind of hatred brewing throughout the game. I kind of loved Milton for that though lol.