Look at Ray Ray Run

Yeah, it's when I got involved with posting here. It was one hell of a roller coaster and taught me to shut off all the noise and wait until that baby is delivered! It was an up and down year; amazing that all the anger and sadness about Machado wasn't warranted as it may have been the best thing to happen to the rebuild. If people want to add threads and etc to read that was good from the year prior that wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Sox have generated more WAR from their drafts dating back 10 years than more than 1/2 the league. I need to back and find the research, and while much of that is tied to Chris Sale (and now Anderson), that doesn't mean it doesn't count because finding Chris Sale is really valuable. The Sox haven't had as many pieces as some teams, but they've generated more WAR than the league average from their drafts. Baseball is tough to evaluate because: 1. It takes a lot of time. 2. It's much more of a crapshoot than other sports, so you shouldn't expect an impact guy every year. 3. As a fan, we are much closer to our failures than we are to other teams failures. Also, the Sox didn't really get elite high level draft picks for decades due to them winning enough to not be the worst - until the last few years.

Cardinals had a log jam of outfielders, and they have really wanted to get their young OF'er more at bats which was why they didn't even discuss an extension with Ozuna. I think they're a hard no for all three. All the Castellanos to Giants momentum has come to a halt and the most recent update I read was that they may be more interested in Puig and a shorter deal at this point realizing that Castellanos doesn't make much sense for their OF and window. ... that leaves the Rangers who just traded an OF'er because they already had too many.

Especially when you're a poor defending power hitting outfielder. That market has tanked and never quite recovered. I cited JD Martinez because it took him months to get over 100 million and no one else was offering it but the Red Sox. Castellanos is younger, and maybe slightly more capable as a defender, but he's no where near the hitter JD was. I wouldn't be shocked to see one of these two sign for like 3 years, 50 million or 1 year, 22-24 million in hopes of cashing in next year. I just don't see anyone throwing 80-90 million at either guy at this point. Besides the Rangers - who I don't understand signing an OF'er but they've been reportedly interested - who is really out there that hasn't already invested in other options?

White Sox have done about as well in the draft as the majority of MLB teams; comparing them to the Dodgers - who have been better than everyone - is an odd way to reference them being bad at drafting.

One of either Castellanos or Ozuna are completely fucked. Who is left out there to sign those guys to long term deals? There just aren't enough interested parties left. I think one of those two guys is going to get either a short deal or a hell of lot less money than most thought.

Ahh, see I missed you - someone whose posts I never miss in the minor league threads! Love your knowledge on those levels and appreciate you filling in the blanks for things I, and many others, may not follow quite as closely!

Well, I'm bored at the office for a few hours today before another week off and I figured since I just finished my first year posting (who cares, I know), I would do something I don't frequently do - show appreciation for posters and people that make this site enjoyable. We spend a lot of time conversing and arguing with each other about a common interest, but we also learn new things and share those insights. If I didn't name you, it's nothing personal as I miss things from time to time in my elongated breaks due to work. Sox Talk 2019 Shout Outs - My favorite Poster: MQR - while I enjoy reading many thoughts and insights on the forum, I have to say that MQR quickly grew into my favorite poster over the past year. I enjoy reading his thoughts and insights - even if we don't agree - and I find him to be very good at describing things in ways that the masses understand; something I am not always great at. I think he walks the fine line between pessimistic and optimistic better than all posters at this site - being reasonable and rational for most of his thoughts while removing his emotion. My favorite read: Chicago White Sox - He's a passionate SOB and he fluctuates between incredibly optimistic and emotionally pessimistic - that's the nature of being a Sox fan. That said, he tells people what he thinks and sometimes takes some pot shots but all in good fun. He dishes out quite a lot of shit but he's also more than capable of taking shit back without whining or complaining. I love his emotional reaction and take to White Sox baseball - he is my definition of a Sox fan. The guy moved to Nashville to take a stand! That can't be beaten by any other poster. My favorite stat head: thxfrthmmrs - being a fellow analytic thinker, I enjoy reading his thoughts. We have clashed on countless topics over the past year - data can come to two different conclusions depending on the analyst! - especially basketball, but I really enjoy the thought he puts into his words and the evidence he uses to support his opinions. Even if I don't agree with him always, I am almost guaranteed to always learn something new. My favorite sparring partner: Dick! - Dick doesn't love when I call him Dick, but I love how honest Dick keeps me. He calls me on my opinions when they become wishywashy and nonsensical. He brings my mistakes to the surface, and he always questions my methods. Dick is one of those people that keeps the place going by keeping everyone on their toes. Glad to have him in the stable of "keeping them honest" posters. My favorite Contrarian: Moan - Moan takes a lot of heat for his negativity, but you need those type of posters to make sure we don't get to irrationally excited. What I really really like about Moan is that he disagrees with A LOT of posters, but he never attacks them or ridicules them. He spends all that energy on attacking the front office. I respect a poster who can disagree with you without making it personal, and Moan disagrees a lot so he's a pro. In general, I like his insights even if I don't always agree with them. My favorite thinker: ChiSox59 - This is a guy you know thinks before he posts; frequently providing valuable and additional information to conversations that many might overlook. If you're uncertain of something, ChiSox59 or BMags are the guys to ask. They do a lot of great homework. My favorite underdog: Jack Parkman - Jack takes a lot of shit around here, and I'm honestly not a huge fan of some of the personal jabs at the guy but people seem to know him better than I. Jack has a good heart, and wants what is best for the team. I wish we could all collectively lift his spirits more when he gets down on himself or on the White Sox. I'm certain Jack is the kind of guy who would help a stranger in need at Soxtalk, and I appreciate that he realizes his shortcomings and tries to improve on them. My favorite researcher: fathom/Orlando - I remember when I came to this forum the perception was that fathom was negative. I can honestly say I would not draw that conclusion. Fathom is great for his knowledge of every baseball rumor that has ever existed for every single team. If you want to know where someone might go, ask Fathom as he's read every twitter/reddit and forum on the net to gauge rumors and fan expectations. In regards to Orlando, I'm like 99% sure that he actually knows exactly what people are about to tweet before they actually do it. There are so many other posters I enjoy reading and conversing with and it's one of the reasons it's the only place online that I post. BackDoor, Eloy, Lillian, Y2Jimmy for his awesome coverage, PTATC for his medical knowledge, Cali for his constant follow ups and question, and poppy for his unwavering positivity and on and on. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and wish you all a happy new year. Here's to a better, happier and more exciting 2020. Go Sox!

Maybe Heyman is quoting the price with the posting fee included?

Regardless of how good you are, you're just not breaking the bank in Arb 1. They free up about 14 million with Herrera and McCann leaving. They free up 12 million from Encarnacion. 5 million from Gonzalez. 4 million from Leury. 10 million from Colome. That's 45/million off the books next year. Obviously those guys need to be replaced, but if the starters make progress and Vaughn is ready you may not need to replace Encarnacion or Gonzalez. Heck, maybe you get 1 bullpen piece from the crop that emerges as your closer/back end guy which limits what you need to replace Colome. That would drop their payroll before Arb changes to 80ish million entering next off-season. Assume arb on Gio, Lopez and Moncada at 12 million and you're at 92 million only. Plenty of room to make additional splashes while leaving money to pay your guys. Edit: Gio, Lopez and Moncada could get closer to 20 million than 12. So 100 million ish.

You just have to look at the payroll year to year. Sox open up a lot more money next off season. None of their commitments push up against re-upping the young guys. Grandal is the longest one and should be off the books in time to not effect any extension for the young guys. Sox realistically should have almost as much money next off season as they had this off season - the only commitment youd have to account for as impacting the young guys would be a long big time contract. They have zero of those as of now. They can probably afford one star while still being able to reup yoan and gio. I dont need this team playing poor like the cubs and other teams. We know you got that money Jerry and it's time to put it in play 100%. Let's go.

Oh I agree - I posted that the money would be spent should not be implied to mean they were only going to spend manny money. Since they have not even reached out the manny guarantees yet, you have to imagine they have 40-50 million a year in remaining flexibility over the next 2-3 years. Which is really exciting as it means the marquee guys next off season are still on the table and if this season goes well the sox may actually be negotiating from a position of power for the first time in decades.

I thought it was about 114 but I could be wrong.

Biggest take away from the presser was Hahn saying they still had payroll flexibility and that maybe even they add a bigger costly piece in July Seems like they're still no where near their cap for the rebuild.

Dont think it really matters. If hes so bad in year 3 that sox wouldnt pick up the option then they just throw him under 160 innings - which could still be 26-27 starts.

Possibly but youd think Jerry would get a deal done with stone before telling him about other deals. I think stone just knows theyr3 targeting certain positions like most smart fans know.

Why would the fanbase need to be calmed? You think hahn is calling stone poney between deals to keep him updated?

Anderson had a 357 obp last year. He may regress but wouldnt oppose to him leading off and yoan hitting second to open the season.

Yeah, hes a career 357 guy. I'll pass on a slow footed catcher leading off solely based on OBP skills.

Why should it be grandal?

Puig is a signing that would make zero sense to me.

Sox need a bullpen arm or two. Offense is set and ready to go.

Theres no where for either to play Pass.

Plus I'll be super upset when micker hits 45 Homer's this year with arm velocity of 105 from the outfield and we have no where to put him!

All of them combined lol. DRS hes -67 (3rd worst in baseball) Uzr/150 hes -7.4 (4th worst) Arm is -9.2 (if he qualified that would be the 2nd worst) Runs over replacement -18.7 (among outfielders that's 6th worst behind all the DH's I listed and 80 year old Melky Cabrera.