Look at Ray Ray Run

I know Sox fans don't want to admit it, but the risk of a Cole or Stras contract is massive. I know people say arm contracts have been moveable, but if Cole or Stras goes down with a serious arm injury that sets the franchise back as they can't really afford to eat 250 million or 200 million for anyone. They just don't have that kind of financial flexibility. Mookie, as you pointed out is a much more sure thing than the arms. It's hard to rationalize investing 25-20% of your payroll on one pitcher when you're a non-premium revenue franchise.

The club has at least two premier talents right now. They need to not be stars and scrubs.

Keuchel was worse this year in the NL than Buehrle ever was in his career but for 2006. Keuchel is a poor man's mark buehrle. Keuchel would have to pitch 14 more seasons at his exact production level to date to come within Buehrles career WAR. You're right to be pessimistic about Keuchel. He's simply not good. Mark Buehrle was awesome.

Agree with you in regards to your last point. The only agent who should have his license stripped is ozzie albies agent. The Braves should be embarrassed for working with him to take advantage of ozzie.

Yeah, it would be because the White Sox arent desirable not because Cole is from Southern California or anything. I'm going to see my way out of this thread; no one is budging from their opinions regardless of evidence provided. Have a good one.

I said the above refuting Jack's post saying the Sox dont get players because no one wants to play for them. You said Jack was absolutely right. Now you're back tracking and acting as if I put words on your mouth and as if i derailed the thread and conversation. Its nonsensical.

How can you claim you never said it when here is the exact quote of you saying it.

For the record, the cardinals pushed back against the notion once it leaked as they should have; you dont want your fans of team thinking you offered more but someone did not want to play for you. All the reports immediately following the signing said the White Sox didnt offer the most. How accurate that is, I'm not sure as I dont have first hand knowledge.

This is true, but I'm not sure it opens up his market to teams who weren't interested. Grandals $ value offers were less because of it, but the interested teams shouldnt change all that much.

Pitchers always draw more interest in FA than position players - this is nothing new. Teams need 5 starters and 8 relievers; they only need 1 third baseman or 2nd baseman. This leads to more interest for pitchers than hitters. Grandal had just as much of a market last off season as he does this off season. The only thing that has changed is hes a year older.

Yes it is under dispute. This entire conversation started because you and Parkman have insinuated that the Sox arent desirable so they have to offer more than other teams just to get the same player. Its complete nonsense. The sox are no different than every other team. They dont have to pay some fictitious white sox tax to convince a player to come.

Admit? You guys cant name a single example of your ignorant claim yet you cite it as gospel. It's absolutely comical.

Why are there more teams in the market? What leads you to believe this?

Can you link the quote? All I have seen is the following: There have also been reports that the St. Louis Cardinals may have offered slightly more money, but that the personalized presentation and approach by the White Sox (including a video featuring Rick Renteria, Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada, in Spanish) may have made the difference - see this report from Dan Hayes. it was also reported the cardinals weren't the only team that may have out bid the White Sox. I never said the sox can consistently get away with offering less. I have said I cite an example in which they offered less and still got their guy; dispelling the notion that they have to offer more because players dont want to come here.

What inside information have I ever pretended to have? Do you see me calling you a douche? What you'll notice is I reply to the post not the poster. You might want to give that a try. When I start calling people names and referring go them as idiots or douche bags, I'll go ahead and surrender as substance is clearly not something I can argue.

It tends to leak - as was the case with Robert - when this happens. I just cited an example that supports my claim - luis robert. Why cant you cite a single claim that supports yours? You dont think a team would leak that they made the highest offer for a guy?

Got it, so Scott Boras should not be allowed to be an agent ever again.

Scott Boras is a bad agent? He had this happen to him recently.

Name. One. Example. Jesus christ. Baseball doesnt have a cap. It will never be like basketball because teams will offer opt outs, extra years, higher guarantees. If they put a max contract cap in baseball, then yes jack other things will matter. Until then, they simply wont.

95% of free agents take the biggest offer. I don't know what to tell you. My claim is based on actual outcomes. Your claim is based on anecdotal BS and your "opinion." 5 million dollars is a lot of money, just so you know and most players would take the extra money assuming a non-hometown angle. The only time you really see players take less is when resigning with their own team.

Jack, you said no one wants to play here and the Sox have to overpay because if they offer the same they dont get the player. We have said they simply have to offer the most money as does every other team who wants a free agent. I asked you to name a single example to support your claim. You called me a optimistic unicorn for calling bullshit on your claim. Its laughable that you cant justify it with facts and evidence but had the audacity to call me out for being blind and bias.

Based on what? As I said, please name one example of the White Sox reportedly offering more money - or even the same amount - to a player and said player chose to play somewhere else. You want to continue to cite some absurd "no players want to play for the Sox" narrative, then give me an example Jack. Facts and outcomes matter. I gave you an example of the opposite.

I think their internal budget is 350 million. See, I can make random things up, state them as facts and be outlandishly optimistic too!

Name one time the White Sox have offered more money or the same as another team and came up short. The White Sox reportedly didnt offer more than st Louis for Robert yet he's here. Now, you're turn.

So you somehow go from... The sox dont get top players because they dont offer the most money... to The Sox need to overpay to sign anyone because no one wants to play for the organization. Most of us are saying the most money wins in free agency. You agreed with Jack who is saying the Sox need to do even more than your standard team because players have some weird anti-Sox belief.