Look at Ray Ray Run

10 million isnt expensive even if you think villar is only worth half of his WAR last year.

This. Its embarrassing for the game when shit like this happens. Villar is definitely not someone who should be let go because he's owed 10 million.

I doubt his velocity ever gets back to where it was when he was an elite prospect - hes had far too many arm injuries. That said, he still generates swings and misses and his slider is nice.

Hes got high end stuff though. AL East pitching for a god awful organization vs top level competition cant be difficult. Bundy still could have untapped potential.

3 years 30 million. Not a bad deal for the rangers. Gibson has always been better analytically than his production has been. I dont see that changing but hes a dependable back end starter.

Yeah, only way I see this as possible right now is: Sox felt close yesterday. Got it done this afternoon, released Burr in a corresponding move, and they'll announce tomorrow same as Grandal. If they don't announce tomorrow, than this is just a bunch of nonsense because they're not keeping anything under wrap for 3 days and they're not making roster moves because of something they might do.

Burr would have to spend 90 days on an MLB active roster for the Rule 5 team to keep him. I dont see that being possible so I dont think this has anything to do with the Rule 5.

Only way a deadline could make sense is if wheeler has a deadline. Theres so much smoke here now I almost am starting to think it doesnt happen.

Rosters are really at no different a place than they were two weeks back. Also, can an injured player even be drafted in Rule 5? I'm 99% sure that Burr couldnt even be drafted in Rule 5 if he was out all of next year. He wouldn't have the active days required to remain with that team.

We never got an update on Yoans second half numbers on soxmachine after they posted the last misleading shitty stat line... I wonder why.

Yeah, why would this be a perceived good time to slip him through? Why would this be any different than say 2 weeks ago when he was added to the 40 man?

Yup, this leads me to believe that I should have sided with ChiSox and Chicago White Sox over Dick! Looks like I'm on the wrong side of this debate; damn you Dick!

Something definitely is brewing but I would predict friday as an update day from the team.

Surprised burr couldn't even get a bag of balls as return!

I said that Merkin writing about Wheeler was not a direct indication that they had signed Wheeler or were close to doing so. You replied with the above. A beat writer writing about a player that the Sox have been tied to isn't direct; it's speculation based on rumors. There was nothing more to the Merkin article than that - that was my point. You disagreed with that point. It's not a big deal, but back tracking now is weak while pretending as if you never were critical of that take from me. Edit: I don't want to carry this conversation on any further; have a great holiday week.

Spill them beans!

OK. You seemed to be pretty critical of my opinion that the Sox didn't sign Wheeler and release Yolmer because of that. At what point can we concede the point that he wrote the article because he had been fed some inside information? If the Sox sign Wheeler in a week, will you circle back with I-Told-You-Sos? My entire point last night was the Sox had not signed Wheeler and released Yolmer for that reason. You disagreed and you belittled my opinion; now it appears that was accurate, but you are standing in principle by your initial belief. The Sox have not been directly tied to any of the names you mentioned. Speculatory? Sure, but the Sox were the "reported" high bidder on Wheeler. That is what, likely, drove Merkins piece.

Yeah, must be hard for you to be on the right side of a debate for once. ?

Teams get a chance to claim you before any other players enter the picture.

I'm not sure what you are arguing. Wheeler wasn't signed yesterday. Yolmer wasn't released due to this signing. Wheeler has been the ONLY pitcher linked to the White Sox by name so far, so Merkin writes about him because he's the main piece connected to them. Yolmer was released because the Sox never had intentions on keeping him, so the day which they released him really doesn't tell us anything. This is why I tend to believe they gave him a jump start on that market and allowed Yolmer to be one of the first players through waivers before teams commit money elsewhere.

He wrote about Harper and Machado too; countless times. That didn't mean the Sox were going to sign them; in fact, the opposite happened. His job is to cover the news stories and rumors surrounding the team.

Yolmer is not related to wheeler - I tend to agree with Dick here. This is merely doing Yolmer a solid by letting him hit the market sooner the others who will hit when non-tendered. Thats my opinion.

You linked it after you read it, did you not? As did many on twitter. That's how news spreads. Implying that Merkin had some insider information and withheld it just goes against the way the FO has attempted to work this off-season and how they have worked so far this off-season.

Why? Because you told me I was a dope when I said nothing is imminent, and that Merkin didn't know anything nor was he implying anything - he was simply discussing a topic his "followers" would be interested in to generate clicks. Still waiting on the announcement of Wheeler... I love optimism, but I hate all the smoke around Wheeler; it feels like there is no fire when smoke surrounds the White Sox and a signing.

It's almost like 2 guys in the media (Merkin and Chuck) are trying to capitalize off the wheeler stories by using them to generate views. Amazing. Neither this nor merkins article meant anything. Wheeler isnt signing today. The sox being able to keep a signing quite overnight was an anomaly, not the norm.