Look at Ray Ray Run

Timmy would hit 6th for me. Ideal hitter in that spot of the lineup. I'd likely hit madrigal towards the bottom of the lineup next year and timmy leads off as an FYI.

He was terrible this year outside of a lucky ERA.

Due to so many variables regarding lineup optimization, I want to emphasize that there is no universal answer and that using an entire data set to make a decision for 9 unique data points (a team) is actually lazy math. I would go something like: Madrigal Moncada Robert Eloy Abreu 1-5 If they sign JDM I'd shift everyone back after Robert. For Robert's rookie year move everyone up and slide him into 6th or 5th depending.

What??? You should bat your second worst hitter in a position that has the third most at bats? That's absurd. Your best hitter should likely hit 2nd. No one argues that a bad hitter should be hitting 3rd. They just argue that 2nd and 4th have more value. Some argue 5th over 3rd too but theres really not much difference between the two and id give more at bats over more opportunities with runners on base.

.... I actually agree with Parkman here. Stras would get about 5-160 if he opts out. Maybe you find a taker for a 6th year for 175 or so, but I'd be shocked if he got 7 or 8 years. That's a big no from me dawgg. Stras injury history is scary and he's older. I'd probably sign him before Cole myself as well. He has proven he can pitch when his stuff diminished

0% chance Cole is a padre.

I think he's opting out.

Yes, because if people don't share your opinion they deserve hatred and anger.

No, not signing a pitcher to a 250 million dollar deal when you have, lets say, 325 million to spend is not a bad strategy. The Sox arent "one player away" as stone says it so it's overly risky to invest 75% of your free agent pool into one asset. Your better off spreading that risk out amongst 4 average-very good players than 1 great player and 1 average-good player, imo. If Cole goes down year 1 with TJ hes out that year and some of the following and coming back at 32. If he's not the same, your rebuild has been harmed significantly due to one outcome. If the Sox think Kopech and Gio are stars (Gio is), they may think it's better to invest the money evenly and acquire more pieces to spread the risk out. That's fine.

Agree 100% with stone .

It was actually a creative non quantifiable way of drawing a talent. I don't agree with it but it was creative; I'll give them that l.

Releasing a low ball offer to suppress a market in negotiations is a classic strategy - business 101. Making a "fake" 350 million dollar offer with the assumption it'll be rejected is the opposite of business 101. No one makes a 350 million dollar risk to "gain support from fans."

You may think the White Sox are a Mickey mouse enterprise when compared to other big league franchises, but businessman/lawyer jerry reinsdorf isn't lying about a contract offer to an employee in a market in which agents and employees talk to everyone. Jerry would openly lowball you to suppress the market way before he'd lie about a final contract offer.

I think steve stone would enjoy having a respectful and intelligible conversation about the things you address. I don't think Steve Stone likes hearing people talk about that "cheap Jew Jerry" - which has littered the twittersphere for quite some time. In a vacuum, all thoughts would be read by people on social media but in reality those who shout the loudest and say the most outlandish things online are frequently the ones who draw the most attention... they also tend to be the most relentless. Positivity doesn't really present itself front and center in the world of anonymous keyboard warriors.

This was released after Manny signed with the padres. The fastest way to lose all credibility in a business world with revenues in the billions is to lie about contracts and compensation. The sox weren't releasing a fake final offer.

A front office isnt leaking a fake peak offer when an agent and player knows the truth. Players talk. Agents talk. This isnt a home game of "Bullshit."

Price, Tanaka, hamels and Sabathia would be horrible outcomes for the sox at 7-250. Scherzer and Verlander are not the norm. Lester got half that amount - his back end is bad too, and getting worse. Kershaw and Stras really didn't hit free agency so they're not great comps.

Yeah, and theres just too much information that says it's a likely net loss. Insurance isn't free, FTR.

I wouldn't give any pitcher 7 years 250 million. Thats a hell of a lot of risk for a position as volatile as SP. Injuries and aging are a dangerous thing.

Yeah, I heard him say last week that if the WS is won and they capture those revenue streams it opens up the possibility of Cole returning. They may just be nonsense but I found it interesting.

In my non-expert opinion I'd say theres a 95% chance he stays in Houston (if they win the WS) or goes to the Angels.

Yeah, it still impacts the data the following year, and we're all aware of the innings personally so we can evaluate based on our knowledge. Ideally they'd all be in there though.

I'd also like to add that Reinsdorf being Jewish has led to a lot of horrible anti-semitic stuff being thrown out there on twitter and social media about him. People getting defensive and supporting someone they respect after something like that is completely reasonable as well. It's really at the forefront of the money conversations.

No playoff innings on that export. I'd have to link a few data sets. I can do it at a later date.

Guys this may be breaking news to you.... but fans are assholes - especially on twitter. Horrible things are said. You can tell them to get thicker skin, but you're absolving fans of their actions by doing that. Steve Stone isn't speaking to rationally frustrated fans; he's speaking to the lunatics that say terrible things and take it far too far because of a game. It's similar to how people used to tell athletes that they're paid a lot of money so it gives fans the right to berate and say horrible things to them while they're in the field. Its nonsense. Don't act like a child and an asshole and people won't treat you like one in response.