poppysox

That's more or less what I expect. The primary pitcher could be Cole, Strasburg or Wheeler. If we take Wheeler...the second starter would be from the frequently named second tier of Keuchel, Ryes, Bumgarner, Wood and Odorizzi.

Calhoun and Pederson are the best names I've heard so far. Neither would break the bank and you pretty much know what you get.

What?

The World could end tomorrow. You are certainly a half glass empty sort of guy.

If you add the five or six players I suggested Cole, Wheeler, Grandal, Solid RF and Solid 2 bullpen pieces plus Robert/Madrigal/Kopeck +++I would expect to run away with this division. Also, I refuse to accept the premise that being the 11th highest payroll in baseball is beyond this franchises resources. Lastly...I am not saying no one needs to spend carefully...I maintain that we can afford any of the available toys the FO deems necessary. The franchise has the money to afford Cole and whoever else would be wanted to jump start the next phase.

Optimist...Pessimist. Most of us have a tendency to be one or the other. The offseason is very long to start off with a loser mentality.?

Herrera is sunk money. We have to hope a restful offseason cures whatever ails him. If he doesn't find his old self he will get the Alonso treatment and be released.

Jerry will not disappoint us again. We were told the money would be there when the time is right. My watch says it's time.

I think they can afford Cole, Grandal, Wheeler, a 15 million right fielder and two very good relief pitchers. That comes to approx. 100 million in my mind. A total payroll of 160 million would be my floor for acceptable team payroll 2020. That payroll doesn't put us in the top 1/3.

Why is a $160 million payroll so outlandish? That amount would place us around 11th place overall. I would expect that or more after 3+ years on a starvation diet.

My point is that they can afford anyone they want to fill all 5 positions you allude to. Money should not be the problem. This is a team that was talked about signing both Harper and Machado. If these 5 players cost 125 million per year it should be available.

I agree...the two best starting pitchers we can get is priority #1.

I would non tender Yolmer and hope to resign him after he gets to see that no one is giving him 6 million. The Sox don't need to dump anyone because of needing it for Cole. They can afford anyone they want including Cole and still have money left over. I'm not advocating wasteful spending...just not listening about what we can't afford. We are one of the few teams who can truly afford anyone we want.

One year rentals are taboo. Not what a rebuild is about.

Good! Now lets go get the parts we really need.

Zero interest in one year rentals.

Gardner, Peterson or Calhoun all would be solid upgrades to the position without breaking the bank. Spend the money saved on pitching.

And a PR nightmare.

I agree. Crossed the line.

Worse fielder than Eloy. Don't think that works...but the bat sure sounds like what we need.

This idea that it somehow works in the owners favor to finish second rather than first is nuts. Do you really think a 2nd place team is more valuable than a perennial contender? Value would be determined by many things. Bottom line profit, size of market place, attendance and merchandise sales among them. Full park and robust merchandise sales would attract the most potential buyers at the highest sales price IMO.

Wheeler & Keuchel...that would get the job done for me.

That was when a Yankee vs White Sox series in Chicago was can't miss baseball. A Sunday doubleheader between those two teams was sheer bliss. Good memories.

Jerry was probably trying to be funny. It wouldn't surprise me if some people on this board have said some things that on reflection weren't very smart.

My brother and I live in different States but manage to talk by phone a couple hours a week. Often the subject is baseball and now it's the offseason trades that are sure to help our respective teams. We both think our managers could be better and think coaches ought to be able to teach an outfielder to throw to the proper base. We both hate inner divisional play and think 1/3 of the teams making the playoffs is unfair to the team who played best all year. Playing half your schedule against 4 teams is simply boring...I want to see the stars of the Yanks & Boston more than 1 home series per year. You get it...we liked the game the way it was before the changes. We love that todays player is bigger, stronger and faster. I wish the average player would be baseball smarter...but you can't have everything. I guess I'm trying to say that baseball with all it's warts is a great pastime for your whole life. Try to enjoy it even when it's not easy.