poppysox

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.

My Cub fan brother (2 years older) has put up with disappointment longer than me. When we were young it would frequently break down to pushing & shoving bouts. I've learned with age to keep it in perspective. I seldom miss a game and the Sox have brought me many hours of enjoyment and yes...frustration. It's a great pastime...not life and death.

I enjoy your posts. Don't always agree but that's not a requirement.

Looking forward to it.

Probably because some people like to think the worse of people. Jerry seems like a very loyal and caring boss...probably to a fault when dumping a poor performer or two. I imagine there are more knowledgeable baseball people that he could have surrounded himself with but feels comfortable with KW and RH as people he trusts and why not...he owns the club. JR has always struck me as prudent rather than cheap.

As I stated in my post...the Sox are positioned to start a long lasting winning streak next year. We have probably the best assortment of potential stars at any time of my 65 years of Sox fandom....and the money to complete the mission. Why would I want to keep rehashing perceived mistakes of the past? I try to enjoy what I can regarding the Sox since I have no control over what the FO does or doesn't do. My next 5 months will be spent envisioning the great lineup and dominant pitching staff that is being assembled. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." That is version of the Serenity Prayer authored by R. Niebuhr in 1934.

I don't get the negativity so often expressed on all things front office. We are where they indicated the Sox would be when we started the rebuild. Actually we are probably ahead of schedule a bit. We are starting with 2020 a good long run of competitive teams. Probably the beginning of the longest stretch of solid teams since the 1950's. Enjoy the offseason as the final parts are assembled and enjoy the next decade or so.

I don't see us getting both JDM and Grandal. Part of the Grandal allure is ability to DH. The rest of your "wants" are how I see it as well.

I think you are correct. We will have some who think the additions of Robert, Madrigal and Kopech won't impact wins by 15 additional wins... but I don't think you are far off at 85. Now add 2 starters one of which is TOR...RF and DH...couple RP and you compete with our division rivals. In fact...we would probably be favored.