Good Guys

To me the Mariners look to be somewhat rebuilding. Heck, a few months they were desperate to get rid of their pricey DH in Encarnacion and practically paid the Yankees to take him off their hands. I can't see them 6 months later wanting again to pay a DH a lot of money.

Correct. Thank you. If you try to think of potential suitors there are not many.

I know this reeks of the last offseason but do you offer 4/90 early when no one else would give him 3/63?

I agree with you, but there's just not a lot teams looking to pay a DH the 3/63 remaining on JDM's contract, moreless any more money. Besides the White Sox, the Rangers maybe or the Astros if they don't resign Cole? Are there any other possible teams? The Blue Jay's maybe?

I think that the Rays were a greater challenge to the Astros than the Yankees were because they had Morton who was the third best starting pitcher in the AL behind Cole and Verlander.

The Yankees could be another counterpoint as they had a great offensive, great defense, and great bullpen but not enough starting pitching to make it past a team with better starting pitching.

In 2018 that I can remember as they made the playoffs in 16 and 17.

From recent articles I've read it doesn't sound like he'll have many suitors outside of the White Sox. Does Boston want him back?

The Nationals seem to be doing OK with their bullpen as a weakness. Like I said, agree to disagree. I would prefer starting pitching to be as strong as possible. You disagree.

That's five starters to start the season. That's what most teams begin with. No team uses only 5 starters during the course of a season. If a player gets hurt or is struggling bring Kopech or Rodon up accordingly.

Is it a guarantee that JDM will opt out? If he's an AL only player as a DH it doesn't give him a lot of options this offseason.

This is just where we agree to disagree. I would prefer to make starting pitching as strong as possible with the thought that injury and attrition will occur at some point and you prefer a more balanced approach with the thought of having as few weaknesses as possible.

From what it looks like to me our ideal offseasons are pretty similar with the exception of my preference for starting pitching (Wheeler) and your preference to save on a starter and add a to the bullpen (Will Smith and Nova/Teheran). Costing somewhere between $20-$25 million.

How much money do you think the additions of Calhoun/Reddick, Moustakas, Will Smith, and Nova/Teheran will cost and how many wins would you project this group to get?

A lot has changed in baseball over the last 20 years but in my mind starting pitching is still the key to success. Especially in the postseason.

There's not a lot of good right field options this offseason and I would be hesitant to make a long term investment at DH with Abreu likely being a lifelong Sox.

I wouldn't be unhappy if that's what comes from this offseason.

If that is the compromise and the White Sox get Cole and Wheeler to pair with Giolito then I'm okay with that.

I'm okay with that. $10-$15 million more than Nova's $8.5 million last season would get the White Sox a pretty darn good pitcher.

I think too much quality starting pitching is a good problem to have. No team ever has the same starting 5 all season long.

I thought I remember Hahn saying that it was no guarantee that Kopech would be on the 25 man roster to start the 2020 season.

Would you go with someone like Odorizzi if prices get that high for Wheeler?

I disagree. I think the Sox need to go after the two best starters they can get their hands on. Lopez will be in the starting rotation to start the season and Kopech, or later in the season Rodon can be brought up if there's an injury or someone is struggling.

If Cole and Strasburg are off the table then Wheeler should be priority #1 this offseason. I would like to see 2 starters signed this offseason and wouldn't mind bringing back Quintana to pair with Wheeler if he's available.

If the Sox would sign Rendon that would be great for the Sox offensively but it might be difficult asking Moncada to change positions two seasons in a row. Especially considering how good of season he had last year at third base. On defense with Abreu and Eloy being below average defenders, Anderson needing to cut down on errors, and Moncada never playing outfield before the Sox would still have a ways to go before becoming good defense.