WhiteSox2023

It’s a legit site but they are just referencing the Clutch Points article below which references the previous Yahoo Japan article as its source. So it isn’t really anything new. https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/mlb-rumors-white-sox-in-tatsuya-imai-munetaka-murakami-signing

Doesn’t seem like much more than a piggy-back off of the Yahoo Japan article, once again stating that the White Sox have emerged as a leading candidate to sign Imai. Here is a link to the article translated to English: https://news-nifty-com.translate.goog/article/sports/baseball/12290-4823822/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true

Apparently Nifty is the largest ISP in Japan and a subsidiary of Fujitsu. So it’s a legit site. Not sure if the report is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nifty_Corporation

Maybe he hits a bunch of dongs there and gets another chance in the majors next offseason. I do like the Kelenic pickup over him though.

I think the Sox 2026 opening day payroll is currently estimated at around $88 million. I don’t think Imai would add that much to the 2026 payroll outside of additional acquisitions. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Je_oWzOM63KRY5EJ35o8CE8JHM8fzQofUEHO_QjsowA/htmlview

We really need some news. Where is she when you need her?!?

I honestly thought it would be better than it was with all the hype around it. I thought it was pretty good but not great. If anyone is looking for some good ‘ol stupid action movie fun with very little dialog, I would highly suggest Sisu (2022) and its sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025). The Finns have created their own version of Rambo. Crazy and unrealistic action but highly enjoyable. Also has some Quentin Tarantino-inspired vibes.

Only a year older than Imai but his low strikeout numbers are concerning.

Takahashi?

This is where @WestEddy needs to chime in with the Sox finding the new market inefficiency. International players that the rest of the MLB isn’t completely sold on due to the transition/translation and Getz getting them on short-term and reasonably cheap deals since he isn’t allowed to sign top US free agents to massive deals. That strategy I would actually believe.

I just mostly saw posts whenever Kelenic hit a bomb since he was such a player of contention on this board. It looks like he has played every outfield spot in his short career thus far. Anyone with good knowledge on Kelenic’s defense care to share some insights?

Kelenic did have a 2.1 bWAR in 2023 with the Mariners. That would be amazing and better than any season Benintendi has had with the Sox. But yeah, two seasons have passed since then.

Yeah, it’s a nice pickup for nothing and I wouldn’t be opposed to Kelenic in LF to see what he might do if you could dump Benintendi’s contract, but salary be damned, Benintendi is better than Kelenic.

You don’t think Getz is going to watch his boss Vecna in his final appearance?

To be fair, that’s only a 3 win improvement over last season! Doable, and it only took three entire seasons of putridity.

Someone had asked what the posting fee for Imai would be, either in this thread or another. Here’s the answer and why Murakami’s $34 million dollar contract had a posting fee of $6.575 million (20% of first $25 million + 17.5% of remaining $9 million). https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/the-best-fits-for-tatsuya-imai.html

They did say Imai has to take a physical with whatever team he signs with so they think we should hear news of where he is signing possibly within the next 24 hours. But yeah, Robert Murray didn’t think the White Sox are likely.

During a lockout, players can only receive payments for pre-existing obligations like deferred money, signing bonuses, or option buyouts. They don’t receive their regular season salaries.

It’s going to pay off in the end…

Well, we only keep hearing about the same two teams’ supposed interest (Reds and Mets) and a deal hasn’t been made in those two years so that likely tracks.

It’s a family business. His father is the VP and they are co-owners. They have an entire staff running the day-to-day operations.

Yes. I think most people were laugh emojiing at Downtown Brown’s posts because of his strange obsession with Jeeps but no one had actually tied it to Harold (and allegedly Garrett Guest) until he directly stated it finally.

Exactly. Insert Jeeps in place of Tecca Chairs. 🤣

RF platoon with Pereira? 🤘🏻