LDF

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:16 PM) I keep saying, as many of you have also, that I was excited after the acquisitions of both Lawrie and Frazier. We have both of them for two years assuming the Sox don't ink them to extensions. We need that one more big bat and I will be disappointed if it doesn't happen. JR, if you don't want to put a winning team on the field just move on!!! another bat, a ss, and a swing pitcher, one who can be a rp or sp.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:54 PM) #whitesox free agent spending last offseason: $132 million. FA spending this offseason: $6.5 million, and still holding. https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/689111875548778497 Still same payroll as last year and supposedly had money to offer big contracts to either shark or tanaka. So where's that money at i am a huge proponent of the sox that the sox have money and they can get many fa's.... with that said, i am also a person who would rather the sox spend it wisely. getting a fa for the sake of getting one i do not like. i have been apprehensive on upton and davis with what he wanted. cespedes... yeah i would like him, for a 4 yr contract. but lets not just spend money just to be spending money .

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:23 AM) So for our fan base to ever hope to acquire top tier talent via free agent, we have to hope the price of said talent has to fall below market value so as to "fall" to a price that the current ownership is willing to pay? The same ownership who has never given a contract for a higher value than the small market Royals have done not once but twice this winter? I mean, wow. What is going on here. i am not trying to find fault or cause an argument here. but there have been some big fa signings. Albert Belle, Dunn comes to mind. but i do see your point in what you are saying.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 01:12 PM) If we get Jackson, what do you do with Eaton? Put him in left and move Melky to DH? I don't know if Melky or Eaton could play right. you make an excellent point, i was thinking of eaton in rf. if he was able to do cf, i was thinking he may have the smarts / talent to play rf.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 01:57 PM) Jackson is young enough to turn it around, and have several productive years. Do you think that playing in the Cell would help fix whatever it is that has gone wrong with his hitting? He is certainly a "buy low" candidate. I can't imagine that he would be very expensive, given his poor numbers, over the last two seasons. i agree and esp if the sox were out of the running of any elite of'ers, btw, according to the advance stats, how is his defense in cf???

if the sox do not get any of the price of"ers that was or still is on the market, i can settle for the next tier of players like A. Jackson and he covering cf.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 07:56 AM) I don't recall anyone from the sox organization saying they have to win now. Ive heard RH say they've improve the team from last year. I would agree. you are right, but wouldn't it be implied if the owners said, they want to experience another WS and maybe rather soon???

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:15 AM) Yuck. I said this the other day, but if Hahn goes into this season with Avi in RF and the team struggles, he better be fired after this season along with Ventura. you may be right there, but i would question on who, if anyone, stop him from possible going with longer yrs or more salary.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 06:40 PM) It was sarcasm, man. You asked, did you not? You said you were lost. A day later, you have an answer? Of course the Hawks are good enough to repeat. They have the 2nd most points in the whole NHL. They have the FO, players and coaches. sarcasm is usually in green and any way, i didn't write anything bad. i was respecting your opinion, i was adding something else.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 04:40 PM) As fans, how are we to know anything? Not like we work in the from office and have negotiations with players/agents or other teams GM's. One thing we do know is that before the season ended, Cespedes said he was looking for a contract in the 6/150 range and is why I am not counting on him signing with the Sox. If his price comes down then he becomes a more realistic possibility for the Sox but on the flip side he becomes more realistic for a other teams as well. I'd like to see the Sox sign Cespedes but I would only be willing to go so far and imo, Cespedes and his 6/150 demands can kiss my ass because there's no fricken way I would give him that kind of money/ contract. But that's just me and my opinion. nice.... post. i like it.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 05:17 PM) LDF, I believe many of us have that same opinion! however some have said, in the past, if you do not like it, go and cheer another team. sooooo..... truly, many thanks for clarifying that, i just don't want to speak for anyone. so i will usually deal with the first person opinion. again, many thanks.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:02 PM) The ending was incredible though. i will admit, i never really got into those kind of movie... i know it is on me, and i love watching movies. but i do like Goodman as an actor, so i will see this b/c of him.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 04:00 PM) Not just media fixation but fan fixation as well. Cespedes name was mentioned around here before the seasons end and once the Chicago media jumped on board it was full steam ahead with more and more fans buying into it. It's not like the Sox FO came out and said they were targeting Cespedes specifically and that he's the Sox #1 target. Chicago media and Sox fans made Cespedes their #1 target but they aren't the ones that negotiate contracts and sign the paychecks. Cespedes is a fantasy concocted by the fans and media but will inevitably be the fault of the Sox FO if the fantasy does not come to fruition. Yes, I would like to see Cespedes in a Sox uni but never once have I assumed it would actually happen. nice post. very true.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:55 PM) http://nypost.com/2016/01/16/how-chris-dav...spedes-suitors/ White Sox behind Angels and Tigers, ahead of Cards and Mets but obviously more speculation. "They already upgraded their lineup this winter with trades for Todd Frazier (from Cincinnati) and Brett Lawrie (from Oakland), so they’re in compete mode, and Cespedes would present a significant upgrade over right fielder Avisail Garcia. For now, the Chisox are playing the “We’ll strike if the market drops” card." let me throw this out there, ref the bold, while they let the FA's market dry up, with other possible 2 or 3rd tier players who can possible help, get signed by other teams.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:05 PM) The deferred payments are a tremendous help to Baltimore. Because of those deferred payments Baltimore will be paying Davis 17M per year instead of 23M per year over the next 7 years. The difference is 42M that will not be spent over the next 7 years and instead spread out over a 15 year period after the contract is over which will have minimal effect on the team's future payroll's. This is good for both Davis and Baltimore. As I said earlier, much better deal for the team than what the Nat's have with Scherzer. excellent explanation, now i kinda of feel stupid. so in essence is is 42 mil spread out over 8 yrs, since the first 7 are deferred.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:38 PM) This is interesting.... http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/1/17/1078...ets-chris-davis "That one-year non-offer from the constantly cash-poor Mets may not just be a way for the team to control payroll. John Harper of the New York Daily News says Mets don't want Cespedes around long term because he can be a "headache." The reasons aren't new or surprising, with lack of hustle and lateness both on the list. Not a lot of headaches come with the benefits that Yoenis Cespedes does (at least I haven't had one), but the Mets aren't the only team that feels this way. Also from Harper's NYDN article, Orioles manager Buck Showalter was apparently vehemently against bringing Cespedes on board. Showalter wanted Baltimore to sign Justin Upton, but that obviously didn't fly with GM Dan Duquette." Harper's article: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...ticle-1.2499299 I'm curious if these are the "red flags" some people have spoken of? I trust the Sox to make the right decision since they know more about the players than us fans. If the Sox see Cespedes as a fit and sign him then great, I trust the FO. If the Sox choose not to give in to Cespedes long term/big money contract demands, I'll completely understand because I'm not a fan of going that route either. If the Sox are outbid by another team, well that's just FA Baseball. No matter what, life goes on and there are other options available to upgrade the OF. s***s out of my control so there's no reason to get pissy about it. you make a great point, but let me asked this, how will we, as fans, know if the sox does not sign him, how are we to know if it is about the money or his rep???

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:25 PM) Amen to that sentiment - either the Sox are "all in" or they need to strip out anyone making more than the minimum and totally rebuild the team. The arguments about "over budget" are all crap. The money is there, period. If the issue is total unreasonableness from his agent - six years or nothing - that is one thing. But if we lose this guy because we would not budge from the artificially created three year maximum contract, then shame on us. As to the comments about his character: would it not be extremely helpful to him to be playing alongside a friend and fellow countryman who has an outstanding attitude and work ethic? Where Renteria can also provide support? I guess my frustration is starting to show. We need one more power bat in our lineup, and he is probably the best solution. a great post. you should post more.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:18 PM) More like all these posts to prove or disprove something that might never have been realistic... I suppose if both Cespedes and Upton end up in the AL, someone will argue we raised the contract value enough to damage those franchises n terms of their financial flexibility. you may have a point here. but i am reading between the lines.... how bad does the owners, specifically JR want another WS Ring and celebration.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 03:14 PM) Good grief I can only imagine how badly this thread will blow up if Cespedes signs with another team. We'll be right back to the " JR is cheap" , "who's running the Sox, KW or Hahn?" , " Sox are stupid for not going beyond 3 years" , " team is doomed for eternal suckdom" type of comments. On the other hand, it will be a funny thread to read, so there's that. well all those comments can stem from the org history of not finishing the job or going all the way.... i also think, and this is my opinion, the fans are feed up with, the problem is as a die hard fan, there is no alternative to white sox baseball. so we have to deal with what is given.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 02:34 PM) And a 5 year deal wouldn't take him past 34. He would turn 35 the October of the final year. So a 5 year deal does not exceed the age of 34 really. They'd have him for his age 30-34 seasons. and in my post, my org post, i said a 4 yr deal is the way to go. now i am paraphrasing the actual post, but i think you can figure it out for yourself. all this just to prove something that is not there..... nice.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 01:22 PM) I didn't post about the anything you said except the wrong info you posted .I just want to make sure other Soxtalkers are not mislead by misinformartion. That's all . I don't care about anything else you said. and since your org post, i further explained that i do not like a contract to exceed 34 yrs of age for a FA..... a strange inconsistency in your excuse.... post.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 01:53 PM) Are you mentally challenged ? You said he would be 36 after a 5 year contract ends . I even counted out the age he was during 99% of last season and every year after it . Even if we go by your strange logic of how old he will be AFTER the contract ends he still would be 34 unless in that 5th year the team is in the playoffs . Then he will turn 35 not 36 during the playoffs. The Sox last game of the season this year was October 4th so if we assume most seasons end for a non playoff team in early October he would be 34 when a 5 year contract ends if we can agree the contract ends as soon as the season ends. No matter how you slice it he will not be 36. Yes he is 30 now. After all it is past Oct 18 . Apparently you can't count. Just get your info right and we have no problem. Just look at baseball reference under standard batting .The 1st column is the year, the second is his age during that year since you gave me a link for baseball reference I suggest it would do you more good. ok, let see if we can finally sort this out i said name='LDF' date='Jan 16, 2016 -> 05:33 PM' first, 5 yrs of Cespedes too many yrs, that will make him 36 when the contract ends. i think 4yrs is just about right. however i am already acknowledging the fact that the team will not invest in anymore if any fa's..... that is a ship that has moved into another horizon. however, i wonder about some minor trades. i mean they can do that, at least...... but will they??? going into the sox convention, there will be many media news of how the sox couldn't spend b/c of budgetary reasons, or no money or any kind of b/s. i wonder if there will be any fans who will have the balls to address this there???? you are keying on one thing to make you look great. ok i will stand corrected in that area.... are you happy, but does it make my point any less, it is the same point i have been saying, no contract beyond 34 yrs of age for me. now.... it is nice to see how the admin and or mods doesn't do anything here with the personal attack.... oh yeah, they only care when one of their owns is guilty of such an attack. oops my bad.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 12:37 PM) After reading that article in the NY Daily New, I am even more convinced that giving Cespedes a long term guaranteed contract would be unwise. I have argued that such contracts are generally not a good idea because it is human nature to lose a little motivation, once guaranteed a huge amount of money. This guy seems to be just the kind of player who would be affected by such a disincentive. There are guys who have the make up to overcome the inherent temptation to let down, once on "easy street," but Cespedes doesn't strike me as one of them. If the Sox were to sign him, I really believe that the amount of money would be less important than the deal's structure. There should be enough incentives built into the contract, to keep him focused on being the best baseball player he can be. If the guy is already playing golf every day, during the season, and smoking cigarettes, during the game, I'd hate to see what he would be doing once he has signed the final contract of his baseball career!! One of the best ways to keep a guy like this on the right path, is to have him playing for his next contract. It probably isn't a coincidence that he played the best baseball of his career, during that last half of his free agent year. Giving him an opt out, with the prospect of being able to earn more money with a new contract, seems to me to be the best way to keep him motivated. If there is a realistic, better way to keep him motivated, then the front office should try it, but whatever they do, I hope that they don't just give him a 5 year deal, at the same annual salary, each year. Remember, there are much worse things than golf and cigarettes, and a guy with millions of dollars laying around, will easily find them, and sometimes they will find him. Robbie Robertson, the lead guitar player of the great rock group, The Band, once said; "What is it about fame and fortune, that immediately leads one to ask; "Has anyone got any arsenic, or a gun?" excellent post, and you make a great point.... esp in the bolded. i have said and many has come back and said , to put it mildly, i was wrong in my thinking process. if the players has a opt clause, there should be one for the owners as well. not a buyout, but i know the agents will never agree to that. that is why these contracts of 5-6 yrs or taking the player to age 35+ is wrong in my way of thinking.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 04:50 AM) No. They've won 10 straight & are tops in the west now but wait until the playoffs. They'll be beaten down i will say this, not as a fan of the blackhawks, but in looking at the talent and of course the coach. they will not get beaten down, they will do well.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 07:29 AM) You can guarantee their financial position with no playoffs the next two seasons would make it even more difficult after 2017 to add talent, or next year for that matter...with more dollars chasing even less talent. If the Royals can spend $135-140 million with a regional rights deal that pays them $50 million less per season than the White Sox...and go up another $15 million the following season, they need to figure out some way to increase fan interest and excitement. Dexter Fowler is not it. but with smart drafting, the prospect should start knocking on the door. a team can not depend on players to supplement a team, and then have them to continuously go this route, it will be too expensive... the team salary will be north of the 170 mil..... but the position of this team was the results of poor management from the higher ups.