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Meh. Maybe we dodged a bullet? IDK. We shall see where we get out bullpen help from. BTW nice first post, welcome aboard

This is AWESOME news. Congrats all

There's 0% chance Betts comes to the White Sox. Get that through your heads and make strategy around it.

So the Road to Wrestlemania is in full gear with the Royal Rumble this month. Here are some of my early predictions for the card. I'll put what I *want* and what I *expect*. When I say 'want' it means in the realm of reasonable. I.e. I'd love to see Bayley vs. Becky but that is not reasonable given the current circumstances. WM Universal: Lesnar vs. Rusev is what I want, I think will get Lesnar vs. Velasquez or Rollins. Dark horse is Kevin Owens if they want to go big babyface push with him. Rusev deserves it tho after the torture WWE has put him through. WWE Championship: Fiend vs. Daniel Bryan (Want), Fiend vs. Roman Reigns (expect). If Roman Reigns wins the rumble to go on to defeat the Fiend at wrestlemania I'll be pissed off. I respect roman and his work ethic, but WWE has given him every single opportunity and he isn't getting over. There's a reason for it. He's boring as shit. The only reason I have fiend vs. DB as my want is because I don't really see anything else better. Have Fiend beat Bryan in some weird way at the rumble and let Bryan turn it around in 2 months to conquer him finally at WM. Bryan is one of the very few wrestlers that MIGHT get a good ovation from the crowd for beating the fiend. Raw championship: Becky Lynch vs. Ronda (want and expect). Other possibles: Becky vs. Charlotte or the triple threat rematch. I'm ok with any of these really. They all don't speak greatly to me, but their all WM worthy matches that should deliver.

So glad the stove is heating back up after the holidays. Really want to see some finalization on Ozuna, Cast, Puig, Arenando, Lindor and whatever is happening with our Bullpen. Then I can start to work towards 2020 predictions/fantasy baseball.

Yup, you are absolutely right. My jest comes in the form of not accepting Mazara as our RF. I'd adore the idea of bringing in another impact bat - Ozuna, Arenado, Castellanos, even Puig. For the reasons you stated I think there is a near 0% chance on Ozuna. I am still holding out hope for Castellanos. Arenado is a wild card, but extremely unlikely.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Reds, Cardinals, and Rangers "appear to be the frontrunners" for free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Feinsand adds that "other teams could still be in play." Ozuna is among the best players left on the open market, and it sounds like there will be a post-holiday push to get him signed. The 29-year-old registered an .800 OPS (107 OPS+) with 29 home runs, 89 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 80 runs scored over 130 regular-season games for the Cardinals in 2019. PLEASE LET US BE ONE OF THE MYSTERY TEAMS. HAHN GET US OZUNA AND EDWIN DIAZ PLZ

I'm in the boat that I just want to have a competitive team, consistently. That's what I watch for. I know a lot of people on here would MUCH rather have 1 World series win and no other playoff appearances, but for me, I'd prefer to have 10 years of playoffs and 0 WS wins. I love when this team is competitive and can follow along and watch the games with joy. I can do that with or without a WS.

Edwin Diaz would be a HUGE get, on the level of a Josh Hader IMO. Diaz is a huge bounceback candidate and would give our bullpen the dominant guy.

agreed -- Santana may be the worst defensive OF on the board. Just brutal.

Maybe this takes them out on puig

Damn, I was really hoping they wouldn't be committed to Mazara, that hurts

This would be interesting and I think a very DOABLE trade for both teams. However, a reply on that tweet brings up a good point - WHY does Atlanta have to send prospects back when Arenando is getting paid his market value?

Honestly, if we get Castellanos I am going to go F***ing crazy. I could absolutely see these Puig rumors meant to push the market on cast. I am in the crowd of NEVER wanting to see the shitty OF'rs of the White Sox past like Engel etc. So a signing of Cast/Puig is huge for me. It guards against injury, against Mazara failing, etc.

A #1 or #2 isn't really happening. Blake Snell for Madrigal + vaughn ? Nah, not happening. Maybe Matt Boyd or Robbie Ray but those are #2/#3 likely and those would still cost a pretty penny. I highly doubt a trade for SP happens with the acquisitions of Keuchel/Gio. There just isn't a good opportunity out there... I'd still *love* the Price/Beni give away from Boston, but it seems like they are unwilling to be realistic with their demands. Ah well.

I think I don't see his attitude as a problem as you and calisoxfan do. I'm definitely ignorant on the topic and could be totally wrong, but just based off of twitter/other resources it seems like most of his teammates like him outside of a select few.

25/25 threat, batting .275, OBP .333 is not so bad. Id imagine he is ok/decent defensively at least. Super energetic a la Tim Anderson. Him and Anderson on the team makes this Sox team must-see TV. and on top of it, he still has potential for 'that breakout season'.

Man, if we get Castellanos or Puig to add to this team, that would be simply incredible... I'd be all in. Right now they've had a good to great offseason.. but give me puig or castellanos and some RP help and WOW.

Well looks like we might get some signings today prior to xmas day. That's cool. Maybe will get a surprise Castellanos signing.

Same. Give me Castellanos (or even Ozuna/Puig) a long with Edwin, I'm 100% in and you won't hear me b****ing about Machado for a long while. It's not the sexiest offseason picks, but it is what it is -- the top players likely weren't coming to CWS anyway, so grabbing these guys would be the second best thing. Castellanos + Some RP after Edwin and what an amazing offseason, maybe add a Robert/Madrigal extension to get them up for day 1 and you have an A+ offseason... surprising.

You'll pass OUT after getting hit in the head with a 450 foot BOMBSKI by CASTELLANOS

would be so cool to sign castellanos tonight before xmas. id be a happy sox fan for the first time in 2 years

Woah this is awesome news. Get Cast and this team really has a shot in 2020. Cast would rake in Guranteed Rate. I didn't think they had the balls to go after Cast after Keuchel and Grandal... will see what happens, but I'd be happy with Puig and/or EE, but I'd be super happy with Cast.

I really want Puig... his 'attitude' is vastly overstated IMO. He'd make an excellent outfielder at a very reasonable cost.

I absolutely love this, however, from all accounts -- it seems like the Red Sox have no f***ing idea what their doing. They are trying to get way too much for their overpriced assets. It's on them to come down in price. I still think a Price/Martinez or a Price/Benin deal would work really well for both clubs. They just have to realize they aren't getting shit back for it. If their serious at going after Betts, they really need to think about that one.