fathom

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:16 AM) At this point I have no idea what direction this team wishes to take or will take. If RV takes this team nowhere early maybe they can trade Frazier and lawrie mid season to help build the farm system. If this team tanks again, then it's time to say bye to Sale

Cespedes strikes me as a player that would focus so much more during a contract year as opposed to the 2nd year of a 4 year deal

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 11:35 PM) I'm not sure there will be that much of a site meltdown at this point. It seems like mostly everyone has given up hope by now. Respectfully disagree

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:31 PM) Come on Mike, you know that's not how this works. He has my vote as pick to click for leader of the "Sox lost out on Cespedes" meltdown

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:30 PM) I know people keep bringing up potential red flags for Cespedes, but does it seems like the fact that no one is connected to Upton more of a red flag? Both have huge red flags IMO, and neither guy is someone to trust with a long-term deal

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:39 PM) The Score has been reporting that Cespedes is going to make a decision very soon on where he is going to sign. Where are they getting that from? Probably the Cubs Convention. Did you know the Score is the radio home for the Cubs in 2016? Sarcasm as they literally say it no less than three times an hour

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:42 AM) I think the ticket sales would increase quite a bit if they made another somewhat significant addition. Agreed...don't get me wrong, I hope they add as much payroll as possible.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 06:31 AM) Nobody knows what the sox budget is. Every time people thought they were at it last year they kept adding more pieces. True, but it's hard to imagine them raising it a lot after last season. One would have to assume season ticket sales are down from last year. As we heard so often, they went after Melky due to an increase in ticket sales.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:13 AM) He said the Sox could possibly bring in a left handed hitting outfielder who could help more defensively but that's as far as he'd go. He said the Sox would like to see "what Avasil Garcia could do." Sounds like a job for Will Venable

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:15 AM) :huh So Merkin and Hayes are on the same page...maybe the Sox should have seen what Davidson could do as well

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:13 AM) Today at CSN-Chicago the afternoon SportsNet Central show they had a story on the latest regarding Cesdepes. Dan Hayes reported that he is now "probably out of the Sox price range." When asked if the Sox could bring anybody else in he said "not unless the price dropped significantly." He said the Sox could possibly bring in a left handed hitting outfielder who could help more defensively but that's as far as he'd go. He said the Sox would like to see "what Avasil Garcia could do." Take it for whatever that's worth but it doesn't look promising at this point. Mark 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.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 06:09 AM) The Sox are already at their '16 budget. Now add Cespedes 20M+ and that's pretty much way over. I think people forget it's 2016 now

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 06:07 AM) Why would they be way over? They are clearing $30 mil Is this in comparison to the Forbes article? Thought someone said the MLB execs laugh those off. Not sure to be honest, I don't pay as much attention to that aspect of things as I probably should.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:01 AM) The top lineup looks weak. The bottom lineup looks decent. And for me, the starting pitching depth is terrible outside Sale/Q/Rodon.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:00 AM) For me, Melky goes to DH and Hahn continues to work on an upgrade in RF. If he can't find that upgrade, then Melky can't do any worse defensively in RF than Avi, and meanwhile, we added last year's LF Gold Glove winner in left AND his bat in the heart of our order. Again, Cespedes is a NO-BRAINER. He makes sense on every level. With what resources? They'd already be way over the budget for 2016 with nothing left in the farm outside the big 3.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:58 AM) I agree with the points you've been making aside from this one. Since when are "ties" such a huge factor in FA decisions? Did David Robertson have ties to the White Sox before he signed with us? Did Melky? Avila? Navarro? My point was solely in response to those the last few weeks that thought Cespedes would sign here to team up with his friend Abreu.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:55 AM) And he's not for us?? No the Sox would then have to put Melky in RF. Tigers already set in CF and RF

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:52 AM) Valid points...however, he is not a perfect fit for any of the other interested teams. However, they will find a way to make it work, and they will spend the money. It looks as if we are not willing to do either. And it is just disappointing. The same old song and dance every offseason, unfortunately. Cespedes is a perfect fit for Tigers in LF

But none of the big three outfielders are/were perfect fits. They need a RF, and Upton is only one that plays that. Given everyone's concern about his energy on the field and the chance he wants nothing to do with Chicago, he was the least likely of the three. Cespedes has no ties to the Sox outside of Abreu while having way more ties to the Tigers and Mets

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:37 AM) You guys sure like to freak out about Twitter rumors. I expect Ian Desmond to the Sox rumors this week, as no one else needs a SS

I completely agree it would be a disappointment, but Hahn and company have never once mentioned an interest in Cespedes or Upton.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:00 AM) Hahn is too busy kicking rocks right now to worry about our division rival getting a really good OFer. Concern for me if the Tigers get Cespedes (or Upton) is that gives the AL Central two teams that have completely sold out for the next two seasons. Makes Hahn's job even tougher.

More to Tigers rumor https://mobile.twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/sta...931801323171840

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:00 AM) Hahn is too busy kicking rocks right now to worry about our division rival getting a really good OFer. If the Tigers want him they will easily outbid the Sox

Oh yay, this would easily be worst case https://mobile.twitter.com/JonHeyman/status...930590360518656