fathom

Still would love to know what caused Tigers to go after Upton instead of Cespedes.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:35 AM) At this point, 1 playoff appearance since '05, they will have to sign Cespedes to make me NOT think that... Allowing Ventura another year as manager is enough to get me to question ownership/management. Also waiting for Hahn to start producing a quality team.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:32 AM) So now the Sox HAVE to sign Cespedes. The optics otherwise will be a public relations disaster for this team, and an abject organizational embarrassment. No team during the past five, six weeks has been tied into being "in" on not one, not two, but all three of the so-called "top tier" free agent outfielders more than the White Sox. We were "interested" in Gordon. We were "in" on Upton. We were "considering" Cespedes. Then the leak. The leak that we were only interested in making an offer to any of the three of them for "three years or LESS". Enter the small market intra-divisional Royals, who move in and lock up Gordon on a four year contract. Tonight, another AL Central rival, the Tigers, sign Upton to a six year deal. And this on the heals of our intra-city rival Cubs signing Heyward to an eight year contract. Welcome to market economics! If another team swoops in now and snags Cespedes on something resembling more what the market is bearing vs. this three year offer business the Sox are operating under, then it will be a colossal failure of Hahn, Williams, and Reinsdorf. It will call into question their credibility when they claim over and over and over again their strong desire to return to the postseason as quickly as possible, and thereby maximize the window of opportunity with the current core. I trust they realize this, and will soon be announcing the signing of Yoenis Cespedes to be our left fielder and clean-up hitter for the foreseeable future. If not, well, it'll be quite the black eye on this management team's reputation, and will seriously call into question the capabilities of the team's ownership and management. I am not a big fan of Cespedes, but I do agree they will look awful in the eyes of their fans if Cespedes goes elsewhere.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:27 AM) Taking everything into account, if the 3 year thing is true than Hahn should get whacked...unless he is being held back by JR. The 3 year thing in general made no sense, as they went four just last year for Robertson. All the bad money from free agency last year has hurt a lot this offseason.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:02 AM) I'll be honest...I would have been a bit annoyed had the Sox done this. Absolutely, I would have hated this for the Sox. With that said, all talk of Hahn playing this perfectly as prices dropped should be muted for now.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:49 AM) There will be more people on the board than at the games. QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:49 AM) I'll admit it, that was naïve. On the bright side at least Q won't have to face Cespedes 6 games a year

Opt-outs are as annoying to me as transfers in college basketball

What you have to wonder is just how much is Cespedes asking for? Tigers like him, so was this the cheaper deal for them?

3-50 is higher AAV than 6-132, right?

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:46 AM) Well this board sounds like it's going to be a fun place this year. And you really thought there wouldn't be a meltdown

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:46 AM) I just can't understand what the holdup is with Cespedes accepting our very generous three year offer. It's right in line with what's going on in the market! Haha, does go to show how ridiculous a stance it is if true

6-125 for Upton. Yeah Sox aren't touching that for Cespedes

Tigers made some nice relief acquisitions

Shocked Tigers were able to get him without a hashtag campaign

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:36 AM) Well Tigers will be tougher the next two years but after that they're completely f***ed. Problem is that might be all it takes to break up this Sox core if they struggle this year.

Free agency has really sucked as a Sox fan so far

Wow that was quick. This division and the entire AL is insanely tough

Ugh, AL Central keeps getting tougher if they get him. Who knows maybe it's to push cespedes to make a decision

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.