fathom

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

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:42 AM) That would make a ton of sense. I laughed yesterday when I read something about how the cubs said they might be done for the off season. I don't buy it and believe they are still looking for a younger cost-controlled SP. I think it's possible the reason AZ paid such an insane price for Miller was because at the time, the cubs were rumored to be offering Soler as the headliner in a package for Miller. Also would explain why Fowler doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry to do anything

The Sox have three prospects worth anything and no depth at the MLB level. Good luck acquiring an impact player with those resources.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:00 AM) I definitely agree with Heyward being too big for CF but there are a few things the cubs FO might be thinking. 1) Heyward can opt-out after three years and the cubs are thinking Heyward can hold up until them. 2) It might be easier for the big man to cover the short alleys in LC/RC than the long line in RF? 3) At this point, Heyward is probably their best bet in CF since the cubs lost Jackson and Fowler to FA. Anyway, back to the top ten. I would put Heyward further down the list only because he hasn't played much CF and Eaton should be at the bottom of the top ten. Which is why I have a feeling they trade Soler and a prospect for Odorizzi and then sign Fowler.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:17 AM) That must be holdover from the Tanaka/Samardzija idea that the money was available (seemingly) for the right player...as Tanaka was in the $125+ range and Shark $90-100. In retrospect, it does seem a bit dubious to say they could have signed Shark last year for that amount but suddenly it's not there for a critical position player upgrade at possibly the same price. I hate the Shark possible contract as proof they have money. The amount might be true, but there is no proof they wouldn't have had to move some salaries in order to make it fit. The Shark deal was also when they expected 2015 to be a success and likely strong 2016 ticket sales.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 02:49 AM) The budget would explain why Hahn has said numerous times that he would need to get creative and why the Sox were reportedly shopping LaRoche. Without being able to move salary, maybe Hahn's hands are tied and is forced to look at cheaper marginal upgrades such as Fowler and Jackson who should cost about half or less of what Cespedes seeks. Something so many disregard is Hahn saying they would have to get creative for upgrades, yet they expect 100 million dollar commitment to be an easy thing to sign off. Honestly even Desmond and Jackson is probably too expensive.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 03:41 AM) Yea, I agree. Time to move on and make some moves to make this team stronger for 2016! Give me Desmond and Austin Jackson. However doubt has started to creep into my mind that Avi might get the RF spot and the team is at its budget.

Seen some speculation they would then trade Springer for a pitcher like Carrasco