fathom

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 05:43 PM) I think it's safe to say they are out on the top 2. Time to change focus to Fowler/Trade option, IMO. I would love to know if they were ever in on the top 2. I have big time doubts

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 06:36 PM) Jon Heyman: "orioles offer to cespedes is said to be about 90M for 5 years. may include 6th year option. uncertain how he'll respond." I don't see the Sox topping that in years or total money

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 05:04 AM) I see it differently. I see it as Sox having worst shortstop in AL Central now. And 2B and 3B could go either way. Hopefully both will rake to go with MVP at 1B. They would have worst SS either way

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 04:55 AM) Fowler is not quite the "big bat" I was hoping that RH was going to sign! Biggest club deal or not!! That's cause all of the three big guys after Heyward weren't ideal fits. Still have no idea what they are doing with RF

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 04:55 AM) I thought the white sox said they only go 3 years on Cespedes. That's the rumor, why

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:49 AM) Maybe in 3 years the Sox payroll might get over $150M . What do you think the Sox are going to spend money on when Frazier and Lawrie are gone after 2 years ? There's always going to be an excuse not to pay good players . The farm is back to being woeful now after getting rid of all but the top 2 or 3 guys. Signing Fowler means another draft pick gone. You get nothing for Alexei when they could have, didn't trade Samardzija when they could have. Do the Sox actually value the minors for anything but trade bait while they give lip service to an extended window of contention ? Do you think the Sox would have done that deal where Atlanta got all those guys for Shelby Miller if they had offered Quintana ? I see no clear direction for the team. They aren't building a farm system and they aren't willing to do what needs to be done to compete unless they stay completely healthy and get 5 or 6 career years from guys. Might as well just tell everyone don't bother getting excited or buying season tix . We're shooting for .500 . Nice post, I don't disagree with your premise. Hahn's poor acquisitions the last few years have really hurt this offseason. His poor choices last offseason scares me with his choice of outfielders.

Sure he could flip, but it seems they wanted new blood.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:43 AM) and I thought after the Frazier acquisition the Sox FO was serious for another big bat. My bad. If they get Fowler, it will be one of the biggest deals in club history.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 04:36 AM) Only reason to not sign him to a one year deal (bargain) is if he truly is over 40. He does look kinda old in the face lending some doubt. Nobody can deny the team is weaker without Lexi right now. SS took a hit today. I think Saladino will have a higher WAR

Sounds like it's 5/90 http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles...0114-story.html

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:19 AM) At the end of the day, they got the guys they wanted, and conceivably Theo built the team he wanted. If I'm a Cubs fan, I can't be too mad at their contracts. Yeah they got the guys they wanted and obviously have ridiculous flexibility due to their youth. It's just not wise IMO to compare those deals to what everyone else is getting.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:13 AM) Then why in the other thread did you say never go more than 3 years? Also it sure looks like the Cubs overpaid for Zobrist and Heyward now

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:11 AM) I still worry about long term payroll flexibility. The 5th year would just hamper the team too much to maintain longterm competiveness with sale and company hittng FA at that time. I would rather spend the money on homegrown pitching. Last thing you want is money tied up in Cespedes in three years when there are so many good players available via free agency

The Cubs and Sox have such different situations now. Cubs know they will be drawing a ton of fans the next few years. One bad year for Sox and it is possibly fire sale time.

Nice last possession by Philadelphia

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:44 AM) Who the heck are we actually competing with for Fowler? The Cubs? Cardinals? Orioles? Angels? Would the Orioles really give up a draft pick for him? Does he really make enough of a difference to make the Angels a sure-fire pennant contender from their current status? Every columnist coming out and suggesting Garcia as a rebound candidate didn't have the benefit or misfortune to suffer through the last 4 months of the season watching him flailing away helplessly. Potentially no competition is why he makes sense for the Sox...a great bargain

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 02:43 AM) Exactly. Most people seem to not understand how much of an upgrade he is. Cespedes has become Mike Trout on here

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 02:41 AM) Ah, didn't realize you were referring to last year. I was wondering if I missed when the Sox tried to get Shark back, haha. I'm with you - I don't understand not making a splash in FA when there is a large sum coming off the books next year + a weak FA class in 2017. Unless the Sox are thinking about blowing it up next offseason if they fail yet again, because the high price tags might be realistic at that point... I'm sure the disasterous 2015 season hurt their 2016 budget

Fowler would have been 2nd on the offense in WAR last year

Moore!

The real issue may be the Sox just aren't high on Cespedes. Also maybe the Sox want a CF to move Eaton to a corner.

Terrible last possession.

One man team. Awesome effort by Butler. Just awful defense by Hinrich down the stretch.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 03:01 AM) Front loading even a contract like that would be something the Sox could do as well, IMO. Sure but if they stick to 3 year limit then Orioles have an advantage

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 02:54 AM) If the Sox couldn't match or beat an offer like that I would be pretty pissed off. We also don't know if that's a front-loaded Balt offer with early opt-outs