fathom

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:49 PM) Seems like the Sox are really positioning themselves to beat positional averages. There were three middle infielders in all the AL that hit 20 HRs or more in 2015. If the Sox got 40 from Desmond/Lawrie (very possible if both stay healthy) they would likely have the most thunderous middle infield in the AL. You're looking at 100 homers from the infield possibly

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:40 PM) If they signed him, everyone would say "same old White Sox" but they'd be buying low for once instead of buying high. Desmond has an ugly downward trend and was terrible at the plate last year but he's still averaged 3.8 WAR over the last four years. His defense has gotten better annually. For comparison, Adam Eaton had 3.6 WAR last year. This is a player who was offered 100+ million dollar contract and was talked about as the best shortstop in the NL within the last year. I don't love his prospects but there's plenty reason for some optimism. Two things I have heard a lot about Desmond: - he really struggled last year as he put a ton of pressure on himself to earn a new contract after turning down $107 million - the cluster that was the Nats clubhouse hurt him and others, as many players on the Nats put up shockingly low WAR numbers in comparison to the career averages

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:27 PM) Again, a gross oversimplification of things. I wouldn't think that Hahn would need to add the obvious caveat of "without destroying the future" to the end of that, but apparently for some he does. If it was just about today, guys like Anderson and Fulmer would have already been dealt for upgrades, and they would have already signed a FA that requires draft pick compensation. 2019 and 2020 might not matter for you, but in a market where fan response is about as warm as Lake Michigan, mistakes get amplified. Having $20+ million in dead payroll would be a huge blow to the ballclub in those years that the fans won't tolerate. I can already see the handwringing going on full of hindsight and simplification. And if Cespedes turns into a bust, it just seems like he might not be the best clubhouse contributor.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:38 PM) Dan O'Dowd really loves Desmond. He thought he would be the biggest value free agent signed this winter. He absolutely will be. Cespedes has .2 more fWAR than him over the last 4 years.

From 2012-2015, Desmond was far and away the best SS in baseball in terms of fWAR despite a horrid 2015.

I like Desmond, think he's a better long-term player than Cespedes...but I'm not sure of the fit with this current roster and Anderson lurking. If they do sign him, I wouldn't mind a high prospect for high prospect swap of Anderson for an outfielder.

Gallardo also costs a pick

BTW, I wonder if the plan all along when they were going after Cespedes was to put him in LF, and move Melky to DH while keeping Avi in RF?

I love this tweet: keithlawVerified account ‏@keithlaw 3h3 hours ago Cespedes should demand opt-outs after every week of the contract, just to see if the Mets will say yes

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:53 PM) Avisail Garcia, Don Cooper, Hawk, Ed Farmer, Ron Kittle, Harold Baines comprise phone sales team for #whitesox season tix customers Thurs. https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/690577060436271104 I'm sure alot of fans want to hear avi calling them asking them to get season tickets lol Wow, that's just dumb by the org

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 04:48 PM) not many would turn down 5 years for 3, even 5 with deferrals. but @ynscspds is rare breed. interesting call #nats #mets https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/690572893235855361 So he's supposedly deciding between a 3yr deal with maybe an opt out after 1st and a 5 years deal. The Sox have supposedly been only willing to go 3 yrs but haven't been said for awhile to be in serious consideration. What the hell have they been doing and why haven't they or didn't they move on. No one knows if they have or haven't. The Sox have been under the radar for a month now.

Cespedes would seemingly much rather take the short-term deal with the Mets than anyone else, which makes sense

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:38 PM) The Sox haven't been mentioned by a national writer about Cespedes news in FOREVER. I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing. Take a hint, they are out

Seems like Sox were used a bit in the Gordon/Cespedes sagas. Oh well, time to get creative Hahn

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:19 AM) Well then maybe they're doing this for PR. I don't know what to think anymore. I've been confident the entire time but this is just bizarre. If they thought this would be good for PR, then they made a huge mistake

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:21 AM) http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/yoenis-...osenthal-012116 reading this is just a 100% total face palm moment This whole saga is weird. Seems like even if Sox agreed to terms with him, I would hold my breath until it was officially announced

QUOTE (The Critic @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 01:31 AM) So basically you're betting on how Vince feels 10 minutes before the Rumble begins? stone cold seems like a much better bet than Tyson Kidd. I read where one of the sites had Chyna and Kurt Angle as 100-1

Funny paper cover https://mobile.twitter.com/TomBiersdorfer/s...6540673/photo/1

Watch it be a mystery team like the Mariners.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 03:19 AM) As long as it takes for him to figure out how to hit cause he can barely do it at AA now. If we're counting on Jacob May to help the team this year we are not going far. Yeah he's a backup outfielder at best right now. Big year coming up for him.

Kemp is horrible on defense

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:38 AM) Speaking of secondary options. What's going on with the Dodgers log jam? They still have 5 or 6 starting outfielders on that team right? Ethier is totally someone that could be linked to the Sox

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:21 AM) I wonder if this comes back to what we discussed a few nights ago? Cubs trade Soler for pitching, sign Fowler for CF and Heyward plays RF where he belongs. I'm thinking a bonkers deal with Tampa that includes Baez and Soler for Odorizzi and McGee.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:10 AM) It really is national hug day. Just pictures of hugs. The emoji was the part, going along with Julie Dicaro earlier tweet about Cubs and Tampa possible trade

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:06 AM) "Where would he play?" East coast preference stories to come