fathom

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:44 PM) Exactly when in this current plan can fans reasonably expect to compete for the playoffs again? This year, maybe they just don't have the money in the budget. Who knows, maybe they are also cutting down on long-term expenses to eventually sell? So much more to things than just claiming they're being cheap.

Cespedes to me is like a 5 star recruit your college team is going after, and everyone knows he'll be high-maintenance to keep happy when he's at your school.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:40 PM) The only thing you can think is there is massive behind-the-scenes badness with Cespedes. The whispers of that with Puig are all over the place, but not Cespedes. Slight primadonna behavior but whatever, that's about it I would say it's more than slight. More stories have come out about him being a diva than just about anyone I can recall when they were a free agent.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:39 PM) They played the market wrong and got caught. They'll pay for it at the deadline is they are even close enough to a playoff spot. How so, it's not like they couldn't have changed their mind on the 3 year length if they wanted to. Quite frankly, I don't think they trusted any of these 3 outfielders on a lengthy deal.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:37 PM) Slit my throat for me Bob NightengaleVerified account ‏@BNightengale The biggest surprise now is if #Nats don't sign Cespedes. They appear to be the only team interested in giving him longer than 3-year deal. How is this not a massive red flag to everyone?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:37 PM) But the problem here is we were passed by Detroit, and still have to catch KC and Cleve...and just might be even with the Twins, who happen to have one of the better farm systems in the game again under Ryan. Well of course Sox are going to be awful if nearly everyone on the team underachieves again like 2015.

Funny how Mets fans want him to go to the Sox now

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:30 PM) They targeted Frazier and Lawrie and got both of them..... +1

QUOTE (staxx @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 07:56 PM) Not at all. No one ever expected or thought we could sign Cespedes this offseason. Getting Frazier and Lawrie has been fantastic along with the C change. Id give it an B+ right now, with a solid A/A+ if Cespy signs. Don't worry, "yes" is getting 75% of the votes

White Sox Talk ‏@CSNWhiteSox Jan 19 If the #WhiteSox don't sign Cespedes, is the offseason a disappointment? Nice poll

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 06:06 PM) I wonder if they could be done with Zimmerman. Move Werth into 1B and fill out the OF with Harper, Revere, and Cespedes, dramatically improves defense and doesn't make them reliant on Zimmerman ever being healthy and regaining form. Thats the only scenario that makes much sense to me. Or they know Zimmerman is going to get busted for PEDs

No doubt in my mind that they have had communications with the other options

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:47 PM) It's not the case. Don't people read? I mean f***ing seriously.... Again, who has said more than 3 years has been offered by the Sox?

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:39 PM) The Nats just don't make sense for him. But they have a window so they could be going all out. Also probably think it hurts the Mets as well

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:34 PM) They just better hit the secondary market pronto if Cespedes doesn't come to Chicago. Can't start the season with Avi in right...please. In all honesty, Hahn's job should be on the line this season

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:32 PM) If they add Fowler, or Desmond, they will be viewed for what they are. Also rans. Second rate...unwilling to compete. No Cespedes? Hahn better have some big trade up his sleeve. Adams for Cargo? Something to show an honest effort to improve the team...and that ain't Fowler, IMO. Before last season, Desmond had been a significantly better player than Cespedes

BTW, Cespedes and Dusty could be a horrible combination

QUOTE (staxx @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:26 PM) I don't see anywhere on Nightengale's twitter where he says the Nat's offer is the "strongest". Maybe im missing something Supposedly on MLB network

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:23 PM) Could end up as a blessing in disguise. If I knew the Sox were going to take the money they're offering Cespedes and use it elsewhere, I'd be totally fine with that. Just don't want to see them not get Cespedes and say he was a special circumstance and that they're going to stick with Avi.

Jon HeymanVerified account ‏@JonHeyman 3m3 minutes ago Nats reportedly back involved with cespedes. They seemed set in OF, but could trade to open spot. @Ken_Rosenthal on this.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:18 PM) Yes, just not the "we'll see where we are at and adjust near the deadline". Get as good as you can get right now, and adjust at the deadline if needed. The other way hasn't worked. Couldn't agree more

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:16 PM) Agree. As long as they still upgrade the team from now until Spring Training. Which if they're offering Cespedes a 3 year deal, it should mean they have money to use now if he goes elsewhere

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:12 PM) I think the really depressing part of it is the fact that from the start the Sox were widely considered to be one of the favorites to land one of the big 3. The fans put a lot of stock in that and followed these stories extremely closely just to wind up with none of them in the end. It may wind up being a HUGE PR hit on the Sox whether its warranted or not. Agreed

Also if Cespedes goes to the Nationals, the meltdown by Mets fans will be epic

If the sox are only willing to go 3 years, then I trust their judgment in this situation. When about 95 percent of the teams are reluctant to give a player a long term deal, there is probably a reason for it.