CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Rebuild isn't over at all, First they have to spend the money and they may decide it's better to spend it over the next 2 off seasons considering so much would have to go right in this off season to even think of making the playoffs. In my head you are looking at at least 5 name player signings to even imagine the playoffs next year and that's the minimal amount. Then they have to actually perform well and not be your useless Sox free agents.

Guess Eloy still dealing with strep or whatever he has. an infection in ear and throat.

1st and foremost the biggest obstacle will be signing a near legit ace and that's either Cole or Strasburg or at worst Bumgarner and another higher end starter. The Sox have so many needs like OBP, defense,versatilty ,power, depth, too many K's ,relief pitching, too right handed among starting pitchers and starting position players that outside of the starting pitching the Sox may have to spread the money around on guys like Holt, Kendrick, Gennett, Dickerson, Moustakas in order to provide a higher talent level, power, more LH hitters and 25 man depth. None of those guys should be too expensive but all help in significant areas and most are proven players who are not too old. Well Kendrick is getting up there but had a really good year and isn't LH and doesn't walk much and no one should expect him to hit .345. Of course Grandal is also an option but he'd probably be the most expensive contract behind the starting pitchers. Now that's a lot of free agents to be signed and I haven't even looked at relief pitching which maybe Rondon or Dunning can help in the 2nd half. But without some high end starters the Sox won't be making the playoffs in 2020 but the talent level/depth still needs a serious upgrade.

Size doesn't matter. It's how well what you have between your ears works.

That is lunacy and I would hesitate to call them a "legitimate" contingent.

Moncada leading the majors in hits in September with 37 followed closely by Tim Anderson with 36.

Merkins says .. but if all goes as planned, Jake Burger should be ready when Spring Training 2020 begins. https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/inbox-white-sox-2020-season-plans

Maybe . The last 2 years he was a free agent and got squat when he was 29 and 30. He's guaranteed $11M next year should the option be used. Maybe he can get multiple years but it didn't work out for him twice before so any contract for him is for his years 31 and beyond. You're probably right but I'd say it's better than 1%. He signed with the Royals for $6.5M in his age 29 season in March, 2018 but I think he had a draft pick attached to him that hurt his market and since he was already with the Royals they didn't owe anyone a draft pick. He also didn't sign with the Brewers after being traded to them until mid February ,2019 He signed the 1 plus the mutual option for $7 plus the $3M buyout for a luxury tax space salary of $10M with $11M for 2020. Will be interesting to see what he gets should he become a FA. 2/25, 3/35 ?

I have brought up Moustkas about 100 times in the last 2 years when he was a bargain. Now he has a mutual option for 2020 and he has been burned every time he chose free agency. He and the Brewers just may take that option. He's stepped up big time after the Yelish injury as has Trent Grisham and Braun and Thames. What the Brewers have done is phenomenal after that injury goes to show you how important depth is. Any one of the 3 Mets LH OF's. McNeil too. On the days the Mets were eliminated McNeil got HBP and broke a bone in his hand.

4 K's in a row for Herrera.

I'd say a good 10 guys currently on the active roster will be gone or AAA fodder.

Have no fear his 2 seasons with the Sox have been abysmal .

Palka running out of chances to get anything besides singles this year.

I don't hate him when he does that.

And that's why. In small sample not real good with pitches away but still in the zone.

I'm wondering if Collins should get right on top of the plate like Rizzo does.

Indeed

fo fo fo

Did something happen to Leury ?

I totally understand the reluctance to not deal prospects yet which is why i also like Dickerson as a stop gap. I know he doesn't take a lot of walks nor is his fielding above average . He is a very good hitter from the left side and shouldn't be too expensive to acquire as a FA. Pitching should still be the top priority among our larger FA contracts.

So everyone is supposed to dream small or tell themselves the rebuild will fail because we are doomed to always getting non elite players in Free Agency ? We all know the odds of getting Cole are not good but what Sarava said is spot on.

That's not really my job to try to figure out but I outlined a plan in the post above this one. They might not come cheap but he's not exactly a youngster so his years of control mean less and as a 12th round pick maybe the Mets undervalue him. If everything went according to my plan above . Hey I'd like any one of Nimmo FA 2023 Conforto FA 2022 or McNeil FA 2025.

That's the whole point of trying to acquire him now. Being a 12th rounder and having a long journey through the minors might discourage a few teams but it shouldn't the Sox . He''ll be cheap for more years than Nimmo. He's going to be 28 in April yet won't be FA til 2025. Nimmo while an on base machine doesn't even hit as well as Engel. It's great having OBP guys but on a championship caliber team not likely a starter. Would you want him pinch hitting when you need a hit ? I wouldn't . Acquiring talented versatile guys like McNeil, Gennett ( IF, OF), Holt (2nd, 3rd, OF ) . Moustakas 2nd, 3rd ,1st ) or even Howie Kendrick (LF 2nd, 1st) gives you so many options in case of injuries and upgrades RF, 2nd, 3rd and 1st base depth. If the Sox can hit on a few FA targets like a quality starting pitcher and a few of the pieces i mentioned or Grandal I'd make some serious inquiries into McNeil because at that point you could trade someone like Vaughn. Call the Mets and ask what they want for him , then tell the Mets to call you back or you'll get back to them should they decide to move him, go after your free agent targets but not RF yet, let that market develop , hit on the important free agent targets , then get back to the Mets about McNeil.

I see Nimmo mentioned a lot and as far as LH batters go I'm not sure he has the hit tool yet to to be effective. I know his OBP is very good considering how little he hits and he is a free agent in 2023. But just for arguments sake I've been doing a little research on Jeff McNeil. He's kind of an under the radar star if it's possible to make the All Star team and play in NY and still be under the radar. He also is kind of the LH version of Madrigal only with more pop in that he hates to strikeout. He's going to finish with 5+ WAR and isn't a free agent til 2025 but he is a year older than Nimmo . He was a 12th round pick and had a long journey through the minors for anyone who might be growing impatient with our OF prospects. I know the Mets aren't likely to trade him but I'd love him on the same team with Madrigal. Plus he''s versatile. He's played the majority of his games in LF and RF but also plays 2nd base and 3rd base. If there's one guy in baseball I'd want to trade for who seems like a realistical choice it's him. Edit: I still think the Nimmo idea is a good one since he was obviously affected by a bulging disc in his neck for much of the season and can be a good player going forward. Guess I'd be talking to the Mets a lot this off season. He'd be a very good lead off hitter .

rout