bmags

Well I say that more as the offensive players available after Rendon aren’t that wonderful and then aren’t so expensive, so use your budget on a better pitcher then get cheaper and slightly less good offensive players.

Maybe, but all three teams are going to want to spend

Martino guesses white Sox or reds. For reds that’s them waving white flag on improving offense and doubling down on their strong pitching, not a terrible play.

I don’t disagree with this, but I like Wheeler so it’s positive. But yes, I don’t really see signing grandal or Wheeler as something that couldn’t have happened in history of white Sox. This doesn’t feel that different from 2015 in terms of jumping into the FA market - though I think more favorably on these guys. But could be worse, could pay $100 million for Ozuna or something

Martino on Garfein for the podcast. Good insight on Wheeler the pitcher.

I think this is a misreading of the way baseball FA has worked recently. Logic would indicate you have the teams looking to upgrade starting pitching, and as they miss on #1 on the list, they move to option 2, and so on and may get more desperate to make sure they don't miss out. But in practice it has appeared teams may be willing to spend X for the top pitcher, but if they miss out they may just move to an entirely different set of pitchers on different budgets. Last year the Yankees liked Corbin, missed out, and didn't then spend the $100 million on keuchel. They paid for JA Happ and traded for Gray. The White Sox may like Wheeler for 5/100, but the yankees may either want Cole at whatever it takes, or move down to a year-by-year method of someone like Ryu or Miley, where they can then play the market again the next year until they get the elite talent locked up long term. Each player has its own market it seems.

I think next week. Baseball never sleeps, but I think these weeks are sleepier than we'd imagine.

I would obviously liked to have walked away in 2017 with a functioning baseball player...but white would have always been more interesting to me if he actually was moved to CF the way people said he could. His numbers for a 1b prospect are fine, and he'll be cheap, but there is risk there still. Considering he was in the Texas league, his numbers aren't that much better than Gavin Sheets.

I’m aware the twins will sign pitching. I’d prefer they don’t sign Wheeler.

Yikes, Berrios, Odorizzi, Wheeler would be a tough big three. Hope Sox can block that

No you need to have given a QO

As we all know, good CFers are much more available than good corner OFers

This is good.

He'll be back I'm guessing. So weird to me how arb has made guys like yolmer and bullpen arms really expensive compared to starting pitchers who come off pretty cheap through their control years.

I think a lot of what people were mad at was the implication that the sox were handling the negotiations really well and knew what they were doing, and when others brought up criticisms were shouted down. And then it didn't work out because of a lot of on-its-face incompetent negotiating.

I actually don't think it's wise for Wheeler to wait. I get the impression that the teams that would go after and pay Cole/Stras are teams that want Cole/Stras. The secondary market is already set for a guy like him, and if anything waiting just removes suiters instead of making them more desperate. There's a lot of mini-markets in the mlb offseason, it's not just one big tier system. I think he'll sign before christmas, I'd be surprised if he is in the waiting group.

Definitely my favorite version, also that the marketing department is on high alert because if they sign they have to print like 500 flyers.

Love the offseason.

Yeah I mean just thinking about Abreu - with runners on he's got an .880 OPS, with runners in scoring position he's got a .958 OPS. Now put a guy like Rendon who was on base 42% of the time last year in front of him...the team just gets offensively so much better.

? How bout ?on soxtalk

If anything I'm surprised he didn't just announce retirement. Going through rehab at age 39 after his crazy career and getting a big payday requires some serious mental endurance.

Yankees seem to think there are players still worth spending money on this year.

that's probably a smart move by them.

I still believe in Benintendi. I think he was in between approaches, and hopefully he reverts to his self. This is a guy who had low strikeouts throughout college, minors and his first few years in pro ball, then spikes this year to 22%. I think he was trying to add more power and ended up diminishing his game. I'd buy low on him all day.

It's that time of year. All baseball news is relevant in the PHT. (if you still see Diamond club let me know because I'm only 5% sure I did it right)