Balta1701

Total guess - it’s like the last NFL lockout, they stay at an impasse the entire offseason, because it costs no money. Then March hits and they realize they are losing millions of dollars a day and an agreement happens, costing them a short portion of the regular season and putting the entire hot stove period into March.

And I can’t just say “oh well they couldn’t beat the Astros, that’s fine”.

Even if they do…losing Rodon would be a big deal to replace.

Starting in December there is a labor impasse until a CBA happens. They will not play games next year until there is some agreement, and I won’t be confident that they will get it done until they get it done.

Could be longer.

Scherzer got pulled early in the Wild Card game too.

There is every reason to expect the Astros to be right back here next year. They lose Correa, but they have prospects who play SS (and catcher). They have a young starting rotation, and Verlander will be back (although they do have to go through the qualifying offer setup with him). Tucker, Alvarez are young. Bergman was hurt a long time this year. “We sucked against the Astros and Yankees and were .500 against other playoff teams” is not an acceptable route unless your final goal is the ALCS.

I have a bad feeling that he just winds up untradeable.

Fwiw, Leury will be a free agent after the World Series.

And the White Sox eating money to get a player return…seems less likely than LaRussa being removed.

Yeah but Lopez and Gio are the expensive ones. They’re the ones I counted in saying they’re in the $150 range.

Minimum deal? Not a chance. Dude put up 4.9 fWAR this year. Hes getting qualifying offer like money from someone. The question is whether he might decline it and think they could get a better deal somewhere else. No one will give him a giant 5 year deal after the last couple months, but you’d be crazy to turn him down on a 1 year $15 million deal if you had the money to spend and he can pass a physical.

COVID long response issues. https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/blackhawks/ct-chicago-blackhawks-jonathan-toews-20210630-6rk7hykenfa73kqxslkdkydxja-story.html?outputType=amp

Here’s the fundamental issue for starters. Assume no major surprises among the Arb offers. The White Sox’s payroll counting Kimbrel is somewhere just over $150 million. If they offer Rodon a QO and he accepts, which is a solid possibility (I would if I were him), their payroll while treading water is over $170 million. Now I’m not going to say there’s a limit, but if you think they’re going to make a major signing after that and push up to nearly $200 million, I would be surprised and I think we all would. If Rodon doesn’t accept, they have money to spend, but would probably want some pitching depth at least, and their rotation would potentially take a step back next year. That part though will take care of itself. The big problem is you have to make a decision on Kimbrel within the first 10 days after the World Series and it is hard to imagine they can be confident in trading him until we know what will happen with a labor agreement. So with his struggles this year, and a big salary, his option is the problem. Pick that up, and if he winds up harder to move than people think, then that might shut down the rest of the offseason. Personally I let Kimbrel walk and decline that option. That’s the first big step.

I mean, if it’s anything more than fatigue, that’s a problem. Rodon’s shoulder doesn’t inspire confidence.

Yeesh. Take that.

We don't know for sure, but it sure looked like he had some leg soreness going.

Then they have to decline his option. Especially with the CBA uncertainty.

If they pick up his option, I will bet he's here next year.

The White Sox? Seriously, re-read that sentence and see if you see the flaw.

Like it or not, the right answer is to decline his option.

Be nicer to our honored manager.

How the everloving f*** was that not an out?

A lot of that is! That's what happens in the playoffs when you put pitchers in bad situations, and then have guys in poor positions behind them!

To be fair, Dusty may have single handedly given the White Sox game 3.