spiderman

Do we know how much room the White Sox will reasonably have to spend this off-season? I think it's safe to assume they will continue to try and patch together a team that could contend for next season.

I doubt 18-9 would even be good enough. It may have to be 22-5 to have a shot and we know this team is much more likely to go 13-14, etc. in that stretch.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 1, 2015 -> 02:34 PM) If he's playing SS and is above average with the glove, the numbers you just wrote are a 4 fWAR shortstop. I don't think he's a 4 WAR player. My uneducated guess is that he's a .220 to .230 hitter with 10 HR over a season; I'm not sure if he can play SS at the MLB level.

Don't see Olt as a solution, just more of the same; Probably (maybe) a better player that Matt Davidson, but wouldn't appear to be anything more than a long-shot.

This all goes back to the White Sox thinking they are a contender (or can be) in 2016 (and beyond). They claim to be thinking of this team as a contender year to year, and perhaps they should with Sale on the roster, but they haven't shown they can actually put that quality of team on the roster.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 10:44 AM) I wonder why he wasn't placed on waivers earlier in the month. Also, I wonder who else has been put on waivers? Most players go through waivers at some point, I believe. Is there a timing/strategy as to when players on put on waivers? That question is one I'm not sure of.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 10:06 AM) I'm sure the White Sox would probably ask for too much, which is fine. I would rather they keep him than give him away. Even if the White Sox had interest in moving him, I don't know that they could expect much more than payroll relief.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 10:11 AM) http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-he...-seems-unlikely I'm not sure I would believe any of these reports, etc. Who know he even cleared waivers, much less, what the White Sox are intending to do? (I do expect the White Sox to keep him though).

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 31, 2015 -> 09:12 AM) I guess that's the main thing, if they don't need the payroll flexibility. It just seems silly for a non-competing team to owe a closer $35 million for 3 years. That's the issue though; the White Sox don't believe in full-on rebuilding so they will likely try and patch together a contending team next year. If they move Robertson, they potentially open a new hole up even if they are confident in their in-house options like Jones. I do think the payroll flexibility would allow them to pursue other options; if they let Ramirez and/or Robertson go, doesn't that allow them a few moves that would potentially help the offense, etc.

The White Sox don't believe they are in a rebuild mode; that's why it would be extremely surprising for them to let the Yankees have him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 09:43 AM) We've gotten enough wild cards for 1 month guys that eventually IIRC the guy we got for Beckham last year at least wound up in the top 30 list. Sox got something decent for Beckham?

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 11:03 PM) Wait, people are seriously saying the Sox should pick up Ramirez' option? That's just crazy talk. He'd be lucky to get a 1 year deal at 6 million on the open market let alone 10 million. 35 year old SS coming off a negative WAR season, come on folks. The vast majority of his value is tied up his defense and there is absolutely zero reason to believe he's suddenly going to pick it up again at 35. Check his defensive metrics this is the 5th straight year of decline and this year he fell off a cliff he's 2 runs above average. That's not even close to good enough with his bat. I don't know the market for Ramirez so if the White Sox are convinced he won't be able to match his contract for 2016 on the open market, then, obviously, you don't pick up the option. The White Sox have to be careful here though; Ramirez hasn't had a good year, but what is the alternative for next season? Is Tim Anderson ready? What are the other alternatives? They already have massive offensive holes at 3B, SS (including Ramirez who hasn't played well) 2B, RF, DH and C. I think they need to consider bringing him back for next season, especially if they don't have an in-house alternative.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 08:35 AM) The most logical place for Micah is DH. With LaRoche here for 2016, he'd have to wait until 2017. I think he'll be traded by then. Sanchez's emergence as an elite defender and above average hitter makes it a very real possibility. He's probably a DH 2-3 times a week and a 2B 1-2 times depending on the level of commitment shown to LaRoche and Sanchez (and the Ramirez situation).

If he can hit, he should be in the lineup everyday. If he has improved defensively, he should be the starting 2B. Carlos Sanchez has played better in the 2nd half, but I'm not convinced that he hits enough to be an everyday player on a team with so many offensive holes. There is also a possibility that the White Sox do not exercise Ramirez's option and the White Sox move Sanchez to SS (or promote Anderson) for next season and use that money to fill out the lineup should there be another offensive upgrade in free agency or trade. I do think Johnson should be in the lineup most days next season if his ability to hit is not in question.

just ask boers and bernstein tomorrow. They know everything about everything, have sources everywhere, and are never wrong.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 23, 2015 -> 12:01 PM) The team is back to 4 1/2 out of the wild card. Yet, their play has proven that they aren't a serious contender.

Why should anyone expect Shark to now be interested in signing a long-term deal with the White Sox before entering free agency?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 05:28 PM) Shields has a horrible contract going forward and can't keep the ball in the park. He'd be a terrible fit. Considering that you may be able to sign the Shark for around $20 million and he's younger, I don't think this would a realistic option on that alone. From MLB Trade Rumors: Shields is an interesting case, however, as high-payroll teams in need of starting pitching could still conceivably make a move for the veteran right-hander. Shields is owed roughly $2.25MM for the remainder of this season, and then $21MM in each of the next three seasons, plus a $16MM club option (with a $2MM buyout) for 2019. He can also opt out of his deal following the 2016 season, meaning that some teams could make a move thinking they’d only be committed to Shields for little over a year. Then again, Shields will turn 35 in December 2016, so he’s probably just likely to stick with his current deal since teams may be hesitant to pay a pitcher more than $43MM guaranteed for his age-35 and age-36 seasons.

Outside of a bullpen arm, should we be expecting anything else (anyone need Ramirez)?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 03:13 PM) I don't get why people are assuming Soto will be around next year. I'd imagine he's going to command a decent contract as a FA and maybe a chance to start from someone. I'm assuming the Sox would bring him back even on a decent contract.

The only way he would make sense is an alternative to Samardizia.

White Sox can't consider him as an alternative to Samardizia in the off-season.

To close out August: They are probably going to lose 4 out of 6 (maybe split if things go well) with the Angels and Cubs. They have 6 on the West Coast with the Angels and Mariners. Again, expect a 3-3 trip, at best before coming home to play Boston and Seattle (for 4) where they could play well (take 4 or 5 of these 7). In September, they have 20 games vs. Detroit, Cleveland, Minnesota and Oakland (4 games) who will all be out of playoff contention. I think 9-11 wins is reasonable in that 20 game stretch. There are 11 games (all but 2 vs. KC) are on the road vs. KC and NY. This could be pretty rough, but the starting rotation will probably keep them in these games. Still, 4-7 or 3-8 is likely here. I project them (my math is off some) to be 22-27(ish) down the stretch.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 01:49 PM) If we were at .500 we'd be ~4 games behind the team we're starting a 3 game series with tonight. We'd be a lot more optimistic if the White Sox were at .500 and they'd be within a fighter's reach of Toronto. Toronto would be the favorite, but this site would be pointing to the strong pitching staff and the 2nd half surge by the offense as reasons to believe.

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 10, 2015 -> 07:05 AM) and are you ok with a weak hitting 3b in saladino. if that is the case, why not keep beckham there. something needs to happen with that lineup in the offseason. 3B is probably the toughest position to fill (if you allow that catcher is probably going to be a continued combination of Flowers / Soto). I don't think Saladino is a major league hitter, and we know Beckham isn't. The White Sox have some decent defense at that spot, but it's the one area where they need to find offense at. To answer your question, I'm not happy with either guy starting at 3B next season.