Dick Allen

This is true. Even when they were good, they would rather wait to see what they needed at the trade deadline than to put the most stacked team together for opening day. And they have always relied way too much on way too many things going right. They are very rarely prepared for something to go wrong, which something does every season.

That's the thing. Any of the big spenders that would have gone after Trout, now look at the others. Like you wrote, the Sox were never going to get Trout, but now they probably are never going to get choice #2.

The White Sox traded Trout to the Cubs. I wonder if Roland Hemond mentioned he made a trade with the Cubs anytime any of his failure was discussed.

Then thank God the Sox didn't sign any stars and will be able to pay him, or trade him for prospects for the next attempt at a rebuild.

Yes, I was going to say this is good for baseball, good for Trout, and good for White Sox fans, as we will be spared the half assed pursuit of him during free agency, where bringing in his friends, or letting him meet Jim Thome should be enough for him to take tens of millions less than anyone else. Obviously at his price KW cannot afford to build a winning team.

Why do they always say so and so underwent successful TJ surgery? Doesn't anyone ever undergo unsuccessful TJ surgery?

Yes. I get the innings eater angle when you have a team that has a shot at the playoffs, but with this team, you might as well roll with cheaper options. Even if it takes 4 or 5 guys. Nova or not, someone is going to pitch those innings. Maybe at some point, they thought they would sign Machado and have some sort of shot at actually contending this year. Probably about as silly as thinking he would take $50 million less so he could be so privileged to wear a White Sox uniform. But hey, they did make a trade with the Cubs. Does it irk any else like it does me when they has Hahn about Machado and Harper, he always mentions "no one ever thought we would make a trade with the Cubs" like he deserves some sort of statue or something.?

He sucks but for some reason GarPax seem to like him. I would imagine his leash is short. One management position they have no problem changing is the head coach. A couple of years from now, we will forget about his reign.

Billy Hamilton is the prime attention getter in KC? God are they bad.

First, he called it an extension. Does that mean it would actually start after this season? Second, the Sox sent him down. If something was near, would that have happened?

Only the White Sox can downgrade defensively when they rid themselves of Avi. impressive.

Sure it is. It's the service time rules. No team has been punished for doing it. and the White Sox are hardly the first team to do it, and probably not the last. If you hired an accountant to do you taxes and he or she came up with a perfectly legal loophole that would make you pay nothing, would you be praising them or telling them they are criminal? They are taking advantage of the rules. Just like players take advantage of anything they can. The White Sox supposedly tried to negotiate with Eloy last year. Now this rumor this year. So he has his options. If he doesn't want to take the money, he can spend a couple of weeks in Charlotte. With how the rules are in place, and the current state of the team, doing anything other than what they are doing with him would be dumb.

Luxury tax. White Sox. Seriously?

I am not an Illini fan, but am very happy that Otter thing was defeated.

It is not bad faith it is playing by the rules. 2 weeks gets another year of control The players agreed to this. Did they not think it would ever be used? It would be stupid for the White Sox or any other team in their situation not to do what they are doing.

What the White Sox are doing is within the rules and the smart thing to do. If the players don’t like it, they shouldn’t have agreed to it. They are doing wha is best for the team, just as a player will do anything in their power to do what is best for the player, players can pop off about it all they want, but if there is a loophole in their agreement that they can take advantage of I am sure they would. Yes, it is ridiculous Eloy has to go back to Charlotte. But it is just as ridiculous the Sox give up a year of control for 2 weeks without him during a non contention season.

He's always been a bit off on predicting the future. Jack McDowell and Ray Durham come to mind. They both were traded for peanuts in anticipation the system was going to change. It did change, just not the way they envisioned. This contract is fine if he's always an MVP type, but their first 8 years Arenado will make $95 million and Machado $96 million. Eloy will be older when he is eligible to become a FA, so assuming he's a big star, this is pretty much market rate. I would think guaranteeing someone even half of that before they ever stepped to the plate in the major leagues, should mean there is at least a little give at the other end.

But it's not really a bargain. If he isn't a star, that's whatever it is vs. $2 million to $3 million. I think he will be great, but I would want at least some clarity before I offered him a potential 9 figures.

The problem is, even with the options, if you don't want to exercise them that most likely means you have already overpaid him.

Personally, if I was the White Sox, I wouldn't do it. I would revisit it in a year.Maybe he wouldn't do it then, but it's not like if he is a star they would be getting a huge discount. The downside still is greater than the upside IMO before any MLB action. It isn't very team friendly. Not at all like the Sale, Eaton and Q contracts. If he performs, he gets paid.

He already is locked up for several years to come. This gives them a year and 2 weeks more.

So the guaranteed rate is probably less than half of the total.

And that's if he performs at MVP levels. I don't see the motivation for the White Sox unless their are team options involved.

The one worry you have is what this would do to Eloy's motivation. A lot of guys have been paid and all of a sudden the performance drops off. Usually guys are very hungry at his age. Now, I'm trying to get in touch with Gene Lamont's people. I have to do better than Caulfield's YMCA with him. Maybe kiss cam.

Theses same dopes probably wanted Matt Davidson signed to the contract Eloy is rumored to be hooked with after opening day last year. It is amazing the hot takes people make out of spring training games.