Dick Allen

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:44 AM) I'm out on Cespedes. I'm over it. Got frustrated because I wanted Gordon and Upton, but there's no point in overpaying this dude. He was my 3rd choice of the top 3, but he is still the best guy out there. It won't kill me if they don't get him, but I would be pretty happy if the did. They need something.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:41 AM) I'm sure it's been discussed but what's Gardner's contract situation? I agree with your point but obviously his current deal could change the way the sox fo looks at him vs Fowler. 3 years left at $36.5 million. $12.5 million option for year 4 with a $2 million buyout. And Fowler is almost 3 years younger.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:35 AM) FWIW (and it ain't worth much) ... Knocking down some beers with another big-time knowledgeable Sox fan ... similar to many of us in understanding the landscape of players throughout baseball and thirsting for knowledge about how these deals go down. Like me, he's a transactional attorney, so we get a special kick out of deal structuring as well (billionaires paying multi-millionaires, and all that jazz). HE has a friend that was a long-time Sox investor/advisor on the business side of baseball. According to MY friend, HIS friend said the Sox were and continue to be IN on Cespedes, but on their terms and are determined to not chase because of outside opinion. I think most of us agree that's very consistent with this ownership group from Day #1. No surprise there. They LIKE Cespedes, but don't LOVE him -- they'll take him as a value play, and that's value determined by their metrics. He's also told the framework of the possible deal is what many have suggested (this isn't rocket science): * Base deal is 3 years for X * Player opt out after year 2 * Mutual option for year 4 (player option vests upon objective performance) * Second mutual option for year 5 (player option vests upon objective performance in year 4, if any) In essence, POSSIBLY a 5 year deal with big bucks under certain circumstances. Plus, player outs to reenter the market should he feel like doing so for various reasons. Personally (and, of course, if true), I applaud the Sox for try to land a guy with a very high ceiling (but with a definite low-ish floor at this contract amount), but on their terms. At the end of the day, not only do you want a guy that wants to be here, you want a guy that is taking a deal because he's happy to get this particular deal. Mindset is important on most personal service contracts, but especially where there is reason to believe that the "talent" is a bit mercurial. I like the thought of bringing a guy in who is contractually motivated to out-perform his contract in a monster way over the next two years to benefit himself. This framework jives with the two-year plan for some of our other talent. You can't acquire players based on fan opinion or you will wind up with a payroll bigger than the Dodgers and a really s***ty team. As the old saying goes, you start taking the fans' advice, you wind up sitting next to them. I too applaud them for having a plan and sticking to it, no matter how unpopular it may be.

If you are going to trade for Gardner, you might as well sign Fowler. They are pretty similar, only Fowler is younger, would cost the now #28 pick vs. at least a couple of your better prospects.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:18 AM) Gardner's pretty good. 2014: 87 R 142 H 17 HR 58 RBI 21 SB .749 OPS 2015: 94 R 148 H 16 HR 66 RBI 20 SB .742 OPS Gardner is pretty much an older version of Eaton.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:05 AM) The Sox should just offer 5/$110M with no deferred money and an opt-out after year 2. I really think he would accept that right now. I don't think there is any question he would take it, but why are teams not offering it?

QUOTE (Moe @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:53 AM) And Heyman just dropped the ol' #mysteryteam. No mention of the Sox at all. The mystery team is an ass covering trick all these guys use. When is a "mystery team" not involved? Unless it is a slam dunk they are going some place, they say mystery team so if they go somewhere else, that was the mystery team even though there may have been 4 or 5 mystery teams, and some of the information they reported was a mystery to those involved. Mibelt needs to start using mystery team. He will come off a lot more credible.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:42 AM) Seems like Sox were used a bit in the Gordon/Cespedes sagas. Oh well, time to get creative Hahn I don't know about used. It remains to be seen if they put up the best offer. I'm pretty sure if they offered Cespedes 5 years right now without a ridiculous amount of money being deferred 20 years, they would have their man, but apparently there is a league wide reluctance to give him a lot of years. with Gordon, as long as KC was willing to give him a somewhat appropriate contract, no one had a chance.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:14 PM) The emoji was the part, going along with Julie Dicaro earlier tweet about Cubs and Tampa possible trade I doubt Fowler goes back to the Cubs.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 07:54 PM) Interesting tweet from Fowler. Some rumors about a possible Cubs/Tampa trade as well. https://mobile.twitter.com/DexterFowler/sta...327354103599104 It really is national hug day. Just pictures of hugs.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 03:17 PM) its all kool....... how many are going to sox fest..... ????? I'm going to be there. The RH and RV town halls should have some additional security if Avi is still penciled in as the RF next week. I'm sure Robin will be asked if he has a pulse, and then Mr. Tough Guy who asks it will scurry away from the room when he does.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 12:48 PM) You just like to argue. I don't know what's so hard to understand. Stylistically, they're more fun to watch than the 90's Bulls teams. That's just my opinion. Do I think they're better? No. Just more fun to watch as a whole. You are the one arguing. You're using box office and not remembering what the Bulls were to the NBA at the, wait for it............box office.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 02:08 PM) The draft pool money is just as important as the high pick itself. Last year our draft sucked because we were so limited financially. If Carson Fulmer is half as good as they say he is, the draft will be great. Go check out the 1989 White Sox draft. I think you would say it was one of the better drafts in team history despite only 1 player from the entire draft ever wearing a White Sox jersey.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 02:01 PM) This is the dilemma, if you don't sign Cespedes you can't justify giving up a draft pick for Fowler. Not with the state of our farm system and the reality we're seeing here, which is we're not going to land these big FA with some self imposed limit on contract years. To get a player like Cespedes, we'd either have to draft him or trade for him. It's the 28th pick. There will be a great player available, but will the White Sox choose him? If you look at the actual 28th pick the last 7 years, there is one guy you wouldn't trade for Dexter Fowler, and that is Gerrit Cole who was selected with the 28th pick in 2008 by the Yankees. One problem, he didn't sign. The fact that the Sox would still have their normal draft intact makes giving up the draft pick no big deal to me, and it keep the number of his suitors and therefore price tag a little lower. $70 million is plenty of justification.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:50 PM) But David Robertson fits into that scenario how exactly? Sox don't sign Cespedes. Should finish in last place. Get a life man.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:46 PM) Mibelt Rodriguez ‏@MibeltRodriguez 35s36 seconds ago Developing: The #Nats have offered a 5 years, $100-105 MM deal to OF Yoenis Cespedes. #MLB Mibelt is on top of things.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:39 PM) How is this not a massive red flag to everyone? I agree.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:37 PM) Slit my throat for me Bob NightengaleVerified account ‏@BNightengale The biggest surprise now is if #Nats don't sign Cespedes. They appear to be the only team interested in giving him longer than 3-year deal. I wonder if other teams' fanbases are just as outraged.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:34 PM) Take a look at his previous three seasons. Unlike you, I don't view things in a vacuum to fit my narrative. He's all over the place. Believe me, if the Sox signed Cespedes to what Washington is supposedly offering, he would tell you how wrong it is.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 01:32 PM) Torches are lit and it appears its only a matter of time before the castle at 35th and Shields is stormed. Film at 11 ! Good news for the White Sox, their fans don't know where 35th and Shields is.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:51 AM) Again, I said nothing about social, cultural or economic impact. I'm talking pure basketball. On the court. 48 minutes. 94 feet. The way the Warriors constantly move, cut, pass and ultimately shoot, there's never been anyone like them. they put up a stat last night stating that the Warriors have 20 games this year with at least 30 assists as a team. there's still half the season to go. The next two highest, the spurs and hawks, have a combined 17. You mentioned box office From a box office/entertainment perspective, I don't think we've seen anything like the Warriors

From all reports, they offered Upton a better player 2 years younger than Cespedes 3 years. Now the reports say the are the frontrunners for Cespedes, and he is going to get at least 5 years. Now, unless they plan on playing Cespedes in CF, decreasing a lot of his value, this does not add up. It has to be something with the Mets.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 10:59 AM) The Nats are the new yankees though in that they have not met a high priced FA they don't like. Their owner is about as wealthy as anyone, and their payroll is well down from last season. I just don't see the fit. I am probably wrong, but I think if they really are engaged, they may be trying to get the Sox or another team to offer more years and keep him off the Mets.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 10:48 AM) For those interested in understanding the impact Harry Caray had on the Cubs franchise and why it was a terrible mistake by our current knuckleheaded owners to ever let him go, have a look at this well-written synopsis. The author is spot on as it relates to this subject. http://kentsterling.com/2013/07/15/chicago...lk-to-the-cubs/ First off he mentions, since Caray's 3rd season (1984) gee, what happened in 1984? And again, you are totally ignoring the fact that the White Sox would never have had the access of 100+ dates on the superstation through no fault of JR or EE.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 10:38 AM) OMG lol the nats are going to put him in CF? That is such a nat move. @JonHeyman Nats showed interest in Upton but at 3 years. With harper/werth, hard to see how J-Up fit at all. Nats consider everything Why would the Nats offer Upton only 3 years, but offer Cespedes more? Putting 2 and 2 together, there seems to be a lot of BS going on.