Dick Allen

I hope the Royals get Bruce. He sucks.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 08:20 PM) I think you're on base with this & I think it goes for all 3 of the top guys left. Time is not really the Sox's friend. The longer this drags on, prices will go down & teams that have said they are "done" might jump back in. I can't imagine the White Sox are a very attractive team to play for. I don't understand why if the prices come down, why it hurts the White Sox. So what if other teams jump in. No matter what they still have to be the highest bidder. The lower the bidding the better.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 03:49 PM) I'd like to explore this "opt out" privilege being granted in so many recent contracts. I understand that it can be favorable to either side, depending upon the circumstances. In the current competitive and financial state of the White Sox, it would seem that they are focusing upon a 2 to 3 year window. Why not sign a player like Cespedes to the 6 years he is seeking and give him an opt out after the 2ND year? If he is playing well, and salaries continue to escalate, he may exercise his opt out clause, in order to seek even more money, in another contract. One might question whether it would be desirable to have a guy who is very productive, leave, just when he seems to still be in his prime. However, losing a guy for one or two productive years, in order to avoid having to pay for his last 2 or 3 declining years might be a worthwhile tradeoff. How do you think a deal for someone like Cespedes could be be structured to increase the likelihood that he would opt out after 2 years. while still being appealing enough for him to accept it? They did it with Albert Belle. An opt out, while theoretically nice for the player, usually works out well for the team if they let the player opt out and walk away. I also think giving an opt out also should reduce the guarantee a bit.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 03:59 PM) Hahn could have gained a ton of respect from me had he made the cold blooded move and signed one of the big 3 on Christmas. That would have taken BIG cajones and shown huge dedication. He didn't lose respect from me for not doing it, but my respect for him still remains low. Hopefully he can redeem himself to me and many other fans I agree, getting something done on Christmas would have shown huge stones, and would have been cold blooded. Doing the same move any other date is just.....blah.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 12:23 PM) There alot people trying be ken rosenthal hes the best. With White Sox stuff, rabbit is blowing Rosenthal out this offseason. It doesn't appear his goal is to be Ken rosenthal

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 12:17 PM) Ya idk bucket or rabbit im starting doubt there connections with the white sox. Rabbits info has been solid . He has never posted any of the free agents would sign but it is pretty clear they have had a lot more interest in them than the other reports would suggest. I don't see how his info could be questioned.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 28, 2015 -> 09:19 AM) The highest ever first year arb number was $10 million, for Ryan Howard I believe, so blowing past that number like 8 years later seems entirely reasonable. Furthermore, the contract for the previous year isn't "forgotten" in arbitration - they do take into account the guy's previous year salary based on everything we've seen. Howard also hit 105 Homers and drove home 285 the 2 years prior. I really doubt he would opt out of the 2 years of guaranteed money to perhaps get a slight raise in 2017. Like was stated earlier they probably will look at some sort of extension.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 27, 2015 -> 11:37 PM) Arbitration is based on comps to other players. What 4th year players have deals in the $15 to $17 million range, or even $11 million, that Abreu could use to get that sort of a number in a hearing? That is exactly right, and if the record is $10 million, chances are they aren't going to blow by it by much. He would be lucky to get $11 million in arb next year. The two years after that would be a different story. The question I have is once he goes to arbitration, does the balance of the contract lose the guarantee?

It really wouldn't be considered a negotiation if there was one offer take it or leave it.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 27, 2015 -> 08:44 AM) Lol at Balta the grouch already writing off next season. He has already written off the rest of the decade.

Taylor Teagarten is due a refund.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 26, 2015 -> 07:40 PM) This is a bizarre thread. Are the white sox particularly unusual in having only 1 player playing CF while most teams switch their CFs out? Because I simply sorted teams in the AL by WAR in CF, the stat listed in the thread title, and found the White Sox overall CF is in the bottom 1/3 of the American league over 2014-2015 and looking particularly mediocre with Eaton Team WAR Angels 16.6 Royals 15.1 Rays 14.6 Red Sox 9.8 Astros 8.7 Yankees 8.1 Orioles 7.9 Indians 7.9 Blue Jays 7.4 White Sox 6.6 Athletics 5.5 Rangers 5.4 Tigers 5.1 Twins 5 Mariners 0.4 The thread is about OPS+. The bizarre thing is you say the thread is bizarre and list WAR the first post after the original.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 26, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) it happens with every transcendent athlete though. Want to be like Mike, Steph, Lebron, etc. people always want to mimic greatness, very few can. It doesn't ruin the game Yeah ruining the game was a bit strong. He could have phrased it better, as it did make him sound bitter. But there is no doubt in youth basketball now, there are more balls being launched from long distance because of Curry. I hadn't seen him play much, but he gets to the rim as easy as any guard I have seen.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 26, 2015 -> 01:34 PM) Mark Jackson still bitter. It did sound a bit bitter, and kids were lining up at the 3 point line before Curry became MVP. He does have a point though. My nephew plays football and my brother in law told me the other night all the kids are trying to make OBJ one hand grabs.

Lerxst, is that you?

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Dec 25, 2015 -> 01:22 PM) Rick Hahn not going do this on Christmas. Then he's not cold blooded.

Why would Haywards opt outs slow down signings? Opt outs have been part of the landscape for almost 20 years, and while it would seem to favor the player, more often that not, even if it wasn't used as one, it has been a great escape opportunity for the team.That is how it worked out with Albert Belle. I am sure the Yankees with hindsight would have let ARod and Captain Cheeseburger walk after they opted out. Sure it protects the player in case of drop of production in a way. But with these players, you are giving them the long term deal regardless. Having 3 nice seasons and then having them walk when they are in their 30s and looking for even more money and longer guarantee is doing the team a favor. Most of these huge contracts, teams are fully aware they most likely will be paying a lot of money for very little at the end. Cano, Pujols, even a guy like Greinke. Why a highly anticipated opt out clause to Jason Heyward would make a market slow makes no sense. And if Cespedes wanted an opt out, why a team would consider it weird or to not be more than willing to include one makes no sense.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 24, 2015 -> 12:27 PM) I come from more of a football mind frame, so maybe that's why I have such concerns with his age. I just worry about giving him a 4-5 year deal, especially that back half. He's not getting constantly hit. Some guys don't age well. He is the type IMO, athletic but not dependent on extreme speed, who should age fine. He isn't a particularly big guy, which seems to take its toll faster on the legs. I just think ultimately any top free agent you sign, you are going to have to commit a lot of money to years some would consider old.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Dec 24, 2015 -> 12:18 PM) Hahn was saying before he was looking at more of defensive outfielder which gordon is. Just not sold on him with him being older of the 3. Plus with him having the groin injury last year that worries about further injuries It amazes me a 32 baseball player is now considered old. If Gordon signed with the White Sox, he would be over a year younger than Carlton Fisk when he signed with the White Sox, and he caught.in fact, they tried to move Fisk to LF in 1986. When Gorson is that age, even if he signs for 5 years, that contract would be ova.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 24, 2015 -> 10:24 AM) FWIW, this is what Dan Hayes said about 45 minutes ago on Twitter regarding the outfielder situation. Take it as you wish. @The_Xsport I never said it doesn't make sense. They'd be much better off. I don't think they're going to do it though. My guess is 1/2 @The_Xsport they want to start out w/ current group going every day & if it isn't working they'll try to add a bat after season begins. 2/2 That ha been their MO in the past. The problems with that are if you need a bat in May you probably have lost games you might have won for the first month or 2 if you had the bat all along. And with 2 wild card teams the availability of productive hitters who will be available without giving up your top prospects is slim. It is time to try something new.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 24, 2015 -> 10:10 AM) If you were manufacturing the shirt and had to choose only four, which team would you eliminate that would give you more profit with the Sox logo substituted for...? I would imagine a farmer in Iowa wouldn't be interested in a shirt like this. Haven't you told us time and time again there are just as many Sox fans in the Chicago area as there are Cubs fans and the extra at Wrigley are just tourists?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 07:43 PM) I'd like to see Laroche play more first. That's his one skill. I know Abreu doesn't like sitting, but he could use some rest, with those nobby injuries/aches and pains he gets now and then. He actually hit better when he was in the field. .746 OPS

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 06:31 PM) Im not talking money savings, my point is to free up the roster/lineup spot. While youre at it you would end up gaining back 3 mil, but the main point/gain is creating flexibility Again, you aren't going to get any savings. There is plenty of room in the 40 man roster for now. If he is still crap this spring, they can move on. There is no need to rush unless there was a financial gain to be made now, which there is not. The fact is this guy has been consistently a power bat. Last year was awful, but players have bad years. See how he is with a clean slate. Most early projections expect him to bounce back at least a little bit.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 06:16 PM) Spezza is not great. He hasn't had more than 80 points since 2009. If Spezza needs Ales f***ing Hemsky to make him feel better, he's a pu**y. Klingberg is a great offensive defenseman. If he can improve defensively, that's a great move by Nill. Bowman has 3 Cups. While Tallon did a lot of the 2010 work, he also f***ed Bowman over with the Barker and Byfuglien deals. Bowman's signings of Hossa and Campbell those years put them over the top. The Seguin trade was a great one, there is no doubting that. I also wouldn't compare him to Toews. It's not an excuse. It was a bigger game for the Stars. Face it. Do I think Dallas is really good? Yeah obviously, but I'm not going to bet the Stars if they meet in the playoffs. Wasn't Tallon still the GM when Campbell and Hossa signed? Wasn't the rumor back then that it actually was Mc Cub who signed Campbell?

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 05:49 PM) you may have a point ..... but did he bernstien come back to retract what he said, or was this the radio station protecting itself. again i do not live in chi, i do not know anything about this reporter. i live where i have to question info. i do not believe in it by it self, but wondering if there is some element of truth. These type of rumors have been around for a long time and they all are supposedly vetted. Remember when Bill Self was the golden child of Illinois basketball? He takes the Kansas job and suddenly all you read from Illini fans is he was sleeping with cheerleaders, he used to pick up sorority girls all the time, and they all had sources deep in the athletic department who could confirm these things to be true. Funny how all of this was suddenly discovered, even though it had supposedly gone on for years, and he became a very bad guy right after he took another job. The Balckhawks were struggling, suddenly there is trouble in the locker room and Sharp is sleeping with a teammates wife, while sleeping with a weather forecaster, not to mention still coming home to a wife and kids. We love rumors or things like the National Enquirer wouldn't exist. The problem with rumors is the vast majority have zero truth. I am pretty sure if he really was sleeping with Keith's wife, the Blackhawks would have unloaded him immediately.