Dick Allen

I think Gordon is better, less risky, and cheaper. Cespedes could have numbers Gordon couldn't touch, but overall he isn't as good as he was with the the Mets. Either is a gigantic upgrade, so I wouldn't be upset if Cespedes is a White Sox.

QUOTE (TheCut87 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 08:56 PM) Yeah I don't think it was a coincidence he threw latos name out on the same day someone here saw a tweet about him... There was a guy on Sportstslk live that said he read a tweet about Latos to the Sox this afternoon.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 07:24 PM) Well he already did bet his reputation when he put this on Twitter as if it were fact. When he could just delete it and have it go away, or might just be playing games with people, he is just an unknown that has no reputation to lose. He might have something, and he may just be an asshole bro laughing at those he is getting excited.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 07:18 PM) He also claims Melky will platoon with LaRoche at DH. Just when it seems he might be credible, he comes up with that. Maybe that is just his dumb opinion and the information he received solid, but it is a red flag.

Hero worshipping. Robbie wouldn't know when to pull this one year rent.

Chip Kelly....he gone.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 02:27 PM) Can the Sox afford him after a big signing? Alexei would still be the best option at SS for another year, IMO. Saladino doesn't worry me as much as some, though. One thing I read about Saladino that may surprise people is according to Bill James, his time to 2nd base on steal attempts is only eclipsed by 3 players...a guy named Noel who basically is a minor leaguer, Billy Hamilton, and Dyson. Maybe he can become an elite basestealer.

That is one thing a salary cap brings...A quick free agent signing frenzy. Guys don't want to be left holding the bag.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 01:59 PM) Thats why you got to say what source it's from or if you can't say exactly who then just say info is from a source. Saying it that way tries to protect your credibility and can say well the source was wrong. If you notice alot of the bigger writers state source or other outlets to cover their butts. I did say I had a source, and it would be a name everyone here would recognize. It wasn't direct. It was through a friend of his.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 01:57 PM) This doesn't really follow logically. Anyone can make up as many random deals or free agent signings they want and tweet them. And if they happen to hit on one, then they're somehow a trusted source? I'll do one right now. White Sox to sign Cespedes. Timestamp. I wish I was on Twitter when I said the Sox would sign Avila. An educated guess could have made all the sites give me credit for being the first to "report". Too much of rabbits stuff has actually come true for him to be making things up. It is pretty obvious his source is solid.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) With all these non-big-name people with "sources" that you see on Twitter/message boards, I pretty much do not buy any of it. You have to ask yourself what purpose would it serve for someone who is on the inside of the knowledge (agent, team, etc.) to feed such information. If you cannot easily answer that question, then you should be extremely skeptical of any "sources." No offense to bucket or rabbit, but why would anyone give these guys inside info for no apparent benefit? Seems fishy. It works two ways. A lot of information from insiders is totally made up in a way that they hope if it gets out will be beneficial to the team. Rabbit doesn't have 2 million followers, and isn't trying to be the next Ken Rosenthal, so you have to figure he isn't making stuff up. You make enough up that makes sense, something is bound to come true, and you get your props for being first. And he doesn't have the following on Twitter or Soxtalk that it could make a difference by him getting fed misinformation. So his source isn't going to be playing games with him.Teams and agents use these guys to their advantage all the time. Heyman is Boras' puppet. I have a friend of a friend who is a great source, however, I don't have much access. 10 years ago, I found out KW's target was Tim Hudson of Oakland. I was so excited, I put it on this site. 20 minutes later, Hudson gets traded to Atlanta. I got torched as a phony. There was a poster named steff who supposedly had inside connections and she blasted my post as total BS , the Sox would never deal with Oakland because of Moneyball...I was vindicated when KW said no one tried harder to acquire one of the then Big 3 than him.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 12:55 PM) I thought there was some tension between them? I don't know if there is or not. The only thing I saw was before Abreu came over, Cespedes was telling people he would be a star in the US.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 11:40 AM) WHy does Davis get such a bad rap defensively? Didn't he commit less than 5 errors at 1b last season? I was responding to the DH comment. He also played the OF and has played 3B. I don't really know much about his fielding, although his reputation doesn't appear to be stellar. I wouldn't want to give him $150 million, and I agree with the post earlier, he has to be crazy not jumping on that offer unless he knows he won't pass the infamous Baltimore physical.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 11:36 AM) Well, he can DH for an AL team. I do see the Astros as a fit. I don't see many teams willing to spend more than $150 million for a DH, unless he is of Miguel Cabrera quality at the plate.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 11:23 AM) I have no idea how much Desmond will get, but if he's willing to take a pillow contract, he could be a very interesting signing for the Sox. With a decent rebound in 2016 and a poor free agent class next offseason, he's likely to get a multi-year deal to his liking next year even with a comp pick attached. The Sox would give up a 2nd round pick this year, but would essentially get a late 1st rounder in 2017 (again, assuming a rebound) and buy themselves a much more proven stopgap until Anderson is ready to take over. I find it highly unlikely the Sox can add both an impact OF and Desmond, but definitely something I'd be open to if Hahn could make the financials work out. I would think these "pillow" guys would want something near the amount of the QO offer they turned down. I read that teams value the comp picks at between $5 million and $8 million. Losing a comp pick and signing Desmond to a 1 year contract anywhere near the $15 million + he turned down seems like a bad thing to do.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 10:14 AM) I can see how my status as a sports agent is totally relevant to this conversation, and not just a personal attack. Personal attack, LMAO. You are saying because the White Sox don't have a history of being the highest bidder for free agents, that is enough for a free agent to not even be interested in signing with them, not to even listen to what they have to say . You can argue just to argue, but if you really believe that, there is no reason to believe Gordon or Cespedes will sign with the team either, so why don't you do everyone a favor and close those threads? And if you really think that is a personal attack, ban me.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 10:05 AM) Starting with the White Sox history of signing big named free agents to big deals. OK. You wouldn't make a very good agent. Why would any free agent want to talk to the White Sox? You should probably close this thread.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Or he has no interest in talking to the White Sox because they won't offer the most money. How would one know that without a discussion?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 09:48 AM) I think the problem is the assumption the Sox will be offering the Upton the largest deal. This franchise has a lot of history that shows otherwise. I agree with that, but the point I am making is if they did offer him the most money, he would definitely have interest playing for the team. And with all 3, if they don't offer them the most money, they will have no interest playing for the White Sox.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) It was reported Astros offered David Robertson more money for sure. The Sox were overbid on Victor Martinez, which led to their bid on Dunn, though most teams weren't interested in Dunn. The Abreu bid was the leader, but only because the biggest spending teams in baseball didn't need a 1B. Adam LaRoche was a two year/ $25 million deal, and has been a bust. I guess that is worth noting that his only other decent offer was a 2/20 from the Marlins. So they were the highest bidder 3 out of 4. These top guys are under pressure from the union to sign the biggest contracts. Heyward was able to say the Cubs didn't offer the most money, but we know while technically it is true, it also is a bit fudged. Again, if the White Sox don't offer the most money for Gordon or Cespedes, they won't be signing them, and if Upton is at the point he is thinking about signing a 1 year pillow because he doesn't want to even consider taking the White Sox money, c'mon man.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 09:11 AM) How often do the White Sox offer the most money, especially in the last decade? Several times. They don't get discounts on everyone. Especially highly coveted free agents, a market they really hadn't been in from 1997-2010. Who offered Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche, Jose Abreu, David Robertson more money? If they really think or thought they would get one of these guys on a discount because they really want to play for the White Sox, they aren't going to be signing them. The guy tweeting has already shown he is a poser, who apparently likes his status as some sort of insider without inside information. The White Sox could be scared off by the demands, but if you think Upton wouldn't play for the White Sox if they offered the most money because he doesn't want to play for the White Sox, you are kidding yourself.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 09:07 AM) @SSS_joshnelson I think the White Sox chances of signing Upton are pretty slim. Not for a lack of interest from the team, but more so from Upton's. This is also the guy who said don't be surprised the Sox made a move on Christmas Eve. I don't think he has any inside knowledge, just trying to seem like he does. Why wouldn't Upton want to play for the White Sox if they were offering the most money? Preposterous.

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.