harfman77

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 01:49 PM) Anyone worried the Sox are going better than we need them to be this season? All the info about Rick Rentaria, energy he brings and how the clubhouse is meshing together. I think Sox will overachieve in 2017. Just a random thought. I wouldn't say worried, but I can see this team finishing around .500 depending how long it takes to move Frazier/Cabrera/Quintana.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 12:31 PM) Well there was a rumor at one point of the ask being Frazier, Mateo, & Severino. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but there are deals to made without Torres. IMO, Hahn would be absolutely crazy to pass on a Frazier & Rutherford headlined package. And I think an argument could be made for a couple other players being a suitable co-headliner as long as Frazier is in the mix. Hell, the rumored ask is interesting at the very least. Severino was the Yankees #1 prospect and #35 overall just a few years ago and as bmags pointed out earlier Mateo could be an interesting CF idea. If you're scouts are still high on both of those guys, that might be a package worth taking. I am not sure there is a deal to be made with the Yankees without Torres, if they do not include him I don't think they would beat a package from the Pirate (Meadows)/Astros(Martes/Tucker)/Braves (Albies) or Cardinals (Kelly+depth). Frazier is a nice player, but too much swing and miss in his game. Rutherford is much to far away to be considered a key piece. The rest of their prospects are fine, but nothing really jumps out about them to me. Mateo's stock is down, Andujar may be a pitcher by the end of the year. There is not a lot of quality depth to me in the Yankees system right now, if they don't throw in Torres, someone like the Braves or Cardinals could jump in with the depth in their systems an surpass what the Yankees could offer.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 11:52 AM) I'll make it easy for you so that you don't have to allow "time" to tell. He's not selling after next year because...for the 2,678th time, taxes would take a major bite out of any sale profit for him and his family. JR is a tax guy, that's how he got his start, he's a brilliant businessman, which is how he got enough money to buy the team in the first place, he's not stupid. The team will be sold after he has passed on...not before. Please, stop beating the drum on something that makes ZERO financial sense to a guy who is nothing but finance as you correctly point out. Mark Again, no one is buying that argument. If they wait until he dies, they risk getting taxed twice through the inheritance tax, so that would motivate him to sell the team sooner than later. You can keep bringing up taxes, but they are going to take a tax hit whenever the team is sold, so it is a moot point.

I feel like Torres is the hold up in this deal. Hahn needs to get him back and Cashman is reluctant to throw him in, similar to what happened with Dombroski and Moncada. I don't even think Frazier is acceptable as a headliner for what Hahn wants to get done.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 13, 2017 -> 07:45 AM) I also don't think the payroll has any bearing on selling a team, unless the team was butt and the payroll was near the luxury threshold. Teams are sold for over a billion dollars now a days. Even a $100 million difference in payroll is going to have no bearing on whether a person is interested in acquiring the team or not. Payroll definitely is a factor when determining the value of the team for a sale. The smaller the payroll, the lower the debt ratio and the more money that the partnership can get out of the team in a sale. Its also easier for perspective buyers to get financed as it decreases the debt that will be assumed which helps with MLB's alleged debt ceiling.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2017 -> 02:10 PM) That works both ways then. If the networks are a bust now, they aren't going to go somewhere else to find a new and more profitable one. Right, which is probably why they don't move. The only way it would make sense for them to make a move is if they are going to make a significant jump in TV revenue. I don't see that happening given the current environment of cord cutters and the large financial commitments already made by many of the regional sports networks.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2017 -> 01:54 PM) Would that be worth more than 40% of CSN with the money makers such as the Bulls and Blackhawks still on there as well? I have a hard time believing that. I am not sure that sports networks are really making any money right now. The rights fee bubble has inflated so much that the networks are paying all the money they are making out on rights deals, and I think that bubble isn't far from bursting as sports networks are hemorrhaging money right now with monthly subs dropping at a torrid pace and increased fees. I think the 40% ownership is only really valuable if you can sell it, and given the market around TV sports right now, I don't think you can get a lot out of it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2017 -> 01:52 PM) I would bet my entire retirement fund that one thing the current administration does is to destroy the inheritance tax, or at least they will take a huge chunk out of it. I mean we could be talking about hundreds of millions of dollars if the timing is right. The inheritance tax would be in addition to the taxes they would have to pay on the income from selling the team. If JR sells before he dies, they only have to pay taxes on that income once.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2017 -> 01:20 PM) As mediocre as the fan base here is, I have a hard time figuring out where someone else could go to make more money than this franchise does in Chicago. Any move would have to be made for regional TV purposes. The midwest is saturated with baseball markets, if the Sox move into a market with less competition, they could net a deal similar to what the Diamondbacks got. In Chicago, I think they are going to get whatever money CSN has left after the Cubs get all the money they want. I still am not buying into the idea of a Cubs network, I really feel it is just a negotiating tactic to get a deal on par with what the Dodgers got.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Mar 10, 2017 -> 11:08 AM) JR will not sell while he is still alive because of the tax hit (which would be very large) on his family. He started as a tax guy, he knows the laws better than anyone. And it has been reported many times by many sources (including JR himself to Bob Sirott on Chicago Tonight) that his children are not interested in running the Sox and he has advised them against doing so. Mark They can't avoid the tax hit, it is coming sooner or later anyway. The franchise is worth 50 times what he paid for it, so he may only get $700M, but thats still a great investment that has grown at a much faster rate than inflation. Heck, the Marlins are rumored to have been sold for $1.5B, and I can't believe they would be worth any more than the White Sox. Taxes will never be a reason that a professional sports team is bought or sold. I think JR is on his way out, this is the second or third rumor about the team being for sale in the last six months. With Bud gone and his public opposition to Manfred, he has burned some bridges in some high places and has very few allies left in the leadership group. The other component of a rebuild that has not really been discussed is that it decreases operational expenses, which improves the bottom line, and makes the team more valuable if it were to be sold. Add to that the potential for a big splash with a new TV deal in two years, I think right now is the optimal time to sell. I feel like the Sox potential of a new TV deal will be worth more than the actual deal they get.

I wonder if the Sox would consider a six man rotation at some point this season to help limit the innings of Rodon and whatever other younger guys end up in the rotation over the course of the year. It also makes it easy to skip guys if they don't like the matchup, which could help the trade value of Gonzalez, Holland, and hopefully even Shields.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 17, 2017 -> 01:21 PM) If that rotation pitched a full season, I'd bet that would be the worst team in MLB history. The Padres are going to run away with that this season, and I doubt its that close.

Any reports on how Robertson has looked this spring? I think he has a chance to bounce back pretty significantly after being fully healed from his knee injury and could really build his value backup for a midseason trade.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 6, 2017 -> 11:13 AM) Similar rule change is what let us get Rodon, once they put the cap limit in the draft. Sox are practically baseball's Little Havana. Not sure that is close to being true anymore. Yes, they still have Abreu, Moncada, and ~Rodon, but the Dodgers are probably the team with that claim at this point.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 02:10 AM) One cannot want the team to tank but then suggest signing a washed up player as a LH DH because the line-up lacks power. The sooner Collins and Moncada are brought up, the sooner they start getting the experience they need. Minor league experience is overrated and can be counterproductive to players who can get too comfortable there and accustomed to lower expectations and an inferior level of competition. Collins can catch a few games here and there and get major league at bats as a platoon LH DH or pinch hitter. Moncada can share time with Saladino. The rebuilding process involves trading veteran players and bringing up the top prospects to see if they can compote at this level and to gain major league experience. I know the Sox philosophy has been to challenge prospects by aggressively promoting them so that they can deal with failure. I understand the logic behind that. Where I think they have gone wrong is not allowing guys to dominate a level for a period of time before and after experiencing failure. I think that is huge in building the confidence in players that they can be successful. If they don't taste success it can affect their ability to believe that they can succeed.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 08:21 AM) Indeed Singing Alvarez makes no sense in the real world It could make sense as a guy that you sign and move over the summer to a team looking for some LH power or a guy that you keep to play 1B if you move Abreu this summer.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 02:31 PM) Interesting the Braves weren't mentioned. They are rumored to have offered a package built around Albies and Newman. It's possible they just want to wait and see where they are at in June/July. I am doubtful of the Cards and think Levine is throwing them into the mix based on Reyes having TJ surgery. Not sure the Cards will give up the 4+ prospects it would take for them to acquire Q. Doubtful of the Yanks. Cashman seems bent on keeping their talent and Yanks fans seem to agree. I think the only way Cashman changes his mind is if they are still hanging with Boston come June/July, which I don't believe will happen. The Yanks can simply keep their prospects and buy starting pitching next winter in free agency. The Astros and Pirates are no surprise though. If this drags out into June/July then I think the Dodgers will be in the mix as well. Don't know if Seattle would be willing to give up the haul for Q (like the Cards ) but if they are hanging with the Astros and Rangers come June/July they might become desperate enough. The Cards are an interesting add because it serves two purposes, adds another team that can drive up the price and puts pressure on the Pirates to keep him away from a division opponent. I think the Braves will check in during the summer if they are still in striking distance. They have put a lot of resources into going for it this year, the first year in their new park.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 11:56 AM) The Sox are not in the penalty phase. They can spend their allotment however they like. I was saying that they would be in the penalty phase if they go out and get Robert.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 11:03 AM) Which, If you like this young Cuban, puts them in a prime position to sign him if he doesn't clear before 6/15. If the Sox don't have many deals lined up for 7/2, it shouldn't matter when Robert is cleared. They will still have $4M+ to spend, though they will have to do it in increments of $300K and less. Getting Robert his year and 15 kids this summer under $300K would give you quality this season and quantity next season. I don't see anyway that Robert isn't declared a FA before 6/15. Too many teams with interest will be putting pressure on the commishs office to get it done. From MLBTR article on Cards interest in Robert: One NL international scouting director tells Sanchez that Robert is second only to Shohei Otani on the list of best international talents in baseball, describing the 19-year-old as “a five-tool guy that can be in the big leagues soon.” An international scouting director for an AL team goes even further, calling Robert “the best player on the planet, and that’s no exaggeration.” https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/card...uis-robert.html

CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine, who writes that the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals and Pirates are “dug into” the Quintana sweepstakes. Not a big change from the teams that have been discussed in the past. The one interesting piece is the mention of the Cardinals and exclusion of the Braves. I think the Cardinals can put together a pretty attractive package around Kelly and Perez. It was also rumored that the Cards are looking at extending Yadi, which make make Kelly expendable to them. I can still see the Braves getting involved at some point in a blockbuster for Q and Frazier.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 23, 2017 -> 07:47 AM) Isn't that a good thing in a season where they are rebuilding? edit: As long as it's not one of the young rebuilding pieces that is. No, not in this case, it is better that he is healthy and putting up good numbers to help get more pieces back for him to aid in the rebuild.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 22, 2017 -> 01:56 PM) Colleen Kane‏@ChiTribKane 15m15 minutes ago Todd Frazier said it's likely an oblique strain. Injured it while he was swinging. Said no reason to test it now with such a long spring. Those oblique strains seem to take quite a while to recover from. Guys seem to heal from it in a fair amount of time, but it seems to be an injury that lingers in hitting mechanics for quite a while.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 22, 2017 -> 01:45 PM) Daryl Van SchouwenVerified account‏@CST_soxvan 3m3 minutes ago Todd Frazier out with sore left side http://bit.ly/2m8HN75 via @suntimes Ugh...hope its not an oblique, that will really hurt his trade value.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Feb 22, 2017 -> 10:49 AM) I'd only consider Severino for Robertson if the Nationals ate the entire remaining contract Even then, I don't love the deal and think we should look to get more out of the Nationals The Sox aren't getting any more out of the Nationals, their fanbase is already got the torches and pitchforks out over the Eaton deal, which is probably what killed the Robertson deal a few weeks ago. Nats ownership is very sensitive to the fanbase's perspective that they are getting fleeced. If it was any other team, I think you could get more.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 22, 2017 -> 10:52 AM) Just to be clear, nobody is saying Robertson for Severino straight up. It's just that some of us want Severino as part of the return for Robertson. MLBTR is saying the Sox will eat money to get Severino for Robertson, so it sounds like it would be pretty much a straight up deal.