caulfield12

Sure, but they really liked Wood, just not as much as DeScalfini. We will see if they circle back to Cueto after January if other options are off the table. Obviously, Gausman has to be the next priority to address.

There's simply no logical reason for them to trade Rogers or Alcantara, both of who put up 4+ fWAR seasons. Sixto Sanchez is as untouchable as it gets. That leaves Lopez (LHP) or Luzardo? Hernandez and Cabrera are two other SP on their depth chart.

That's going to be a massive insurance underwriting deal...especially coming off that dead arm period at the end of the season. Scherzer doesn't need to do a tryout, but without his current medicals, seems dicey. They wouldn't even trade for Escobar in-season based on suspicions, can't imagine they'd risk signing damaged goods and having to pay out $80-120 million in the middle of their contention window. Gausman is the realistic target, but that's true for most of baseball, which means we are going to have to beat out 8-10 teams for him, and the Giants already have the "home field" advantage in that he was so comfortable out there already on the West Coast and with the Giants' coaching staff set in place. The last time I remember that becoming a big issue was the David Wells deal in 2001, and, of course, good 'ole Johnny Danks.

Probably so...but doesn't seem like the greatest idea in the world, unless the plan is to create more animosity between posters. SoxTalk Hunger Games. Or Squid Games, or something like that.

The best you will get out of SD is Frazier or perhaps Grisham if they've soured on him enough....or taking on most of Wil Myers' 2022 salary. Highly doubt the Royals would trade fan favorite Merrifield to a divisional rival...for the same reason the Cubs wouldn't trade Kris Bryant, unless you paid a huge premium. If that's the case, just go out and sign Chris Taylor instead and save the prospect talent for when you really need a veteran SP at the trade deadline.

Of course, the irony was that he was trying to SPITE the rest of baseball by offering that contract in the first place, and he was so fortunate to be bailed out by the Orioles because that deal went BAD really fast. I would hope almost a quarter of a century later than offering Scherzer wouldn't be for the same contrarian reasons. And, outside of Kuroda and the steroids era (Clemens, Pettitte, etc.), there haven't been many pitchers who beat the aging trends that become so pronounced at age 38 and up.

Why would we want to give up all those seasons of Vaughn for just two of Gurriel, when he just managed to put up a 1.5 fWAR season with 21 homers and 62 RBI's? That would be pretty close to the absolute floor for what we would expect with Vaughn getting regular playing time next year. And it's not like he's a particularly strong defender, either. Doesn't make much sense for the White Sox.

Some have Conforto down in the $45-55 million range for three years, but he's either going to go for a short-term repair his value deal and go back into FA at age 30 a year from now OR take the longest number of years and total dollar amount in all likelihood. There's also a number of concerns out there about a player like that in his early to mid 30's losing his skill set, since it's largely based on maintaining offensive productivity and not offset by much on the defensive side of the equation. Logically enough, the White Sox would prefer to get him for 3 or potentially 4 years, but definitely not a 5 year commitment. (Of course, we say the same thing about someone like Jose Abreu each and every year now, but eventually time will catch up with him...well, unless he's Nelson Cruz 2 minus the PED's.)

Alex Wood was always the odd man out assuming they make a full court press on retaining Gausman...

$6-7/year sounds pretty realistic...that said, he was very effective for the most part and quietly got the job done after some initial hiccups.

That's a lot for Loup but coming off a very solid year. Still don't like buying high on the secondary relief market when the variability in performance is so high.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/32637496/2021-22-mlb-free-agent-superlatives-player-most-likely https://www.mlb.com/news/free-agent-match-for-each-mlb-team-2021-2022-offseason White Sox: Joc Pederson, OF The White Sox could try Andrew Vaughn and/or Gavin Sheets in right field, but adding a solid bat such as Pederson -- a player the Sox have previously expressed interest in -- would give manager Tony La Russa more options. Pederson’s last great year came in 2019, but he had some big moments during the Braves’ World Series run and brings plenty of postseason experience.

I meant Oakland is shopping Olsen, meaning Vaughn would be exactly the type of player they're looking for. Bassitt and Kemp (two years of control), but there’s no other fit unless it’s another pitcher out of their pen. Canha’s a LF/FA and Piscotty/Andrus their two bad contracts.

But we're also not going to be trading for every single target of interest with Burger, Sheets, Collins, etc. The problem is we don't have much to offer outside of those two headline names and Crochet that would be tremendously enticing. Anyone looking at our roster would find that to be the place of most redundancy.

No, I mean the A's would/could/should be looking to trade Olson and/or Chapman this offseason, so looking for replacements....Chapman's value is at a low point, so they might need to wait for a rebound with him the first half. If I can actually get back Buxton (with a 5-7 year extension in the $110-125 million range) for Vaughn+, I'm happy to do that instead.

In a world where pitchers are getting $40 million contracts...and having just a one-year commitment on the books has a ton of value for many cash-strapped franchises with better/deeper farm systems. Ultimately, that would be what the A's would ask for to begin with. Now would they accept a package around Burger and Collins and maybe one Tier B prospect? Throw in Yermin for good measure, since the A's seem to be able to extract value from nearly any hitter historically. Maybe, probably...?

Other than making sure he's cleared the concussion protocols with no long-term issues....what are we willing to give up for him? Which players would the A's actually be interested in, assuming that everyone's going to be unhappy giving away Vaughn and/or Jimenez. If they trade Olson, Vaughn would seem pretty obvious, Collins or Burger as well. Cespedes has the obvious family connection/s to that franchise, but that might be too much pressure for him. Crochet, as usual, will get brought up, along with guys like Rodriguez, Ramos, Bailey, Krogman.

C'mon Balta, there are pots of gold at the end of some rainbows. Oh ye of little faith. Remember when we led the mighty Tigers for 7/8ths of a season in 2012 on the backs of 13 rookies?

Did we really wait a decade to be this excited about two guys we traded away coming back and Conforto coming off a down season where he's just as likely at his age to want a 1-2 year deal to rebuild some of his lost value at age 29 and go back out into the market? That said, if he doesn't have 4-6 guaranteed years, you have a higher likelihood of getting those really amazing years before he hits his peak and starts the inevitable decline physically. Can honestly live with that while waiting on the two Cubans and perhaps a position change from our young SS if he keeps growing to OF or 2B.

That sounds light and too heavily influenced by the two most recent Japanese outfielders and Kim from Korea…not thinking big enough, which definitely works in favor of the White Sox. Let’s steal him from the Mariners…instead of ceding ground automatically on the Pacific Rim.

Well, already living through 1984 here in China. Maybe you would prefer Murakami novels, Terry Brooks or the Shaara Family (history). This move would be more out of the Danks brothers, Machado and Klay/Trayce Thompson playbook. Kyle’s also available, fwiw. So CERTAINLY two brothers beats a brother in law (Alonso) and cousin (Jay)!!! Plus relocation expenses from Charlotte to Knights’ Stadium/The Wizard’s Castle or whatever, magically cheap. Justin Ryan Seager Status: Released Born: 5/15/1992 in Charlotte, NC Draft: 2013, Seattle Mariners, Round: 12, Overall Pick: 357 College: Charlotte Relationship(s): brother of Kyle Seagerbrother of Corey Seager

Taylor will cost almost as much as Conforto…

Seager Acquire/extend Buxton without sacrificing Jimenez Buying Suzuki, or perhaps Conforto OR Semien (any of those five moves) Along with Scherzer. That would give them 2 of the Top 10 RF arms in professional baseball, when paired w/ with Oscar Colas, who can replace Crochet ultimately from the LH side in the bullpen and as a spot starter/DH ala Ohtani. That could also position the White Sox to go after Ohtani when he comes free as well…having two outfielders he already played with/against. “Not to mention that Suzuki will be coming over at a younger age than both of them (Akiyama/Tsutsugo), heading into what would be his “peak” age of 27 in the states. Ultimately, Seiya Suzuki is a player that every fan of MLB should be excited about coming over. The high floor and potential he has should make him an intriguing piece for GMs to chase heading into next year should he be posted. He's the type of guy every scout dreams about watching progress. As the season ends, we’ll find out officially from him and the team and the suspected bidding war will commence, pending CBA.” https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/10/22/seiya-suzuki-a-deep-dive-on-the-next-big-thing-out-of-japan

I would do it for one of Jimenez OR Vaughn and definitely Crochet because his becoming a starter is looking increasingly unlikely...despite the continuing presence of Bummer. And I do believe the White Sox would always prefer the risk of 2+ Buxtons for 1 Seager deal. Of course, it’s far easier to argue spending the money on a Seager or Correa and not giving up any young talent…but the reality is Seager would seemingly be more willing to play anywhere you asked and they’ll need to package all that young talent for pitching. That said, maybe they get a breakthough with Contreras/Vera or even Colas as a two way player to replace Crochet with proper coaching once he reaches North America.

You once argued/asserted that Machado AND Harper were both realistic possibilities, as a combination. It would take Scherzer on a max value deal for just two years, with realistic incentives guaranteeing a third…and being creative with some of the other guys like Jimenez and Moncada as they hit their higher earnings years at the end of those contracts (knowing EXACTLY when to part with them), but they have to show they have the ability to get the big fish and compete with ANYONE to be taken seriously as a first-rate franchise. That was the whole point of the Machado, Harper and Wheeler pursuits, was it not? Even if Albert Belle was signed for the wrong reasons nearly a quarter of a century ago, they have enough veteran contracts that will clear in the next 2-3 years they could still absorb those two deals if they got really creative financially, or prohibitively expensive bullpens. It would mean no more Leury Garcias making $4 million. It would likely mean letting Giolito and Anderson go, which the franchise can overcome with an ALCS or World Series appearance, although my personal belief is they’ll work something out with Anderson and move on from Giolito…because they are much more apprehensive about long-term (meaning over three years) pitching commitments. If we did have Wheeler already, adding Seager would be the logical finishing piece. Unfortunately, they’re still at least two of those impact players away, but there are huge upsides for Jimenez, Vaughn, Kopech, Cease and of course, Luis Robert, who will be the best of them all and could someday challenge Thomas as the best player in franchise history if he remains healthy and fulfills jis bast potential. Signing Scherzer and Seager would demoralize the rest of the Central, and force CLE to deal Ramirez/Bieber and the Twins to start rebuilding. And I’m 100% serious about putting everything into a trade and extension for Buxton if they won’t commit to the money Seager requires. There’s no other logical choice for another future Christian Yelich that can be had for 60-75 cents on the dollar for a long list of reasons I won’t get into because they’re already so well-known. I would not go after Semien or Conforto. For once, they should shop at the very top of the market and let the chips fall where they may.