caulfield12

Brewers are usually astute judges of undervalued pitching assets.

HardER. Just wait. We can compare what they come up with beyond Pineda vs. the Sox transactions. I said it would make 2021 much harder, and push the window back potentially to 2022/23 if we can’t overtake them. Obviously, there’s a possibility to still make it as a WC like the Nationals just did, or the Royals in 2014, etc.

It’s hard to precisely date the Royals’ rebuild, but they were propelled by adding James Shields in late 2012 for Wil Myers in order to stabilize the rotation and help lead them to the mid 80’s in wins in 2013. The Cubs has the Lester signing. We almost had a Wheeler signing. We’re still one difference-making pitcher short.

Dickerson Gardner Avi Puig then...

I never used the phrase “entire” difference. Please quote that back to me. Compare the statistics for Sox 5th starters that season vs. Rogers. There’s no more obvious discrepancy. Rogers was a FA anyone could have acquired for just a small amount of money. That’s the key point. In 2003, Loiaza simply wore down and they were toast against the Twins after the Jose Paniagua near comeback win/loss. Burke and Hunter were probably in there somewhere as well. 2010 the Twins might have beaten the Sox if Thome and Kotsay were flipped, but 2003 is the most obvious situation where one move/non-move made all the difference.

You said one individual player doesn’t make a difference. Quite obviously it can and does. If you don’t want to accept the conventional wisdom of why the White Sox lost in 2003 and 2010, it’s up to you. Blame it on Matt Thornton, if you prefer, instead of losing Thome. “LMAO” is not exactly a critical-thinking derived answer.

Compare and contrast that to the aggressive moves the Padres have been making...they still might not catch the a Dodgers until 2021-22, but they’re getting closer and closer...especially with Kershaw falling off. But they still have so much talent in LA on the offensive side.

You think the Tigers would have had that dominating decade-long run if Miguel Cabrera and Torii Hunter were on the White Sox?

Nope, there won’t be anyone and Brantley will be too old. Has to come internally or via trade. They need to get a break, like Stiever becoming a lockdown closer so that they don’t have to go out and spend $15-20 million to fill that spot externally.

Negating the roster and making it harder for the Sox are two entirely different things. It only took Kenny Rogers vs. a parade of 5th starters that were the equivalent of Mazara in 2003 and Thome over Kotsay in 2010 to give the Twins two more AL Central titles. One player.

To deny he has been a really dangerous hitter the last two seasons after putting up relatively pedestrian numbers earlier in his career...fine, but what FA will ever be available at an attractive rate that’s not a rebound guy like Gennett or Dickerson or Calhoun? You should never buy too high on career years in FA, as you’re always paying diminishing returns for past production...but expecting Mazara to break out isn’t exactly Moneyball Version 2.0, either.

That’s not going to happen, either. A platoon outfielder shouldn’t be getting any more than Castellanos or Ozuna. That said, if those two guys are off the market, an aging Brantley and Pederson will be the only non-trade options. And Brantleys not especially well-suited for RF, either.

The real problem isn’t Mazara. It’s pitching. If Minnesota makes the right move for Bumgarner, Ryu or Keuchel...it’s going to make it that much more difficult to overtake them before 2022/23. Luckily, the Dodgers and Angels will likely take 2 of those 3.

My cousin who lives in Plano and watches nearly every Rangers’ game had this to say. Rangers are a mess and have been since the blowup with Nolan Ryan and the new ownership that doesn't appear to have any money. Mazara will be an All-Star for the Sox. Another awful trade by Daniels. How much longer will they stay with this guy? His greatest trade was trading a HOFer for Andrus.

Can’t wait until Betts and/or Springer sign extensions. Then the 2021 FA market will be even more garbage. I guess it would be worse to have a 100ish win team like the Twins and do little to improve it.(Of course, that means they end up signing Ryu, Keuchel or Bumgarner...all decent moves for that stadium.)

Sounds exactly like Brian Anderson. Talent got him to the big leagues quickly...but never capitalized on numerous opportunities given. Mazara got passed up by Willie Calhoun. Non-tender candidate with four lefties between corner OF and DH.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/6/4/18446775/white-sox-select-oklahoma-outfielder-steele-walker-in-second-round No wonder Nick Hostetler lost his job...errr...was promoted to evaluating MLB and MILB talent.

No, we’ll get some Stiever is the closer in waiting excuse for not spending on a more established reliever after wasting so much money on Herrera.

They never would have done this had they signed Wheeler. And had they signed Wheeler, the reaction to Mazara would be indifference at worst and mild surprise they didn’t at least try for Dickerson, Calhoun, Puig, Gardner or even Avi (any of them on a one year deal with an option for 2021.) Walker would still be around and likely have increased value at mid season or next year as trade bait.

White Sox will never assume that type of financial responsibility on a clearly declining pitcher...they will instead insist on getting a subsidy back and sell off more prospects to mitigate financial risk, leaving the minor league system barren in the process.

Bumgarner and Ryu will end up elsewhere (see LAA/LAD or Tex)...Keuchel and 2 day old Krispy Kreme’s are the only options unless we want to empty out the remainder of the farm system for Blake Snell.

Yes, we shouldn’t have loved Escobar, Semien, Tatis, Jr., Montas, Narvaez, etc. We don’t need any more Top 100 MLB players at this point.

He walks in two years because of FA and Boras...

Assuming the contract of Alex Rios would be the move of a decade with this front office. Because we desperately need someone who will be reliably productive when needed. Rios did that every year but one, which Greg775 will never forgive him for to this day.

By this rationale, we should never worry about preserving any draft pick besides Top Ten in the first round...