caulfield12

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/jose-abreus-return-white-sox-233549151.html Moncada, Renteria, Anderson foreshadow Abreu staying with the White Sox for the remainder of his career Can Rick Renteria imagine the White Sox shifting into contention mode without Jose Abreu? "No," he said in a rapid-fire response before the start of the team's final homestand. "He's been here throughout the early stages of this rebuild," Hahn said during an MLB Network interview in May, "and it's certainly very likely that he'll be here for the more enjoyable stages that lie ahead of us." Rick Renteria Anderson added his voice to the group advocating for Abreu's return Tuesday. "He means a lot," Anderson said. "He's leading the way. He was here when we were struggling, so I want him to be here when we're winning. I think it's only right."

You're assuming that Ricketts allows Epstein to make that decision.

I don't think David Ross will inspire much excitement compared to Girardi's homecoming. Baseball is an entertainment business, and Ross was a great story, but they need a manager with more gravitas to turn this thing around.

PTI Take?

Just as there’s probably a stat that our combined 2B, RF, CF and DH production this year is worst in the majors. Luckily, there are obvious solutions to two of those problems, whether Collins will/can make it, we still have no clear idea.

Hasn’t this largely been the case (already) since the Heyward and Alex Gordon contracts?

Gluttons for punishment. I think the two for one (Harper + Machado) hype has now evolved into we can't even get ONE elite talent on the market. Historically, you'd be a rich bettor had you taken the over/under on how many "premium" free agents the White Sox would sign, since Robertson and Dunn would be the only two to identify going back to the 2000's.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27687754/boras-rips-mlb-wet-bases-bryant-injury Boras rips MLB safety standards after Bryant incident at first base brings back memories of similar Harper injury

3 years, $48-54 million seems pretty realistic. Based on his career before this second half with the Cubs, that would be a pretty big overpay going by fWAR alone/defensive limitations. That said, he's still (relatively) young.

The problem is McNeil's a lot like Whit Merrifield or Zobrist when he was on the Rays, more valuable to the Mets than almost anyone else. I think the second factor is that without his high profile pedigree, not unlike Reynolds on the Pirates, it's going to take another season (or at least 3-4 months) of repeated success before other teams are willing to buy into his success and pay a premium prospect price in terms of any acquisition. With Nimmo, exactly which version are you paying for? Was his one strong MLB season an anomaly? How much of his non-performance in other seasons can be blamed on injuries?

Padres make a lot of sense after his time spent in Anaheim, less pressure to win and more leeway with the local media. Seems the Phillies and Cubs are the two teams that would go after a Girardi type. The Phillies pretty much are forced to be in all-in mode for next season.

If the young rotation doesn't make marked/decided progress next year (out of that group after Giolito), there's just no way he can survive...not if they're seriously about contending in 2021.

With all the volatility surrounding Cease, Lopez and Kopech (not to mention Dunning)...you have to invest in ONE really solid veteran and hold the rest of your fire for 2021 (DH or RF if needed/rotation/bullpen). That also provides Walker, Adolfo, Gonzalez, Basabe and Rutherford one more season to prove themselves. You'd THINK you could get at least ONE 1.5-2.0fWAR line out of that group.

Mazara, Nimmo and Polanco are the three most obvious "under contract" players to target at the moment. Haniger, depending on cost. Nimmo will be 27 at the beginning of next year and has that one 4.5 season to his name. Odds are EXPONENTIALLY better for likes of Nimmo/Polanco than Mazara based on his uninspiring statistical history.

Or Burger and Courtney Hawkins (13). Sale was 13th. Broadway, Brian Anderson, Joe Borchard, Jason Stumm, Jason Dellaero, Bobby Seay....those are the other Sox first round names between present-day in the 10-15 range until you find ROBIN VENTURA picked 10th out of Oklahoma State in 1988 as a consensus All-American/Golden Spikes winner. So two borderline HoFers in Chris Sale/Ventura and 8 busts. 2/10 is hugely successful for that section of the draft.

Having Davis and Herrera in the same pen...former divisional rivals, five years too late, perfectly Sox-like.

A $23 million overall commitment (for at least the next two years) is nothing for Polanco, compared to how we allocated money this offseason. If he’s a stud, you have him under control for two more seasons through the heart of the contention window. Of course, it’s the White Sox, so trading Lopez, Fulmer or Collins for Mazara seems 10x more likely.

They didn’t call him Mad Dog for nothing.

Yeah, early Ozzie’s cockiness/aggressiveness and rapport with Latin players (other than Viciedo)...especially managing the pitching staff and pen, all badly needed.

Only in GregWorld. Heck, that and Abreu as a Don Kessinger player/manager might be the only two choices.

#JohnRamboNotAnalyticsTrueHero

The White Flag trade, 1994-95 strike, new stadium design/location, Harry Caray, Sportsvision...those things are never going away for Sox fans over age 40, at least as long as JR is in charge. Heck, some are still upset with 2003-04 and 06 (only making the playoffs once) or Carlos Quentin self-sabotaging 2008. If nothing else, with such a historic franchise, we have quite the legacy of disappointments.

At least KW/Paddy are the ones largely responsible for Abreu, Tatis, Jr., and Robert. Can’t imagine how much worse thing would be without the two of them. It’s not like they have no eye for talent.

Or Fulmer/Collins, if Zack is actually as bad as advertised...as 50% of his future value was going to come from being a passable 825ish OPS catcher. It’s scary to think Fulmer might end up being more effective as a reliever, but it’s likely not going to happen with the Sox.

Might as well try to make Lopez a closer/reliever and add two significant free agents to the pitching mix.