caulfield12

Contreras was a 2.2 fWAR pitcher for his last 2 1/2 years with the White Sox, but not close to the 2005-2006 version, which was 3.7. I suppose that gets the sentimental Konerko/Abreu past contributions award. Looking back retrospectively, not a total disaster, but also a shadow of the last two months of 2005 and first two months of 2006 version. Dunn set the franchise back three years...and his only real Sox highlight was that 2012 team that collapsed the final two weeks against DET. I guess Dallas Buyer’s Club and having the Royals end his career with OAK. In fact, Rios and Dunn collectively killed the franchise the first half of the decade (due to 2011), and sent Buehrle and Ozzie packing...which indirectly led to the Ventura Malaise Years, Jersey Gate and Eaton/Drake Leadership Gate. Melky Cabrera was worth 0.7 fWAR his three White Sox contract years. A slight overpay...I guess. Basically, about $20 million per 1 unit of fWAR. Konerko averaged a bit under 0.6 fWAR his last four (still expensive) seasons with the White Sox. LaRoche? Castillo and Alonso in 2018/2019?

The argument is 1/3rd about this particular signing, but much more about NO LONGER “unlimited financial flexibility” from 2021 onwards. That’s now permanently gone as a Hahn catchphrase after these last two days.

The one time we needed to actually keep a veteran, we dump Thome for Kotsay and gifted the Twins another division title, just like not signing Kenny Rogers bit them in the ass in 2003. Somehow, those damned Twins will never go away, ever since the Ozzie overly-complimentary Piranha label stuck. Jose Paniagua Bullpen 2020!!!

Danks...Konerko...Jose Contreras after 2006. Dunn. LaRoche. Melky Cabrera. Alex Rios. Herrera will still get way too many chances next year. Welington Castillo. ETC. And this always happens with the White Sox.

As long as the White Sox are willing to go from $100 to $115 million on Wheeler for five years, no problemo. The issue for the White Sox has always been adding those extra years on at the back end...especially with pitchers. Grandal got one more year than most would have ideally preferred, and Abreu did as well...if not two. Fine, maybe that’s actually a positive sign they’re changing the way they do business, although Abreu will always be the JR/Konerko Favored Son Special if this goes sideways. As long as they don’t stop now and start blanching at those extra years for FA pitchers...maybe it all actually works out in the end.

If we sign Keuchel or Hamels instead of those top three...will you consider the offseason a complete success, assuming a band-aid RF, no DH move like EE (other than current roster) and one more random RH veteran reliever? And, as to your point, they budgeted everything out with Machado last year, did they not? In the end, wasn’t it concern about lack of financial flexibility and/or player performance decline over that last $100 million that destroyed the deal? We can argue the positives with Moncada ensconced there at third now, but nobody knew that this time last year...so somehow the spin has become that it worked out brilliantly to completely screw up a negotiation or not pursue Harper as well.

“Under terms of the deal, the All-Star first baseman will receive a $5 million signing bonus, $11 million in 2020, $16 million in 2021 and $18 million in 2022 with $4 million deferred. Abreu accepted the $17.8 million qualifying offer last week from the White Sox.” It still amounts to an average of $15 million in 21-22 and $4 million deferred that would have been going to the bench or a veteran RH reliever. And we still haven’t mentioned the very real need in 2021 to replace the back end of the bullpen again. Sure, Colome’s deal will be gone...but going back into FA if we can’t come up with an internal option means another $3-5 million in spending on top of what we were paying him for an “elite/lockdown” reliever in what HAS TO BE a contending season.. I guess the spin will be that this money comes from Colome/Herrera departing...but still have a feeling we will be needing that $15 million to address an even more pressing need that’s completely unanticipated.

If they don’t sign Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu, Keuchel or even Hamels...and this is (indirectly) given as part of the excuse, that’s where a lot of posters are going to have a problem. And there’s the whole issue of (needlessly) blocking Vaughn at 1B OR him DHing and preventing Grandal from getting at-bats there to keep him as well rested as possible in the second half of seasons (especially during July/August Chicago weather.)

Why didn’t we extend the same courtesy to Mark Buehrle back in 2011-12? He and Konerko were the heart of the organization (and World Series winners) for over a decade...not just six non-winning seasons. Ozzie leaving made it easier on Jerry, somehow? Why didn’t we also stay loyal to Jim Thome in 2010...?

They were never in them to begin with...

We better never hear: 1) Extensions for Giolito, Moncada and Robert were just out of our “comfortable” price range...or that Moncada/Robert wouldn’t sign extensions despite Abreu being around 3 full seasons rather than just 1 year. 2) The reason for not signing Wheeler has anything to do with payroll obligations in 2020/21 3) Jose just can’t hit well at DH...needs to be on the field 130-140 games per season as “capitan” and designated team role model. 4) That we needed to move on from Collins and/or Vaughn because of this deal. 5) KW or Stone or Cooper mentioning limited available current/future payroll due to attendance issues If this forecasts adding the last remaining “name” Cuban player in Puig for one year/$8-12 million and a 2021 option, it’s still not worth it...

Still not enough...what would they do, trade Josh Bell to open 1B for Sheets? Walker has to put up a 800+ ops at Birmingham before his stock will rise enough for him to be a headliner.

No way they add Castellanos then...they likely add a Moustakas at DH for closer to $20-22 million over two years. Castellanos is likely to get at least 3-4 years/$45-60 million and then you’re not only committing yourself to a pretty bad defensive outfield but putting Robert’s health at risk as well.

How many times will Puig’s name come up in the next 4 months? The Cuban Connection is strong with us, Mandalorian...

Daniel Hudson's another guy who has had a really long/extended career despite having two operations. The biggest point is that even two surgeries for starting pitchers is no longer a death sentence, like it used to be a decade or so ago (I think Chris Capuano was one of the first, but he wasn't a classic stuff guy, either). But it's also a risk. The success rate is 80%ish for one surgery and closer to 60% for two, from everything available online.

Even post-game Cubs' radio call-in lunatics categorically say no, on behalf of White Sox fans. This comes from the "meathead" take of why wouldn't X/Y/Z club trade any given superstar for 5-6 prospects (even thought the prospects all suck.) Of course, in this case, you can't trade Vaughn in that type of move. It's basically crazy talk. And why you would include Rodon when his value is negative...it would be better just to release him if they don't feel his value will appreciate between now and mid-season 2021. The rest is just noise/names.

Haniger=Benintendi >>>>> Mazara Obviously, depends on the acquisition cost for those first two. Haniger has put up the really big fWAR numbers, but he's also older and could be declining due to injuries.

If they DO discard Collins, it means Moustakas to the White Sox makes a heckuva lot more sense. Wheeler, Grandal, Moustakas, band-aid RF/Gennett and another veteran RH reliever. Get 'er done!!! That still might be TOO ambitious, but definitely not out of the realm of possibility, either.

Ron LeFlore before 1981, just because of the Lavar Burton movie... https://www.blessyouboys.com/2018/2/15/17016852/detroit-tigers-history-ron-leflore-former-all-star There's a really great untold story about Torii Hunter at the beginning, never knew.

Jaime Navarro Actually, Belle, Fisk, AJ, Dye and Abreu were arguably the five best. Dunn was definitely huge, at the time. The combination...and time sequencing of Cabrera/LaRoche/Robertson, that SEEMED like a great offseason. Tom Seaver at the time was a huge name (for the White Sox), back in 1984.

That close, and they might as well break the club record for first $100+ million contract while they’re at it...plus, with the most loaded field of suitors with all the red flags on Bumgarner, Ryu, Keuchel and Hamels, that number easily ranges in the $100-115 range and possibly touches $120 million. Hopefully, nearer to $100 for future payroll’s sake, though.

Fwiw, Chris Rongey is long gone. Back in StL, not even sure he’s still in sports broadcasting at the moment. Connor McKnight kinds of grows on you with his earnest enthusiasm, he’s no Dave Wills, but decent at least. He at respects callers, for the most part.

Only if I teach 30+ hours per week and miss less than 2 days of school in Year 5, at age 55. Ironically, teachers are typically forced into retirement at age 60 in China...but I think there’s an exception if you stay with your current employer (as opposed to signing with a new school at 60+).

This, from late 2016...the obvious risk or concern here is automated/computerized ball and strike calls being instituted in the the next four seasons https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/playoffs16_appreciatinggrandal/putting-value-los-angeles-dodgers-catcher-yasmani-grandal-proper-frame “Or, arguably, catchers who frame, which is how Grandal got brought into this MVP conversation in the first place. Grandal is a fine hitter, though that fact is obscured by his home ballpark and a low batting average. Only two catchers -- Jonathan Lucroy and Wilson Ramos -- were better hitters in 2016, by wOBA, and only Lucroy, Buster Posey and Russell Martin top him since 2014. But he doesn't hit the way MVPs hit. His arm and blocking aren't notable, and he has twice led the league in passed balls. But he's almost certainly an extraordinary pitch-framer, finishing second in the majors in Baseball Prospectus' framing runs (with 27 saved) this season after leading the majors (with 26) in 2015. That made him the seventh-most valuable player in the NL this year, according to BP's wins above replacement player -- just as PECOTA had projected. The existence of pitch-framing is not controversial; teams have taught it for decades, and Grandal traces his own education in the skill back to a college coach. He takes pride in his ability to steal strikes, and his teammates and bosses praise him for it. There is, then, nobody disputing that collecting strikes is real, and very little dispute that Grandal is good at it. But there's also no disputing that making strong relay throws is a real skill for a middle infielder, or that a good pickoff throw is a real skill for a pitcher. Were I to argue that Elvis Andrus' relay throws are worth 30 runs and make him an MVP candidate, I would find disputers. So Grandal's potential MVP candidacy would come down to one question: Is the number -- the 27 runs -- credible?”

Where’s Balta? It’s 3:37 a.m. China time, c’mon! The bizarre thing is just signing a five year contract to stay teaching here...precisely twelve hours ago, on Thursday. Unfortunately, only five zeroes!