caulfield12

The White Sox have signed left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. Newcomb found his footing in a relief role last season, posting a 2.73 ERA between the Red Sox and Athletics, including a 1.18 ERA from June 18 onward, but he is reportedly expected to at least have the chance to transition back into a starter. yahoosports.com

20% share in club split between groups $500 million in overhanging debt gone, poof...like magic

“Rather than explain my swing, I would like for you to see my swing once the season starts,” he said. "I’ve been relentless working to tinker my swing to the U.S.” Murakami will become the the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan. Murakami said he has connected with other Japanese players about their adjustment to the majors. That includes outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga of the crosstown Cubs." https://japantoday.com/category/sports/white-sox-expect-japanese-slugger-munetaka-murakami-to-make-quick-impact-and-put-up-big-numbers Also, Rafael Devers might be a better comp than Schwarber in terms of swing and miss in the strike zone. "Gone are the days of having $25 million to spend and splitting it between Leury Garcia, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, and Josh Harrison. Fans have been begging for even limited budgets to be allocated to higher-impact players like Murakami, considering that the former approach typically yields low (or negative) returns and replacement-level production. Even if the White Sox do not make more significant signings after Murakami and Anthony Kay, most fans would prefer this approach to the alternative." https://www.soxon35th.com/3-takeaways-from-the-munetaka-murakami-signing/ We shall see, lol.

"They’re a long way off from spending to the levels of franchises like the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets, but the Pirates are being a little less miserly ahead of the 2026 season. With hopes of maximizing their window with Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on the mound, Pittsburgh has acquired outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe via trade and signed reliever Gregory Soto to a one-year deal. In perhaps the most significant sign that the Pirates are ready to contend in the NL Central, Pittsburgh is signing former Orioles designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal. The deal is far from the kind of eye-popping contract that those aforementioned franchises throw out each season, but it represents an important step forward for a franchise that has scant looked interested in serious contention at the ownership level. As noted by the Tribune-Review, this is the first multiyear deal that Pittsburgh has given out in free agency since 2016." www.si.com

Mehhhhh...

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/what-happened-with-munetaka-murakami-how-did-a-player-projected-for-a-9-figure-deal-end-up-with-34-million-212938881.html More articles in one week than OHearn his entire career. Thought the joke comparing this with the Joc Pederson FA deal last year was pretty on target considering how often he was linked to the Sox in the last 5-7 years.

Sox scout Takahashi signs...Takahasi? Well, we've only been stressing this for about give years now. Better late than never, I guess.

If the Reds do trade Hunter Greene, they won’t be able to afford to jettison young pitching unless they get more back. But they really are missing one more impactful middle of the order hitter.

This thread started before 2025…fwiw.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/the-starting-pitching-market-has-been-particularly-slow-this-offseason-whats-the-deal-015357345.html

Cubs and Yankees both seem to be out on Tatsuya Imai Leaves SFG AZ SD A's NYM Phillies Orioles Braves

If the choice was him or Pereira/Hill?

Isn't that because they were concerned with his total innings jump, just like Crochet the previous year down the stretch? He went from 90 to 146...so they probably capped him at around 150. And also using LHP reliever openers against LHB dominant 1-6 hitters?

Or Refsnyder's deal...pure platoon guy.

Surprised by the relatively low rating for Braden. Too much focus on a limited number of AA at bats. Going up two full levels in one season after not appearing the summer before due to injury should be viewed as a complete positive. Schultz was the top ranked LHP prospect in baseball a year ago. Hope he does better than the likes of Rauch and Kopech with those high accolades.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pirates-tied-kazuma-okamoto-mlb-171155977.html Pirates still looking to add Okamoto Red Sox and Jays in the mix

He was already fading in August/September.

So you prefer the rotating DH? What is Sosa actually worth on the trade market? Somewhere between peak Christopher Morel and the Morel of 2024-25?

At least Baldwin is listed over Pereira...

Interest will definitely increase after the Murakami signing. AL Central likely has had the fewest Japanese players over time.

Might be Hays at this point. Bader but likely too high based on 2025...CF ability and strong numbers second half. Miguel Andujar, if they limit his outfield play, has some quietly surprising numbers.

Wong has zero to do with talent identification. Purely a finance/contracts guy.

Tokyo isn't that bad at all. Favorite Disneyland for comfort level. Studio Ghibli Amusement Park (Aichi) and Ichiro Suzuki museum run by his parents in Nagoya. Only issue was figuring out the incredibly complex shinkasen/high speed and then subway and slower trains JR Line etc. interfaces. Now Osaka and Kyoto...oppressive and overcrowded. And Okinawa has pretty amazing weather in mid-November when it's not rainy season. Shorts and flip flops nearly every day.

Too much. Thought they might get Okamoto instead...who could be SD bound.