caulfield12

Jerry will almost always choose hard currency in hand over prospect return...probably hates sending money to a team like the Mets, just on principle. While Semien's contract features a higher AAV than Nimmo ($25 million in terms of the luxury tax calculation versus $20.5 million), it's of shorter duration and the move will cut into New York's considerable longer-term obligations. ... One thing that is head-scratching here: The Mets are pretty deep in high-quality infield prospects, from Luisangel Acuna to Ronny Mauricio to Jett Williams, all of whom carry considerably more upside than Semien at this point. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46994593/2025-26-mlb-offseason-grades-free-agency-trade-analysis

Loveland continuing to quiet critics, and Monangai a gem in the 7th...a smaller version of energy burst Pacheco late in the draft.

The problem there is the bulk of Robert's value comes from playing GG defense in CF at this point... Oakland might just want to hold onto the cheaper Clark after moving on from JJ Bleday.

Why would the Mets want Benintendi? How much money are you willing to send along with him?

E.Pereira and D.Hill will both win Gold Gloves and outhit their career OPS numbers by 150 points...why not live in dream land? Who needs to spend $3-5 million on Tauchman when they can save more money and get younger? Murray's career 763 ops in the minors will make everyone forget Shewmake. Oops...they already did.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/buy-low-team-10-mlb-211925606.html Okamoto included on the All Buy Low team. Jansen Hoskins Estrada H-S Kim Okamoto Mullins Conforto LThomas M.King HHarvey

Should the Tigers trade Skubal? Passan article "Another rival executive has an informed theory on Harris' (Tigees' GM) focus: "He has his eyes set on 2027 and 2028 as his prime contending years." If things go well in 2026, the window would expand to include it as well. Top prospects Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark, the No. 2 and No. 6 prospects in the sport, could be core players as soon as the second half of 2026, so aiming for things to really take off in 2027 is logical. Opinions vary on whether Skubal would fetch more this winter or at the deadline because it's hard to project how desperate a contender could hypothetically be at the deadline versus what that team would offer to get an entire season of Skubal plus a first-round pick when he walks. It's safe to assume the return would likely be a bit less at the deadline." https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47022782/mlb-free-agency-2025-26-tarik-skubal-detroit-tigers-trade-extension-400-million-contract This pretty much dovetails with the White Sox looking at 2028/29 as their emerging competitive window years...and why you get statements like "at this stage of the rebuild." Unfortunately, it's likely taking 4 1/2 seasons to reach that uncertain payoff if there aren't sustainable "waves" of minor league talent generated along the way.

"Notre Dame watched its best win diminish in value: The CFP committee’s treatment of the Irish over the next two Tuesdays will be fascinating. Ranked No. 9 this week, the Irish will feel pretty good if they get to the clubhouse at 10-2 with a win over Stanford. The problem, though, is that Notre Dame just doesn’t have enough quality wins to prop up its résumé, and its best win lost significant value when Southern Cal lost at Oregon, 42-27. USC is almost certainly going to drop from No. 15, meaning Notre Dame might not have a win over a top-20 team. Instead, the Irish have feasted on Syracuse (3-8), Purdue (2-9), Arkansas (2-9) and Boston College (1-10) and a few middling opponents. As good as you think Notre Dame is, the schedule is a real problem and could become an issue for the committee if a few teams in the same proximity of the rankings can bag big wins down the stretch." yahoo.com/sports

You have to score at least one run to win a game. You're subtracting Robert, for one. Murray and Hill and Pereira (especially in CF) don't project as close to league average hitters for their positions. Pereira ultimately belongs on a corner as he adds weight. Realistically, who the heck is Murray going to start over? Chase Meidroth was one of the few average to slightly above average defenders. And Antonacci likely profiles at second. Take out Sosa/Vargas and that offense is borderline unwatchable until Braden comes up at midseason.

One hitter... who could end up as a another Vaughn or Madrigal for all we know, is enough of a reason to suspend spending? There still are at least six starters missing from their next playoff team. By mid-summer 2026, the Sox MIGHT be down to just 3-4 spots left to go. MIGHT being the key word. Montgomery's Teel/Quero combo #1 draft pick Bonemer (at least one more year in the minors, probably 1 1/2) or Antonacci Not to mention 2-3 starting pitchers and almost an entire bullpen.

Higher floor/lower ceiling. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25298594-top-10-landing-spots-japanese-slugger-kazuma-okamoto-after-mlb-posting White Sox not listed as a Top Ten match. Pirates Marlins Padres and Mariners the only smaller market teams on that list. If there's legitimately even. half that much interest... he will get somewhere between $50-75 million. Maybe four years, in the end. Nearly every scout projecting 1B/DH role.

Ishbia has previously said he was actively looking forward to being part of a new stadium project...that it was one of the most exciting aspects for a new owner. Twins $450-500 million Sox $125-140 million

Why not wait until May 1st? They’re not competing for anything next year…the year of control is more important.

Surely that topic came up in discussions with 29 other owners...having a crown jewel stadium in Chicago, instead of bottom 3-5. Minnesota eliminated for Ishbia because they were 10-15 years at least from a new stadium project, maybe 20 or they end up potentially getting moved depending on new ownership group. And that debt load ... $500 million and climbing.

All about quickly making adjustments on 94-103 fastballs especially high and above the strike zone, 90% of LHBers can get to low heat

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47049145/sung-mun-song-posted-sign-mlb-teams-dec-21 Cubs signed Nick Maton's brother RP Phil to a two year contract Sung Mun Song hit something like 26 homers in KPB 3B

Rockies?

They're going to sign Preston just to try for the "Sox sign Tucker" headlines for a day or two...

WestEddy, do you have anything better to do than adding emojis? Why aren't you out there hyping up the Sox signing a Pacific Rim scout? Surely they're looking at Kona Takahashi as well? Whose potential contract looks closer to $30-40 million.

2026 White Sox projected at $64 million vs. Marlins at $59 million. Not sure if that reflects Tauchman subtraction yet. https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/breakdowns/payroll&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjrscSQtISRAxUbk2oFHcPSMz8QFnoECAQQAg&usg=AOvVaw2jqxG52IdPN6sSkChCWq2r Robert Benintendi Alcantara Cabrera some of the salaries to monitor...

Surely you are confident in the Sox actually signing one of those guys... right? Want to bet Greg's house?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6825160/2025/11/21/scouts-rank-starting-pitchers-mlb/?campaign=15796671&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=310262 Top 8 fa pitchers ranked/dissected by ten pro scouts Fun Cease anecdote on dunk show with Justin Steele. 1) Valdez Cease Imai 4) Suarez then group with King Gallen MKelly Giolito "During that period at the Cubs’ Arizona complex, Cease hung out with Justin Steele, a future All-Star from the same draft class. One day, they went to a local gym with a basketball court. Cease started awkwardly dribbling the ball like someone who hadn’t played a lot of hoops, Steele once recalled. Then Cease gathered himself and staged his own dunk contest. “I’ve only had one day in my life like that where I was doing these crazy dunks,” Cease said. “This must have been peak rehab where I had just worked out for 10 months straight. We were at, like, a Life Time or one of those places, and I was doing these wild dunks. I can’t do them right now. I don’t know how I was doing it, but I was doing wild stuff then."

Love the way you analyze...there's really just no point in discussing these roster churns. Except to wonder how much more embarrassing things can get? That's our real competition this year... with the Twins/Pohlad family.

Murray is basically Shewmake from the Bummer trade... Probably ends up performing like a combination of Maton and Amaya. Anyine miss Brent Lillibridge? And why did they draft Jacob Gonzalez again?

Everson Pereira needs to be in RF... but that's never stopped the Sox before. And Hill is pretty much abysmal offensively, don't even need to look at the stats. Just goes to show how unproductive the system (and Getz) have been at developing ANYONE to replace Robert in CF that can both hit AND field.