caulfield12

And Michigan TN Missouri. They hardly had a soft schedule. MI was very highly ranked at the beginning of the season. Mateer was just never really the same after that hand injury...and they never developed a consistent ground game. Defense/turnovers and special teams were the reasons for most wins. Never got to face Vandy.

846 ops there is far from bad. We shall see.

"Splitters particularly give Murakami fits, as he’s done very little damage against them. Despite some of the worst contact rates in NPB..." Very few splitters/forkballs in MLB. Roki Sasaki with one of the most hyoed/famous ones. Creates significant health concerns for pitchers.

Helpful against Skubal and Ragans...to name a few.

That's pretty much a given. Will probably get tired of them. Which is a good thing, compared to the last three seasons. See Ohtani generating an extra $100-150 million per year in revenue for LAD. One would guess Close has a very strong sense how much Suzuki and Imanaga earn in additional opportunities on the Northside from Japanese companies.

Not well though...LF arm and basically a statue out there..

Yoshida also comes to mind here. $90 million was a significant deal at the time. Mostly a disappointment, overall.

All the Marte no trade teams were weird. You'd expect the entire AL Central Rockies Pirates A's. Not the case.

Rikuu Nishida will be very popular for interviews and interpreting in ST... although guessing he will have his own full time guy. Apparently his English is expanding. TikTok account will be popular with Sox and Japanese fans. Schiffren will be ecstatic. Gets to spend time in AZ with the Dodgers...Japanese media contingent will be massive that first week or so. How will Murakami adjust? Will Sasaki make the LAD rotation? Basically a big chunk of defending champion Team Samurai for that 2026 WBC together. White Sox might also get a trip to Japan in 2026/27.

Chicks ding the long ball. There's a certain mystique about S.Oh and this guy. Guys like Hideki Matsui and Seiya Suzuki are very good or even great hitters, but not necessarily selling tickets or getting all the marketing deals. This opens up Chicago to the second most Japanese press covering a US city after LA and should make it much easier to sign Japanese players in the future. Maybe Roki Sasaki could get an extended run at starting for the Sox if he can't make it in LA and gets acquired.. Maybe OF Kensuke Kondoh would be willing to join the Sox next year. Or Tatsuya Imai to at least have the White Sox on his "due diligence" list. There's now a reason for James Fegan to get back a beat reporter job or a collaboration with the Japanese press. It also drives up the tv ratings, sponsorships/advertising and males it possible for Chicagoans to get more excited about a new owner/stadium. And it hardly breaks the bank. Plus, you get the QO or trade return in July 2027 or possibly Ishbia stepping in to invest in a long term deal if everything goes right...in order to maintain positive forward momentum. Not to mention White Sox hats and jerseys immediately fly up to Top 3 in Japan as well.

That would really be up to Ishbia more than JR so close to 2029...

Not so sure when Song was only 3/$13 and a utility player with much less fanfare surrounding him. That said, many possible contract structures, opt outs, negotiations with Yakult about posting fees, etc. Maybe 6-8 teams making final offers or quickly pivoting to Bregman Okamoto Bellinger and Bichette. Would guess very late Sunday...but then you're running into all the NFL/fantasy news (or hangovers across Chicago after last night's drama). Monday seems equally likely. Or maybe an announcement Sunday of final 3 teams like Sasaki did and then an ultimate decision eventually trickling out Monday afternoon.

You could have watched Love before he joins the Chiefs...

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rumors-trades-and-signings?t=trades-and-transactions "Dec. 20: White Sox 'engaged in talks' with Murakami (sources) Munetaka Murakami is one of two star Japanese sluggers who have been posted for MLB clubs to negotiate with on a potential contract this offseason, the other being Kazuma Okamoto. Murakami's posting window is scheduled to close on Dec. 22, meaning a conclusion to his free agency is on the horizon. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand and Scott Merkin, the White Sox are among the teams "engaged in talks" with Murakami's camp as the deadline approaches. The White Sox lost an MLB single-season record 121 games in 2024, though Chicago improved by 19 games last season. The club could definitely use some slug in the lineup after only one team -- the Pirates -- had a lower team slugging percentage last season than the White Sox's .373."

Add the Blue Jays to the list of potential suitors for free agent Alex Bregman. Toronto officials have been in contact with Scott Boras, the third baseman’s agent, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Red Sox, Cubs, and Diamondbacks have also been connected to Bregman.

Since Jahdae Walker first stepped foot inside Halas Hall in May, his coaches and teammates have all shared a general consensus about the rookie receiver. He is different. His energy. His passion. His kid-like love for football. And, of course, his ability to invigorate his teammates with the highlight-reel talent he's displayed. "I've never met anyone as energetic, as charismatic as him," said defensive tackle Shemar Turner, who played with Walker at Texas A&M. "What I think he brings to a team is just that love for the sport and then that energy. When he scores a touchdown, you see how the whole sideline goes crazy, just because everybody has his back." https://www.chicagobears.com/news/jahdae-walker-blessed-for-the-opportunity-after-making-53-man-roster

"Late on Saturday night, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand revealed that the Chicago White Sox are talking to Murakami right now. Feinsand also suggested that there are multiple teams talking to Murakami. Not long after Feinsand’s post was published, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo arrived on the X scene and contributed a Red Sox update concerning not only Murakami, but also Kazuma Okamoto, another corner infielder and slugger from Japan. But Murakami and Okamoto have been loosely linked to the Red Sox this offseason. According to Cotillo’s sources, the Red Sox have “kicked the tires” on both players." More confirmation of Feinsand/Merkin reporting... https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25334981-mlb-rumors-munetaka-murakamis-free-agency-new-team-linked-landing-spot https://www.chosun.com/english/sports-en/2025/12/21/6DTKYDSTLNFHFN5FCVMCS4QSSI/ South Korean news outlet rehashing everything through "Song-colored glasses"

https://www.forbes.com/profile/casey-close/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj2p5yblM6RAxX-LEQIHZcPJJEQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw2zBqORyvd8EQu-7BGv4Sjp Casey Close established himself on the baseball diamond for the Michigan Wolverines and in the minor leagues before venturing into athlete representation with IMG, later moving to CAA and, finally, Excel Sports Management. His clients at Excel include Clayton Kershaw, Cal Raleigh and Kyle Tucker. "Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer met with Tucker's agent, Casey Close of Excel Sports Management, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Wednesday, where team officials, league executives and player representatives filtered throughout the hotel and casino."

https://www.tiktok.com/%40yahoosports/video/7576797770711895327&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiQkavr_s2RAxXAEEQIHW3GFyQQFnoECAYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0IEO7nEofWGgd7FqTZ00i3 Tatsuya Imai : The Hero We Need

Does Chris Getz even have a TikTok account? Surely Schiffren does.

He.Gets.Chicago.Now Jayden Daniels, meanwhile...his durability at that size was always a question mark. Maye has obviously been great, too. One second half against Buffalo from clinching MVP. Not seeing Moore/Mendoza coming anywhere close to that class.

Waiting for Bregman decision. More like exploratory discussions/setting parameters. See Detroit. Houston Philly Blue Jays SFG DBacks etc.

Imai has Boras as his agent, so there's just no way they're a package deal with Murakami... Cubs also seem to have no interest in getting involved with Boras clients this FA period.

"The Chicago Cubs may not be fully sold on pursuing Japanese pitching star Tatsuya Imai, according to recent insider commentary. While the Cubs have been linked to Imai as they explore rotation upgrades, a team insider suggested there is hesitation about committing significant resources without clearer long-term certainty. Concerns reportedly center on the transition to MLB, workload management, and how Imai would fit within the club’s broader development timeline. Chicago remains active in the pitching market but appears determined to avoid overextending financially or blocking younger arms in the system. Imai’s power repertoire and success overseas continue to draw league-wide attention, yet the Cubs are believed to be weighing upside against risk. As the offseason unfolds, Chicago’s cautious approach highlights a front office focused on sustainability rather than splashy moves, even as fans push for aggressive additions." #TatsuyaImai #ChicagoCubs #MLB