caulfield12

Imagine the reception around Chicago if the Sox had traded Konerko near the end of his career to let's say the Tigers for the equivalent of late-career highly overpriced Brandon Inge...

Would go after Kyle Lewis...see if they could recapture his 2020 magic. Someone like Austin Nola or Stallings for at least half the catching duties. Nola's brother signs, too...haha.

The problem is he's going to be on a decline from here on out and his defense will erode visa a vis his below average offense. He's much more useful to a playoff team who really needs to deploy that particular skill set.

He did win it more on accumulated reputation from the games I watched this year...Robert certainly had the most highlight reel plays. But some dumb errors hurt him. Robert's glide speed is a huge advantage in CF, and his pretty strong but erratic arm doesn't play up in RF. Tatis, conversely, has one of the few very best arms in baseball so that provides him a significant advantage in RF over center. Plus, there are two walls for Luis to worry about in right.

Bring in Jeter.

Yet another busted first rounder...from Hawaii if I remember correctly.

Yep…2011 Chicago White Sox' scouts Daraka Shaheed and Joe Siers, who watched Quintana pitch in the FSL the previous season, recommended that the team sign him. Quintana signed with the White Sox, receiving a major league contract, on November 10, 2011. Hahn became GM after late 2012 collapse down the stretch…first major move was Keppinger. Almost a decade-long tenure.

Even Rudy, lol?

https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/11/16/23964739/benetti-boyer-and-respect-the-white-sox-way-to-nowhere

Except for Burger/Eder…which should now be credited to KW.

But not really a high upside/ceiling guy. At least the results were decent. Soria might even be a Top Ten acquisition and dump by Hahn…that’s how bad it was. He was the anti-Escobar at least. Bryan Shaw, too, quite surprisingly.

Even if the White Sox miraculously had the #1 farm system, which simply isn’t going to happen compared to the Big 4 trades (including Frazier Robertson Kahnle)…you’re still going to need at least 1-2 external/already-established superstars or stud TOR pitchers to pair with them. Ours internally (Rodon) turned out to be too unreliable to ultimately justify those megadeals. Giolito was never going to get that money, and the odds for Cease are generously 5-10% of getting an extension. When it comes down it, Grandal, Keuchel, Lynn, Hendriks and Benintendi were just not good enough, or had already peaked…got hurt or underperformed. Pollock, Encarnacion, the list goes on and on. And then we inexplicably led the league in bullpen and bench/utility spending somehow. Can throw a certain former Red Sox/Braves closer onto the list as well. Even the Hendriks injury was 50% self/Sox induced, and some would argue or allege Garrett Crochet mismanagement as well. If the Sox hadn’t dumped Anderson and likely Haseley…we might well be leading MLB in first rounders who passed through Chicago this decade with little to no impact on forming a winner if you also included Madrigal, Burger, Fulmer, Collins, Burdi. Let’s not even get started on second round draft pick futility, with Sheets kind of the poster child there as the “biggest” success. Lots and lots of names but very little in terms of true quality except Bassitt, Semien, Tatis, Narvaez and maybe Burger. Heck, by the end of ST, we will probably have Dylan Covey (another first) back at the rate the current big league roster is being torn down and reformed.

I just think it’s important to be on the same wavelength when discussing player values and contract lengths…that’s why I go to spotrac 98% of the time, they always have the most accurate and detailed information, and quite quickly at that. It’s always confusing because the offseason overlaps over two years…but MLBTradeRumors will always refer to this year’s FA’s as the 2024 Class.

Someone else quoted $6+ million. $3ish million makes a lot more sense. https://housethathankbuilt.com/posts/why-atlanta-braves-shouldn-t-cut-michael-soroka-on-friday-s-non-tender-deadline-01hf98qa01d1 Soroka, Patino, Touki, Scholtens, Cease, Kopech, Shuster, Eder, Mena, Nastrini…ten potential starters, some will come up with even 2-3 more. Quality level another question altogether.

Well 1/2 are already cost cutting or using the RSN/Bally bankruptcy as the main reasons. Twins and Indians really in cost-cutting mode. Benetti’s Tigers, conversely, seem like they will be the most aggressive with their window soon opening. Seems halfway due to Minny and Cleveland being unwilling to totally sell out for WS contending teams, once again using the excuse that teams like AZ and the Rangers didn’t even have to win their division to advance deep into the postseason. Obviously the DBacks went with youth over “crazy” spending in the minds of other owners.

Your exact quote. “Robert is coming off a 5 WAR season at a premium position (something Soto does not play) cost much less in money and is cost controlled till 2027 (Soto 2025). He will absolutely get a haul.” THROUGH 2027…not until. Until means he can leave after 2026.

Robert is also earning essentially what Soto gets in one year over the next three seasons. How many teams can legitimately afford $35 million per year players…AND will actually commit to spending that much?

Then Robert can’t be in 2027 when they have him under contract for 24-25-26-27…because that implies 2028. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/luis-robert-22648/ Soto will be at the end of 24, Robert 27. Or 25/28, but it can never be a two year differential. Or to do the opposite, Soto is 2024 and Robert 28. There can never be a 2 or 4 year differential when it’s 3.

That’s why the Benintendi “finishing move” was idiotic when they were still 6-8 players away from even .500 unless those names were guys like Harper Machado Wheeler.

The way it was written…it can’t be just a two year difference from 2025 to 27. Robert hits the market in 2027-2028, Soto in 2024-25.

Daryl Van Schouwen He has also been arguing that building around Robert is far and away the best path.

No guarantee they will roster Soroka at $6-7 million except for proving Getz and Bannister/Katz correct…a player with two years remaining is basically just a flip candidate in this situation anyway,

Sox have Robert four more seasons…Soto a FA at end of next season.

13. Shota Imanaga (30) 7-5, 159 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.01 WHIP (Japan Central League/Japan Eastern League) 14. Kenta Maeda (35) 6-8, 104.1 IP, 4.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP 17. Yariel Rodriguez (27) 6-2, 54.2 IP, 1.15 ERA, 0.92 WHIP (2022 stats, Japan Central League; didn't pitch in 2023 to prepare for MLB free agency) Rumors are circulating that, once Rodriguez applies for MLB Free Agency, his asking price will be anywhere between $50 to $70 million over five-plus years, which makes sense given he’s managed by Edgar Mercedes, who’s managed players like Luis Robert, Jr., and Yoenis Cespedes. 23. Luis Severino (30) 4-8, 89.1 IP, 6.65 ERA, 1.65 WHIP 24. Tyler Mahle (29) 1-2, 25.2 IP, 3.16 ERA, 1.05 WHIP 25. Jack Flaherty (28) 8-9, 144.1 IP, 4.99 ERA, 1.58 WHIP 26. Michael Lorenzen (32) 9-9, 153 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP 27. Yuki Matsui (28) 39 saves, 57.1 IP, 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP (Japan Pacific League) 28. Hyun-Jin Ryu (37) 3-3, 52 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP 29. James Paxton (35) 7-5, 96 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP 30. Frankie Montas (31) 1-0, 1.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.25 WHIP https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2024-mlb-free-agent-rankings-top-30-pitchers

And the wet blanket first half of a season from our most recent first rounder…