Y2Jimmy0

$18 million is a bargain for what he provided so them not wanting to pay that is a red flag IMO. The Sox have to offer the QO to protect themselves IMO but I’m not sure how Rodon turns it down. It’s very risky

If the White Sox pick up Kimbrel's option, they already know who the suitors are IMO. I don't think it'll be that hard for Hahn to blame his struggles on the dugout and get him moved for something.

Sounds like Kelley, Dalquist and Thompson will move to Winston-Salem. Hopefully Sean Burke and Norge Vera are with them.

I just think Vaughn will be the more valuable player going forward.

I've heard that they're going to spend. I don't know what that means though. Payroll is already pretty high for their standards. La Russa wants to win though, they need players and he's the most powerful voice in the organization.

Agreed. If they were to sign Nick Castellanos, they probably need to trade Eloy Jimenez IMO.

They don't have the pieces to acquire him.

I think it's tough if Jose Abreu is playing 150+ games personally.

I think Andrew Vaughn is a core player. Lets say the new catcher is behind the dish. Grandal is at DH. Abreu will play 1B for the Sox until he decides to leave. Which one of Vaughn/Eloy is sitting in this scenario?

When will this person play though? That's the problem. You can't play Grandal at DH all the time if you're keeping Eloy, Abreu, Vaughn and Sheets. Something has to give somewhere.

Dude. A subscription to The Athletic is so cheap. I don't know how any fan that consumes sports media doesn't already have a subscription. It's excellent.

He doesn't count against bonus pools because he's 26 years old. He'll get real $$ in addition to the posting fee. Here are the posting rules according wikipedia: The current posting agreement was reached after the 2017 MLB and NPB seasons. The agreement runs through October 31, 2021, the expiration date of MLB's current collective bargaining agreement. Not all of the provisions applied immediately—for example, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters were allowed to set a $20 million posting fee, the maximum allowed under the previous agreement, for two-way star Shohei Ohtani, whom they posted shortly after approval of the new agreement. Since the end of the 2018 NPB and MLB seasons, posting fees have been based on the type of contract a player signs and the deal's value. For players signed to MLB contracts, the posting fee is based on the amount of guaranteed money in the initial contract:[18] 20% of the first $25 million 17.5% of the next $25 million 15% of any amount above $50 million For players signed to minor-league contracts, the fee is a flat 25% of the contract's value.[18] The system only applies to players currently under contract with a Japanese team, although players who have nine or more years of playing service with NPB are exempt.[19] It does not apply to free agents or to amateur players who have never played in NPB.[20] Mac Suzuki, Micheal Nakamura, Kazuhito Tadano, and Junichi Tazawa are the only Japanese players to have debuted in MLB without having played in NPB.[20][21][22][23] The system does not work in reverse; it does not regulate MLB players, such as Alex Cabrera, who moved to NPB.[24] Under the current process, the NPB team notifies the MLB Commissioner of a posting, with the posting fee determined by the value of the contract that a posted player eventually signs with an MLB organization. Once the MLB Commissioner announces the posting, the player has 30 days to sign with an MLB team. Unlike the past system, in which only the team that won the bidding process had negotiating rights, the current system allows the posted player to negotiate with any MLB team willing to pay the posting fee. As in the previous process, if the player signs with an MLB team during the negotiating window, the signing team will pay the posting fee; otherwise, his rights revert to his NPB team. Also mirroring the past system, an unsuccessfully posted player can request a posting in a later year, with the process repeated.[17] Last year, Kohei Arihara signed with Texas for two years and $6.2 million. The Ham Fighters received $1.24 million.

Big fan. Power and speed combo who plays CF and SS. I'd still add a 2B but he should be on the team for sure. I'd like for him to be the new Leury Garcia

Yolbert Sanchez appears to be more talented than Romy? Can you explain?

Why would they spend more $$ to win more though? Getting top 5 draft picks is the whole point of the thing. Now, more teams should be taking on bad salaries to get assets in return. I'd agree there.

I agree that too many teams are losing intentionally but the blueprint works if done properly. These leagues incentivize losing and sports executives are smarter than ever. Young, cost-controlled players are the currency of the sport. You often need to be really bad in order to get those players. The Dodgers spend the most $$ but they also develop the most players. Not everyone can do that. I think teams owe their fans titles. Every move they make should be getting them closer to a championship. The Orioles are a great example. They were carrying $150-$180 million payrolls and had no chance at winning a title. What they're doing right now gets them much closer to truly competing. Now, everyone won't win a title of course. Teams aren't just trying to lose to pocket all the money. It's often because you need to get bad to get good sometimes.

They'll offer him the QO. The interesting part will be whether he accepts it. He was a 5 fWAR pitcher this year. If he does that again, he's looking at like a 6/150 deal next offseason. Either way, it's a win for the Sox. They'll either have Rodon again on a bargain salary or they'll get a 2nd rounder when he declines.

Why wouldn't Conforto just take the QO?

That doesn't solve anything. They still need to get more left-handed.

I don’t think he should be traded but they need to explore it. The White Sox have a Jose Abreu problem. He’s very good. His mere presence causes roster gymnastics however. This team needs to get more left handed. They should have openings in RF and 2B. It’s hard to roster Jimenez, Vaughn and Abreu while trying to get Sheets some time. Also, everyone wants a defensive catcher. That puts Yaz at DH. Lots of roster redundancies and real decisions to make.

I doubt any big changes are coming. La Russa is staying. He has a 3 year deal. Hahn will stay because the team is really good and I doubt he wants to move. Kenny is in a great spot too. Business as usual.

I doubt the Mets would be interested in Ken Williams. Rick Hahn could have the gig tomorrow if he wanted to move the family though.

Absolutely man. Totally agree

Dave Dombrowski would be my first call

I don't disagree but what do you do when this guy is catching? Do you play Yaz at DH? How do Abreu, Eloy, Vaughn and Sheets fit in in this scenario?