Chicago White Sox

That loyalty goes both ways though as evident by Hahn & KW still being around despite a decade of poor results. And maybe these guys feel a sense of loyalty to Jerry because of that. Also, I’m not sure leaving is so easy when you’re talking about a grand total of 30 to 60 GM / President type roles, especially if you feel comfortable where you’re at and don’t have to move your family.

What has Incarcerated Bob ever gotten right to make us think he’d be privy to this information? I thought he was generally known to be full of shit.

I think there is reason to believe it’s much harder in a Reinsdorf lead organization. For example, when KW finally fired Duane Shaffer it was after 35 years with the club. And let’s be honest, his track record with first round was pretty damn bad. Unfortunately, Jerry’s unwavering loyalty makes it that much harder to create an environment of accountability.

Downs was the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 draft and a legit prospect. When you’re still rebuilding, you don’t trade a guy like that for a bunch of one year rentals. A year from now Downs could see his stock jump significantly and be part of a trade for a much more impactful piece. I just don’t get it from the Reds perspective.

You didn’t address my point. Heyward has five years left on his deal, why in the world would we add a guy with that much control who is no longer good? You can question the timing of our OF prospects if you want to, but there are numerous other ways to address that issue that are better fits than Heyward. And worst of all, you’ve just created a fan revolt by taking an albstross contract off your rival’s hands so they can land one of the most popular players in the games. I’m not trying to be mean, but the idea is absolute insanity.

What are you guys referring to?

What has he been accurate with?

100% agree. If the Sox are prepared to spend, it really seems like we can land these guys.

This would be fantastic news if true.

Yup, definitely need to add a 1 to 2 win OF to a long multi-year contract when seven our top 15 prospects are OFs.

I would stop watching White Sox baseball until Jerry dies and KW & Hahn were rightfully fired for such an atrocious trade.

Lol...is that you Theo?

I’d need Schwarber or Contreras as a starting point along with Happ or Almora to take Heyward. The latter two are not good enough to be headliners in a trade $100M albatross. My question is how does that make the Cubs better?

He’s had three straight bad seasons, hard to say it psychological at this point.

I don’t think I’m phrasing my question right, but I’m asking when has a team used young players or prospects to get another team to take on a significantly bad contract. Almost all the examples I can think are either fairly short-term or involved lots of cash / dead payroll coming back.

Is Heyward still considered a premier defender? I’m not suggesting he isn’t good anymore, but it seems he’s not the elite defender he once was.

That doesn’t really save much money in the short-term though and nowhere near enough to add Harper.

Stanton was coming off a 7 win season and had multiple teams interested in him despite the long-term risks of the contract. Heyward has averaged about 1.3 wins per season during his tenure with the Cubs. No one will touch him without lots of bad money going back or talented young players coming with him. What we’re talking about the Cubs doing here would be unprecedented from as far as I can tell. Just don’t see happening in a fashion that opens up payroll to add Harper.

And for the sake of argument, what is the biggest albatross contract a team has taken on in the past? I feel like people always propose these type of deals, but rarely do they happen for contracts of significance.

If the Sox were take on Heyward’s contract so the Cubs could land Harper, then move the franchise to Portland cause it would be over for us here.

Bailey only has one year left.

I’m not defending KW’s tenure as GM, but let’s give credit where credit is due. He made numerous moves that helped that 2005 team win a World Series, many of which were incredibly smart and/or forward thinking. And he also deserves a ton of credit for going out and adding Thome & Vasquez to the 2006 team despite us coming up short. For a period of time he was a shrewd talent evaluator whose aggressiveness & creativity were huge plusses, but he never let off the gas pedal and took too long to address the failures in amateur scouting & player development. Not sure if that was ego, Reinsdorf’s unwavering loyalty & will to always go for it, or the game passing him by, but KW eventually let things turn south under his watch. That doesn’t take away from some masterpiece GMing that led to the 2005 season.

How does KW not deserve credit for the 2005 team? Some of you guys are taking your hate of the guy way too far.

Wood has one year of control left.

I doubt either guy guys a QO but if they do they probably accept it.