Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 02:31 PM) Why would he want to sign onto that deal? His advisors would basically say “Jose, the risk you avoid by signing this is absolutely minimal. There is very little upside to you signing a 4 year extension at the juncture.” He’s basically saying he’s concerned he won’t be able to sign a two year deal when his contract with us runs out? If we wants to stay with us, he may have to take a deal like that. That’s kind of the whole point. Sox positon it as sign an extension now or we’ll have no choice but to consider moving him. Abreu then can decide what’s most important to him. And it’s not like a 4/$80M is a slap in the face. He’s better off long-term by waiting if he maintains his production, but if he’s happy here then that’s a pretty decent deal for him.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 12:10 PM) Exactly^ Why not evaluate then if we need to resign Abreu? It's not like we wouldn't be able to afford him at age 33. I just don't think we need to extend him now. I'll keep saying this, but it has nothing to do with affording him and everything to do with not wanting to lock him up into his late 30s. If I can lock Jose up right now to a 4/$80M deal for his age 31 to 34 seasons I think that's makes a ton of sense for us for a variety of reasons that have been well documented. And even if a Burger or a Sheets is pushing for a spot by 2020 or 2021, Jose's contract should be perfectly moveable and might even have some surplus value left. On the flip side, if he reaches free agency at age 33 and is still productive, I have no doubt he'll get at least a four year deal. Now you're either committing big dollars to his age 33 to 36 seasons (and maybe more), relying on a young player that may or may not be ready, or be forced to to sign or trade for what is likely to be a lessor player. And this is happening right when you want to be ready to compete. I'd much rather have Abreu under control (without a crazy long term deal) and worry about having too many good players when that actually becomes an issue.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 11:53 AM) AVISAIL GARCIA jk Lol...hey I'm glad he proved me wrong. At least I didn't want to cut him on opening day like a certain someone!

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 10:45 AM) Well how long do you think it'll take to build a dominant bullpen ? You absolutely need one to be serious about contending. That means 3 or possibly 4 guys the Sox don't have yet. I know it's pretty illogical to sign RP's to more than 2 or 3 years but the bullpen is my biggest worry for when the Sox start contending. I suppose this year could be all about trying the scrap heap relievers but guys who produce like we had like Robertson, Swarzak and Kahnle are going to be very hard to find. While the bullpen right now is filled with question marks, I think we have quite a few arms in place that could fill key roles within the next year or so. Assuming Burdi comes back healthy, he's pretty nuch a lock to become a solid high leverage reliever. Same goes for Nate Jones, although his record of health is becoming more concerning. Vieira has significant potential and Fulmer could be a multi-inning weapon. Guys like Stephens or Adams could also fill a role. If you can get three quality relievers out of that group, that's a pretty good starting point from the right side. From the left-side, just got to hope one of Bummer or Frye (or maybe even Clark) can at least be a solid second lefty. But if all that does happen, we can then go out and add two quality relievers in free agency next year (one lefty, one right) to put the finishing touches on what could be a pretty damn good bullpen.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 10:44 AM) Keeping him isn't a terrible thing, although $35 - 40 million over two seasons isn't exactly a cheap veteran to keep around for a rebuilding club. If it comes down to accepting a mediocre offer for the sake of trading him, I'd much rather keep him and ride the two seasons out. If things start to click in 2019, we might be happy to still have him? I still think there's a decent chance we're competitive in 2019. Obviously we'll need things to go right on the development side with our young players, but if that happens and with a couple key free agent signings I think we'll have enough talent in place to make a wild card run. Once the key young guys (Moncada, Eloy, Giolito, Lopez, Kopech, etc.) get through their growing pains this team should take a big leap forward. I want a proven middle-of-the-order bat like Abreu in place when that happens.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 6, 2017 -> 02:43 PM) Would love for San Diego or Dodgers to land him. Why would you want the best team in baseball with almost unlimited financial resources to get him??

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 6, 2017 -> 02:23 PM) Why isnt this its own thread? There are threads for signing clowns we will never hear from again. ?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Dec 6, 2017 -> 12:08 PM) I see no way the Brewers would agree to that deal, but I would be so for it if it happened Just depends on how valuable you believe his defense to be. If he truly is a 2 WAR player going forward, he’s going to provide quite a bit of surplus value over his remaining four years of control. This is just going to be quick and dirty, but let’s say he’s worth $64M (2 WAR x 4 x $8M) but will only get paid $20M over that same period. We’re talking about roughly $44 in surplus value right there. I think that gets you two high upside guys in A+ coming off down years, but again, the Brewers would have to view Sanchez’s defense as being elite.

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Dec 6, 2017 -> 09:53 AM) I do not see the point one bit at extending him if it is going to cost that much.. Can someone give me a reason why extending a 33 year old 1st basement for 20 million makes sense? Just wait till his contract is up and extend him then if he is producing at 20 mil a year Abreu is not going to sign a 2 year deal when he hits free agency if he’s still producing. So if you think you might want him around in 2020 & 2021, either extend him now through his age 34 season or be prepared to lock him up until he’s 36 and when money becomes more constrained.

Free Agents -Sign Hector Rondon to a 1 year, $5M deal w/ incentives **Sox reunite him with his former manager & offer first crack at the closer’s job (incentives based on games saved) Trades -Sox trade IF Carlos Sanchez to the Brewers for 3B Lucas Erceg & 2B Isan Diaz **Milwaukee fills their 2B hole with a cost-controlled asset, Sox buy low on two minor league infielders with upside Rule 5 -Sox select Kohl Stewart in 1st round **Great athlete with sinking stuff (huge plus at The Rate) who just might be able to stay healthy in a bullpen role

With the Winter Meetings just days away (starting on the 10th), I thought we should do a predictions thread for our beloved White Sox. Please list the trades, signings, moves you think the Sox will make next week, including any Rule 5 selections.

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 10:50 PM) From a fangraphs chat: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-a...ark-chat-12517/ How would you guys feel about that deal? Would need Groome & Chavis to even consider a deal with the Red Sox.

QUOTE (Quin @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 03:10 PM) Yeah, Kelly would necessitate trading one of Omar or Smith, if not both. I'd focus on Flaherty, Perez and an OF Who is Perez? Delvin? Sounds like his stock has been tanking. I believe Fangraphs didn’t even have him as a top 20 guy in their recent update.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:14 PM) Not even top 10 in baseball. Soon enough hopefully And I’m a huge fan of Demonico, have considered him a potential core piece since early last year. I will say this, I feel confident we have enough guys in the system to fill our corner spots long-term, but CF is potentially a question mark if Robert can’t stick there. So I’m more than ok with adding an OF if we find one that’s a legit CF, but I wouldn’t move a guy as important/valuable as Abreu for a corner guy.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:03 PM) Loaded with OF may be a bit of an exaggeration. We've got Eloy and Rutherford (who is a long way away), and a handful of fringe guys. Robert is a fringe guy?

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 12:45 PM) I think this is where I differ with a lot of people. I love Kelly and O'Neil and both are kinda blocked at the ML level and are probably ready to take the jump. I really don’t see a need to add O’Neil. The system is absolutely loaded with OFs, acquiring him would be another example of diminishing returns. Kelly is definitely interesting though. He’d be pretty much a must in any Abreu deal.

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 11:47 AM) Cards just signed Mikolas so now they have even more SP depth to trade from. Making Flaherty and possibly even Reyes now available. If Hahn could get Reyes he would have reached his "asking for an arm and both legs" assumption. I’d do a trade built around Reyes, but Flaherty doesn’t do enough for me. We got enough guys with similar or higher ceilings that will need to be given opportunities in the next year or so.

Who is everyone’s top four right now? I’m hoping one of Singer or De Sedas makes it to #4.

Where would the Bears draft if the season ended today and what’s realistically the best pick we can get?

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 04:15 PM) My only guess is that the White Sox did not think all that highly of his stuff playing at the mlb level (although as a young lefty I am not sure why he wasn't given the chance in 2018 to earn a bullpen or rotation spot?). And that’s fine, but it just seems like it’s almost a certainty that he gets selected in the Rule 5 and if so they should have looked into moving him another minor leaguer that didn’t require protection.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 03:54 PM) The problem is that HE hasn't been that successful. Guerrero? Seems like he’s been pretty succeful every year except 2016. His ERA from last year is very misleading if you followed him start to start.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 03:14 PM) Why keep Covey over Guerrero? I've seen all I need to determine that Covey sucks. They must see something in him the rest of us don’t. Didn’t his velocity play up quite a bit when moved to the pen? Maybe they got him pegged as a future reliever with some more minor league seasoning.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 02:20 PM) Because he really doesn't project to do much at the MLB level with his slow and slower stuff? I think you’re really underrating his stuff. Left-handers have been successful with far less stuff than him. I think he has a real chance of being a quality back of the rotation starter and a rebuilding team with nothing to lose by using him as a long reliever for a year will likely take him. We just did this with Dylan Covey and he’s a far less interesting prospect Guerroro (and right-handed).

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 01:03 PM) Jordan Guerrero is the top LH available.He's as good as gone. He’s the top left-hander in our system and will start the year in AAA, why didn’t we protect him again?

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 08:59 AM) I don't expect there to be many, if any, multi year signings this offseason for the Sox. This one makes sense and helps bring some solid stability to the catching position until ideally Collins/Zavala is ready. Castillo/Narvaez should be a solid tandem for the time being I pretty convinced now they’ll sign at least one reliever to a multi-year deal. That may only be for two years, but it really sounds like Hahn’s focus at the Winter Meetings (outside of potentially selling guys like Avi, etc) will be to add major league ready pitching and I definitely see him adding one moderately priced veteran to esnure some stability.