Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 03:24 PM) Outside of MLB money, it all ties together. Less fans equals less ballpark revenue, less parking revenue, less concessions revenue, less interest in advertising both in the ballpark and on television... the team also has the lowest TV ratings in the game for anyone that is widely available on TV. It is far more than just attendance. I know you're the "blame the customer" guy, but your point on ratings is exactly why the Sox need to invest in the team and go into the red if needed. Our current TV deal expires in 2019 and if ratings to continue to suck, we're going to get a s***ty long-term TV deal. Therefore, there is every incentive in the world for Reinsdorf to spend some money and build some excitement for this team. The potential payoff in the long-run would be tenfold the likely short-term costs.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 10:12 AM) Surprised so many still think Garcia is going to start again. I think at worst Jackson will be there. I agree. I think you could probably get Jackson for 2/$18M, which wouldn't be a bad gamble as a last resort.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 12:33 PM) I agree. The thing that is funny is that whenever there's a report about another team being out (Tigers and Angels Luxury Tax Issues) everyone thinks it's total nonsense and doesn't believe it. But when someone says that the White Sox are only willing o go 3 years and low money, everyone takes it as gospel. It really is quite absurd. Yes, the organization hates all of us. They are being stupid on purpose. This place is a dumpster fire right now. The problem is this organization has a history of bizarre self-policies. Are you going to tell not going over slot for years wasn't stupid? I agree for the most part with you, I think there is definitely posturing going on, but a small part of me thinks there is truth to this three year nonsense and it continues to grow with each and every tweet.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:30 PM) Is it Hahn's fault if they aren't allowed to spend though? If he wasn't allowed to spend, then he should have taken advantage of the insane pitching market and rebuilt the organization. And I doubt Reinsdorf is putting a 3 year cap on free agent signings one offseason after we signed Robertson to a four year deal. I still believe this has all been posturing, but I'm quickly losing my optimism here.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:35 PM) This is a good point and that's why its tough. However, the point still remains do you sell out because of your reasons and maybe win a world series but then only make the playoffs once in the decade after the world series. This is what the complaints are now. If they went ahead and did it posters 10 years from now would be saying the same things you are. I just want the front office to pick a clear direction and stick with it. The Frazier trade in a vacuum is a great deal IMO, but not if it's our only big move. It simply doesn't move the needle enough in a tough division. I said at the beginning of the season we needed to add two impact bats or we should go the rebuild route. Without adding Cespedes (or a player of similar ability), we're once again half-assing it and hoping for too many things to go right in order to compete.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:07 PM) I agree. People complain about not building a consistent winner but then want them to sign long term deals that willbe awful in 3-4 years. Pick a lane. I prefer the patient uild the team through prudent trades and drafts. Dude, we have Sale & Abreu under control for four more years. We can't be overly patient and wait for all these prospects to fill holes because we don't have them in our system. And most draft picks take years before they contribute. The absolute worse thing we can do right now is waste more cost-controlled of our key players.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:08 PM) Well, Upton was the guy I wanted all along. Hurts doubly that he's filling a significant hole on a division competitor. Hurts triply that the contract terms are reasonable. For the first time, I'm really believing that the "three year" bulls*** is real. And it really sucks. If we don't end up with a significant upgrade in RF somehow, this will be the first time since Hahn took over that I legitimately think he f***ed up. This x1,000,000.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 08:56 PM) You mean like they did when they signed Joey Belle to the richest contract at that time. I believe it was 5/55. It worked out well. Are you really using an example from 19 years ago? And while Albert underperformed in his first season, he put up 9 WAR over his two seasons with us. Not exactly the disaster you are painting.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 08:44 PM) 6-125 for Upton. Yeah Sox aren't touching that for Cespedes Cespedes should get less than Upton, but I think 5/$100M becomes a realistic target for him and I don't see the Sox going five years.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 08:39 PM) When did Frazier suddenly become something to sneeze at? When we literally had 80% of our position players with negative WAR last year? Frazier is awesome, but not nearly enough to get us where we need to be by himself, especially not in the AL Central where every other team has a chance.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 08:36 PM) Well Tigers will be tougher the next two years but after that they're completely f***ed. But hey, we got Todd Frazier & Brett Lawrie the next two years! We're more than good to go!

I think it will be Cespedes, but if not him then I'll go with Jackson.

Anyone play Rise of the Tomb Raider? Amazing how much it takes the best parts of Uncharted, but adds some open-world elements to the gameplay. One of the best games I've played in a while.

Fluff fluff fluff.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:52 PM) Nope and nowhere did I say that either. No one is taking what he says as gospel and I've been one to criticize Hayes on more than a few occasions. However, I think what Hayes said could have some truth considering the Sox have checked in on all three of Colorado's left handed outfielders, specifically CarGo for his left handed power. Anyone can look at the lineup and see the Sox power comes from the right side so looking for a LH outfielder with pop makes sense, not gospel. Misread your comment on Jackson, thought you were saying he'd outproduce Cespedes offensively in a smaller park. As for this left-handed OF talk, we know the Sox had/have interest in Cepsedes, Upton, & Fowler. Those are all right-handed OFs. The Sox are simply looking for an improvement over Avi. Worst case scenario they probably want a left-handed bat to platoon with Avi. Either way, you're overstating their interest in a left-handed OF.

This "don't pay for an outlier season" s*** is nonsense when it comes to Cespedes. We're talking about paying 3 to 4 WAR money for a guy who put a 6.7 WAR last year. As long as you get 3 to 4 WAR production, which I feel confident about if we don't have to hurt his value by playing in CF, then it's a pretty fair deal. And if somehow he produces at 80% of his 2015 level (possible when you look at his road splits), then the contract becomes a steal. I know Cespedes isn't a perfect player and definitely has some red flags, but we'd be insane to pass up the opportunity to sign this guy if his asking price ultimately falls into the 4/$80M range.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:34 PM) Because Jackson is right handed and the Sox are looking for a left handed outfielder. Also, the equivalent OF of the Lawrie trade would be cheaper than a FA veteran. I'm sorry, but didn't Dan Hayes simply say that's what he thought we might do? He's not cued into s***, so I would stop taking what he says as gospel. The Sox aren't going to limit themselves to left-handed OFs.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:26 PM) My guess is yes to both. I believe Jackson will have better offensive and defensive numbers in a smaller park than Comerica/SafeCo. Cespedes, to me, looks like a classic example of a player having a career year just before FA and then regresses under the new contract that pays him based on that career year. You think Jackson will put better offensive numbers than Cespedes if both played in the Cell?

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:24 PM) Levine was saying that is where the Sox are looking to sign him at but he didnt say it was an official offer. Got to think that's once again posturing. No reason for our front office to leak what they're willing go up to.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:20 PM) I'm guessing Hahn is searching for the outfield equivalent of the Lawrie trade. A solid outfielder with maybe a few question marks but won't be too costly in terms of prospects. Why wouldn't we just sign Jackson if we're going to settle for a question mark?

Who reported we made a 3/$55M offer?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 11:31 PM) Nobody knows what the sox budget is. Every time people thought they were at it last year they kept adding more pieces. Thank you.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 11:15 PM) Yuck. I said this the other day, but if Hahn goes into this season with Avi in RF and the team struggles, he better be fired after this season along with Ventura. Agree 100%. Going into the 2016 season with Avi as your starting RF, after passing on potential hauls for your SPs and then trading three pretty good prospects for a 2 year rental, would prove KW & Hahn went for the Hail Mary instead of having a sound offseason plan. I still can't believe they could be that stupid, so I will retain my optimism until proven otherwise.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 08:56 PM) Something so many disregard is Hahn saying they would have to get creative for upgrades, yet they expect 100 million dollar commitment to be an easy thing to sign off. Honestly even Desmond and Jackson is probably too expensive. A $100M commitment would be over 5 or 6 years, we're talking about $20M outflow this year. That may or may not be a problem for 2016, but it wouldn't be a problem afterwards when Danks & LaRoche are off the payroll.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 07:59 PM) If teams are suddenly willing to give into his demands after all this time, why haven't we heard anything about Upton? It seems like teams would be more willing to throw money at him compared to Cespedes. I don't buy these new tweets at all. 10 teams? Laughable. Unless they're including everyone interested on a 1 year deal. Exactly, I have no doubt there are few, if any teams willing to go beyond 3 years with Cespedes right now. I think eventually some team will bite the bullet and go four or five, but no way in hell is getting his 6/$130M+ contract he's hoping for. I think our biggest risk right now is Cespedes sticks to his crazy demands up to spring training and I don't see the Sox waiting that long to make an upgrade. I fully expect to see some tweets next week about the Sox offering Fowler a contract to try and force Cespedes' hand, just like we saw with Baltimore & Davis.