Chicago White Sox

WTF just happened in this thread?! This has to be some of the most bat-s*** loony nonsense I have ever seen posted on this site. I mean really, who the f*** searches for articles on whether or not Theo Epstein was a varsity starter like it actually has some impact on his ability to be a good GM. Just pure insanity.

Who are the best free agents that didn't receive QOs? Obviously Price, Cespedes, & Zobrist, not sure who else though.

SMFH, we've now gone from Dan Fabian should be GM to hyping up the Royals' Latin American operations. This is getting beyond ridiculous.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 05:52 PM) As with Ventura, what is Hahn really exceptional at? Contract negotiations. Based on his Kellogg and Harvard Law background. That's clear. Okay, what else? It's definitely not media relations or being on the same page with KW the past 13 months or so. Other than Abreu, Tim Anderson and Adams...where do you think he's made some really strong moves? Eaton for Santiago? Of all the free agents we have signed, Robertson is the only one that's been defendable in terms of actual results, and even that not so much since his best two years with us are being wasted...yet he wouldn't let NY take him back, either. Avi Garcia? Davidson? I'm not seeing many clear signs of success or progress. The only clear win trade of his entire tenure is Avi/Montas for Peavy, and even that's not looking 100% successful. If you believe most other GMs would have passed on Rodon at third, you can include that, or Fulmer this year. Again, I didn't make the claim that the analytics guy would make a better GM than our current one. So I'll ask you again, what specific skills & traits does Fabian possess that Hahn doesn't? Why would he be a better GM?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 05:12 PM) He's our Luhnow/Megdal. Very experienced with advanced statistical analysis (he's the one who created our in-house proprietary database), but he also has a strong background behind the scenes in scouting and evaluation. He's just not a self-promoter, seems like a very humble guy...works well with others behind the scenes to build consensus. I don't have time to pull all of his interviews and write-ups, but he's impressive. How is this different/better than Hahn exactly? Outside of the analytics background, most of the other items could be used to describe Hahn. Also, I don't need my GM to be able to conduct an advanced statistical analysis, I need him to understand the findings and leverage them in his day-to-day responsibilities. You really seem to be reaching here Caulfield. I think 99% of baseball people would prefer Hahn to be their GM.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 04:41 PM) No, but I'm also not willing to give him all the credit in the world either unless he was the one personally responsible for bringing those three into the organization. From virtually everything I've read of Fabian, I would rather have him as GM. Obviously, there are going to be various shades or degrees (like when Don Cooper gets all the credit or no credit for the success of virtually every pitcher coming onto the big league roster and even some highly-ranked prospects). Paddy and KW are the ones who personally scouted Abreu more than once, are they not? What exactly have you read about Fabian that would make you want as GM over Hahn?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 03:20 PM) He sounds like a true trainwreck. Whatever team signs him will prove they don't care about team chemistry. He appears lazy on the field and if he's a chain smoker, my gawd. Lol

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-free-agen...WQDBHNlYwNzYw-- Here's the real story of how Quintana came to the Sox. You have two scouts and then Dan Fabian before you even get to Hahn. Are you really tying to discredit Hahn because he effectively leveraged his talent evaluators?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) I didn't think so. Yanks and other teams have done this before where they lose 1st, 2nd, 3rd and then still get a comp pick because their player left. I think the Sox lose their 2nd rounder regardless. I guess I could be sarong though. Yeah, I honestly thought the same thing. And quite frankly, the difference in value between a high-end comp pick (if it indeed goes by record) and the 10th or so selection in the 2nd round is pretty significant. I'm really hoping your right here.

QUOTE (daggins @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:57 AM) Or, if we have to lose a pick, lose it for like, Grienke or Hayward and not Howie Kendrick. Please no Howie Kendrick. I'm cool with giving up a pick for Upton, but definitely not for a guy like Kendrick. Still can't believe a few of these guys got QOs, someone will be accepting this year that's for sure.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:55 AM) Yes. You lose your next selection after The one that was protected. Interesting, always thought comp picks were protected, but I guess this makes sense.

Dan Hayes is suggesting we'd lose our comp pick from Shark if we signed a free agent that received a QO. Anyone know if this is true?

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Nov 6, 2015 -> 06:03 PM) Ya but he is our best 3B prospect potentially. No doubt, and he could easily force himself into our plans with a strong AA season. But right now, we have to operate under the assumption we have a gaping hole at 3B and no obvious long-term solution to fill that spot in the near future. If Trey has a strong season at AA, you can always use him to fill other needs down the road.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Nov 6, 2015 -> 05:11 PM) For me he's a bridge to Trey at third. Trey is a nice prospect, but not a guy we can count on being the long-term answer at a position of need. He shouldn't prevent us from exploring other long-term alternatives and he's definitely not good enough for us to settle with a stopgap type like Freese for the next three years.

Wow, can't believe how many people here would actually want 34 year old, 2 WAR David Freese, let alone give him a 3 year deal. We need MASSIVE upgrades at multiple spots if we want to compete in the near future. Locking in at best average and quite possibly below average production at one of our best spots to improve is absolutely mind-boggling IMO. Quite frankly, I'd rather resign Alexei to play SS for like $6M and go all glove at 3B with Saladino than go more than one year with Freese.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 6, 2015 -> 04:35 PM) If they were to give him $30-35 million guaranteed for two years (and some in the WAR crowd would justify it, surely), there wouldn't be much joy in Mudville. I truly hope no one on this site would try to justify that contract, as it would be a horrible use of resources. Doesn't really matter though, because he's not getting an AAV of more than $10M and will only get that or close to it because of a lack of alternatives in the marketplace.

Holy f***, another thread ruined with nonsensical Royals commentary. I appreciate the mods effort to curb it, but it's really starting to get ridiculous. Caulfield, you seem like a very nice & intelligent person, but for the love of God stop derailing every thread with the Royals propaganda.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 09:08 PM) How much of that is from his earlier outlier season/s as opposed to 2013-2015? 2012-2014, and that's not including his injury-riddled 2015, he's at a 726 OPS vs. righties. So the next question is do you want for Alex Avila with his recent history (including numerous physical problems) to be the primary catcher? He is only 28 now and would be 29 on Opening Day. I'd gamble with that over Flowers, honestly. Plus he has the added motivation of proving the Tigers and his father wrong in their head-to-head match-ups, so there's that. He had a wRC+ of 107 or better against RHP each year from 2012 to 2014. I'd call that a pretty solid track record. We all know he had a horrific 2015 and the health problems are a legit concern, but he could be an interesting buy low candidate to pair with Flowers. All depends on the cost and what else is out there at a somewhat reasonable price.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 08:37 PM) He's a LHH who hit .203 vs RHP last year. He's got a career wRC+ against RHP, that's pretty f***ing good.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 05:07 PM) Why is Royals crap in this thread? Seriously, the endless Royals comments are already getting tiring and the offseason just started.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 01:13 PM) Yeah. I think Royals can give QO to Gordon after he declines player option. Team cannot decline team option and then offer QO. According to this, rejecting an option (team or player) doesn't prevent a team from offering a QO. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/expl...fer-system.html

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 12:02 PM) I don't know about deferred money. Are we still paying Konerko? Buyouts happened in '15 not '16. As far as Turner and the other spots I made it pretty clear I was saying X amount of players costed Y amount of money. I know it wasn't perfect but more of where we are at with the most likely candidates on the roster. Apparently we still owe Peavy $1M, plus $1M buyouts for Emilio & Alexei. Wasn't disagreeing with anything you said, just had gone through the payroll exercise last night prior before seeing your post and figured I'd mention where we stood in case anyone was curious.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Nov 5, 2015 -> 07:36 AM) Per Dan Hayes, Renteria is getting a second interview this week. I'll be happy with Acta or Renteria, but would prefer Acta based on my limited information.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 11:08 PM) Abreu. Robertson. Cabrera, Eaton, Quintana, Sale, Danks, LaRoche and Duke are 9 players for 87.71 million Flowers, Jones, Jennings, Garcia and Putnam are 5 players for 8.2 million using MLBTR estimates. That's 14 players for 95.91 million Assuming Petricka, Rodon, Sanchez, Johnson, Saladino and Thompson make the team that's 6 players at ~3.3 million. That's 20 players at 99.21 million. I understand the article did 40 man payroll but their numbers for reserve players are still wrong. You're missing about $3M in buyouts and deferred money, plus another $3M if you assume five more rookie contracts to fill out the 25 man roster & sightly more if Jacob Turner gets a spot. We should be sitting between $105M & $106M right now.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 4, 2015 -> 10:07 PM) http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/11/04/whi...oll-obligation/ Sox have about 105 million roster right now. Wonder how much they go up to We were at about $119M last year according to this: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/payroll/2015/ I think $130M seems like a reasonable projection, although I'm sure I'll be in the minority in guessing that.