Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 25, 2017 -> 09:26 AM) Lopez is going to have to be pretty amazing if he is all they get for 5 pretty cheap years of Adam Eaton. They need the others to do something to make this trade look good. If Lopez ends up being a 3+ WAR starter, that alone would be a win for us. If you believe our realistic competive window is from 2020 to 2024, then Eaton would have only fit in for two of those years and likely would have been a declining speed-based player by that point. Lopez would be part of our core for at least four of those years and be in his prime. This is why it made sense to move Eaton despite his five years of control, as two and likely three of them would be wasted on a rebuilding club. Having said all that, I'd personally be dissapointed if that's all we got out of an Eaton trade.

I think we should all have some concerns within Giolito's results so far, but it's way too early to jump to conclusions. Even that article spells it out pretty clearly: don't overreact to spring training. Let's give him a few months in Charlotte and see how things progress. One thing that makes me optimistic is how in touch he is with analytics and that he's willing to leverage them to make himself a better pitcher. He specifically mentioned spin rate and how certain mechanical changes could help him in that area. If this kid ends up flopping, it won't be from lack of a effort or thoughtfulness.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 07:43 PM) This. They are gonna try, but they do not have the resources like some other teams. What resources do we not have exactly? Our major league payroll is going to be like 24th in baseball. We've also spent way less on amateur free agents than most of the teams we'd be competing with for Robert. I'd wager we have more cash to work with than most of the teams in the hunt for Robert. It all comes down to whether or not we're willing to endure the penalties that come with signing Robert and based on Hahn's quote the answer is yes.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 07:29 PM) While I have discounted the Sox chances at getting Roberts somewhere in this thread, it is odd and potentially very bad if the Sox are indeed "in" 100% on Roberts. To put all your eggs into one basket is extremely risky. If they don't get him then what ? Then they get table scraps or nothing and that is totally unacceptable at any time but especially now when they have the money to spend on international prospects. Robert is the #2 international prospect in baseball right now. It's not like we're talking about some random 16 year old Dominican here, this kid has a solid chance of being an impact player and in the the not too distant future. I guess I'd much rather go big on one elite talent then sign several of the B & C tier amateur free agents like we have been doing. IMO, our current strategy hasn't been very fruitful, although it's obviously still early with some of these kids. And we'd still be able to sign a bunch of guys for under $300k and trade our excess budget for statewide prospects. To me, it's an easy decision, but I can understand where you're coming from.

QUOTE (daggins @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) Their rotation is already good and they have decent, quality depth. The top of their rotation is far from good, at least from a certainty standpoint. Yes they have depth, which is what makes a guy like Martes expendable. Quintana completely changes the complexion of their rotation and makes them a much better playoff threat. IMO, the addition of Q would put them neck & neck with Boston & Cleveland.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 11:56 AM) Tucker just turned 20 so it's not like he's blocked over the course of the next 4 years (maybe 3) since he can theoretically come up after they are gone as well or in the last year. That's all true, but the Astros have the makings of a championship roster. You don't pass on addressing what many consider to be their one significant need because of a prospect that might help five years down the road. As a GM, when you have a window you really need to go for it and I think Luhnow is making a mistake if Tucker & Martes are holding back a Quintana deal.

I still don't know what the Astros are doing. Springer & Reddick are under control for four more seasons. I get Tucker would be nice to slide in alongside those guys, but they'll have plenty of other internal options to fill that spot in the coming years. And Martes has a huge ceiling but also has huge question marks. I just can't fathom how those two guys would be off limits for a legit TOR starter that fits in perfectly with their competitive window. I really think Luhnow will regret not addressing this need during the offseason because the cost of elite pitching will only go up as we get closer to the deadline.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 07:43 AM) I'm fine with him getting reps at third to begin the season personally. If he looks rough, try pulling the plug and play him in LF from then until there is room for him at the MLB level. 3B has been his primary postion for a while now and the scouting reports haven't been very positive. I believe they started exploring the OF idea with him last year but now it's time to commit to it. IMO, 3B is a lost cause at this point.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 07:33 AM) Nice swing but no position. Thats going to be his challenge. Give him reps in LF and see how he responds. No harm in trying.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 07:11 AM) He absolute tore up AA last year; albeit as a 23 year old, but still. He's only 24 right now. It'd be great if he turned into a 1-2 WAR regular in the lineup. Mike, I'm not sure 23 would be considered old for AA. In fact, I'd guess it's right around league average or maybe even a little below. Regardless, Delmonico has real talent even if recent prospect rankings haven't recognized it. Part of that is due to the troubles he had in Milwaukee, where he quickly lost a lot of goodwill. Having said that, there's no denying how impressive his AA season was for us last year. Rarely do you see guys post numbers like that in Birmingham.

QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Mar 24, 2017 -> 12:17 AM) No. Pittsburgh HAS to part with Meadows. We need another blue chip position player in this deal. I'm not sold on Bell, and neither are the fangraphs guys. They think he won't hit for power, and he's a DH basically. Meadows/Keller or Glasnow, based on who the Sox like better/Hayes/Lotto ticket is what it would take from PIT for me to make a deal. However it starts with Meadows and either Keller or Glasnow. No Meadows no deal with Pirates. None of those guys has the upside of Moncada and Kopech in my opinion. Not that I disagree with your main point, but if you're looking for guys with the upside of Moncada & Kopech, you'll never be moving Quintana. Those guys have arguably the highest ceilings in the entire minors.

QUOTE (Tony @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 11:51 PM) Haha, we are probably at exactly the same point. I think I just finished Episode 8 of Season 2? Where you at? About halfway through episode 12.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/zeise-i...version=pgevoke Pittsburgh writer suggests Quintana for Glasnow, Keller, & Bell. Would you guys take that deal if offered or wait for something better? I'm torn here because it's obviously a ton of talent, but I hate that the one positional prospect we'd be getting is more of a 1B/DH type.

QUOTE (Tony @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 10:53 PM) I mentioned it before, but did anyone watch Twin Peaks back in the day? Literally watching right now, about halfway through season 2. It's a little rough around the edges, but has been a very entertaining show for the most part.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 08:14 PM) Not necessarily. In order to be "good" players, both Delmonico (and Hayes) would have to play a position other than 1B at above-average MLB defense. It doesn't seem that Delmonico has the ability to stick at 3rd, but he'll definitely be given time to continue his improvement because the White Sox have nothing but time and patience right now. I think LF is his only real shot at being a regular and I'm hopeful that the Sox will give him an extended look there this year once Melky is eventually moved. Now is the perfect time to give a guy like Delmonico an opportunity.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 05:12 PM) I didn't hear about anything in Detroit but... Emma Watson said this after Beyonce dropped the video for Flawless: 'As I was watching [the videos] I felt very conflicted, I felt her message felt very conflicted in the sense that on the one hand she is putting herself in a category of a feminist, but then the camera, it felt very male, such a male voyeuristic experience of her... Beyoncé using her sexuality as empowerment isn't feminism!' She basically said Beyonce's feminism is for male consumption and now Emma Watson is doing half naked photo shoots. She also said feminism isn't a stick that should be used to beat other women, just after using feminism to beat down a woman of color. She's a huge hypocrite and feminism to her is only done correctly when it's done by white women. I put her alongside Lena Dunham and Taylor Swift, which is somewhere in the trash. After she said that, I haven't been able to watch her in anything as I've been having a hard time separating the art from the artist. I've got to be honest, but who the f*** cares? This planet is doomed if people are going to get this worked up over this nonsense.

QUOTE (SouthWallace @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 04:58 PM) Q through 7 on 79 pitches. 2 hits. QUOTE (SouthWallace @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 05:07 PM) Burdi in for Q in the 8th. Q's final line: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. I'm honestly shocked no one has caved and paid the price to get Q. It will happen eventually, but there will definitely be a couple teams that regret waiting several months before addressing the holes at the top of their rotations.

I'll agree that 2020 is probably the first season we should expect to be playoff contenders. If all goes right, 2019 is possible but will probably be closer to a .500 winning season or just below. However, the reality is that our second wave of prospects (Kopech, Hansen, Dunning Collins, Basabe, Beer, Call) probably won't hit until mid 2018 at the earliest, so 2019 should be filled with some growing pains. It's really the unknowns (acquired prospects, free agents, draft picks, etc) that could be speed this thing up, but again we'd have to do pretty well in those areas to find ourselves above .500 come 2019.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 04:46 PM) Intriguing that they are playing Delmonico in LF I think LF is his best hope if ever wants to become a regular. Won't hit enough to be a 1B/DH and can't pick it enough to play 3B. If he can just be passable in LF, I truly believe the bat will play.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 01:59 PM) Well technically they should have already gone all in on the international spending if it was going to come down to this but oh well. Nothing you can really do at this point. The problem may have been they were 100% in on Robert and simply weren't sure which class he'd end up in. If that were the case, they obviously couldn't go all in on the 2016-17 class.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 23, 2017 -> 01:51 PM) Yeah really depends on how high bidding goes. Why does that matter though? Given how little we've spent in Latin America over the last 12 months, I'd wager we have more cash available for a move like this than any of the clubs we're up against. If ownership & the front office decide that enduring the penalties is worth it, then I think we immediately become the favorite to land Robert. And I put a lot of faith in Badler considering us one of the favorites. IMO, it just seems too much of a coincidence that we haven't been linked to any of the major targets in next year's class. There really appears to be smoke here.

I am very, very confident Robert ends up with the Sox regardless of which signing period he ends up falling into. He is a special talent that would fit in nicely with our second wave of prospects (Kopech, Hansen, Dunning, Collins, Basabe, Call, Fisher, etc.) & would be a huge PR win for the front office as we progress deeper into the rebuild.

Easy path to the 2020 World Series (only semi-serious): 1) Trade Quintana for Martes, Tucker, & Reed 2) Sign Luis Robert as amateur free agent 3) Draft Seth Beer in 2018 MLB draft 4) Sign Josh Donaldson in 2018-19 free agent class 1B: Reed 2B: Moncada SS: Anderson 3B: Donaldson LF: Beer CF: Robert RF: Tucker DH: Abreu C: Collins #1: Kopech #2: Rodon #3: Giolito #4: Hansen #5: Martes CL: Burdi SU: Lopez SU: Fulmer MR: Stephens MR: Flores MR: Dunning LR: Adams

I just don't see the Astros ponying up yet. I feel like they'll need a little bit of panick to ensue before they ultimately decide to pay the high price it will take to land Quintana. I think that's pretty crazy as they're a TOR starter away from being neck & neck with the Red Sox & Indians, but Luhnow is apparently overvaluing his prospects at the moment.

Martes, Tucker, Reed, & Sierra. Give me those four guys and call it a deal.