Chicago White Sox

Extending Q for two more years at $25M per while guaranteeing his two options years does not make him a more valuable trade asset. Teams are simply not going to pay us extra for a 5th & 6th year at market value, because god only knows what kind of pitcher Quintana will be at that time. As for us, why commit $25M for a 32 year old starting pitcher in 2021 when we should have younger pitchers we'd like to extend at that point including Rodon (unlikely I know), Giolito, Kopech, Lopez, etc? The strength of our system right now is pitching prospects and you got to have faith in enough of them panning out. Any significant financial resources should go towards addressing our offense.

The Cubs aren't trading for Quintana, at least not at this point in time. IMO, this thing comes down to three teams: Houston, Pittsburgh, & Atlanta. If Martes is really off limits, then I don't consider the Astros serious players. I believe the Braves are actually interested in Q, but I'm guessing any deal would need to be on their terms. That leaves the Pirates and I think they're the one team that might blink as we approach spring training. The team has a lot of talent, but desperately needs to add a TOR starter if they want even a solid chance of competing for a wild card spot. Quintana's contract is a perfect match for them and allows them to pivot in a year or two if things don't work out as well as they hope. A deal just makes too much sense for them and ultimately I think they cave. If Meadows & Bell are truly untouchables, then I could see a middle ground being Glasnow, Keller, Newman, & Craig. Hahn stated very clearly at SoxFest that it was too early to focus on specific needs when trading our assets and I think the package above would be way too much talent to pass up on.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 29, 2017 -> 11:40 PM) Even without Bregman, Martes, and Musgrove available, I think there could still be a deal that makes sense with the Astros... but it would require their 5-6 next best prospects, and I just cannot see the wisdom in completely burning the farm to the ground like that. I just can't see Lunhow doing it. You're right, something like Tucker, Paulino, Perez, Reed, & Fisher or Whitley would work, but like you said, I can't see the Astros giving up five top 120 prospects in one deal.

I'm probably one of the highest here regarding an Astros deal, but no way in hell am I making a deal without Martes + Tucker as the headliners (assuming Bregman is off limits). If Martes is truly off limits for Quintana, then I think that Archer rumor is complete BS. Seems like the Astros aren't serious about landing a TOR starter if they have this many untouchables.

MLBpipeline released their list of best tools. Some White Sox made the list: Fastest Baserunner Runner-up: Moncada Best Fastball Winner: Kopech Best Curveball Winner: Giolito Best Slider Runner-up: Kopech

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jan 29, 2017 -> 11:45 AM) Yep. Stupid thing to say, even in jest... just showed his immaturity. Are you actually being serious right now?

Two interest tweets from Dan Hayes: Also, some interesting nuggets from a SSS article: http://www.southsidesox.com/2017/1/29/1442...y-soxfest-recap

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2017 -> 07:53 AM) I appreciate your viewpoint, and disagree. The progressive movement has never been more unified than it is right now. A common enemy makes us stronger, and all but guarantees that we will win. It may get worse - a lot worse - before it gets better, but I believe it will if we all stand and do our part. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." The problem is that Trump isn't the enemy for half this country. He's doing all the god awful things his campaign promised he would do. Those of us whose moral code is built around acceptance & tolerance may be up in arms over what is effectively a Muslim ban, but I can promise you there are millions of uneducated hillbillies & straight-up racists who view this as a huge win for our country. How can we overcome this when we're effectively outnumbered?

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 11:24 PM) I hear you. I get it. But here's what's great about this fight: Everything we're fighting now has always been there. It never went away. We closed the curtains, and swept it under the rug, but it has always, always been there. Now, with the rise of Trumpism, the curtains have been flung open, and there's NOTHING hidden anymore. We see half of America for what it is, and what it has always been. The beauty of that is that now we can kill it - or at least have the weight of the free world come crashing down on top of it. I truly don't think these policies stay in place. I don't think Trump succeeds. He's mobilizing an army to stand up against him in a way I've never seen or read about in books. There's potential that our generation gets to be the one that smashes fascist authoritarianism once and for all, and that, to me, is exciting. (Plus, having this mindset helps me fight harder without getting heartbroken, overwhelmed or exhausted) Dude, there is nothing good about this, nothing at all. I get your Mr. Activist around here, but your general line of thinking is absolute insanity to me.

QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 09:10 PM) Are there any freebies in terms of items to be autographed? I bought a ball just in case. Will they know to sign a ball with a pen instead of a marker? They gave out free photos for Bo Jackson, but that was a unique situation. And yes, these guys know when to use a pen vs. a marker, no worry there.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 08:33 PM) I'm kinda with you in that I think the Sale return in general was light, but the whole panel basically agreed Moncada was the most talented prospect in baseball. That leaves the explanation for Benintendi's ranking as "the guy still on Boston". You're ignoring floor, and Benintendi's floor is much higher than Moncada's. Nothing wrong these rankings IMO.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 07:56 PM) Benintendi or Torres #1? Benintendi #1.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 05:27 PM) Give us Vlad Jr

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 02:28 PM) Post 42 in this thread said SSS mentioned when the time is right the Sox will spend big .What the Sox idea of spending big means is any ones guess. QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 28, 2017 -> 02:41 PM) I don't take that as "we will go out and sign the best free agent fit (Machado to play 3B for example). More long the lines I've spreading out a hood portion of money around the team's young kids. The ones who have succeeded anyway. That was my post and Hahn's comment was specifically about filling holes in free agency.

Did anyone here attend one of the Rick Hahn Town Halls? If so, was there anything worth sharing? Wasn't able to make it, but am dying to here if there any interesting things insights.

According to larry over at SSS, Hahn said that the organization will spend big when the time is right and hinted at the crazy 2018/19 free agent class. So basically they're targeting 2019 or probably the more realistically 2020 to be legit contenders.

FWIW, Callis has Moncada ranked #1.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 04:55 PM) If his short stint at the MLB level ruined him then Fulmer was never going to make it anyway. He's a not in the top 100 anymore but he's still likely a top 150 prospect, his stock is definitely down but he's not a lost cause yet. 100% agree. No doubt his stock is down, but the kid is only 23 years old. Way too early to write him off.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 02:34 PM) Would you take just Meadows and Newman and maybe a lesser pitcher. I think I would, need some hitting prospects. Probably, as long as the pitching prospect was halfway decent.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 11:49 AM) Yes. Are you looking for Moncada's rank? He was.....#17. LOL Wow, that's wild to me that Moncada didn't move up at all after the year he had.

This is a great list, probably the best one since FutureSox started publishing them. I'm obviously no expert, but I found very few of the rankings even slightly questionable. Great job as always!

Does anyone have access to Law's list from last year?

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 11:36 AM) What does he say about Kopech? Because I doubt anyone else will have him ahead of Reyes or as high as #7. IMO, it says Law overreacts to small AFL samples. He's not the only one guilty of that, but I see several prospects that are probably ranked a bit too high because of a handful of AFL games.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 11:28 AM) When it comes down to it, Law is a great evaluator. At the same time, he's very bent on himself. Looking back at these rankings in 2020, when these players start showing their true value, I think the actual rank is less important to some writers than where they were against the consensus of writers. This type of thinking, in theory, would make Law dive in on guys and write guys off but it's also a natural hedge. If Moncada becomes a very good player Law can still say, "I had him as the #17 best prospect, that's a very good player, That's a 3 WAR player, etc." If Moncada is a total bust than Law can say, "I didn't see him as highly as everyone else." or "I was the low guy on Moncada." I could be and probably am wrong, but given the insight Law has given us into his person, I wouldn't be surprised if he viewed these rankings as more of a pissing contest than a meritocratic process. That being said, to have an arm with one appearance above A ball like Mitch Keller in front of Yoan Moncada...I just can't get behind that. Great post raBBit.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 11:28 AM) Please, people aren't questioning his rankings. They are reflexively dismissing anything that doesn't rank sox prospects high enough as being biased. That isn't interesting debate it's just whining. You could use these to learn more about prospects strengths and weaknesses and decide yourself what you think is more important, or you could just get mad about output. And output (in terms of list rankings) won't matter, ultimately when these guys arrive next year. Would I now rank Moncada lower than Kopech because of this list? Hell no. I know Crawford is good defensively but no way in hell I'd take a 1-for-1 swap for Moncada. But it's good to know that Moncada is not finished developing. He may very well come up and struggle some more, he has a contact issue that will be up to him to correct. The good news is he already walks and could very well have some big power seasons where he identifies what pitches to drive. And that is more than most others in top 20 can do. I've never once accused Law of being biased against the White Sox. I do think ranking Moncada 17th is absolutely ridiculous and the direct result of overreacting to a measly 20 major league at-bats (whether he admits it or not). That doesn't make me mad, it just makes me question his abilities as a prospect expert. I'll be interested to see where other publications rank Moncada, because I'm fairly certain Law will be the clear outlier here.