Chicago White Sox

Sounds like more fun than I’m having right now watching MLB Network

What SP2 do you think they are getting? I’ve heard very differently on what their plan is to spend. One of the big four SS, a CF like Bellinger, and a mid rotation SP like Taillon and I actually have a really good source on this.

Pessimistic me says Hahn clears the payroll needed to sign an OF right after all the LH options are gone and he goes with a Sheets/RH FA platoon for LF.

Alright boys, do we think Rick makes a move tonight? Gun to head I say ‘no’, but hope he proves me wrong.

What trade are you referring to?

We’re getting the 6th spot or I say we permaban Parkman as a sacrifice to the baseball gods.

Give us the goods Greek-konerko! Need specific teams and players coming back so I can pretend Hahn will actually do something this week other than make stupid one-liners.

So true. The NFL is absolute blast and that’s what the MLB needs to get to instead of elongated game of chicken between owners & players that happens every other year.

Yes of course

Holy s%*# do we need a rumor.

The A’s apparently want major leaguers for Murphy. That does open up the possibility of a Vaughn led package and a Eloy/Grandal/Sheets/Burger DH/1B monstrosity ?

I love your optimism but Hahn sounds like he’s as desperate and transparent as a homeless guy asking for five bucks and telling you it’s going towards crack. I truly believe Jerry is cutting back because of a lack of playoff revenue from last season and that funds will very tight.

My god, he used the Dutch Oven as an example of what?

Just said that Gavin Sheets is a potential OF option. Wouldn’t be that big of a deal except for the fact he did this same song & dance last year and then actually went with the insane plan that back-fired as expected.

He made a very lawyery statement on how we have some prospects who are close to helping or “on the precipice of contributing” and others that are father away. Combine that with him saying he’s open to a blockbuster trade and it’s very clear that anyone that can’t help in 2023 is on the table. Seems like it may be a classic White Sox “all-in” year without the money as usual (lol) and Montgomery is the only prospect who can headline a true blockbuster.

Of course Jerry is at the root of it all, but if your owner is unwilling to spend on big-time free agents then reprioritize your money towards player development, analytics, pro scouting, the training staff, etc. We have been below average in almost every function under Rick since Herm left. At some point, you can’t keep using the owner’s aversion to risk as an excuse and need to adjust your plan. Hahn has completely failed in that regard IMO.

Exactly.

His contract isn’t bad unless the 2022 version of Yoan is here to stay. He just needs to be a 3 win player to more or less to break-even and that should be our minimum expectation. I’ll keep saying it, but Grifol and this new staff will help him more than anyone.

What I hate about Rick is it’s like he doesn’t get this mess is all his fault. When the rebuild started, instead of going for high-end talent he drafted a bunch of high floor college guys who profiled as corner IF/OF types. Perhaps that’s because he was concerned about his player development system not turning young athletic prospects into quality major leaguers. Regardless, he failed to build a pipeline of cheap talent despite multiple years of top 15 picks. That is the biggest single reason we’re in this spot where we’re capped out and having to trade from our major league roster to fill needs. Look at the Phillies for example. When we were pursuing Machado & Harper, they were a year ahead of us in terms of their rebuild. Since then, the bulk of their first wave of prospects ultimately failed whereas the bulk of our high profile guys mostly worked out. However, despite those shortfalls, the Phillies were in the World Series last October while we were still dreaming about all those promised parades. The reason for this? The Phillies were able to go out and add impact talent in free agency. Harper, Wheeler, Schwarber, and Castellanos were all signed to contracts that would have been franchise records in addition to the Realmuto extension. And guess what? Those guys carried their team and they’ve been able to supplement them with enough cheap above replacement level players from their farm. Meanwhile, the Sox have had to allocate the bulk of their money to relievers and role players because the well completely dried up as soon as the first wave of talent was called up. Hahn essentially kicked off a rebuild with several great trades and an awesome Robert signing, but completely failed in every element after that. It’s absolutely mind-boggling how bad his mismanaged this thing.

See above. Colas has claim on exclusive left-handed savage role.

Hahn hates young left-handed savages unfortunately.

I think you’d have to and then look to move some of your other IF prospects for help elsewhere.

Really feels like Hahn is going to trade Montgomery.

If you can land a legit young player who can help you at a position of need while also freeing up payroll space, you 100% deal Hendriks. Graveman or Lopez take over as closer. Sign someone cheap with upside like Alex Reyes to add to the bullpen mix. I 100% agree it feels wrong, but the path to a division title requires creativity and that means selling high on a guy who headlines our only area with some level of depth.

Colson is a legit blue chip prospect and I’d argue that Ramos is a 50 FV / fringe top 100 prospect. Moving those guys would destroy an already weak system, but are the only two other than than Colas who could headline anything of real value.