Chicago White Sox

Benefits, minor league salaries, and pre-arb bonus pool

Having too many awesome players is a good problem to have.

Lux for Kimbrel was never going to happen. The Dodgers would certainly want Vaughn if they were going to move Lux.

26 innings is less than a full season for Kimbrel…

I think it’s as simple as Jerry being unwilling to go beyond eight years and KW / Hahn being completely oblivious where his market would end up by slow playing him for months. They tried to add some option years at the end last minute, but by the end the Padres had blown us out of the water from a guaranteed money perspective. It wasn’t some conspiracy but rather unrealistic / poor negotiating.

Jerry authorized an 8/$250M deal for Machado and a 5/$125M deal for Wheeler. At some point it falls on Hahn to actually sign someone to a nine figure deal. The fact that Grandal’s $72M deal is the largest in team history is beyond embarrassing.

Didn’t realize Boyd would be out for two months, so perhaps he doesn’t really help with the early season grind like Velasquez can.

Giants keep adding depth. Would have preferred to Boyd to Velasquez if that was are only true “depth” signing. Still think we trade for a starter from the A’s though.

Giants keep adding depth. Would have preferred to Boyd to Velasquez if that was are only true “depth” signing. Still think we trade for a starter from the A’s though.

I’m not suggesting the moves worked out perfectly, but the Sox needed a legit left-handed power bat (why does that seem relevant ?) and got one who was between good and excellent for three seasons. Rowand ended up not being very good outside of a ridiculous 2007 season and KW thought his former 1st round pick could step in and replace Aaron. Obviously he was wrong on the self evaluation of Anderson, but it was a gamble worth taking in hopes of achieving a second championship. As for the Vazquez deal, KW knew the rotation was going to be beat up from a long postseason. He knew he needed another arm (why does that seem relevant ?) and got one who provided 200+ innings each year, a ~3.80 FIP, and nearly 15 fWAR. Yes, he always pitched worse than his peripherals and was a bit of a choker, but those innings were incredibly valuable in 2006.. It was a forward thinking move that provided significantly more value in the three years we had him than Chris Young provided the Diamondbacks during that time (~3.3 fWAR total). Was it a perfect move? No, but again, KW saw a need and used a position of depth (in this case CF) to address another hole. Honestly, Rick Hahn needs to take note. When you have a window to win, you need to take calculated gambles and go for it. Funny Rick has the same exact needs now that KW had at that time. Can he use some of his redundant 1B/DH/LF depth to plug one of those holes? Hopefully Rick has been able to convince someone on Jake Burger as a centerpiece for a SP, because that’s exactly what KW would be doing right now.

Fangraphs’ W-L projections have us tied for 9th, with three AL teams ahead of us (TOR, NYY, & HOU). That being said, I think their individual player projections for us all ridiculously light in some areas and being the best team in the AL is in our range of outcomes.

The Sox legit had top 5 payrolls after 2005. Hahn acquiring Thome and Vazquez were excellent, forwarding thinking moves even if they didn’t make the playoffs (which they would have under the current structure). Losing Rowand did hurt though.

Totally was…arms were just beat down from a long post season run.

They won’t be the right fielder though.

Jack, I think you need to realize this team is awesome despite a shitty farm system and few impactful free agent signings. For at least the next three seasons, we should be able to overcome the mistakes of our ownership group and front office and be one of the best teams in baseball. Hopefully Conforto plus a starting pitcher is still coming though.

Giolito needs to be more consistent with the slider and throw it more for him to take that next step. It’s definitely in the realm of possibility, but it always seems like he wants to revert to a 4 seamer / change up heavy mix.

If healthy, Eloy & Robert can combine for 10 wins next year. Last year they gave us 3.4 wins. If Moncada finds his power again he’s a six win player. If Vaughn takes a step forward he can be an absolute stud as well. Cease & Kopech both have massive room for growth. We won 93 games last year and have room significant improvement. The Tigers need a ton to go right to be anywhere our stratosphere in the next three years.

I think Kopech has the chance to be the best starter in baseball a year or two from now. That being said, Cease is the one on the brink of breaking through with Cease. I threw some money on him leading the league in K’s and feel pretty damn good about it.

It’s real bro. I have a feeling Cease is our #1 starter by the end of the season…just too bad we couldn’t extend him before he want to Boras.

So all their prospects will pan out but none of our young guys will get better?

Finishing this offseason is very simple: Trade Kimbrel for salary relief (don’t give a fuck about the return at this point) Sign Conforto to a 4/$90M deal (don’t give a fuck about Colas or Cespedes) Trade Burger, Dalquist, & Adolfo for Manaea (don’t give a fuck if he’s a rental) Do those three moves and we’re as strong as any team in the AL.

Tigers nipping at their heals…???

That’s absolute absurd ask for one year of a pitcher of Manaea’s caliber.

Harrison is going to bring that health & defense that Stone Pony alluded!!

Cease was a top 20 starter last year in terms of fWAR…