Chicago White Sox

You think Duffy over Keller on Opening Day?

Seems pretty likely that NotSteveCishek has a White Sox source to some extent.

If Moncada signs an extension, then Abreu’s deal will all be worth it.

Yes it does. And honestly, it seems like they have already started down that path with the last two drafts. I don’t think it will be this year (as I think they take a college arm), but I fully expect a prep positional prospect in 1st in the not too distant future.

If you assume he agrees to a six year extension, here is how long our positional core would be controlled for: Abreu = 2022 Grandal = 2023 Anderson = 2024 Moncada = 2025 Jimenez = 2026 Madrigal = 2026 Robert = 2027 Vaughn = 2027 That would be absolute insanity.

Why are you ignoring the free agent years we’d be buying out though? That’s where the value lies in an extension.

That is way too team friendly IMO. Look at what Bregman signed for last season (6/$100M) and he only gave up two free agent years. Moncada should at least get something similar if a six year deal and substantially more if it effectively buys three or more free agent years. Honestly, any season of control after 2023 should come in at ~$30M / per. A 9/$190M deal would be fantastic for us at it would only take him through his age 32 season. You’d be getting almost all his prime years for what young stars get paid into their late 30’s.

Call me crazy, but I tend to believe this guy and really think they lock him up to a Bregman-like deal before Opening Day.

That would be so huge.

Looks like Micker got a 2B.

Mazara walks about 2.2x the amount of Tim...

First hot take of the year, but I think Cease is going to have a monster 2020.

Those three spots probably have the most uncertainty at the moment. Grandal will definitely bat 4th or 5th against RHP, but I’m leaning towards 4th for now. I also think Ricky will most likely bat EE behind Eloy to provide the younger guy with better protection.

Yeah same here.

We’re just over a month away from Opening Day so I thought now would be a good time for official lineup predictions. Here is my official guess of what Ricky will trot out on Opening Day against the Royals: Anderson, SS Moncada, 3B# Abreu, 1B Grandal, C# Jimenez, LF Encarnacion, DH Mazara, RF* Robert, CF Garcia, 2B#

Controlled, but not cost controlled. There is a big difference there, especially with a reliever who could potentially be in the closing mix. And let’s not ignore the two option years that could be significantly under-valued if things go as the Sox plan. I just can’t get beyond people getting upset about locking up a young, LH reliever who just put up the second highest GB rate signing a 5 / $16M deal with two team friendly options.

Exactly, this gives us flexibility to use him as our closer and to do so potentially on the cheap. I really love this move, but I also believe Bummer is a special reliever.

Yup, I’m shocked more people aren’t loving this.

They also can use him at closer now if need be without having to worry about ballooning salary. This could end up being a huge steal for us.

We haven’t traded Elijah Tatis yet...

The right answer is Giolito just because he was a legit TOR starter last year and bare minimum we need to finish the season with two guys we feel confidently can be the #1 & #2 of this rotation going forward. After him, we need at least one of Kopech or Cease to take a massive leap forward. As much as depth is important, we should be able to cover the back of the rotation between Lopez, Dunning, Rodon, Lambert, Stiever, Gonzalez, or even one of Cease or Kopech if they fail to progress. The top of the rotation is far more critical because Jerry isn’t going to sign a starter beyond a Wheeler type contract and we probably won’t have the ammo to trade for one.

Not trying to be a dick, but are you actually insane? There is no Bears fan more guilty of this than you. Like I’ve had to do four takes to ensure I am responding to the right person because there is no way Jack Parkman could have written the above post.

Purposely losing is far & away the worst thing a team can do in sports. I’m not sure how that’s even up for debate.

You think cheating in hopes of winning a World Series is somehow worse than throwing a World Series for money? What in the fuck...

Oh I truly believe the defense will improve significantly this year, I just wish he’d walk a bit more.