Chicago White Sox

I think this is just like his refusal to go over slot in the past. A ton of teams were doing it and those that did were able to come out with bounties of talent. But since it was technically against the rules and Jerry was BFF with Selig, he refused to allow such practice and put at a huge disadvantage. Jerry has a history of doing things his way all else be damned and I think we’re seeing it here. Honestly, I can’t come up with another rationale explanation other Paddy missing the boat on the recruitment process being earlier than years past and coming out empty-handed. A fuck up like that should have consequences though, even in this organization. I’ve seen the front office make really dumb excuses for Jerry for years and saying “we didn’t like anyone else” fits that to a T.

They’ve signed 16 year olds before, but maybe the fact that recruitment now requires locking up these guys at 13 / 14 is what bothers Reinsdorf. Let’s be honest here, this wouldn’t be the first time Jerry that he did something based on his moral convictions (refusing to go over slot because it was technically against the rules) that put the team at a disadvantage. Again, while Hahn’s resume as a GM is poor, he simply can’t be stupid enough to not want to spend all his bonus allotment because there are no players they like. I’m certain there is more to this story. Your theory makes the most sense to me, especially with an international likely right around the corner.

See, this seems far more likely than Hahn not realizing how dumb it is to not spend your entire bonus allotment.

Who is Grandal similar that came to the AL and face-planted? And why slope coming to AL cause a batter to face-plant in the first place?

Gross.

He has to wait until Tuesday of next week. Pretty sure almost every single potential free agent files day one.

I plan on flying in for it and that will be one of many questions I’ll consider asking.

He was saying to front load the contract to make it more difficult for teams close to the luxury tax threshold to match. It will be a cold day in hell before the Sox ever have to worry about that.

Salaries are averaged over the life of a contract for luxury tax reasons so no benefit there unfortunately.

They spent every year for a good half decade or more leading up to Robert and now all of a sudden they don’t like anyone. To me, it’s all a front for some sort of fuckup and they’re trying to get anything they can for the money they can’t spend.

Backloading contracts doesn’t help with the luxury tax.

Pollock was a 3+ win OF who can play all three positions when healthy, while JDM is at best a 2 win OF and only going to get worse defensively. I don’t know what to tell you man, but no NL team is signing JDM to any realistic contract.

Hard to disagree. This signing class is an absolute travesty.

I’m guessing the Rangers asked about acquiring our slot money, while Hahn came up with this scenario.

Exactly, I think is a symptom of a bigger problem with our LatAm operations.

Oh I 100% agree, given the ROIs, not spending your full pool is just plain stupid. That being said, I will care far less if they end up adding multiple impact talents in free agency.

It’s definitely embarrassing, but I don’t think this is entirely money driven. I feel they somehow botched the recruitment process with this class after signing Robert and there is simply nothing of significance left to spend it on that isn’t already tied to another organization. Whatever the truth is, our LatAm operations are a complete mess and a worldwide draft can’t come soon enough.

We better spend a fuckton in free agency to make this shit acceptable.

There is zero chance the Cubs decline Quintana's option.

This is just a crazy comp. Pollock is at least good defensively when on the field. JDM is a fucking butcher man and would also get hurt.

Maybe at a $10M AAV? No NL team is signing him to a 4/$68M contract.

They wanted to trade for him last year with two years in control when competing was going to be a long-shot. Right or wrong, I could definitely see us revisiting that.

No one is screaming the market will work in our favor. But to say the market dynamics are vastly different this year and the Yankees are automatically going to spend hog wild and there is no hope for us is absurd. The Yankees could afford a $300M+ payroll every single year and don’t. Why is that? And last year they could have added Machado or Corbin and didn’t. I still think they’re a huge threat for the top guys, but they aren’t the free agent monster they were under the previous Steinbrenner.

Chapman leaving would give them $17.5M to worth with, but that’s also a pretty big hole to fill. Encarnacion isn’t actual savings for them.

Why are you only looking at the expiring dollars and not the increases? And the Yankees only paid $7.5M of his contract last year and are on the book for a $5M buyout, so even if you want to go down your ridiculous path that’s only worth $2.5M in savings this year.