Chicago White Sox

Let me explain. I expect them to be in the $130M to $140M range next year and gradually see that payroll grow to ~$180M by 2022 or so as guys are locked or hit arbitration. Now, if they were to add Cole maybe that changes the calculus a little bit, but I’m trying to demonstrate a realistic scenario not an optimistic one.

It may be on the aggressive end, but Yoan was at 5.7 fWAR this year and I think he’s still got a world of untapped potential and fully expect him get better as a 25 year old playing second full season at 3B in 2020.

What a dumb thread.

DH/C would be a trio amongst Grandal, Collins, & McCann. With Vaughn a potential late season addition, I’m all for that. Let me ask you this, if you’re forced to stay under $130M, what would you do differently? I’d personally to look into acquiring a RF via trade, but trying to do a FA only roster build.

Wheeler is way better than Bumgarner IMO.

It’s funny you say that, because I initially had Hamels in there but needed $5M in order to add Smith and stay under the $130M target, so I decided to go with Wood instead. Again, this isn’t perfect and I’d definitely do some things differently (Grandal & Wheeler are priorities for me however), but it’s more meant to show how quickly this roster can turn around with further growth from our young core, adding a couple high-end but not necessarily elite free agents, and just plugging our remaining holes with passable veterans.

I keep seeing people saying it will be so hard for us to be competitive next year, but I see the path being right there with even a realistic offseason. This is just one example of what we could do in free agency (my personal plan would be a little different) that should make us competitive in 2020: Wheeler - 5/$100M Grandal - 3/$60M Smith - 3/$36M Dickerson - 1/$11M Wood - 1$10M This proposed roster would require no trades to fill holes (maintaining all minor league depth) and would have a total payroll of $130M excluding Rodon (which I think is a totally reasonable target for 2020). Based on my quick & dirty fWAR projections, this team would theoretically win 95 games next year. Yes, it requires some growth from our of young guys as well as Madrigal & Robert being useful right out of the gate, but I think their defense & speed will make them high floor players in their rookie seasons. Anyway, feel free to flame away and tell me where I'm totally off-base!

You’re giving Merkin way too much credit, he only knows what the front office wants him to know.

JFC...how in the fuck is this a coherent thought or related to the fact Gardner won’t sell tickets. If you just want to be an irrational whiny little b**** about the Sox, please put away the keyboard and go find something that gives you joy in life. This post is absolute garbage and quite frankly you should be completely embarrassed for posting it. You are WAY better than this nonsense.

Now you get it!!

I have no idea what you are talking about, but Brett Gardner is NOT a big name (despite being a good player) and his addition alone would NOT sell any tickets.

Yeah, I was going to ask if he’s even played any RF and what is his arm like and it sounds like we have an answer.

Wow...are you suggesting that signing Gardner would somehow increase our attendance next year?

I will say the correct answer technically will be Abreu, but after him I feel it’s 90% likely Zach Wheeler is our first legit free agent and signs at the Winter Meetings.

I don’t think the non-Boras guys are going to wait out the Boras guys this year. I think Wheeler & Bumgarner will move quickly and take advantage of what should be a bigger demand pool.

I’m guessing you don’t realize this by now, but Balta will always assume the absolute worst when it comes to the Sox and in that case it’s the Cubs signing the free agent that would be a perfect fit for us.

Not that I want to further this argument, but wouldn’t the Bulls probably spend the least amount of revenue on their product?

How so?

JDM would be awesome, but still don’t see how he fits with Vaughn & Abreu in the 1B/DH mix unless they flip Andrew for a young starter or RF.

I don’t disagree, but we all know KW was going to keep his dugout snitch around.

Agreed...Ricky even said his own players were voicing Todd out. That to me was the death blow and a sign changes would be coming.

Reinsdorf has paid millions upon millions to Bulls coaches he fired, so not sure what you’re talking about here.

How about some semblance of a game-plan on a nightly basis? And maybe just the slightest bit of plate discipline from our hitters (garbage or not).

What do you mean the philosophy hasn’t changed? Just not sure I understand what you mean by that.

Sounds like Menechino is the replacement for Steverson.