Eminor3rd

I'd invest every penny in modernizing the scouting and player development system. Consulting, equipment, personnel, etc. Unprecedented scope of reporting, purging, and generally turning a gigantic ship around despite all collateral damage.

Actually I think they literally both did

Rest in peace brother

Every team gets them every three years. EDIT: or at least that’s the plan. There have been some audibles for some high profiles flops like the first dodgers release.

I think it’s more likely because they’re only going to keep one of the veteran types, and they want to figure out which. I don’t think it’s a reflection of a desire to get them all prepared for OD. But then again, White Sox, who knows.

Vargas to LF, Ramos to 3B?

Eno Sarris is shoving him a bit too on the fantasy side of things.

I just don’t understand the strategy behind these veteran signings. He SHOULD be making signings LIKE these, but they should be with guys that have a chance to provide some actual value. The upside with Clevinger and most of the rest is that if they bounce back and play well, they’ll waste innings/ABs for the prospects, and still return nothing of consequence at the deadline. Like adding one win if everything goes perfectly is simply not worth the opportunity cost for this team right now.

I don’t think anyone is buying into it except WestEddy

Every player the White Sox have signed this offseason were candidates for the Atlantic League

The thing about Drury is that if he bounces back at all (admittedly, I have no idea why he was so bad last year; maybe there's a good reason), he may be the best hitter on the team aside from Robert. And yet, even if he does so, he still won't return more than a live arm at the deadline.

Yes, the problem is you can’t get to 30 with 0.9 WAR players, no matter what you pay them.

It's an important point. When every player's final form is some fraction of their current form, you need to begin with a tremendous amount of upside to end up with a prayer at a contender. The White Sox an get an elite draft pick, signing, or acquisition to the MLB, but when was the last time they "developed" a guy where whole seemed greater than the parts? Even randomness should have produced a few by now.

Maybe Law is harsh here -- time will tell -- but it's not like it doesn't sound like more of the same thing we've experienced as fans for the last 20 years with this team. The Sox simply cannot develop players. The failure rate is remarkably predictable and the narrative remarkably consistent. The ones that get through are largely able to do it through sheer raw talent, and even still frequently improve when they leave via trade or free agency despite advancing age. They take good prospects from other systems and just consistently waste them; these guys get to the highest levels with all of the same flaws they had all along, and without significant growth in their strengths beyond what can be gained from simple reps. Until this changes, there is no hope for this franchise. Forget about JR and his self-immolating free agency policy, his refusal to do whatever it takes to build a credible player development system is his true curse on the White Sox.

1Q84 is pretty wild, I second the rec