Frank_Thomas

Itll definitely be interesting what Gordon signing first tomorrow would do to the rest of the market.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 09:41 PM) I keep forgetting he does cost a pick. I still think he'd ultimately be a good sign if they can't land a top 3 guy. I still think they end up with Cespedes. I hope so, I wonder what Rabbit thinks about this KC guys update. Rabbits been pretty clear his sources have said we want Gordon primarily.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 09:15 PM) Hahn/Williams aren't stupid by any means & what I mean by that is this: They know they need another piece (OF'er) to put the icing on this offseason. Even if they miss on the top 3 guys, a signing of Fowler would make a lot of sense & improve this team as well. I have faith they make an add, I just hope it's a one of the top 3 out there. I just don't know if Fowler is worth it since he costs a pick.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 09:13 PM) This person has followers. Legit at all? https://twitter.com/royalsclubhouse/status/...564379208003585 This was the same person that said he was gaurenteed to sign before Xmas eve. But it seems he might have "sources" within KC.

Unfortunately I think we only sign one of the big three if things break the right way for us. This means Davis heads back to Baltimore and the market for these guys continues to decrease. I'm pretty sure the Sox are stuck on there numbers and it'll be up to the players if they want to come here on a three year deal. I'm starting to think our excitement the past few weeks will end in a whimper.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 10:55 AM) Well then we might have to wait another week cause I doubt anything else baseball wise is happening tomorrow with the hall of fame stuff People keep saying this but I don't think a deal will be held because of the HOF. In fact if Raines gets in a big three signing coupled with him getting in would be pretty epic for our fanbase. I still doubt we see any movement till late next week or the week after. This will go on for as long as teams and players are willing to have a staring contest. Whenever someone blinks I'll bet you see multiple signings within days. As stated a lot here we just need the first person to sign for all the dominos to fall. The best thing we can hope for is that first signing is Davis back to Balt. Because it takes out the main competition for Cespedes.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 10:51 AM) It's not Wednesday, so there can't be movement today! Don't worry it's not like something is going to happen, teams and agents have agreed to hold off on any announcements until they have officially driven every MLB fan mad with anticipation.

Nice B/R article about Cespy: "How Cespedes Can Turn 2015 Breakout into the Norm" via http://TeamStre.am by Bleacher Report http://teamstre.am/1PKohFx

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 09:27 AM) I'm really, really hoping the Sox sign Gordon over Cespedes I'm on the Cespedes train. Although I think Gordon is just as solid for different reasons. However the thought of that 3-4-5 is scary. Also with Cespedes in the lineup it allows other people to slide back in spots with less pressure which will probably help improve some of their numbers.

Updates from Rabbit: Yup. Not sure they get their "first choice" but they're happy w/ the way "their" market has developed to this point. @georgyjj09 @HHS1DPU teams are leaving the players out to dry because there are no aggressors forcing their hand. Market will move in tim @georgyjj09 @HHS1DPU basically supply and demand but when once an OF signs teams will start to show their hands. Until then, they wait eorgyjj09 @HHS1DPU I've heard they've moved hardest after Gordon. That's all things considered: $, compensation, fit, years, profile, etc. 7:40 PM - 4 Jan 2016 @HHS1DPU he's trying to get the best deal for himself. KC has been active with other outfielders though.

Things have been awfully quiet since the false alarms of last Tuesday. Hopefully tomorrow brings at least an updated set of rumors. I'm just so ready to have a conclusion to the big three, hopefully sooner rather than later...

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 3, 2016 -> 05:37 PM) Somebody needs to give me some good news, here. I've already got end of football season depression. The time from week 17 to opening day of baseball take forever... I saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico...?

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 10:09 AM) I am trying to be as optimistic as I can This whole process is not over yet. However, I just get fed up with their whole "Holier than thou" attitude. They act like they are kings of the baseball world with this type of attitude, and that they can get anybody they want on their terms. However, what have we proven? We hardly ever win anything, and the biggest contract we have ever given out was Abreu at $68M. The behavior of the FO is just bizarre. Agreed and to me the most difficult thing to understand is if the FO doesn't get it or they are just cheap. It's pretty clear from an outsider we struggle with developing position players for the past decade or so. And this lack of success has created a problem as far as fling holes in the lineup through FA. It is impossible for them not to see in order to sign an impact type player these days it will cost money (we got lucky with Jose). If they are competing now then they have to break from business as usual and spend some money. We have the luxury of having a young cost controlled pitching staff so we don't have to invest on these SPs the way a lot of teams do. However we have to invest in the lineup and with the recent trades now the time to invest and see what happens the next three years with the core plus Crspedes. One last thing, I believe in the end we sign YO but it will be in large part because of the recruitment of Abreu and the fact they can play together for the next 3-4 years. I guess we'll see. I'd pay some serious money to be a fly on the wall in Hahns office to know exactly what's going on

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 10:01 AM) With regards to Cespedes, I'm talking mutual options and not opt-out. Something similar to the Sale and Quintana- contracts that have two years of mutual options at the end of the guaranteed contract. I agree that four years gets it done with Cespedes and I think the Sox are actually willing to go four years. It's just posturing by the Sox and part of the negotiating process. Garfien did say that up to this point no team has offered more than three years and I believe what he says in this particular case. In the end some team will offer four years, possibly five if enough teams are genuinely interested in Cespedes. As for Gordon. IMHO, the Sox would be stupid to go more than three years and I think the Sox are doing the right thing by not offering more. There's just too many outfield options available for the Sox to give it up like a desperate prom date. I have no doubt the Sox will address the outfield need although it may end up not being what fans have their sights set on. I remain open minded and willing to sit back and enjoy the off season ride. Good post I agree with a lot of what you are saying. Especially about Gordon, I don't really want him on much more than a three year deal. But one thing I differ on is the fallback OFs available. I want one of the big three or none. No one else really makes me excited. I would like Fowler but he costs a pick. I would be okay with Span but who knows how he bounces back after injury and he's a Boras guy. Finally I really don't want to trade any more prospects to acquire someone from CoL. One player I'd be more than happy to trade for and I have said so for a year is Puig. Look at how the Yankees stole Chapman for basically nada. If we could get him relatively cheap id be happy. But in the end one of the big three is the most logical route to getting better quickly

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:51 AM) Given my new appreciation for the "opt out" contract; Why not offer Cespedes the 6 years, which he is seeking, with an opt out, any year after 2 years? Give him $25 Million per year for 2 years, then a declining scale, something like this: 3RD year $20 Million 4TH year $15 Million 5TH year $10 Million 6TH year $10 Million That is a total of $105 Million for 6 years, with a huge motivation for him to leave, if his first 2 years are outstanding. To me, that is a deal that is fair for both sides, and should be attractive to the Sox' ownership, putting aside Caulfield's concern over going over budget, and possibly in the "red" in 2016. No offense by why would any one of the three sign a deal that pays them $15 and $10 million in the last three years? Especially with the escalating AAVs if anything the back end of the contract would go up. One thing we could see the sox do is get creative by doing deffered payments, like we did with Paulie. And the D backs did with Grienke.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:44 AM) So, do we believe anything Nightengale says?? Just wondering if there is anyone else out there we can believe in? As far as I have seen the last 3-4 years Nightengale is usually pretty accurate when it comes to reporting on the Sox. I think he gets fed information. Now most of the time I'm sure he gets solid inside info, however it is possible the FO is using him in the negotiation by leaking the three year deal to him. But from listening to the interview Bob seemed to think it was a hard 3 year deal or nothing. Or less of course....

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:41 AM) Not surprising. That station has become irrelevant, to me at least. It would have been nice if they could have at least asked what Nightengale puts the sox chances of signing one of the big three at three years...... I would say maybe 55%-65%?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:37 AM) I can believe the Sox not willing to go more than three years on Gordon due to his age but I think it's posturing with regards to Cespedes. Could be as simple as Cespedes has come down to seeking five years, the Sox offer three and in the end they meet in the middle on a four year deal. Maybe offer Cespedes three years with two additional years of mutual options? It was stated that none of the three would want to do this because then the opt out kicks in for 2018 and that FA class is loaded. Which kinda of makes it stupid for us to offer 3 years knowing that these guys will be old and entering a crowded market and what could be arguably the best FA class in the history of the MLB. Personally I think four years gets it done with Gordon or Cespedes but I don't think JR is comfortable with that. My confidence level of us landing one of these guys is starting to decrease. I think if we are firm on three years it allows another team to jump in to steal one of these guys and shake the market up.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:35 AM) Did he explain why Upton has dropped out of consideration or most fa conversations in general? No really they asked like three questions and moved to the Cubs

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:32 AM) Why would anyone want to compete with that mass of talented players after 2018? These next two classes are the time to come out... That's what Bob was saying. He would not expect any of the three to say sign a 5 year deal with an opt out after three. He said the reason these guys may decide to sign a short term deal is because they can renter the market either next year or in two years and capitalize on a weak FA class , that is if they believe in themselves enough to sign short termZ

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) Is a must from the players' perspective? If so, I'm not sure that's really news. I would assume 4 years is a must with Gordon & Cespedes. And quite frankly, I'd be very surprised if they Cespedes took less than 5 years. He's coming off a monster season and needs to capitalize. Probably right but FWIW Bob said Cespedes might be the most incline to accept a short term deal with Upton being the least likely. Who knows I really just want the roller coaster to stop.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) Is a must from the players' perspective? If so, I'm not sure that's really news. I would assume 4 years is a must with Gordon & Cespedes. And quite frankly, I'd be very surprised if they Cespedes took less than 5 years. He's coming off a monster season and needs to capitalize. No from our perspective.

Also Bruce asked about AAV. He said his guys is it is close to $20 mil per year and more if it's a shorter term deal.

Also says Cespedes maybe the most likely of the three to take a short term deal. Says could be something like Nelson Cruz in Balt. He wouldn't be surprised if these guys signed short term, but would be surprised if someone signed for five years with a 3 year opt out because of the 2018 FA class. Not much new information. But it sounds as if the three year thing came from our end.

Nightengale saying three years maybe a must in order for the sox to get one of the three.