Frank_Thomas

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 10:59 AM) Today is Festivus. I want Cespedes for Festivus. p.s. I've got a lot of problems with you people. Cespedes for the rest of us!

Man is this dragging. I really hope if we don't have a conclusion by Xmas this doesn't drag into the New Year. While I never thought when the offseason began that any of these guys would still be available at Christmas time. Mostly because I thought most of them would have be signed at or a few days after the winter meetings. I don't think any of the big three want to be the first one to sign, because then they set the market. I think once one signs we see the rest sign in pretty rapid succession. I have no clue what the price is on these guys but In the MLBTR chat the guy suggested Cespedes would get between 5-6/$130-150 mil, Upton about the same, and Gordon 5/$100-105 mil. I don't think any of them get that much cashoola. But even if it was a little less money that's a significant contract for the White Sox I don't know if that happens. I didn't buy much into shedding payroll to add one of the big 3 but if that's what it will take, I am pretty sure we will have to clear some payroll.

QUOTE (elwood5892 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 01:53 PM) https://twitter.com/chuckgarfien/status/679384203990052864 Garfien thinks the Sox are working hard to give us a Christmas present. Damn you Chuck!

QUOTE (Saufley @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) Personally, I would still like to see the Sox sign Upton or Cespedes. Yes, a Gordon contract would be less $$ but, at age 32 I worry. I'd also like to see a little more power in the lineup although I realize Gordon would add defense, to a team badly in need of it. I go back and forth with who of the three I rather have. Each guy brings a different skill set or attributes that this team lacks and needs. Quite honestly I would be over the moon if we sign any of them. If we do sign one of these guys I think it instantly makes us a better team. Between the Fraizer and Lawrie acquisitions and the FA signings we made last year that didn't quite pan out, but I really do think bounce back for us in '16, makes us contenders next season. I just don't know if we will sign any of them, it's not really our MO, however I think the market has made it impossible for us not to consider seriously. I will say that my personal disappointment along with this boards disappointment if we end up striking out on all three would be a site to see after all this build of over the last two weeks or so on this board about the big three.

Not since late Sunday. Down to CWS & KC. Still think it happens Tom or Thu but suppose could go on a few more days. https://mobile.twitter.com/royalsclubhouse/...347882843967488 This guy seems to think it's between us and KC but his freshest info came from Sunday so who knows. I'm just getting so impatient, just want to know if we really are going to sign one of these three.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:22 AM) Where would he hit hypothetically? 5th behind Frazier and then Lawrie 6th, LaRoche 7th? I rather bat him two and move Melky into more of an RBI spot.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:14 AM) Yep, this makes me think Gordon goes back to KC Do you guys read into the fact Gordon's market was relatively quiet all offseason, probably because it was assumed he would just resign with KC. But now we are hearing about the Wsox being interested, it just leads me to think Gordon and the KC FO couldn't agree on his worth or what the team was willing to pay, so his agent reopened talks with other clubs. Again this could all be leverage but don't discount the fact if KC was low balling him with the hopes of a hometown discount, that Gordon doesn't feel slighted by the fact they aren't willing to pay more. At the end of the day these guys are competitors and he would be foolish to turn down a larger contract in what will be his first big pay day, and what could be his last given his age.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:08 AM) I would pay 10 million of Laroche's tag to get him out of here. At this point it's not the money as much as freeing up the lineup spot that is the biggest gain. Some will say it makes more sense to just keep him around as a lefty bat off the bench and late inning glove guy; we already have a guy in JB Schuck that can swing it lefty, and we can surely find someone else to play late inning D at 1st base. Call me crazy but at this point I'd rather pay $10 million to make Laroche go away and open up the roster spot, then pay $13 million to keep him as a pinch hitter/defensive specialist. I personally am not worried about Laroche I think he bounces back big time this year. If you add Upton or Cespedes his bat continues to slide down in the order and the less we rely on him. I'm okay with Laroche on this team, if we have the money to sign one of these guys, I think the line up is better with one of the big three PLUS Laroache.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:04 AM) I asked before, but why can't Gordon play RF? I know he's been almost exclusively in LF, but is something that prevents him from playing RF? I hate the idea of Melky or Avi getting regular playing time there. I'm sure he could play RF, but why take a guy away from part of what makes him so good. He's elite in LF, who knows how he translates in RF.

QUOTE (flavum @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:01 AM) https://twitter.com/royalsclubhouse/status/...345843871223808 The question is who does the FO really prioritize? If they go big on Gordon it'll be hard to sign more than one of their 5 FAs next season. Cain, Moose, Escobar, Hosmer, and Wade are all in walk years. I don't see KC going above a set price.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:57 AM) So basically we know who their target is but money is still an issue. Seems someone has to go for the Sox to sign Gordon. I wouldn't read too much into that. If the FO is really convinced any three of these guys are truly an impact player who truly puts us in position to compete next year then they will spend the money. Jerry has shows this in the past, he is willing to take a chance and spend money that "isn't there" especially when it comes to his White Sox. The Sox are doing their due diligence and playing the market for what it is. There's no need to say they have the money if they are trying to negotiate the price down. There's been a lot more smoke this week with Gordon who you really didn't hear connected with the Sox till the past few days. This is something to watch, I'm guessing the Royals made an offer that was way below his worth after a hometown discount. So I'm guessing his camp opened up convos again because they really wanted to sign with KC. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team jump in and steal him away, and it may be us.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) I'd take the Royals out. I doubt they will spend money on anyone especially with all their guys free agent eligible after 2017. Royals are Gordon or bust Imo. And you're right about next season Rosenthal wrote about it this am: "Here’s the catch for the Royals with free-agent outfielder Alex Gordon: Re-signing him would be a hedge against other Royals stars leaving in the future. But re-signing him also could make it more likely that some of those players depart. Five prominent Royals — first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and closer Wade Davis — are eligible to become free agents after the 2017 season. Hosmer and Moustakas, as Scott Boras clients, are unlikely to sign extensions. Davis’ price, if he remains a dominant closer, figures to be extreme. Escobar and Cain, as up-the-middle defenders, also could be expensive."

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:49 AM) Giants. They have $$$ and need another OF bat. All reports out there say the opposite. Before the Giants signed Cueto all the insiders said they had $ for either a pitcher or bat. They went the way of the pitcher, after that signing I doubt they have money to sign one of the big three. Span or parra could be options but I don't think they have enough money for AG, Cespy, or JUP.

Source: #Mets close to signing free-agent outfielder Alejandro De Aza. Maybe another potential landing spot off the board. So what teams does this leave for the big three? After the Leake deal are the Cards out on one of the big three too?

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 09:28 AM) Many of us believe if the Sox don't sign one of the big 3 OFer's ( Gordon, Upton, Cespedes) that signing Frazier will have been a waste. Needless to say signing one of the BIG 3 will be the richest contract ever given by the Sox. How likely is that ? Would it be more likely the Sox pursue a guy like Fowler to play CF and who's OBP is very high to create a 1-2 OBPunch at the top of the order ? It would mean better OF defense but he's not even close to being the kind of impact bat Upton or Cespedes are. Still Eaton and Fowler at the top of the order would certainly give guys like Abreu and Frazier many opportunities to get RBI's. Maybe Fowler takes a 3 year contract and then the Sox have more room to sign that RH starting pitcher they have been reportedly seeking or add another BP piece like Albers. Or both. Would this kind of back up plan be acceptable or seen as a 1/2 measure ? Personally Fowler isn't worth the compensation pick attached to him, so I don't have any interest.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/160087068/yo...y-landing-spots

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 19, 2015 -> 11:52 PM) It was never going to be a Sox town. Unfortunately this is reality. But I agree with the post previously stating that this year is the year to spend the money on an impact FA. Next years FA market is horrible. So I think the Sox should look at it as a two year impact move. It may hurt this year but with the $ coming off the books next year with Danks and Laroche it softens the blow. IMO the impact move needs to be this year when the talent is available. There is no doubt any of the three of Upton, Cespedes, or Gordon makes us a better team for atleast the next two seasons. More so than any of the other potential FA in 2017.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported the Baltimore Orioles have added Cespedes to their list of outfield targets. Don't know if that's leverage with the Davis talks but we know Balt has the money. The Orioles are definitely a team to watch while we hope for one of the big three.

So you guys think this will simmer until after the holiday and new year?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 09:47 PM) Agreed. Hope you gents are right. Would be the perfect Christmas gift for all us South siders. Cespedes for the rest of us!

Nice break down of the FA market https://t.co/tT86crIf2R

Got an update on my phone seemsthey are going after Ordizzi from TB. Let's piggie back them one more time and get Puig out of a three team deal. I'm sorry I am obsessed with us trading for Puig even tho it prob won't happen with DD stuff going on. But with him hanging with Abreu the past few days I bet both of them would enjoy playing with each other.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 10:21 AM) Will White Sox sign an outfielder at some point this offseason? "It would seem so," Rick Hahn says. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/677515512859910144 I think we need to temper expectations of who that OF may be. Based off Hahns comments on MLBN it seems he won't count out the big 3 but we would have to clear some room for one of them. I'm starting to think it won't be us who get these guys. Although they do have to sign somewhere, the market really on all three have been extremely quiet. Even at the winter meeting it was, you barely hear about Gordon or Cespedes. Seems like they are intent on waiting the offers out so I'm guessing nothing gets done before xmas.

I think I'm leaning towards Cespedes. Sign him keep our early three draft picks. Resign Alexi, sign Maeda (it's Christmas I can hope), a few small bench moves/bullpen moves and call it an offseason. Maeda is not going to happen but another solid pitcher, along with Alexi or another SS and we are golden.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox helped LAD get Fernandez as part of a three team deal with Puig coming back to us.