Frank_Thomas

With all the movement this week on the OF front I wouldn't be surprised if teams had an idea where some of the big names may be signing and that's why you are starting to see teams move on to other players. I wouldn't be suprised to hear something concrete on YO this weekend or early next week. It seems like the market has played into our hands now is the time RH has to close.

Ryan Braun anyone (probably costs too much) "Brewers “would not hesitate” to trade Ryan Braun | HardballTalk" via http://TeamStre.am by Bleacher Report http://teamstre.am/1IViYBE

REAKING MLB NEWS** Cespedes has deal on table from Orioles and another AL Mystery Team.. more updates to come situation is fluid 5:45 PM - 8 Jan https://mobile.twitter.com/incarceratedbob/...638609983148032 No idea who this guy is

Word is the Sox might go to four years on either Cespedes or Upton. The latter is intrigued with the south side. https://mobile.twitter.com/georgeofman/stat...563284490207232

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 09:16 PM) Cespedes' agent reportedly said that Yo doesn't like deep dish pizza, won't sign with the Sox unless they offer a minimum of 7 years. Damn, was it Lou's or Giardonios?

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 07:58 PM) I have a feeling that something will happen soon. Crazy. My sources say the same thing.

Bucket I see your on. I'll probably be rail roaded for even asking... But can you give us your opinion on things after the Gordon signing.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 06:40 PM) I gotta give you credit, I really admire your optimism. I really hope the Sox get something done because I think the acquisition of Cespedes would rejuvenate the fanbase a bit. I'm more worried about the Nats then Detroit the price on Cespy would have to come down way lower than even the sox are offering imo. The Nats were in on Heyward outside of us, Balt, or LAA they worry me the most

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 06:40 PM) I gotta give you credit, I really admire your optimism. I really hope the Sox get something done because I think the acquisition of Cespedes would rejuvenate the fanbase a bit. I'm more worried about the Nats then Detroit the price on Cespy would have to come down way lower than even the sox are offering imo. The Nats were in on Heyward outside of us, Balt, or LAA they worry me the most

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:41 PM) Per Jon Heyman, Giants are nearing a deal with Denard Span. One less serious contender out there. That would be huge. IMO the only other serious contenders if SF signs Span is Balt, LAA (who is up against the cap or spending limit), CHW, Det (ditto AF), and Wash. I will say there been a more talk this week about Cespedes and the Nats. I just want Cespy

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 02:42 PM) It's actually $13.5 million vs. $23 million because he gets $4 million that they owe him. From Nightengale: The #WhiteSox haven't changed stance, still won't give more than 3 years to any of the free-agent OFs, @Marty2634

Where you at Bucket? rabbit? Feed the masses

"Report: Orioles view Justin Upton as Chris Davis “fallback” option | HardballTalk" via http://TeamStre.am by Bleacher Report http://teamstre.am/1Z5D7a4 This could be good news possibly. They were rumored with us to be the top suitors for Cespedes last week. Maybe it signals we are pulling closer with YO?

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:36 AM) Desmond costs a draft pick too. Id be much more comfortable giving a draft pick for Desmond and trading for an OF or standing pat then giving up a pick for Fowler. He has sub par defense and doesn't excite me offensively at all.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:30 AM) I agree with this. I wouldn't bother going after Parra or Jackson. Agreed I don't think the sox are looking for a marginal player to displace are already marginal OFS. One of the big three signing improves the OF significantly by almost a 2 WAR or higher. None of these dudes do that. And forget about Fowler we aren't giving up a pick to the Cubs for Dexter Fowler. The thought itself makes me sick to think about. If we miss out of Cespedes or Upton, I can see us pivoting our interest to Ian Desmond. Then looking at the possible trades we can make to improve the OF and keep our three top 50 picks to restock the farm.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:20 AM) But it's a win-now year. The draft pick could cause his average annual salary to go down too (and it's not our best pick either) Not interested in the slightest bit.

I think whoever ends up with Cespedes might end up with the most productive player out of any of the big three and you can include Heywards in that. I think Cespedes just started to figure it out last season with the Mets. Add that to playing with a fellow countrymen and friend in Abreu and hitting in your 1st hitter friendly field in his career. I think your getting a guy at the cusp of stardom and just starting his prime along with Abreu and Frazier. I also think he becomes a better OF defensively by calling the Cell home. He had a lot of OF grass to cover in most of the fields he played in with the first few teams. And then had to deal with the Green Monster. I just really hope we get him. It would just shock me if we did. I still can't quite grasp the thought we will spend that much money or can I see us landing a huge FA. I just get that feeling it'll fall through and we'll have to watch him rake and ask what could have been...

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:06 AM) I think the Sox are more inclined to go four years on him which is required at least. I dont think they were ever really serious about Gordon. I think you got me off the ledge a little. Here's to you getting the call today and us hopefuly landing YO. :cheers

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:58 AM) I personally feel like Gordon was the top OF prize on the market and Gordon's deal makes it MORE likely the Sox get him. Nice thanks for taking the time Rock. Did you have a preference of the three. And what would you guess it takes that the Sox are comfortable spending that gets Cespedes in black and white?

Would love just one juicy tidbit linking the Sox and Cespedes today, give me and the rest of us hope. Either that or I want Hahn to come out and say the market has now priced us out and we will look at other affordable options through trades or FA outside of the big two. I feel like the past two weeks have been torture with the ups and downs and roller coaster ride that has been the big three rumor train. I just want a conclusion and soon.

QUOTE (Sockin @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:51 AM) .....they're seriously sticking to the 3 year thing? Welp, goodbye Cespedes. Ya if that's the case there is zero chance.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:51 AM) I'm coming along to this line of thinking as well. Span doesn't cost a pick, and in his last full healthy season he was a 4 WAR player. Picking up him (2.2 projected WAR) and someone like Fister (1.4 projected WAR) or Latos (1.8 projected WAR) might be better than just Cespedes (3.1 projected WAR). Who knows what kind of player Span is after the injury though. And the amount of potential impact Span had compared to Cespedes is not even worth displacing one of the guys we have now. And it's not like Span will come cheap. Boras is his agent.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:45 AM) This is my thought. Do the sox really want to tie up that much money in such an inconsistent performer? This could be a contract that limits whatthey can do in the future. People on this board complain about cabrera and Laroche and their deals are very short. YO has the possibility of become even more hated than Dunn. iMO the difference is YO isn't one dimensional. He can impact a game with his arm, defense, speed, and power. I think there is a better chance of us regretting not capitalizing on the opportunity to sign him then regretting signing him. Of the three I think Cespedes is the one who can live up to the value he will be getting in a deal.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:37 AM) I had full season tickets for the longest time but my ticket partner and friend died in an accident a few years ago, so I didn't want to make that commitment anymore. I have a weekend plan and go with my wife the last several years. She doesn't get into it much but puts up with it for me. But they probably don't have the phone lines it would require to open the amount of season ticket accounts that would actually pay for Cespedes. Like they didn't last year when they added players. It's an ongoing process. Every account helps, but most of what is dropped isn't their most lucrative accounts. It's the people with the $200 per seat corner upper deck plans that are the first to jump ship. I hear what you're saying. It just would be nice to be a wining team again and reward the FO if they were to sign someone like Cespedes by filling the stadium all summer. But in order for casual fans to make the trip to the South Side requires our team to perform. The more times they take jumps and sign people like Cabrea, Robertson, Laroach, and hopefully YO and we stink and fans don't show up, the less likely we continue to get JR and the board to agree to spending the money. I hope the FO sees this as a chance to really drum up excitement going into 2016. I would assume they know basically their entire fanbase has been hooked on the big three for months and not getting one of them will seriously kill the momentum from the Fraizee and Lawrie deals. Sox fest will be spent answering questions why they didn't commit more money or years and really go all in to sign one of them. I think they know the fans want something done but I don't think Upton or Cespedes fits into what we are willing to spend. And people are going to be dosappointedZ

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:38 AM) I know I was just adding on to your comment. I agree that the lack of LH bats is a bit overblown. Got ya my bad bud