Frank_Thomas

Sources: Gordon salary in 1st yr of four-yr, $72M deal is lower, giving #Royals chance to make other moves. Deal also includes deferrals.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:35 AM) Abreu has also had a >.900 OPS against RHP last year, hitting LHP was a much bigger problem in 2015. I was just responding to the comment saying we would still have a LH bat problem after signing Cespedes. Typically LHH don't hit LHP very well.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) Cant help think how signing Yoenis means we'd still have a bad LH bat problem....and we'd be still suffering from a scary OBP problem. Cespedes hits RHP better than lefties. I think he was over .300 lasts season against RHP. The splits have been posted before.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:29 AM) That ought to cover it. I used to have season tickets for 20 years but the past few seasons it's be a hard sell to get my business partners to go in on Sox tickets. Customers don't get excited about the Sox anymore so they decided to go in on Cubs tickets. I don't have the time to go to all the home games although I would if I could. But if more fans bought any kind of season tickets it does help. It'll also help if they start fast and create a buzz early in the season to help fill the stadium.

I will say this much if we somehow end of signing YO I will buy partial season tickets within hours of the signing. I know people say that all the time but that heart of the lineup will be something come summer on the south side. I will be as excited as just about any other signing the sox have made with the exception of when we actually landed Abreu. 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:11 AM) Gordon went for less than expected, thats good for the Sox. Rock I know you don't get the same inside information as you used to, however you've always had a good feel for the way the FO operates. What would you put our chances of signing Cespedes at. Assuming it's going to cost atleast a $20 AAV?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) Always felt Fowler to Giants makes a lot of sense also. I agree and he was at the Dubs game last night.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:02 AM) I have a feeling that the O's will get Upton and the Sox will get Cespedes. I hope mike

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:02 AM) Giants could turn attention to Cespedes and Upton now. It's going to be heating up. People keep saying SF but I think the Gordon contract officially eliminates SF, LAA, and Det. I think they were only in if the price dropped. I think you saw with Gordon it'll take atleast $100 million for Cespedes. I don't see any of those teams laying it and taking a chance to go up against the luxury tax. I worry about the Nationals, Baltimore, and maybe Detroit just simply because Cespy liked it there. We need Davis to sign with Baltimore. I really really want Cespedes and really hope Hahn can get it done.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:03 AM) If that is accurate, it sounds like they really upped their initial offer, which the best news of all as it means they have less chance to maintain their core going forward. #missionaccomplished #hahnsfirstpawn #checkmatecespedes

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:01 AM) Sounds like Gordon had a bigger offer from another team, the White Sox. Where did you see/hear this? If true atleast you know we are willing to spend $

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:01 AM) Guarantee Cespedes 3 years $60M and then give him 2 option years at $22M each. Total contract is 5 years $104M (+incentives) with Cespedes having the ability to opt out after 3 years. I think something like that makes a lot of both sides...hell, I'd let him walk after 2 years if he really wants that option. Cespedes makes us a competitor for sure, but he's not exactly a guy I feel great about 4 or 5 years down the road. I actually like this a lot. Call your guy Hahn and let me know what he thinks.

Atleast we can expect some kind of update on the Sox and Cespedes today. I'm sure by midday we will start to hear the impact Gordon is making on the rest of the teams and Of market.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:56 AM) So much for not signing today because of HOF. Let the games really begin now. Get Cespedes Hahn. I never bought the whole no signings on HOF day. I would think even if Raines got it the Sox would want to capitalize on the publicity and happiness of fans and would love to also announce a major FA signing. If a guy has agreed to terms I doubt a team holds off on anouning until after HOF is announced. Especially in this day and age, chances are it would leak.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:48 AM) I don't think so. I think that the 3 year comment was just posturing. Ad I don't think they would be opposed to a nine figure deal And also if this was true I'd think we would have Cespedes on the team already...

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:48 AM) I don't think so. I think that the 3 year comment was just posturing. Ad I don't think they would be opposed to a nine figure deal I hope you're right but nothing this offseason has lead me to believe this. In fact I think they wanted Gordon due to the fact the years and money is something they could stomach. Signing Cespedes is not business as usual for the white sox. To sign him would take a serious leap of faith from JR, the board, and the FO. And personally I don't see them doing it with Cespedes, even though I feel he would be a perfect fit and would strive in the Cell and playing alongside Abreu. I think we all need to get serious and realize the actual chances of signing Cespedes are not good.

Got a b/r update saying contract is believed to be 4 years in the low $70 million range. Props to royals clubhouse.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:47 AM) Flanagan's a beat writer for the KC Star, fwiw. Now you've got Detroit, SFG, StL, Washington, possibly Boston, the Orioles and Angels all theoretically interested in Cespedes. This is why I think we are in trouble. Things just got serious for a whole bunch of teams, whether they were in on Gordon or not. This not only set the market but has now sped things up for the Of market. I wouldn't be surprised to see another couple guys signed before the weekend.

What scares me the most is Rabbit has basically heard nothing on the Cespedes front. With the exception of some Twitter trolls we haven't really heard much directly about us and Cespedes, other than Abreu was recruiting. I've already started to prepare mentally that we are going to strike out. But I think this board is going to be pretty disappointed if we end up empty handed after this long wait. It would be refreshing to see the sox get serious with Cespedes and get something done. It is Wednesday after all....

The Royals have reached agreement on a deal that will bring star left fielder Alex Gordon back to Kansas City, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan reports on Twitter. An official announcement could come later today, assuming Gordon passes his physical. Per MLBTR This Alex Gordon ballgame is Ovah

Let's say KC clubhouse is right and KC signs Gordon for 4 years and $70 million. What would you guess it would take in order to sign Cespedes knowing those numbers? 5 years, $100 million? Would that ultimately be out of the Sox comfort zone, I would assume yes...

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:32 AM) Given the KC guy's connections, it seemed all along he had some pretty good inside information. I guess. It seemed for most of the past few weeks after he predicted it would happen before Xmas eve his credibility was shot a bit. But he held strong to the fact KC would get his guy. Now lots hope these random Twitter dudes that tweeted about Cespedes and us are right too lol.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:25 AM) There is nothing good about Gordon going back to K.C. Reduces the supply of impact OFs, doesn't impact the demand for them (if you assume the Royals were all or nothing on Alex), & makes a key divisional competitor stronger. If Upton is a long-shot, then the Sox can't keep dicking around on Cespedes. Agreed, i don't get the excitement we missed out on him. Gordon was ultimately the best fit for this team. My first choice the whole time has been Cespedes but I don't doubt the significance of one of our top targets are off the board first. This was the guy who probably costs the least in terms of money and years. This also starts the clock on Cespedes and Upton and increases the chances of another team blinking first and comitting the money and years that we won't. We needed the market to continue to break our way I think to have a chance at one of the big three. Chris Davis signing first would have been a great first step, how this affects our chances is yet to be seen but my confidence level is way down at the possibilityof getting Cespedes.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 08:19 AM) Clubhouse Convo ‏@royalsclubhouse 3m3 minutes ago If you're playing Keno today, stay close to the numbers 4 and 70. Wow this dude might end up calling this after all. Never would have thought AG would be first. So if this is true it's sh** or get off the pot time for the sox. Now there'll be a whole lot of other teams in on Cespedes, who if the Gordon gets 4/$70, would have to get more than a 3 year deal. I'm preparing to be disappointed. I will say I look forward to Rabbit or Buckets next update if we loose out to see what they are hearing is the confidence level of the FO moving forward after missing what has been said as their first choice in Gordon.

FWIW this Royal Clubhouse guy says the Gordon contract will be no where near $80 million... I think that would only help us but who knows. As o said earlier I'm starting to significantly doubt we end up with any of the three. I just think we are waiting too long for the market to come to us instead of setting the market by getting creative and aggressive with one of the three. We shall see in the next week or two. Or maybe starting tomorrow if KC clubhouse is right and KC signs Gordon tomorrow.