raBBit

There are two possibilities here as far as I see it. 1) Sox are close to a deal and reporter has details wrong. 2) Sox are being used by Ozuna's agent to put another team's feet to the fire.

I didn't say filling the RF hole is on the backburner. Just the Joc trade talks.

I wouldn't rule out a Joc trade at some point this offseason but it's on the back burner at this point.

They have just as good as chance as anyone. Will the Reds allow themselves to get beat by the White Sox on Grandal AND Wheeler?

Hard pass on Bumgarner over $50 mil.

Bad opinion.

I think a lot of stuff is public at this point. Seems to be between the Sox, Reds and Phillies and wrapping up soon. I fear the Reds more than the Phillies. Sox are talking a big game to Wheeler but are cautiously optimistic. They want to stay guarded after last year which is understandable but they are not operating like they are known to in the past. They put together a great presentation and a market-competitive offer. They see it as they basically put the ball in Wheeler's court because Sox don't want to play agent-chicken with him. We'll see how crazy the Reds want to get. While I think the Sox obviously handled the Machado situation very poorly last year, I agreed with them not dipping into the next tier of free agents after missing out on Harper/Machado. They should have been on short term, flippable guys and 26-year-old-studs. I was fine with that strategy but they just whiffed. This year is different because whether they convert on Wheeler or not, they are working on multiple fronts (multiple trades, multiple other FAs). I think it's going to be an exciting offseason either way but Sox definitely want to convert on Wheeler here. He's kind of in a tier of his own so I'll be interested to see how they pivot in the starting pitching market. Tier A: Cole, Stras Tier B: Wheeler Tier C; MadBum, Ryu

As long as they have a seat at the table.

But they're separate situations. Sox officially executed the Yolmer non-tender without acknowledgement. The Sox have not officially executed the Burr DFA nor have they publicly acknowledged.

Yolmer is official. Sox non-tendered their longest tenured player and never made any public acknowledgement of it. Burr has not been make official yet. Why they would wait, I don't know.

Pretty sure the Sox will have zero tickets available to the public.

Right I saw that I mean I've heard him referred to as a DH. I meant more towards is he capable. He's certainly a hitter but with Eloy in LF it's pretty tough throwing this guy in the other corner.

Is Mancini supposed to be able to play RF?

Just on health alone this seems like it's going to be a rough one for SD. Preller has some gifts no doubt but free agency certainly isn't one of them.

For sake of example, say the Sox trade for Bundy and Sign Wheeler. April/May roto 1) Giolito 2) Wheeler 3) Bundy 4) Cease 5) Lopez June roto 1) Giolito 2) Wheeler 3) Kopech 4) Cease 5) Bundy/Lopez ---> One of Bundy/Lopez goes to bullpen or serves as replacement for injury July/August roto 1) Giolito 2) Wheeler 3) Kopech 4) Rodon 5) Cease --> Dunning/Stiever could play a part in case of injury. Lopez/Bundy go to pen. One can be multi inning, one could be attempted late inning relief convert. September roto 1) Giolito 2) Wheeler 3) Rodon 4&5) Some combination of Lopez/Bundy/Dunning/Stiever/Lambert/Cease/Kopech

Tried to trade for him last year.

IF the Sox had it their way, this is how every move would go public.

Definitely noticed your absence Rock. Sorry to hear what happened glad to hear the progress you've made. Great perspective.

Yup, the Renteria stuff was a planned community event.

Sox want Wheeler. Sox are actively pursuing Wheeler. I don't know that it's "close" or anything like that.

The team hasn't gone official on either but the players have been told of their fate. It's just a technicality. The 40 man on MLB.com/WhiteSox.com will reflect that when the Sox go official.

To be clear, my post was regarding Burr.

There was a conference call for Grandal. No presser.

When does the team announce officially?

Yet they didn't...