ChiSox59

It’s better than $0. Which is what tbe bonus pool has always been. A $130k raise for all pre arb players and a bonus pool (for a small number of elite pre arb players) is a nice move in the right direction. Wish MLB was willing to go to $230m on the CBT and $15-20M higher on the bonus pool, but doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

Yeah I just disagree. $85-100M is a huge number and it’s a brand new concept that never existed before. I don’t think $30M is the answer. But $85M isn’t. $40-$50M seems reasonable. It’s also a small number of guys that are even going to play in this pool. If MLBPA makes that the sticking point, it’s kind of dumb. They’re not going to get everything they want.

The PAs ask on the bonus pool is unrealistic IMO.

$225/$227.5/$230/$232.5/$235 seems reasonable enough. Both sides should be able to make that part happen. Its a joke if not. Its rather immaterial difference in the beginning.

Players are going to have to accept way less than $100M on the bonus. $40M seems reasonable. Maybe have it increase 5% a year. $100M is way too much all at once. I do think the PAs (current) requests on the CBT and min salary are pretty reasonable. But insisting on $100M on the bonus pool is going to kill this deal getting done today.

Yeah 6 isn't god awful. 7 sure is tho.

Last year in WC teams in AL would have been Boston (92 wins), NYY (92 wins) and Toronto (91 wins). In NL, Dodgers (106 wins), Cardinals (90 wins) and Cincy (83 wins). In 2019, Oakland (97 wins), Tampa (96 wins) and Cleveland (93 wins). In NL, Washington (93 wins), Milwaukee (89 wins) and Mets (86 wins).

I mean is HFA throughout a 3 game series really even that big of an advantage for a team that won a division? I don't think so. You could win 95 games, be the 3rd division winner, andnd now you're playing a slightly .500 team in a 3 game series for your life. ANything can happen in a 3 game series - that 95 win team lost more than a couple 3 game series at home during the season. Seems like a tough way for that division winner to go home. But again, its better than 14 teams. But that division winner deserves a legit advantage and more than just playing at home.

Will be interesting to see. Definitely think the division winner deserves a sizeable advantage. Perhaps HFA for full series and a ghost win. Feel much less so that the WC does, but wouldn't really care too much either way. Would be kind of cool if they built in a nuance like if WC #1 was 3 games or more ahead of WC 2, they get full HFA advantage. Otherwise its a 3 game series rotating H/A. But with a 3 game series, pretty tough to rotate H/A so they'll probably just give the higher seed HFA for full series.

12 team playoff structure sounds like it'll be top 2 division winners get byes. Worst division winners gets 3rd WC, and other 2 WC play a 3 game series. Winners advance. Hopefully they go to a 7 game series after that. That's a pretty garbage scenario for the 3rd division winner having to play a 3 game series. Hopefully they got home field for the whole series. But far better than 14 teams. Can't really go beyond three games in that first round with byes tho - can't have a team sitting at home for a week really.

That should work out fine. Leury hits lefties much better than righties anyway.

Between this and March Madness, safe to say some things are going to take a backseat.

Would have to imagine a guy like Conforto is still subject to the previous CBA with respect to draft pick forfeiture. But obviously there isn't complete clarity on that at this point.

I'd like Pineda. Dude is entertaining to watch.

Can I interest you in a Cy Young Award winner?

I would love McNeil. Think his price tag would be significant tho, don't even think Kimbrel +Burger + Sheets gets them to take the call.

The Crochet to minors ship has sailed. I think they'll work to stretch him out some towards the back half of the season. Make some spots starts. Work multiple innings. Call in the Kopech role from 2021, but hopefully they commit to it a bit better. Not convinced Crochet is going to be a SP, but I think you at least have to try. While I definitely would have had all of Vaughn, Kopech and Crochet in the minors to start last season, they didn't, and they are not going to change courses on that at this point.

Haha I was kidding. You just spent all winter telling the whole board it was gonna be $212M and the Sox have no room.

Still think you're going to be disappointed on the SP. Fully expect Sox to go cheap FAs on 2B/SP depth. Could see a Tepera reunion at RP. Conforto is the big fish.

Was just about to ask the same thing.

I think they will end up in $225-$230m range increasing by $2.5M a year. Below inflation, but better than no increases. And from a Sox perspective removes most CBT concerns for next couple years.

Conforto in hand by the weekend? Me thinks so.

Balta will be disappointed to hear this.

12 team playoff. $725k min salary. $50M bonus pool. $230M CBT increasing $2.5M a year. Get it done.

Sure feels like this is getting achievable…