ChiSox59

I don't want Cesar as much as the next guy, but there really aren't many better fits on the FA market once you get past the elite guys the Sox won't be signing. I like Conforto plus trade route for 2B personally. But point is, Conforto is the guy you need that solves lots of problems. With him in hand, 2B becomes less critical offensively. Just get a reliable defender that isn't a black hole in the 9 spot.

Conforto remains the no-brainer. With him you can live with a Cesar type at 2B.

TONY STINKS! But he is our stinker, unfortuantely. I don't like the guy and would quite literally prefer just about anyone else. But this man is 2nd all time in MLB wins - he knows a thing or two about managing the game. I am hopeful that he will improve drastically next season and much of the rust we saw this year is gone. I think the Sox big lead caused some issues that maybe a more competitive division next season will help solve. The Sox simply got complacent, and just we're able to snap out of it when it mattered. Some of that is on Tony, and certainly some of that is on the players. Its obvious the guys like him -- and its also obvious TLR at least was one of the greatest managers ever -- he can certainly lead this this team to championship, even if I wish it was anybody else.

Cease vs. Mahle. The fuse is lit. Sox are back.

LOLZ

Been looking into La Stella more. Think Giants may want to give Dubon a chance at an everyday role. He was really good in AAA this year and his been up and down for 3 years now. He's 27 now, so not getting any younger. Proposed this deal in @Kyyle23's "cannot respond" thread, but to piggyback off @Chicago White Sox idea, I love the Keuchel for La Stella framework, but think Sox need to add something decently valuable in there to shed Keuchel's whole deal. Keuchel + Burger could work --- thoughts? Giants have an aging Longoria and really nothing of note at 1B. I think this deal makes some sense as a framework. Obviously La Stella has injury concerns, but he's a great fit on paper for the lineup. Would definitely make re-signing Leury a priority, even though it probably already is.

Not exactly sure what you're trying to get at - I didn't say anything to the contrary. They'll get a some live arm and salary relief for him. If they do better, great - I sincerely hope they do. I do believe he is tradable for something, but it was and remains a god awful and short-sighted trade to move a cost-controlled Madrigal (not to mention Heuer who was actually more effective than Kimbrel ROS (which I called) for an overpaid reliever. IDGAF if Madrigal rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way with his cocky attitude and strange demeanor. There is absolutely nothing that will make that trade a passable one. If you want to move Madrigal - fine - at least get something that helps the team in the short and long term. Kimbrel did neither. Massive failure.

I’m well aware of the option. Kimbrel is highly unlikely to be on the Sox in 22 and that was always going to be the case. No way they’re paying 2 relievers ~$32M.

Payroll is at $165M including Kimbrel and assuming Cesar's option is declined. If they can move Kimbrel, they should have around $30-35M to spend. If they can move Keuchel, add another $15M. Leury, Hamilton and Tepera will cost around $12M combined. So in a scenario where they don't trade off Kimbrel and/or Keuchel, the latter of which seems much more likely to a White Sox than the former, I could actually see the Sox only having around $20M to spend. So this isn't that crazy of a scenerio if that were to play out. But woof - I don't see the Sox literally just running back the 2021 roster and seeing if it shakes out differently. edit: sorry @Kyyle23, I have failed you. I took the bait. Never again.

I've asked this multiple times from those "in the know" that have insinuated as such. No actual stories I have seen other than him just being kind of a strange dude. Which I would agree. There were some videos of him interacting with TA and other teammates during ST that were just sort of...awkward. But IMO, that certainly wasn't enough to trade him for 2 months of a closer on a team that didn't need one. Water under the bridge tho, Sox can recover from that deal if they stop making dumb shortsighted trades.

I agree there were not better options. He was still overused, even if was unavoidable. Leury was mostly great in 21.

I think Leury really likes being with the White Sox. There was that story prior to 2020 season that Hahn went to tell Leury he was going to non-tender him, and he begged for another chance and convinced Hahn. I think Leury is comfortable with his role (even if he was overused in 21), and I think all things being equal he'd rather stay with the Sox. That being said, someone offers him significantly more $ than the Sox, well then, tip your cap and wish him well.

I think he's all but guaranteed to resign. 2 years $7.5M with $500k buyout on a $5M team option for the third year is my guess.

Oh, no doubt. Eloy was a mess after his first couple weeks back. He's got some serious work to do this offseason. But I believe in him. I think he'll be a monster nex season, and hopefully Sox are smart and DH him most of the time to avoid needless injuries. Frankly, the numbers I posted are what he did in 2020 extrapolated out over 150 games. I don't think that is peak Eloy. He is a special hitter.

Want: Sign Conforto (4 years; $70M), trade Keuchel + Burger for Tommy La Stella (stealing this one from @Chicago White Sox), re-sign Leury (2 years; $8M), trade Kade McClure, Micker Adolfo and Blake Rutherford (perhaps Collins could factor into this deal as well instead of McClure) to PIT for Jacob Stallings, trade Kimbrel to Phillies for Seranthony Dominguez and Mickey Moniak (Phils take whole bill), sign Chris Archer (1 year; $7.5M full of incentives), sign Jose Quintana to minor league deal. Re-sign Tepera (2 years: $15M). QO to Rodon; he rejects. Payroll in this scenario is in the low-$180M, which frankly is about as low as it can realistically be if Sox are serious. What they'll do: I am too scared to guess. Hopefully nothing too shortsighted.

No idea. I truthfully think Eloy is just as unlikely. Eloy will be worth significantly more after next season with something like .290/.340/.565 line with 40 some homers. And honestly, I think he can do better than that. I just can't wrap my head around Hahn getting something more valuable than that back for him.

Yeah, I am going to go with the agree to disagree route. Did you not also see how poor our defense was in the playoffs? Abreu is going no where. Sox are not selling low on Eloy. Maybe Vaughn is dangled this offseason, but I sure as hell hope not. Castellanos is a poor defender. I agree his bat helps this lineup (tho it doesn't help the lineup balance we badly need to address), but he's just not a fit. We need at worst an average defender in RF with Vaughn/Eloy in LF. Nick C. is not that. Yes, he is a good hitter, but Conforto is a far better fit for this lineup. Sounds like you're mostly focused on building the best MLB the Show team, so I will leave it at that.

We don’t need more DHs on this roster.

I don’t think either Castellanos or Schwarber are fits for this team at all. But they’d be far far far far far better options than handing RF to Sheets.

I would say more average than bad. The only reason Conforto is going to be available to the Sox is BECAUSE he had a down season. He's in the midst of his prime, I will take the 6 seasons of 125 wRC+ with a bat that fills a ton of needs for this club as opposed to focusing solely on his 2021. Had he been his regular self in 2021, he'd be looking at a deal well over $100M. Ultimately depends what his market looks like, but I think he'll get a 3-4 year deal between $15-18M AAV. IMO, whoever signs him to that deal is going to be very happy assuming he can stay healthy.

Casty gonna cost more than Conforto anyway. Let's just get the right guy.

Lol. What are you trying to prove here? The $160M figure quoted was not including Cesar’s $6M 22 option. So yes, clearly. But thanks for the needless terminology lesson.

I clearly was referring to his team option not being picked up.

This. Sox are already at $160M with Kimbrel and assuming Cesar is bought out. I don't see how they can't be in the $175-$190M+ range if they're serious about winnings. Even the lower end of that is really only possible if you find takers for Kimbrel and Keuchel.

Definitely screams White Sox tho.