ChiSox59

I mean....who are the 4 out of 5? Giolito is already at worst an above average MLB SP. Lopez is already at worst an average or slightly below average MLB SP. Cease is already in the big leagues, though it wasn't pretty overall but showed flashes. Kopech is at worst going to be an average SP. Obviously we need more out of those guys than being average...but its not like we're projecting 5 SP prospects that are years away from the big leagues to make it. Pretty much all of these guys already have made it - its just a question of if they develop into above average pitchers. You may be looking at 40-60% success rate on guys that are years away, but I think we can project a little higher than that considering where these guys are in their development. Could one of Cease or Kopech completely flop? Yah, I suppose. But I don't see it as very likely unless they have career ending injury situations.

Yah, specifically Kopech and Cease. We really need to find a legit #1 or #2 out those guys, and the other needs to be a solid mid rotation piece. While Lopez popping would be phenomenal, I don't hate just penciling him into the 5 spot for the next 4 seasons. Frankly anything we get out of Dunning and Stiever at the MLB level will be gravy, but Dunning should definitely be a rotation option by 2021 if he can stay healthy.

They released him after he injured his shoulder.

Not sure if sarcasm or not, but a fan made it as a joke.

Assuming worst case scenario where we basically only add 2 stop gap SP on 1 year deals this offseason - let's just say Alex Wood and Tajuan Walker for sake of discussion. The depth chart for 2021 looks as follows: Catcher: Grandal 3B: Moncada SS: Anderson 2B: Madrigal 1B: Vaughn (going to assume he's ready by early 2021 at the latest) LF: Eloy CF: Robert RF: Mazara DH: Abreu SP: Gioltio, Kopech, Cease, Lopez.............Dunning, Steiver, Lambert Let's just assume Mazara is the guy he's always been in 2020 - so Sox non-tender him after 2020. Realistically, we'll only be looking for a RF and 1 SP. Plenty of options. Mookie is long shot, but at least he's there. Then there is Springer who would be an awesome fit. Brantley would be solid, though he's getting old. Joc and Peralta would be OK. SP options aren't great, but its not like we need 3 of them. I don't think things are quite as grim as some want to make them out to be.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/white-sox-to-sign-austin-jackson.html

Kuechel is FARRRRRRR more likely than Castellanos.

Technically, this is false. Though the name that did sign isn't exciting.

Paying Castellanos $90M or whatever he is going to get to be the weak side platoon partner in RF isn't going to happen. If he falls into the 3/$45M category....maybe it starts to make sense. But that isn't going to happen.

This is a really good and fair post. Ultimately it’s still mid December, so we need to see how the roster shakes out before we know what the backup plan was, or if they truly had none.

I think he beats that.

Lol the dude is arb eligible in 2021. It’s not a fucking commitment. This isn’t hard to understand. I love how you use Mazara’s 2 years of control as a negative both in terms of not wanting him for 2 years (while ignoring he’s arb eligible) and also a negative in that if he blossoms he’s gone after 2 years. It’s hilarious. Mazara won’t be on the Sox in 2021 unless he has a great 2020. He will be non tendered for a grand total of $0 USD. If he is on the Sox in 2021, it’s because he played great and they’re happy to pay him the $9M or whatever he’ll get in his final year of arb. If he blows up to the point the Sox are disappointed he becomes a FA after 2021, that is a good thing not a bad thing! Your trolling knows no bounds.

If its a 2 year deal, its going to be damn near $50M. But it won't be a two year deal.

This thread doesn't have jack shit to do about Mazara. I've discussed Mazara with you at length and have zero interest in doing it more, because you just ignore everything that doesn't fit into your box. As I've told you several times, I don't love the Mazara move either, but he costs half of what Avi does on an AAV basis, requires half the commitment (Mazara can be non-tendered at no cost after 2020), is 4 years younger, and he rakes RHP, which Avi does not. Mazara isn't an exciting move,but I like it more now than I did right after it happened. His 2nd half of 2019 was pretty nice, and he could be a nice bounce back candidate. I prefer him at the dollars and years many times more than committing close to $20M AAV to dogshit OFs in Ozuna and Castellanos.

There is ZERO percent chance Ryu signs for 3/$50M or less.

Please stop quoting me on things that have nothing to do with the topic.

Rooting for Avi. But glad the Sox weren't as anxious to bring him back as about 25% of the posters here were.

If any team loses keys pieces of their rotation, they're going to have depth issues. Most teams don't just have a stockpile of arms sitting around waiting.

IDGAF about the Cubs. I agree its not a moral victory. It sucks he went elsewhere. I am encouraged that the org was willing to put forth that level of commitment. I also also encouraged that when they missed, they didn't turn around and offer that same deal to a god awful longterm fit like MadBum just because they missed. I also understand why the Sox wouldn't be too enamored with paying Ryu and Kecuhel $20M AAV for 4 years. Those are the types of deals that can kill a mid market team. But yes, we need pitching, and now Hahn needs to get creative.

I think you're quoting the wrong guy.

Because Charlotte need OF's and it literally hurts nothing to make minor league depth signings.

No, it wouldn't really surprise me. But I am not going to get too worked up about trying to replace Ivan fuckin' Nova. He isn't good. They need to sign 2 SP - we're in agreement. I am confident that they will be improvements over the 49 starts made by Detwiler, Covey, Banuelos, Santana, Despaigne, Fulmer and Santiago.

Its not like offers are submitted through a portal and everyone has access to everyone else's offers. They made an aggressive offer to Wheeler. More than any other team. When you make over $20M a year, you can walk away from a few million for family reasons. I am sure there is a number where Wheeler would have said "fuck it", but it was quite a bit more than $125M, which means it probably would have been just a disgustingly bad contract.

fWAR is a counting stat. Nova nade 34 starts last year. Obviously durability matters, but the guy had a 1.5 WHIP. He won't be very hard to replace.

So Giolito and Lopez? Because those are the only two guys that pitched in 2019 that will be on the staff again in 2020. I don't really see Lopez regressing further. I could see Giolito taking a step back I guess, but I think that will be more than made up from by strides from Cease, Kopech making 15-20 starts, getting something from Rodon, and whoever we sign for the 4-5 spots.