ChiSox59

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.

No one as in no teams? A good number of posters here wanted to hand Bumgarner a blank check. "Just do what you have to do to get him."

How do you figure? 83 starts were made by Nova, Detwiler, Covey, Banuelos, Santana, Despaigne, Fulmer and Santiago. Cease was just dipping his toe into MLB and overall wasn't very good. Zero starts from Kopech. Only 7 from Rodon. Even if you project basically the same thing out of Lopez, and even Giolito to take a step back, its tough not to improve. Even signing two of Alex Wood, Gio Gonzalez, Tijuan Walker, Wade Miley and Collin McHugh would be a huge improvement over hte cast of characters that made over half of starts for the Sox last season.

Because he wanted to play in Arizona because his horses are there (seriously). He would have had to have been paid over $100M from one the CA teams to get a comparable take home pay from what he got from AZ.

Continue to complain about the Sox outbidding the rest of baseball and the guy choosing a different team of out preference. It's going to get you super far!

Honestly, I am happy for him.

Some people do, "its not my money". But then they'll b**** down the road when Wheeler turns into a garbage contract. "How could Hahn be so stupid! Such a dumb overpay!" Can never please those types of fans.

Collins is very likely out of the equation by then, but I guess I'd rather see him develop into an asset in the meantime as opposed to sitting on the bench most of the season. I'd honestly rather Collins play in AAA than play 1x per week as Grandal's backup and the only other catcher on the roster. I also think we'll be able to get more out of Grandal if we don't catch him 6x a week. He's worn down a lot late in seasons, I think keeping McCann and getting Grandal regular work at DH/1B is best for all parties. For me, its 3 options with Collins for 2020: 1) Primary DH against RHP and 3rd catcher. 2) AAA. 3) Traded. Trading McCann and Collins being the strict backup catcher would my last choice. We'll figure out 2021 later.

I guess. I am just not in love with taking what you can get for McCann just to create space for EE and relegate Collins to strictly backup duties. I guess we'll see how things shake out, but its definitely an option.

The primary reason is he's going to be on an innings limit in 2020, and if he starts the year in the majors unimpeded, he'll be shut down by August 1. No thanks. The extra year of service is just an added benefit to handling this the correct way.

These are wildly different circumstances. Bryant also wasn't returning from a major arm reconstruction surgery. Such a silly comp. Plus, Brant hit like 15 homers in ST that year and was clearly one of the best players on the Cubs. If Kopech mows down all his competition in ST, this will be closer to a comp, but then you're also still discounting the whole arm reconstruction thing. So yah...not anywhere near the same thing.

But but but I threw 14 innings in the major leagues and then blew out my elbow! How in the world could they not put me on the major league roster after I haven't thrown a competitive pitch in 18 months! I don't understand! Grievance!!

Because McCann hits lefties well, therefore he'll likely against LHP most of the time. Then you only have DH and 1B for Grandal, Abreu and EE. Who all mash lefties.