ChiSox59

Well hopefully out of Gio, Kopech and Cease and we can find 2 legit aces. Then filling in the middle of the rotation pieces is OK. But I understand and share your frustration, man. Shitty day for the die hards.

Thank you, Sir.

He said, and I quote "The Chicago #WhiteSox had the high bid on the table for Zack Wheeler at $120 million-plus."

Has $125M offer been floated by someone noteworthy? I've just seen the 5/$120M.

I hear ya. I am frustrated as well. Wheeler was the best (realistic) fit. But he sounded a fuck load better at 4/$80M as we all hoped in early October, or even 5/$100M than 5/$130M or whatever it would have required to pry him to the midwest. Wheeler isn't necessarily an organizational changing player. He's a good not great pitcher getting paid like he's ELITE, with limited track record to back it up. I would have been happy to get him a 5/$120M, but also am OK acknowledging that anything over that would have been crazy. Life goes on. This hurts for 2020 for sure, but I think that there is better than a coin flip's chance that deal turns into a nightmare. And to be clear, I said that multiple times before today.

No. At the point, my plan A would be to pivot to Cole and Strasburg, understanding that is likely a pipedream. Plan B: Get Ryu on a reasonable 3 year deal, and find a 1 year stop gap for the other spot. Overpaying MadBum, or trading from our elite prospects to add pitching isn't the answer.

If the guys preference was to stay on the East Coast, you're already offering him more than most imagined he'd get a couple months ago, you're the top bidder, at the tippy top of your valuation, AND he's turning down multiple millions to play elsewhere due to family ties....it just probably wasn't going to work out.

They're getting 4 minor league pitchers, it sounds like.

Ya, you've said that. But your analysis makes no sense. How can one be so against Ryu, and so for Wheeler. They've both struggled to stay healthy, and while Wheeler is a little younger and may have more upside, he's undeniably been the lessor of the two pitchers over any period of time you wish to select.

MadBum isn't good anymore. He'd give up 50 home runs pitching in Chicago in the summer.

I'd prefer Ryu 100x over Madbum. Just really uninterested in Madbum, especially at the rumors prices.

Wrong.

No, no he is not a better fit than Wheeler.

WOW. Stop the b****ing, fellas.

Give Strasburg $200M over 6 years.

Like every single baseball reporter over the last 48 hours.

Its been well document that the Sox had an offer on the table of 5/$100M-$110M.

5/$100M was my max. Was willing to stretch to 5/$115, full well knowing that it could blow up. It sucks to lose out on Wheeler, but I don't think this is the end of the world.

Meh. Doesn't really fit our window of when we'd need him most with his suspension.

Hate it all you want, but McCann is a lifetime .269/.331/.481 (136 OPS+) against LHP. I assume he'll catch alot against LHP with Grandal at DH/1B, but he is likely going to get some DH starts against LHP. Especially if the RF we add is a lefty (like Joc or Peralta) in which case Leury will likely already be in the OF a lot on those days, which means you can't shift Eloy to DH against LHP on a regular basis.

Yes, he is injured a lot. I do think you have to at least consider the fact that LAD has been LOADED with SP during his tenure, and likely took it alot easier on him than other orgs would have. I think he would have thrown more innings / made more starts for pretty much every other org. But yes, he's fragile. No denying that. I do think that risk will be priced in though - whereas Wheeler has also been injured alot, and seemingly there will be no discount whatsoever for that risk.

Maybe the fact that he has a career ERA of 2.98 and career FIP of 3.32. Ryu is really good. Yes he is an injury risk. But even if he only starts 20-25 games for you, he's going to be a very good pitcher for you when he's on the mound. His injury history will also depress his market, so his price tag shouldn't be outrageous. I'd prefer Wheeler over Ryu all things being equal. But if one costs 6/$130M and the other costs 3/$55M-60M, I am taking Ryu.

This one played out weird.

Fair enough. Almost a decade ago now, and obviously things have changed significantly since then leading to the narratives that we're discussing but that is a fair signing to comp to Grandal.

Find a stop gap RF for a year. Joc is an option. David Peralta is an option. Kole Calhoun is an option. There are others. With Abreu in the fold for three more years for sure now, signing Castellanos locks in one of, if not THE, worst OF defense in the league. With a young pitching staff, that is a just a horrible situation. Trade spare parts for a 1 year stop gap, or sign a guy on 1 year deal. There are several (in addition to Betts) high end RF FA next offseason. Fill that gap long term then.