ChiSox59

If pointing out that you're constantly negative and almost never make a positive post is "making it personal", I guess I am guilty but I wouldn't really say that is ripping on you because it is true. Anyways, I agree that replacing Hamels with one of the top 5 SP on the FA market + Martinez + Abreu + Dickerson + bullpen arm or two would be pretty damn good offseason. Not super interested in Hamels unless he is the 2nd SP added.

Let's be honest. Is there an offseason you would be pleased with? The Sox could sign Rendon and Cole and you'd find a way to rip them.

I would be excited. I would hope they'd add another backend SP type in addition to that, and I'd prefer someone a step above Hamels, but I wouldn't be mad about that offseason. I have higher hopes, but I think that would be an offseason I could get behind.

FWIW - I think the organization as whole will make a conscious effort to not pump up the hopes of the fanbase like they did last offseason. Clearly they directly shot themselves in the foot by being so confident on Machado, and I don't think they're going to do that again. That being said, Cole is a longshot if just for the simple fact that every team will want him, and he'll likely have at least 10 active bidders. Will be tough for the Sox to win that, and I am not sure I even want them to if it requires a 7/$250M type deal. But I wouldn't put that much stock in what Steve Stone says.

That is fine prediction, but I think they're going to give him alot more than 50 MLB plate appearances before they make that determination. He provides 2 things the Sox sorely lack - plate discipline / ability to take walks and handedness. I doubt they throw him to the side for a guy like Jason Castro, at least not yet.

The White Sox have not tried to win since 2016, so this is not an accurate comment. Perhaps we allow this regime a chance to actually try to win after changing their focus before we proclaim they're unable to do it.

I don't think anyone is concerned about it. But it's definitely worth discussing based on how the roster shakes out.

Not really up to Boston though.

That being said, I would absolutely take Martinez. It just scares me that the Sox would plug him into RF WAYYYYYYY more than he should be out there. He also doesn't solve the issue of this lineup being VERY right handed heavy, but he's a very good stick so you make it work. Would make finding a LH RF even more important than it already is. I probably prefer something like Ozuna + Grandal to Martinez + Calhoun, but we'll see how things shake out, but both would be pretty good scenarios. As someone else mentioned though, assuming Abreu sticks around which seems highly likely, that pretty much makes Collins the backup C.

I believe he has 3/$62.45M remaining on his deal. Seems to be he'd be hard pressed to beat that by more than $10M at most. Seems risky. Unless he wants out of Boston.

I think people's interest in Martinez is in addition to Abreu. Also being a liability at 1B isn't quite a bad as being a liability in RF, especially when paired with another liability in LF that is locked in.

He's also just 27 years old and signed a 10 year deal, and a fair amount of his value comes from his defense that is sure to deteriorate. I was one of the biggest proponents of signing MM on this board. It sucks we missed out. I would love for him to be our our squad. But he isn't. And that $300M CAN be more efficiently allocated. It just remains to be seen if it will.

Having too much pitching is never a bad thing. A 6 man rotation may not be an awful idea either with Kopech and Cease on innings limits and Rodon getting mixed back in at some point. But yah, I am moreso referring to 1 SP from the top 4-5 available options, and then an Alex Wood type that could be moved to the pen or just traded in June/July.

Kopech is going to have a limited number of innings in his arm next year. Whether he starts in the bigs from OD and is shut down in August, or they keep kid gloves on, slowly work up his pitch count and innings in AAA and then bring him to the bigs in June, you're likely getting close to the same amount of (polished) big league innings. Sure, perhaps you get slightly less overall innings since he'd pitch 30-40 innings in AAA in the 2nd scenario, but its definitely worth getting a year back. And I don't know that 30-40 rusty Kopech innings are really going to make that much of a difference in the Sox overall record, especially if they do the right thing and sign 2 legitimate SP this offseason.

One thing to note about Abreu. There seems to be quite a bit of talk about the Sox being interested in JD Martinez. Just off the top of my head, I believe Olney, Steve Phillips and ARod have all mentioned that just within the past few days. I obviously an OK adding JD Martinez to the mix, but it would need to be strictly as a DH with maybe a few games a month in RF. That pretty much relegates Abreu to 1B fulltime, and with Vaughn arriving no later than 2021, I don't really know that Abreu fits for more than 1 more season if JD were brought on board. But, please, for the love of God Sox, don't sign Martinez to be the everyday RF.

Abreu has had a great post ASB. So much so that the 2 year $20M deal we all hoped he’d sign may be getting pretty far fetched.

I mean, to be fair, the pain has certainly not been short term. I don't think the Sox should really be intentionally losing games at this point. I do think finishing with a somewhat respectable record could potentially help with free agents who are picking between several teams and value being on a contender. I had no problem with Covey pitching last night. In terms of options on the active roster, I'd prefer him over Detwiler or Santiago who 100% have no future with the White Sox. Covey is like 99% chance he has no future, but still.

Anderson out of the lineup today. Really don't get that with him so close to the qualifying threshold. Let the kid play.

Could easily give Bernando Flores some starts this month. He needs to be added to the 40 man before the Rule 5 draft in December. But yah, I am not losing much sleep over Covey starting over Detwiler or Santiago. In fact, I'd prefer Covey over those two.

Calhoun is fine assuming they resign Abreu, sign someone like Grandal to C/DH/1B and sign some SP and bullpen help. If Abreu and Calhoun are the two biggest AAV adds, add me to the group of people doubting this FO can make this thing work.

The Sox aren't going 14-8.

I don't see much of a chance in Leury being gone. I actually think both Yolmer and Leury will be around, just bench pieces once Robert and Madrigal arrive.

Lol and then that shit works, just reinforcing Ricky's bullshit.

let the kid swing the fucking bat

Just stinging the ball all over the field. Brighter days ahead.