ChiSox59

I was one of the more outspoken people here pushing to keep Kopech in the minors last season for multiple reasons. He may have gotten hurt anyway, but at least we wouldn't have wasted close to 20% of his service time on the DL. Its a huge deal, and calling up Kopech last season to pitch meaningless baseball (albeit he was probably ready) really backfired,

I like Kikuchi and then a guy like Tyson Ross or Ervin Santana.

Meh. Definitely think he's going to get quite a bit more than $30M AAV, if there are no opt outs.

Just out of curiosity, why sign Nelson Cruz and Machado/Harper and then trade Abreu? Edit: see you addressed later on. I just don’t think the Sox are getting a great prospect for Abreu. At least try to put the best possible team together. Guess it depends on what the offers look like. At first blush, Cruz is not my favorite target, but he’s getting up there and could probably be had on a 2 year deal. If he’s signed to be a supporting cast piece, I can get behind it. Otherwise, I’d rather see Palka at DH.

Obviously less front loaded is preferred (like $40M), but trying to brainstorm ideas that these guys would actually accept. Sure, itd be great to sign Machado and Harper to 10 year $250M contracts!! WOOHOO. Yah, never happening.

You don't think they could field a competitive balance of team with another $100M with all the pre-arb guys the Sox will have?

I actually really like a structure like offering an 8 year / $325M to both Harper and Machado with the first 5 years at $50M, next three at $25M, with an opt out after 5 years. So basically a 5 year $250M deal. Therefore both players can still hit FA one more time while they're both ~31 assuming they opt out after 5 years. Sox add $100M to the payroll each year the next 5 seasons, and should still have plenty of money to fill out the roster if they're serious about being good. Really no "surplus value" in those contract, but you're never going to sign a superstar FA and get surplus value. As I've said before, you just hope they stay healthy and you're paying them what they're worth. Go win a couple a championships in the next 5 years and its all worth it. This would require Jerry to OK the payroll going into the $180-$200M range, but if he's not willing to do that, then this team was never going to good for long anyway.

This team will never be good for a sustained period if the Sox max out at $130M payrolls. If they're serious about this rebuild, they'll get up up $180M-$200M payrolls in 2020-2025, or this whole rebuild was pointless anyway.

You have two of the best players in the game on your team? This isn’t rocket science. If the Sox are serious about winning, they’ll be ok bumping their payroll to $180M range in 2020-2024 range. If they aren’t, the “sustained success” model Hahn constantly pushes is a bunch of BS, because they’ll always be searching for lightning in a bottle. Top shelf FA don’t sign “value” deals. You just hope they stay healthy and get paid what they’re worth.

You’re all over the place dude.

Like I said, the odds are long, and its very unlikely. But I don't really think stating things that are unknown in absolutes is really necessary. I do think that if one comes off the board early to the Sox, the other one would theoretically be more interested in the Sox if they keep their offer out there. All hypothetical and purely spitballing - I don't actually think it will happen.

I was also told Jerry would never allow a rebuild, and that he'd never spend top dollar on a international free agent. Both things have occurred the last couple years, so I'm not totally ruling it out, though I admit the odds would be very long.

I think the other player becomes more interested, however. Harper probably more likely to sign with the Sox if they prove they're not messing around by signing MM, or visa versa. Whether or not Jerry is willing to spend $600M in one offseason is another thing.

I don't really believe in the little brother attitude so many have. These guys likely go to whomever pays them the most. Are they going to pick the Sox if they're the 5th highest bidder? Obviously not!! But I don't think the Sox need to outbid the next highest team by $25M+ to get them.

Don't hate your plan beatox. Don't think the Sox would go that long (or would need to go that long) on the Donaldson deal. Also not sure the Rockies would have much interest in the Sox spare parts as you suggested, but definitely like the idea of targeting Jon Gray, and even Tapia.

Not sure where you're going with this, but Corbin is a very high risk signing who will likely go to the Yankees for far too much money and is very likely well outside of where are the Sox are going to be with respect to years and dollars for FA SP. MM and Harper are generational type talents available in the FA before they even hit their prime. Its unprecedented. Is there a point in which the bidding goes so high that it makes more sense to diversify and not blow a ton of your budget on 1 player? No doubt. It remains to be seen if it gets that high, but if it does, fairly confident they won't be signing with the Sox. But with where baseball is going these days, I lean more towards these guys getting less than the general consensus as opposed to more.

A somewhat injury prone soon to be 30 year old that has had 2 good seasons out of 6, 1 of which was his contract year, that is expected to sign a 5-6 year deal approaching $25M AAV. What could possibly go wrong?

Let the people have some excitement, you wet towel.

1) You're high. 2) Whoever signs Corbin is going to regret it. 3) This coming from someone who has adamantly paraded the idea of signing Pollock.

Dear lord, how f'in cool would it be if the Sox just through their wang on the table and signed both. My lord I would be a happy happy happy happy man.

I thought you didn't deem Harper and Machado worth of conversation? Insert eye roll emoji.

Pretty much a Brian Dozier type 2B. Quite valueable at the minimum.

Very small sample in the big leagues. Power is for real. Decent pedigree. He’s a major leaguer. He has an option so likely starts the year in AAA, but I’d like to get a better look at him in the bigs next season.

I honestly like the CF idea if we can get Machado. Let Moncada play both 2B and CF. Versitility is a good thing. I also like the idea of getting Rondon into the lineup.