Lip Man 1

Unless they somehow seriously upgraded their starting rotation they aren't contending for anything in 2019 let alone win 80-90 games. 2019 is for the continued development of the young players while trying to show gradual improvement in terms of wins until the prospects start coming up in boatloads. The vets can help stabilize this process while being possible trade pieces if everything goes badly south.

30 home runs? Really? OK then.... I can say he's still a butcher in the outfield Yea there is something to watching Avi make a fool of himself in the outfield or on the bases. Comedic relief. Look the guy had his chances, he had one good fluke season, other than that he's been out of shape or hurt and he admitted publicly a few years ago that he was out of shape to one of the mainsteam newspapers and vowed it wouldn't happen again. That lost me right there...a pro athlete who has all the incentive in the world to be in top shape to perform...and he didn't. No thank you. John Jay is not going to move the needle that much in all probability... OK, I get that. But he's here for one year tops and maybe not even that depending on how fast the Sox prospects advance but frankly I'd rather see him for one year then the same outfield garbage we've been seeing for the past several years. Guys who can't stay healthy (the Garcia boys), guys who can't hit (Engle) or guys who need to be full time DH's (Palka) At least in Palka's case the jury is still out on him. He may be a valuable player off the bench in a few years if the Sox are good. We'll see.

I have a hard time thinking Sale will return given the issues between him and the front office. They seem personal not professional to me. Always a chance if the Sox drastically overpay (which JR doesn't do for pitchers usually) but the odds seems to me to be vvvvvveeeeerrrrryyyyy long.

Three names on that list who I don't think will succeed or remain healthy. Would like to see the Sox bring in one more solid guy if they can.

Then the Sox have nothing to worry about...they won't be in any pressure games for awhile longer.

I have to agree with this. Eventually I assume it will come out what Machado signed for, what the Sox offer was and if they were given a chance to submit something to match the winning offer. Depending on those figures then everyone can fairly judge Hahn regarding his comment on "the money will be there." If the Sox made the best offer and Machado (or Harper) sign elsewhere for less then one has to assume the other factors surrounding this franchise were the difference.

This story also says the Sox are looking at Martinez of the Cardinals, who has no real position now and started in the Sox organization I believe: https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-2019-mlb-free-agents-and-trade-rumors/c-297641124?tid=282421090

It's possible Manny takes less to play for the Yankees but somehow I think their offer is going to top everyone's. The questions then would be what did the Sox offer? How much less? and were they given a chance to match or beat the Yankees offer in the negotiations.

We won't know for sure until it eventually leaks what Manny signed for and what the Sox offered. Sox always seem to be in the mix (A-Rod, Tanaka) but always wind up short. Until we know the figures though you can't say anything one way or the other about Hahn / JR (but I'm guessing when the numbers do come out the Sox will probably be significantly short. Then they'd have some explaining to do to the fan base as to why given Hahn's public comments about "the money being there..."

Please...no Covey.

No

Kenley Jensen of the Dodgers has already been quoted as talking about the possibility of a strike and I recently read a story talking about the same thing because of the issues that are coming to a head between the MLBPA and the owners. And naturally, the next labor deal expires just at the time the Sox are supposed to be good. 1981, 1994 and ? It figures in a White Sox sort of way....doesn't it? ?

Don't know if it was a decade, more like six years wasn't it? Regardless again just my opinion, I'd take six years of great play with one or two World Series appearances like Detroit had any day of the week. Beats the shit we've basically been dealing with for the past 12 years. A run like that, would help solve a lot of the issues surrounding this franchise.

Would have been better if he had alluded to a source on this as opposed to a very blase' generic tweet that most Sox fans figured was still in play.

#1 easily. The Sox have already accomplished #2. The state of this franchise right now is that they badly meed a run of sustained success even if that doesn't mean a title simply multiple playoff appearances. TV ratings are rock bottom, fan interest is iffy, and they are the only one of the original 16 major league franchises to have never made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. (To say nothing of trying to become relevant again in their own home market) Having four or five good years in a row will solve a lot of their problems and issues.

According to a story on MLB.com they are now turning their attention to getting Kluber.

Relief pitchers have been coming off the board lately, time for Hahn to get moving and get more bullpen help in my opinion.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Dodgers still do not want to go for a 10 year deal for Harper.

Kaplan has also said that Girardi would be the next Cubs manager and that they wouldn't be outbid for Tanaka. Like with Bruce Levine you have to take what he says with a large bag of salt.

Am doing a project for the White Sox and came across this piece in Sports Illustrated from April 1987. Just found it ironic in the wake of the deal that is supposed to be taking place. Honestly didn't even know WFLD-TV was doing this (or did this): "The state of the team was perhaps best summed up in the off-season when WFLD, the White Sox TV station, filed suit to get out of the final three years of its contract with the team, claiming, in part, that the Sox are "not desirable to watch."

Will be interested to see how much they get. Arizona, St. Louis and Seattle got deals worth billions but they were the only baseball game in town.

Story on MLB.com now say the Braves aren't pursuing him in a trade anymore.

I seriously can't see a scenario where Chris Sale ever returns to the Sox as long as the current front office is in place. Too much history there.

Very good article at MLB.com looking back at which teams exactly are signing players to "mega-deals". Losing teams often are getting these guys as much as winning ones it seems: https://www.mlb.com/news/harper-machado-and-history-of-mlb-mega-deals/c-301873580?tid=282421090

According to MLB.com the Cubs are now interested in Tulo.