BlackSox13

I really hope the Sox can sign Cespedes or Upton or some of the comments made on this board are going to be unbearable.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:50 PM) How much more can the Sox dip into their system at this point, though? That's my biggest concern. Depends on the outfielder the Sox are interested in. There's a variety to choose from that have different values.

I think the likelihood of the Sox trading for an outfielder has gone up. Imo, the FA outfielders are too costly. We shall see. The rest of this week and weekend should be a fun ride!

The latest and greatest from the mind of Levine. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/01/06/lev...utfield-market/

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:10 PM) I think it's not only possible, but more possible than not that we don't land one of the big guys at this point and end up bringing in 2nd tier guy(s). Hopes and fears would officially come crashing down only if Avi is our starting RF come April. And after seeing that KC gave Gordon not only 4 guaranteed years but also threw in a 5th year mutual option, I feel much better that we didn't end up in the mix to sign him. Too many years for my liking, whether we end up with YC or JU in the long run. Looking at that Gordon contract makes me relieved the Sox didn't do something stupid like that and that maybe the Sox drove the price up on KC with the Sox having genuine interest in Gordon. I'm would be pissed if the Sox signed Gordon for that contract. I think you're right in thinking signing one of them is less possible. Surely younger players like Cespedes and Upton can get at least five years now. That's not a typical Sox move. So what do you think of the second tier?

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:11 PM) Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 8s8 seconds ago Theres' been contact between O's & Justin Upton's camp. Matchup makes sense, especially if he goes Nelson Cruz route and takes 1-year deal. I was thinking, why the hell would Upton do something like that? Then I thought about how Upton would be the biggest fish in a small FA pond next winter and it makes more sense. Off the top of my head, Upton's biggest competition next winter would be Rasmus. QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:12 PM) I would kick my dog if Upton or Cespedes signed a short "prove it" deal and it wasn't with the Sox. EDIT: I have a really big dog. So he'd be fine. Please don't call PETA

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) Rick Hahn has said he is going to add an OF. Even Merkin confirmed the White Sox would be adding an OF. It might not be Cespedes or Upton, but they are not going into the season hoping Avi figures crap out, and playing the "we'll trade for someone in June if needed" game they have played and failed in the past. Another OF will be added. As HOFer Frank Thomas would say, "no doubt about it." I agree with this. I do feel they will bring somebody in but likely not what fans are hoping for. But if fans get pissed the Sox don't sign one of Cespedes/Upton, that's on those fans for getting their hopes up. Edit: I still wouldn't rule out a trade for an outfielder. Plenty available right now.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:54 PM) The line about hoping for an Avi improvement and counting on a Laroche bounce back is horrible. Counting on those 2 things to happen is a stretch, and not what you want to be selling to the fanbase after not only making the prior deals for Frazier and Lawrie, but also intimating in interviews (Hahn!) that you'd definitely be bringing in another OF to platoon/replace/help out Avi. It's Merkin so I still have faith in Hahn to get the deal done, assuming Reinsdorf gives him the green light $$-wise. But in those interviewes Hahn said the Sox would have to get creative to make a signing happen which means they would have to move salary to make room for salary which they have yet to do and won't do in the case of LaRoche. While JR has approved of budget raises in the past, I wouldn't assume anything at this point. Especially since the Cell resembled a ghost town in '15 as far as attendance goes. I'm not trying to be a downer, just not allowing myself to get my hopes up to the point that my Sox world comes crashing down if the Sox are unable to get something done. I think they will bring in an outfielder but its very possible he won't be what many have hoped for.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:39 PM) That article should piss some people off. If that really was the plan, I wouldn't blame anyone for being pissed off, but even Merkin reported the White Sox would bring in an OF. Sorry DA but I disagree. Writers can write whatever they want and the fans can believe whatever they want but nowhere has JR, KW or Hahn said the Sox were raising the payroll budget to afford such a FA signing. It has been rumored that Hahn has the '15 budget with which to work for '16 and the Sox are already there, its probably why Hahn has said they would need to get "creative" to sign a FA. "Creative" in the sense of trading salary (LaRoche rumors) in order to sign a FA. If fans are pissed it should be at their self for believing the media rumors.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:53 AM) This is what always made me laugh. The early 2000's diamondbacks are the ones that stick in my mind. Guys like Jay Bell, Steve finley and Luis Guitierrez ( I think that was his name) hitting nearly 40 HR when in other years they didn't hit 20. You mean this guy? http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzalu01.shtml That's a pretty amazing spike in power he had in '01.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:45 PM) I'd much rather sign Austin Jackson or Denard Span than trade anything for a declining Markakis. What sucks about missing on Gordon is he would've slotted perfectly into the 2 hole in front of Jose. Even if we bring in Cespedes or Upton, that still leaves Jose hitting 2nd. He should absolutely be hitting 3rd with a decent OBP guy in front of him and the middle of the order. I guess this is something we see differently. The numbers that declined for most with Markakis are his power and defense, both could be due to the bigger ballpark in Atlanta compared to Camden. Otherwise, Markakis still hit for Average, OBP, low K-rate and costs 11M per year for the next three years which would put the Sox payroll at a very reasonable 130M. Singing one of Cespedes or Upton would put the payroll a tick over 140M and I kinda have my doubts JR allows that big of a jump. Hopefully I'm wrong in thinking that. Gordon: Since Gordon wanted to stay in KC and KC wanted him back, I really don't see how the Sox missed out. Doesn't seem like they had much of a chance since both the team and player didn't want to part ways. QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:46 PM) What about Melky? He's probably the best 2 hole hitter the Sox have. Regardless if the Sox get Cespedes/Upton/Etc, I'd have to imagine that Melky will be hitting 2nd in the lineup ... in the beginning of the season at least. I prefer Melky in the middle of the order to break up the RH bats and IIRC Melky hit better in the middle but as the team sits right now, Melky is the #2 hitter and should be.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:42 PM) Didn't Beachy have two UCL replacement surgeries? If so, the Sox made the correct choice. Yes he did. I'm glad you brought that up, I had forgotten about Beachy having two TJ surgeries. Rolling the dice with Turner just might be the better alternative.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:44 AM) Sox have no ammo left for another big trade. They got nothing left in the minors close to ML ready and the high upside guys left down there are guys the Sox want to keep. They would create another hole trading from the 25 man roster. They have to keep Anderson because he is the heir apparent at SS. Have to keep Fulmer because Danks probably goes bye -bye after this year. Have to keep Quintana unless they get the " small army" they've been looking for and there's no depth with Montas gone. Agree with this except I think a trade involving B and C level prospects can still be done. Not for outfielders like Colorado put on the market, more along the lines of Markakis who would still be a sizeable upgrade over Avi in RF and slot nicely in the two hole with his OBP/low K-rate. Not the sexy name fans are looking for but possibly a more realistic alternative to signing the likes of Fowler/Jackson/Parra/Span. Another thing for Sox fans to keep in mind is that the idea of the Sox signing a FA hinges on the assumption JR will raise the payroll that currently sits at about 119M. While I would like to see the Sox sign Cespedes or Upton, I keep in mind that it's very possible the Sox do not sign one of them. Still plenty of alternative options out there that would be an upgrade over Avi in RF.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 12:06 PM) I think a lot of teams did. I was shocked that he wasn't more in demand. Same here. QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 12:07 PM) This was my thing. It just seemed so obvious. I'm sure he ends up like never playing and that's why he wasn't mentioned, but that seems like a fantastic gamble. He was fantastic 2 years ago. Agreed and he's young enough to bounce back to what he was two years ago.

Just my opinion but I think the Sox missed out on a big opportunity with Henderson Alvarez.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 11:51 AM) They've been around 189 in the past. They need an OFer, they got Samardzija and Cueto. Why go 2/3 of the way there when you can spend a little more and be a complete team, much like the Sox are doing. Indeed they have but if the Giants sign a player like Cespedes it puts them very close to the luxury tax threshold and really doesn't leave them much space at all for mid-season acquisitions. I seriously doubt they are players for either one of Cespedes/Upton. QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 11:52 AM) You are assuming they are close to their payroll limit and cant shell out another contract. I am not. On the flip side you are assuming they are willing to add a huge contract like Cespedes, I am not.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 11:47 AM) You just have to worry about the Giants lurking. Why? The Giants payroll is sitting at about 165M. I see nothing to be worried about. Imo, that's 165M reasons the Giants have been linked to Parra and Fowler.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 11:21 AM) Who did Beachy sign with? Looking like the Dodgers. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/dodg...don-beachy.html

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:56 AM) Not a big surprise here, you knew when he couldn't be signed early in the process that his heart was never really in leaving KC, much less to come to the Sox. I personally prefer Cespedes/Upton anyways, so hopefully this unclogs the market. Both Cespedes and Upton seem to be waiting on Davis and Baltimore to figure their own situations out. I think either would go to Baltimore over the Sox, and are waiting to see what the money might be before considering less years, which is what it sounds like the Sox are offering. The Baltimore/Davis situation makes much more sense to me than it did initially and I agree, the Sox need Baltimore to sign Davis ASAP. I agree with the preference of Cespedes/Upton. Let's hope the rumors of Abreu trying to sell Cespedes on the Sox are true.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:50 AM) @Ken_Rosenthal Sources: #WhiteSox would not go 4 years on Gordon, as @BNightengale said. Will they adjust on Cespedes? Gordon 32 this season, Cespedes 30. I don't blame the Sox one bit and am glad they didn't go four years on Gordon. I do think the Sox are willing to go more than three years for Cespedes though. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:32 AM) I don't think there was much using. You don't offer someone a team record contract as a ploy. I'm sure the Sox were very interested. The other thing that was rarely mentioned about the benefit of signing Gordon was not only would they have strengthened the White Sox, they would have weakened a division opponent significantly. Not saying using is what happened, just that it was possible. The Sox knew Gordon wanted to stay in KC and supposedly Abreu has been in contact with Cespedes so the speculation is plausible. It's likely we'll never know and it really doesn't matter. It was just bored fans ( myself included) speculating while waiting for something to happen.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:18 AM) The longer the process took, I think the more obvious it became. Yep. A few of us were speculating last week that Gordon could have been using the Sox in negotiations with KC while the Sox were using Gordon in negotiations with Cespedes. We'll see if the second part of that speculation come to fruition.

Gordon has been saying he wanted to stay in KC so is this really a surprise?

The Sox were posturing on the 3 year nonsense. They know it will take more to get Cespedes and even Garfien confirmed last weekend Cespedes had not received more than a 3 year offer yet. I'm guessing the Sox offer 4 years guaranteed with a 5th year team/player option. Don't get your knickers in a twist Sox fans.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--alex...-145027420.html http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14513641...sas-city-royals http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/1/6/99336...act-royals-2016 Looking like Gordon is staying in KC.