steveno89

Sox will never compete with the huge spenders, but that does not mean they cannot be aggressive for top of the market players.

Cubs need to clear payroll to do anything. They have spent a ton in recent offseasons and that finally has caught up to them. They are not a threat to sign any substantial FA until they shed $$$$

Was not my intention to mislead, just to point where the Sox might be headed

I'd honestly rather roll the dice on plenty of other starting pitching options than go 3-4 years on Keuchel for $15-18 million per. I just do not think he's that good anymore.

Why would the Rays trade Snell after a 96 win season when he is under control for the next three years?

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but it's a genuine question as to which quality starting pitcher is even available via trade? Fangraphs has Cease projected to be worth 2.2 WAR in 2020 making league minimum. If I am punting years of cheap control over him I had better be getting a legit piece back.

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=80&type=8&season=2019&month=0&season1=2019&ind=0&team=&rost=&age=&filter=&players=&startdate=&enddate=&page=1_30 Look at the first two pages of this list and who jumps out as being available? Contenders surely would not trade a quality starter for prospects. Jon Gray's two seasons of control might be available? Beyond that who? Marco Gonzales? Joe Musgrove? Matthew Boyd? Jon Means?

What quality starting pitcher is even available via trade right now? That is a genuine question. I scoured fangraphs and am not seeing any obvious fit. Jon Gray possibly?

We can all hope for better, but the way this market might quickly shape up should concern Sox fans. Missing on Wheeler was a big blow.

I shudder to think what this board will do if Keuchel is our marquee free agent acquired outside of Grandal. There's a decent chance it becomes a reality.

Known facts now: -Cole is going to be paid massively. I'd predict 8 years, approaching $300 million with full NTC. LAA and NYY heavily involved. -Rendon is unlikely to return to the Nationals. LAD, ATL, TEX are clear suitors, others possibly?

The deferments do include interest though to account for the NPV loss

This deal helped every FA starting pitcher's value quite a bit. Cole is going to shatter records, Ryu now look like a bargain, as do MBum and Keuchel. Sox better be ready to play ball here soon

At these absurd values? Buying a season or two of free agency might be an extremely good idea

Every FA pitcher just got even more expensive after Strasburg inked a 7/245 with full no trade clause. Cole is getting 8/300 with full no trade now all day. Wow.

My first thought is a potential Giolito extension might be a really good idea right now.

You had to figure he was getting seven years at an AAV over $31 million. Rendon and Cole are next up to get majorly paid.

Major domino falls, will other moves follow?

A young arm coming off of reconstructive elbow surgery that missed the entire 2019 season? Sox will park Kopech in AAA and see how it goes. At this stage I do not know how they could have him penciled into the rotation until they see how he does. Most players are able to make a full recovery, but not all.

Meaning that Rendon would be highly unlikely to return to WAS. #whitesox Stars aligning for a major signing?

I wouldn't call potentially signing Ozuna desperate. He's an above average starter that is way better than any current Sox mlb or farm internal option.

Zero chance Kopech would win a grievance against the Sox coming back from TJS, not pitching at all in 2019 and only having 14 MLB innings to his name. He should be kept in AAA for a bit regardless of health to build his arm back up facing hitters.

Kopech tossed 14 MLB innings before going down with injury, hardly enough to say he's clearly proven to be MLB ready. He has not faced professional hitters since Sept 2018 either, perfectly reasonable for the Sox to bring him back slowly and monitor his innings by having him throw a month or two in AAA to see where he is at.

It is not as obvious as you might think. Kopech is returning from TJS, you honestly think he's ready to step back into the MLB after not playing all 2019? Madrigal/Robert were promoted late in the season to AAA, it would be pretty reasonable to say the organization wanted to see how they perform early in 2020 before calling them up to the MLB.

http://m.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/service-time This explains it all^