Bob Sacamano

I too hate the word tanking. It makes it sound like the players are out there intentionally losing games even though they are playing their hardest for their own future and to have a job.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 5, 2016 -> 10:26 AM) Cubs currently have 150M committed to 18 players. Add five league minimum players and that total comes to 152.5M for 23 players. That leaves the cubs with 26.5M to sign Arrieta and Fowler while staying under the luxury tax threshold. The cubs and Arrieta aren't going to take the chance of actually going to arbitration because one side is going to get screwed. They will meet each other half way and make a deal, probably 10-11M. That leaves 15-16M to sign Fowler. The cubs have the money to sign Fowler and I'm guessing they do once they come to an agreement with Arrieta. Fow!er re-signing with the Cubs for a one year deal has its merits for both sides. The cubs can afford a little extra splurge this year knowing they will have Edwin Jackson's salary off the books after '16. And Hammel will be off too. He's making what $10 mill?

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 08:23 AM) I don't mean to sound like a tool, but is there any legit proof that this guy is really 16? He doesn't really have any reason to lie signing as a 16-year old. Unless he is saying he's older to be able to sign quicker.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 07:36 AM) They do get to open their stadium with a s*** load of young pitching, Freeman at 1B, Enciarte and Olivera in the OF, and Dansby Swanson and Albies in the middle infield. They also have a huge bonus pool in the draft and are going nuts in free agency. Braves fans should be really excited actually. They really should be. They will probably look to spend in free agency next winter or trade prospect depth for legit players.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 07:24 AM) Not even about that. They aren't going to punt 2 top 50 picks 2? Ethier isn't a free agent. It's only one draft pick.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 04:54 PM) Sands is also out of options. Sometimes that carries a little merit when making decisions even though it shouldn't. I almost wonder if the Sox would carry both Shuck and Sands and drop Olt. Sands can play 1B if needed, and I am sure they will try to get Sanchez time at 3B to make him a super-sub. Might even allow for Melky and Avi to play some DH (although I have no clue Sands defensive ability). Sanchez doesn't need to play 3B to be honest. He can play second and Lawrie and can backup 3B.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 08:25 AM) As someone mentioned, it makes sense if you can first anchor your class with a Moncada/Lazarito/Alvares/Jimenez phenom type...but you definitely don't want to go over simply because you've signed a bunch of mid-range lottery tickets without one or two clear superstar/breakout possibilities. Well yeah I get that. I just hope we are lining up some of those that will be eligible to sign next period now.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 08:18 AM) Brewers Reds Padres (sort of) Phillies Braves Rockies Interestingly, there's an article out today about the Braves being one of the favorites for Lazarito, fwiw. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/163477810/am...ason-contenders Article about how every team in the AL is basically a postseason contender. Yeah there was an article about how them and another team (forgot who) are already lining up a bunch of amateur international signings for next period. Hope we are doing that too.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:59 AM) And Trayce. Meant to type "had" referring to last season and why he didn't get a full season of at bats

Let's see Soler play a full season. This year is big for both (assuming both play every day).

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 11:06 PM) I wouldn't worry about the vesting option at all. Last season Ethier had 445 PA total with 48 of those PA against lefties. If the Sox primarily bat him against RHP like the Dodgers did, there's really no chance he gets the 1100 PA. They also had a deep OF of Crawford Pederson Puig Van Slyke and Ethier.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 01:25 AM) Dyson and Orlando, with Travis Snider as insurance. Unless they add Jennings or Jackson. Cain in CF, Gordon in LF. Anyone has to be an upgrade over Rios.

Who's even slated to play right for the Royals currently? Cain with Dyson in center?

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 03:55 PM) They've got A-Rod and Beltran. Bird only came up when Teixeira was injured. I thought he was going to potentially be on the bench. It was a suggestion in a comment I read on mlbtr.

Could see them add Alvarez now.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 11:54 AM) Could he DH against lefties??? He's probably hit better than LaRoche against lefties.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 10:53 AM) To me, Plan A is sign a full-time replacement for Avisail Garcia. This means Dexter Fowler or Austin Jackson. This is the shortest path to the largest improvement on the roster. Avisail Garcia can fight LaRoche and Cabrera for playing time -- if he's still got some upside in the tank, he'll still have an opportunity to show it. Plan B is Matt Joyce/Shane Victorino/Will Venable as a strong-side platoon partner for Avi. To me, Ian Desmond is outside of this discussion. I believe Ian Desmond becomes a player we should acquire if his price falls far enough, but I don't see it as an "instead of an OF" option. Garcia has been a sub-replacement level player and projects as a replacement-level player. The need to upgrade there remains whether or not you upgrade at SS first. The SS position is weak, but not nearly AS weak as RF, so it's a lower priority and one with fewer options, and one with options that come with high variance. Only hits righty now (platoon with LaRoche instead?)

QUOTE (glangon @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 07:45 AM) Beck was a spot start. Montas was a spot start and part of the September call-ups. Noesi was released and replaced by Rodon. Sale had a minor injury but we went to a 4 man rotation due to the schedule. I suspect if we were in contention, you probably wouldn't have seen EJ starting in September (unless there was an injury or double header) That would have still meant 8 pitchers which I suspect was less than most teams out there, see Dodgers, Blue Jays and Yankees for examples. I thought that apart from Sale at the start, our rotation was relatively injury-free and it was scheduling issues due to rain-outs and the Baltimore riots which caused more chaos to our rotation than injuries. You still can't bank on using only using 5-6 guys throughout a 162-game season.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 03:02 PM) 8 seems high but I think it is fair to say we can expect the White Sox to need a 6th starter this year since one of our 5 will go down w some injury ( and /or Johnson or Danks will struggle). I thought they would add someone but they must be confident they have enough depth internally. 8 sounds about right. Teams always have guys coming up to make random starts. Not looking at numbers I'd guess that we used about 9 or 10 (Sale Quintana Samardzija Danks Noesi Rodon Carroll Beck Johnson Montas are my guesses).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 11:00 AM) Capra said Jordan Stephens he believes to be at Carson Fulmer level now that he is healthy u Was he a highly touted draft pick that fell a bit due to his tj surgery?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 10:44 AM) I'm looking at alternatives to Fowler and Desmond and it don't look good unless the Sox pull off a trade of some sort. Not trying to be a downer, just realistic. I think Fowler returns to the cubs and I don't see the Sox giving up the pick for Desmond. I really would'nt be surprised to see the Sox sign one of Victorino, McLouth, Venable as platoon partners for Avi in RF. Not a prediction, just spit-balling. Victorino hits right handed only now. I know you were just spit balling but felt I should acknowledge that. Could def see McLouth, Venable, DeJesus (lives in the area), Matt Joyce, or Sizemore.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 09:57 AM) I've seen him play as well. Houston is only a 3 hour drive. He's awful in center field. The eye test and every single defensive metric proves that correct. He gave up the most runs out of all center fielders the past 2 years. Which was over 30. Most of them were out of position runs and throwing mistake runs. I'm fine with him coming over but not playing center. He's the one I'd move to left.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 09:54 AM) I'm a Sox fan for life, for better or worse, just painful lately That being said I don't want to add any big money FAs now, no one worthy of a pick or money that's left I don't think there's anyone out there that will get "big money" depending on how one determines that phrase.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 09:48 AM) a nice idea, but not unless the sox kicks in money for that salary. Yeah I know but at that point in the year it wouldn't be a lot. We did kick in cash to get rid of Dunn as well in 2014.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Jan 31, 2016 -> 09:40 AM) Sox have a lot of talent that can net a lot of return (Sale, Abreu, Frazier, Eaton, Quintana, Lawrie, Melky, Robertson) but are in MLB's toughest division with an under achieving cast year after year. If this doesn't change a fire sale should be in discussion as B/R pointed out, saying White Sox are next time to undergo full rebuild. If Sox do start rebuilding yet again this summer, who stays, who goes, and what is the return? Let's hope this isn't where we're headed. I don't think they would do a full rebuild til at least summer of 2017 in my opinion. But if I had to guess who would get moved if things are bad this summer: maybe a couple relievers, one of the catchers (if they're producing), Danks if a team wants rotation depth for a couple months (looking at a team like the Dodgers or Cardinals if there are injuries to their rotations).