tray

The Sox franchise is stronger now...much stronger than when Reinsdorf took over. And it is not even close. That's just a fact. There are 30MLB teams to compete with on the field and many of them are either major market teams, or teams that have over-performed with respect to their market size, like the Rays , KC, or the Cardinals - teams you cannot count on beating in certain years or out-bidding for FA. Did anyone really expect Judge, Correa, Trea Turner to sign here? The measure of a successful franchise over time is stability. That is why the Cubs have many fans even though they barely won one WS in well over 100 years. Any calls from cub fans or Ricketts to sell? Any signs outside of Wrigley? What is with this circular firing squad on the South side about ? Cry babies wanting to win by having an owner who throw money at player contracts every year like a drunken sailor? And what is the true value of winning when the championship has to be bought and paid for? That is a larger question for mlb to address.

The Reinsdorf group have be good stewards of the White Sox franchise for 4 decades. I prefer that stability over a get rich quick billionaire who wants to throw money around and then probably bail like Musk is probably going to do with Twitter. Young people are often consumed by myopic views. The last popular fanboy choice to purchase the White Sox was Mark Cuban. No thanks.

I don't mind having a stable and strong franchise albeit with a team that is mired in mediocrity. The alternative could have long lasting negative impacts on stadium upkeep and improvements, spring training facilities, scouting, advertising, and forcing more and more money out of fans for tickets and cable subscriptions. It isn't worth the crap shoot to go all in with a few mega player contracts. It just isn't.

How about a few more rhetorical questions ?

When the Sox brought Katz back I assumed that part of their intention was to also stick with Gio.

ugh

I still think Sheets has more upside than some others here do. I would like to see him platoon at 1B against RH pitchers and in RF on occasion. This kid could end up being a 30+ HR hitter. He offers the upside of big LH power that has been lacking for years on the Southside. If Vaughn is the other player in a 1B platoon, he becomes less valuable to the Sox and more likely to be traded.

Are you assuming the Sox get nothing in return for these players ?

Gio lost velocity and started hanging his high change-up at times. However, he is an extremely smart player and a guy who has dedicated himself to getting into condition, so it is likely he returns to his earlier level of excellence on the mound. Si I would tend to want Gio back, but not player is un-tradeabl for the right return. Moncada and Vaughn are players that, if traded, might be less of a blow to the offense. Burger could hold down third base until a better option is available. AV's defense at first base is limited by his height/reach and he has not been a big home run threat. Gavin Sheets is a LH hitter that can hold down first base and his hitting has improved. So, given the right return, launch Moncada to an East coast team (Yankees?) and Vaughn to a West Coast team (Dodgers?).

Blue Jays may be looking to make a trade .

Will Montgomery be ready to play SS, 2nd, or 3rd base and hit at the Major league level in 2023 ? Will Colas be ready to play the OF and hit at the major league level in 2023 ? Even if they are not brought up to be in the starting line-up, can they at least be relied on as back-ups or platoon players ? Will their respective performances at Spring Training provide enough additional information for Sox management to make those calls or do these prospects have more to prove at the Minor league level?

The consensus appears to be that the Sox should not offer Abreu a contract reasoning that Vaughn can be the Sox first basemen for several more years. The counterpoint to that is that Abreu might be a better rbi hitter and defensive first basemen during the next three years. There is no right or wrong answer to that. IMO, they should sign Abreu to a short term deal and hold on to Vaughn, using him at 1B/DH and occasionally in the OF as a platoon with a LH hittimg RFer...Colas,or a free agent like Bellinger, Benintendi, etc. Abreu has been our lead RBI guy and is just too important to the team as their leader on and off the field. Fans love the guy. He just puts his head down and plays the game the way it was meant to be played, and he shrugs off bruises and minor injuries. The Sox would not be better without him and I think there will be a lot of pressure on Vaughn to replace what PITO has done.

MK is one of my favorite White Sox, but I continue to believe that he would be better off in the long term as a high leverage Closer who lets it all hand out for an inning or two. He can make plenty of money in that role and have a longer career. That is what Hendriks did in switching to the Closer role. The Sox need more starting pitching but I just don't think MK is a long term solution. So, to be realistic about this, Kopech will be part of the starting rotation in 2023, but if he proves to be less than durable or cannot be available for a play-off run. then maybe opinions change on this, including his own.

Kopech looked like he was starting to gain some extra weight which is not good for his legs or his balance on the mound. He only had a couple of games where he looked like a TOR starter but those were offset by games where he was getting pasted in the first few innings. Kopech cannot be relied on to be part of the starting rotation all season and into the play-offs. Maybe he rehabs and comes back in better shape ready to take the ball every fifth day. I doubt that is going to happen and if that is the case, perhaps there is a better way to deploy him...as a Closer. He has the stuff to go out there for an inning with his hair on fire.

I would consider trading Liam Hendriks and try Kopech at Closer if he would go along with such a plan. Kopech might actually like that role and it would certainly add to his longevity in the game. Leg obviously has to heal after surgery before any plan to rehab is formulated.

I liked the '68 uniforms , especialy the road powder blue.

One of the most ridiculous posts I have ever read on this forum.

Eloy was not a dud.

Pito will probably be available for cheap. If so, sign Pito for 2-3 years and launch Vaughn for pitching. Try to sign Bennentendi and/or Trea Turner. Hendriks is not un-tradeable. Trade for another OFer if Colas does not look like he can play RF and handle major league pitching. Trade Lance Lynn and look for another TOR starter

Pedro kissing Eloy's ass right out of the gate. Eloy looked pretty tentative in the Facetime compared to his usual gregarious demeanor. Anything he needs? Yes. He will let Grifo know...

Vaughn and Sheets are cheap platoon 1B/DH/OF players. Keep them and see how the new Manager deploys them and how they respond next year. I think we have seen enough of them to know what to expect though.

Let's see what Colas does in Spring Training before calling for him to be a starting player on the major league team.

Ozzie has evolved with his temperament for sure and has learned a lot about the relationship between a Manager and the media from co-hosting pre/post game shows with Garfein. There he agreed with and sometimes disagreed with criticisms directed at LaRussa, realizing that some fans thrive on Monday morning quarterbacking while others are never going to be happy. No one is ever going to accuse Ozzie of not trying to motivate his players or losing control of the clubhouse, like Ventura did. He does not have the limitations that aging brings on, like Tony encountered. Oz has mended old fences, especially with KW, who he genuinely respects. Ozzie respects RH and absolutely reveres Jerry Reinsdorf for what he has done for him and his family. That is the fact no matter whether you like Ozzie or not. As far as idle threats to not attend games if Oz is Manager, why? If that is how shallow one's connection is with the WSox is, fine. Adios. Fair weather fans are often discovered to not be genuine Sox fans at all, and that raises the question - how much should their opinions count on any decisions the WSox make? Like you have veto power because you attended one game last season?

Espada is out https://sports.yahoo.com/report-astros-joe-espada-running-030110635.html Just hire Oz and get to work on making some coaching and roster changes.

Ozzie would probably be the best choice to add fan interest in a city that has a competitive market for fans sports dollars. Ozzie has long relationships with KW, Hahn, JR, and the Reinsdorf family although some have been rocky over the years. He also know many of the players on the team