Soha

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 5, 2017 -> 08:28 PM) Just so someone says this - we really ought to learn our lesson about projecting guys to be future HOFs because of one breakout season in their mid-20s. If Garcia did the same thing the next 7 years that he did in 2017, he's still probably pretty far from the HOF. In 2017 he was a borderline all star and being a borderline all star for 10 years doesn't put you in the HOF. If a player hit .330 for 8 straight years, they would be a HOFer. But Avi won't do that, and I think the post you're replying to was a troll anyway.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 2, 2017 -> 12:21 PM) The Sox are also going to be operating at a huge margin next year, with no international spending to speak of, and a cap of about $10 million in the draft. It isn't that crazy to think of next year, especially as the majority of the Robert money will be accounted for. My thought all along was the Robert money was going to come from the 2018 payroll. They knew back then the payroll would be tiny and that's probably where they took the money from. But even beyond that. You don't throw $40 million away for garbage contracts just because you have it.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 2, 2017 -> 11:21 AM) If that happens to be the case, the deal should probably expand to add another prospect or two and then another over-priced pitcher like McCarthy or Kazmir. With the Sox payroll being so low, it's a possibility for sure. That would be taking on about $40 mill but for only one season if it is Kazmir and about $34 mill for one season if you took on McCarthy. The Sox would have to get some pretty good prospects for that, whether it be low minors or not. White Sox off-season outlook on MLBTR has their payroll at $45 mill after arbitration raises as of now. Are you listening to what you're saying? That the Sox might pay $40 mil for a few good prospects? Are we losing sight of how much money $40 million dollars really is? Jerry will never do that. Nor should he. Maybe if one of the prospects is a Moncada/Jimenez type prospect, but we know that ain't happening. And even if one was, JR still wouldn't do it since he just paid similar dollars for Luis Robert.

That contract just scares me. If he turns in to the next Albert Pujols (as he's been in Anaheim), then the Sox franchise would be boned for the next 8-10 years.

Terribly sad. Rest in peace

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Oct 7, 2017 -> 03:43 PM) I'm sure every team would like to offer more than they're allotment but MLB has stated they will be following this very closely. The most recent example of how closely MLB is following things is the Braves and Maitan. If Otani believes in his abilities ( surely he does ) then taking the 300K to sign won't be a big deal for him. He'll make league minimum (500K+) for the first three years and then he'll begin his arbitration years which he will make much much more than he currently does ( 2M ) in the NPB. Why should the pay cut matter to player that makes 2M per year and lives on less than 1K per month? Again, money is not his motivation. His love of baseball and getting into the MLB is. That's why I feel things like location, the cities culture, a team's past/present with Japanese players and the state of the team ( contender/rebuild) could be the factors that helps him decide where he chooses to sign. I think he ends up with a west coast team, we'll see what happens. Well you said one thing I agree with at least. He probably will lean towards a west coast team. It's not going to be the White Sox though. There's zero reasons for him to sign here.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Oct 7, 2017 -> 03:21 AM) He's giving up nearly $200 million to get here 2 years earlier. Comparatively, the difference between $300K and $8 million is nothing. Comparatively maybe. But in real life, the difference between 300k and $8 mil is being rich or not being rich. It's not happening.

My point was defending his inclusion in the trade, not writing him off. Hopefully he bounces back next year.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 6, 2017 -> 07:16 AM) I'm trying to figure out how the Eaton deal, which came right after the Sale deal, makes it wise for Sox to accept Basabe and Diaz, two guys who will likely never be close to quality MLBers, as the final two parts of a 4 player haul for Sale. Basabe was a lottery ticket that some scouts loved. Unfortunately for us, he went the wrong way once he came here. You win some and you lose some.

The Marlins aren't going to eat much salary unless a team gives them a massive prospect haul back. It's probably going to be one or the other. Maybe you can get him for Adolfo and Dunning if no money is eaten? I don't know. But if you suddenly think they're going to eat $50 mil...they're going to want Eloy, Kopech or Hansen for sure. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

$295 mil is owed and guaranteed on that contract still. I would pass. That's just too much to risk.

I'll give it a 9. I like just about everything. Eloy, Kopech, Robert, Hansen...wow. The only thing holding me back from a 10 so far is the 2017 MLB draft picks. Just not a fan of Jake Burger or some of the other guys that followed him. Perhaps unfair expectations were there after the big class from 2016.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 1, 2017 -> 10:45 AM) There is plenty of reason for them to "tank" next year, but not to this extent. A top 10 pick gives them protection for the following offseason, and that offseason is going to be a hell of a lot more important for them in the long run than this offseason. They will not be investing in much of anything as far as free agents go this year, but I could absolutely see the purse strings open up quite a bit following 2018. They are looking at maybe $40 million in commitments beyond the 2018 season, and that's if they keep everyone they currently have. They could easily trade Shields ($2 million buyout), Jones ($4.65 mill option, $1.25 mill buyout), and maybe Abreu (~$13 million) and Avisail (~$7 mill), while Rodon may not get the number I figured for him ($6 mill). Their payroll was like $150 million just a few years ago (B-R shows $170 million, but I don't recall the kickbacks from other teams, and that number seems high). They'll have money to spend. I thought they did away with giving up your 1st round pick for signing free agents? Did I hear this wrong? And if I'm the Sox, the teardown mode should be over. Whether they wait a year to start building it back up from outside sources (like free agency) is another question.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Oct 1, 2017 -> 08:10 AM) So Reds own tiebreaker. Looks like 5th pick Yeah the Sox are picking 5th, unless both the Cubs and Sox lose today.

QUOTE (Scoots @ Sep 30, 2017 -> 09:39 PM) So if both Sox and CIN win tomorrow, who gets the better pick and why. I watched the Cubs/Reds game today. The Reds are a team that has mailed it in. Their RF apparently can't afford working sunglasses. Their catcher can't block or catch pitches. It was a 'bad news bears' type display. They're not going to beat the Cubs tomorrow. The Sox will be picking 5th.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Sep 30, 2017 -> 09:28 PM) Hooray meaningless wins. Well Carson Fulmer did impress again. If he carries this in to next year, then ok. But I'm guessing after playing a big part in ruining our draft pick, he will resume getting shellacked more often than not next year.

Sox win again. The Sox are down to 5th now. Eliminated from 3rd. 4th is very unlikely. Oh well...

Fulmer out-dueling Kluber through 4...go figure.

Looks like the Sox are going to need to lose these last 2 to hold on to the #4 pick. The Reds look like they have mailed it in.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Sep 28, 2017 -> 07:36 AM) Dammit. And this was a year where they were going for it. Reminds me of our 13 Sox how we ended up with a third pick. It will be alright man. I mean, yeah the Tigers will pick #1 or 2. But...they got little else in their system. Their future is still bleak. We're going to add the #4 or #5 pick in the draft to a system that already has Moncada, Giolito, Kopech, Jimenez, Robert, Collins, Hansen....our future is flipping loaded. And remember, the top of this draft is supposed to be deep. As in #5 hopefully will get a better player than it would most other years. We'll be fine.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 28, 2017 -> 07:27 AM) They clinched top 5 last night. That's good news. At this point, just hold on to the #4 pick please. Sucks that it looks like the Tigers are going to get #1.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Sep 26, 2017 -> 03:38 AM) Just realized that over the past 10 games we've matched the Giants and Phillies - all teams played .500 ball. Oh what could have been. You can go a lot farther back than that. I believe since August 8th the Sox are only 1 game under .500. There's a lot of bad teams in the AL and the Sox schedule had them packed in to the last 5-6 weeks for the most part.

QUOTE (GermanSock @ Sep 25, 2017 -> 12:06 AM) 4th pick would be a disappointment after that tear down. After the top3 there usually is quite a drop off in quality plus you lose a million of pool money. Don't get me wrong 4th pick isn't bad but it probably means you are looking for a 4th starter or average regular hitter rather than a star. That probably means turang and singer are off the board and those are probably the two guys that stand out. My only regret really, is why did they release Holland? That might end up costing us a slot or two in the draft. I just don't see the reason for it. Otherwise, many of these unexpected wins come from the pleasant surprises of our young guns - so it's hard to be unhappy about it. We want to see the progress from guys like Giolito, Moncada, Delmonico, Lopez, etc. Also keep in mind - aren't they saying this draft is a little deeper at the very top than normal? Possibly 5 deep. Of course, if the Sox keep this up they could even slide down to #6 still.

If the Reds picked up 3 games on the Sox in the last 5 games - then how is picking up 2 more in the last 6 'remote'? Especially with them ina tailspin and the Sox playing well. I mean, yeah the Sox are likely to hold that 4th slot. But it's far from certain or remote.

I predicted they would pick 4th about a month ago. I cited the cupcake schedule the Sox had left and that's proven to be true. But it doesn't bother me as much as I expected it might. Much of the team's success has come because of the growth of our young core guys - Moncada, Giolito, Lopez, Anderson, etc. These are all good things for the rebuild. Yeah we'll get a slightly lesser player in the draft - oh well, life goes on. The rebuild is looking flippin' fantastic right now.