Just now, fathom said:

And the award for most dramatic response goes to....

Don't give that award away too early...I'm sure we will get better than that...give it time.

3 minutes ago, wegner said:

Time for me to pivot to "I never wanted Wheeler anyways"

Yeah...what a relief.  Lots of better fish in the sea.?

Good ol' Reinsdorf... never fails.

I woke up today thinking there was a pretty good chance the Sox sign both Wheeler and Hamels.  LOL.

Just now, fathom said:

Confirmed by?

Like every single baseball reporter over the last 48 hours.  

13 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Wheeler signs with Phillies. On to the next one.

Dallas Keuchel!!!!  Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

I just think by your comments on how upset you will be if we lose out on Wheeler you're going to blame the Abreu contract and being inflexible on Bumgarner and Ryu is just setting yourself for a huge disappointment if the Sox don't convert on Wheeler. This just doesn't apply to you. I suspect a lot of people here are going to consider the off season a failure if we don't get Wheeler no matter what happens the rest of the off season unless we somehow switch to Cole or Strasburg as targets when the next logical targets will be Bumgarner and Ryu.

Not me. Wheeler would be a fine addition, but no need to get in a bidding war over a guy like him. There are other fish in the sea. I actually think we are getting too aggressive a year early. I mean look at the Cubs and Heyward - most people were ecstatic with the signing on the North side, but fast forward a few years & the Cubs were cash strapped in 2019. That money could have been used to shore up a few other positions and been very beneficial. While I'm not against signing a Wheeler I do think we should be patient for another year and figure out what we have in house and the deficiencies that may arise (or be filled) internally. I'd like to see if Moncada, Giolito and Anderson can repeat their successes. I'd like to see if Kopech can come back and be effective and throw strikes. I'd like to see if Cease can round his game out. I'd like to know how Vaughn, Madrigal, Robert and various other prospects can handle MLB level. If Eloy can truly become a star. Is Collins just a backup DH/C or is there something there? There are just so many questions and so many outcomes that I think plugging holes with expensive multi year free agents at this time is pressing the gas pedal too quickly. it's one thing if you're the yankees or bosox or dodgers, but we're not. We don't have a whole ton of room for error under JR's budget. My opinion is that I'd rather let some of this shake out in 2019 and just add veterans on 1-2 year contracts right now that help us be competitive and fun. There's a <1% chance of us winning a World Series this year ... it's murderer's row getting through the Yankees and Astros and Dodgers and all the other tier 1 teams & I just don't see Kopech/Cease and other younger arms holding up through any playoff run. So definitely strike on guys like Grandal and Wheeler if you are SURE those are holes you'll have and NEED. But you have to balance that with the fact that you may need that money in 2-4 years when you have a real glaring hole & a better shot at the World Series after you know your young rosters true talent a bit more. I just am worried that we'll be like the Cubs where there are clear issues in 2023 and JR sits on the sidelines due to $$ constraints. 

Just now, fathom said:

And the award for most dramatic response goes to....

It's not dramatic. They've proven time and time again they're too cheap to do business with FA. They have 4 prospects and a bunch of nothing in the minors. I'm convinced they have no interest in winning World Series. Jerry is channeling his inner Dollar Bill......

14 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Embarrassing if this is between 100-110. Laughable really.

100% agree with this.

3 minutes ago, SonofaRoache said:

So what pitcher will we sign now? Madbum is said to be getting 100m. This is a disaster. 

Tier D and F pitchers, or a trade. 

Man... I honestly said if we didn't get one of the top 3 SP (knowing the top 2 weren't happening) that this offseason would probably be a failure... And I don't see anyway around that still... I can't be happy with a Keuchel led SP offseason lol

I respect the Phils for spending but i found this tweet funny

 

 

1 minute ago, steveno89 said:

This is not the end of the world, so long as the Sox have strong contingency plans. Our whole offseason does not revolve around Wheeer, but they had better pivot to other quality options quickly.

LMFAO.  White Sox and strong contingency plans are not in the same sentence.  The money will be spent.  It's just that will spread out over a 5 year period.  This year we are already broke.  LOL

I'm guessing it comes out that we had a similar offer and Wheeler just preferred the Phillies. Sucks, man.

 

Just now, ChiSox59 said:

Like every single baseball reporter over the last 48 hours.  

We offered 5 and 100, the Phillies came and offered 5 and 115. Once again, we are in second place just like Jerry likes it. 

Sigh.

God I don't want Bumgarner nor Keuchel. Thanks a lot Jerry.

If they're willing to approach a 25M AAV for Wheeler, there is absolutely zero reason not to be willing to go 32+ for Strasburg and into the mid 30s for Cole.

Scott Merkin‏Verified account @scottmerkin

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Scott Merkin Retweeted Marc Carig

White Sox were in strong pursuit. Wheeler stays in the NL East.

Scott Merkin added,

Marc CarigVerified account @MarcCarig

The Phillies have reached an agreement with Zack Wheeler, sources tell @TheAthletic. The ex-Met stays in the NL East, and close to New Jersey, where Wheeler’s wife is from.

11:37 AM - 4 Dec 2019

 

Shut up Scott

Somewhere KW is wearing sunglasses to hide the shock players actually pick more money, and don't find a team where the Chicago Tribune didn't even have a beat writer covering most of the time, THE destination.

You saved $6mill with releasing Yolmer, and you couldn't come up with $4M more per year!?!

1 minute ago, BrianAnderson said:

Not me. Wheeler would be a fine addition, but no need to get in a bidding war over a guy like him. There are other fish in the sea. I actually think we are getting too aggressive a year early. I mean look at the Cubs and Heyward - most people were ecstatic with the signing on the North side, but fast forward a few years & the Cubs were cash strapped in 2019. That money could have been used to shore up a few other positions and been very beneficial. While I'm not against signing a Wheeler I do think we should be patient for another year and figure out what we have in house and the deficiencies that may arise (or be filled) internally. I'd like to see if Moncada, Giolito and Anderson can repeat their successes. I'd like to see if Kopech can come back and be effective and throw strikes. I'd like to see if Cease can round his game out. I'd like to know how Vaughn, Madrigal, Robert and various other prospects can handle MLB level. If Eloy can truly become a star. Is Collins just a backup DH/C or is there something there? There are just so many questions and so many outcomes that I think plugging holes with expensive multi year free agents at this time is pressing the gas pedal too quickly. it's one thing if you're the yankees or bosox or dodgers, but we're not. We don't have a whole ton of room for error under JR's budget. My opinion is that I'd rather let some of this shake out in 2019 and just add veterans on 1-2 year contracts right now that help us be competitive and fun. There's a <1% chance of us winning a World Series this year ... it's murderer's row getting through the Yankees and Astros and Dodgers and all the other tier 1 teams & I just don't see Kopech/Cease and other younger arms holding up through any playoff run. So definitely strike on guys like Grandal and Wheeler if you are SURE those are holes you'll have and NEED. But you have to balance that with the fact that you may need that money in 2-4 years when you have a real glaring hole & a better shot at the World Series after you know your young rosters true talent a bit more. I just am worried that we'll be like the Cubs where there are clear issues in 2023 and JR sits on the sidelines due to $$ constraints. 

That's going to happen no matter whether they dumpster dive or not. 

David Sampson's comments look fairly accurate at this point. 

Its going to be great when they trade Vaughn, Collins and Dunning for a cost controlled pitcher. 

11 minutes ago, mqr said:

Really don’t think it’s the end of the world. 

What’s the alternative exactly?