20 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

That's why you will get DeLoach Fletcher Julks Veras and god knows who in CF if they are able to trade Robert and/or Benintendi.

Those are the only remaining "bigger" contracts.

I've got no problem with that. I like the idea of flipping Hays in July for a live AA arm, but at some point, we need to start slotting prospects into the lineup. Austin Hays could play out of his head, and we're still not biting our nails in September, hoping to clear 50 wins. 

To me, Fletcher, DeLoach and Colas have to earn playing time from Spring Training on. Enough gift ABs to marginal prospects. Non-tendering Sheets means there are ABs to be had, but maybe don’t nail guys to the line up the way they did with Fletcher and Vargas after the trade deadline.

6 hours ago, Ducksnort said:

Unfortunately, Zack Wheeler was in the 10%

Yeah not sure that 90% is accurate. I’m sure there are more than 10% that would rather take 4.5 mil from a quality org than take 5 mil to join a s%*# show

https://soxmachine.com/2024/11/hunting-for-mlb-free-agent-bargains-for-white-sox-on-black-friday/

56 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

https://soxmachine.com/2024/11/hunting-for-mlb-free-agent-bargains-for-white-sox-on-black-friday/

I would take as many Austin Hays-type crap shoots as I could find.  One of the plus things about being lousy is that there is plenty of room for taking chances.  

51 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I would take as many Austin Hays-type crap shoots as I could find.  One of the plus things about being lousy is that there is plenty of room for taking chances.  

Part of the problem I have with the cavalier "the Sox could obtain any player - they just need to offer enough" takes is that Benintendi is a product of that. He was probably worth a 3-year deal, and Hahn went to 5 to get him in uniform. Now we're paying for that mindset. If Benintendi wasn't here, we could sign all the Austin Hays we could conceivably meet, and just rotate them all through LF and RF. Now, we have to rotate about 6 players through RF and DH. 

I think if the Sox sign an IF and a catcher, they're done on the offensive side. There really isn't the room or time to give a 4 month showcase to another Tommy Pham. 

10 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Part of the problem I have with the cavalier "the Sox could obtain any player - they just need to offer enough" takes is that Benintendi is a product of that. He was probably worth a 3-year deal, and Hahn went to 5 to get him in uniform. Now we're paying for that mindset. If Benintendi wasn't here, we could sign all the Austin Hays we could conceivably meet, and just rotate them all through LF and RF. Now, we have to rotate about 6 players through RF and DH. 

I think if the Sox sign an IF and a catcher, they're done on the offensive side. There really isn't the room or time to give a 4 month showcase to another Tommy Pham. 

I was referring to Austin Hays at approximately 4 million.  Benintendi was 15 mil for 5 years.  If Hays bounces back either extend him or trade for future pieces.  We have little to lose and he was slowed by a kidney infection, not old age.

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-2025-mlb-free-agents-rebound-candidates?partnerId=it-20241129-11866364-mlb-1-B&utm_id=it-20241129-11866364-mlb-1-B&lctg=34656683

Even if they signed all five of these guys...well, we all know they likely won't even sign one of them.

On 11/27/2024 at 3:35 PM, 46DidIt said:

Yeah not sure that 90% is accurate. I’m sure there are more than 10% that would rather take 4.5 mil from a quality org than take 5 mil to join a s%*# show

I tend to think, if you're dealing with contracts at that dollar amount, the player is probably more concerned with where he can get consistent playing time and have an opportunity to play himself into a multi-year contract. I don't imagine he's thinking super hard about what the fans think about the owner or whatever. If you're a professional baseball player and your career is up in the air, are you going to want to play for a team that will give you 500 at bats or you would rather sit on the bench in Cleveland? what's a 'quality org' in that circumstance? would you rather be the janitor at a 'quality org' or in a position you enjoy doing at the 30th best org, if the money is the same?

59 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I was referring to Austin Hays at approximately 4 million.  Benintendi was 15 mil for 5 years.  If Hays bounces back either extend him or trade for future pieces.  We have little to lose and he was slowed by a kidney infection, not old age.

Of course. As of now, we have at-bats against lefty pitchers for a RF to spare. We really can't sign any more OFs as there really isn't the space to play them, and the rookies we need to have a look at. I mean, okay, if we sign Hays, he plays in LF, DH Benny, then you're cutting into playing time for Sosa/Baldwin/Ramos/Valdas. 

4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Of course. As of now, we have at-bats against lefty pitchers for a RF to spare. We really can't sign any more OFs as there really isn't the space to play them, and the rookies we need to have a look at. I mean, okay, if we sign Hays, he plays in LF, DH Benny, then you're cutting into playing time for Sosa/Baldwin/Ramos/Valdas. 

Based on Sox history...none of those last four players are even around in three years.

Why would we expect non top prospects to suddenly develop under Getz when one of the best prospect groups in recent years crashed and burned?

If one does miraculously become anything close to Crochet or Robert...the will to give them an extension won't be there.

33 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Of course. As of now, we have at-bats against lefty pitchers for a RF to spare. We really can't sign any more OFs as there really isn't the space to play them, and the rookies we need to have a look at. I mean, okay, if we sign Hays, he plays in LF, DH Benny, then you're cutting into playing time for Sosa/Baldwin/Ramos/Valdas. 

Hays is somewhat different.  He is a quality player with a good excuse for an off-year.  Most formerly good players who are suddenly available suffer from old age or injury.

29 minutes ago, poppysox said:

Hays is somewhat different.  He is a quality player with a good excuse for an off-year.  Most formerly good players who are suddenly available suffer from old age or injury.

Don’t get your hopes up.  Rather than wait to see potential DFA targets, Getz jumped the gun on a worse Austin already because he was his “number one target”.  The better Austin will be signing with a better team that has a wiser GM.

7 hours ago, nrockway said:

I tend to think, if you're dealing with contracts at that dollar amount, the player is probably more concerned with where he can get consistent playing time and have an opportunity to play himself into a multi-year contract. I don't imagine he's thinking super hard about what the fans think about the owner or whatever. If you're a professional baseball player and your career is up in the air, are you going to want to play for a team that will give you 500 at bats or you would rather sit on the bench in Cleveland? what's a 'quality org' in that circumstance? would you rather be the janitor at a 'quality org' or in a position you enjoy doing at the 30th best org, if the money is the same?

Sure in that case, but more than 10% of mlb players would get 500 abs for more than just the worst team in sport

12 hours ago, 46DidIt said:

Sure in that case, but more than 10% of mlb players would get 500 abs for more than just the worst team in sport

Maybe. This is likely true of any player worth signing.  I bet a guy like Hays might see an opportunity to bat against both sides instead of being part of a platoon on a good team. Not saying we should go out and sign this guy, I'd rather watch Colas, only that bad teams can be pretty good landing spots for mediocre players. In terms of signable mediocre players, I wouldn't mind Dylan Carlson or Tauchmann, two guys who can sort of still play center field.

I imagine the Tigers are trying pretty hard to convince Hays to come be a rh platoon with Kerry carpenter right now. Open question if he wants to accept being a platooner in his next role.