contenders if we signed both Alonso and Santander today?   I’m not sure we wouldn’t be at least a 500 team if both players had solid seasons.

4 minutes ago, Johno said:

contenders if we signed both Alonso and Santander today?   I’m not sure we wouldn’t be at least a 500 team if both players had solid seasons.

Nope. But would look more interesting.

28 minutes ago, Johno said:

contenders if we signed both Alonso and Santander today?   I’m not sure we wouldn’t be at least a 500 team if both players had solid seasons.

No. I think that if the entire team goes nuts, Robert rebounds, Vaughn and Benny hit, guys develop and play like vets, you have a 63-65 win team. If you add Alonso and Santander to that, Maybe you get near 70 wins. 

Last time we spent we got Benin10D. these two would be Benin11D and Benin12D

These two don’t even make this team a contender for a .500 season.

They need to improve 45+ games to even be in the Wild Card hunt.

If this were the Machado/Harper offseason, I don't think signing those two makes this team a contender in one offseason. There's just too much broken.

24 minutes ago, Quin said:

They need to improve 45+ games to even be in the Wild Card hunt.

If this were the Machado/Harper offseason, I don't think signing those two makes this team a contender in one offseason. There's just too much broken.

Just need to acquire 4 1/2 Bobby Witts and we’re there

Edited January 5, 20251 yr by Chicago White Sox

It would be a tremendous thing  from a PR standpoint. Problem is this ownership is content with a losing team and a low payroll. I read yesterday that there are only 3 players on the team making more than $2 million a year. I have no doubt ownership is going to keep  having  losing teams with low payrolls as long as possible.  The franchise  looks like it is in its darkest period in their modern history. This looks like a very hopeless situation.

36 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

It would be a tremendous thing  from a PR standpoint. Problem is this ownership is content with a losing team and a low payroll. I read yesterday that there are only 3 players on the team making more than $2 million a year. I have no doubt ownership is going to keep  having  losing teams with low payrolls as long as possible.  The franchise  looks like it is in its darkest period in their modern history. This looks like a very hopeless situation.

Yeah, the single worst season in all of modern major league history will tend to do that….

You can't buy players at peak FA value nearing 30 and believe that's a sustainable team building strategy...those are supposed to finishing pieces when/if your young  offensive core hits its competitive window.

Right now, there's zero certainty about any positions really other than catcher.  You need to get at least 4-5 positions nailed down first.

Sasaki is the one and only player any and every team in baseball should be pursuing.

1 hour ago, WBWSF said:

It would be a tremendous thing  from a PR standpoint. Problem is this ownership is content with a losing team and a low payroll. I read yesterday that there are only 3 players on the team making more than $2 million a year. I have no doubt ownership is going to keep  having  losing teams with low payrolls as long as possible.  The franchise  looks like it is in its darkest period in their modern history. This looks like a very hopeless situation.

Who in Chicago would be this excited over Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander? For this to be “tremendous PR”?

5 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

Who in Chicago would be this excited over Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander? For this to be “tremendous PR”?

The same ones who were excited by Benintendi and Grandal...so not that many.

5 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

The same ones who were excited by Benintendi and Grandal...so not that many.

If they signed either of these guys I’d be laughing about how Reinsdorf won’t spend money on anything but relievers and DHs still.

if they signed both? There’s only 1 DH spot?

4 hours ago, Johno said:

contenders if we signed both Alonso and Santander today?   I’m not sure we wouldn’t be at least a 500 team if both players had solid seasons.

Not even close.  We could have brought in Soto, Burnes and Alonso, and still be fighting to get to .500.

4 hours ago, Johno said:

contenders if we signed both Alonso and Santander today?   I’m not sure we wouldn’t be at least a 500 team if both players had solid seasons.

It would depend on the progress of the pitching.  Right now, it looks like a staff of 4s and 5s; if some progress to 2s and 3s, just a couple of hitters would make a huge difference.  We'd also need similar progress in the pen.

While the idea is rabbit's-foot stuff, the one kernel of possibility is that several of these wildcardish teams have pretty lousy lineups outside of 3 or so guys.  That would put us on par.

46 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

It would depend on the progress of the pitching.  Right now, it looks like a staff of 4s and 5s; if some progress to 2s and 3s, just a couple of hitters would make a huge difference.  We'd also need similar progress in the pen.

While the idea is rabbit's-foot stuff, the one kernel of possibility is that several of these wildcardish teams have pretty lousy lineups outside of 3 or so guys.  That would put us on par.

Sure but those teams play better defense, steal bases, can execute fundamentally and have solid bullpens.

That still requires the equivalent of a Bobby Witt or Jose Ramirez star level player to carry the team as well.

Look at the numbers that Lugo Wacha Ragans and Singer put up in 2024 and explain who on the Sox rotation outside of Schultz/Smith in the future could put up numbers like KC did last  year.

Edited January 6, 20251 yr by caulfield12

 

17 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

But he can't make the Todd Frazier-line.  That would be 40 homers with an OPS below .770.  As I recall, Frazier was reputed to be a "transformational" hitter.

This is why he  won't get a huge contract.  Sox could use a player with pop and I don't see one on the horizon and the price won't be high.   You just can't drool over him and pay top price like Hahn did for Frazier.  And if the price was high, then just don't sign him.

Edited January 6, 20251 yr by GreenSox

36 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

But he can't make the Todd Frazier-line.  That would be 40 homers with an OPS below .770.  As I recall, Frazier was reputed to be a "transformational" hitter.

This is why he  won't get a huge contract.  Sox could use a player with pop and I don't see one on the horizon and the price won't be high.   You just can't drool over him and pay top price like Hahn did for Frazier.  And if the price was high, then just don't sign him.

What counts as a high price to you?

54 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

What counts as a high price to you?

Frazier had two ASG appearances and then that HR Derby title in 2015...he was arguably a higher profile addition than the much quieter Santander would be from a marketing standpoint.

 

"My butt goes out. I swing with one hand sometimes. It's kind of like Vlad Guerrero kind of swings, though he's definitely a lot better than me right now. It doesn't matter how you look or how pretty you are, it's just a matter of getting the job done. That's always been my motto." - Frazier, Todd. USA Today. Lemire, Joe. Staff Writer. Frazier Bred to be All-Star Ambassador. 6 July 2015. Section C-1.

Edited January 6, 20251 yr by caulfield12

1 hour ago, Balta1701 said:

What counts as a high price to you?

I'm always way low on contracts.  Maybe a Schwarber level is reasonable - $20 m/y for 2 or 3 years; he's not as good as Schwarber, but inflation.  It's hard to go much lower with Conforto getting $17.

Now the Sox won't win with him or anything; and signing him crowds out the opportunity of looking at more prospects (although they already did that with these on-the-cheap signings).  And it would be better to invest in more well-rounded players .
But no one on this team can hit (except Robert, hopefully).  And I believe that it makes it harder for the young players to grow if the team is way overmatched night after night.

7 hours ago, WestEddy said:

No. I think that if the entire team goes nuts, Robert rebounds, Vaughn and Benny hit, guys develop and play like vets, you have a 63-65 win team. If you add Alonso and Santander to that, Maybe you get near 70 wins. 

If Robert rebounds, Vaughn and Benny hit, they’re all gone by the TDL. Which would be incredible for the Sox. 

24 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

I'm always way low on contracts.  Maybe a Schwarber level is reasonable - $20 m/y for 2 or 3 years; he's not as good as Schwarber, but inflation.  It's hard to go much lower with Conforto getting $17.

Now the Sox won't win with him or anything; and signing him crowds out the opportunity of looking at more prospects (although they already did that with these on-the-cheap signings).  And it would be better to invest in more well-rounded players .
But no one on this team can hit (except Robert, hopefully).  And I believe that it makes it harder for the young players to grow if the team is way overmatched night after night.

I don't know if accurate but this was described as "far apart". 

 

1 hour ago, Balta1701 said:

I don't know if accurate but this was described as "far apart". 

 

I think he’s shooting for 5/$100M

Edited January 6, 20251 yr by Chicago White Sox

7 hours ago, WBWSF said:

It would be a tremendous thing  from a PR standpoint. Problem is this ownership is content with a losing team and a low payroll. I read yesterday that there are only 3 players on the team making more than $2 million a year. I have no doubt ownership is going to keep  having  losing teams with low payrolls as long as possible.  The franchise  looks like it is in its darkest period in their modern history. This looks like a very hopeless situation.

It IS hopeless...right now.

New ownership changes the situation...it can't be any worse.