37 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

And for the record, I could see some rationalize for Kim if you’re certain that Montgomery can’t handle SS and that you are getting Kim at a big discount.  And there are other free agents I would sign.  I mentioned in a different thread, I’d happily sign Hoffman to a three year deal and try him as a SP because if he clicks you have an asset with significant value and if not he’s still tradable as a reliever.  And there other rentals I’d look at, especially relievers and possibly a 1B type had we not brought Vaughn back.  But full stop, I’m not giving up draft picks coming off a 41 win season…that would be legit negligence on the front office’s behalf.

That was my idea all along.

That Kim was going to be there as a veteran presence to stabilize the infield...and maybe some of the fundamentals of how to play the game as taught in Japan and Korea would rub off?   That there would be upside in his contract if he performed anywhere close to his 4-6 fWAR capabilities...assuming he was going for a 1-2 year deal with his shoulder in the state it was and status uncertain coming into 2025 for a contender to rely upon.   Heck, we can throw out Amaya or Baldwin or anyone for 2-3 months and it wouldn't matter in the least.  I would target a 2026 trade deadline move with him, probably...obviously depending upon the contract signed, no trade clauses, options, etc.

It was strictly based on the idea that Montgomery ideally ends up at 3B (and worst case, 1B) and can concentrate 100% on his offensive game, instead of worrying about his defensive flaws that would be exposed on a daily basis at the major league level for all scouts and Keith Law's to dissect.

Hoffman's a fine idea as well, depending on the price.  God knows we need arms across the rotation and pen.

21 minutes ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

Thats certainly one way of telling me you have no better way of measuring the fanbase or popularity of the franchise

well, here’s another way of measuring it. It’s an oldie but a goodie. Couldn’t find anything on 2024 numbers but have to imagine they were even worse.

https://www.soxon35th.com/white-sox-see-largest-television-ratings-drop-in-mlb/

Dude, when Loyola has a deep tournament run, or Northwestern goes to a bowl game, suddenly, everybody's walking around my neighborhood wearing Loyola or NW swag. Yes, people get excited by a winner. Then they decide to become further invested, or not. If the team has sustained success, then, yeah, people consider themselves Rambler fans, or US women's basketball or whatever fans. When something becomes popular, people follow it. 

Conversely, when a team starts losing, people stop going; stop watching. That's really not some profound discovery. I really don't understand the manufactured panic of "OMG!! nobody will be Sox fans!!" If they win, they'll come out of the woodwork. 

11 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

That was my idea all along.

That Kim was going to be there as a veteran presence to stabilize the infield...and maybe some of the fundamentals of how to play the game as taught in Japan and Korea would rub off?   That there would be upside in his contract if he performed anywhere close to his 4-6 fWAR capabilities...assuming he was going for a 1-2 year deal with his shoulder in the state it was and status uncertain coming into 2025 for a contender to rely upon.   Heck, we can throw out Amaya or Baldwin or anyone for 2-3 months and it wouldn't matter in the least.  I would target a 2026 trade deadline move with him, probably...obviously depending upon the contract signed, no trade clauses, options, etc.

It was strictly based on the idea that Montgomery ideally ends up at 3B (and worst case, 1B) and can concentrate 100% on his offensive game, instead of worrying about his defensive flaws that would be exposed on a daily basis at the major league level for all scouts and Keith Law's to dissect.

Hoffman's a fine idea as well, depending on the price.  God knows we need arms across the rotation and pen.

That all makes sense.  The challenge with Kim is he’s going to want some long-term security but also the ability to opt-out.  My guess is a signing like that just be a value for a team like us, but there is certainly some theoretical math that could possibly work for us if the market is really worried about his shoulder.

The other issue is I think 3B / 2B is one of the deeper positions we have in our system.  Sosa, Baldwin, Meidroth, Vargas, & Ramos are all more or less ready.  Then you have another wave in Gonzalez & Bergolla at AA plus a variety of semi interesting guys in the low minors in Perez, Albertus, & Antonacci.  And that’s just the guys likely to be in full season ball and excludes some of the younger SS prospects who could eventually shift over.  Forcing Montgomery over to 3B or 2B for that matter blocks opportunity for a lot of these guys.

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

That all makes sense.  The challenge with Kim is he’s going to want some long-term security but also the ability to opt-out.  My guess is a signing like that just be a value for a team like us, but there is certainly some theoretical math that could possibly work for us if the market is really worried about his shoulder.

The other issue is I think 3B / 2B is one of the deeper positions we have in our system.  Sosa, Baldwin, Meidroth, Vargas, & Ramos are all more or less ready.  Then you have another wave in Gonzalez & Bergolla at AA plus a variety of semi interesting guys in the low minors in Perez, Albertus, & Antonacci.  And that’s just the guys likely to be in full season ball and excludes some of the younger SS prospects who could eventually shift over.  Forcing Montgomery over to 3B or 2B for that matter blocks opportunity for a lot of these guys.

Well...what's the old adage?? Make a player first prove he doesn't have what it takes at SS before you move him off the position to 2B or CF.  Force the player to remove himself from shortstop consideration by proving that he's not up to the task...otherwise, his peak value as a minor leaguer will always be higher just with that idea he COULD potentially be an MLB SS long-term.

Heck, we once considered Michael Morse a legit SS candidate and Montgomery has to be more smooth/fluid/dynamic than that, right?

Montgomery sticking at SS solves all kinds of problems.

Unfortunately we can't hire Ron Washington to coach Colson up.

Edited January 7, 20251 yr by caulfield12