https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-2026-mlb-free-agent-class-preview

Some always complain the tone is too negative around here.

So let's come up with our positive/theoretical spending plans...keep the total commitments between $500-$750 million just to have a somewhat realistic framework.

Can extend young players (Schultz, Smith, Colson) but more likely to invest that money in MLB and/or NPB free agents like Murakami at 3B or pitching help...especially the bullpen.

Edited February 27, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/top-10-mlb-free-agents-for-2025-26-offseason-vladimir-guerrero-jr-leads-list-plus-contract-predictions/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjjzfDR0uOLAxU6IUQIHZiGFoUQFnoECAEQAg&usg=AOvVaw1WtW4UPsgXYrjNsqH304Jr

You can use these salary predictions...

Guerrero Jr., Tucker, Cease, Gallen, Framber Valdez, Walker Buehler, Michael King, Bo Bichette, JT Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Luis Arraez...

Edited February 27, 20251 yr by caulfield12

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-2026-mlb-free-agent-class-preview

Some always complain the tone is too negative around here.

So let's come up with our positive/theoretical spending plans...keep the total commitments between $500-$750 million just to have a somewhat realistic framework.

Can extend young players (Schultz, Smith, Colson) but more likely to invest that money in MLB and/or NPB free agents like Murakami at 3B or pitching help...especially the bullpen.

One issue is will 'big name' FAs want to join the White Sox 'project', recently there has been a suggestion that the White Sox are so dysfunctional that 'big name' FAs would not sign. Even if the Jerry regime is cleared out by 2025/26 it maybe be too soon for players to risk signing on long contracts not knowing if things have improved yet. 

Obviously a lot will depend on who the GM and manager are. I find it most unlikely that the Ishbia brothers would give hundreds of millions to Getz to spend. Venable may be the man to stay as manager, a lot will depend on how he manages this season, not so much results but how the team and younger players develop.

I'll play.

Tucker pried away from the Cubs...shot across their bow and also because he's a true multi-dimensional player with Guerrero Jr. having so much value coming from the hit tool.

Buehler (bounce back to Cy Young for) OR King (less overall mileage on his arm, comparatively). Wouldn't trust Cease to stay healthy for another five years.

Professional hitter like a Schwarber or Arraez.

3 big additions.

 

Then I monitor Luis Robert (could even reverse directions and extend), NPB players and transform Grant Taylor into a dynamic multi-inning closer.

Edited February 27, 20251 yr by caulfield12

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-2026-mlb-free-agent-class-preview

Some always complain the tone is too negative around here.

So let's come up with our positive/theoretical spending plans...keep the total commitments between $500-$750 million just to have a somewhat realistic framework.

Can extend young players (Schultz, Smith, Colson) but more likely to invest that money in MLB and/or NPB free agents like Murakami at 3B or pitching help...especially the bullpen.

It’s pretty hard to be positive with the White Sox on their way to a third 100+ loss season in a row.

At least the possibility of new ownership is a positive but I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

Imagine thinking of buying a team and browsing their fan pages and seeing a post about spending your money 😂

If he has control next offseason, Kyle Tucker. I don’t think he gets full control this calendar year though. I’d guess next year by end of 2026 at earliest.

Tucker + Guerrero for me.  I get the risks with the latter long term, but I’m swinging for the fences if I’m Ishbia.

7 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Tucker + Guerrero for me.  I get the risks with the latter long term, but I’m swinging for the fences if I’m Ishbia.

And if "diminished skills" is a thing, why not throw in a clause that starts deferring money if production slips under a certain level for a prolonged period? 

2 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Imagine thinking of buying a team and browsing their fan pages and seeing a post about spending your money 😂

I am in it for the lists of names.

Tucker, Vlad Jr., Cease, Arraez, and Devin Williams.

I want $1 billion in spending.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Tucker + Guerrero for me.  I get the risks with the latter long term, but I’m swinging for the fences if I’m Ishbia.

That's certainly the headline-gathering way to get more disenchanted Sox fans back on board and also a wake up call to Ricketts that he can no longer take the White Sox being irrelevant for granted.

LAD would definitely be more interested in Tucker or Murakami...

They probably want to hold 1B and DH for Freeman/Ohtani.

24 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Tucker, Vlad Jr., Cease, Arraez, and Devin Williams.

I want $1 billion in spending.

Last time they won the offseason wate the consecutive Cabrera Robertson LaRoche signings.

Didn't go so well.

Or was it Grandal Keuchel and Lynn? Were Hendriks/Kimbrel (ddl) that offseason or the next?  Don't want to think about it too much lol.

8 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Last time they won the offseason wate the consecutive Cabrera Robertson LaRoche signings.

Didn't go so well.

Or was it Grandal Keuchel and Lynn? Were Hendriks/Kimbrel (ddl) that offseason or the next?  Don't want to think about it too much lol.

David Robertson and the Melk-man did okay. Melky just gave all his production back on the field. LaRoche was the move where Kenny Williams should have just suited up himself and saved some money. Concerning the Melky Cabrera trade, AJ Pucket just pitched for Hermosillo in the Mexican winter league. Did reasonably well in 40 IP, too. 

17 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Last time they won the offseason wate the consecutive Cabrera Robertson LaRoche signings.

Didn't go so well.

Or was it Grandal Keuchel and Lynn? Were Hendriks/Kimbrel (ddl) that offseason or the next?  Don't want to think about it too much lol.

I had no problem with any of those signings at the time. The problem was that all those guys should have been complementary signings to a star like Harper or Machado. 

5 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I had no problem with any of those signings at the time. The problem was that all those guys should have been complementary signings to a star like Harper or Machado. 

Right.

And they got desperate to take any first tier pitcher when Wheeler evaporated.

Keuchel was the very last guy left remaining at that level...at the time.

2 hours ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Tucker, Vlad Jr., Cease, Arraez, and Devin Williams.

I want $1 billion in spending.

I know we’re just playing around, but Arraez would be a bad fit in our park.

35 minutes ago, fathom said:

I know we’re just playing around, but Arraez would be a bad fit in our park.

I dunno man his stats say he is just fine 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/tools/split_stats.cgi?full=1&params=site|CHI12|arraelu01|bat|AB|

Brandon Gomes

5 minutes ago, Quin said:

Brandon Gomes

I guess a sub topic would be front office personnel to replace Getz lol.

I know this thread is all theoretical/for fun, but I wonder if the impending labor fight before the 2027 season will impact long term deals (more than say 3 years) being struck next off-season. I know players don't get paid their base salary during a lockout, but still.

22 minutes ago, Ducksnort said:

I know this thread is all theoretical/for fun, but I wonder if the impending labor fight before the 2027 season will impact long term deals (more than say 3 years) being struck next off-season. I know players don't get paid their base salary during a lockout, but still.

Cubs supposedly want nothing to do with long-term deals going past the deadline.

8 minutes ago, fathom said:

Cubs supposedly want nothing to do with long-term deals going past the deadline.

The Cubs are a terrible example of spending right now.

2 hours ago, fathom said:

I know we’re just playing around, but Arraez would be a bad fit in our park.

Yeah I’m just playing around. A guy like Marcell Ozuna feels like a Sox signing. And then he’ll promptly fall off a cliff statistically as soon as he puts on a Sox uniform.

8 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Yeah I’m just playing around. A guy like Marcell Ozuna feels like a Sox signing. And then he’ll promptly fall off a cliff statistically as soon as he puts on a Sox uniform.

You know, I'd hope they wouldn't sign him, but we've now signed Clevinger thrice.