3 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Lighting money on fire. They should have paid Cease $30M a year. 

More hyperbole.  I don’t believe anyone said or expected the Sox to sign Cease.  Certainly not me, but you appear to be referring to my recent comments on some of Getz’s free agent acquisitions.

Even though Manoah is likely to be bad because he hasn’t been the same guy since his TJ surgery, $1.95 million for a potential starting pitcher is less than half of what Getz gave to a player everyone knew was a terrible 2B in Nicky Lopez at $4.3 million two years ago.  Also, it is almost a third of the money Getz gave to a mediocre reliever in John Brebbia at $5.5 million, which was just as bad of a signing for a rebuilding team.  Yes, Getz essentially lit $9.8 million dollars on fire when he signed these two players and they delivered a combined -0.4 bWAR in 2024.

Regardless, what @caulfield12 said in his previous post pretty much nailed it:

”Shopping at the Dollar Store consistently just leads to more extended poverty.”

What is the strategy here and where is it leading to?  Because it looks like another non-competitive season to me.

Edited December 3, 2025Dec 3 by WhiteSox2023

Bummer on Ponce…would have been an interesting signing.  I think 3/$30M is about the max I would have gone on him and no way was he choosing us over the Blue Jays if the money was the same.  That being said, it’s probably unlikely Getz was going to make a three year commitment to a SP this offseason.  Still hope they add someone with some actual upside even if they come with risk.  I get you can never have enough guys who provide bulk innings, but Cannon, Davitt, and some minor league free agents can help there.  Swing for the fucking fence and hope you can luck into a meaningful trade piece come the deadline.

8 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

More hyperbole.  I don’t believe anyone said or expected the Sox to sign Cease.  Certainly not me, but you appear to be referring to my recent comments on some of Getz’s free agent acquisitions.

Even though Manoah is likely to be bad because he hasn’t been the same guy since his TJ surgery, $1.95 million for a potential starting pitcher is less than half of what Getz gave to a player everyone knew was a terrible 2B in Nicky Lopez at $4.3 million two years ago.  Also, it is almost a third of the money Getz gave to a mediocre reliever in John Brebbia at $5.5 million, which was just as bad of a signing for a rebuilding team.  Yes, Getz essentially lit $9.8 million dollars on fire when he signed these two players and they delivered a combined -0.4 bWAR in 2024.

Regardless, what @caulfield12 said in his previous post pretty much nailed it:

”Shopping at the Dollar Store consistently just leads to more extended poverty.”

What is the strategy here and where is it leading to?  Because it looks like another non-competitive season to me.

Lopez was coming off a season where he put up basically league average 1.8 bWAR. Brebbia was coming off of a very good year with the Giants. Neither were bad gambles to hold down a spot on a team that was a smoldering ruin when Getz took over. 

Fedde was a similar signing, and Anthony Kay falls into that box. There's just not a lot of payroll flexibility, and there are spots to fill. The ones that work out look like genius. The ones that don't, well, you're all over those. 

You know what the strategy is. Reinsdorf has debt, and they're not spending until the new player agreement is in place. I see them making moves that would put them around 75+ wins. 

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Lopez was coming off a season where he put up basically league average 1.8 bWAR. Brebbia was coming off of a very good year with the Giants. Neither were bad gambles to hold down a spot on a team that was a smoldering ruin when Getz took over. 

Fedde was a similar signing, and Anthony Kay falls into that box. There's just not a lot of payroll flexibility, and there are spots to fill. The ones that work out look like genius. The ones that don't, well, you're all over those. 

You know what the strategy is. Reinsdorf has debt, and they're not spending until the new player agreement is in place. I see them making moves that would put them around 75+ wins. 

It means they really don't plan to compete in the division until 2028...unless all the lookout issues are somehow miraculously resolved before December 1, basically one year from now.

So Getz has what is in essence a 4 1/2 year run of rebuilding.

42 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

It means they really don't plan to compete in the division until 2028...unless all the lookout issues are somehow miraculously resolved before December 1, basically one year from now.

So Getz has what is in essence a 4 1/2 year run of rebuilding.

And Ishbia can’t take over the team as owner until 2029 at the earliest.

This guy's name was bandied about as an option for the White Sox, in places. 

 

Emilio Pagan is returning to Cincinnati on a two-year deal with an opt-out after the first year pic.twitter.com/GnDMs43yIk

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 4, 2025

 

36 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

This guy's name was bandied about as an option for the White Sox, in places. 

 

Emilio Pagan is returning to Cincinnati on a two-year deal with an opt-out after the first year pic.twitter.com/GnDMs43yIk

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 4, 2025

 

If you want to pay similar or slightly less money than Devin Williams or Helsley. You're overpaying a second tier closer coming off his career year and he's getting older, too.  Regression risk is quite high.

But the getting more wins in 2026 only pushes back your draft position to mid teens from 11 or whatever.

If they were actually going to attempt to legimitately compete in 2027...sure, then it makes sense.

The White Sox are expected to add another starter even after signing LHP Anthony Kay, via @scottmerkin

— White Sox Nation (@WhiSoxNationCHI) December 4, 2025

6 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

This looks like a fake foodie account with a more believable name.

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

This looks like a fake foodie account with a more believable name.

When they say looking for another starting pitcher...they don't mention that it's going to be strictly Tier D/E.

14 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

When they say looking for another starting pitcher...they don't mention that it's going to be strictly Tier D/E.

Actually, I think they have mentioned it, over and over and over. Nobody's pretending they're going after Framber, or Giolito, or even Zack Littell. 

Miles Mikolas (37, 2.2)
Nestor Cortes (31, 2.1)
Andrew Heaney (35, 1.9)
Michael Lorenzen (34, 1.9)
Jose Quintana (37, 1.9)
Albert Suárez (36, 1.8)
Aaron Civale (31, 1.8)
Chris Paddack (30, 1.8)
Tyler Anderson (36, 1.6)
Jon Gray (34, 1.4)
Frankie Montas (33, 1.3)
Griffin Canning (30, 1.0)
Chris Flexen (31, 1.0)
Marcus Stroman (35, 1.0)
Max Scherzer (41, 1.0)
Austin Gomber (32, 0.9)
Cal Quantrill (31, 0.9)
Dustin May (28, 0.8)
Paul Blackburn (32, 0.6)
Jordan Montgomery (33, 0.6)
John Means (33, 0.5)
Alex Cobb (38, 0.3)
Germán Márquez (31, 0.2)
Tomoyuki Sugano (36, 0.1)
Carson Spiers (28, 0.0)
José Ureña (34, 0.0)
José Urquidy (31, 0.0)
Tony Gonsolin (32, -0.1)
Mike Clevinger (35, -0.2)
Wade Miley (39, -0.2)
Walker Buehler (31, -0.4)
Tommy Henry (28, -0.6)
Anthony DeSclafani (36, -0.7)
Roddery Muñoz (26, -1.9)
Drew Anderson (32, N/A)
Kohei Arihara (33, N/A)
Foster Griffin (30, N/A)
Kona Takahashi (29, N/A) -- posted by NPB club on Nov. 20

 

So you're on board with Dustin May???  Blackburn has also been mentioned. Marquez? Gonsolin?

Who is/are your realistic target/s?

Edited December 5, 2025Dec 5 by caulfield12

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Miles Mikolas (37, 2.2)
Nestor Cortes (31, 2.1)
Andrew Heaney (35, 1.9)
Michael Lorenzen (34, 1.9)
Jose Quintana (37, 1.9)
Albert Suárez (36, 1.8)
Aaron Civale (31, 1.8)
Chris Paddack (30, 1.8)
Tyler Anderson (36, 1.6)
Jon Gray (34, 1.4)
Frankie Montas (33, 1.3)
Griffin Canning (30, 1.0)
Chris Flexen (31, 1.0)
Marcus Stroman (35, 1.0)
Max Scherzer (41, 1.0)
Austin Gomber (32, 0.9)
Cal Quantrill (31, 0.9)
Dustin May (28, 0.8)
Paul Blackburn (32, 0.6)
Jordan Montgomery (33, 0.6)
John Means (33, 0.5)
Alex Cobb (38, 0.3)
Germán Márquez (31, 0.2)
Tomoyuki Sugano (36, 0.1)
Carson Spiers (28, 0.0)
José Ureña (34, 0.0)
José Urquidy (31, 0.0)
Tony Gonsolin (32, -0.1)
Mike Clevinger (35, -0.2)
Wade Miley (39, -0.2)
Walker Buehler (31, -0.4)
Tommy Henry (28, -0.6)
Anthony DeSclafani (36, -0.7)
Roddery Muñoz (26, -1.9)
Drew Anderson (32, N/A)
Kohei Arihara (33, N/A)
Foster Griffin (30, N/A)
Kona Takahashi (29, N/A) -- posted by NPB club on Nov. 20

 

So you're on board with Dustin May???  Blackburn has also been mentioned. Marquez? Gonsolin?

Who is/are your realistic target/s?

Gomber, Quantrill, Blackburn, Cobb Marquez, Gonsolin, Miley, DeSclafani - all seem like the realistic and probable options for Getz.

Didn’t realize Michael Kopech was finally hitting FA this year.

Will they, or won't they? 

 

Per @JeffPassan, the White Sox have been one of the most aggressive teams in pursuit of “mid-tier” starting pitching. The names mentioned in this tier include:

Chris Bassitt
Lucas Giolito
Nick Martinez
Zack Littell
Max Scherzer
Justin Verlander
Tyler Mahle
German Marquez… pic.twitter.com/Z9VpOjQfrK

— Noah Phalen (@Noahp245) December 18, 2025

 

Passan's article on the state of the market right now:

Passan's MLB free agency, trade intel on Tucker, Bregman, more - ESPN

 

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Will they, or won't they? 

 

 

Interesting news.  I do think the price will be too high for some of those guys and they will ultimately be priced out of the Sox range.

2 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Interesting news.  I do think the price will be too high for some of those guys and they will ultimately be priced out of the Sox range.

It's like cold-calling. All you need is one yes. 

#WhiteSox may not be done in the Pacific Rim.

They are interested and have at least kicked the tires on starting pitcher Kona Takahashi.

His sign date is January 4th at 5 pm ET.

— Bartolo's Colonoscopy (@lakeview487) December 21, 2025

25 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Funny how these clowns are NOW posting Japanese market rumors 

2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Funny how these clowns are NOW posting Japanese market rumors 

Also isn't he not very exciting? 

8 minutes ago, Baron said:

Also isn't he not very exciting? 

More like Sugano.

Relies on finesse/odd speed stuff.

 

What next, Senga changed his mind and is coming back to the US?

 

9 minutes ago, Baron said:

Also isn't he not very exciting? 

His stuff is pretty mediocre. He's more in-line with Sugano's ability. Imai is definitely the better talent between the two coming over from the NPB.

12 minutes ago, Baron said:

Also isn't he not very exciting? 

Fegan and Longenhagen clocked in back at the end of October:

Let’s Scout the Players Coming Over From Asia | FanGraphs Baseball

Quote

Other Potential Starters
Anthony Kay, LHP, Yokohama Baystars (NPB)
Foster Griffin, LHP, Yomiuri Giants (NPB)
Kona Takahashi, RHP, Seibu Lions (NPB)

Kay and Griffin are seeking MLB deals while touting roughly the same lefty swingman-level stuff they’ve showed in the past, but now with multiple seasons of NPB starting success to bolster their pitchability reputations. Takahashi can really pitch, but his fastball misses bats at a single-digit clip and that might be a barrier. Any of these three could be a suitable fifth starter next year.

 

3 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Funny how these clowns are NOW posting Japanese market rumors 

Yeah, where was his early post saying that Murakami was signing with the Sox?  Bartolo’s Bunghole is a waste of typed words.