Josh Naylor re-signs with SEA for 5 years

[nrockway]

6 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Okamoto turns 30 in June.  I doubt the Sox are all that interested.  Murakami is only 25 but the Sox aren’t going to meet his price.  I also read that Murakami has struggled mightily hitting fastballs above 93 MPH.  That’s pretty scary.

I think whoever signs Murakami is gonna have buyer's remorse. The guy K's a ton. Think Okamoto is a higher floor/lower ceiling kind of guy. I doubt either one can play 3B in MLB but Murakami hits left-handed. If I'm the Sox, I'd rather take the risk on Murakami, but I think you're right that he's out of the price range. I'm surprised they're even looking at Okamoto.

As far as Asia signings, I'd be pretty interested in 24-year-old Jo-Hsi Hsu out of Taiwan. He's only 5'10 and has some injury concerns/lots of reliever potential, but his fastball reaches 98mph and he has dominated the Taiwanese league when healthy. Post-TJ surgery, I bet he has some room to grow. 

[Tnetennba]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

ChiSoxFanMike’s article below cites Yahoo Sports Japan’s reporting that “White Sox scouts were in attendance for a recent Japan vs. Korea exhibition game featuring star Japanese free agent infielder Kazuma Okamoto at the Tokyo Dome.”

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-white-sox/white-sox-are-reportedly-scouting-star-japanese-free-agent/

First mistake is reading anything published on that site, and the second is not immediately dismissing it. 

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Okamoto turns 30 in June.  I doubt the Sox are all that interested.  Murakami is only 25 but the Sox aren’t going to meet his price.  I also read that Murakami has struggled mightily hitting fastballs above 93 MPH.  That’s pretty scary.

I think a lot of Japanese players have. Once they get a steady diet, their eye speeds up. 

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, Tnetennba said:

First mistake is reading anything published on that site, and the second is not immediately dismissing it. 

Mike's a nice guy, but it's a blog with either "here's something that's been reported", or "here's something the Sox should consider doing" articles. There's no original reporting. And there's about a half dozen platforms that do that. Bleacher Report, Fansided, SportsMockery. 

[WhiteSox2023]

32 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Mike's a nice guy, but it's a blog with either "here's something that's been reported", or "here's something the Sox should consider doing" articles. There's no original reporting. And there's about a half dozen platforms that do that. Bleacher Report, Fansided, SportsMockery. 

Well, to be fair, all his article says is that the Sox had scouts looking at Okamoto.  I ran the article through Google Translate and he isn’t embellishing.  Here’s the key excerpt below.  Now does that mean the Sox will sign him, especially when the other scouts were from legit spending teams like the Yankees, Phillies, and Blue Jays?  I sure wouldn’t bet my left nut on it…

“On this day, representatives from several teams, including the Yankees, Phillies, Padres, Angels, Blue Jays, and White Sox, were watching from behind the backstop at Tokyo Dome.”

Edited November 18 by WhiteSox2023

[Lip Man 1]

5 hours ago, WestEddy said:

They have been making public statements about their interest in getting back into the Asian market, as soon as this off-season. 

Talk is cheap. Results matter.

 

[Lip Man 1]

4 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

ChiSoxFanMike’s article below cites Yahoo Sports Japan’s reporting that “White Sox scouts were in attendance for a recent Japan vs. Korea exhibition game featuring star Japanese free agent infielder Kazuma Okamoto at the Tokyo Dome.”

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-white-sox/white-sox-are-reportedly-scouting-star-japanese-free-agent/

This gives them an out to say, "we had a seat at the table..." 😆

[WestEddy]

8 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Talk is cheap. Results matter.

 

Here's what you said: "The Sox haven't even tried to get into the Pacific rim baseball market since then. I seriously doubt they are going to start that now." My post was in response to yours. They declared that they intend to get more serious in the Asian market, and they have scouts looking at one of the prime offensive guys this offseason.

But you're right. Being a doubting Thomas is meaningless, and not really an argument about anything. 

[caulfield12]

9 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

This gives them an out to say, "we had a seat at the table..." 😆

Imai Murakami and Okamoto are all well out of their price range.

We might get another bargain basement deal out of the KBO, but not if it requires a two year contract.

One year with team or mutual options for 2027.

 

Fluffy pieces about possible interest in a free agent who will receive at the very least a three year deal are not worth anyone's time either....not unless they actually get a signed contract as we learned with 2 ESPN headlines about Machado being close to signing.

Edited November 18 by caulfield12

[WestEddy]

The Pirates going hard on Josh Naylor is interesting.

Offered him a 4 year deal worth upwards of $70M but he ultimately chose Seattle for more $

They really might end up overtaking the Reds.

— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) November 18, 2025

[Lip Man 1]

4 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Here's what you said: "The Sox haven't even tried to get into the Pacific rim baseball market since then. I seriously doubt they are going to start that now." My post was in response to yours. They declared that they intend to get more serious in the Asian market, and they have scouts looking at one of the prime offensive guys this offseason.

But you're right. Being a doubting Thomas is meaningless, and not really an argument about anything. 

Which generated my response, supposedly they were "serious" about guys like Machado and Harper too.

I guess it depends on your definition of "serious". To me sending a scout to watch a guy isn't serious. Making a reported legit offer (as opposed to making a low ball one to give you an out to say 'we tried' ) and then actually signing a good Asian player indicates to me that things have changed.

Until then, it's all BS, smoke and mirrors. 

[WestEddy]

6 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Which generated my response, supposedly they were "serious" about guys like Machado and Harper too.

I guess it depends on your definition of "serious". To me sending a scout to watch a guy isn't serious. Making a reported legit offer (as opposed to making a low ball one to give you an out to say 'we tried' ) and then actually signing a good Asian player indicates to me that things have changed.

Until then, it's all BS, smoke and mirrors. 

Sure it is. Especially after making multiple comments about 'getting back into the Asian market'. It would be incredibly stupid to pay a scout to watch baseball games in Japan just to be able to "say" something. That's great that you will wait for 'results' until you stop tagging onto every comment that statements are BS. Something tells me those goalposts have wheels on them. They always do. 

[southsider2k5]

5 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Sure it is. Especially after making multiple comments about 'getting back into the Asian market'. It would be incredibly stupid to pay a scout to watch baseball games in Japan just to be able to "say" something. That's great that you will wait for 'results' until you stop tagging onto every comment that statements are BS. Something tells me those goalposts have wheels on them. They always do. 

No it is much better to give us this with every post.

[WhiteSox2023]

42 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Sure it is. Especially after making multiple comments about 'getting back into the Asian market'. It would be incredibly stupid to pay a scout to watch baseball games in Japan just to be able to "say" something. That's great that you will wait for 'results' until you stop tagging onto every comment that statements are BS. Something tells me those goalposts have wheels on them. They always do. 

The next time they sign someone out of Japan will be the first player since Shingo and Iguchi, I believe.  Washed up Kosuke Fukodome doesn’t count and they won’t be in on any of the big expensive names anyways.  Not really much to get excited about.

[ChiSoxFanMike]

16 hours ago, Tnetennba said:

First mistake is reading anything published on that site, and the second is not immediately dismissing it. 

Thanks!

15 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Mike's a nice guy, but it's a blog with either "here's something that's been reported", or "here's something the Sox should consider doing" articles. There's no original reporting. And there's about a half dozen platforms that do that. Bleacher Report, Fansided, SportsMockery. 

Well I’m not a beat reporter or Jeff Passan. Just a fan. I hadn’t seen anyone in the Sox community write about Okamoto and thought people would be interested. 

Edited November 18 by ChiSoxFanMike

[77 Hitmen]

On 11/17/2025 at 11:12 AM, WhiteSox2023 said:

I think a seat at the kids' table would be a step up for the Sox.  Our seat is out in back, near the dumpster.  

[Lip Man 1]

58 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

The next time they sign someone out of Japan will be the first player since Shingo and Iguchi, I believe.  Washed up Kosuke Fukodome doesn’t count and they won’t be in on any of the big expensive names anyways.  Not really much to get excited about.

Exactly. All we can go on right now is recorded history and that says plenty about how the Sox feel about the international Asian market.

Until something actually happens it's all talk and BS.

[caulfield12]

Pirates are all over this FA market AND considering giving offers to an array of hitters from Schwarber to Okamoto.

“And yet the Pirates were primed to spend more than twice that on Josh Naylor before he re-upped with Seattle for five years and $92.5 million in the first signing of the winter on Sunday night -- and they're considering other possibilities to supplement Paul Skenes and a rotation that was among the five best in MLB in the second half.

The most exciting: The Pirates are strongly considering giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus minor league player of the year in 2025, the opportunity to win their big league shortstop job, sources told ESPN. While the idea is by no means decided, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Griffin wowed scouts by hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases in his first professional season after going to Pittsburgh with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft. The internal models for multiple teams have off-the-charts projections for Griffin, who has also dabbled in center field.”

 

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman

 

Now even the Pirates and A’s are (or will soon be) burying the Sox in spending.

Well, at least there’s the Rockies Rays and Twins still…I guess.

Edited November 18 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Thanks!

Well I’m not a beat reporter or Jeff Passan. Just a fan. I hadn’t seen anyone in the Sox community write about Okamoto and thought people would be interested. 

Probably because he’s expected to be the first $100+ million NPB position player…along with Murakami.

[caulfield12]

Maybe someone should call the Sox ticket office and inquire if anyone purchased a season ticket plan for 2026 based on their belief in an Okamoto signing this off season...

Always follow the money.

 

[southsider2k5]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Pirates are all over this FA market AND considering giving offers to an array of hitters from Schwarber to Okamoto.

“And yet the Pirates were primed to spend more than twice that on Josh Naylor before he re-upped with Seattle for five years and $92.5 million in the first signing of the winter on Sunday night -- and they're considering other possibilities to supplement Paul Skenes and a rotation that was among the five best in MLB in the second half.

The most exciting: The Pirates are strongly considering giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus minor league player of the year in 2025, the opportunity to win their big league shortstop job, sources told ESPN. While the idea is by no means decided, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Griffin wowed scouts by hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases in his first professional season after going to Pittsburgh with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft. The internal models for multiple teams have off-the-charts projections for Griffin, who has also dabbled in center field.”

 

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman

 

Now even the Pirates and A’s are (or will soon be) burying the Sox in spending.

Well, at least there’s the Rockies Rays and Twins still…I guess.

That's just depressing.

[WhiteSox2023]

3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

That's just depressing.

Jerry drinks our tears and it adds years to his life.

[caulfield12]

3 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Jerry drinks our tears and it adds years to his life.

At least he's not as bad as Voldemort...yet.

[77 Hitmen]

8 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Pirates are all over this FA market AND considering giving offers to an array of hitters from Schwarber to Okamoto.

“And yet the Pirates were primed to spend more than twice that on Josh Naylor before he re-upped with Seattle for five years and $92.5 million in the first signing of the winter on Sunday night -- and they're considering other possibilities to supplement Paul Skenes and a rotation that was among the five best in MLB in the second half.

The most exciting: The Pirates are strongly considering giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus minor league player of the year in 2025, the opportunity to win their big league shortstop job, sources told ESPN. While the idea is by no means decided, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Griffin wowed scouts by hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases in his first professional season after going to Pittsburgh with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft. The internal models for multiple teams have off-the-charts projections for Griffin, who has also dabbled in center field.”

 

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman

 

Now even the Pirates and A’s are (or will soon be) burying the Sox in spending.

Well, at least there’s the Rockies Rays and Twins still…I guess.

The Rays have new ownership and will (most likely) be getting a new stadium (w/ entertainment district) soon.  They might also be outspending the Sox in a few years...though perhaps not before 2029, which is when they plan to have their new stadium completed.  

Edited November 19 by 77 Hitmen

[Chisoxfn]

On 11/17/2025 at 3:09 PM, Lip Man 1 said:

I will when this player signs with the Sox. 

It's been what 20 years since Iguchi? The Sox haven't even tried to get into the Pacific rim baseball market since then. I seriously doubt they are going to start that now.

They went over Ohtani when he originally came over.