Not exactly holding my breathe here for obvious reasons but he was posted yesterday. David Keller was reportedly in Japan scouting him. They hired a Japan scout which just seems gross that we didnt have one before. Anyways he hit .327/.416/.598/.1014 15 HRs last year in 69 games. RH gold glove 1B/3B. Seems primarily 1B for MLB. Yahoo projects 3 years 36 million and a 6 million posting fee. MLBTR says 4 years 64 million which is probably out of the wheelhouse.

 

I'd be pretty happy if they signed him. I honestly think he may end up being the better hitter than Murakami.

11 minutes ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

I'd be pretty happy if they signed him. I honestly think he may end up being the better hitter than Murakami.

And less commitment 

I would not complain if they spent money on literally anyone, but a R/R 1b/3b would not be my first priority. Lefty bat or starting pitcher would be my preference.

Higher floor/lower ceiling. 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25298594-top-10-landing-spots-japanese-slugger-kazuma-okamoto-after-mlb-posting

White Sox not listed as a Top Ten match. 

Pirates Marlins Padres and Mariners the only smaller market teams on that list. 

If there's legitimately even. half that much interest... he will get somewhere between $50-75 million.   Maybe four years, in the end. 

Nearly every scout projecting 1B/DH role. 

Edited November 22, 2025Nov 22 by caulfield12

2 hours ago, Timmy U said:

I would not complain if they spent money on literally anyone, but a R/R 1b/3b would not be my first priority. Lefty bat or starting pitcher would be my preference.

The Sox are a year more likely two away from intelligently looking to spend money importing a talent at any position unless it’s franchise cornerstone type. Trust the process for now. Just like the Bulls. The Bears have just arrived at this stage of potential progress, and being a salary capped team, they boned themselves by spending prematurely. The Sox should just chill for now. We’re picking at the top of the draft for crying out loud. 

4 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Not exactly holding my breathe here for obvious reasons but he was posted yesterday. David Keller was reportedly in Japan scouting him. They hired a Japan scout which just seems gross that we didnt have one before. Anyways he hit .327/.416/.598/.1014 15 HRs last year in 69 games. RH gold glove 1B/3B. Seems primarily 1B for MLB. Yahoo projects 3 years 36 million and a 6 million posting fee. MLBTR says 4 years 64 million which is probably out of the wheelhouse.

 

Every time I suspend my disbelief that the Sox aren’t changing  fundamentally, being informed of things like that little comment bring me back to earth a little.  Japan is not some vast untapped resource of talent, just that it’s especially the Sox that need to be invested more in scouting foreign prospects historically. This is not a scandal or anything. I hadn’t actually thought about this before to be completely honest. And I do have hope that the Sox will be more efficient and effective with their resources than before after their most recent FO changes. But true change to me is in doing things first class in the first place.

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by Chick Mercedes

4 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Not exactly holding my breathe here for obvious reasons but he was posted yesterday. David Keller was reportedly in Japan scouting him. They hired a Japan scout which just seems gross that we didnt have one before. Anyways he hit .327/.416/.598/.1014 15 HRs last year in 69 games. RH gold glove 1B/3B. Seems primarily 1B for MLB. Yahoo projects 3 years 36 million and a 6 million posting fee. MLBTR says 4 years 64 million which is probably out of the wheelhouse.

 

WS should consider doing something like this to get the fans back into the game.

2 hours ago, Chick Mercedes said:

The Sox are a year more likely two away from intelligently looking to spend money importing a talent at any position unless it’s franchise cornerstone type. Trust the process for now. Just like the Bulls. The Bears have just arrived at this stage of potential progress, and being a salary capped team, they boned themselves by spending prematurely. The Sox should just chill for now. We’re picking at the top of the draft for crying out loud. 

One hitter... who could end up as a another Vaughn or Madrigal for all we know, is enough of a reason to suspend spending? 

There still are at least six starters missing from their next playoff team. 

By mid-summer 2026, the Sox MIGHT be down to just 3-4 spots left to go. 

MIGHT being the key word. 

Montgomery's 

Teel/Quero combo

#1 draft pick

Bonemer (at least one more year in the minors, probably 1 1/2) or Antonacci

 

Not to mention 2-3 starting pitchers and almost an entire bullpen. 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by caulfield12

I can't believe there is a less interesting position than 1B/DH 

1 hour ago, Texsox said:

I can't believe there is a less interesting position than 1B/DH 

Very true...but something is better than nothing.

22 minutes ago, poppysox said:

Very true...but something is better than nothing.

In the case of this thread, we will get nothing and like it.

37 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

In the case of this thread, we will get nothing and like it.

You had better like it, we are openminded here!

We didn't have a single scout in japan until last week?

10 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

We didn't have a single scout in japan until last week?

It seems like it. 

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

In the case of this thread, we will get nothing and like it.

Soup Nazi II

5 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

It seems like it. 

KW VHS tapes

11 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

KW VHS tapes

That's how he found Iguchi and he publicly said that. 

22 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

That's how he found Iguchi and he publicly said that. 

Whatever else about KW as a GM he had an elite scouting eye. Our scouting at every level fell off under Hahn and continues to this day.

Anyone can scout the NPB with the wonders of modern technology.

But having a scout there that speaks the language, invests the time to build the relationships, respects the regimented culture and style of play...they're going to have a huge head start when those 4-5 players are posted each and every season now.

They also would attend the Koshien national high school tourney in Osaka and start making the connections when the kids are just 16-17, which will eventually mean a lot to the parents when it comes to signing a pro contract in terms of that trust vs. "complete unknown or wild card" factor.

45 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Whatever else about KW as a GM he had an elite scouting eye. Our scouting at every level fell off under Hahn and continues to this day.

KW was an elite talent evaluator, just ask him about it and he'll tell ya how he could really pick em

1 hour ago, Sleepy Harold said:

KW was an elite talent evaluator, just ask him about it and he'll tell ya how he could really pick em

As opposed to "can't afford to waste another year" quickly turning into a lost half decade.

56 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

As opposed to "can't afford to waste another year" quickly turning into a lost half decade.

But remember KW also said, "you can't spend a dollar if you only have .50 cents..." 😆

29 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

But remember KW also said, "you can't spend a dollar if you only have .50 cents..." 😆

At least he had the winning record to match up with almost any former Sox GM.

Almost always had competitive teans, with few exceptions.

11 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

But remember KW also said, "you can't spend a dollar if you only have .50 cents..." 😆

His lips were moving but someone else planted the words. 

He is the executive of the century to this point. And we're a fourth of the way through.