White Sox sign Anthony Kay to 2Y/12M deal

[Dick Allen]

They better hire some Temps in the ticket office.

[DoUEvenShift]

Can't wait for Schriffen to start singing "Every miss begins with Kayyyy" for his strikeouts followed by Stone sitting quietly in contempt for 5 mins

[caulfield12]

24 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

Can't wait for Schriffen to start singing "Every miss begins with Kayyyy" for his strikeouts followed by Stone sitting quietly in contempt for 5 mins

1k Diamond giveaway for 10 Kay k's to ten lucky fans...?

Wouldn't be that difficult to insure.

Kay not a high volume strike out guy so odds of paying out pretty negligible.

Maybe 3-5%?

 

PS: Anything better than rehashing Vargas April 23rd swing change.

Edited Wednesday at 10:14 PM by caulfield12

[Chicago White Sox]

15 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

O`Hearn (not really an everyday OF), W.Castro (terrible after trade) Yazstremski and Kepler are your Tier B/C LHH corner guys.

Yuck!!!

 

Other Free Agent Corner Outfielders: Tommy Pham (nope), ***Michael Conforto, Lane Thomas (30), ***Dylan Carlson (at least younger), Chris Taylor, Mitch Haniger (almost 35), Hunter Renfroe, Austin Slater (not happening again), Kiké Hernandez (LAD), Jason Heyward (retiring?), ***Alex Verdugo (29, -0.3 bWAR)

 

So 7 options...none all that appealing, O'Hearn best fit but not in the OF.

Buy low/pillow on Castro?

Kepler/Yazstremski both familiar with Central.

 

So Benintendi to DH full time?

That would block Sosa perhaps unless you play him at first.

What’s wrong with O’Hearn?  If you can get him for under 2/$30M, you should just go ahead and do it.  I’d also go out and sign Bleday to be part of the OF mix if we are able to trade Robert for an actual return.  In a perfect world, I’d also cut bait on Benintendi or at least move his ass to bench and see if Sosa can handle some LF.

Lineup:

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. O’Hearn, 1B*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Montgomery, SS*
6. Benintendi, LF*
7. Quero, DH#
8. Bleday, RF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Mead
• OF: Pereira
• UT: Sosa

I could easily live with the above for a year and hopefully Braden and Antonacci eventually push for spots as the season progresses.  I still don’t love the catcher situation and believe Quero should be cashed in for another position of need (preferably in the OF) but maybe we are better off letting the bat develop for a year and then make a move when his value is up.

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What’s wrong with O’Hearn?  If you can get him for under 2/$30M, you should just go ahead and do it.  I’d also go out and sign Bleday to be part of the OF mix if we are able to trade Robert for an actual return.  In a perfect world, I’d also cut bait on Benintendi or at least move his ass to bench and see if Sosa can handle some LF.

Lineup:

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. O’Hearn, 1B*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Montgomery, SS*
6. Benintendi, LF*
7. Quero, DH#
8. Bleday, RF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Mead
• OF: Pereira
• UT: Sosa

I could easily live with the above for a year and hopefully Braden and Antonacci eventually push for spots as the season progresses.  I still don’t love the catcher situation and believe Quero should be cashed in for another position of need (preferably in the OF) but maybe we are better off letting the bat develop for a year and then make a move when his value is up.

If the goal is improving outfield defense, then just put Bleday on a corner.

Having watched a lot of O'Hearn, just really worry about his having peaked first half last year and buying high before a dip down or perhaps worse to mean career numbers from last year's outlier.

At any rate, Fuller would be able to make the right call on OHearn.

 

Seems like Pereira will at least platoon in RF...or replace Robert in CF when Braden theoretically comes up mid season.

Edited yesterday at 12:25 AM by caulfield12

[nrockway]

2 hours ago, DoUEvenShift said:

Can't wait for Schriffen to start singing "Every miss begins with Kayyyy" for his strikeouts followed by Stone sitting quietly in contempt for 5 mins

That’s awesome. 

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

9 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

The one dude just got 3/$30M yesterday

I meant the trade market not being strong thats why I said unless his stuff and numbers are better than expected which we won't know until he pitches in MLB. 

I also meant surprised the SOX signed any player to a multi year deal because of a possible strike and JR maybe not wanting to pay much for players not to play. But I don't know what the CBA says about payment during a strike . 

Edited yesterday at 03:25 AM by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

(Free) Agent Kay signs with Men In Black 😋

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

4 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What’s wrong with O’Hearn?  If you can get him for under 2/$30M, you should just go ahead and do it.  I’d also go out and sign Bleday to be part of the OF mix if we are able to trade Robert for an actual return.  In a perfect world, I’d also cut bait on Benintendi or at least move his ass to bench and see if Sosa can handle some LF.

Lineup:

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. O’Hearn, 1B*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Montgomery, SS*
6. Benintendi, LF*
7. Quero, DH#
8. Bleday, RF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Mead
• OF: Pereira
• UT: Sosa

I could easily live with the above for a year and hopefully Braden and Antonacci eventually push for spots as the season progresses.  I still don’t love the catcher situation and believe Quero should be cashed in for another position of need (preferably in the OF) but maybe we are better off letting the bat develop for a year and then make a move when his value is up.

I would be very surprised if ohearn got 30 million. I'm saying any 2 year deal doesn't top 11 per.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

8 hours ago, WestEddy said:

The tragedy of Mason Adams' TJS is that he was probably going to supplant Jon Cannon in the rotation to start 2025. Now they have Burke/Cannon/Davitt competing for 2 slots with McDougal/Schultz right behind them, and then Bush/Thorpe/Adams in June/July. 

I could also see a bunch of guys who haven't bought their plane tickets to Korea yet getting mop-up face time in March.

Berroa should be pitching in the spring right ? He's been off the longest with his TJ surgery . 

[caulfield12]

6 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Berroa should be pitching in the spring right ? He's been off the longest with his TJ surgery . 

Probably a reliever at this point.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

8 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

1) At his age and contract numbers, simply a placeholder to protect the injured/rehabbing pitchers and better prospects that are still at least 3-4 months away.

2) With any success similar to Fedde, likely a trade and flip guy.  Contract numbers will be quite affordable for basically any contender out there looking for deadline upgrades.

3) Still doesn't exceed $5 million per season...that was likely the limit to JR's budget for FA signings.

4) Essentially replaced Trevor Bauer for the BayStars.

5) Looks like DaVitt and Cannon will be battling it out for the fifth spot...and possibly another Rule 5 guy.

6) Nice to have at least one lefty for some balance in the rotation.  One concern is everyone in the Sox rotation throws basically the same speed...93-95 mph, with the exception of Shane Smith.

7) Vasil still in the bullpen?  Probably? Maybe?

😎 Probably puts NPB FA Takahashi in the $15-25 million range.  And finally, perhaps Kay can help the Sox with recruiting one of his teammates?

"Our ace Katsuki Azuma, a little lefty. He throws 88 to 90 and a bunch of different pitches and can just dot it everywhere...(sounds a lot like Imanaga with a lesser FB, so even more dependent on pin point control).  And Andre Johnson a fellow BayStar."

Dayan Viciedo too.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

21 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Probably a reliever at this point.

I know but West Eddy mentioned mop up innings in the spring for any pitcher who hadnt bought a ticket to Japan or Korea yet. 

[WestEddy]

45 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Berroa should be pitching in the spring right ? He's been off the longest with his TJ surgery . 

I don't know when he had surgery. I thought it was March, which would put him back to June/July. 

[WhiteSox2023]

5 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What’s wrong with O’Hearn?  If you can get him for under 2/$30M, you should just go ahead and do it.  I’d also go out and sign Bleday to be part of the OF mix if we are able to trade Robert for an actual return.  In a perfect world, I’d also cut bait on Benintendi or at least move his ass to bench and see if Sosa can handle some LF.

Lineup:

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. O’Hearn, 1B*
4. Vargas, 3B
5. Montgomery, SS*
6. Benintendi, LF*
7. Quero, DH#
8. Bleday, RF*
9. Baldwin, CF#

Bench:

• BC: Lee
• IF: Mead
• OF: Pereira
• UT: Sosa

I could easily live with the above for a year and hopefully Braden and Antonacci eventually push for spots as the season progresses.  I still don’t love the catcher situation and believe Quero should be cashed in for another position of need (preferably in the OF) but maybe we are better off letting the bat develop for a year and then make a move when his value is up.

With Sosa and even Mead around, I highly doubt the Sox are truly that interested in O’Hearn.  He will ultimately get overpaid from some team and I doubt it will be from our frugal Sox.  And at 32 with such a down and more recently up career, I’m not even sure he’d be worth what he ultimately gets paid.

Edited yesterday at 04:56 AM by WhiteSox2023

[Soxfest]

A Getz special

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I would be very surprised if ohearn got 30 million. I'm saying any 2 year deal doesn't top 11 per.

I think he’ll get 2 years and between $25M to $27M.  Sox would likely have to be on the higher end of that range or slightly above.  Regardless, I’m not that concerned about paying him an extra million or two.  The payroll is going to be nothing next year and this is about the biggest size free agent I could see us actually landing.

[greg775]

Nice move. Our pitching staff needs a bunch of bodies some to emerge as studs; others to fall to the DFA wayside. This guy sounds like a good candidate for success.

[WhiteSox2023]

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I think he’ll get 2 years and between $25M to $27M.  Sox would likely have to be on the higher end of that range or slightly above.  Regardless, I’m not that concerned about paying him an extra million or two.  The payroll is going to be nothing next year and this is about the biggest size free agent I could see us actually landing.

Have the Sox signed any player near that dollar amount (~$30 million) in the last couple offseasons during Getz’s tenure?  Especially when they have been trying to cut salary?  I wouldn’t be surprised if Kay is their biggest total dollar signing this offseason.

Edited yesterday at 05:04 AM by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

32 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Have the Sox signed any player near that dollar amount (~$30 million) in the last couple offseasons during Getz’s tenure?  Especially when they have been trying to cut salary?  I wouldn’t be surprised if Kay is their biggest total dollar signing this offseason.

The Sox have cut significant payroll the last two years and are now basically the lowest in the sport.  With a TV deal now in place, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up.  I fully expect to be right around $90M when it’s all said and done, which would give Getz ~$25M to spend if he doesn’t end up unloading Robert.  O’Hearn and a couple of arms seems very possible to me.  A $14M AAV isn’t that big of a number, especially if it’s only a two year commitment.

[WhiteSox2023]

7 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The Sox have cut significant payroll the last two years and are now basically the lowest in the sport.  With a TV deal now in place, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up.  I fully expect to be right around $90M when it’s all said and done, which would give Getz ~$25M to spend if he doesn’t end up unloading Robert.  O’Hearn and a couple of arms seems very possible to me.  A $14M AAV isn’t that big of a number, especially if it’s only a two year commitment.

But they are still losing money year after year which is why I thought they are continuing to cut their payroll even lower.  @southsider2k5 shared the numbers a month or so ago.

[caulfield12]

33 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The Sox have cut significant payroll the last two years and are now basically the lowest in the sport.  With a TV deal now in place, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up.  I fully expect to be right around $90M when it’s all said and done, which would give Getz ~$25M to spend if he doesn’t end up unloading Robert.  O’Hearn and a couple of arms seems very possible to me.  A $14M AAV isn’t that big of a number, especially if it’s only a two year commitment.

SoxMachine and Margalus has been throwing around this same $90 million figure.

Right now they’re projecting at $67.5ish million, but just not seeing them adding another $20+ million.

It’s not like Kay or even O'Hearn would sell a single season ticket package in and of themselves…nor would they guarantee even 70 wins.

Fans have just felt burned by so many B/C free agents the last fifteen years or so that they’re eventually going to have to do something that demonstrates a TANGIBLE and sustainable commitment to winning long term, not just 1-2 year deals or ones that have either club or mutual options.

[Boopa1219]

I like the signing. As some have said, I’d rather see him than Perez, as I believe Kay is 5 or 6 years younger. I do want them to sign another vet for the rotation, my ideal choice being Mike Soroka, and have Burke and Cannon battle it out to be the #5 starter.

Curious to see what Bannister/Bove can do wit Kay to elevate him. 

[WhiteSox2023]

38 minutes ago, Boopa1219 said:

I like the signing. As some have said, I’d rather see him than Perez, as I believe Kay is 5 or 6 years younger. I do want them to sign another vet for the rotation, my ideal choice being Mike Soroka, and have Burke and Cannon battle it out to be the #5 starter.

Curious to see what Bannister/Bove can do wit Kay to elevate him. 

Soroka would be a waste of money.  He has proven that he can’t stay healthy at all.  Dude has been injured almost every year of his career.

https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/mike-soroka-player-injuries

He was paid $9 million last season which is crazy money for a pitcher whose shoulder needs to be held together with duct tape.  If he is willing to accept a minor league deal with a very low base amount of guaranteed money along with incentives based on innings pitched, sure go ahead.

Edited 22 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

6 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

SoxMachine and Margalus has been throwing around this same $90 million figure.

Right now they’re projecting at $67.5ish million, but just not seeing them adding another $20+ million.

It’s not like Kay or even O'Hearn would sell a single season ticket package in and of themselves…nor would they guarantee even 70 wins.

Fans have just felt burned by so many B/C free agents the last fifteen years or so that they’re eventually going to have to do something that demonstrates a TANGIBLE and sustainable commitment to winning long term, not just 1-2 year deals or ones that have either club or mutual options.

Do you really think Chris Getz is building his offseason plans around selling season tickets and fan reaction?  He’s simply trying to make the team with the very limited resources he has.  Our payroll was like $80M last year and that’s without a TV deal to open the season.  There is no way they go down again after showing some signs of improvement.  Let’s also not act like a $90M payroll is a big deal, it will almost certainty be in the bottom 5.