Winter Meetings Dec. Trades FA Signings Thread

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

10 hours ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

No - Murakami always carried a good BB% in the NPB. Elko would swing at a ball rolled to home plate.

But I'd agree with you, the Sox aren't going to be players for him.

I said what I said tongue in cheek . I just meant it for the power and K rate. As I said later in the post, I know I cheapening Murakami's by saying what I did by quite a bit. 

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

3 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Unfortunately I don’t drink while I’m rosterbating.  As such, my posts on Murakami reflect very pure & highly objective thoughts based on countless hours of research & analysis.  The evidence of Murakami signing with the Sox by Monday is clear:

1. Getz has stated they have a big need for a LH corner infielder
2. The Sox have financial flexibility given little payroll committed to next year’s roster and what should be a moderate increase YoY due to the new TV deal
3. The Sox have zero long term commitments and new mega rich owner coming  into the fold in four years
4. The Sox have recently hired their first ever Japanese scout
5. Very few big market teams have a need for a 1B at this time and concerns with his bat (see below) make him a harder sell as a DH
6. Murakami has enough warts with the bat (primarily K rate) to scare off teams that need a higher degree of certainty and will likely shrink his market some
7. Two safer 1B options are still available to contenders in O’Hearn & Okamoto and will come much cheaper
8. He must make a decision by Monday and none of the big money clubs have been linked to him yet directly

As you can see above, the evidence that Murakami signs with the White Sox is exhaustive and we should start getting very excited this is happening.

I trust your process but not your conclusions since JR still owns the team and has shown 0 interest in the team except to lower the payroll significantly since he hired Getz and got the Ishbia's to take over ownership eventually and help pay off debts while JR is planning his estate for the benefit of his children,  not  for Sox fans. There's also no indication the Ishbia's are putting out any money towards players as of yet. 

Edited Wednesday at 06:31 PM by CaliSoxFanViaSWside
I type poorly with 1 finger on a phone keyboard

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

https://bolavip.com/en/amp/mlb/ny-yankees-ny-mets-and-phillies-anticipate-munetaka-murakamis-decision-announcement-date

What in the f*** is BolaVIP and why are you sharing this AI slop?

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, Lukakke Appling said:

ESPN’s headline article predicts Murakami signs with the White Sox. 
 

“

Prediction: Chicago White Sox.Murakami's deadline to sign is Dec. 22, so we're running out of time. His market still seems wide open. The Phillies could also be an interesting fit, or maybe the Los Angeles Angels want to do something. Indeed, if any of these top 10 free agents land in a surprising spot, Murakami might be the one. The White Sox have money to spend -- their current estimated payroll is just $68 million and that includes $20 million for Luis Robert Jr., who might be traded. They have a desperate need for power and Murakami fits at either third or first, depending on where Miguel Vargas ends up. This would be a nice roll of the dice for a White Sox team that looks to be on the rise.”

🤔

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, fathom said:

Here’s the million dollar question.  Would you still want him if the plan was to move  Sosa to 2nd base and Meidroth was relegated to bench duty?

That’s a tough one, although I think Meidroth at 2B makes more sense with the addition of Murakami’s power.

[Chicago White Sox]

11 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

I trust your process but not your conclusions since JR still owns the team and has shown 0 interest in the team except to lower the payroll significantly since he hired Getz and got the Ishbia's to take over ownership eventually and help pay off debts while JR is planning his estate for the benefit of his children,  not  for Sox fans. There's also no indication the Ishbia's are putting out any money towards players as of yet. 

The Ishbia have cleared out the debt and a clean balance sheet means we can afford a $90M payroll and Murakami by default.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

6 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The Ishbia have cleared out the debt and a clean balance sheet means we can afford a $90M payroll and Murakami by default.

Give me a prediction on the contract the Sox are going to give him .I need to hear this. White Sox not Red Sox just to be clear.

Edited Wednesday at 06:47 PM by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[WestEddy]

10 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

That’s a tough one, although I think Meidroth at 2B makes more sense with the addition of Murakami’s power.

Yeah, I think there's a sweet spot for Meidroth, Sosa and Baldwin to all get 400 PAs, with Meidroth at 2B, and maybe Sosa in LF/DH/2B

[WestEddy]

1 minute ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Give me a prediction on the contract the Sox are going to give him .I need to hear this.

3/45 with a player option after year one. 

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

3/45 with a player option after year one. 

No way he gets that little. Guessing $100M easy maybe 5 years. Could be bigger. 

[Chicago White Sox]

4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Yeah, I think there's a sweet spot for Meidroth, Sosa and Baldwin to all get 400 PAs, with Meidroth at 2B, and maybe Sosa in LF/DH/2B

I think Sosa can be a very valuable piece, but they should try to get him some time in LF at Benintendi’s expense.

[southsider2k5]

I feel like we always do this free agent dance where it is announced that someone isn't getting the market they expected in the off season, and then everyone gets their hopes up that we will get a particular player on some under-market deal that even Jerry couldn't pass up, and then the dude signs for like 25% above where he was originally thought to be getting.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

21 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Everything I have seen has Murakami getting a lot more than Okamoto.

i meant more AAV not total money in the contract. 

[Chicago White Sox]

5 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Give me a prediction on the contract the Sox are going to give him .I need to hear this. White Sox not Red Sox just to be clear.

I’m thinking around 6/$110M with a $34M posting fee.  Ends up being a $24M AAV which feels right to me in this market.

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

I feel like we always do this free agent dance where it is announced that someone isn't getting the market they expected in the off season, and then everyone gets their hopes up that we will get a particular player on some under-market deal that even Jerry couldn't pass up, and then the dude signs for like 25% above where he was originally thought to be getting.

I think he’s going to get way less than projected, but still a fuckton of money for an unproven player with legit question marks with the bat.  But ultimately, I think Pete Alonso getting 5/$150M sets a ceiling here as he has a much higher floor than Murakami does and should receive the higher AAV.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I’m thinking around 6/$110M with a $34M posting fee.  Ends up being a $24M AAV which feels right to me in this market.

Wre not far apart on our AAV and I forgot about the posting fee. 

So basically you expect the  The Sox to hand out their biggest contract ever that Jerry could be on the hook for most of or even all of it ?

To be polite Ill just say I strongly disagree but admire how you view the current status of the franchise although I find it somewhat delusional. 🙂

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

9 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I’m thinking around 6/$110M with a $34M posting fee.  Ends up being a $24M AAV which feels right to me in this market.

Wow, this would be a lot of money for a guy who very well might not stick at the MLB level with that swing and miss.

I don't disagree with you though, I have his deal closer to 5 years 100 million (Maybe Sox can claim he's their first 100 million dollar guy!!!). 

Just imagining Jerry paying a high posting fee for a player is pretty funny to think about. Not happening. My fear is if it did happen, this guy would flop so hard Jerry might pull back his sale and murder all Sox fans while on his death bed.

[WhiteSox2023]

31 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The Ishbia have cleared out the debt and a clean balance sheet means we can afford a $90M payroll and Murakami by default.

[Chicago White Sox]

2 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Wow, this would be a lot of money for a guy who very well might not stick at the MLB level with that swing and miss.

I don't disagree with you though, I have his deal closer to 5 years 100 million (Maybe Sox can claim he's their first 100 million dollar guy!!!). 

Just imagining Jerry paying a high posting fee for a player is pretty funny to think about. Not happening. My fear is if it did happen, this guy would flop so hard Jerry might pull back his sale and murder all Sox fans while on his death bed.

It’s risky no doubt, but also one of the cheaper ways to acquire a potential star and that probably excites Jerry.  I also think the big name Japanese guys generate a lot of revenue, which I’m certain is factored into the contract offer.

[WhiteSox2023]

34 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

I feel like we always do this free agent dance where it is announced that someone isn't getting the market they expected in the off season, and then everyone gets their hopes up that we will get a particular player on some under-market deal that even Jerry couldn't pass up, and then the dude signs for like 25% above where he was originally thought to be getting.

This…  totally.  And then everyone realizes they wasted their fingers even typing about said desired player.

Edited Wednesday at 07:27 PM by WhiteSox2023

[GreenSox]

3 hours ago, fathom said:

Here’s the million dollar question.  Would you still want him if the plan was to move  Sosa to 2nd base and Meidroth was relegated to bench duty?

That really is a key aspect to this, though.  Meidroth had as good a season as more highly touted rookies like Cam Smith, K.  Campbell and Matt Shaw.  Sox have several players who did pretty well in 2025 and who should be ready to take a big step.  Sox need to find out.  Count me in as a Meidroth guy.

If the Sox want to sign a good FA, great.  But the Sox are likely going to win in the 70s regardless, some mediocre and below FA might crowd out more than they help.  I’m not referring really to Murakami (I don’t have much of a read on him).

To that end, I I hope some of these guys shag balls in the OF…just to see.

[DoUEvenShift]

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Dustin May terms still unannounced?

Long time for that physical.

 

[WhiteSox2023]

4 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

 

Yeah, that was never going to happen here.

[Autumn Dreamin]

Almost every blurb is a variation of "questionable fit due to cost/position/timing" including the Sox:

Chicago White Sox

Adding Murakami would be a fun way to inject some much-needed excitement on the South Side and would offer Murakami a lower-stakes setting to adjust to major-league pitching, but it would also be a sizable risk that this front office (and ownership group) is probably uninterested in taking at this stage of their rebuild.

[Chicago White Sox]

37 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Almost every blurb is a variation of "questionable fit due to cost/position/timing" including the Sox:

Chicago White Sox

Adding Murakami would be a fun way to inject some much-needed excitement on the South Side and would offer Murakami a lower-stakes setting to adjust to major-league pitching, but it would also be a sizable risk that this front office (and ownership group) is probably uninterested in taking at this stage of their rebuild.

We signed a 27 year old, international 1B coming off a 99 loss season back in 2013 despite concerns over his “slider bat speed”.  With a solid young core starting to form, some bigger prospects on the cusp, and the 1.01 pick in place next year with a rare elite college SS at the top, now is the time to take a swing on a 26 year old, international 1B with “contact issues” despite coming off a 102 loss season.