Winter Meetings Dec. Trades FA Signings Thread

[caulfield12]

28 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Starring Chris Getz as Jerry's snitch, ironically enough.

Took Cooper's spot.

Or Boston's.

[caulfield12]

The K-shaped economy lives in sports, too, and for the exact same reason: Money is flowing toward, and consolidating around, a few key teams, programs and individuals in each sport, leaving the others to fend for whatever scraps are left. There have always been haves and have-nots in the sporting universe: the Yankees and the White Sox, the Lakers and the Wizards, Ohio State and Rutgers. But we’re in a new, flush era now … great news for a few, bad news for most.

The infusion of broadcast revenue, franchise buy-in fees, billionaire owners, private-equity infusions, and willing-or-not fan spending — more on that last one in a bit — a tidal wave of wealth is unbalancing entire sports. We’re already seeing the effects on championship chases … and we’re seeing the cracks along the margins, too.

Never has the old cliché “The best team money can buy” been more true than in Chavez Ravine right now. The back-to-back world champion Los Angeles Dodgers had a 2025 payroll of $321.3 million — more than the entire payrolls of the White Sox, Rays, Marlins and Athletics combined. Yes, money alone can’t win you titles — the Mets had the highest payroll last year, and they were, well, the Mets — but money, and the total lack of a salary cap, sure makes life a lot easier. Hope those small-market teams enjoyed those titles when they had them; they’re likely not coming around again anytime soon.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sports-media/article/cash-rules-everything-around-sports-the-k-shaped-economy-widened-gaps-between-haves-have-nots-in-2025-141122272.html

Edited 4 hours ago by caulfield12

[Ducksnort]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

The K-shaped economy lives in sports, too, and for the exact same reason: Money is flowing toward, and consolidating around, a few key teams, programs and individuals in each sport, leaving the others to fend for whatever scraps are left. There have always been haves and have-nots in the sporting universe: the Yankees and the White Sox, the Lakers and the Wizards, Ohio State and Rutgers. But we’re in a new, flush era now … great news for a few, bad news for most.

The infusion of broadcast revenue, franchise buy-in fees, billionaire owners, private-equity infusions, and willing-or-not fan spending — more on that last one in a bit — a tidal wave of wealth is unbalancing entire sports. We’re already seeing the effects on championship chases … and we’re seeing the cracks along the margins, too.

Never has the old cliché “The best team money can buy” been more true than in Chavez Ravine right now. The back-to-back world champion Los Angeles Dodgers had a 2025 payroll of $321.3 million — more than the entire payrolls of the White Sox, Rays, Marlins and Athletics combined. Yes, money alone can’t win you titles — the Mets had the highest payroll last year, and they were, well, the Mets — but money, and the total lack of a salary cap, sure makes life a lot easier. Hope those small-market teams enjoyed those titles when they had them; they’re likely not coming around again anytime soon.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sports-media/article/cash-rules-everything-around-sports-the-k-shaped-economy-widened-gaps-between-haves-have-nots-in-2025-141122272.html

The white sox should not be considered small market. They are a team that plays in a large market that pretends to be a small market team. 

[caulfield12]

12 minutes ago, Ducksnort said:

The white sox should not be considered small market. They are a team that plays in a large market that pretends to be a small market team. 

I've seen articles that even said the White Sox were the worst team in baseball the last TWO seasons...

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/players-in-dfa-limbo.html

J.Noel and J.Wiemer dfa holiday "limbo"

[caulfield12]

19 years ago

"Another Rangers’ Trade that Completely Sucks Ass"

In retrospect, his arrival was a tad overrated. Christmas ’06: The Texas Rangers trade pitchers John Danks, Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Brandon McCarthy. Nice. Can’t find the exact quote, but I remember Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels saying at the time that McCarthy...