Sox the "front-runners" for Imai

[Capn12]

4 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I did google Times of India and Imai in hopes there would be a Sox rumor there, but alas they are sleeping at the wheel right now!

Try.HARDER!

[WestEddy]

18 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

This is where @WestEddy needs to chime in with the Sox finding the new market inefficiency.  International players that the rest of the MLB isn’t completely sold on due to the transition/translation and Getz getting them on short-term and reasonably cheap deals since he isn’t allowed to sign top US free agents to massive deals.  That strategy I would actually believe.

Sounds like you just explained it. There's another starter lower down the list that Caulfield would have popped in and posted 6 unrelated paragraphs about - it wouldn't surprise me if they went and got *that* guy instead. 

But yeah, maybe there's a wrinkle in the matrix this off-season, and teams just got skittish in a way the Sox don't have to be. 

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

3 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

If it really happens then Ishbia is basically the shadow owner who is really in charge now and making the decisions and basically bankrolling everything and this whole waiting until 2029 thing is basically just legal formalities on paper only.

Did i miss something? The Sox still have a payroll under Oakland, Colorado and Pittsburgh. If they signed this guy they'd be around KC and Cincy. 

Guys here are acting like the Sox signed Juan Soto this off season. They have 38 million committed to 2027 as of today.

[Chicago White Sox]

9 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Using Steamer to project wins isnt a money making prop. I'll say the Sox O/U will be 70 or less. You guys have a great opportunity to make some money. Sox to win the division was 150-1 a week or so ago when I looked and 500-1 to win the AL. By FAR the longest odds of any AL team.

I’ll be taking the over if it’s at 70 wins.  That’s as close to free money as Vegas will give you.  Also, I find most of Steamer’s projections to be very conservative for us outside of Meidroth and maybe Kay.

[Lukakke Appling]

Ray Ray’s a couple posts away from listing his movie reviews. 

[WestEddy]

12 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

The additions they've made? Lol

Perfectly reasonable to say the Sox could contend for a playoff spot next year. You guys are honestly hilarious.

Wow, internet guy pretends to laugh at me. My dreams are dust. 

Perhaps you should read a little closer. Yes, they've made additions.

They added Oliver Dunn, who, BTW, was also on the Brewers' 40-man roster when they didn't protect Shane Smith for the Rule 5 draft, so I guess I should be embarrassed over that, too. You argued that everybody the Brewers protected at the end of 2024 was "better" than Shane Smith, so I guess we just picked up another All-Star, huh? 

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

Just now, WestEddy said:

Wow, internet guy pretends to laugh at me. My dreams are dust. 

Perhaps you should read a little closer. Yes, they've made additions.

They added Oliver Dunn, who, BTW, was also on the Brewers' 40-man roster when they didn't protect Shane Smith for the Rule 5 draft, so I guess I should be embarrassed over that, too. You argued that everybody the Brewers protected at the end of 2024 was "better" than Shane Smith, so I guess we just picked up another All-Star, huh? 

Yes, when I was watching the Sox last year lose 100 games again I thought to myself, all this team needs is Anthony Kay, Sean Necomb and Murakami to make up the additional 20 wins+ they need. 

[WhiteSox2023]

8 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Sounds like you just explained it. There's another starter lower down the list that Caulfield would have popped in and posted 6 unrelated paragraphs about - it wouldn't surprise me if they went and got *that* guy instead. 

But yeah, maybe there's a wrinkle in the matrix this off-season, and teams just got skittish in a way the Sox don't have to be. 

Takahashi?

[WestEddy]

6 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Yes, when I was watching the Sox last year lose 100 games again I thought to myself, all this team needs is Anthony Kay, Sean Necomb and Murakami to make up the additional 20 wins+ they need. 

With all your "Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn are better than Shane Smith" gibberish, I really wasn't on the edge of my seat wondering which Sox signings would impress you. Maybe that's why you think signing Murakami is funny, because Vinny Capra is your idea of an All-Star. 

 

[WestEddy]

9 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Takahashi?

Yah, that guy. He's probably on the level of Kay, maybe a cut above, and key attribute, cheap. 

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

5 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

With all your "Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn are better than Shane Smith" gibberish, I really wasn't on the edge of my seat wondering which Sox signings would impress you. Maybe that's why you think signing Murakami is funny, because Vinny Capra is your idea of an All-Star. 

 

Signing Mune was a good signing given this team ans where they are. I said as much. It's also very possible he can't make enough contact in the MLB to be viable. It's unlikely that he carries a bad team to the playoffs either way, and unlikely is me being polite.

Not sure what you're rambling about with Capra. Shane Smith was the Brewers 41st guy whether that hurts your feelings or not. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Look at Ray Ray Run

[WhiteSox2023]

4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Yah, that guy. He's probably on the level of Kay, maybe a cut above, and key attribute, cheap. 

Only a year older than Imai but his low strikeout numbers are concerning.

Edited 6 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[southsider2k5]

36 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

The additions they've made? Lol

Perfectly reasonable to say the Sox could contend for a playoff spot next year. You guys are honestly hilarious.

Well, I can't find win totals yet, but FanDuel has the Sox at +50,000, tied with Washington and Colorado for worst 

[Ducksnort]

4 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Well, I can't find win totals yet, but FanDuel has the Sox at +50,000, tied with Washington and Colorado for worst 

I mean, honestly, who is winning the division next year? I guess Detroit is the favorite? But they completely collapsed in the 2nd half, like historical. Cleveland always seems to be in the running no matter what. It's definitely not Minnesota or KC. 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

3 minutes ago, Ducksnort said:

I mean, honestly, who is winning the division next year? I guess Detroit is the favorite? But they completely collapsed in the 2nd half, like historical. Cleveland always seems to be in the running no matter what. It's definitely not Minnesota or KC. 

Tigers, Guardians, Royals, Sox, Twins in that order as of now in my opinion.

[Harry Chappas]

Signing Imai screams Robert salary dump coming. 

[WestEddy]

58 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Signing Mune was a good signing given this team ans where they are. I said as much. It's also very possible he can't make enough contact in the MLB to be viable. It's unlikely that he carries a bad team to the playoffs either way, and unlikely is me being polite.

Not sure what you're rambling about with Capra. Shane Smith was the Brewers 41st guy whether that hurts your feelings or not. 

I feel the same way about Murakami. Everybody has their work cut out for them, there. 

You declared that some of us can't understand how embarrassing Smith being the Sox's All-Star representative was, because he was "their 41st best guy". Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn were on the Brewers' 40-man at the time Smith was selected. That says to me that you're prepared to argue nth degree nonsense to dig in and proclaim the Sox will be as bad as anyone can imagine in any given year, and we should all feel embarrassed, because reasons. The Brewers made an understandable decision on who to protect, and the Sox capitalized. Go ahead and feel shame. That's all lost on me.

For two months after the TDL in 2025, the Sox played at a 70-win pace over 162. I know you want to include the record of a team that was up to 12 different guys on opening day than what finished the season on the team. The Sox's Pythagorean was 71-91, so assuming the guys that finished on the major league squad could win 70 games isn't unreasonable. (go ahead, pretend to be laughing)

I don't think it's a stretch to believe that replacing Vaughn/Elko/Noda with Murakami, replacing Benintendi's defense with anybody more capable, getting a full season of Montgomery over Amaya/Capra (regardless of how good you think Capra is), and replacing Bryce Wilson/Jonathan Cannon with Key and Newcomb, along with any wish-casted growth from Baldwin/Vargas/Meidroth/Teel/Quero/Robert (returning any bit to form) - could result in adding about 5+ wins to that 70-71 win base that I feel is completely supported. That's 5 situations on this team where there's really no argument they could pick up a win from each.

If they also add Imai and any kind of closer (screw it, Kopech), that shores up the rotation and bullpen by pushing everybody back a slot, that could result in wins. At that point, you're pushing towards the upper 70's/80 in wins. You can either show your math how you *know* that won't happen, or pretend to be laughing, whatever. 

If the team clicks, Monty/Teel/Vargas/others begin to play towards their ceilings, that could push this team over .500. If everybody went nuts and the division stagnated, you have a "competitive" team. 

[WhiteSox2023]

We really need some news.  Where is she when you need her?!?

[poppysox]

21 minutes ago, Harry Chappas said:

Signing Imai screams Robert salary dump coming. 

For me, it screams keep Robert and go for it.

[ChiSoxFanMike]

30 minutes ago, Harry Chappas said:

Signing Imai screams Robert salary dump coming. 

Saw someone say earlier that even with Imai, their payroll would only be like $120 million. For a normal franchise, that isn’t unreasonable at all.

[WhiteSox2023]

16 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Saw someone say earlier that even with Imai, their payroll would only be like $120 million. For a normal franchise, that isn’t unreasonable at all.

I think the Sox 2026 opening day payroll is currently estimated at around $88 million.  I don’t think Imai would add that much to the 2026 payroll outside of additional acquisitions.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Je_oWzOM63KRY5EJ35o8CE8JHM8fzQofUEHO_QjsowA/htmlview

Edited 4 hours ago by WhiteSox2023

[ChiSoxFanMike]

I see you lurking @Pal Give us something!

[WestEddy]

Well, Happy New Year's guys, and go easy on the sake when they announce Imai.

[Whisox05]

 

 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

Someone tagged me in that, no idea if Nifty News is reliable but it makes sense that a report would be coming from Japan about it.