1 hour ago, hogan873 said:

No.  I like him, and I think he might be okay getting consistent playing time.  Defensively and on the basepaths, he'll be good.  The bat is another story.  Only time will tell.

I like speed!

5 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:

The only place blasting it is here for the most part. 

A lot of folks are melting down on X, too.  Some to the point that they seem to forget how much they bashed Robert over the years due to injury and overall lack of results.

MLB Trade Rumors says the current Sox payroll is down to $67 million, which is a pretty healthy number. For a minor league hockey team. For comparison, Kyle Tucker is making $57 million all by himself.

3 minutes ago, Jake said:

Poor AAA production is why I said I think he was rushed to MLB. Sometimes that happens because the scouts have decided the guy is going to have .650 OPS no matter the level, but sometimes it means a guy is simply being rushed. Of course I don't know that you can fix a guy being rushed by continuing to throw him to the wolves, so maybe luxury utility player is all he will ever be.

Guy was bad in AAA before he ever appeared in the MLB? 

4 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

MLB Trade Rumors says the current Sox payroll is down to $67 million, which is a pretty healthy number. For a minor league hockey team. For comparison, Kyle Tucker is making $57 million all by himself.

Lowest in baseball.  I think even more impressive is the fact we only have 4 guys making over a million dollars this upcoming season at the moment.  Not sure how that's possible.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by Rowand44

8 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I like speed!

But who actually gets on base for Acuna to use his speed?

8 minutes ago, hogan873 said:

A lot of folks are melting down on X, too.  Some to the point that they seem to forget how much they bashed Robert over the years due to injury and overall lack of results.

This was the predictable part.  We were never going to get much for him, which is what made holding on to him for so long in the first place so odd.  If Chris Getz really knew this was a historic dumpster fire, the time to deal him was very obviously coming off of 2023 when he was healthy and good for the first time (and still last time) in his career.  And every year his value kept dropping like a stone.

4 minutes ago, Rowand44 said:

Lowest in baseball.  I think even more impressive is the fact we only have 4 guys making over a million dollars this upcoming season at the moment.  Not sure how that's possible.

This is CRAZY.

8 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

This is CRAZY.

Anyone going to SoxFest?  Should be a riot…  literally…

At least until they “please” the crowd with a live SoxFest announcement of a Conforto signing!

Edited January 21Jan 21 by WhiteSox2023

2 hours ago, The Mighty Mite said:

Benintendi should be our DH so the question is if  today was opening day what and who are the outfielders, this is very depressing.

Many posters here voiced objection when the Sox picked up a 20 Mil. option for Robert. Now we get two prospects and avoid paying the 20 Mil. and they still aren't happy. You can't make some fans happy. 

Let's wait to see these players in Spring Training before we trash them. 

Getz traded Dylan Cease and received nothing in return. He then traded Robert Jr and received nothing in return.This upcoming 2026 White Sox outfield is really going to be bad. The best scenario that I can see is Benindenti in left and Sosa as the DH. Robert Jr was scheduled to be at Soxfest next week. Looks like he won't be there.

20 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

This is CRAZY.

Its very possible. JR obviously wants the payroll as low as possible. Low payroll = big profits for the ownership.

FWIW

Jerry's so cheap, he didn't want to pay the buyout so they picked up the option and was able to swindle some team to take lubob and his full salary for a couple bags of balls with players attached to them.  Sounds like a win for uncle Jerry. 

Edited January 21Jan 21 by Whisox05

7 minutes ago, Sleepy Harold said:

FWIW

True....He's started taking a Pilates class.

12 hours ago, baseball_gal_aly said:

Um, people also need to remember that Robert has been injured and sucked for the last two seasons. 

Right and thats been pointed out by many people here but somehow the trade still sucks. Why ? I dont know what they were expecting for a guy who sucked for 2 years, had a boatload of injuries in his career and chances of him creating value with a strong and healthy April and May were considered slim. 

I had brought it up in late December in the Robert thread that it was possible JR only committed to the Murakami contract if Robert money could be moved. 

I was fascinated people still got their hopes up for JR actually spending like he's not selling the team and estate planning  his eventual earthly departure.

Basically it turns out   picking up his option saved the Sox the $2M  buyout and got them a couple of players . And they got Murakami for what might eventually turn into a Posting fee plus his prorated salary to dump him at the deadline which is basically the same as Robert's salary.

So now instead of banking on a Robert return to form to create value theyre banking on Murakami proving the critics wrong and having enough OBP,LHH  power and his extra year to get more prospects.

Sorry folks it is what it is. Reindorf ,as has been the case since he got Ishbia involved, is still the worst version of himself .

Robert was like a piece of property that Reinsdorf held until the market for him improved to the point that he could be flipped He was basically flipped for Acuna , 12th round pitcher, $2M buyout, Murakami and the hope that a Japanese LH power hitter, ala a young Schwarber, ends up more enticing than a 2yr declining, bulked up Billy Hamilton. 

Of course they could have waited and hoped both Robert and Murakami built value in the 1st half but if both failed JR is stuck with bulldozable worthless property. Not JR's style especially at this point in his life and ownership.

 

Edited January 21Jan 21 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

30 minutes ago, Sleepy Harold said:

FWIW

He has to go get the Big Reins his calzone.

I listed to the Chris Getz little interview he wants to add offense and defense to the outfield. Surely he's not talking about Conforto I hope. 

 

 

42 minutes ago, tray said:

Many posters here voiced objection when the Sox picked up a 20 Mil. option for Robert. Now we get two prospects and avoid paying the 20 Mil. and they still aren't happy. You can't make some fans happy. 

Let's wait to see these players in Spring Training before we trash them. 

This is being happy you got scrap value for your wrecked Ferrari which you crashed driving drunk in an ice storm after you could have sold it for six figures previously.  Sure it is value for NOW, but realistically, you blew it, and this was the short straw.

6 minutes ago, Whisox05 said:

 

 

Conforto to White Sox confirmed.

 

 

They had no intention of keeping Robert, that is obvious 

12 hours ago, chw42 said:

If they sent no money at all, then that explains why the return is so bad. But when your payroll is as low as ours, the money doesn't really matter and you'd rather get something more useful back than a utility player and a 12th round pitcher. 

Just another post that reinforces that fans just dont understand who JR is at this point in his life as lame duck owner unwilling to invest beyond the bare minimum to make the sale of the team as profitable as possible with perhaps a return to .500 if a lot of the youngsters step up. That's a big ask though. The Orioles are still waging a battle for consistency among their youth and with higher regarded position player prospects  than the Sox have to work with. 

Sox high rated pitching prospects need to resurface this year along with some of the injured ones and McDougal/Oppor. 

6 minutes ago, Whisox05 said:

 

 

Well, Getz pretty much has to say this.  At this point, there is really no way for him to improve the outfield over Robert.  Bellinger will be a Yankee soon and I doubt the Sox will be spending on Bader.  What good free agent outfielders are even left at this point?

https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/mlb-free-agents-2025-2026.html

Edited January 21Jan 21 by WhiteSox2023