2 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

I understand that. My point is the option shouldn't have been picked up in the first place. Sure, they would have $2 million less in their checking account, but if they now can spend money, a far larger pool of players to target, and not having to worry about dumping the contract, would have been available this winter. 

I get what you're saying, but having Robert on this team wasn't a catastrophic outcome. I think they could have always traded Robert for something that was better than being down $2M. 

The pool of players they were going to shop in was always the same. I don't think they missed out on anybody who signed while they were shopping Robert around. 

Another infielder….always on the other teams’ terms.  Hard to see the urgency to come away with this deal.

But let’s see how he spends the $20 million.

11 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Except that the downside here isn't killing a family or getting a DUI but having a good defensive CF on your team for 4 months. 

You're saying they couldn't have traded Robert to the Reds, Pirates, Dodgers, Yankees for anything. 

If no money was ever going to be included, you can probably scratch the Reds and Pirates from that list.  I actually agree that the two players we got and paying no money is better than declining the option and paying 2 million.  I just wish we had included money and gotten something better.  I really hope we don't sign over the hill guys and then block our younger and out of option players from playing time and decent evaluations.

25 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

That's like saying, I got wasted and drive 10 miles home and make it with no accident or getting pulled over. I saved Uber fare. I won. 

2 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Another infielder….always on the other teams’ terms.  Hard to see the urgency to come away with this deal.

But let’s see how he spends the $20 million.

There’s still some good starting pitchers left but the outfielder and reliever FA market has pretty much been picked clean.

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

4 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Another infielder….always on the other teams’ terms.  Hard to see the urgency to come away with this deal.

But let’s see how he spends the $20 million.

Acuña is your 2026 center fielder

5 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Another infielder….always on the other teams’ terms.  Hard to see the urgency to come away with this deal.

But let’s see how he spends the $20 million.

With all our infielders/2b, I really hope they see Acuna as a cf first.  Maybe in winter ball he only starts playing there instead of alternating.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by BamaDoc

9 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I get what you're saying, but having Robert on this team wasn't a catastrophic outcome. I think they could have always traded Robert for something that was better than being down $2M. 

The pool of players they were going to shop in was always the same. I don't think they missed out on anybody who signed while they were shopping Robert around. 

I think if Tucker signed with the Mets, the Mets wouldn't have traded for Robert. Now what other team would have taken even $18 million of his contract? Chances are, whoever they get from here on out this offseason, there will be some wastes of money.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by Dick Allen

22 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I was one of those people and unless the money is redeployed, then I’m willing to admit I was wrong.  But by doing so, Caulfield comes back and with a vengeance.

Think it's already been redeployed in the form of Murakami

32 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I guess pretending that Chris Getz is secretly trying to impress you and only you is a better argument than pretending that everybody can see the future and judge the returns of a trade against what is waiting for them in 2 years. 

It's like the old Earl Weaver anecdote: "If you knew you were going to hit into a double-play why didn't you just strike out?"

It goes to the He CoUlDn"T hAvE gOtTeN vAlUe trash floating out there about this apparently being the ONLY time they could have traded Robert, and therefore this return now can rush to be justified by the HeGetzUs crew.

7 minutes ago, BamaDoc said:

If no money was ever going to be included, you can probably scratch the Reds and Pirates from that list.  I actually agree that the two players we got and paying no money is better than declining the option and paying 2 million.  I just wish we had included money and gotten something better.  I really hope we don't sign over the hill guys and then block our younger and out of option players from playing time and decent evaluations.

I agree with you on the return. It would have been nice to get a package that was a little more exciting. 

2 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

I think if Tucker signed with the Mets, the Mets wouldn't have traded for Robert. Now what other team would have taken even $18 million of his contract? 

All of them. Let’s make up more scenarios in which we have no idea how it would play out. 

1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Think it's already been redeployed in the form of Murakami

Not according to Getz. 

27 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Getz is saying that the Sox are now going to be very busy. 

 

 

You will excuse me after the whole idea that they were perfectly happy with Luis Robert and keeping him because they wanted him crap of 5 seconds ago.

4 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

I think if Tucker signed with the Mets, the Mets wouldn't have traded for Robert. Now what other team would have taken even $18 million of his contract? Chances are, whoever they get from here on out this offseason, there will be some wastes of money.

I believe that if there was a question of whether they'd be able to move Robert or not, they wouldn't have picked up the option. 

5 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:

Not according to Getz. 

I really doubt they will reallocate the full $20M. What are they going to spend on? Conforto for a few mill, Nick Martinez or Griffin Canning? That's maybe $10M right there.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by Bob Sacamano

2 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I believe that if there was a question of whether they'd be able to move Robert or not, they wouldn't have picked up the option. 

There was a huge question and Getz just admitted it. He's going to get active now becuase he has money to spend. Why, because Robert is gone. If they knew he would be gone, they could have become active long ago.

5 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

It goes to the He CoUlDn"T hAvE gOtTeN vAlUe trash floating out there about this apparently being the ONLY time they could have traded Robert, and therefore this return now can rush to be justified by the HeGetzUs crew.

The alternate caps/lower case phrase only really refers to the 2023-24 off-season. Robert then got injured in the third game of the 2024 season, was out 2 months, then came back diminished. We're all doing the same thing, which is trying to make sense of baseball conduct after the fact. I find it easier to believe that the front office is dealing with issues in a rational way rather than believing that a couple dozen career front office people operate in a constant haze of stupidity, and that even good moves are bad because reasons. 

5 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I really doubt they will reallocate the full $20M. What are they going to spend on? Conforto for a few mill, Nick Martinez or Griffin Canning? That's maybe $10M right there.

Need to add a mid tier SP now. 

19 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Another infielder….always on the other teams’ terms.  Hard to see the urgency to come away with this deal.

But let’s see how he spends the $20 million.

 at least 10 ST invites

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

The alternate caps/lower case phrase only really refers to the 2023-24 off-season. Robert then got injured in the third game of the 2024 season, was out 2 months, then came back diminished. We're all doing the same thing, which is trying to make sense of baseball conduct after the fact. I find it easier to believe that the front office is dealing with issues in a rational way rather than believing that a couple dozen career front office people operate in a constant haze of stupidity, and that even good moves are bad because reasons. 

I'm really starting to believe you are John Schriffen.

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

The alternate caps/lower case phrase only really refers to the 2023-24 off-season. Robert then got injured in the third game of the 2024 season, was out 2 months, then came back diminished. We're all doing the same thing, which is trying to make sense of baseball conduct after the fact. I find it easier to believe that the front office is dealing with issues in a rational way rather than believing that a couple dozen career front office people operate in a constant haze of stupidity, and that even good moves are bad because reasons. 

Trying to make sense of exactly what always happened, happening again... But they are dealing with things in a rational way.  Those two things together is rich.

9 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

You will excuse me after the whole idea that they were perfectly happy with Luis Robert and keeping him because they wanted him crap of 5 seconds ago.

 

4 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

There was a huge question and Getz just admitted it. He's going to get active now becuase he has money to spend. Why, because Robert is gone. If they knew he would be gone, they could have become active long ago.

It's so long ago, I can't seem to remember. They signed Murakami this off-season, right? Like, they didn't think he'd be available, but then he just fell into their laps at a great discount. Again, I find it easier to believe Getz felt he had a good chance of trading Robert, but if he didn't, they'd be fine with him in CF rather than to believe that nobody in the White Sox front office has any idea what they're doing, and they're regularly perplexed at the silence from the other end of a phone connection when they ask for a Crochet package in return for Robert. 

5 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

Need to add a mid tier SP now. 

Who would you add? I think Giolito is unlikely as the bridge is burned. Bassitt probably wants a 2-year deal and will probably be at least $15M. The mid-tier is too expensive for Jerry's taste.

2 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Who would you add? I think Giolito is unlikely as the bridge is burned. Bassitt probably wants a 2-year deal and will probably be at least $15M. The mid-tier is too expensive for Jerry's taste.

Canning (I think he will suck)