4 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

It’s already around $100 million without new deals for Fedde or Newcomb…

Ok, you think the Sox are going to rock a $100M payroll next year after making the playoffs and seeing a huge increase in attendance and fan interest? Just for perspective, the median payroll in baseball this year is $175M. And MLB is pushing for a minimum payroll of like $170M. But yes, the White Sox will break all historical precedents and rock a bottom payroll after making a playoff run.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Ok, you think the Sox are going to rock a $100M payroll next year after making the playoffs and seeing a huge increase in attendance and fan interest? Just for perspective, the median payroll in baseball this year is $175M. And MLB is pushing for a minimum payroll of like $170M. But yes, the White Sox will break all historical precedents and rock a bottom payroll after making a playoff run.

You’re underestimating the impact of the CBA uncertainty

2 minutes ago, fathom said:

You’re underestimating the impact of the CBA uncertainty

You’re over-estimating. If there is any sort of offseason before a lockout, most free agents won’t be signed until after it settles.

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

You’re over-estimating. If there is any sort of offseason before a lockout, most free agents won’t be signed until after it settles.

The heavy rumor is free agents will try to sign before the lockout

also, while attendance obviously increased, the bigger concern as to why the payroll won’t go up as much as we hope is the TV distribution issues that still exist. I would love to be wrong and see a 160 million dollar payroll with a starting pitcher, closer and Seiya added and extensions to a few guys.

6 minutes ago, fathom said:

You’re underestimating the impact of the CBA uncertainty

There’s no way the Sox haven’t acquired an expensive pitcher bottom line when they resume playing. Unless someone unfathomably wants to trade them a cheap ace. No way. Somebody is being added, and it won’t be cheap. If the Sox neglected this team, come at them. But I doubt they will.

45 minutes ago, fathom said:

The heavy rumor is free agents will try to sign before the lockout

That was like last time. It was fun when there were a ton of moves to follow leading up to the lockout deadline.

It's sad that I wouldn't even pencil in our 3 best pitching prospects coming into this year into the rotation.

Locks: Burke, Martin, Castillo (contract), Kay (adding enough/guys getting promoted can add him to the bullpen in a long-relief/extra starter role)

I would sign 2 SP bumping everyone down the depth chart. Teams need as many guys they can count on as possible.

Martin was Top 5 in mlb or least the AL for 2-3 months, almost made the All Star team...pretty darned terrible for three full months and then good again down the stretch.

Could go the way of Shane Smith or re-establish himself as a rotation mainstay.

Or anywhere in between and it wouldn't be much of a surprise.

But don't see many clamoring for him to pitch again Saturday or this postseason.

Maybe his body is just not 100% at this point with the late season injuries...

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Ok, you think the Sox are going to rock a $100M payroll next year after making the playoffs and seeing a huge increase in attendance and fan interest? Just for perspective, the median payroll in baseball this year is $175M. And MLB is pushing for a minimum payroll of like $170M. But yes, the White Sox will break all historical precedents and rock a bottom payroll after making a playoff run.

I don't recall stating anywhere a payroll number for next year...just noted where it was at right now, which is $102 million counting Castillo.

$145-150 million is pretty close to the mid point...Detroit Tigers.

$170 was the opening owners' gambit but a realistic number is closer to $125/130.

Honestly, there's not more than 8-12 FA pitchers they could realistically be in on.

All of the FA position players have major flaws.

While a Chisholm here or Seiya Suzuki or Alec Bohm or whoever would be nice...not counting on it.

Sato is also out of their realistic range.

Betting over under, would put 2027 payroll around $125-130 million when all is said and done unless there really is an immediate floor instituted...don't think there's enough of a talent out there to manage that (getting every MLB team to let's call it $145 million) before the end of 2028-2029.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by caulfield12

10 hours ago, wegner said:

That 4 inning save was stellar....it also might have gassed him. Taylor gave up some long outs in game 2 and well he looked awful today.

Yeah well obviously the playoffs are a different situation, but hopefully our manager will have the brains to manage the staff better. And hopefully there will be a better staff to manage as well.

But I do fully expect at least 1, if not both Hagen and Taylor, to be tried as a SP next year. We are likely still years away from this organization acquiring legit SP so have to make due with what’s here.

3 minutes ago, TheFutureIsNear said:

Yeah well obviously the playoffs are a different situation, but hopefully our manager will have the brains to manage the staff better. And hopefully there will be a better staff to manage as well.

But I do fully expect at least 1, if not both Hagen and Taylor, to be tried as a SP next year. We are likely still years away from this organization acquiring legit SP so have to make due with what’s here.

Ain't that the truth. I would have left Fedde in to face Ramirez. It's not like he put in a lefty to face him and other than the hit from Kwan the batter before, he was cruising. They also needed some length.

6 minutes ago, TheFutureIsNear said:

Yeah well obviously the playoffs are a different situation, but hopefully our manager will have the brains to manage the staff better. And hopefully there will be a better staff to manage as well.

But I do fully expect at least 1, if not both Hagen and Taylor, to be tried as a SP next year. We are likely still years away from this organization acquiring legit SP so have to make due with what’s here.

I don't think taylor makes it into the starting rotation next year. I definitely think they go out and acquire at least one starting pitcher. The rebuild is over. Their competitive window is now open.

12 hours ago, fathom said:

No one is taking on Castillo’s deal

The one guy who would is employed by the Chicago White Sox. The only chance to dump him would be to take on someone else's equally bad deal in return.

5 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Ok, you think the Sox are going to rock a $100M payroll next year after making the playoffs and seeing a huge increase in attendance and fan interest? Just for perspective, the median payroll in baseball this year is $175M. And MLB is pushing for a minimum payroll of like $170M. But yes, the White Sox will break all historical precedents and rock a bottom payroll after making a playoff run.

Watching the way went at the deadline did make me question this. They could have taken on all of the Castillo deal and NOT either dealt Dominguez for savings, or kept Boston Smith to make up for dollars, and we did neither.

11 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Watching the way went at the deadline did make me question this. They could have taken on all of the Castillo deal and NOT either dealt Dominguez for savings, or kept Boston Smith to make up for dollars, and we did neither.

Sox wanted cost certainty for a starting pitcher prior to the offseason.

1 minute ago, fathom said:

Sox wanted cost certainty for a starting pitcher prior to the offseason.

It's not the practice of a team who should be looking to preserve prospect capital while anticipating spending $100 million in new talent in the next season. That's all I am saying. The two things don't add up.

22 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

It's sad that I wouldn't even pencil in our 3 best pitching prospects coming into this year into the rotation.

Locks: Burke, Martin, Castillo (contract), Kay (adding enough/guys getting promoted can add him to the bullpen in a long-relief/extra starter role)

I would sign 2 SP bumping everyone down the depth chart. Teams need as many guys they can count on as possible.

First decision is what do you do with Taylor, Hagen, & Schultz. Do any of them move into the rotation to start next season? Honestly, I think you keep Taylor & Hagen in the bullpen and continue using as high leverage weapons. Neither has installed any confidence in their ability to handle a starter’s workload. Schultz is a different matter, but I’d be ok with him starting the year in the major league bullpen working as a bulk reliever to build up his confidence.

If that’s the case, then I agree we should go out and add two SPs. Burke is the only guy I am confident in right now. Castillo should be brought into camp with the intention of being part of the rotation, but he can’t be more than your #5 to start and he should have a short leash. Martin & Kay are legitimate options, but you can’t bank on them and Castillo capably filling up 60% of your rotation and feel good about your chances. Honestly, I’d probably have those three compete with Sandlin & Thorpe for the last two spots. Losers either go to the major league bullpen, our AAA rotation, or are traded.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

Watching the way went at the deadline did make me question this. They could have taken on all of the Castillo deal and NOT either dealt Dominguez for savings, or kept Boston Smith to make up for dollars, and we did neither.

I think it’s as simple as Jerry wasn’t going to let them DFA Dominguez, so this was a way around that. I don’t think it suggests they are capped at a $100M payroll.

51 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I think it’s as simple as Jerry wasn’t going to let them DFA Dominguez, so this was a way around that. I don’t think it suggests they are capped at a $100M payroll.

Again, why? If they are about to spend huge, his 10 million is peanuts.

23 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Again, why? If they are about to spend huge, his 10 million is peanuts.

Why Jerry won’t let them DFA Dominguez? Because he’s refused to do this for years.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Why Jerry won’t let them DFA Dominguez? Because he’s refused to do this for years.

If they have this much money, he would have sat on the contract until next year. No need to trade him AND have to push Smith into the deal because of it.

9 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

If they have this much money, he would have sat on the contract until next year. No need to trade him AND have to push Smith into the deal because of it.

Considering they kinda still need a high-leverage RHP, he may have had a use. He just isn't a closer. Bullpen feels so lefty now

1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Considering they kinda still need a high-leverage RHP, he may have had a use. He just isn't a closer. Bullpen feels so lefty now

He would have had a usage for sure.

Tyler Davis Brazobust and Richards aren't exactly guys you can count on.

The fact that Hicks and 97-99 mph Fedde are the two best options now before Taylor from the rh side should tell you a lot.

Ofc, jury still out on Sandlin as well.

15 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Tyler Davis Brazobust and Richards aren't exactly guys you can count on.

The fact that Hicks and 97-99 mph Fedde are the two best options now before Taylor from the rh side should tell you a lot.

Ofc, jury still out on Sandlin as well.

Davis is better than Richards. He has some skills that perhaps can be further developed.

They need to sign a starter...there are several mid-tier FA starters available.
Trading for veteran starting pitchers is a losing proposition. The Sox made a terrible buy in July...but it wasn't just the Sox - most of the buys were bad. Last Offseason -Gore, Baz. Yuk. And the Sox history this century has largely been abysmal when trading for staring pitching. The ones we've traded away have been good; perhaps that's the answer. Draft better or trade for others' young pitxhers and keep them.