https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/50292274/early-2027-season-power-rankings

Years ago, Bill James coined the "Plexiglas Principle": Teams that improve dramatically in one season tend to decline the next season (and teams that suffer a big decline tend to bounce back). While the White Sox have an exciting young core, after a 24-win improvement from 2025 to 2026, they might fall prey to this theory. They're thin on the pitching side of things, and the offense wasn't as good in the second half, as the strikeouts started piling up.

The good news is that general manager Chris Getz has a lot of payroll room to bolster the staff in free agency if that's the direction the franchise chooses. Indeed, it's a long shot, since the White Sox have never signed a $100 million free agent, but making a play for Skubal could be a possible scenario.

Edited yesterday at 08:06 AM1 day by caulfield12

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Indeed, it's a long shot, since the White Sox have never signed a $100 million free agent, but making a play for Skubal could be a possible scenario.

I kind of like that Cleveland and Detroit are ahead of them.

Honestly, most Sox fans would be absolutely elated if they added in FA or extensions (Vargas??) half the amount Skubal's going to get in new/offseason commitments...let's say $175-200 million.

The Brewers' biggest moves a year ago were the Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara extensions...and wishcasting Brandon Woodruff for one year.

"Christian Yelich regressed, Brandon Woodruff missed most of the year with shoulder trouble, and trade deadline additions Dustin May and Antonio Senzatela have been complementary pieces at best."

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/news/brewers-payroll-breakdown-milwaukee-world-series/fb7325c5b9370e1a2684c644

"The Brewers rank 19th in baseball with a $146.2 million payroll, behind a group of 18 teams that includes the 62-100 Angels, 65-97 Giants and 69-93 Royals."

Edited yesterday at 12:31 PM1 day by caulfield12

The Sox will not sign Skubal, Peralta or King imo but they should have the money to sign 2 starting pitchers in free agency from the group of Holmes, Gausman, Rogers, and Griffin. Not saying they will but they definitely should have the money to do so. Getting starting pitching to provide quality innings later into games should help with any regression.

7 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/50292274/early-2027-season-power-rankings

Years ago, Bill James coined the "Plexiglas Principle": Teams that improve dramatically in one season tend to decline the next season (and teams that suffer a big decline tend to bounce back). While the White Sox have an exciting young core, after a 24-win improvement from 2025 to 2026, they might fall prey to this theory. They're thin on the pitching side of things, and the offense wasn't as good in the second half, as the strikeouts started piling up.

The good news is that general manager Chris Getz has a lot of payroll room to bolster the staff in free agency if that's the direction the franchise chooses. Indeed, it's a long shot, since the White Sox have never signed a $100 million free agent, but making a play for Skubal could be a possible scenario.

THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT!!!!!!

1 hour ago, wegner said:

The Sox will not sign Skubal, Peralta or King imo but they should have the money to sign 2 starting pitchers in free agency from the group of Holmes, Gausman, Rogers, and Griffin. Not saying they will but they definitely should have the money to do so. Getting starting pitching to provide quality innings later into games should help with any regression.

As long as Jerry is owner, I expect that payroll flexibility to be spread among B-level free agents past their prime. Castillo is a hint of what to expect.

(Replace "kids" with "Sox" below)

Edited yesterday at 03:58 PM1 day by 77 Hitmen

4 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT!!!!!!

Do we have unprecedented financial flexibility again??

2 minutes ago, wegner said:

Do we have unprecedented financial flexibility again??

At least Getz doesn't have that lawyer-speak way of totally bullshitting us like the last guy did.

1 hour ago, wegner said:

The Sox will not sign Skubal, Peralta or King imo but they should have the money to sign 2 starting pitchers in free agency from the group of Holmes, Gausman, Rogers, and Griffin. Not saying they will but they definitely should have the money to do so. Getting starting pitching to provide quality innings later into games should help with any regression.

Rogers should be around $75-85 million, and would still constitute the biggest Sox contract ever...

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Rogers should be around $75-85 million, and would still constitute the biggest Sox contract ever...

So are you fer it or again it?

And if those were his numbers then yes they probably would not be getting other starting pitching unless you were to count Fedde or maybe Newcomb in that mix.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

At least Getz doesn't have that lawyer-speak way of totally bullshitting us like the last guy did.

GarPax and Hahn both had the same PR mumbo jumbo of "flexibility". As if "flexibility" has ever won a single championship, or for that matter, a lack of it preventing a roster shuffle. There's almost no contract that can't be traded with the right incentives, JR teams just rarely utilize those.

4 hours ago, wegner said:

So are you fer it or again it?

And if those were his numbers then yes they probably would not be getting other starting pitching unless you were to count Fedde or maybe Newcomb in that mix.

Personally would rather add Seiya Suzuki, Taira and let the chips fall where they may...but I'm not completely objective about Japanese players in all likelihood with so much time spent travelling there since Covid.

In actuality, the Rays and Brewers are both the closest thing to Japanese style teams in the majors.

Sluggers like Mune Seiya Ohtani and Sato are the clearest exceptions to the rule over there.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by caulfield12

6 hours ago, wegner said:

Do we have unprecedented financial flexibility again??

Only for premium talent.

1 hour ago, GreenSox said:

Only for premium talent.

That's a very short list this off season.

Skubal King Sato S.Suzuki Peralta B.Lowe Arozarena Morejon

Bichette off market alteady

Chisholm has the talent but putting it all together consistently?

SB Nation

Ranking the 40 best MLB free agents after the World Series

Let’s rank the best available MLB free agents.

Holmes Rogers Gray in that next price tier down for pitching

Jeffers would be a prime target if not for the presence of Teel

Edited 17 hours ago17 hr by caulfield12

You know when I was 11 - White Sox had a good team and then went on strike and we came back and added Albert Belle. It didn’t work as designed but was great idea.

My son is now 11 and Sox have a good team and baseball is at risk…can history repeat itself and we see them come out of the labor dispute with a Tarik Skubal or some other uncharacteristic splash move…this time with a better long term outcome!

10 hours ago, Chisoxfn said:

You know when I was 11 - White Sox had a good team and then went on strike and we came back and added Albert Belle. It didn’t work as designed but was great idea.

My son is now 11 and Sox have a good team and baseball is at risk…can history repeat itself and we see them come out of the labor dispute with a Tarik Skubal or some other uncharacteristic splash move…this time with a better long term outcome!

No

10 hours ago, Chisoxfn said:

You know when I was 11 - White Sox had a good team and then went on strike and we came back and added Albert Belle. It didn’t work as designed but was great idea.

My son is now 11 and Sox have a good team and baseball is at risk…can history repeat itself and we see them come out of the labor dispute with a Tarik Skubal or some other uncharacteristic splash move…this time with a better long term outcome!

The story behind Belle wasn't that clean, and it wasn't the same year.

Next year will be the development year. It was put on hold this year. We still need to see what the younger pitchers are capable of.

1 hour ago, kitekrazy1 said:

Next year will be the development year. It was put on hold this year. We still need to see what the younger pitchers are capable of.

Staying healthy instead of blowing out their arms would be a great start.

Sox were 29th or 30th last year, so my grains of salt are massive.