I know it's the offseason and it's a slow time, but is there a specific day or something until we can start signing free agents? I get a little miffed when I see threads in here saying that Peter Gammons reports we signed Jarret Wright and there's deals pending with the Marlins, etc. and then go to the Sox main site and see nothing but month-old news.

 

I get a little annoyed when I hear Reinsdorf let KW raise team payroll, yet all we've done is let some people go and sign Garland. Hip-hip-horray. :headshake

 

What is the holdup? Why are we sitting on our asses? Sorry to rant, but it would be nice to see a little more motivation from the front office and a sense of urgency to beat other teams out to sign players that will put the Sox ahead of the rest of the teams in our division.

 

This is Chicago, the 3rd-largest city in the country, not some f***ing map dot in Wyoming. It's time to start acting like it. Cripes.

The deadline to offer arbitration and the winter meetings are holding things up for all major league teams, not just the Sox. Look around baseball as a whole, how many big signings have happened anywhere?

Arbitration......there will start to be a lot of movement after next Tuesday.

The deadline to offer arbitration and the winter meetings are holding things up for all major league teams, not just the Sox.  Look around baseball as a whole, how many big signings have happened anywhere?

Damn you Spammer.

Damn you Spammer.  

Quickest post in the midwest partner

Dec 7 is the last day teams can offer arbitration to their players. If we sign someone before then then we have to give up a draft pick. We we sign them after that then we don't have to give up a draft pick.

 

Also, alot of players are getting alot of attention (Pavano, Wright, etc.) so the longer they wait the more they end up getting in the end.

Relax partner. The majority of the teams in baseball haven't done a damn thing. Right now things are par for the course. Enjoy some football.

I know it's the offseason and it's a slow time, but is there a specific day or something until we can start signing free agents?  I get a little miffed when I see threads in here saying that Peter Gammons reports we signed Jarret Wright and there's deals pending with the Marlins, etc. and then go to the Sox main site and see nothing but month-old news.

 

I get a little annoyed when I hear Reinsdorf let KW raise team payroll, yet all we've done is let some people go and sign Garland.  Hip-hip-horray. :headshake

 

What is the holdup?  Why are we sitting on our asses?  Sorry to rant, but it would be nice to see a little more motivation from the front office and a sense of urgency to beat other teams out to sign players that will put the Sox ahead of the rest of the teams in our division. 

 

This is Chicago, the 3rd-largest city in the country, not some f***ing map dot in Wyoming.  It's time to start acting like it.  Cripes.

Don't insult Wyoming like that please. That's hitting pretty close to home. Your nearly lost your credibility with me.

Dec 7 is the last day teams can offer arbitration to their players. If we sign someone before then then we have to give up a draft pick. We we sign them after that then we don't have to give up a draft pick.

That's not necessarily true, though I do believe you know what you mean, and it just came out wrong.

 

If you sign someone right now, it is almost a guarantee you will give up a draft pick, while if you sign someone after December 7th, you may or may not have to give up a draft pick, depending upon whether the original team offered the player arbitration.

 

In Jaret Wright's case, the team who signs him will almost undoubtedly have to give up a draft pick for him, because Atlanta will offer him arbitration.

Ah, gotcha. Sorry. I really wasn't aware of this whole December 7 thing and all of this arbitration bally-hoo. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

Enjoy some football? As a life-long Packer fan who is spoiled to still have Brett Favre after going through the Lynn Dickey, Randy Wright, etc. years - yes I am enjoying some football as of late. Thanks.

 

No insult to Wyoming intended - simply making a point about the Sox always approaching things like a small-market team.

Relax partner.  The majority of the teams in baseball haven't done a damn thing.  Right now things are par for the course.

More the reason to jump in and quickly sign desired players.

 

If Williams decides to feed us (fans) bulls*** about observing market trends, or waiting for highly priced free agents to find their respective clubs, then we're lessening our chances of signing reasonable talent.

 

If Jaret Wright is sought after by this organization, Williams should exhaust every effort to immediately ink a contract. When the Yanks/Angels/Orioles/Tigers have missed out on Class A FA's, their sights will fall on the players within our price range. And when this occurs, Williams results to signing Shawn Chacon.

If Jaret Wright is sought after by this organization, Williams should exhaust every effort to immediately ink a contract.  When the Yanks/Angels/Orioles/Tigers have missed out on Class A FA's, their sights will fall on the players within our price range.

Every effort or every dollar? B/c Jaret Wright's not going to sign post haste unless we offer a surprisingly big contract. He'll wait at least to get offers from the M's, Yanks, whoever his agent is talking to. So what kind of offer would you be willing to make to get him in a Sox uniform immediately?

i think I would offer 3/$18 with performance (30 starts/under 3.5 ERA/All-Star/ALDS/ALCS/WS MVP, etc) bonuses that could give him another $500,000 a year.

Every effort or every dollar?  B/c Jaret Wright's not going to sign post haste unless we offer a surprisingly big contract.  He'll wait at least to get offers from the M's, Yanks, whoever his agent is talking to.  So what kind of offer would you be willing to make to get him in a Sox uniform immediately?

You're absolutely right he'll seek more attractive offers. But what's the alternative to offering Pedro Martinez (as an example) more money/years then other suitors? Waiting for Shawn Chacon or equally mediocre pitchers to fall in the Free Agent recycling bin? If this organization is looking to signifcantly improve this team, they'll have to overpay for quality talent.

You're absolutely right he'll seek more attractive offers.  But what's the alternative to offering Jaret Wright (as an example) more money/years then other suitors?  Waiting for Shawn Chacon or equally mediocre pitchers to fall in the Free Agent recycling bin?  If this organization is looking to signifcantly improve this team, they'll have to overpay for quality talent.

If they have good talent scouts (I know Anthrax, KW isn't one of them) then you find the hidden gems that are on the upside (possibly Wright). The ones that everyone else has given up on (Escobar). Overpaying isn't always the way to do it. See: Florida Marlins - 2003.

If they have good talent scouts (I know Anthrax, KW isn't one of them) then you find the hidden gems that are on the upside (possibly Wright).  The ones that everyone else has given up on (Escobar).  Overpaying isn't always the way to do it.  See: Florida Marlins - 2003.

People are bored and want their free agents now.

You're absolutely right he'll seek more attractive offers.  But what's the alternative to offering Jaret Wright (as an example) more money/years then other suitors?  Waiting for Shawn Chacon or equally mediocre pitchers to fall in the Free Agent recycling bin?  If this organization is looking to signifcantly improve this team, they'll have to overpay for quality talent.

No, clearly we'll have to outbid other teams to sign him anyway. But to get him to sign immediately, we'd have to put up an offer significantly higher than he thinks he's going to get. O/w he'll wait it out. Would you be willing to sign him for (say) $7 mil+ a year for 3 years? Or do you think he'd agree to something less than that?

Cant you wait like one week for alot free agent start moving? I mean teams can still offer arbitration to players. I know everyone wants whitesox makes moves right away and they will make moves. Kenny has done some great things for orginzation. Only part I hate his the money issue with Reinsdorf. But, the point I make is look at starting staff compared to 2000. I know whitesox want one more guy and you know what once we get bullpen guy and starting pitcher I will be fine.

Hey we'll go get them. If not, you can always go to soxfest and b****! You win either way

Would you be willing to sign him for (say) $7 mil+ a year for 3 years?  Or do you think he'd agree to something less than that?

Absolutey. I question Wright's health/endurance, but understand there's not many talented pitchers (on the market) without their question marks.

 

Of all our offseason acquisitions, the most important should be solidifying the rotation. It would be nice to begin 05' with one less concern to address midseason. The 5th starters position has effectively kept this team from the playoffs two straight seasons. Besides Wright, Perez may be the best pitcher available within our budget constraints. If our choices are limited, might as well select what's best.

 

Of course this is the Chicago White Sox. Money serves no purpose when you have a minor league system to bargain with.

Absolutey.  I question Wright's health/endurance, but understand there's not many talented pitchers (on the market) without their question marks. 

 

Of all our offseason acquisitions, the most important should be solidifying the rotation.  It would be nice to begin 05' with one less concern to address midseason. The 5th starters position has effectively kept this team from the playoffs two straight seasons. Besides Wright, Perez may be the best pitcher available within our budget constraints.  If our choices are limited, might as well select what's best.

 

Of course this is the Chicago White Sox.  Money serves no purpose when you have a minor league system to bargain with.

I absolutely agree w/ what you said about the starting rotation. But almost all the fa starting pitchers are still available. Why the rush to sign one immediately? Especially when it'll cost more upfront, I'm content to wait.

Why the rush to sign one immediately?  Especially when it'll cost more upfront, I'm content to wait.

But I want an oompa loompa now!