Take a look at the actual numbers, there's $30 million or so coming off the books as it is, and another $25 million in the national TV deal. I know they won't spend all $55 million of that since the attendance has gone down, but even if people aren't moved, there's got to be $25 million or more to spend if they choose to.

I just don't see them using it. I think this years payroll was a little high and they extended themselves assuming they compete. I see them cutting quite a bit off the books. I really don't see them going into 2014 with anything close to a $100M payroll. I might be mistaken but I truly don't. Peavy & Konerko coming off the books will clear a good amount of room, but if you move Rios, Ramirez, and Dunn, now you are talking about all kinds of room. In fact, in the old days, that would have been the kind of room that could have made them major players on the international market (although I fully expect them to be this upcoming years given that they'll have a large pool thanks to being so s***ty this year).

 

Edit: I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox potentially buy in the next year or two. Targeting younger players who they could extend (from teams that may not want to offer some of those contracts to). I really don't see them offering any major LT deals on the FA market this off-season. Figure its more likely they'll sit around and go after some guys that sit around and sign them to one year value deals and then look to spin them off if the team isn't in contention. If it is in contention, they would be in a position to potentially add assets (+ have payroll flexibility).

There would be a lot less flexibility if Dunn, Rios, and Alexei aren't traded. In fact, I'm going to imagine the club would have minimal flexibility (given I'd expect lower attendance, etc).

It's hard to believe they'd take lesser prospects for Peavy so they don't pay salary; yet they aren't trying to dump Rios and Alexei and their high salaries.

I just don't see them using it. I think this years payroll was a little high and they extended themselves assuming they compete. I see them cutting quite a bit off the books. I really don't see them going into 2014 with anything close to a $100M payroll. I might be mistaken but I truly don't. Peavy & Konerko coming off the books will clear a good amount of room, but if you move Rios, Ramirez, and Dunn, now you are talking about all kinds of room. In fact, in the old days, that would have been the kind of room that could have made them major players on the international market (although I fully expect them to be this upcoming years given that they'll have a large pool thanks to being so s***ty this year).

 

Edit: I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox potentially buy in the next year or two. Targeting younger players who they could extend (from teams that may not want to offer some of those contracts to). I really don't see them offering any major LT deals on the FA market this off-season. Figure its more likely they'll sit around and go after some guys that sit around and sign them to one year value deals and then look to spin them off if the team isn't in contention. If it is in contention, they would be in a position to potentially add assets (+ have payroll flexibility).

Let me put it this way, if I were in their chairs, I'd look at "Spend another $25 million this offseason to fill 1-2 holes and try to go into next season loaded" as the fallback position in the event that I didn't get satisfactory offers for the guys currently being shopped. That kind of money should fill the 1b hole, provide several bullpen arms, and probaby a bat that can be worked in part time in the corner OF position should Viciedo continue to be awful. That's enough to give this team a shot next year if they can find a manager who can remind them of how to call for a baseball rather than tripping over the pitcher's mound.

 

They ought to have the money to do it, it's hard to believe they don't have the money to do that, but it may not even be the preferred route. It should be there as leverage.

So all the teams will be flush with money and the FA market is terrible. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

I think a lot of teams have already expanded their payrolls with knowledge of that extra $25 million coming next year. The average salary of players will probably adjust for that $25 million over a few years, but I think this offseason you won't see as many teams going on a shopping spree as you might think.

I think a lot of teams have already expanded their payrolls with knowledge of that extra $25 million coming next year. The average salary of players will probably adjust for that $25 million over a few years, but I think this offseason you won't see as many teams going on a shopping spree as you might think.

It's also not like the Marlins are going to spend that money, and the Yankees will have a bu nch to spend but they're also trying to get under the luxury tax threshold.

https://twitter.com/MDGonzales/status/361945049682022400

 

 

https://twitter.com/MDGonzales/status/361945049682022400

Of course he's gone. It makes zero sense to keep him unless he wants to agree to a team friendly extension today.

https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/361953361836244992

 

Say yes, and move on to the next thing.

https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/361953361836244992

 

Say yes, and move on to the next thing.

 

 

yeah take our limited return for Crain and focus on the impoartant/crucial things like trying to move Peavy, Rios & Alexei

Marc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays 18m

 

#Rays Maddon says deal for Crain "is a possibility but I'm not 100 percent sure where it's at."

If #Rays make deal with #WhiteSox it would be to keep Crain. Also would not give up player on big league roster.

 

Marc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays 18m

 

#Rays Maddon says deal for Crain "is a possibility but I'm not 100 percent sure where it's at."

If #Rays make deal with #WhiteSox it would be to keep Crain. Also would not give up player on big league roster.

 

done deal per Buster Onley twitter

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 52s

Jesse Crain has been dealt to Tampa Bay, according to a source.

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done deal per Buster Onley twitter

Yes!

 

Uhh...maybe it was for Price and Longoria!

Ok, time to shift this to a "Crain traded" thread.

Hopefully this is the first of many dominoes.

SO IT BEGINS!

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 26s

Hear #Whitesox get future cons

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Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 21s

Deal is done #Rays get Crain from ##Chisox for future considerations

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Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 26s

Hear #Whitesox get future cons

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Really? I was expecting it to be past cons

So how do these types of trades work? Is there a PTBNL set of player names decided on between teams, and if Crain hits a performance benchmark...the Sox get to pick from the better of the two lists?

I wonder what the Sox are getting. I hope we get one impact prospect out of this.

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 26s

Hear #Whitesox get future cons

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sucks that this is the case.. but in reality it is the best return we could hope for.. considering we could get a much better player if jesse performs well or at least pitches

He says complicated deal, lets wait for the details.

Really? I was expecting it to be past cons

 

Maybe a past and future con like Aaron Hernandez?

I love this deal in that all the people yearning for something to happen essentially dont get what they wanted, even right now