Have to give the Cubs credit. They are augmenting a strong young corps with the pieces they need. And if you think they are spending money right now just wait till they start their own TV network by 2020.

 

I don't know what the Sox can do, if anything, to counter this. Yes pennants aren't won in January but the Sox continue to be considered an after thought in their own home market.

 

That is going to impact fair weather fans, potential advertising and marketing dollars and opportunities and last but not least the money they are going to be able to get when their TV contract expires.

 

Given they are dead last in RSN viewership (according to both Fan Graphs and ESPN.com) they are only dreaming if they think they'll get anything close to the billion dollar deals being handed out most recently to the Cardinals over the summer.

 

I truly believe now more than ever new ownership and a complete housecleaning on the baseball side of the front office is desperately needed.

 

Mark

 

 

Gordon Wittenmyer ‏@GDubCub 22m22 minutes ago

As expected, Heyward signed to play CF. Cubs plan to keep Soler in RF at this point (Schwarber LF)

Well Rick Hahn would just give us some lip service on not paying attention to what they are doing

Edited December 11, 201510 yr by Baron

Also, for those of you who want a full rebuild to replicate the Cubs' path, remember that they are where they are right now partly due to a couple lopsided trades (Rizzo, Russell), a pitcher coming out of nowhere to become a top 5 pitcher, and spending almost half a billion dollars in two offseasons in free agency. We'd never be able to do all that.

Gordon Wittenmyer ‏@GDubCub 22m22 minutes ago

As expected, Heyward signed to play CF. Cubs plan to keep Soler in RF at this point (Schwarber LF)

 

 

Heyward is going to be sprinting across the whole damn field

The White Sox are going to end up in Portland or Carolina in the next few years if they aren't careful. Watch.

 

We're doomed.

 

That may happen anyway and it has nothing to do with this. Once the Sox are up for a new TV deal it is going to be very interesting to see what happens. The Cubs deal will be up the same year I believe. The Sox are going to have to get an amount that will allow them to compete with what other teams are getting and to do so may have to look at another market that is not quite as saturated with content.

That's...weird logic.

Where does this leave Cespedes,Upton, Gordon?

 

Have to give the Cubs credit. They are augmenting a strong young corps with the pieces they need. And if you think they are spending money right now just wait till they start their own TV network by 2020.

 

I don't know what the Sox can do, if anything, to counter this. Yes pennants aren't won in January but the Sox continue to be considered an after thought in their own home market.

 

That is going to impact fair weather fans, potential advertising and marketing dollars and opportunities and last but not least the money they are going to be able to get when their TV contract expires.

 

Given they are dead last in RSN viewership (according to both Fan Graphs and ESPN.com) they are only dreaming if they think they'll get anything close to the billion dollar deals being handed out most recently to the Cardinals over the summer.

 

I truly believe now more than ever new ownership and a complete housecleaning on the baseball side of the front office is desperately needed.

 

Mark

They've been doomed since the ballpark mistake. The state doesn't have the money to build the damn things anymore and the Sox sure as hell dont either.

 

Chicago'a demographics are changing pretty rapidly. As the B1G frats and Naperville transplants empty out into more and more of Chicago'a geographic area the Sox watch their old base be replaced by fans ripe for the Cubs' taking.

Have to give the Cubs credit. They are augmenting a strong young corps with the pieces they need. And if you think they are spending money right now just wait till they start their own TV network by 2020.

 

I don't know what the Sox can do, if anything, to counter this. Yes pennants aren't won in January but the Sox continue to be considered an after thought in their own home market.

 

That is going to impact fair weather fans, potential advertising and marketing dollars and opportunities and last but not least the money they are going to be able to get when their TV contract expires.

 

Given they are dead last in RSN viewership (according to both Fan Graphs and ESPN.com) they are only dreaming if they think they'll get anything close to the billion dollar deals being handed out most recently to the Cardinals over the summer.

 

I truly believe now more than ever new ownership and a complete housecleaning on the baseball side of the front office is desperately needed.

 

Mark

This move has not changed the fact that the sox are an afterthought. They have been since 1984. The sox are like the mets of new york. They each would need to win 4 world series in the next decade to not be the afterthoughts.

Wouldn't be that shocking if Cubs were going after Jose Fernandez this entire time. Soler/Baez/Contreras/Hendricks/Torres could easily get it done.

Doubt it. Morosi on MLB network mentioned 4 of those guys in a package, and Heyman said it wouldn't rent him for a week.

So guesses on where the outfielders go:

 

Gordon: Cardinals

Upton: Giants

Davis (not an OF): Orioles

Fowler: Mets

Cespedes: Tigers

This is actually good for the White Sox. Jerry and his investors are running a business and the Cubs have totally passed the White Sox (I realize the Cubs have always had more fans/media, etc., but the Sox have been the better franchise for quite some time now until last year and the foreseeable future). Acquiring Lawrie and a pair of journeymen catchers doesn't cut it in the interest department.

Sox are going to have to spend some mega bucks and get some players people care about besides Abreu and Sale. Sox are gonna have to start competing for the division title again because Cub mania is here and you better believe the Sox beancounters have noticed.

 

Crowds of 12,000 to 20,000 all year won't be attracting any advertising dollars/media contracts, whatever. Anybody with a buck that's not located on the far South Side will be gripped in Cub mania for years to come. It's counter time, White Sox.

Spending exorbitant amounts of money does not guarantee a winning team. There have been numerous examples of this in the past and recent history. Look at the money the Sox dropped last season and still couldn't play .500 ball. Acquiring/developing the right players is the key.

 

I give the cubs credit for going for it but by no means does their spending guarantee anything except a high payroll. On paper they appear to be a better team than they were and we'll see if that translates into wins next season.

 

 

If he really only got 184 for 8 years like what's being rumored, then that should help the Sox chances if they want to go after Upton, etc.

So guesses on where the outfielders go:

 

Gordon: Cardinals

Upton: Giants

Davis (not an OF): Orioles

Fowler: Mets

Cespedes: Tigers

 

f*** we need to sign someone.

f*** we need to sign someone.

 

If they get a big bat, it would be a trade I truly believe (Cargo and Frazier the top two candidates)

So guesses on where the outfielders go:

 

Gordon: Cardinals

Upton: Giants

Davis (not an OF): Orioles

Fowler: Mets

Cespedes: Tigers

 

I think I would be pretty shocked if the Sox didnt get one of those guys unless they make a trade for an OF. Hahn seems pretty intent on getting some more offense.

 

If they had Frazier they may not get an OF as well.

So guesses on where the outfielders go:

 

Gordon: Cardinals

Upton: Giants

Davis (not an OF): Orioles

Fowler: Mets

Cespedes: Tigers

I agree gordon to the cardinals is a forgone conclusion, although it may be upton. They will surelygivethe next highest contract ifthey were offering 200 million to heyward.

 

I think what most people foget is that this is the backup plan for the cubs. This money was earmarked for price, who turned them down. They weren't going to offer 2 of these types of contracts.

This move has not changed the fact that the sox are an afterthought. They have been since 1984. The sox are like the mets of new york. They each would need to win 4 world series in the next decade to not be the afterthoughts.

If the White Sox went on a run, similar to that of the Angels in the 2000's, I think they would quickly grow in popularity / dominance. I don't think it takes sustained world series, it takes a world series along with sustained playoff contention (and playoff appearances). The Sox had shots to capitalize but could never actually put that consistent run of getting into the playoffs together. You look back over the Ken Williams era (as GM / president) and I can think of very few cases where the actual record was better than the perceived talent level. I can think of a hell of a lot of situations where the actual record was worse than the perceived talent level. Not sure what that means. Bad roster architect, bad luck, poor coaching or what, but that is a pretty long-term trend that has popped up during Kenny's time at the helm.

This is a nice move for the cubs no doubt.

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind. Heyward moving to center decreases his defensive advantage. The contract will be a bad one based on AAV the moment he signs it.

 

The cub were built on a young core and clubhouse continuity. You have some players in that clubhouse now that have performed to a higher degree that are being paid much less.

 

They still need to pay Arrieta who is represented by Boras. Boras already has a grievance filed against the cubs.

That may happen anyway and it has nothing to do with this. Once the Sox are up for a new TV deal it is going to be very interesting to see what happens. The Cubs deal will be up the same year I believe. The Sox are going to have to get an amount that will allow them to compete with what other teams are getting and to do so may have to look at another market that is not quite as saturated with content.

 

 

I think the Rays are the only other team who has a better chance of moving. They still don't have a stadium deal, so they? I seriously wouldn't be surprised if we lost the White Sox. Name another team in MLB with a future as bleak as ours. Keep in mind... most other teams don't have to deal with a juggernaut in the same city. And the ones that do (Mets, Angels, etc) actually compete.

 

 

 

 

Where does this leave Cespedes,Upton, Gordon?

 

 

Angels, Giants and Cardinals.

184/8 is not bad at all, find it hard to believe no one offered 200M, and if someone did I find it even harder to believe that Heyward would leave that much on the table.

I think Hayward's defensive value decreases with his move to the Cubs. Wrigely doesn't have a lot of real estate in the outfield, which limits some of Heyward's defensive upside. That said @ 23M a year, I can't argue this deal one bit from the Cubs perspective. They have a nice window and they are looking to maximize it.

 

From the Sox perspective, the downside to this is it means Cespedes / Upton / Gordon suitors still include the Cards (+ maybe Angels / Giants / Nats / others who lost out on Heyward). Will be curious to see how quickly their markets move. Presume Cards will look at Gordon. I would be quite pleased with either Gordon or Upton.

Glad this saga is done. Now let's get our OFer