Gordon becomes much more interesting at 4 or 5 years, than he does at 6.

I'd offer him 4/84.

Gordon will get 5 years, around $100 million. I'd be happy if Sox went for that.

Gordon will get 5 years, around $100 million. I'd be happy if Sox went for that.

 

Anyone worried about Gordon being 32 this year? Just wondering?

Giants deal with Cueto takes them out of Upton & Cespedes who now must concentrate on doing deals with #Angels #Cardinals #Orioles #WhiteSox

https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/676520239950008322

David Kaplan ‏@thekapman 11m11 minutes ago

Great stuff with @JimBowden_ESPN talking baseball on both sides of Chicago. He says he hears the White Sox could be in play on Cespedes.

This may be completely false, but it does seem like many of Cuban players seem to age better than other players FWIW. And again, maybe I am just thinking of a few examples in my own head and I'm wrong. Not saying this is justification to giving Cespedes a long, big contract.

 

But again, with no draft pick. I'd do $110 over 5 years for him. Mind you the biggest contract the Sox have ever given was to Abreu ... and that was for like half of that. Hard to see JR signing of on such a big deal when the team is constructed how it currently is....

This may be completely false, but it does seem like many of Cuban players seem to age better than other players FWIW. And again, maybe I am just thinking of a few examples in my own head and I'm wrong. Not saying this is justification to giving Cespedes a long, big contract.

 

But again, with no draft pick. I'd do $110 over 5 years for him. Mind you the biggest contract the Sox have ever given was to Abreu ... and that was for like half of that. Hard to see JR signing of on such a big deal when the team is constructed how it currently is....

 

i think i would like it. if this was a done deal, i think it is a win - win situation. the sox will have a nice bat in ref to the complete hit tools. when the sox goes to cuba, they will have a base of players who many cubans can relate to, and the new pr and media news, coming from that front, as well all merchandising that will open there. popularity growth.

Cespedes and Frazier? Interesting

I think I go Upton or Gordon. Both are solid OPB wise but Gordon I'd have to get a discount. Otherwise, give me the younger player in Upton.

This may be completely false, but it does seem like many of Cuban players seem to age better than other players FWIW. And again, maybe I am just thinking of a few examples in my own head and I'm wrong. Not saying this is justification to giving Cespedes a long, big contract.

 

But again, with no draft pick. I'd do $110 over 5 years for him. Mind you the biggest contract the Sox have ever given was to Abreu ... and that was for like half of that. Hard to see JR signing of on such a big deal when the team is constructed how it currently is....

JR went big at the time with Albert Belle, and was eventually saved with the opt out. Maybe something similar. Let Cespedes have a couple of stellar seasons and let someone else pay him during his decline.

 

Cespedes in RF, Thompson in CF, Eaton in LF could be the best defensive OF in baseball once Gordon moves on from KC.

 

I would rather have Upton than Cespedes because I think you are paying a bit for an outlier. But if you can get him reasonably and embrace an opt out, it could work well.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by Dick Allen

I still say give me Upton over Cespedes. Give me 6 years (3-4 prime years) of Upton for our comp pick. Upton brings power, on base skills, and base running (18 steals last year).

JR went big at the time with Albert Belle, and was eventually saved with the opt out. Maybe something similar. Let Cespedes have a couple of stellar seasons and let someone else pay him during his decline.

 

Cespedes in RF, Thompson in CF, Eaton in LF could be the best defensive OF in baseball once Gordon moves on from KC.

 

I would rather have Upton than Cespedes because I think you are paying a bit for an outlier. But if you can get him reasonably and embrace an opt out, it could work well.

I wonder if Cespedes, at his age, gets the opt out or is more focused on getting the maximum of the years. I would think a 3 year opt out makes him too old (or more risky that the opt out would be of value..I'm sure he asks for it, cause why not, but maybe odds of him truly leveraging it are less)? Unless of course it was a 2 year opt out.

 

I will point out that Cespedes has been better for 3 of the past 4 years (going purely off of WAR) than Upton. It has been a while since Upton's beast years. That said, Upton has consistently posted stronger OBP and is a pretty consistent bet to pots an .800+ OPS.

I wonder if Cespedes, at his age, gets the opt out or is more focused on getting the maximum of the years. I would think a 3 year opt out makes him too old (or more risky that the opt out would be of value..I'm sure he asks for it, cause why not, but maybe odds of him truly leveraging it are less)? Unless of course it was a 2 year opt out.

 

I will point out that Cespedes has been better for 3 of the past 4 years (going purely off of WAR) than Upton. It has been a while since Upton's beast years. That said, Upton has consistently posted stronger OBP and is a pretty consistent bet to pots an .800+ OPS.

You don't even need WAR to know Cespedes is the better player.

 

The A's were a force with Cespedes and the instant he left they immediately turned into a mediocre team. Then he went to Detroit (his stay with Boston was meaningless) where he fueled their torrid start and kept them in playoff contention right up until they traded him. Then Cespedes pushed the Mets over the Nationals and led that team to the league lead in 2nd half offense.

 

Cespedes = wins.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by Alexeihyeess

I wonder how real the "30" that Cespedes claims to be, really is.

I just don't trust Cespedes to continue to perform like he did last year. Upton is a huge risk as well but if we want to go for it we have to take on some risk.

i think i would like it. if this was a done deal, i think it is a win - win situation. the sox will have a nice bat in ref to the complete hit tools. when the sox goes to cuba, they will have a base of players who many cubans can relate to, and the new pr and media news, coming from that front, as well all merchandising that will open there. popularity growth.

 

I agree with this. I would love to have both Abreu and Cespedes not only in our lineup but both as spokespeople when they go to Cuba. Cespedes is a hitter and brings a plus glove to our outfield. He also doesn't cost a pick and has played and been successful in the AL. I'll take either him or Upton obviously but the more I think about it the more I like Signing Cespedes and if we had the money Murphy. Otherwise an addition of Cespedes and another IF would go a long way to making us in the conversation as competitors.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by Frank_Thomas35

You don't even need WAR to know Cespedes is the better player.

 

The A's were a force with Cespedes and the instant he left they immediately turned into a mediocre team. Then he went to Detroit (his stay with Boston was meaningless) where he fueled their torrid start and kept them in playoff contention right up until they traded him. Then Cespedes pushed the Mets over the Nationals and led that team to the league lead in 2nd half offense.

 

Cespedes = wins.

 

nice background work.

I agree with this. I would love to have both Abreu and Cespedes not only in our lineup but both as spokespeople when they go to Cuba. Cespedes is a hitter and brings a plus glove to our outfield. He also doesn't cost a pick and has played and been successful in the AL. I'll take either him or Upton obviously but the more I think about it the more I like Signing Cespedes and if we had the money Murphy. Otherwise an addition of Cespedes and another IF would go a long way to making us in the conversation as competitors.

 

and i know i will shoot myself in the dang foot, but hades, i would even sign alexei to a nice team deal for yr. i still like his hitting, even thou his avg last yr wasn't too good.

I agree with this. I would love to have both Abreu and Cespedes not only in our lineup but both as spokespeople when they go to Cuba. Cespedes is a hitter and brings a plus glove to our outfield. He also doesn't cost a pick and has played and been successful in the AL. I'll take either him or Upton obviously but the more I think about it the more I like Signing Cespedes and if we had the money Murphy. Otherwise an addition of Cespedes and another IF would go a long way to making us in the conversation as competitors.

 

i am also looking at the potential growth of the white sox as a team in the popularity side. next yr the other team is going to run over the sox if the sox doesn't do something to stop it ..... or at least slow it down.

and i know i will shoot myself in the dang foot, but hades, i would even sign alexei to a nice team deal for yr. i still like his hitting, even thou his avg last yr wasn't too good.

 

I was thinking the same thing honestly. Although I wonder if he could play second and allow Saldanio to still play SS. Alexi has seemed to get worse on D but I think he'd be above average at 2B.

I was thinking the same thing honestly. Although I wonder if he could play second and allow Saldanio to still play SS. Alexi has seemed to get worse on D but I think he'd be above average at 2B.

Where would Sanchez go in this scenario?

Where would Sanchez go in this scenario?

 

Utility guy most likely. But have a chance to win the position in spring training and if Alexi offensive production continues to slip.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by Frank_Thomas35

I like Cespedes as an option for the Sox. I don't like how he will only play LF though. I remember a lot of the issues that led to his departure from Oakland was his unwillingness to play other positions. He would make sense on a front loaded deal with an opt out.

Utility guy most likely.

Meh, I see more potential in Sanchez than Saladino honestly.

Where would Sanchez go in this scenario?

backup with a lot of at bats and or trade ....