Yep, Alexei Ramirez or Kang last offseason..although even then, franchise altering is pushing the definition.

We've been so successful (except Dayan) in Cuba we're now often priced out of that market.

 

The one guy I really wanted last year at this time was Hector Olivera, and the Dodgers simply outbid everyone.

 

 

It will be interesting to see how well the Koreans picked up by Balt and the Twins do...but, once again, franchise altering? Unlikely.

 

I know I am pushing the envelop on Cespedes but how often do we hear the Sox are on the right path ? One World Series win in 100 years is a lot of right paths gone bad. The thing about Cespedes is he is EVERYTHING the Sox should want, power, defense speed and a marketing dream.

 

You think season ticket packages went up last year because the Sox signed a bunch of FA ? Imagine signing Cespedes now. Hopes and season tickets or at least total attendance definitely increase. Cespedes with Abreu and it becomes a Southside Fiesta ! Not only does winning baseball bring fans back but everyone loves a good party. I hate to bring the Cubs into this but let's face it they have good attendance even in down years because it's party atmosphere there even if the place is a dump. Bienvenidos ! Welcome to the White Sox Party Win ,eat ,drink and be merry !

 

P.S. Buy the Good Meat !

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Do the Mariners have money? King Felix, Seager, Cano, Cruz contracts eat up quite a bit.

 

The Mariners are currently around $136 million...almost 40% is Felix and Cano.

 

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariner...oll-and-beyond/

 

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/payroll/

Probably not a threat, but they have the Roc Nation connection

Not sure if they came to terms with all of their arbitration players but as of right now they sit at a tick over 135M for 19 roster players. If we assume they came to terms with all arbitration players, that leaves 6 roster spots to be filled with league minimum salary players at just over 500k each which amounts to an additional 3M . Safe to say they currently sit at just over 138M.

 

I agree with you, probably not a threat. What makes me curious is that RN connection and isn't Seattle sitting on like mad amounts of money from their new TV contract? I could be wrong but I think it's Seattle I'm thinking of.

The Phillies just entered the first year of a huge tv deal as well...

So after all that's been said the past couple days we still have no idea what's going on...

The Phillies just entered the first year of a huge tv deal as well...

 

Ugh stupid wifi connection here in China, keeps hanging up.

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by caulfield12

The Phillies just entered the first year of a huge tv deal as well...but yeah, the Mariners are getting something like $114 million per season now.

So after all that's been said the past couple days we still have no idea what's going on...

 

Well, I heard the Phillies just entered into their huge tv deal

Which is yet another reason for the White Sox to strike now...

 

The Phillies will be one of the teams pushing the envelope to be at least competitive in 2017. That fanbase won't be patient forever, although they did change GMs and managers so that buys them at least one year.

 

 

Carlos Gomez, Rasmus, maybe a 37 year old Bautista and Josh Reddick.

 

Being chased by twice as many teams as today.

 

Sounds like fun.

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by caulfield12

Which is yet another reason for the White Sox to strike now...

 

The Phillies will be one of the teams pushing the envelope to be at least competitive in 2017. That fanbase won't be patient forever, although they did change GMs and managers so that buys them at least one year.

Does anyone realize in one thread you started you said to never give free agents more than 3 years or overpay.In this thread you think the sox need to pay up to sign Cespedes, And in another thread you started, you said it would be smarter to sign Desmond and/or Jackson.

 

Of course you started the never give more than 3 years when you thought the sox were going to get Gordon for 4 years.Started the Desmond/Jackson thread when you thought they would sign Cespedes, and now said sign Cespedes when you think there is no chance they sign him.

 

 

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by Dick Allen

Have you seen what franchise changing players are going for now ? Over $200M ! Cespedes at less than his original expected price is about the most we can hope for. But still waiting on some franchise changing player just for around what we paid Abreu ($68M ). Hey it can happen again if it happened once right ?

With good international scouting it might. Regardless of Abreu status, cespedes just isn't worth the chance. Unless it comes at a no more than 4 guaranteed deal.

Does anyone realize in one thread you started you said to never give free agents more than 3 years or overpay.In this thread you think the sox need to pay up to sign Cespedes, And in another thread you started, you said it would be smarter to sign Desmond and/or Jackson.

 

1) For the 500th time, that was for the Royals...because the situations of the two teams are exactly identical!

 

2) For the 500th time, Cespedes at no more than four years and no more than $100 million.

 

3) For the 500th time, Desmond and Fowler if they aren't costing draft picks. When it recently became quite obvious Cespedes was lost and they were looking seriously at Fowler, that's the only time it makes sense because you throw away one draft pick you might as well double down and throw away both...like last year. The first round pick is the important one.

 

And it's not like they are investing all that money into signing a blowout Latin American class.

 

 

Does anyone realize in one thread you started you said to never give free agents more than 3 years or overpay.In this thread you think the sox need to pay up to sign Cespedes, And in another thread you started, you said it would be smarter to sign Desmond and/or Jackson.

 

Of course you started the never give more than 3 years when you thought the sox were going to get Gordon for 4 years.Started the Desmond/Jackson thread when you thought they would sign Cespedes, and now said sign Cespedes when you think there is no chance they sign him.

 

I never thought the White Sox would sign Cespedes...we were, nevertheless, somewhat led to believe that and nobody with the White Sox ever corrected that notion until the past couple of days of Avi fluffing.

 

But obviously I am the only person considering all the options and backup plans and contingencies....Hahn would never do that, right?

 

And nothing in the offseason is ever fluid or the product of changing circumstances...if they don't get Cespedes, clearly no other moves are possible. They will just jump off the roof when they realize their scheme wasn't successful to get a steal of a deal with him.

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by caulfield12

1) For the 500th time, that was for the Royals...because the situations of the two teams are exactly identical!

 

2) For the 500th time, Cespedes at no more than four years and no more than $100 million.

 

3) For the 500th time, Desmond and Fowler if they aren't costing draft picks. When it recently became quite obvious Cespedes was lost and they were looking seriously at Fowler, that's the only time it makes sense because you throw away one draft pick you might as well double down and throw away both...like last year. The first round pick is the important one.

 

And it's not like they are investing all that money into signing a blowout Latin American class.

You have actually said both the Royals and White Sox are in 2 year windows. And it wasn't just for the royals you mentioned the tidbit about Free agents. You even mentioned Pujols who has nothing to do to with the Royals.It wasn't obvious Cespedes was lost 4 days ago when you started that thread.In fact there was growing optimism the Sox were becoming the front runners.

 

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by Dick Allen

With good international scouting it might. Regardless of Abreu status, cespedes just isn't worth the chance. Unless it comes at a no more than 4 guaranteed deal.

 

And I say he is. Agree to disagree.

 

BUY THE GOOD MEAT !

@Ken_Rosenthal #WhiteSox, for example, reportedly have been interested in three-year deal for Cespedes. @jonheyman reported emergence of mystery teams.

You have actually said both the Royals and White Sox are in 2 year windows. It wasn't obvious Cespedes was lost 4 days ago when you started that thread.In fact there was growing optimism the Sox were becoming the front runners.

 

Clearly losing Hosmer, Cain, Moustakas, Wade Davis, Escobar and Volquez will have the same exact impact as losing Lawrie, Frazier and Cabrera.

 

Without any more additions the White Sox do essentially have a two year window...with 2017 the make or break season. If they miss the playoffs two more years, will they really blow up the payroll to $140-150 million in 2018 when they won't do it now? Why?

 

The difference is the White Sox aren't all-in...they're hedging their bets and in risk-mitigation mode which is great for team profitability but not so much for the fans.

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by caulfield12

Sources: Both #Mets and #Nationals operating under assumption that other teams also are pursuing Cespedes.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/690740739370782720

 

News of three-year talks between Cespedes and #Mets might have enticed other teams into mix at same term - if they weren’t involved already.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/690740745410646017

Get in there and get him

I never thought the White Sox would sign Cespedes...we were, nevertheless, somewhat led to believe that and nobody with the White Sox ever corrected that notion until the past couple of days of Avi fluffing.

 

But obviously I am the only person considering all the options and backup plans and contingencies....Hahn would never do that, right?

 

And nothing in the offseason is ever fluid or the product of changing circumstances...if they don't get Cespedes, clearly no other moves are possible. They will just jump off the roof when they realize their scheme wasn't successful to get a steal of a deal with him.

it is a nice attempt to backtrack but people aren't stupid. Why is it whatever the White Sox are rumored to be doing, you insist they should be doing something else? If you want to use the everything is fluid, maybe you shouldn't say they are wrong because so far signing Cespedes has been a dumb idea, and then must. Desmond has been the better choice and then not even close. All in 4 days with no games played. The only real news was a team allegedly offered Cespedes 5 years.

And I say he is. Agree to disagree.

 

BUY THE GOOD MEAT !

Ok. But from all accounts it should be: BUY THE GOOD SMOKED MEAT!

This is comical now. Me and my buddy have been texting everyday for the last month discussing possibilities. He wants to pull his hair out lol.

Sources: Both #Mets and #Nationals operating under assumption that other teams also are pursuing Cespedes.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/690740739370782720

 

News of three-year talks between Cespedes and #Mets might have enticed other teams into mix at same term - if they weren’t involved already.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/690740745410646017

But the Nats gave him 5 years.. Looks like Roc Nation had it's bluff called, and the Mets offer was a bit lighter than they hoped.

The real question is: Will he sign before pitchers and catchers report?

But the Nats gave him 5 years.. Looks like Roc Nation had it's bluff called, and the Mets offer was a bit lighter than they hoped.

 

That 5 year deal was definitely a bluff. The agents are really playing the media