We took a look in at Kansas City’s potential pitching needs earlier today, and there are a few more notes from the game’s central divisions to share on a quiet New Year’s Day:
- There’s a case to be made that Royals GM Dayton Moore qualifies as MLB’s most notable figure in 2015, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick writes. While the publication gave that title to Bryce Harper, but the successful culmination of Moore’s efforts in Kansas City certain made for a notable story — particularly from a hot stove perspective.
- New Pirates first baseman John Jaso said yesterday on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (Twitter link) that he chose his new team in part due to the opportunity to play in the field. Most of the interest he saw was from American League clubs that would have utilized him as a DH, but he says he’s drawn by the challenge of being a quality defender at a new position.
- While the White Sox have had “dialogue” with the top three free agent outfielders — that’d be Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, and Alex Gordon — there’s nothing close at present, Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently tweeted. That’s not particularly surprising to hear, in part because Chicago seems to be set up rather nicely to be an opportunistic buyer rather than focusing on getting a particular player at all costs.
Now it’s beginning to come together. Opportunistic buyers. So…expect those three to be gone and the White Sox to overspend on Denard Span. Got it.
Yeah, that is how I see it. Typical Sox management..I can see the Sox ‘brain trust’ now…
KW: ‘Well Span used to kill us when he would play against us, So by our logic he should be great in a Sox uni AND will not cost us that much, like Gordon or Cespedes will. Then I can go complain that fans are not supporting us enough to go out and get the players we need,’
JR: ‘Excellent idea Kenny’
And now the reports are they’re extremely low-balling offers, with only 3 guaranteed years. I don’t understand what they’re trying to accomplish. They have no chance to sign any of them with that, and even contacting their agents with that kind of disgustingly low-ball offer only serves to lower their reputation with their agents.
White Sox management makes it really difficult to be a fan. Things like this make me ashamed to be a White Sox fan.
As a Twins fan watching the Chisox from a distance forever, I’ve always thought of you as the anti-Twins. Through the years the Twins run into trouble because of inaction and the Sox seem to run into trouble by Kenny Williams trying to make forty billion moves that are all way less clever than he thinks they are.
FIRE WILLIAMS AND VENTURA NOW!!!
The white sox should be all over Upton. He’s the get out of those 3.
He is the most likely to play to the value of the contract
No not upton. Defensively he isn’t that great. White Sox need to be going for ces so they can keep their 3 top 50 picks in the next draft to make up for overspending on Frazier.
Overspending on Frazier?They got him at a discount. That was a great deal for Chicago.
How did they overspend on Frazier?
They should get over being the little brother and go after Dexter Fowler as there lead off guy
Eaton is our leadoff guy. Better numbers. Don’t understand why you would want to pay $12-15mm per year for a worse leadoff hitter than what we already have, and surrendering a first round pick???
Not surrendering a ‘first round pick’ but a comp pick, which is at the end of the round, but I get your point. Would rather see Upton if they do not go for Cespedes. You give up the comp pick BUT you have a player with greater upside in Upton. Gordon will be good for about 2 more seasons, then decline. See what Detriot has gotten themselves into with the Vmart contract and avoid it.
FIRE VENTURA HAHN AND WILLIAMS. REINSDORF SELL THE TEAM
TRADE GARCIA, DANKS AND LAROCHE FOR BRYANT, SCHWARBER, ARRIETA, CHANGE NAME TO CUBS GOOD OFFSEASON
The only one we would maybe want out of those northsiders, would be Arrieta, as our #3 or #4 SP. Schwarber could only DH in American League, no defense period, heck bring back Tank. Bryant can only hit, but again no defense, what he had like 17 errors @ 3rd last year in probably less than 100 games, and he let’s his agent file a grievance against his boss, because he needs to get his contract for service time changed to benefit his agent, the trouble maker Boris, no thanks, don’t need a head case, who thinks he is bigger than the club, in our clubhouse.
This is ignorance at its finest. Less than 100 games? He was called up after 1 week. And correct me if I’m wrong the sox are in the AL where the DH is in play? Hence Schwarber would be even more valuable than he already is. Your post reeks of Cubs hate and sox stupidity.
While he’s a little over the top, the White Sox currently have the better 3B who is both just as powerful with the bat and vastly superior with the glove.
I think his point on Schwarber has to do with the value of DH only players. You can get a similar bat on the market to DH without breaking the bank. He’s not nearly as valuable as some people think he is, which is why they masquerade like he will one day still catch. No one believes it though.
I have long advocated for the Sox to get Schwarber for DH. He is young enough that he wouldn’t whine about not keeping his head in the game like the Adams from the Nats
Arrieta would no way be a number 3 or 4 if he went to the white sox he would easily be the number 1, Sale would slot in as a number 2 and be the co ace kinda kershaw and grenkie
I wouldn’t put a guy with six weeks of elite pitching ahead of a guy with 6 years of it. Even if Arrieta’s command didn’t revert in the playoffs, that’s just an asinine suggestion.
But after Sale, sure.
NO EX CUBS ON THE SOUTHSIDE. I DONT CARE WHO THEY ARE. THAT INCLUDES COACHES ALSO!
Yes, that will instantly make the Sox better and not drive them lower than they are now while new ownership guts the team and sells off all pieces to cover what they overpaid for the Sox, Possibly leading to another decade of mediocrity. Good idea.
KW needs to go, He and his ego are responsible for far more worse things than what Hahn has done.
Sign Cespedes. Bring back Alexei for a year. Bring back Buehrle to put in front of Danks. Best offseason in team history.
Bob Nitengale said that the White Sox wont go over 3 years on Cespedes or Gordon–so expect them to get Upton or Gordon (if they are willing to drop a high AAV)
The O’s don’t want to spend more than $100,000,000, so if the white sox get Upton, then they probably get Gordon
The Giants spent a good bit of money this offseason on Cueto and Shark- I expect them to get Parra or Span with the Angels getting the other
The Royals are connected with Austin Jackson to replace Gordon
so using all of these factors that are mostly based off of reports (the Giants/Angels one is speculative)- I anticipate the Tigers getting Cespedes on a below market deal
Shark ?
@redsnut… Seriously? Jeff samardzja if that’s how you spell it
Of the 3, I’d be after Upton, unless I could get Gordon or Cespedes for no more than 4 years, which won’t happen.
You could probably get Gordon on a 4 year deal if there was a higher than expected AAV. He’s probably looking for a 5 year deal, but I assume he’d strongly consider 4 years with a few extra mil a year.
Gordon is 32 with an injury history. I’d be wary of a three year deal considering I’m giving up a draft pick. Cespedes, I’d be good going 5 years with an opt-out after 2. He’s just 30 so adding it would make him a free agent going into his age 32 season (as Gordon is now) and with the way the market is going, barring injury, he’d be sure to find a better deal than 3 years $63 (hypothetically).
Sox half measures so they can get to 80 wins and talk about what a “great” 4th consecutive season of improving that won loss record.
Sign Mark Buehrle to end his career with his true team. Then bring back Alexei for a year to give an impact bat at short (compared to Saladino) while Anderson matures. Then go out and get Cespedes to put in the outfield. That way either Melky or Avisail can be put at DH.
Eaton
Cabrera
Abreu
Cespedes
Frazier
Lawrie
Garcia
Ramirez
Avila
Arguably one of the top tier potential lineups in the league. Who says it can’t happen? Please make it happen.
Fwiw I’m making a prediction that Signing Jaso will be considered a better move than the Cubs signing of Zobrist by end of 2016. #JasoBreakout
Charlie you mention what the Yanks are asking for Miller but what are the Bucs asking for Melancon?