The Mets have about $20MM to spend to stay under the luxury tax, and though they haven’t ruled out going over for a season, history suggests otherwise, writes MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. The rotation is largely set with Cy Young Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Steven Matz locked into the top four spots. Despite the rumblings, GM Brodie Van Wagenen has been adamant about Syndergaard staying put, and as for the fifth rotation spot, relievers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman are very real candidates. Free agent upgrades are more likely to bolster the bullpen, which is already a man down if Lugo or Gsellman jump to the rotation. Of course, the best upgrade they could hope for would come in the form of a bounceback season from closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz is putting in extra work this winter in Puerto Rico, and for what it’s worth, new manager and fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Beltran “considers mentoring Diaz one of his top priorities.” Here are some more notes coming out of the GM meetings…
- White Sox GM Rick Hahn attempted to temper expectations before projecting bloated win totals for his club in 2020, per the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan. It’s an exciting time nonetheless for those on the south side of Chicago, with high-end youngsters Nick Madrigal, Luis Robert, and Michael Kopech expected to establish themselves as big leaguers. They have money to spend on pitching or an outfielder, and a tough decision to make on newly-minted gold glover Yolmer Sanchez. Madrigal is likely to unseat Sanchez from his regular role at second, and with Sanchez due to make roughly $6.2MM through arbitration, he’s definitely a possible non-tender. The Sox love him from a character perspective and aren’t eager to kick him curbside, but even with his new hardware in tow, $6.2MM after a .252/.318/.321 season is probably a touch too rich for the ChiSox.
- The Red Sox are facing a different kind of offseason under the leadership of Chaim Bloom, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Scaling back the payroll is objective A, and the Red Sox are active in trade discussions around just about everyone on the roster. The media has Mookie Betts as the fulcrum of Boston’s trade activity, but he’s expensive on a one-year deal and unlikely to sign an extension, mitigating any trade return and making a deal unlikely. It’s more likely the Red Sox find their desired breathing room by trading from their rotation: David Price, Chris Sale, and/or Nathan Eovaldi. Meanwhile, discussions with free agents are largely on the backburner as they look for creative ways to free up space in the payroll.
Madrigal for Betts TRY to extend Mookie Sanchez and his gold glove stay at second and Madrigal can be the next Dustin.
You’re joking.
Who is Mookie Sanchez?
LOL!
Obvious there is a missing
period there…..
Dirty’s cousin.
+1
Man, that made me chuckle. Good job.
Well played.
Mookie Sanchez forever
Sanchez has already gone from being Carlos to Yolmer. Perhaps a third change to Mookie will be the charm he needs to fend off Nick Madrigal in 2020.
I can see that Richard Justice has gotten into your head (mlb.com/news/mlb-offseason-potential-scenarios). Hopefully your condition won’t require an exorcism.
Nick Madrigal is going nowhere. He will be the second coming of former White Sox HOF second baseman Nellie Fox with even more tools. As for Mookie Betts, the White Sox can simply wait until next offseason to sign him as a free agent for just a boat load of money which could come to pass if the Red Sox trade him to some other contender this summer. The White Sox figure to be more of player for Betts next winter anyway since they should be closer to a championship level club in 2021 than 2020.
lmao @ comping any 50s player with todays players – clown comment bro
White Sox are about 15 players away from being a champsionship level team
“Are about 15 players away from being a championship level team.”
The White Sox are closer to contending than the cubs. Giolito, Kopech, Cease and Rodon are each better than any pitcher on the cubs staff. The Sox have a much better bullpen. The Sox lineup has a few holes that should be addressed by Robert, Madrigal and a few free agents. The Sox are deeper at virtually every position except RF than the cubs. With the cubs on the brink of blowing up their roster, one can’t help but see the irony in your statement.
Of course, the Cubs were mentioned profusely throughout the article and comment thread.
What the Hell did the Cubs have to do with @Strike Four’s comment?
Yes Ray. We are also aware that the Cub trolls have come out here as usual while the White Sox ones do likewise with articles pertaining to Chicago’s northside team.
It seems all the trolls for each MLB team have congregated to this site because their former hunting grounds at ESPN and MLB.com have disappeared with the extinction of their comment sections. Hopefully history won’t repeat here but the fanboy excess is becoming tiresome and nearing the point of intolerable.
cubs fans call me a troll for being honest about that team’s roster. So be it. I’m glad the cubs are prepared to move on from Bryant (he’s a whiney snowflake anyway) and are currently trying to extend Baez.
Note: Trolls never wish for a positive outcome, only failure (cubs fans trolling the Sox).
ChiSoxCity
It is so pathetic how your lack of baseball knowledge just has you constantly on the attack of the Cubs.
This is not a Cub article and Strike Four never mentioned the Cubs.
Yet your obsession and jealousy of the Cubs just is out of control.
Yes the Cubs own Chicago. Yea the White Sox are ignored. Sure Sox fans hate that but that is how it always has been and will be.
Good luck to the White Sox. Neither Cub fans or anyone other than the few thousand Sox fans in Chicago (none outside Chicago) wish anything bad. Its just if they win no one else cares either.
Sox drew $500 thousand or so to their world series celebration.
Cubs drew around 5 million plus! Not to mention all the press. Boy that just killed you. Live with it
Not true, white sos are one owner away from competing. They had a better record than the gnats when the gnats were double digits under .500, before the gnats went on their 2019 run.
wordonthebathrromwall, your post is classic trolling: nothing about baseball, just a bunch of typical cubs propaganda about attendance. It’s ok though, carry on doing what you do best and leave the baseball talk to the handful of people who care and don’t drink the koolaid.
@Strike Four
Just because today’s generation face tougher play it’s silly to insist that the older players would not have thrived under today’s play.
You write a lot.
Can you name those 15 roster spots that the White Sox need to fill? Rick Hahn would appreciate it.
“the second coming of Nellie Fox” Hyperbole much?
The shoe fits.
I’ll try..wear it or maybe, stick it.
They made shoes very different 75 years ago.
Whoa Nellie!
Nellie Fox, wow. Thanks for the link. I’ve been a fan of Madrigal for a while, with so much plate discipline. For some reason he reminds me a lot of O’s Brian Roberts (maybe seeing them both don black-and-orange), which has to be Madrigal’s floor and not his ceiling.
Much more like the second coming’ of Ronald Torreyes.
Madrigal’s skills are perennial all-star and his looks and personality are like the Back Street Boys.
There’s not a single team in all of baseball that will not wish him the best success in the game, because the guy is a fan-magnet extraordinaire!
Cubs and Yankees are fat and obnoxious brats comparatively.
Go troll the Bleacher Report boards.
Weren’t you just there doing that?
Hollow burn Caitlyn.
@Rallyshirt
“Cubs and Yankees are fat and obnoxious brats comparatively.”
The 9-yr-old homer/hater comes out and makes such a valuable contribution. Bravo.
@Mo4ever,
Oh, please. If I’m earshot from anyone dropping on Lil Nick, they get the hammer.
@Rallyshit
“If I’m earshot from anyone dropping on Lil Nick, they get the hammer.”
The “hammer” being homerism/hate?
“They” being a joint Cubs/Yanks fan?
Got it. Like I said. 9-yr-old stuff. Misguided 9-yr-old stuff. Try and re-work your comeback arsenal. Up the emotional IQ.
@mo4ever,
I appreciate your concern for the quality of my posts, I really do. But nothing has been rejected or pending approval, so who the heck are you throwing rules down?
I’ll let it go this time, but seriously, saying an immature comment is one thing, talking this 9 yr old stuff is another and you better check yourself.
Okay? We’re good.
@Rallyshirt
“If I’m earshot from anyone dropping on Lil Nick, they get the hammer.”
The “hammer” being homerism/hate?
“They” being a joint Cubs/Yanks fan?
My point about the 9-yr-old stands. I can and certainly will comment about the quality of posts containing homerism hate. Nothing 9-yr-old about that.
@mo4ever, That’s fine. I’ll hold you to that standard when I see you participating with others doing much worse. I support your efforts.
Slow your roll, dude. Fox is in the HOF and Madrigal has yet to play a game. I mean, I love that he doesn’t K and has GG defense, but he has no power and can’t take a walk to save his life. That’s not a HOF-caliber player, even with a good BA.
I don’t always make such comparisons and rarely anoint that lofty status on a prospect. I did it with Kris Bryant before his MLB debut on the northside of Chicago and I’m repeating it with Nick Madrigal now.
I also love what CF prospect Luis Robert brings to the table for the White Sox with his 5-tools and high ceiling. That said, I still feel a bit more confident in Madrigal with his 4-tools and high floor.
The 2020 season bodes well for the White Sox with the expected upgrades brought in by Rick Hahn in free agency and/or via the trade route. There also figures to be continuing improvement with the young talent who have already made their MLB debuts. The White Sox will also have 3 legitimate AL Rookie of the Year candidates with Robert, Madrigal and SP Michael Kopech in 2020. How often has that ever happened with any MLB club, let alone the White Sox?
Kopech will not be a starting pitcher right away. Odds are the White Sox are going to have Kopech come out of the bullpen for the first two months where he will get his shot as a starter by June.
I’m fairly certain Madrigal could take a walk to save his life. His “problem” is that he’s too good at making contact. If he wanted to change his approach, he’d have absolutely zero problems doing it.
hyraxwithaflamethrower: Everything you said about Madrigal also pertained to Fox. Additionally, Madrigal has already demonstrated 30+ SB potential as a pro which Fox never did despite being a member of the White Sox “Go-Go’ era.
In case this escaped you, Madrigal has posted a .309 BA/.371 OBP in his first 163 professional games and 705 PA’s spread out over 4 minor league levels and 5 clubs. Clearly he is reaching base above and beyond his hits. Aside from his stingy whiff rate of 21 SO/705 PA, Madrigal has also posted an unheard of 51 BB/21 SO ration in those PA’s. He has also demonstrated to be a bit of a magnet when it comes to reaching base with 16 HBP factoring into his OBP. Madrigal has been the fast riser to his MLB debut that most every scout predicted and he also has put up his best number at the AA and AAA level along the way.
Madrigal seems every bit the prototypical #2 grunt that Fox was in an advanced analytical era that seems to frown upon such roles now. Fortunately, the White Sox don’t appear to be one of those teams and look more like the Astros in building a future roster and batting order.
Wasn’t there a HOF that didn’t hit for power…but still managed to eek out almost 4200 hits?….Hmmmm..oh yeah….Ty Cobb
Why are fans so fûcking dumb? “We can’t trade this prospect, he’s gonna be a hall of famer!”
Why are fans so f*ing dumb? We should trade a rental RF with a massive salary and no chance at extending for one of the top prospects in baseball.
Yeah, that happens all the time…
I’m not sure Madrigal has enough power to succeed in today’s game unless his defense is elite
Oh, God. Here we go again…
He supposedly plays elite defense, and he has well above average speed/instincts.
I’d argue his skill set has become significantly undervalued in today’s game, and there’s still plenty of room for players like him. In a lineup surrounded by players like Moncada, Eloy, Robert, Abreu, etc, you don’t need him to hit 20+ home runs. Somebody that can get on base at a high clip and be relied upon to move runners into scoring position for the big guys is still very, very valuable. I would absolutely love for him to do what Luis Arraez did offensively for the Twins last year – in addition to plus-plus defense. David Fletcher is another similar/valuable young player that comes to mind.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think the MLB would be MUCH better off with more players like that.
It’s not just you. Fortunately I believe the White Sox would also be in agreement with this thinking. It’s no secret that they have prioritized baseball players over athletes in recent drafts. They have also sought hitters with higher hit tools, those who make more consistent contact and with an ability to hit the ball to all fields rather than focusing on all-or-nothing power hitters.
The White Sox last three #1 picks in the MLB June Draft, Jake Burger, Nick Madrigal and Andrew Vaughn were all considered advanced college hitters with the ability I just described. These are hitters who likely won’t have defensive shifts placed on them and if they do they will be able to counteract them.
This recent White Sox strategy is hardly limited to the domestic draft either. The acquisition of then top Cubs OF Prospect Eloy Jimenez in the Jose Quintana trade saw the front office also targeting a player with a high hit tool. Of course, Jimenez also has a strong plus power tool that accompanies his excellent hit tool. The same might be said for Vaughn as well.
Im a Red Sox fan and love Mookie but if he is to be traded we need something close to what we believe Mookie already is. Price and Betts to the Angels for Jo Adell, Heaney, and Cozart. The Angels wont take Price if they dont unload another bad contract. But this trade helps with reolacing Betts and the Angels get another top tier player to play with Trout plus the top of the rotation potcher in Price.
Seriously? Price hasn’t been a top of the rotation pitcher for a while, and his contract is ridiculous. He has negative value.
Add that to the fact that LAA wouldn’t trade Adell for Mookie straight up…
No one is going to give back the equivalent of Mookie on a one year rental. If the Sox insist on that bargaining position they will come up empty-handed and get nothing.
Bloom was hired for his creativity. Think Dodgers-Braves. If San Diego wants to get out of the Hosmer contract, he gets traded with others for a package including Price. Less overall dollars remaining but more in the next three years. That’s how the Sox get under the tax threshold. Deals like that where they have time to work out later year payroll issues.
Hmmm … Betts and Price/Sale, or Evoldi for Pujols?
Betts has already said MULTIPLE times that he isn’t signing an extension. That’s the only reason the Red Sox are even considering trading him.
Sox should trade with the Padres. One trade could drastically change both teams.
I agree the BoSox and Pads are perfect trade partners. The Padres need to trade from that deep farm and acquire a SP and a an OF’er while Boston is in desperate need of a shot in the arm to their system while shedding salary.
Unless Mookie is willing to sign an extension (he won’t), it’s a very expensive one-year rental. I think the Pads can better use their resources for sustained winning.
All depends what the ask is…
I say the Sox settle for less than what we think.
The Padres literally have never had sustained winning, they dont know how to do that. Going big for one year is their only true shot at a title.
You say that the Sox should accept or will accept less than what WE think?
Personally, I think they will HAVE to accept less than what THEY think. The $27MM is a big factor and one year rental is a big factor. I don’t see some Sox fans truly appreciating the significance of those two factors. A third factor is that the market of teams that have the money and the players to complete such a deal is…small. A fourth factor is that one of those teams, the NYY, isn’t even on the table. All four factors diminish the outcome of whatever bidding war there might be.
Ooops. The Show Me Your Tatis comment I responded to…disappeared!
What the Red Sox think is probably a little more reasonable than what WE say here in public opinion forums. So I guess you’re right. But a lot of fans here will be disappointed with what THEY get for Mookie.
CWS and Atl are more now focused than SD and Price+Betts salary dump for a young pitcher and minor league talent works…. no one giving up top 50 prospect for a Betts rental and heavy Price (pun intended)contract. As i have said CWS gives Rey Lopez and Steele Wallker, Gavin Sheets and Steiver for Price and Betts and Bosox eat 10Mm of Price salary.
I see the Braves as a more logical trade partner for Mookie. Yea, the Pads have the deep farm and the OF need, but they are more than ONE Mookie-caliber player away from contention. Even with him in the fold, they are not catching the Dodgers in 2020. The Braves, though, have very few holes on a WIN-NOW roster and with Mookie in the fold? WOW. Especially if they go aggressive and bring back JD and sign MadBum? That’s a Dodgers-style loaded team.
To the author-about the Red Sox…you offer nothing new. This article (or piece of one) has been articulated no fewer than ten previous times. It’s pure click bait
Feel better?
Why not speak the truth? Giving honest feedback theoretically should improve the site.
Welcome to the World Wide Web
Agree its shameless clickbait. Nothing new here about the Amazins either
Complain about a free article, seems legit
If Beltran fixes Diaz, I’ll consider getting over him taking strike 3 in NLDS.
Diaz is a young kid with an electric arm who struggled for the first time in his life. Like a typical youngster, he didn’t know how to stop the snowball from rolling down the hill. He will be just fine.
I’m hoping the same from Kimbrel.
Kimbrel’s problem was the fact that he decided to wait until the season was in full swing to sign. He wasn’t ready and it was his own fault.
What about the fact that he was declining before last season?
In a game last season vs. White Sox, Diaz was missing his spots by a mile & nearly killed James McCann who pulled a matrix move to elude a HBP and then was hit in the helmet on the next pitch after hitting the previous batter. Callaway had no business leaving Diaz in that game wreckless, irresponsible managing
That curveball was spectacular, though.
Never. My Great Aunt Tillie knew that curve was coming.
It’s even more important if Carlos Beltran can ‘fix’ C Wilson Ramos which could make the entire Mets pitching staff better in 2020.
If the team isn’t going to call Madrigal up immediately, they might as well keep Sanchez, especially if the plan is to try and compete this season. They have the money, and they don’t have a tested replacement in the short term. He can also serve as a utility guy.
Madrigal is Ronald Torreyes, lite.
Nick Madrigal will be Nellie Fox plus. Madrigal will match or exceed the White Sox HOF second baseman’s defense and hitting prowess while offering significantly more speed, SB’s and a little more power.
Stop fretting over the White Sox with their competitive window now opening and worry about the Cubs as theirs begins to close. The two teams actually match up with trade possibilities that can benefit each club going forward. Perhaps Rick and Theo will get together once again if the latter dares following their last trade.
No one knows who Nellie Fox is, boomer
Comp someone who played in the last 20 or even 30 years lol
baseball-reference.com/players/f/foxne01.shtml
Stop it with the Boomer insults. It’s immature.
Strike Four, you’re a perfect example of why humanity is doomed.
Strike Four is a boomer, trying to fit in with the younger crowd.
Strike Four might also show some respect to his MLB elders instead of treating us like prehistoric dinosaurs in the sabermetric era. We might still have an intelligent thought to offer the probie geeks from time to time.
Believe myself Strke four represents everything wrong with certain aspects of the younger generation. Don’t listen to anything and just write off the past, or make up what happened previously to mold to their own agenda.
Rick Hahn should have T.A. & Rodon at the top of his list to trade this offseason. Not interested in hearing about contending in 2020, the time is now in this dumpster fire that is the AL Central. Go 50 mil OVER not under, what the next highest bidder is on Castellanos, Rendon, Strasburg & Cole and hope to land one of them. I would be thrilled with a MadBum even. Gotta land 2 big-time players via trade or free agency this offseason, improve bullpen. Anderson’s defense is atrocious and his offensive output from last year will not be repeated. Rodon is a half season pitcher due to injury or inconsistency get rid of them both. Cleveland could be sellers this offseason & Twins haven’t any starting pitching besides Berrios or a bullpen. Lets go Hahn and Jerry spend, add time is now
Nellie Fox is fair comp. That’s why I wouldn’t mind the team going after Rendon and moving Moncada to 2B.
Madrigal would be fine, but a guy who hits for no power and doesn’t walk isn’t exactly a great player today.
I’d be happy with him, but no one should expect him to be anything more than a solid starter – not a superstar.
Bid 50 mil over? You described Padres w/Machado and nonsensical offer for Hosmer. Do that and you should be fired from any management position.
They can overspend to lesser degree w/o being foolish. No one thinks injured/inconsistent Rodon is worth anything (Boras client BTW) to give WSox decent pieces at this moment, but will agree trading him not dumb if he has a hot streak and they have no chance for playoffs. TA is a bargain, young and at some point you don’t flip every player. Rendon only guy on your list reliable enough to overpay.
It’s foolish to write off young prospects with potential. Remember that they’re all a work in progress.
If referring to Rodon, he is not a prospect any longer. You’re the one resigned to Cease being a closer. He just needs better coaching like Giolito had to get outside organization for command to become a filthy starter.
Strike Four: Nick Madrigal is a ‘throwback’ player. Who better to compare him to than another White Sox second baseman with a similar skill set. Frankly, I’m also old enough to have seen Fox play his last few seasons and hopeful I can do the same for the entirety of Madrigal’s career.
I’ve been comping Madrigal to Fox for quite some time now on local White Sox sites and have never encountered any criticism young or old. I’m also hard pressed to find a more modern comp because there really aren’t any. Madrigal possesses one of the highest floors of any prospect and his ceiling is that of a perennial Gold Glove second baseman and batting champ. Add in the 30+ SB potential, his difficulty to strike out and an off the chart baseball IQ and then get back to all of us who you think might be a better comparison.
cws, I’m talking to the idiot suggesting the Sox get rid of Tim Anderson and Nick Madrigal.
Madrigal 3 stops this year
A+: 7.8 BB%
AA: 7.8 BB%
AAA: 9.7 BB%
Why do people keep saying he doesn’t walk?
Because they don’t know what they’re talking about and would rather look ignorant than look something up.
Tim Anderson didn’t even have 30 stolen base attempts last year, and he is faster than Madrigal.
That many stolen bases only happens under a new manager, which is probably the most glaring weakness of this rebuild right now.
The White Sox only had 3 regular starters who would be considered base stealers on their roster in 2019. Two of them, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada missed significant time due to leg injuries. Anderson lost about a month with his ankle sprain in late June and barely qualified for the AL batting title because of it. When Anderson returned on July 30th Moncada sustained a hamstring injury the next day and missed 3 weeks himself. The only other base stealer was Leury Garcia. All still managed to post double digit totals of 17, 15 and 10.
I wouldn’t place too much blame on manager Rick Renteria. The White Sox were healthier in 2018 and finished 5th in the AL in SB’s with him at the helm. Last season they were in that same territory until Anderson went down and their running game pretty much came to a stop for the rest of the season.
Moncada took the blame for his lack of aggressiveness on the bases and has vowed to run more in 2020. The White Sox will add two top prospects next season, Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal who each posted more than 30 SB’s this past season. With early enough MLB debuts by the rookies and better health I would expect at least 80 SB’s out of Anderson, Moncada, Robert and Madrigal in 2020. That total could be exceeded with Anderson matching his 26 SB’s from 2018 along with Robert and Madrigal duplicating their totals from last year during a shorter minor league season. Whatever Moncada posts would be gravy.
None of us know who the next White Sox RF might be. It’s certainly possible that player could also be a threat on the bases as well.
Many White Sox fans have an issue with Renteria because they feel he is too ‘old school’ with his managing. The geeks frown upon his penchant for bunting and would likely feel the same about too much hit-and-running and base stealing because they seem to think it creates too many extra outs and prefer everybody just swing for the fences. I love aggressive baseball. I dig small ball as much as the long ball. I believe the White Sox will be doing plenty of both with Renteria at the helm and all the horses that Rick Hahn will have supplied him as the new era of winning baseball begins on the southside of Chicago in 2020.
Had the Sox offered Machado the exact same offer as Pads (Sox offered 50 mil less), He still goes to San Diego b/c its 72 & sunny everyday and his wife is from S.D.. Point being you have to overpay a superstar to get one here via Free agency. T.A. is signed to a pennies on the dollar contract. Buy low, sell high. He isn’t Vlad Geurrero, swings at everything in sight & his offensive output from 2019 is unsustainable. The reason Sox were able to get Eloy & Cease for Q was b/c of Q’s affordable contract, track record & lack of injury history. T.A. is no Lindor or Tatis, jr. Sign or trade for a stud 3Bagger, either Moncada or Madrigal plays SS. He is your best trade chip they can afford to lose. I’d be happy trading Rodon for a ham sandwich
Rick Renteria is a big pile of suck. This team is going nowhere until it gets a real manager.
@mohoney Why don’t you borrow mom’s car, drive over to the stadium and stand out there with a sign saying that and see what happens to you. Do it now?
Mendick can hold down the dirt for a couple weeks at a tenth the salary.
It’s not the goal. never will be with the evil snake at the top
Sad for Yolmer. He’s just not going to hit well enough to justify an expensive salary.
A future as a backup utility
infielder however?
Lay off the Enter/Return key. We can read full sentences just fine.
Lay off him, dude; he’s practicing for the upcoming Haiku competition.
lol
Sanchez can play more regularly than your average utility infielder.
Sure could, if it’s a team not in contention for the playoffs. Zack Collins too.
I wouldn’t be too quick to judge Zack Collins. He may let a few passed balls, but he’s pretty much a lock for 25+HR LH power.
Yep, and a 35% Ko rate.
Just like every other power hitter.
So he’s almost as good as Kyle Schwarber? Sweet.
If he can’t stay behind plate, Collins has little value.
He looks like aging Adam Dunn with his approach. That’s fine as a part time catcher, but underwhelming any place else.
Madrigal perfect 2 hole hitter think Robert will be a great leadoff Moncada number 3
I believe that is the long term plan pending other acquisitions this offseason and how soon Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal make their MLB debuts. The organization had Robert leading off and Madrigal batting #2 for most of the 2019 season as they each rose through the system, albeit on a different timeline. Madrigal finally caught up to Robert at AAA during the final month of the minor league season and for the most part they kept the status quo with their batting order slots.
It’s also possible and perhaps even likely that the White Sox will choose not to put too much pressure on the rookies as they did with Eloy Jimenez’ debut in 2019. The White Sox had Jimenez bat a little further down in the batting order to begin and then moved him up as he adjusted to big league pitching. A void in the middle of the order was also created when they finally launched Yonder Alonso mid-season. The manager and coaching staff might do likewise with Robert and Madrigal as the begin their White Sox careers. Personally, I hope that they don’t ‘baby’ either but some of this might also depend on how soon each arrive at GRF and who might be occupying the top of the order slots prior to their debuts.
My wish-list for upgrading the offense during the upcoming holiday season includes Rick Hahn swinging a blockbuster trade for either Indians SS Francisco Lindor or Dodgers RF Alex Verdugo. Either player could significantly alter the future top third of any White Sox batting order.
Collins will have an on base of .350 and be lefty power the CWS needs.
Wouldn’t touch Chris Sales with the proverbial ten foot pole. That arm of his is on the verge of falling off.
Wouldn’t touch Chris Sales with the proverbial ten foot pole. That arm of his is on the verge of falling off.
————————————————-
You’re commenting just for the sake of commenting. You have no idea what condition Sale’s arm is in.
Yep. Sale also has a full no trade clause for the duration of his contract. The Sox may move one of their pitchers but it won’t be Sale.
Why would any team give up a bunch of top rated prospects for a player that is clearly going to free agency after next year?
My guess is they won’t. Boston will get one very good, but not elite, prospect and a couple more decent ones. Nobody’s going to sell the farm for just one year of him.
Sox won’t trade him
And then they’ll get nothing but a QO draft pick.
The White Sox can trade for Mookie Betts and possibly extend him during the season! That outfield of Betts, Jimenez and Robert can be a lethal weapon on the offensive side of things. Jimenez needs to improve his defense. Needless to say, the White Sox should consider this move as long it don’t involve Robert or Kopech or Moncada!
I tend to agree, he’s WAY better than our rental attempt for Machado. But Mookie says he wants to test free agency. The chances of an extension is open market.
The Red Sox are looking to get under the threshold so it’s possible to see Mookie be moved in the next month. I would not mind seeing the White Sox at least consider it but don’t move any core pieces while talking to Mookie with an extension. The White Sox have the money and the young controllable talent to become a great team. Mookie and a starting pitcher is what is what the White Sox need to get to the next level.
You’re right, Boston is not going to get our elites for a rental, they know that. I think we should make a nice offer at least, as we have it to spare. But the $27MM Face of Franchise, with all our talented pups coming out? I think Boston should eat some of the money too.
I see the appeal of course but I think there’s absolutely no chance of an extension. NONE. Mookie wants an FA bidding war and he’s going to get it. Also, I don’t see the Sox eating any of the $27MM. I DO see them pulling way back on their trade expectations. I’ve read “a combination of mlb-ready players and prospects,” as if 3-4 big leaguers and top prospeccts are forthcoming. No way. And no more than one will be mlb-ready.
Yeah, that 3-4 MLB ready is just crazy talk. Not even a desperate win-now team is going to pony that up. Plus, they’re all nearing or over budget anyway. Take on $27MM, right.
Not too many big market teams have the space to bid and sign Mookie after the 2020 season.
Another reason the White Sox should simply hold off on Mookie Betts until next offseason provided they haven’t already added a younger and controllable future core RF in a trade this winter. If Rick Hahn can’t swing such a deal, preferably for a solid lefty bat, he should wait until next winter and take those dollars earmarked for Machado and Harper last offseason and utilize them on Betts.
I do expect the White Sox to spend some cash in free agency this offseason but not for the likes of Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg or Anthony Rendon. Clearly owner Jerry Reinsdorf signed off on the $250MM Machado FA offer last offseason. JR will have earned two years of interest on that money come next winter and should be even more willing to spend it when his club is more prepared to win another championship when he will be 84-years old and closer to selling the team.
Basically, I agree with some of the things you mention but look at these facts. The White Sox have an influx of young outfielders in their minor league system and not all of them will be on the team in the next few years. It makes sense to move either Rutherford or Walker with Dunning or for Betts. If the White Sox attain Betts the fans will come next season. Plus, Reinsdorf is a smart business man with getting that local tv deal. The Cubs getting their own network may cause a lot of their fans lose interest since they became fans by watching Cubs’ games on WGN.
I’m OK with a Betts deal for a lesser prospect package. I just don’t want to see any of the White Sox top-100 prospects (Robert, Kopech, Vaughn and Madrigal all reside in the top-40) traded for a one-year rental.
The Red Sox just want to get under the luxury tax threshold. We all know Robert and Jimenez will be in the White Sox outfield for years to come so parting ways with Walker or Rutherford does not hurt them, however, the Red Sox are looking for some team to take Betts but that $27 million owed to him has teams not willing to give up elite prospects for him. I believe Vaughn can not be moved since he drafted this past season while Robert is not going any where since the White Sox love their Cuban players.
Carson Fulmer and Yolmer Sanchez kinda package?
A player drafted or not drafted but signs after the rule 4 draft cannot be traded for 90 days after they signed or 9 am the day after the final game of the World Series. All 2019 drafted and/or signed players are trade able.
That’s an unrealistic package deal! Fulmer has struggled in the MLB and he is no more than a bullpen pitcher while Yolmer does have a great glove and a decent bat but the White Sox love his presence. A package deal would young prospects with potential.
JD Martinez is a more realistic target for trade.
BeeVeeTee: Major League Baseball made a rule change a few years ago that now allows drafted players to be traded after the World Series in the season they were drafted rather than a full year after signing.
This rule came into play when the Padres traded 2014 MLB draft first round pick Trea Turner to the Nationals in a three-team trade that landed them outfielder Wil Myers later that December. Turner was listed as a player to be named later in the trade and spent the first month of the season with San Diego’s Double-A affiliate in San Antonio before he could be ‘officially’ sent to the Nationals farm team in June of 2015.
This recent rule change means that any 2019 June Draft pick is now eligible to be traded including White Sox first round pick Andrew Vaughn.
I hope you’re just stating the facts and not wishing. I love the Vaughn pick and would hurt to see him traded. I know you have to give something to get something, but Vaughn looks legit. Recent pieces we traded away are starting to mature, Tatis, Semian. I hope we just get 2 legit starters, RF help, fingers crossed for Yasmany, and a couple of bullpen pieces. I’ve been reading some comments on trade scenarios and would hate the Sox trading any major league ready talent like Robert, Madrigal, or Kopech. Sheets, I would be hurt if he gone. Our major chess pieces must stay. Thanks everyone for your opinions!
I was mostly stating facts but have already gone out on a limb this offseason with a couple of blockbuster trade proposals that might involve Andrew Vaughn as part of a package. One was a trade for Indians SS Francisco Lindor and the other was for Dodger RF Alex Verdugo.
I am generally against trading a top prospect, especially this early in the White Sox contention window. The trades I proposed were ones that would give the White Sox immediate and long term benefits and not deals for a one-year rental. I also don’t put forward trade proposals that are ludicrous or ‘insulting’ to the other team.
Vaughn would be a potential core piece that I feel the White Sox could ‘sacrifice’ for another, not because I don’t believe in his ability but rather because the team would benefit from such an exchange AND the position he plays is one where they have sufficient organizational depth.
I can not see the Sox trading for Lindor for the simple fact of having Anderson right now while having Yolbert Sanchez in the farm system. The White Sox need a starting pitcher more than a position player.
Tim Anderson was part of the trade along with Vaughn for Lindor and 1B/DH Carlos Santana. Cleveland replaces each with cheap and controllable players while shedding two huge salaries in 2020 and 2021. The White Sox get two big-time switch-hitters and a huge defensive upgrade at SS. Lindor is a top-5 player in MLB and also the best all-around SS in the game. Santana brings a high OPS bat to pair with slugger Jose Abreu at 1B and DH.
A principle idea behind this swap is to take the Manny Machado dollars from last offseason and offer them to Lindor in the form of a contract extension to keep him from hitting free agency in two years. If that doesn’t work out then defensive whiz Cuban SS prospect Yolbert Sanchez should be ready for prime time by then.
Btw: It may come as a surprise to some but Lindor and Anderson are both the same age. Lindor just turned 26 this month while Anderson is 7 months older having reached that age last June.
I can not see the Sox trading Anderson right now! I know Anderson is very active with community activities and after the season he had it would be kind of hard to move him. Plus, it’s kind of hard to see the Indians trade Lindor to a division rival. Maybe to the Braves for Swanson with a few of their farm guys?
It’s primarily because of Anderson’s offensive break-out season that he has a decent amount of trade value now, along with that team-friendly contract which didn’t look nearly so affable prior to 2019. It’s certainly not because of his glove which should be the top priority for a shortstop.
Anderson made some defensive strides during the second half of 2018 but regressed back to his erratic self last season. Just too much E6 coming from TA7 so far. That needs to change asap, that or sell ‘high’ on him now in case his offense last season was an aberration.
Hmm… trade for a position player on the verge of free agency. I haven’t heard a dumber idea all week.
Trade guys like Rutherford and Dunning as a centerpiece for Betts! It’s not stupid!
If that’s the package it takes for the White Sox to roll the dice on Mookie Betts for one year most White Sox fans would be on board. I know I would. My concern is any package that includes an elite prospect or young talent from the active roster for a one-year rental
On the other hand, if the Indians were prepared to move on from generational SS Francisco Lindor this offseason and actually consider a deal with their division rivals, I might then be inclined to favor a deal involving a package of a top prospect and a talented young player. Unlike Betts, Lindor comes with two more years of cheaper arbitration eligible control and also plays splendid defense at a prime defensive position like SS. If the Indians demanded a package of say SS Tim Anderson and 1B prospect Andrew Vaughn for Lindor this offseason I think Rick Hahn would be receptive to the idea, especially if he could convince Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff to also part with expensive 1B Carlos Santana. I’m guessing that Indians owner Paul Dolan would on board with such an arrangement.
Here is the thing, Betts is going to be getting $27 million this year. No team is willing to part ways with their too prospects for a player making that much money while knowing the Red Sox are trying to get under the luxury tax threshold this upcoming year. In the mean time, I cannot see Lindor coming here but it would be nice. All I know the White Sox have Yobert Sanchez from Cuban who plays short stop which may replace Anderson in a few years. Anderson maybe a trade piece in a year or two.
AaronSapoznik, trading Anderson+Vaughn for two years of Lindor would be a monumental mistake by this organization. They can keep their young talent, wait until Betts becomes a free agent, sign him to play CF, move Robert to LF and Eloy to DH. The Sox don’t need Lindor, they need 5-tool OFs and pitching.
Francisco Lindor is a special generational talent at SS. He is a great defender AND also a lead-off hitter who can do it all all offensively, hit for BA, OBP, SLG and SB. He is also a switch-hitter which would give the White Sox a second elite one along with 3B Yoan Moncada which would help their right-handed imbalance in the batting order. Put Lindor in the leadoff role, utilize Nick Madrigal as the prototypical #2 grunt and then bring on the sluggers including Luis Robert whose power and speed might fit even better in the middle of the order than at #1.
I also believe that Indians package could include switch-hitting 1B/DH Carlos Santana who would be a great fit with Jose Abreu at both roles, unlike the disaster that Yonder Alonso provided when he came over from Cleveland to help sway Manny Machado to sign with the White Sox.
Add in FA switch-hitting C Yasmani Grandal and the White Sox would have a lineup that would give every AL manager headaches for at least the 2020 and 2021 seasons. These moves would also provide huge defensive upgrades for the White Sox. Unlike with Mookie Betts, I believe that the White Sox could extend Lindor with those Machado dollars from last year. Unlike Machado, Lindor would be a first class upgrade to the White Sox in the infield AND in the clubhouse. He has a personality very much like Eloy Jimenez and would never be called out for his lack of hustle or sportsmanship. He would be the perfect fit for most any team and especially so with a White Sox team that can use another veteran presence going forward aside from Abreu.
Actually meant play Mookie in RF.
BeeVeeTee: Your trade package for Betts doesn’t include any components that I had going to Cleveland for Lindor and Santana. Can you imagine the lineup the White Sox would put up with those 3 players added to their core from last season’s group along with the two elite rookie prospects in Robert and Madrigal. All the White Sox would need to do then is to sign a couple of decent FA starting pitchers, something that Rick Hahn already has on his to-do list, in order for them to become a strong favorite for the AL Central title and real threat in the postseason.
The thing is the Red Sox want to get under the luxury tax threshold this upcoming season. I am sure the Red Sox are looking for the best offer and they need prospects in their system.
More importantly, people forget to consider that there are not too many high market teams with the space in their payrolls to bid and sign Betts after the 2020 season.
BeeVeeTee: Love your passion. Dunning for the next 6yrs or so after TJS is the safest bet for solid rotation piece. He is not that expendable if Kopech arm is wired more for short, dominant BP work (certainly they will want to see if he can be starter before giving up). Lopez is erratic with potential. Rodon an oft-injured tease. Aaron is correct wait until Betts is mercenary FA.
I think Eovaldi is the only real trade candidate for the Red Sox to shed payroll. Everybody else just costs too much and would demand too large a talent haul. Eovaldi is the most tantalizing reclamation and the least ugly financially of their trade options.
I have a hard time seeing how Boston could move Mookie without splitting the bill for a decent return. They’d have to look at it like paying in advance for control, but it’s still young control.
I think there are a few a teams that will pay full freight without blinking. But I agree that the RS should be willing to pick up payroll to grease the wheels. If they trade with SD, for example, they could throw in Margot, we could throw in an extra $10M, and then trade or non-tender JBJ, depending on his market. We’d still have roughly the same salary savings.
Nothing against SD, but Mookie, Machado and Tatis Jr. over there seems a camera time conflict of interest.
Similar concern I have for White Sox, as we have a bunch of guys coming up who will need media time to develop their future stardom. But the impact Mookie would have on the city of Chicago and this young team is probably priceless, even if it’s for one year.
CWS are not going to do anything to shorten the window of expectation that has now been pushed to 2021 and 2022..get to second place like Reinsdorf wants….
he prefers 5th place and continued teardowns because he doesn’t give a flying **** about the fans.
The Sox almost never finish in last place, atleast not in my lifetime. I could count on one hand how many times it’s happened.
“It’s more likely the Red Sox find their desired breathing room by trading from their rotation: David Price, Chris Sale, and/or Nathan Eovaldi.”
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Unless the RS are completely tanking, trading Price, et al, doesn’t do a lot of good. If Price costs $32M, and the RS eat $18M of that, and then have to sign another SP to replace Price, how much salary have we saved?
If someone thinks the Red Sox will pay part of prices salary to trade him then you’re not thinking right. The whole point of trading him is to get rid of the salary !!
They’d rather keep him and let him pitch rather than eat 18-20 million in salary.
Now if they get quality back then it’s more of paying for that quality instead of eating Price’s salary. I would say the Red Sox trade price or sale or eovaldi at the deadline for a minor leaguer. Done deal.
No one wants David Price at 32 million a year for the next three years…including the Red Sox!
Yup, true. Trading that salary away seems like a pipe dream. But I seriously don’t think the Red Sox will pay part of it to get rid of him.
@Gary Only other option is to package a young player worth the difference between Price’s contract and Price’s actual value and then give them away for a crap prospect. Possible, but who do they have that they’re willing to part with who is that valuable? Don’t say Benintendi; he could be packaged with Eovaldi, maybe, but he won’t be enough to compensate for Price.
Red Sox won’t trade price just for a minor Leaguer to get rid of the salary and under the tax? A team at the deadline that needs one starter might possibly do it? It’s only a two year and 3-month commitment by then?
Not a soul on earth will take on Eovaldi’s contract at 17 million. Unless Red Sox take on half of it, even then you have to find a suitor whos willing to accept that deal. And the season Sale just had, he won’t be going anywhere this offseason. Price is probably the only moveable contract at this point, and even in that case, the Red Sox will still have to eat some salary.
I’ll bet you could get someone to take $10-$12MM.
With his productivity and health concerns, only a desperate team would be willing. And the return would be very minimal. Possibly the Blue Jays, but the return would be like I said, very minimal. And even the Jays want to go after more durable guys.. Me personally, I think Eovaldi is stuck in Boston.
I’m going with the fact that the demand for SP is much greater than the supply.
The Cards could use Price sox take back Carp Cards give up O Neill and take on the whole Price contract.
I am guessing the White Sox bring back Sánchez, which would be an overpay. However, history indicates that if they cut him loose and use that extra money, it is likely to be used unwisely (See Williams + Hahn’s FA acquisitions) and they probably would get little productivity from it in FA. I also expect them to keep Koepech in the minors for at least 2 months.
I disagree. I can see them bringing Sanchez back as their utility guy, but they’ll non-tender him first and work out a better deal. He’s not worth $6.2M
What they do with Sanchez is dependent on Madrigal and an jimenez like extended time contract, otherwise White Sox will hold Madrigal back for team control and then need to cut a lower priced deal with Yolmer. If they do cut Jimenez like extended years deal (not money wise) with Madrigal, they will start year with him at 2B. They have Luery as a more versatile utility player with higher BA. Yolmer was given every chance to perform at plate, but has struggled. Luery needs to be seriously considered as Utility since he will be odd man out at CF.
Who is Mookie Sanchez
It was supposed to be Mookie, Sanchez. As in Mookie Betts and Yolmer Sanchez.
How about Pujols and Cozart for Price? Red Sox shed some payroll and angels shift bad money towards a huge need.
I was telling a Red Sox fan that about a possible trade with the Angels and Red Sox involving Pujols for Price. Pujols can become a full time DH in Boston while the Angels grab a starting pitcher they badly need!
Sox have JDM, why would they want Pujols? Both are pretty muc DH-only players.
They wouldn’t want Pujols, they’d want to not have Price
I totally forgot JD Martinez did not opt out but he occasionally plays right field!
Why Price still has quite a bit of value and Pujols and Cozart not any really. These trades for Price are ridiculous just because he isn’t worth his 31 million contract doesn’t mean he needs to be traded for and quite frankly won’t be traded for guys with little or no value.
1. Sox trade Price and Vasquez to Padres for Myers, Margot and Hedges. Pads get a guy who probably can win 15 in that park/league, and arguably one of the best catchers (offense/defense) in the game. Sox get some salary relief, a 1B (which they don’t have), and at least exceptional defense behind the plate. They need Margot because they:
2. Non-tender JBJ.
Leaves them with 193M, by my calculations, assuming MLBTR arbitration predictions.
Then they do what NOBODY thinks they will, and extend Betts. They’re still under the Tax.
Nicely said bob, couldn’t agree more. I wouldn’t be shocked nor surprised to see a deal of that magnitude.
The Padres get a solid #2 when healthy in Price, and a nice catcher to backup Mejia. Red Sox’s get the best Defensive catcher in the game and the Speed/Defense in Margot. Myers is worth the risk simply for clearing Price’s salary, I think he would play a good first base for the Sox.
Yes, Vazquez backing up is more like it than Bob’s comment straight from Boston!
Your comment on Vasquez is a little over the top don’t you think? Best catchers offensively and defensively in the game……one year of decent offense don’t make a reputation as yet…considering he batted .207 in 2018. Defensively, tries to frame each and every pitch…is he mentioned in the same sentence of guys like Perez, Molina, and most of all Realmuto….think not! Only in Beantown!
He won a championship with that .207 average.
The world’s dumbest argument. Usually that one is reserved for Cubs fans to overrate their players.
I agree that he has been up and down but Vazquez hit well not just in 2019 but also 2017. That was why many predicted 2018 as an off year and expected him to bounce back which he did. Catching as a whole for MLB is pretty weak right now, Vazquez is a plus defender in todays game.
Yolmer Sanchez to Boston for Jackie Bradley Jr.
Here is the Mets off season moves ………………………………………………
Sounds great. 20mil under the luxury tax, traded away best prospects for 2019 team and finish barely above 500 with no playoffs prospects. Sounds like a mets winning team.
Lockett as 5th starter anybody from the Mets minors to help in the pen and anyone from the waiver wire or Mets farm system for CF thats it dont expect ANY free agent that can help Mets arent spending
The Mets needs to improve the bullpen but the pool of bullpen arms in this year’s free agent class is very shallow. They do not need to move either Lugo or Gsellman out of the pen. They need to add a 5th starter from the very deep SP FA pool this winter and potentially sign one or two extra who would be willing to pitch out of the pen.
Problem is the Mets dont have any $$$ to spend all positions left will be filled by the minor league system from what I read payroll will be 170 mil no one will take Cano or Cespedes maybe trading Lowerie for a starter or relief is the only thing I see as possible I see a 4th place finish next year
I wouldn’t be upset if the Cubs hooked up a trade with the Sox for Madrigal. It’d cost a lot (Contreras+) but a Madrigal/Baez combo would be awesome.
Betting internet points that Price goes to SD via three team deal, and JBJ gets traded for salary relief.
Bloom was hired to make these tough moves, he is good at it. I don’t see the Sox contending without Betts and I don’t see them reloading quick without moving him, so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Disagree. The Red Sox had one of the best offenses in all of baseball again in 2019.
Their SP was the problem in 2019 due to injuries.
They don’t need Betts.
In fact Betts makes little sense for them going forward.
He’s likely going to get a long term expensive contract.
And just like Harper the Nats won when they let him go.
I see the same thing with Betts.
He’s a great player for a team like Baltimore or Tampa.
A team that has little talent with a low payroll and can build around.
Those teams also will have less to give up with Betts’s QO.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Betts is a talented player.
I just don’t think he makes financial sense for Boston going forward.
On paper, the Mets aren’t such a bad team and if a few things go right, they will certainly be on the right side of 90 wins. I think they could fill out the team with the budget they’re working with. The Red Sox on the other hand, are absolutely screwed. I’ve never seen a team as screwed as the Red Sox, not since the last Red Sox team that was this screwed. They seem to be making this a thing in the sport. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. The team as constructed has the potential to be a 1/2 billion deficit if players continue to trend in the direction they are. My opinion is that Betts is used as the key piece in moving Price as other have suggested. It actually makes a lot of sense since getting fair value or anything resembling fair value back for Betts isn’t happening. No team will trade their top 1,2,3, prospects AND take on $30M for a one year player. That is organizational suicide, but as others have said, if you package Betts and Price together for Pujols that’s a legit trade and one the Red Sox should take tomorrow regardless of the massive loss of ROI for Betts. It’s not hard to see why Dombroski was fired a few weeks later. The Red Sox could free up a lot of money fast, if they approach this correctly, which means they have to realize that they are not likely going to get fair value in return for any of their tradable assets. One could make a really compelling argument they totally missed that opportunity at the trade deadline this past season al a Yankees 2016, which changed the entire direction of the organization in a flash.
As for Sale, forget it. I wouldn’t touch him at all at the moment. He is dangling precariously close to a TJ surgery and with that amount of new money still to come, no way, Jose..
The Red Sox are so clueless sometimes it takes them six years to win a championship.
LOL. They are a team that just stopped being the defending champions. Cora skipped spring training and the rotation paid the price which overworked the bullpen. After a bad April and the season ending in Mid-September they still won 84 games. They are likely to be better if Cora learned a lesson. They can be better with relatively minor tweaks and still meet the goal to reduce salary. They shouldnt do much until July, see if the team showed back up or not and then make decisions.
They skipped March to have gas in September. That worked great. LOL
Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. for Carson Fulmer, Leury Garcia, Yolmer Sanchez and Blake Rutherford.
That will be a hard hard hard pass.
Where to start? The Sox don’t need JBJ, and I’m quite sure the Saux don’t need a bunch of bench players and castoffs for one of the top 5-10 players in the league.
I think the likely non tenders this winter for Boston are JBJ and Leon. maybe Osich
That would get them under the $208 MM.
It makes little sense to trade Mookie now unless they can also unload one of the high paid pitchers as part of the deal. Otherwise, the Red Sox are in better position to trade at the deadline if they are not contenders (which they very well should be). At the deadline, the $27m will be cut in half, and a team looking for the final piece for the playoff run in 2020 can’t do any better than Mookie; and then their would be opportunity for the Sox to get a decent prospect in return.
It’s waste of my life to bash another Chicago team.
I”ve been a Sox fan my whole life. I don’t hate the Cubs. I’m just indifferent. When the Cubs won the Series it was like another out of town team had won.
I’m not exactly enamored by Sox ownership either. The Sox and Cubs are both major market teams but only the latter is operated like one.
The Cubs are forever tied to Clark and Addison. Lakeview is basically a town within a city. The Cubs have all the amenities that extend the experience.
Had visionless Reinsdorf taken Harold Washington up on his offer to anchor the Near South Side Renaissance, the White Sox could have been drawing 2.5 to 3 million annually being in closer proximity to heart of tourism and extended public transportation.
I have no idea how close the Sox are from being a contender. I know it could be accelerated by that ownership but refuses to spend.
He is one of very few owners in history with championship rings in two major sports. He’s content. With that particular aspect of his legacy cemented, there’s no sense of urgency – on either the South or West sides of town.
The Cubs were supposed to go on a string of World Series appearances. For whatever reason(s) the championship dynasty did not materialize.
Who knows how long it will be but the next World Series played in Chicago will occur on the South Side. The Cubs may get there at the same time but not before.
Astros would likely take on David Price to replace Gerrit Cole. But only at a discounted salary.
Then they should do Price for Verlander. Both pitchers are over the hill and Verlander was very ineffective in the 2019 WS and Price performed well on the 2018 WS. LOL
Mookie to the Mets for Syndergaard and Dom Smith. Get er done BVW