this is important and the Sox have a lot of options

Corey Dickerson in RF.
Moustakas or Donaldson for DH.
Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

_________________
Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Nothing big will happen.

_________________

Not with starting pitchers, at least, unless Reinsdorf meets his maker.

I'm sure we'll pick up a past-his-prime right fielder, though.

I am taking the $300m they had earmarked for Machado and subtracting the $75m they gave to Eloy. That's my projected budget for this offseason. I am not going to be overly cynical about why they missed on Machado. I think they wanted to spend that money but they only wanted to spend it on their terms.

Nick Castellanos $80m
Yoan Moncada $100m
Jose Abreu $25m
A couple bullpen arms $20m

If the Sox are feeling frisky and the sides can come together I would expect something around $60m for Giolito, that would be over budget but certainly possible. Giolito is probably eager to cash in and the Sox are certainly eager to find themselves a cheap contract to build around.

Your lineup is then

dh mostly Collins but it'll move around
c McCann
1b Abreu
2b Madrigal
ss Anderson
3b Moncada
rf Castellanos
cf Robert
lf Jimenez

I think Vaughn is up sooner than later. They need the LH presence

bullpen is impossible to predict so I wont

The rotation is Giolito, Kopech, Lopez and Cease. They will trade for the best lefty they can get without giving up Vaughn or Madrigal (obviously Robert is off the table too). I would not be surprised if McCann or even more likely Colome gets dealt in such a deal. Colome, Dunning and Basabe would return something pretty decent.

Ricky Renteria on the day that Maddon is officially "not fired but contract not extended".

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yep. I already have Kole Calhoun on the team for next year.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

How many of these clowns have the Sox signed--only to watch their careers die? Either that or they get a decent player for a single year.

This team is close to competing. They are still lacking 2 offensive players (RF/DH). I hate locking in any outside free agent into a DH spot for the next 4 years. I'd prefer to have a team where you can keep that spot filled by the position players, and just rotate players through. They need an impact hitter in RF.

The rotation has a ton of talent, it's just a matter of whether it will develop and succeed at the major league level. Most teams on the verge of competing would probably love to have Giolito, Cease, Kopech and Lopez. That's a lot of a talent. They need to find a Lester type to put up-front as a #1 or #2 type. Easier said than done. I would also like to have a dependable "6th" option given the youth and concern on durability here. If Nova wants to come back in such a role, I'd be interested. Doesn't have to be Nova, but somebody who will come in as insurance initially, but can occasionally start to stretch the rotation and guard against injury. I would imagine this person would get 10-12 starts. It could even be Rodon, but that doesn't cover them for the first 3-4 months of the season.

Ideally, 1-2 offensive players (RF, maybe a versatile player), adding Robert/Madrigal probably here early next season as well, a front-line starter and 1-2 bullpen arms.

I'm not so they will be able to land a front-line starter though so would expect some #3 type starter added with a middle of the lineup RF.

I like the idea of Nick Markasis in right field/ DH. I'd also like them to go out aggressively after Baumgarten and Quintana. Add a couple of decent mid relief guys and this team can be a play-off contender next season.

Batting Order:

1. Mendick -- 2nd base
2. Markasis -- RF
3. Abreu -- 1st Base
4. Moncada -- 3rd base
5. Jimenez -- LF
6. Anderson -- SS
7. Robert -- CF
8. Collins/Garcia -- DH
9. McCann -- C

Starting Pitchers : Baumgarten, Giolitto, Quintana, Lopez, Cease.


Bull-pen(7) : TBD Back end of pen 7,8,9 pretty well set. Probably need at least two better mid relief guys including at least one lefty.

Bench: Mercedes, Sanchez, Collins, Garcia

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

So you think the Sox are going to trade for Q?

It is a no brainer for the Cubs to pick up Qs option.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Madrigal should and will be at 2nd base next season, not Mendick. Markakis and Baumgartner would be extremely disappointing free agent acquisitions, the time has come to make a real splash in free agency and spend some real money.

Calhoun is not a clown in my book but it may take more money to sign him than someone like Mustakis because he is younger. He is a good outfielder even though he doesn't look like it and he does hit for power. I just think that the Sox have young guys in their system that may make it in a couple of years. They really do not have to go and invest a lot to get a young player for right field.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

I don't think that Madrigal will be ready at the beginning of next season. As for Baumgartner being disappointing, that is ridiculous. They also do not need to spend a lot of money for a right fielder. Get a good veteran and spend the money on pitching particularly left handed pitching.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Next year is another development year. You simply aren't winning anything with Kopech learning on the fly and innings limited, Cease innings limited and Lopez trying to regain form.

Collins must get at bats. It's that simple. He will be 26 and has showed plenty at AAA. He cannot linger there any more. If he proves to be an MLB hitter, you got yourself some of the LH power you need in the lineup on the cheap.

I really think one of their minor league OF is going to emerge next season (in the minors). I don't want to get locked into anything in RF. I think the Sox should sign Zobrist to play RF. He switch hits. He has a high OBP. He doesn't strike out a ton. He is a great character guy. He will look for stability in the off season, if he even plays next year. Staying in Chicago should be attractive to him. You can back him up defensively with Engel and his nine lives. Give him a one year deal with an option and kick a big contract in RF down the road.

The big move should be a LHSP. Zack Wheeler fits the bill. He'll get hefty money but not the crazy contract.

Back him up with Cole Hamels on a one year deal. He pitched incredibly well for the Cubs with a lower workload.

Let Kopech start the season in the minors to make sure his control is re stabilized. They get some service time relief that they lost by bringing him up even though he was showing signs of being hurt.

Opening Day rotation

Giolito
Wheeler
Cease
Hamels
Lopez

Starting Lineup

Zobrist
Anderson
Moncada
Abreu
Eloy
Collins
Garcia (until Robert)
Mc Cann
Mendick (until Madrigal)

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If they do, then they can go out and get another decent left handed starting pitcher. I just think that they could really used two lefty starters. In a series, it changes the look that hitters have and not have they get the chance of getting comfortable in the box.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

JFC, shoot yourself in the face.

_________________

I don't think that next year is going to be so much a development year in that I think that they should be geared to compete for a play-off spot. I like the idea of Wheeler but I think that they should go after another lefty also. Zobrist is an okay addition but I'd prefer a couple of other right fielders with more pop in their bats.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

I like Q. Always have. I know that he's got an option year left. Anything can happen trade wise and the Sox have some guys waiting in the wings that the Cubs might be interested in. I'm not locked in to anyone, dipshit. We are throwing ideas around. At least some of us are. You, on the other hand, are simply a pimple on a pig's behind. Irritating as hell but not a serious one.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

If you want the Sox to win, you want Quintana on another team. It really is that simple.

_________________

That is as dumb as it gets. Quintana is a solid mid of the rotation starting pitcher and with a line-up of hitters like they have behind him, he could win 15-17 games for them next year.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Quintana has never won 15 games in his career (13 is his career high). Now all of a sudden he is going to win 17?

Shoot yourself in the face.

_________________

So what? HE may win 14-15 games this season for the Cubs. And with the Sox line-up next season, he is a solid bet to win at least 15 games as a White Sox pitcher. He is dependable. Has a 3.7 ERA in six seasons and averages around 190-200 innings

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

His 2019 ERA is closer to 5 than it is that 3.7 mark you described. Quintana will not win 15 games for the Cub, as he only has one more start. Maybe he'll get you all hot and bothered as he pitches well in a meaningless game with no pressure and gets win #14.

Seriously. Set the bar for the White Sox higher than Jose fucking Quintana.

_________________

I don't get the Madbum love from sox fans, dude is washed up.. He'll get murdered in the AL.

He's getting hit hard in a huge pitchers park.

_________________

Most people just see the name and remember when he was good.

_________________

200+ innings, 1.12 WHIP, 190 K to only 41 walks, 3.8 ERA, 9-9 record. He isn't a top Cy Young candidate like he was, but he is certainly not a scrub. And he's not even 30 years old yet. He is a FAR SUPERIOR option than giving up capital for Jose Quintana.

_________________

Vaughn is a right handed hitter I believe. THey actually have a left handed hitter in Birmingham who is a good left handed hitting 1B in Sheets who will be in 3A next season. He was a 2nd round pick and is 23 years old I think. He and Vaughn could possibly be brought up in 2021 and be the 1B/DH combination down the road.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Nope. He is a good major league pitcher and one of the winningest left handed pitchers in the NL since he joined the Cubbies. Look it up. As for the "meaningless game" shit.....Aren't they competing for a wild card spot? Wouldn't call that game meaningless. Your hatred for Quintana is stupid. 3.7 ERA left handed starting pitchers are few and far between as are guys who average the almost 200 innings per season as he has done. Put him on a dynamic hitting team like the White Sox next season and he wins 15 games easily as a number 3 starting pitcher.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

He is only like 30-31 years old and while he has lost some velocity, he still will be a number one starting pitcher for the White Sox. Plus he is a big time competitor who is re-inventing himself by adding his curve ball and slider as his out pitches. He's also pitching for a bad team and still averages about a strike out an inning with a decent ERA. He'd win 20 with the White Sox next year.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip