Nick

Not sure if his career has taken off as some expected. We paid Sale $39.5M over 3 years. I think we'd look at him differently had we not extended at beginning of 2019. I still think we would have signed him but not for as much as shorter duration. I would continue to shop Devers and ask for the moon. 2 or 3 solid, player controlled major league ready players would help the Sox. We have the money to get us over the hump but we're not close to that hump. We need more better than average players at this point.

The sage one puts me in my time out chair.....and I'm good with it when I'm talking stupid.

Position Players-looking ahead C Vazquez 2022 1B Dalbec (?) 2025 2B 3B Devers 2023 SS Xander 2026 OF Verdugo 2024 OF Beni 2022 OF Duran (?) 2026 (?) DH JD 2022 (probably can't move the contract) When will our #1 prospect Casas be ready? What about Chatam?

I do hope he gets well.....I never wish any player any harm to his career.....Betts included (he didn't love us anymore...that happens in life) Kopech is still under team control for four additional years. Moncada had signed a new deal that will keep him with White Sox until 2025. White Sox pitching coach concerned about Michael Kopech Jul 12, 2020 ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper says he is concerned about right-hander Michael Kopech, who recently opted out of the upcoming 2020 season. Kopech, 24, missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery but was expected to contend for a spot in Chicago's rotation this year. He has publicly discussed his anxiety and depression, which Cooper cited Saturday in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't know what is going on with Michael, but I know he deals with some anxiety and depression, and my thought is, I sure hope he's OK," Cooper told the Sun-Times. "And I hope he gets to where he needs to be, where he's feeling good and wants to come back, because we will welcome him back with open arms." Kopech also missed the start of summer camp earlier this month because of what the White Sox called a personal matter. EDITOR'S PICKS White Sox RHP Kopech opts out of 2020 season MLB players who are opting out of the 2020 season "Last time I saw him in spring training, he was in a great place," Cooper told the Sun-Times. "But let me put it this way: I sure hope the kid is OK. I'm concerned that he's not OK." Kopech, who touched 100 mph during spring training this past March, has not made any public comments about his decision to opt out of the season. The White Sox did not announce Friday whether Kopech has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to the virus, with general manager Rick Hahn saying in a statement that "reaching this decision is incredibly difficult for any competitive athlete, and our organization is understanding and supportive." "Michael has been pretty open and available to [the media] on a lot of tough topics, but he's not in the mood to talk right now," Cooper told the Sun-Times. "When Michael is ready to talk, then you are going to get the real deal." White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon also expressed support for Kopech. "It's Michael's decision, and we have no idea what's going on in his world, and as a team, we support him 100 percent," Rodon told the paper. "It's a tough loss. He's a guy who can boost our rotation or wherever he would line up in the row of arms. But looking forward to having him back next year." Kopech, who made four starts in 2018 before suffering the elbow injury, was a key part of the five-player trade that sent All-Star pitcher Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox after the 2016 season.

He did give us 3 pretty good years, no? Moncada became expendable because of Devers and the belief that Dustin would play 2nd base for the Sox until 2021. I really hated to see Kopech go. Sale's contract was also team friendly. Not sure what we would have done to make the team as competitive those first two years absent Chris Sale. I'm really interested to hear what the Sox would have done to improve had we not done the deal with the White Sox. What was available then?

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. All in all, though, not many of these deals look bad. Chris Sale trade was good and I'd still do it. In hindsight, extending him early was the mistake. We could have gotten him cheaper had we waited.

Suppose you are the league's top stud pitcher at 28. Would you sign a one year $50M deal or settle for 10 year, $30M deal? If you were an agent, what would you advise? I'm just curious to see if there are players/agents willing to gamble.

Bloom, I don't have the energy to do this but... masslive while back (one, two years ago) had details on baseball transactions during DD era. Specifically it dealt with who was traded for who. I understand that this board hates DD and blames the lack of current talent in the minors, all of it on DD. Would you have time to revisit the transactions? I claim that changes in international pool/draft had bigger effect on dearth of Red Sox farm compared to earlier Henry era. It's just gotten harder for top finishers to stockpile younger players. If we had Ray's budget, Devers would be on the chopping block for two good young players. There would be this constant churning, thus better farm system but the parent team not good enough to win the World Championship. I'm good with 'churning' concept with the caveat that if we have enough talent, we go sign that one difference maker, usually an ace to "go for it".

Do we need to expand the roster size to accomodate more pitchers? Just wondering......

I like one year deals for veterans. That will not burden a team.

Being athletic does not make you a good baseball player. But if you are small and unathletic, Pedroia and Beni comes to mind, be careful with long term contracts. Their early years maybe their peak years. Their body wears down pretty quickly.

I agree.... I'll pay my $150 to watch the Sox in 2021 if I see we are looking at young talent. Pillars of the world are just fill ins. Just get ready for 2022 and beyond. We need to address starting pitching for 2022. We are not making playoffs in 2021. I'd budget $100M for 5 starting pitchers, but remember Chris Sales already takes up $25.6M and Nathan another $17M. If a guy like Mata can step in, that leaves money for two aces, making $30M apiece. If two young guys step in, money can go elsewhere. You have to have starting pitching in order to give a team chance to win every time out. And it becomes even more critical in the playoffs. Pitching, pitching, pitching....

Best thing you've said....trade out for guys with potential and team control...I like the move with Hembree and Workman I'm looking at 2022 for next playoff chase....Vaz will be in his final year (assuming option is exercised) ......his trad value maybe at its peak...see what we can get for him Pedey comes off the contract after next year.....one more year of Price payment in 2022....we should have ton of cash to supplement hopefully our emerging prospects by 2022

I prefer we go with mid level free agents until we're ready to compete. What I don't want is 2 big signings and still have a bad team and be stuck again with 2 losing contracts.

For the paying customers and to the position players, GM must be able to put a starting pitcher that has reasonable ability to keep the team in a game, every day. Sure, there will be blowouts but that should work both ways. Getting the pitching staff under control has to be #1 priority for any legit baseball organization. You start there. I'll take 5 Cy Young winners with minor league lineup over good hitting team with this year's Sox starting pitching.

Now, now, now....You're respected here. There's really no need for that. Be happy your team is hundred times better.

Serious Question; What would YOU have done with Betts situation? Answer that, be specific. Talk to me like I'm the owner and you're the GM.

Drafting rules have changed and we're in the aftermath of winning the Division three straight years. For the Yankees, there's tons of pressure to win the World Series as Dodgers. As a Sox fan, if you don't win, well Yankees always have a good team so this year won't be any different. Meanwhile your players are getting more expensive. What is your window? Red Sox 4 Giants 3 Cardinals 2 since new Red Sox era.

On your second point of drafting and developing starting pitchers, I heard a collective......."yeah, that's it, what the hell have we been thinking? "

I'll take 2018-2020 over .500 seasons all three years any day.

One step at a time....let's get 60 games in and re-set the luxury tax. Henry will spend money. He just wants to make sure we're spending it wisely. We have 4 WS titles since 2004. Give the organization time to re-organize. You still have dead weights such as Pedey. We have one more year after this one. There are probably many players willing to sign a one year deal for 2021. New CB agreement comes into play for 2022. Many players may wait to see what the true market will be beginning 2022. Good news is Yankees payroll will get more expensive quickly. But if they win the whole thing, obviously they won't care.

So basically we have nothing in the pipeline when it comes to starting pitching? You'd think that would be topic #1 at their weekly meeting.

Martin Perez lhp 1 year/$6.5M (2020), plus 2021 option 1 year/$6.5M (2020), plus 2021 club option signed by Boston as a free agent 12/14/19 20:$6M, 21:$6.25M club option ($500,000 buyout)

And on the major league roster? Rusney...

Dittoe, Dustin P