*Official* 2019-20 White Sox Hot Stove thread

[Mohoney]

Originally Posted by blurry

The team's cumulative DH production in 2019 was -3.5 WAR, which is close to the worst in baseball history. JD Martinez is an elite hitter and would immediately solve the DH problem for a few years.

What would you do to solve the DH problem?

I would do one of two things:

1. Stop living in denial and move Eloy to his rightful position

Or

2. Rotate the DH spot among several gloves we need to hide and use the rest of the appearances for maintenance days

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Originally Posted by Noneck

He not opting out for the same money and lower term. Hes opting out for more guaranteed money. The way you get more substantial guaranteed money is by increasing term. Also giving up a pick decreases his value. We will see but I still think he will get more term.

Once he opts out then all bets are off whether he can beat $60mil, depends on what the 2-3 teams that are in the market for a high priced DH are willing to pay. I suggested $60mil/2 years, if his market isn't very good, then that offer would look better than his original he opted out of. I wouldn't be upset with $70mil/3 or something similar either.

[HomeFish]

I would be surprised if JD Martinez gets 5 years from anyone, or even 4 years. Given how much smarter MLB teams have gotten about guys in their 30's, I think he'll have to settle for 3-4 years but a higher annual salary. That would still be an improvement for him.

But yeah in the end, once JD opts out it is the market that will decide what he gets, not him.

[DumpJerry]

Originally Posted by HomeFish

I would be surprised if JD Martinez gets 5 years from anyone, or even 4 years. Given how much smarter MLB teams have gotten about guys in their 30's, I think he'll have to settle for 3-4 years but a higher annual salary. That would still be an improvement for him.

But yeah in the end, once JD opts out it is the market that will decide what he gets, not him.

I think he will take 5 years with a player option in year 3 given his stated desire to move around. It allows him to re-set his price in 2022 if he is still stud or remain in place with a pretty nice contract if he is tanking.

[blandman]

The main competition for Martinez will be the Red Sox trying to resign him if (when) he opts out.


I doubt he leaves, but if he does it'll be for more money/years than they're offering. Which would probably mean something in the neighborhood of 4/$120 as an overpay. Which would still be fine...but I'd pass in favor of other free agents. But I wouldn't complain if that's what we did.

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Originally Posted by blandman

The main competition for Martinez will be the Red Sox trying to resign him if (when) he opts out.


I doubt he leaves, but if he does it'll be for more money/years than they're offering. Which would probably mean something in the neighborhood of 4/$120 as an overpay. Which would still be fine...but I'd pass in favor of other free agents. But I wouldn't complain if that's what we did.

Well, no. If he opts out then the Red Sox can keep Betts, if JDM doesn't opt out, they trade Betts. It's well documented that Boston doesn't have the payroll flexibility to keep both of them for next year.

Also, no team is going to pay a 32 year old DH $30mil a year until he's 36... especially with the drastic change in the landscape of free agency for veterans.

[Grzegorz]

Originally Posted by ChiSoxNationPres

Well, no. If he opts out then the Red Sox can keep Betts, if JDM doesn't opt out, they trade Betts. It's well documented that Boston doesn't have the payroll flexibility to keep both of them for next year.

Also, no team is going to pay a 32 year old DH $30mil a year until he's 36... especially with the drastic change in the landscape of free agency for veterans.

Who would you rather have? Betts or JD?

[blandman]

Originally Posted by ChiSoxNationPres

Well, no. If he opts out then the Red Sox can keep Betts, if JDM doesn't opt out, they trade Betts. It's well documented that Boston doesn't have the payroll flexibility to keep both of them for next year.

Also, no team is going to pay a 32 year old DH $30mil a year until he's 36... especially with the drastic change in the landscape of free agency for veterans.

Eh...with his bat I'd bet Martinez is the exception to that rule.


I'm not well versed in the BoSox payroll implications, but I'm sure they more than most can just find the money.

[voodoochile]

Originally Posted by blandman

Eh...with his bat I'd bet Martinez is the exception to that rule.


I'm not well versed in the BoSox payroll implications, but I'm sure they more than most can just find the money.

The question maybe will the owner authorize going over the payroll tax threshold and if so by how much. If they sign Martinez they are going to have well north of $100M wrapped up in 4 players.

[kittle42]

Originally Posted by slavko

(half-joking) Eloy?

Eloy is definitely the solution.

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Originally Posted by blandman

Eh...with his bat I'd bet Martinez is the exception to that rule.


I'm not well versed in the BoSox payroll implications, but I'm sure they more than most can just find the money.

Why would Martinez get more at the age of 32 ($120mil), than he did at 30 ($110mil)?? Makes no sense.

Again, it's been all over the place that they have too many high payroll players currently and it will be hard to make it work next year.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/10/01/re...acts-difficult

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Originally Posted by Grzegorz

Who would you rather have? Betts or JD?

For which team? For 3 years, JDM makes a lot of sense for the White Sox. Only 1 year of Mookie Betts, considering what you would have to trade, doesn't make sense for the White Sox.

[Mohoney]

Originally Posted by blurry

Eloy isn't going to DH. He doesn't want to be a DH and the team has clearly indicated they don't want him to be a DH either, so I think that might be a non starter (at least for now). That's why I'd get JD Martinez and hope Eloy continues to develop his skills in the field. He knows he has to get better there.

Yeah, stubborn refusal to admit defeat and move on is a time-honored White Sox tradition.

[voodoochile]

Originally Posted by Mohoney

Yeah, stubborn refusal to admit defeat and move on is a time-honored White Sox tradition.

Or they'd just rather spend the money elsewhere for a few years, see if Eloy develops closer to average fielding chops with patience, practice and coaching or that one of the younger kids comes up and takes the job. Not like they haven't got good things elsewhere to spend the money on.

[Grzegorz]

Originally Posted by ChiSoxNationPres

For which team? For 3 years, JDM makes a lot of sense for the White Sox. Only 1 year of Mookie Betts, considering what you would have to trade, doesn't make sense for the White Sox.

The Red Sox.