The Chicago Pope

Another realistic #WhiteSox offseason plan I'd be pretty damn happy with. The highlights: 1. Flashing light is the Michael King signing. We need innings, dominance, and leadership. He's all 3 and then some. Give him the bag and get him in Chicago. Even paying top of market for both him and Newcomb, who I also bring back here, we're still a bottom 15 payroll. There's no excuse not to fortify the rotation with someone like him knowing the team is this good. Obviously would be ecstatic with a Skubal or Peralta too, but King feels most realistic of the 3. 2. Trading for Detmers. Give them Carlson so they can move Neto too for a full rebuild and toss them a few arms to fill in the gap/develop. Sox can make a compelling offer that would be hard to turn down and he makes perfect sense on this roster for the next 5 year window. Alternatively willing to make a similar offer to Seattle for one of their starters. 3. Trading for Teo Hernandez won't command a large price, LAD is desperate to move him. But he hit .270 last year and would be an ideal stop gap for the season until Bonemer is ready, likely with some of his contract paid for in the swap. Plus he brings championship pedigree and improved bat-to-ball skills to the lineup with no long-term commitment and would set the table for the bottom of the order while also removing some swing%. Summary: -King, Detmers, and Burke make for a mighty frontend rotation. Schultz and Sandlin can really find their groove in the backend as they grow over time. -Hagen's control issues became apparent down the stretch. Let him continue to develop in the bullpen, he'd be a spectacular setup with Hicks for Taylor. He's dominant there and will be asked to do less with more substantiation in the rotation and Vasil returning. -Teo gives the Sox some RHH balance, veteran experience, and a quality short term option who puts the bat on the ball more than our lefty sluggers. -Castillo takes bulk and spot starts. Benintendi and Kay contracts are eaten for the benefit of the growth of the team. -Most everything else stays the same as we prepare for the next youth wave, except Baldwin replaces Grichuk and Bergolla replaces Acuna. Bench contact improves. -Vargas and Mune are rewarded with extensions. I'd consider extending Bonemer early too to get ahead of his anticipated skyrocketing value. With as successful as the rest of the team build has looked, that risk feels very worthwhile. This team could win a lot of games.

What? Like it's hard? #WhiteSox

This is a relatively realistic offseason for the #WhiteSox that I'd be okay with. In all reality, Skubal/King/Freddy etc. are not likely, nor is a star OF contract like Seiya/Randy/Happ. Mahle in FA feels like a great blend of quality for the cost of his market. He'd instantly be our best starter and still lets you pursue another arm to eat innings and get strikeouts for the rotation. Going in for Detmers with Carlson feels inevitable if Reid is made available this offseason. Burke becomes the 3 and the rotation is instantly fortified. Schultz and Sandlin can develop more with Castillo being used to spot start and take bulk out of the pen. I like Burleson to give more quality contact in the lineup and having Gurriel get to platoon the OF on an incentive deal for similar output against lefties. Bringing in Herrera to spell Teel and get some rotation at 1B/DH makes sense too while also giving you some quality plate appearances. He's a good buy-low candidate who fits our needs. Newcomb coming back would be worth every penny. He gives you lots of innings from the left side of the mound and can pitch in any circumstance. Bergolla replaces Acuna as your IF UTIL/base stealer but he's a better hitter. Doyle is an elite defender off the bench for OF depth. Baldwin and Bonemer have time to adjust, creating a competitive expectations for Burleson and Gurriel. Something like this definitely gets you to the 90 win mark assuming health holds while also giving you flexbility as the next wave of youth gets ready for the pros.

I did what I'm guessing Jerry Reinsdorf has as his idea of an "aggressive" offseason for the #WhiteSox and suddenly I'm terrified this is actually what we might be forced to deal with, replete with a press conference saying they'll consider adding more at the trade deadline.

Elly, Sandy, Freddy, Herrera... many are calling it... The Latin Infusion ™️ #WhiteSox

Walk with me... #WhiteSox

HEAR ME OUT #WhiteSox

Mind you, Chris Jones jumps out to the EDGE a fair amount and specifically rushes the passer. Simmons sits in the middle of the line almost every single play and has almost as many sacks as a pass rush specialist while also being a far more dominant run stopper. #DaBears

I'm sure the Chiefs, Eagles, Bucs, and Seahawks are DEVASTATED that they built their D-line around star DTs. They could have taken the advice of a regional podcaster and been the winners of online discourse. Instead they have to settle for all those silly Super Bowls. #DaBears

Having a blast making #WhiteSox moves with @DealinTheCards GM simulator. Helps contextualize some roster/cap ideas. Headline here is DH Rafael Devers and SP Logan Webb come over in exchange for Colson and Braden. In exchange for getting 2 great young players for Webb's services and us absorbing Devers' full deal, they also take the Benintendi and Castillo contracts. Devers gives the Sox a major bat upgrade in the DH instead of a platoon and a true frontend ace. Beni and Castillo give the Giants innings and quality at bats while they keep developing the Montgomery brothers. Trades don't stop there. We send Carlson, Sandlin, and Wolkow to the Angels for SP Reid Detmers, and Acuna, Perez, McDougal, and Oppor to the Marlins for SP Sandy Alcantara. This addresses the need for innings, veteran leadership, and strikeouts in the rotation. Burke and Schultz become the best 4/5 in the league and the rotation goes from a liability to one of the most impressive in the game. We also capitlize on Peters' value and move him with Shane Smith, Quero, and prospects to Boston for RF Wilyer Abreu. And to help balance the bullpen and replace Newcomb, we send Davis Martin to retool with the Brewers in exchange for RP Trevor Megill, who's deal is expiring soon and is favored to be moved in the offseason. Sox seize at the chance to add his leadership and hope to replicate his recent World Series success. Bergolla gets the call to fill in Acuna's spot, while both Tanner Murray and Brooks Baldwin get rewarded for their patience and good play as platoon role players. Bart is extended to catch for Webb and coach up Teel. We bring back Fedde to spot start and take bulk out of the bullpen with Kay, who shifts over to a relief role, until they feel good about Drew Thorpe. In free agency, we bring UTIL guys Jorge Mateo and Dylan Carlson on minor league deals to fill out the 40-man and provide veteran depth. Additionally, the Alcantara trade could be swapped for a starter like Michael King, but Sandy makes a lot of sense as the premiere innings eater in baseball. Perhaps the coaching staff can help him find his old self like they did with Hicks and likely saves $10M+ AAV from a quality frontend starter on the market. Extending Vargas, Mune, and Meidroth feels important to reward their great play and character. I also think Bonemer is the kind of player worth getting ahead of like the Brewers did with Pratt and Chourio. Likewise, I extended the players on expiring deals we acquired via trade (Sandy, Webb, Detmers, and Megill) since most of the young core is under cheap team control through 2031. I know a team likely won't operate with so many trades, but it's actually a testament to how much young talent the Sox have in their system, both in the farm and at the major league level. Fun to see some new options arise. I'm sure the team will keep more of their guys and utilize free agency more than swaps, but man this would be a lot of fun. Can't wait for baseball to come back already.

If #DaBears go out and get Khalil Mack to rotate in on the edge, the depth chart will tentatively be: LE Sweat/Mack/Loving 3T Simmons/Street/JVDB NT Jarrett/Gallimore/Lynch RE Booker/Mack/Shemar And 80% of those guys can play anywhere on the line. Dennis Allen is already set up to vastly improve, but he would have a field day disguising his blitz and stunt packages if he can flip Mack on 2nd and 3rd downs.

For context: #DaBears just turned 2 late 1st Rounders and a Day 3 pick into the best interior defensive lineman in the world. You could go TEN seasons picking in those spots and never find a player like Jeffery Simmons. Easy “yes” for Poles.

The “bEaRs WoULd nEvER pAy tWo FiRsTs fOr SiMmOnS” crowd owe me big fat apology. #DaBears

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO!!!!! #DaBears