r/whitesox • u/Background-You-2073 • 2d ago
Opinion Sonny Gray
Anybody else think we ought to get Sonny Gray to change his Sox this off-season? Not only would we get a true ace, we’d get a hardened veteran who could teach the kids so much. Thoughts?
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u/NelsonMuntz007 1d ago
Sonny Gray is coming off of a great year. He’s a 2-3 year contract guy which means he’ll have plenty of suitors. Please educate me on the all the times Reinsdorf and co have won any kind of bidding war for a free agent.
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u/Fast_Hands_Lou 1d ago
Albert Belle, Grandal in my lifetime, but your point was probably about pitching.
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u/NelsonMuntz007 1d ago
Grandal was fine but he wasn’t the most coveted or even a highly sought after FA. He was the a solid mid tier FA. Belle was 30 years ago. I guess you can count the Belle signing cuz that was huge news at the time. But again not this millennium
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u/Penstripedsox Montgomery 1d ago
coming off a career year we aint tryin to pay those prices for an old guy
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u/Deadhead-Dan1975 2d ago
Seems like we have plenty of room for upgrades in the starting staff. Bring him on, sure, why not? (Realistically, I’ll give it a 5% chance).
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u/Loose_Soup_254 9h ago
He’d be great for this team. Especially with his ability to keep the ball on the ground. Would play awesome at the rate.
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u/gogosox82 2d ago
Sure but i don't think Jerry will pay for Sonny Gray tbh.
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u/Jason82929 Antonacci 2d ago
Gray’s gonna be 37 this offseason.
These are exactly the type of signings in Jerry’s wheelhouse if they open the wallet a bit more. Won’t be more than a 1-and-1 or maybe a guaranteed 2nd year.
The unrealistic signings are anything that requires 6+ years or $150 million (haven’t even gone over $100 million but I’m adding a little).
Gray’s gonna get 1-2 years at like $30 million. Probably one of the more realistic ‘dream’ signings.
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u/Background-You-2073 2d ago
Completely agree. Great mutual fit all around as long as Jerry pays market value for him.
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u/gogosox82 2d ago
If Jerry is willing to pay Id be down for sure. 2/30 million with an opt out after one year? If Gray will take that Id welcome him with open arms.
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u/ScaryText8187 Grandal 2d ago
Yep. Reinsdorf hates paying players in general but has a particular disdain for giving money to pitchers.
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u/ChiWhiteSox24 1d ago
Should’ve moved Colson for him when he was initially available… would’ve prevented the Castillo trade too.
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u/HereForTheComments57 1d ago
Ugh, the thought of having a top pitcher while offloading colson makes me sad it didn't happen
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u/ChiWhiteSox24 1d ago
Short window. They pulled him off the market when they got hot. They wanted Meidroth back but we said no. Colson was offered bc we likely would’ve utilized Billy Carlson / Acuna but who knows.
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u/havetohavemytools 1d ago
In what world was Billy Carlson coming up this year
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u/ChiWhiteSox24 1d ago
Acuna this year, Carlson for 2027.
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u/havetohavemytools 1d ago
Carlson barely played this year with injuries. I don’t think trading Colson this or next year is smart at all.
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u/ChiWhiteSox24 1d ago
Compared to Chase / Vargas he was the best trade bait in my opinion. I would’ve moved him way earlier if not last off season but oh well
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u/SlickWillie86 2d ago
I like him as a plan B to Skubal. Not sure I love the years and money for anyone younger that’s a 27 FA. Gray won’t be cheap in AAV, but the total contract cost will be lower. I’m also more bullish on the potential of some of our young arms becoming top of rotation guys, namely Taylor and Hagen, as well as Schultz to be a good starter with upside should he figure it out.
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u/MmboJmbo 2d ago
What fantasy world is Skubal a possibly to come to the Sox.
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u/SlickWillie86 2d ago
I think they have a better pitch than most, but you make him tell you no. Dodgers no longer have Monopoly money. Yes, Sox unlikely to pony up the ~8/400, but their core is locked in cheap through 31. Fandom aside, it’s a strong pairing for a multitude of reasons
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u/MmboJmbo 2d ago
What’s the pitch? Come play with an upcoming team for 1/4th of what you’ll make on another team? This organization does not target premier players in free agency. His annual salary will probably be 35-40 mil a year, if not more, which would be half of the organizations largest contract ever (5/75 mil) and judging with how bad that deal has turned out, I’m sure Jerry will use it as an example of why NOT to sign free agents.
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u/SlickWillie86 2d ago
I tend to think about FA in a similar vein as JR; overpaying for past performance.
However, core under control for next half decade with solid farm behind. Can pay him his market and still be a bottom half payroll. Clear need for ace. Rotation has elite potential with young staff development when paired with said ace.
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u/TheCobalt- 1d ago
Sox fans will never learn even though Jerry has made it clear he won't pay top doller for free agents, especially pitchers.
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u/Background-You-2073 2d ago
Man, the worst thing this team could do is bring in a prima donna, which Skubal clearly is becoming already with the dodgers. That would kill our clubhouse culture, which was the special sauce this year.
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u/RookLobster90 2d ago
Signing Skubal is definitely not the worst thing this team could do, though no chance they pony up.
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u/fiendish_five Berto for Mayor 2d ago
Outta your mind if you genuinely believe this front office will be able to grab Skubal, doesn't matter what they might envision - also matters what the owner is willing to put down.
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u/SlickWillie86 2d ago
I don’t think it’s a likely outcome, but feel it’s much more likely for them than usual given the circumstances.
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u/fiendish_five Berto for Mayor 2d ago
I will hold my breath for big signings until Justin Ishiba takes over, entirely.
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u/Background-You-2073 2d ago
The young pitchers have a lot of raw talent but they need a lot of mentoring. Enter Sonny Gray. Tell you what, if I was in the twilight of my career, any career, I’d think the chance to teach and inspire the next generation would really look good to me. He’d be so respected with us, unlike with the Red Sox where somehow he got lost in the shuffle, which was shameful.
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u/rise_agnst 2d ago
Doesn't he have no trade clause?
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u/Jason82929 Antonacci 2d ago
He has a $30 mutual option with a healthy $10 million buyout. Expectation is he’ll decline his side, take the $10 million and become a free agent.
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u/Kankle-Breaker 2d ago
If he declines the option he won't get the buyout. Only if the team declines will he get the buyout and become a free agent
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u/Jason82929 Antonacci 2d ago
I guess I’d agree with this.
The Gemini recap when you google his contract returns “Buyout: $10,000,000 buyout if the mutual option is declined by either side” which would be unusual and isn’t really well cited when you press Gemini for sources.
Spotrac notes the buyout as “If the team exercises the 2027 option, the player can opt-out (forfeiting the buyout)” which makes far more sense.
Fucking AI.
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u/Kankle-Breaker 2d ago
Don't worry I used AI too when finding my answer but I did check the source just in case of this exact circumstance haha
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u/babyishapostle 2d ago
He does, and he's already said he'd block a deal here. Can't really blame him, nobody wants to pitch for a 100-loss team when they're trying to win.
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u/Background-You-2073 2d ago
Huh? Is this a Russian bot that just got reactivated after being asleep since 2024?
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u/Xardus 2d ago
He's going to be 37 in a few weeks, plus he'll be really expensive.
I'd be surprised if he gives a team 150 innings next year.