Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun Times believes the Cubs have $70 million in payroll flexibility while the White Sox have only $40 million.
He believes the teams are at a crossroads - - - the ability to spend money on free agents in order to turn around their franchises in 2015. But he admits that both general managers are downplaying the spending expectations.
We certainly hope to add talent from outside the organization,” team
president Theo Epstein said. “We will add talent from outside the
organization, and I hope we add impact talent. But it has to make
sense." The Cubs are looking at an acquisition window that extends through the
2015-16 off-season, so they won’t “sell out for 2015” as Epstein said.
The White Sox have a very good rotation and a solid hitter in Jose Abreu to go after a starting pitcher, a lefty/switch hitter
and bullpen help.
“We can deploy that via free agency or via trade and really not be
precluded from any opportunity right now for economic reasons,” Sox
general manager Rick Hahn said recently. However, the White Sox are as dependent on actual attendance to fund the team, so last year's decline will hurt budget projects in 2015.
Real expectations for the clubs this off-season:
The White Sox will sign a RHP to be the fifth starter, and sign one or two bullpen arms. There is a remote chance that the Sox will go after a catcher.
The Cubs will sign a veteran 4th OF to platoon in LF with Coghlan, add a back up catcher and a second tier starting pitcher.
