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If the Sox are buyers 3 months from now, I could see a Brett Myers type acquisition. Where the Sox wouldn't have to give up any key pieces to their farm system. Or maybe a player that will be here in 2015 as well. I don't see any 2 month rentals, unless the Sox don't have to give up any future MLB prospects.

This guy can hit 100 MPH. Has had some control issues, but is still not Mike MacDougal with wildness. Could be another Nate Jones with more of a late-inning mentality.

Viciedo may end up being like Quentin. Streaky, just hopefully not getting injured as much. I am talking when it comes to his power surges. He won't walk as much as Quentin, but may end up being similar in HR and RBI. I just hope he can become closer to Soriano, w/out the speed which he doesn't have.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 17, 2013 -> 10:20 PM) I think anyone expecting a major move is very likely going to be disappointed. I agree but there are still some guys out there who could help the team, such as Kelly Johnson. Not saying they will get him, but it makes some sense (Johnson to Sox). He hits left handed, plays in the infield and probably could play 3rd if he had to. Has no worse of an arm than Youkilis.

The Sox were also 12th in runs scored and 8th in pitching in September. So both shut down especially towards the end.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 14, 2013 -> 01:36 PM) Once again...I'll repeat. The White Sox scored the 4th most runs in the American league last year. They outscored the Tigers. They outscored every other team in the AL Central. They did so with a .600 OPS out of their 3b slot. That's cumulative, over the full season...a .600 OPS. Counting Youkilis. Getting >.700 OPS out of the 3b slot would be like Viciedo turning into an all star for what it would do to the offense. Yes, we lost AJ and his .830 OPS. Flowers could do that, but if all he does is put up a low-.700 OPS, the Sox will, on paper, be exactly where they were last year in offense. If they're expecting "Just enough offense", then they're expecting substantially worse seasons from Rios, Konerko, etc, with no improvement from Viciedo or Beckham to offset it. Because last year, the Sox had substantial offense. It was the middle-of-the-pack pitching staff that cost the Sox last year, not the offense. Sox offense 4.8 runs per game in the first half, 4.5 runs in second Sox pitching 3.91 ERA in the first half, 4.15 ERA in the second DET offense 4.4 runs per game in the first half, 4.46 runs in the second DET pitching 3.97 ERA in the first half, 3.50 ERA in the second defense Sox 70 errors total, DET 99 total. that helps the ERA but not that much for DET. It was our pitching getting tired and the weather cooling down silencing our power hitters. So Balta has a point here.

Let me give me 2 cents on rebuilding. It can work, with the right executives in place. Just because you have a bunch of top 10 picks doesn't mean you will win a few years down the road. There are several players that the Sox have had a shot at in the draft, (Mike Trout for one) and passed that have turned out to become great young talents at the big league level. Some have been for a while. Some, but less than you might think star level talent or good players did the Sox not have a shot to draft or have a chance to sign from their homeland. The level of talent evaluation is HUGE when you talk about a rebuild. Do the Sox have that? I don't know. You have to have great scouts as well. I think that 2014 could be like '09 in some ways. How many top draft picks have been busts? Probably a lot. Didn't we have an ace that was drafted in the 36th or 38th round? The part that I don't get about when fans talk about a rebuild in any sport (besides the NBA) is that you have to be horrible. In any sports there are great players taken in the lower rounds all the time. The psychological factor of this sport is huge as you move up the rankings, and many guys who have great physical tools can't cut it in that realm. Scouting that is very difficult, and sometimes near impossible. The one problem I have with rebuilding is that we have a GM in charge who has never done it. If we have a phasing out of the vets after 2013 fine (which is what is likely to happen IMO) and then retool in 2014. Scouting in baseball for amateur players is difficult just because you don't know how they will respond to the advanced level of play both physically and psychologically. Plus players are playing against others that are older than them for the first time, and others that are just as talented if not more.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 5, 2013 -> 12:57 PM) I do have a friend of a friend where I get infrequent info but he was asked if the Sox roster is pretty much set for spring training and was told not a chance. It is not earth shattering news and a huge scoop. It's more bernsteinesque, but we shouldn't be arguing current roster because that is going to change in the next few weeks. And I have no idea what names are on their way out or what is coming in. Thank you.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 5, 2013 -> 12:44 PM) Trades are going to happen pretty soon. They will not be going to spring training as currently constructed. How do you know this? Do you have sources within the baseball? Sorry this is my first post in years.