Molto

I'd really like to get Randy Winn to play center for us and leadoff, but the M's won't do that deal, unless they would decide to play Valentin at third and move Spezio to the outfield. One thing that is talked about is the Sox possibly signing Gonzalez, which IF Garciaparra were here, would give us eight right-handed hitters in the lineup and one lefy (Harris), which would be really stupid on our part. I don't mind Rowand, but we have assure we can have a replacement in right for Maggs, or get a centerfielder and move Rowand to right. one thing that can happen is Valentin may go to the Angels since they don't have anything set up with their middle infield. the only trade there, however, would be for Erstad, who is going to make $3-4 million more than Valentin next year. I don't see us getting Nomar, but if we do, we gotta find a trade with Valentin that gets us an outfielder.

Rowand and Harris actually played pretty good. the only reason we got Alomar and Everett is to go to the next level, it wasn't because we had glaring holes there at the time.

I've been a pretty big Ponson fan for a few years, but why does everyone think $6 million would be a steal? I think it's a reasonable amount for him, not really too much or too little. the guy was good last season, has pitched 200+ innings and it 27, but at the same time he hasn't really done what he did this season prior. $6 million seems like a reasonable and fair price for both sides.

who said Ponson was offered more money than 3yr $18 mil? who said Ponson is actually worth more than that? 3yr $18 mil is what Ponson is looking for and that is really what he's worth. Will he get more? perhaps, I'm sure some team could very well go out and offer $7-8 mil a season, but I don't see it going anywhere higher than that.

this signing, if true, would put the Sox' projected 2004 salary at close to $70 million.

a restaurant and a baseball team are completely different. people aren't rooting for a restaurant to do good. if a restaurant fails it fails. in baseball, with the Sox, it's been a cycle. Fans don't go to the game, Sox cut salary, fans continue not to go to the game and the Sox continue to keep the salary low. the fans want a winner and the Sox want attendance. In defense of the Sox, the last time the Sox supplied their fans with a winner, their fans responded by still not going to the park. The ownership of the Sox is bad and there is no doubting that, but the fans aren't much better. However, I think with the new renovations, the Sox should really make an effort this year to put together a WS team. That way, at least they can then say that they've done everything the fans wanted.

okay, why did someone actually vote for me? Was it a pity vote or something? I don't do anything.

the only hope there is in getting Everett before the season is if he's signed by someone else and then traded to us.

I really don't understand Evans. He goes and trades Brown for Weaver and couple minor leaguers and then goes ahead and tries to trade Weaver for Thomas? He gets beat on one deal and tries to beat someone else on another deal. Konerko for Weaver would be the only thing that makes sense, but even then it would be tough to do because you aren't eliminate much salary considering the player you are getting in return. Plus, the issues surrounding Weaver and the Sox would have to be cleared up.

I actually thought about this the other day, thinking that may be saying $58 million as a safeguard, meaning if they spend more they are pleasing the fans but not really going over their budget and if they spend that exact amount they are pissing off their fans but saving money. it really doesn't make much sense though once you think about it, but for a split second in your head it does, lol.

I remember a couple years ago when Estes was a pretty solid pitcher and I remember a few times last season when Estes pitched some decent outings for the Cubs. signing him to a minor league deal wouldn't be the worst thing. The guy has shown he can pitch at the big league level. Will it work? most likely not, but you act as though he's never succeeded at all. And why would that prove they aren't interested in winning? Loaiza was signed last year to battle it out for the fifth spot. He wasn't given a spot in the rotation, and if Estes were to be signed, he wouldn't be given a job either, but a chance to win one. Not every move made is supposed to be a difference maker, and just because one isn't, doesn't mean it's a worthless move. Every team in baseball makes small trades and signings and some of them work out for the better. The Sox aren't the only ones.

why must everyone jump to conclusions? if they were to sign Estes, it would only be to a minor league deal. You act like the Sox are thinking of signing him to a three year, $30 million deal and inserting him as their #1. If anything, he will sign a minor league deal, a normal and harmless move.

I wouldn't mind that idea simply because it opens up a spot for a young guy, which I think should be done every season, like a cycle. How much would Rhodes cost though? If he's looking for more than a $1 mil, Wunsch would be a better choice.

I'm not a big fan of Benitez. Rhodes is solid, but what about Wunsch? He hasn't been the best reliever, but I think at this point I'd rather have him knowing what he's going to do as opposed to hoping Rhodes goes back to his old form. Would have both of them, I guess and have a bullpen as follows: Marte Benitez Rhodes Weathers Wunsch Wright that would give you two power pitchers, from the right and left side, and two soft-throwers like Wunsch and Weathers, to go with Marte and Wright. Not bad. The Konerko for Perez most likely won't happen, unless the Sox throw in someone else or eat up some of Konerko's salary. That trade, along with the signing of Garcia and Kennedy and Spezio, although unlikely, makes sense and would make a solid team.

I think a $60 million payroll is enough to work with, but not with our current situation. Once again, I think with a few moves the Sox can be competitive enough to win the division, and as you said, once you get there you don't know what is going to happen. But right now, Paul Konerko and Magglio Ordonez aren't worth much. Konerko because of last season and Ordonez because of his salary. I wouldn't mind trading both guys and getting two pitchers in return to round our rotation, then throwing the rest of the saved money at relievers, but Ordonez and Konerko may get you a lot more in a trade during the season. Konerko, I believe, will have better numbers this year and Ordonez would be a HUGE addition and difference maker to a lot of contending teams down the stretch. The way I see it, with Colon on the Angels and no other dominant pitcher out there, we will have to acquire two starting pitchers. And because of our bullpen, we'll need two more relievers. I don't want to see the Sox get desperate and try to squeeze a contender out of our situation and find ourselves in the same place next year. I'm not far behind your idea. I think we should add some guys to make us competitive, play the season and see how things go. But guys like Ordonez, Konerko, Koch and Valentin may be able to get you more in July then right now.

Washburn for Lee would be a reasonable deal in my opinion, although I'd like to see Valentin or Konerko be involved in the deal, along with another one of their guys. the main thing here is, the Sox really aren't in a position to win the WS next year. I mean, they can because the past few years have proven anything can happen, but realistically, they are a few guys and a lot of money away from putting together a contending team at this point. I'm not talking about offensively, because I really wouldn't mind seeing an offense with guys like Harris, Gload and Rowand. I think if we stack up on pitching we could make thing interesting, but that is unlikely. With that in mind, it may be better for the Sox to stand pat as depressing as it sounds. If anything, trade Konerko (which I don't even think matters at this point) and add a couple relievers. They likely won't win anything, but after 2004, a lot of money will be cleared, which could in turn be used to building a club Guillen can work with.

I'm actual a fan of both pitchers, but for Lee? With CF open and both Konerko and Thomas clogging first, I'm not sure it would be smart for them to pull that deal. On the other hand, if the Sox want to compete next season some deal will have to be made. If this is the case though, and the AROD deal falls never turns out, I'd see if I can add Valentin to the deal and grab Eckstein and one of their relievers in return. The pitcher would be Washburn or Ortiz, pending the reliever we get. That is if the Sox were to trade Lee, which I'm not in favor of.

four years is fine for Colon, but 12.7 is pretty stupid if you ask me. Maybe in the Angels case, since they are spending money and could use someone like Colon, but since we are content on keeping our payfoll at $60, Colon at $12 and Ordonez and $14? The only bright side to this so far slow off-season is that after this season, the Sox will have $29 million cleared by losing Ordonez, Valentin, Koch and Loaiza. Who knows though, a struggling team this season will likely lead to low attendance and a then a situation where JR decided to lower the payroll once again, putting KW back in this same spot.

I wouldn't mind throwing Borchard in the deal, along with Konerko and Valentin, to land Izturis and Perez. Even though I think we may then be giving them too much, getting a young shortstop is vital to this organization and getting another start is vital to this upcoming season.

I agree, winning. that applies to all deals the Sox, or any team, make. It's pretty easy for people to post on a message board and talk about all these signings and trades they should make, and it's even easier for them to criticize those same signings and trades if they don't work out without getting any heat on them for doing so. GMs aren't in those same positions. The moves they make are all on them. We give Alomar $4 mil and then he goes out and bats .240 and everyone will say how stupid we were for giving a guy who was "clearly" past his prime that much money. Playing Harris will receive similar criticism. I will say this. If by not signing Alomar means we will instead be able to sign Sullivan (or other), then this is all good by me. A Scott Sullivan is way more important than an Roberto Alomar when it comes to this particular Sox team.

first off, stop looking at the numbers, because if numbers told the whole story, we would have won the world series this year. and 300 at bats spread across TWO YEARS, not one, is not enough to see what someone can do, unless that someone wasn't ever considered a prospect or capable enough player at the big league level. Now, there also comes a point where bad play over a long period of time (sporadic play or not) makes good reason to dump a guy, but Harris has yet to reach that. NOW, if Harris starts everyday over the first month or so and continues to struggle despite regular playing time, then you can come to the conclusion that Harris has wasted his chance and shouldn't be given anymore time, but he hasn't struggled yet, and until he proves he can't play at the MLB level on a regular basis, I'm not going to knock him. Also, I never said Pierre and Castillo were great. Although I think both are good and that players like these will become valuable and a hot commodity in the coming years, they aren't as good as people say. But my point is that some people say Pierre and Castillo are way more talented than Harris when that isn't completely true and can't be true until Harris proves he isn't at their level. Nobody really cared when we played Ordonez. Nobody cared when we traded for Konerko, or Marte, or picked up Wunsch. Nobody cared when we had Mark Buehrle start in 2001. Or when we signed Loaiza, or Gordon. If any of these guys were released in the early parts or never picked up, people wouldn't have cared, or worse yet, would have complained when these guys developed into what they have. It is no different with Harris. He may be bad, he may be good, but he has the skills to be a good player and should at least be given a fair chance to prove himself.

Just because a guy hasn't proven himself doesn't mean he's had the chance to prove himself and is just bad, and just because a guy is given the chance to prove himself doesn't me we are going to rebuild. Willie Harris playing second base is not a problem, unless the Sox make no effort to go 4-5 deep in their rotation and get another 1-2 relievers. But then it would be one of many problems if anything. If they put together a good pitching staff, Harris would be perfect because his defense at second is very good and his speed and work ethic will be a plus for this team. I don't understand things some times. One minute people are complaining that we need more speed, energy, heart and defense on this team, and then when we have a guy like Harris, who has yet to have been given a real chance, we just criticize him and talk so confidently as if he's going to suck. Yet people watch Luis Castillo and Juan Pierre and feel as if those are the the greatest when Harris has similiar tools to both of them, and the capabilities to be a productive player. But we don't like him because we haven't liked the way he's looked in a whole 300 at bats spread across two seasons, that makes no sense to me. The guy was a good prospect in the O's organization and batted very good for AAA last year. He can obviously play baseball, we just have to find out if it is at the major league level. And we won't until he gets a fair shot. I could see if we are going to be giving chances all over, but Harris and Rowand will be the only guys in the lineup who have question marks, but it isn't because they've proven themselves to be bad major leaguers. Another thing, even if Harris does struggle, I'd be surprised to see KW settle with him (remember last season?). My thinking is that he should be given a shot and see what he can do. Fact is, the Sox are not going to lose because of Harris and anybody who blames it on him will be labeled a moron by me. If we lose, it will once again be because of guys like Thomas, Konerko, Valentin, Lee and Ordonez. If we lose, it will be because our bullpen isn't deep enough and our rotation was simply too reliant on another big year by Esteban Loaiza. Who knows, maybe Harris turns out to be a good player, doesn't hurt to try it out. I know everyone would be pretty sick if we gave up on him and years down the road see him being a good player on another team.

the difference is there was only one way to keep Valentin $5 mil or nothing. I personally would have told Valentin to go stratch, but imagine being in a situation where you have absolutely NO second option. They let Valentin fly and they are stuck with NO SS. Usually when teams do that they have one in the minors or a bench player or a second baseman who can fill in. The Sox would've put themselves in a position to get areally expensive guy which they couldn't afford or go and grab two sub-part guys and let them battle it out which would likely end in criticism anyway. Another thing, Miguel Tejada and Kaz Matsui are being sought out by a few teams (5-6) teams combined. Problem is they are only two people, so there will be a couple teams who may be looking for a shortstop. Valentin at $5 mil may be too much, but perhaps it could get us something in return. You have to flexible in what you do. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you have no other option and are desperate. The thing KW did wrong was never addressing the position last season. He stuck with Valentin and Graffanino (both FAs) and never pulled off a deal prior to that for a young shortstop that could play in AAA for the time being and give us an option were Valentin to pull the whole "respect" bulls***.

so far so good jas. I can't wait till you get everything settled with it and I can't wait to help out.

if the Sox were to add Izturis (which would probably cost them another player), which is doubtful, Valentin would get traded or would move to second with Harris starting in center. I think KW should offer Konerko, Valentin and cash for Izturis and Perez. The Dodgers will not take on the extra $7 or so mil in a trade that will be giving them two players who are getting paid a lot and had down years last season. Maybe if we throw in $2 mil or so, it would make the deal. Plus, we'd still free up roughly $5 million which could then go towards Sullivan and one other reliever (Grimsley, Lightenberg...etc.). IF the Sox really want Colon, however, they would then have to trade Konerko and try not to take on any decently paid salary player like Perez in return. They'd have to be confident that they can sign Colon, of course. This trade, if it happens, will clear some things up.