LDF

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 02:59 PM) Despite being a finalist for the Gold Glove Alexei was pretty poor in every defensive metric you look at. -Fielding bible gave him a -10 rPM(+/-) runs saved - he had only a .734 defensive zone rating (he was in the .830's in his prime) - His UZR was -.7 (in the +10's in his prime) So honest question....given a natural slight decline due to age in Alexei would a platoon of Semien/Sanchez really be THAT much worse than Alexei next season? It's an honest question that you have to consider. and a very good question, esp if Alexei trade does goes down. the replacement as I said is already internal. esp if it is short term until Anderson is ready. no need to go outside the team via trade.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 02:58 PM) Semien or Sanchez. Both present much better alternatives to Rondon, even if they are defensive downgrades. no one can fault you, that is a nice opinion.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:12 PM) I am no fan of Keith Law, but that twitter comversation does make you understand how it was possible Schilling doesn't have a dime left of the $114 million he was paid to play baseball. if law was going to get suspended for some reason, he should have told Schilling to take some economics class instead of learning how to twit or science classes.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 02:06 PM) You're right. And they didn't. I don't see too many positives with this deal. I would've reached higher and farther. It's weird so many people here like the deal, but they didn't like Dunn. they look at the deal, esp in this market this yr, this was the best to fill a hole without going the trade rt.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:58 PM) I like that lineup. Just need to hope there is a little more money for an RHP in the rotation and need to get lucky on bullpen. in the beginning of the offseason, didn't Hahn say that the sox may have more money if needed. something about extra money from the TV deal.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) Exactly. If you think Leury Garcia can't hit, Rondon in the major leagues now, would make Leury look like Tony Gwynn. what is more important, esp at ss, hitting of fielding?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:57 PM) Alright, I'll "stop". I realize that it is not a suggestion that fits with conventional wisdom on this board. Although I don't quite understand how regular playing time in the big Leagues "stunts" a player's development. And, I do believe that Rondon is arguably the best defensive SS in the entire Minor Leagues. That said, whom do you recommend for SS, if Alexei is traded? I like what you wrote and I am on board with you. however let me answer this. a player will learn hitting when they are not facing A+ hitting every nite to the point of totally being out of their element. that is why minor league and developmental league were made to teach. majors in just the finishing school of learning.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:50 PM) He batted clean up on a team that won 96 games in 2014. The Nationals wouldn't have let him go, but Zimmerman, because of his injuries, can't play third anymore and is moving to first. all true which in of itself started a domino effect. LaRoche is gone and now is a sox. a 2 yr contract>>> great production >>>>> great can help the team>> great age >>>>> bad the gamble is still worth it.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) Trust me, I don't want to give Headley $14M to $15M a year, but that's likely what he'll get in this market. then use that money elsewhere on the team. forget him.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) Yeah, you're probably right. Regardless of the years, an AAV of $7M ain't happening. jeeze, I must be missing something here. I don't know why I can't embrace him and for what is est to be his salary.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) Please stop with this suggestion. Rondon would be so bad offensively that it would negate any value his defense would provide. On top of that, you'd be stunting his development significantly. Just an all-around horrible idea when you consider short-term and long-term goals. if one was counting on for his offense. but you do have a point of stunting his development.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) I had written earlier, that Rondon could conceivably be pushed up to the Majors, because of his defensive prowess. Defense translates at higher levels. If a SS has great hands, instincts and the arm, there is no reason he can't employ those attributes equally at the Big League level. If anything, the better groomed infields might actually improve his performance. The other point I made was that with a lineup featuring Eaton, Abreu, LaRoche, Kemp, Garcia, and Gillaspie, I think the Sox could handle a weak hitting SS. Moreover, I've been intrigued by the fact that Rondon only recently started switch hitting. I believe that it was "Northsider72" who pointed that out. Rondon has actually been pretty good batting right handed. It might interesting to see what would happen if he just went back to hitting exclusively from the right side. defensively he can handle it in the majors now. old school, dang i am starting to say like everyone's grandfather, mlb always said the 2 key positions that most team can handle with a weak bat is SS #1 and Cat #2. the 2 most important position outside pitching.

QUOTE (MDWhiteSoxFan @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) I'm pretty meh about this signing. Laroche can't hit lefties very well. His career average is about 30 points lower than righties. Also for most of his career he had definitely been a second half player minus last year. He tore it up up until July. Then was terrible for 2 months saving himself with a decent month in September. We still have to find another guy who can hit RHP to platoon DH with him. But hopefully he brings some leadership now that Dunn and Paulie are gone. i think the leadership question may have been answered internally, but it never hurts to get more.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:52 PM) Well there was a rumor out there that the Marlins offered 2/$20M, so I think you're pretty wrong here. One way or the other LaRoche was getting a 2 year deal in the mid $20Ms. If anything, the AAV of this deal is a bit less than I was expecting. plus filling in the holes in early, like this the sox could concentrate on other pressing issues.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 05:18 AM) Poop man... just poop. You'll feel better. maybe he is not constipated

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 05:24 AM) Hahn still hasn't acquired the player they were close to getting at the trade deadline. With that said, I'm going to predict the Chicago duo of Gregorson and Gorzelanny are next. i like it.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 06:38 AM) I think another possibility for the Sox next move could Edinson Volquez. He's right handed, can slot in as a #3, looking for a 2-3 year deal at around 9-10M annually. Would leave the Sox with money to spend elsewhere. If somehow Hahn was able to deal Danks, were looking at a rotation of Sale, Q, Volquez, Rodon and Noesi with Bassitt as the #6 long man in the pen. Not too shabby. that will be a great investment for the money. the only other way without sacrificing too much would be venture into the FA market and pick up a pitcher regardless of LH or RH. ~cough~ Lester.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 08:49 AM) I agree, trading Alexi would make sense depending on the package of prospects the Sox got back. Remember the team does have options that can fill in at short till a guy like Tim Anderson is ready. Alexi trade could bring in ML ready prospects that fill positions of need for Sox. unless we as fans are expectint too much of a rtn than what will happen in realty. on the other hand maybe the other teams are not budging from their stand and are offering less, forcing Hahn to maybe accept less.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:08 PM) Who is going to take over at SS if we trade Alexei? if the sox do that trade, they may be hoping for that 1 yr stop gap, until Anderson is ready or worst case, that great defensive ss in the minors.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:25 PM) This just proves to me why I'm not a sabermetric guy and hate how they are used to justify players values because Trout is a much better baseball player than Quintana regardless of what those "metrics" say. Personally, I'd trade Quintana for Bruce tomorrow. I'd probably trade him for Mike Trout too 2 totally different values, 1 I would say no, the other yes.

now this discussion is going back to the old days of baseball. take away the advance stat and think of it this way. 2 great players a pitcher the other is a hitter. who will get your ball club the most wins??? the hitter or the pitcher. now all things being equal, come playoff time who will help your team win that elusive World Series Ring? the hitter or the pitcher. i know its the old story of the chicken or the egg, but how to pick the better player for your team.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 06:31 AM) If LaRoche is Dunn part 2 - I'll probably vomit in the clown guys shoes. It's highly unlikely he has such a HISTORICALLY HORRID first year with the sox like Dunn. Throwing that year out - Dunn slugged over .430 with us in his other years. I understand the fear with this being Dunn part two but they're totally different offensive players for their careers. Look at the strike outs for example. a classic response, truly a classic.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 02:15 AM) http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/11/21/lev...rizona-catcher/ like wow, very interesting reading, i didn't know that great find. i didn't know the sox were involve looking for that pitcher. wow, i wonder what it would take, like wow, i wonder if we can package a better group of prospects than the others teams. like wow. seriously, i know reporters have a real hard job, but i really find this really funny, if it is true, they would look on a forum for stories.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:34 AM) Except pitchers have a much higher likelihood of career-threatening injuries than position players. Sure you can come back eventually from TJ...and Stanton almost had his career ended...but shoulder/labrum injuries are killers It's the age old argument about a pitcher with 32 starts vs. 150+ games from an everyday player...especially at SS or CF. however there is always that one that can not recover and keeps reinjuring themselves. I know it is rare, but it does happen. the is the wildcard of this kind of injury

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:23 AM) So this is sort of crazy. Mike Trout is owed $144 million through 2020. If he puts up 8.5 fWAR the next few years, which is roughly what he's done the last few (higher than the last 2 but lower than his first 2) he will put up $260 million worth of value at $5 million/fWAR (probably an underestimate but an ok one). The difference between what he would be paid and what he would produce, his excess value, is $116 million. Jose Quintana is owed $46 million through 2020. He put up 5.3 fWAR last year. If Jose Quintana puts up that same fWAR through 2020, he would be worth $159 million. The excess value Quintana Baswould produce is $113 million. Basically, if you assume the injury/collapse risk is about equal...Right now, Jose Quintana with his contract included should have about the same value as Mike Trout. This is not sarcastic. The excess value Quintana should produce is comparable to the excess value Mike Trout should produce through 2020. So if you would not trade Mike Trout and his contract for some player right now, you should not trade Quintana for that same player right now. Maybe if it's close and the guy is a better fit fine, but assume no injuries and no improvement from either and wow...Quintana + his contract is disturbingly close in value to Mike Trout + his contract. excellent post and I am with you on this. that is why I been confuse with the all Q trade talk. thanks