LDF

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 08:09 PM) Just out of curiosity, what is it that you like so much about Volquez? Maybe I'm missing something, but when I look at his numbers, I see a low ERA surrounded by all kinds of terrifying, doomsday-panic-inducing numbers. It looks like he finally got his walk-rate to a barely acceptable number by giving up on strikeouts completely, posting the lowest rate of his career, aided by HR/FB rate, BABIP, and a strand rate significantly better than his career norms. This guy is a textbook example of a dude who is about to regress hard. I mean, don't get me wrong, I haven't watched the guy pitch and this DIPS-related prognosticating definitely isn't right every time, but when you see almost literally every red flag on a guy, I gotta feel like he's one to stay away from, especially considering how many other options there are on the market at a similar cost. ok i see a really good pitcher. now let me say this, i am not into the advance stats nor do i know how to read them. so you all will have a great start on me. however, he has pitched with a track record of 9 wins+ a yr. his hit to so is really good. has a good workload of inning pitched per yr. doesn't give up a lot of gophers. overall a really good pitcher. he is also at a great cost control. he, if head was screwed on right, would be easily at least 13 + mil. his profile is very good. surround him with a great environment where he is not being counted for the best or second best results. i honestly think he will be a person who could improve with a nice club.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 08:03 PM) I'm not saying that LGarcia is terribly valuable, but I think there are several guys even less valuable than him: Belisario, Mitchell, Wilkins and Phegley. LGarcia at least has the ability to be a 25th guy on the roster because he can play every position. if there is room on the 40 man roster, why not?

this has been said by me early in the offseason, but Tony LaRussa even alluded to it to the press. Rumas may be talented, however he comes with baggage and the #1 is his father. as anybody know the history of a young Jimmy Piersall???? but maybe there was a improvement there. FYI that is the reason the sox passed on him.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 05:56 PM) The more I think about this, you just can't be upset at this deal. The bullpen is bad, everyone wants them to make the bullpen better, then they went out and got one of the best guys available at $5m per year, and it's not even December yet. We shouldn't be up[set about it just because he isn't a superstar. There IS a very real chance that he sucks next year, but that's true of ALL relievers. If you were going to go buy ANY reliever, you're going to have to live with a good chance the dude sucks. Five million for a dude who pitched as well as Robertson/Miller, but doesn't come with the pedigree -- sure. i agree, lets fill those holes early then let the bang box take over for all the hype.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 07:46 PM) No need to back off the "arguement".....Though this should all probably be done in the Maeda thread Like you've said it's all subjective. It keeps being said the last few years that 1 WAR=5M in value. John Danks wasn't a 3 WAR player. In my opinion, this of course being key here, Maeda can indeed be a 3 WAR player and thus be worth 15M. arguement???? i thought it was a nice discussion.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 07:32 PM) None of those guys are "solutions." Volquez is a ticking time bomb if you believe in peripherals foreshadowing future performance at all. Villaneuava is a swing man. Vogelsong might be alright, but not for more than a year or MAYBE two. The thing I like about the potential of Maeda is that he has a chance to produce above average numbers for us for 4-5 years. I'm okay with spending money, I just want it to be on controllable assets that are actually candidates to be "added to the core." That said, Maeda might be garbage. It will depend on our scouts' impressions. But if they like him, I have no problem with the Sox going as high as they think he's worth. disclaimer i am not posting on Maeda. just responding to the pitchers i wrote. yeah i am have some problems with Volquez. but man he is enticing. his profile is niccceeee. i would love to give him a shot. esp with the offense the sox are estimating to get. easily a 10-15 wins. same thing with Villaneuava, i may be blinded, b/c i was always a fan of his. give him a good team, let him play to what he is capable of, an #4 with out any pressure, the whole new atmosphere will be a great change. and lastly Vogelsong, a quite leader who is well like. 1 yr option 2.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) Sox were rumored to be in on Tanaka and they signed Abreu, I don't think they have a problem throwing money at unproven players. I wouldn't really say any of those guys have a good track record. Volquez before this past year had a track record of being awful. Villanueva has a track record of being a bad SP...He didn't even start for a Cubs team that didn't have a good rotation. I kinda like Vogelsong, he's a good story, but outside of cozy AT&T Park he's had a 4.81 the last 3 years. Don't think he'd fair well playing his home games in the cell. Maybe Coop and company think Volquez can continue, or Villanueva can be the next Noesi, but ya, IMO Maeda offers much higher upside the point is those players you mention came with a huge amount of hype. When KW went to the yank's academy to see Jose, he immediately called JR and rave about him being the real deal. with that in mind, Maeda started the yr with some negative, and i am sorry but i can't remember. however there was some thought of him being at best a #3 but a steady #4, at $15 mil for 4 yrs? posters are having a huge problem with Dank at $15 mil. what is Maeda going for $15 mil. what is the difference? edit..... my bad, i said that the previous was my last negative post today.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 07:30 PM) I think Cabrera is probably the best of the realistic matches for what this team needs. The one hang up is are the Sox willing to over look his past. wow, that must hurt to say that. i know you and I were against him b/c of the ped.

here it is, and this will be my last negative opinion on him for several days. $15 per. on an unproven pitcher. is there going to be a posting fee? Edinson Volquez - 2 yrs, $18 mil Carlos Villanueva - 2/3 $7 mil per Ryan Vogelsong even him for 1 yr much better with a track record.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 06:26 PM) I resent that. Viciedo's estimated arb is $4.4M, which is basically what we're paying Duke next year. It's not a big deal but it isn't nothing either and I'd prefer we didn't even put ourselves in that position. the price of pitchers and hitter, esp RP will always be different. 4 mil for a hitter who can hit at least 20+ hrs is worth that and at worst case a 1 yr commitment.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 05:28 PM) The last sentence is basically how I feel about it. I can't even begin to guess how the \ guy will do next year. I can't wait til we sign Duke's RH counterpart Pat Neshek with his delivery and past history . bingo...... I have been thinking of him since the weekend. he did great with stl so I expect him to continue to do well.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 05:19 PM) Top unprotected prospects by team http://m.mlb.com/news/article/101926826/to...om-rule-5-draft if there is a post of those players who are not protected, pls post. I am really looking at NYM pitchers.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 05:14 PM) Jose Bautista only had 600 PA's by age 25; I don't think he's a comp at all. David Ortiz had a career .351 OBP and a 101 wRC+ through age 25; he knew how to hit. Viciedo doesn't, is sitting at a .298 OBP and 95 wRC+, and he's going in the wrong direction. I totally agree, but as of right now, he can be a stopper, if the sox are trying to be conservative with salary. throw him somewhere and hope for another 20+ homer season. but not to bat him 4-6 in the lineup. I am totally surprise in the Cuban factor of other players (Jose and Alexia) not trying to help him. the 20 hrs is nice esp at a low price, but for me it will be what is the cost.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) Agree, based on the scouting reports I have seen, he has the kind of stuff that will play down in MLB. I think we hold on to the money and roster spot until Shohei Otani is posted. http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...el-kenta-maeda/ oh..... nice!

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) I think people forget how young Viciedo still is, he sure does have room to improve to reach his ceiling. He comps pretty well to how players like Bautista and Ortiz did through their age 25 seasons in a time where offensive production has regressed. There is still so much raw talent in that bat, I would hate to give it up only to see it get put together someplace else. I understand I am in the minority here as many have moved on from Viciedo, but I still have hope that he can put things together. He has shown flashes, periods of time where his bat is dominant, but unforunately not very consistently and not as often as you would like, but I still have hope for him. So that being said, I would need a very interesting return to trade him, not a backup C with no real upside. I would take another change of scenery candidate or quality player that fills a hole along with a low level prospect. either way, the should fine how much this arb is going to cost, but still go for the trade >>>>> comp picks.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 02:37 PM) I'm guessing somewhere in the 5/75-5/90 range. That's somewhere between 5 and 7 mill less a year than Tanaka got which sounds about right to me. and do you think that is not an excessive amount. pass.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 02:21 PM) Based on what I've read he sounds a lot like his former teammate Hisashi Iwakuma stuff wise. Statistically he was better in Japan though. I've liked him a lot since first reading about him. Even if he isn't Iwakuma, who got Cy Young and MVP votes last year, I still think he can be a well above average #3 like we need him to be. it is all subjective, the real question, at what cost?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 02:04 PM) If we had any... We're unlikely to trade Montas or Danish for those guys, and the A's aren't ever going to rely on the likes of Noesi/Carroll/Beck/Bassit/Rienzo, etc. i just don't know, if the sox were to pkg Danish, Beck and Rienzo, will that do it? i know i am being unrealistic here. but who knows.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) I actually agree with all 5 points from Rogers. What's Maeda's ceiling? I thought I read he was a back of the rotation type guy? i don't esp #1 and #4. 1. i would like to see him in spring training and see how he does first. if the brass and coop says he can do, fine, if not, let him develop more in the minors. esp in the first 2 or 3 weeks. 4. Maeda may be a #3-4 type of pitcher but with the sox rotation, maybe a #4-5. then at what cost? i rather still see if there is a better priced pitcher in the fa's or trade.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) That's good except you need a replacement for Rodon as he will only pitch 165-175 innings this year. and to have avail in case of injury.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 11:21 AM) Miami currently has the worst local TV deal in all of baseball, paying them $13-18MM annually (the Dodgers’ deal, in contrast, pays them $334MM per year, Gaines writes). Gaines notes that having a legitimate superstar on the team will increase the value of the new TV deal. Gaines speculates that negotiations could begin in 2016 as there appears to be some kind of opt-out on the current contract, which runs through 2020. Indeed, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that they are aiming for a new TV deal to begin in 2017 — which, perhaps not coincidentally, aligns with the first significant spike in Stanton’s salary. www.mlbtraderumors.com http://www.businessinsider.com/giancarlo-s...ontract-2014-11 In a full column, Rosenthal points out that the Rangers, Tigers and Angels each spent significant money prior to signing their new TV deals so they had a more attractive product in place for negotiations. For example, the Mariners just upped their contract to $118 million per year, partially explaining the investment in Cano/King Felix and some of the other big/ger names they're being connected with so far this off-season like Nelson Cruz and Yoenis Cespedes (just changed to Jay Z's sports rep agency, obviously a Cano connection there). And the Mariners have rebounded all the way up to 7th in the tv households chart. http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/stanton...es-sense-111914 http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-ya...ratings-2014-10 If you look at the attached chart, the White Sox were probably 25th (there are no ratings for the Dodgers and Blue Jays, and I assumed the Sox were also ahead of the Astros), with 39,000 households per game. Interestingly, the Cubs were only 2 spots ahead with 54,000. The Tigers were 2nd (159,000). Amazingly, the Indians were 10th at 99,000 per game in a "mediocre" season. The Royals and Twins were middle of the pack, which is quite resilient for the Twins' organization. Even though their fans are staying away (CLE and MIN), their local tv viewership is quite solid. If the White Sox went out and got Maeda, Papelbon (for Danks?) OR another RH closer, Ethier/Crawford/Kemp and pieces (for Danks/Ramirez) OR LaRoche/Rasmus/Morse...you would argue THAT potential team wasn't TOO far off. (It's also interesting in the Phil Rogers piece that he supposes Viciedo is going to be around in 2015). Sox fans are not like the chi blacks hawks fan, esp in this era. the sox fans will not be stratified with a token signing and have the Sox brass say, look here we went out and paid X$X$ amount for a player. come and buy your season tickets. we, the fans may not have the resources to see all the rpts, but we as fans demand that the sox field a team. we as fans are an extremely tough sell. now the northsiders still have some blind loyalty but even then it appeard to be waning. so in any tv deal, they the sox will need to again field, the same team to see those numbers increase. esp for those who lives outside chi, like me.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 08:54 AM) You're absolutely correct. And the best scenario for hi8is for 2015 would be waking up to a doctor telling me I've been the first human ever to be medically gifted an eternal life, that I now have a fifteen inch penis, and that anytime I say the word "poop" a million dollars will be deposited into my bank account. Poop. You catch my drift, sonny? ahhh me don't understand. explain pls.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 08:44 AM) Such as....? for me. and i am interjecting here, i really like any 3 of the catchers from Oak. they all can play 1b, dh and of course catching. 1 of them can play 3 b and the other can also play the OF. they are cost control. the thing is, if Oak was needing some young pitchers, and are incline to trade, would they be interested.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 19, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) Or if you can sign four years worth of talent in one year, it makes a lot of sense. You are not restricted from signing players in the other years, so you always have talent entering the system but you have top of the line talent entering the system every three years. Granted that the top of the line talent is very far from a sure thing, which is why I would not necessarily endorse that approach for 16 year old kids who spend most of their time showing off in batting practice and drills rather than in games. Some trainers will not let there kids play in games at all and will let scouts make their decisions based only on what they can see in the player showcases. This is different to me because these players, Moncada and Ibanez, have played at a high level and had success both in their professional leagues and internationally. When you read McDaniels article that says Moncada is the most talented player to come from Cuba and that he can handle any position except for SS (though some think he could still stick there) it is a very appealing alternative to me. the main thing, if the sox signs Yoan or Ibanez, they are going to get penalize for surpassing the signing limit. are they not?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 19, 2014 -> 02:57 PM) Probably so. There is a large incentive though in doing it DA. If you think the class of talent the following year isn't as good, I think it makes sense to go nuts and then sit out a year. Something I wish the Sox would do. it all depends on when a particular prospect gets posted, it will be that yr. the 2016 yr of int'l prospects, If I remember right, seem to be the yr of good potential. that class is headed by VLAD, I think son or some relative. I think there was also talk of a very good pitcher. either way, I am getting sidetrack. if the sox were really going for Yoan, it all depends on when he gets posted.