LDF

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 02:07 AM) Chad's coming back from Tommy John surgery. He's expected to be ready by ST but not a guy I would count on for alot of inngs pitched in 2014. ref Chad, a huge concern there.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 11:08 PM) Again, as of right now its Noesi. I'm not counting on the Sox to sign or trade for anyone, that's setting ones self up for a heart break if does not happen. I hold onto hope but by no means am I counting on it. The Sox will not be signing Scherzer, Lester or Shields. McCarthy likely ends up back in NY, Masterson is a train wreck and dare I say I would rather have Danks over Masterson. So that leaves the Sox trading for a potential #3. How many teams can you think of that will actually give up their current #3? What will the cost be prospect wise? i see your point. you are saying, by default as is, Noesi is prob the #3 pitcher. that in itself show the position the sox need to address. that should also show that the sox are in trouble, if Noesi is the team starting #3. then it all comes back to Hahn identifying the needs of the sox and to address them. the quickest way to fix it is thru free agency.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 09:56 PM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Hahn Look how many interviews he turned down. That's just from his wiki. He also was rumored to be high on Boston's list after Theo left. Look at his body of work with the White Sox -- it speaks for itself, he has negotiated spectacularly team friendly extensions (and contract in Jose's case) and turned an aging, bad team into a mediocre, young team in 2 years. I can't say with 100% certainty that Hahn doesn't have final executive say on baseball decisions, but I can damn sure lay out a case that if he doesn't, then he'll soon be leaving the Sox because if he aspires to be a true GM (and what type A like Hahn doesn't?) a number of other teams will come begging. KW retired. That's what happened. But, because JR is JR he orchestrated it so KW got a raise (thanks for that WS!!!!!!!!) and a "promotion" in the press. If you think Hahn has to go to KW for permission to make a deal -- you're way off base IMO. He has 100% authority. He wouldn't have stuck around otherwise. wait a minute, I like what you wrote, but I am more than sure, Hahn had nothing to do with Jose A contract. second, I believe and with out any confirming sources that KW is directing the sox org. the only one higher is JR. but all deals has to be pass thru JR.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 08:13 PM) Correct. Comp picks can be traded, the rest can't. I misread the org answer, but again thanks for clarifying that rule.

in order to find a quick fix at catching, the org will have to settle in the fa market. however there are holes in the team as many others have express. is there a way to deal with Flowers and really concretate on other areas that really need fixing? I think the sox should see if Flowers performance at the end is real or not. he does handle the pitchers well and is decent on defense. that should be good for now. how to fix the hole in the catching in the org. Draft and trade package. that will be the only way. Hahn has yet to show his hand. the sox need to save all their resources for the problems that in now at hand.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 09:37 PM) Well, I've said plenty of times that Alexei's defense is not easy to replace, at least not from within the organization. I did some looking around at SS rankings and found this... http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/end-of-se...ues-shortstops/ Just for the record, I never look at fangraphs and know nothing of the site but I did find their rankings to be quite interesting. Perhaps I am under valuing Alexei but I'm coming from the angle of how will he be in the future if I'm a team interested in trading for him. Being 33 he will begin to decline, could be 2015 or a few years from now, we don't know. If one considers these rankings to be pretty close then a case can be made for selling high on Alexei while the Sox can, before regression happens. Unless the Sox plan on sliding him over to 2B/3B in the future or let him walk in FA after the 2016 season. As I said before, this is the year the Sox s*** or get off the pot when it comes to deciding Alexei's future with the team. As for Greene. Yes, he is projected as a #4/#5 starter but the kid has very good downward movement on his fastball and slider hence all the ground balls which is a good thing at the cell. He's also starting to throw a cutter which Coop could help with as well as help with developing a changeup. As of right now, were hoping Noesi can handle the #3 spot in the rotation and in my opinion Greene already has better stuff than Noesi. I'd feel much better with Greene pitching #3 than Noesi and I really like what I saw from Noesi last season and believe he will continue to improve but I still see him as more of pretty damn good #4/#5. hey this is a forum to share opinions. at least you now see what most is saying. always remember, I am always right you everybody is wrong.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 09:38 PM) If he is ready to go in 90 days, is it the Cubs who are out? Supposedly the teams with the most people at his showcase were the Red Sox, Yankees, and Cubs. good question.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 09:33 PM) But he still has the spending caps because of his age/experience level. so am I reading this right. he is now a free agent in name only. is he restricted to the int't slot and money??

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 05:24 PM) Jesse Sanchez ‏@JesseSanchezMLB 5m5 minutes ago Source: Cuban teenage prospect Yoan Moncada has been declared a free agent by MLB. He still must be unblocked by OFAC before he can sign. I hope Jerry opens up the wallet for this one. I REALLY like this kid. ph really a free agent ...... hell yeah i 100% agree.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 05:03 PM) So something that is literally not possible? correct me if i am wrong, but isn't there not trading of draft picks, only comp picks.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 05:15 PM) Where did Flowers make progress exactly? His K%, BB%, & ISO last year were all near his all-time lows in those stats. if you factor in the whole season, yes. he was lousy offensively. i don't know, when he got his glasses, he seem to be hitting decently. those are the splits i am using. however if the sox brass has no faith him, that is another issue. but the other holes are more glaring.

QUOTE (Real @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 07:30 AM) Were there any players who were picked after these guys (referring to 1st round picks only) that aren't completely irrelevant/injured in their respective teams systems up to this point? 2007 - Aaron Poreda (1st round, 25th overall) >>> Rick Porcello FYI - Giancarlo Stanton 2 rd, 76 player pick 2008 - Gordon Beckham (1st round, 8th overall) >>>> few mlb players 2009 - Jared Mitchell (1st round, 23rd overall), >>>>> Trout 2009 - Josh Phegley (1st round Supp. pick, 37th overall) >>> couple serviceable arms 2010 - Chris Sale 2011 - Adam Dunn signing 2011 - Keenyn Walker (1st round Supp. pick, 47th overall) >>> none comes to mind 2012 - Courtney Hawkins (1st round, 13th overall) >>> Marcus Stroman, Michael Wacha only 2 I recognize 2013 - Tim Anderson (1st round, 17th overall) >>>> none I recognize Not mentioning Rodon as he's still untested obviously the draft is more/less a lottery ticket, but this team is notorious for high draft picks busting out due to either injuries, or the inability to develop them (especially position players) there is luck mostly with picks.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 04:30 AM) I don't think his is true. People may be underplaying KW's role, he's still very much involved. As far as the draft, the Sox knew Aiken was going to go #1. On draft day the Sox were between Rodon and Nola with Rodon obviously being the preferred player. no offense but in some ways both are right. i agree more with CWS. with ref to drafting, trades, player movements, that falls under Hahn. JR uses KW more as an overseer of the org. KW will allow Hahn to do what he is suppose to do without any interference. JR is getting long in the tooth and i much as i will hate to say this, he is delegating his duties out. the one recurring theme is whom ever makes or want to make a change or trade or fa signing, has to run it by JR. JR is and has always been a hands on owner, on all final decisions.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 04:04 AM) Its only because the stats guys hav3 finally figured out how to somewhat quantifyvpitch framing. Stuff that used to be important but people stopped caring about because it wasnt part of the stats package. The idea of defense first for catching is coming back around. this may be way off. but i always thought that "the basic", "the fundamentals" went out the window and in its place is nice style points. the look nice stabbing at the ball. the thing i wrote was said back in the late 80's by 2 hall of farmers players.

has anyone watch crossing the lines on nbc. I saw it last week and it is pretty good. now I am catching up on all the esp. thoughts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 11:47 PM) http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2...bosch/19040671/ he should receive federal charges like obstruction. ohhhh pls.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 09:09 PM) I forget where I read the story, and really don't know if it is true, but there was something out there last year that in the Peavy trade, Hahn was prepared to do the trade with Middlebrooks included and that KW shot that down. Eventually they reworked it and got Avi. I do remember there was a trade talk, but I do not remember the main players. I forgot how it came to be with Avi.. I could of sworn that a 3rd person interjected. dang it my memory plays with me. sorry.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 06:39 PM) I agree with this 100% The Dodgers would have to take Danks and kick in cash, or just kick in a lot of cash, for me to take Ethier. That being said, I'd still do it. do either or buy them out.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) Oh for the days when Bill Veeck sat up shop in the hotel lobby "Open for Business." i remember that well. i was thinking about that the other day.Veeck to the sox, i would be all for naming the field after him. if it wasn't for him, chi would not have the sox. don't get me wrong, JR has been great as a owner for the sox, but Veeck. no comparing. i always thought the sox should have a little area where some pictures of that event should be posted.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 06:34 PM) To me, if this guy is worth $100M on the open market and because of the loss of rights, I can get him for 60 (including fines)...I do just that. I thnk about the number of guys above $300K that we would lose out on signing and it really isn't that big of a deal when compared with the potential upside of the one guy we are getting. I'd then just sign a bunch of guys for the 300K or less amount. That can still end up getting you quality talent in those particular years you are barred (go higher volume cause we still would have decent pools anyway). if Yoan is the real deal, yeah blow bye the spending restrictions and since the sox is going to receive the penalty, might as well sign some other players and screw the rules. at least for that yr. do what ny and sCrubs has done.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 05:59 PM) I side with taking a guy that is closer to the majors over anybody that is 16 and may not be in rookie leagues for three more years. Michael Ynoa got one of the largest bonuses as a 16 year old and now looks like a middle reliever. Starlin Castro got a pretty small bonus and plays at a high level in the majors. There is so much uncertainty in those signings that I would not be against taking a shotgun approach to signing as many kids as possible under that $300K number for the next couple of seasons as the bust rate for latin american talent is very high. From Kiley McDaniels via mlbtr: "McDaniel writes that were Moncada not subject to international spending limitations, he’d probably clear $100MM with relative ease. Some scouts, he notes, feel Moncada is more talented than Jose Abreu, Rusney Castillo and Yasmany Tomas." Alfredo Despaigne was sent back to Cuba from Mexico, but I think that was related more to the Mexican government busting him for using a fraudulent passport more than anything he is one of the two players that went on to play in Japan. first bold set, i am wondering how much that is true and how how that is spin doctoring. i will take that with a grain of salt. better than Jose A??? Stanton and Trout yes. Despaigne, i will respectfully disagree with you, Mexican powers to be made the final decision, but not without input from MLB. also there are other really good players who are 30-33 years of age that will nice in the mlb if, they can get the same deal as Yoan.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 01:30 PM) Peterson definitely should be playing. Van Syke's probably more of a 4th although he would be playing a lot more for many teams. and Scott Schebler - of. there was an article last week that said the dodger need to get Pederson and Schebler starting.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 03:15 PM) No to Niese. He's not the pitcher the Sox need by any measure. I also disagree that Alexei has marginal value - worthy of a JR Murphy (no to Yankee catching prospects as well). You have to look at it in context. At least 2 teams are right on the verge of contention and have a glaring need for SS. There are no acceptable FA options. That ups his value. Also, when Ken Williams can trade the Sox 2 top pitching prospects for 1.5 years of Edwin Jackson and his 5+ ERA and inflated salary, I refuse to give up this early that there isn't a generous GM out there. great point. but i keep saying there are 4 maybe 5 teams that can use Alexei.

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 05:42 PM) Personally, I hope they do trade Alexei because it means they like the value coming back. The legitimate window for sustained good teams is 2016-2019. All of their moves should be with this in mind. If trading Alexei is a part of that overall picture, then go for it. if the rtn value is great, and help fills holes i am for that. you and many have posted similar ideas, which is very good points.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 04:04 PM) That depends on what the plan is for 2015. If the Sox are really trying to contend then there's no way I would trade Alexei but if 2015 is another step towards building a contender, I trade Alexei while he still holds value and can bring back a good return, provided the Sox get a good offer in the first place. your rtn value as you said earlier is Greene. sorry my friend, that is not a fair rtn. second, by trading Alexei for Greene, we get a backend pitcher and create another hole up the middle, how is that helping the rebuilding???