SoxFan562004

QUOTE (DanksFan @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:39 PM) Originally posted: May 21, 2009 White Sox's Ken Williams comments on Peavy rejection By Mark Gonzales White Sox general manager Ken Williams issued the following statement on Jake Peavy's declining of a trade from San Diego to Chicago: "It was communicated to me earlier this evening that Jake Peavy is simply not yet ready to make a commitment to join the Chicago White Sox. "I understand where Jake is coming from given the unusually early timing of this type of event. It's understandable that he was caught a bit off guard, as most people in his position would be. He has a wife and three young boys to consider, and Jake has earned the right to thoroughly think through this move. "He and his agent, Barry Axelrod, have been transparent in their thoughts, respectful and complimentary of what we have accomplished with the White Sox, and understand our desire to win another World Series title. I walk away with a greater respect and admiration for both as a result. "Anyone who has followed our club knows we still have championship aspirations for this season and will continue to improve our current club by pursuing all of our various opportunities." I get the feeling he will revist this if it's an option

QUOTE (G&T @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:30 PM) This is from Rosenthal though I'm sure it has been posted: He's not Johan. I wish this deal got done, but it's clear that he is scared that he won't get another big deal if he pitches in the AL. By 2012 we could have been looking at an albatross. right, and some people are going to panic because it says "Cubs" but he could have slotted LAD, Hou, Stl or another one of the NL teams he said was OK. This supports that Gammons said he had reservations about LAA, Red Sox and NYY last year, it's not like he's singling the White Sox out as far as his AL thing goes. I wonder if the "any suitor" for the full NTC even means an NL team, because not picking up his option that's a huge risk. you can always dump good pitching, but it's a huge risk if your team tanks in 2011 and you're stuck with 17-18m you can't move unless you pull off a miracle

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:19 PM) I'm sure KW and JR were in full recruiting mode yesterday and today. For whatever reason, the White Sox still aren't a preferred destination for major league players. Which in a way makes no sense. They have a lot of guys with great reputations on the team. Chicago is always voted favorite road city. There have been ringing endorsements from well respected guys like Thome and Griffey. Dye, Buerhle, Konerko walked away from more money elsewhere to be here. It pisses me off so many want to play for the Cubs but not the Sox. Other teams get rejected, again Giles flat out rejected the Red Sox last year when he could have been a part of a deep playoff run. I'm sure the Cubs have gotten rejected by FAs etc... Freddy came here and signed an extension (Ozzie factor exists, but he still did it), PK turned down a similar if not more $$ from the LAA to stay, MB chose to stay here, and Torri didn't come because the LAA offerred a good amount of money more, same as Bartolo the first time. When have the Cubs got someone they didn't overpay for? (FA wise, obviously Hendry got some great salary dumps, but those weren't NTC involved) Bradley's contract is bad, Soriano's contract was being labeled bad in good economic times... maybe Maddux gave them some sort of discount and Fukudome picked them because he wanted to be the first Japanese player on a team, but Sox players have given the team breaks before too. Again, as long as he stays healthy, Peavy is taking a decent gamble. When the trade deadline heats up maybe there's a team willing to guarantee the 22m no questions asked, and if his agent and the Pads spin it to KW right, the Sox might have interest in a similar deal in July.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:17 PM) I'd much rather go for Lackey, whose been a horse most of his career. I don't put him in the Santana/Halladay mold, but he's pretty f***ing good. And I'm not really stating I'd go that long-term with Lackey either. I would never go more than 4 years on a big money contract for a pitcher. If your paying 4 or 5 years for a young pitcher, understandable as its not as much money or a deal that will cripple you, but in a big money contract, never more than 4 years and preferably three. Yeah, I agree with you on the years to a pitcher, I was for the Peavy deal, not crushed that it didn't get done, but it was on the edge of $$ and years for a pitcher that I would go, and that's only because 40m is coming off, obviously somewhat less with reupping. It will be interesting to see if a stud pitcher drops to the Sox due to signability questions if they snap him up.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:13 PM) Bedard has too many health risks for the Sox to give longterm cash too. I freaking love him when healthy but no way. I'm in the same boat as you, especially since he's pitching well this year (is hurt now though?)... but it's a blueprint of a FA year for a pitcher, get a few of the big market teams vying for you and than lay a modified Pavano on them

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:07 PM) I would think KW needs to move on. Maybe in a couple months at the deadline Peavy will be ready to leave SD and the NL, then maybe he gets re-involved, but there obviously are other places he'd rather be and until he's satisfied those options have all been exhausted, he probably is fine where he's at. Its his move now. The other thing is, two months from now, maybe KW doesn't want to give up Poreda or Richard(s) or maybe Towers doesn't want them. Great minds, because the deadline popped into my mind too. Look at it from Peavy and his agents perspective, so many things can happen, and if the Sox aren't willing to guarantee the 22m then roll the dice. Zambrano could blow out his hamstring (although again, Cubs can't add payroll), CC could hurt himself running to the buffet, Dice-K doesn't come back strong, or numerous other scenarios with all sorts of teams, not to mention the White Sox could still be there at the end of July.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:02 PM) How would you like to be Towers right now? He has the deal ready for a guy who claims he wants to do what's best for the franchise, and would have to assume that the deal will get done and help solve a major problem...and then nothing. Now he will have to try again knowing he will never get a deal even equal to the Sox offer. Did he sign him and Giles to the NTC or was that the previous GM? If he did he has to take some of the blame, he put himself in that position, but I definitely see what you mean. I can't find any reasonable suitors for him right now unless he's willing to go to the NYY if they pick up his 22m no questions asked (haven't heard any rumors, but that's one team who would do it right now). You are 100% right about the package the Sox offerred, the Cubs offers were bad and teams like STL or Hou wouldn't even really get into discussions about players with the Pads. Say he's willing to go to the NL without the option pickup, it's not like STL is going to send Rasmus or another top player or Hou is going to send top players. This will end up being a salary dump deal at the deadline or in the offseason.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:15 PM) Anyone think Ricketts is going to regret buying the Cubs? Its reminding me of when the Indians got sold. They pretty much were sold when every revenue source was pretty maxed out. I'm sure there's a probably a few more ways to bring in some more money, but when these backloaded contracts come to be paid, either ticket prices are going to be like they are with the Yankees or the Cubs are going to take a bath. The Cubs only glimmer of hope is he has a ton of extra cash he's willing to throw at it any costs, and signs don't seem to be pointing towards that. Does he regret it? Well, he can come in, keep everything status quo and sell out the stadium and get a good cash flow coming in, so probably not. There's some bad contracts on that team and they aren't getting any better and their minor leagues don't seem to be stacked.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:15 PM) I wonder if the Sox are going to continue to pursue this. I was wondering the same thing. As expected he issued a generic statement about not the right time right now, etc..., which is the smart thing to do even if he hates the White Sox and would never come here or any AL team in a million years because it would cut the Pads legs off in negotations with other teams and his agents negotations with teams about picking up the option. I wouldn't be shocked if KW comes out with a statement saying they ended the pursuit.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:13 PM) Cabrera did. even with that extension in place and the Tigers doing well so far, how is their attendance? Detroit is one of if not the hardest hit area by the recession, the may have to dump if people don't come

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:10 PM) He isn't coming here, and he won't come here. He'll wait until the offseason then to get traded to the Cubs or Braves. I tend to agree he probably won't come here, but I would never rule it out. An extra 22m (actually 18m because of the buyout) can change alot of minds. Like you said in your other post though, even without the option being picked up, the Cubs financial flexability isn't going to be very good.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:09 PM) If he makes the Cubs pick up that option, that would give them like 8 players locked up for that year around 150 mil. Not going to happen. Levine stressed it heavily that until the sale is finalized the Cubs payroll is completely frozen, they can't even add DeRosa's contract back now that he's seemingly on the market. Past that it seems the new ownership group is not going to be adding payroll left and right, they just flat out won't be in the financial position to do it

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:08 PM) From espn.com As of right now, this is the best place for us to be. We made that decision for the time being," Peavy said before Thursday night's game against San Francisco. about what I thought... to me that says if the Sox and Pads can agree on $$ so I get my 22m, I'll be on the next flight to O'Hare. For the record, I'm fine with him doing this, he negotiated the NTC he can use the leverage anyway he wants... so do the Sox add another + prospect to get $$ from the Pads?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:05 PM) Maybe for Peavy but I don't think it looks bad to the Sox. If I were them I'd spin it as saying we tried and got closer than the Yanks/Red Sox/Angels did (although they didn't have deals in place) and to me thats a f***ing compliment. A big compliment. I'm once again very proud of our organization. They went out of there f***ing way to put together a massive deal and we clearly are one of the big players (maybe not in the FA market) but on the trade front every season and history shows under this leadership group that ballsy things might just happen. Its why I've always backed KW, despite at times ripping into him for being too cocky at times (but that cockiness also makes him good). Right, KW goes for it and fails sometimes, but he goes for it. The whole "it's embarassing" to the White Sox thing is Sox haters and self loathing White Sox fans... Brian Giles flat out rejected the Red Sox last year when they were in a strong position to make the playoffs, I didn't hear that the Red Sox are embarassed, etc... it happens. At the end of the day $$ talks and this offseason the Sox will have alot of it, I don't think, just a random FA off the top of my head, Matt Holiday will get a better offer from the Sox and say "oh no, Peavy rejected that team, I'm not going."

i think when he talks to the media it will be uneventful... he'll praise the White Sox and say he put this NTC in to protect himself and at this time he wants to stay in SD, etc... I imagine his agent is prepping him for it right now, basically telling him to stress he's not afraid of the AL and he would be willing to revist the White Sox or any other AL team in the future, the time wasn't right... his goal is to get a team to snap up the 22m no questions asked, it's an 18m dollar gamble he's willing to take.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:57 PM) No, the Sox were willing to re-work the deal, but Peavy wasn't interested in that, so the Sox flat out rejected the 22 mil option. Sorry for the confusion. OK, if that's the case, I don't mind them trying for him then. The Sox are still in a strong position for the future with a good farm system, 4 good picks and shedding alot of payroll.

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:55 PM) huh i believe he just means that the Pads or Sox haven't issued a statement or that Peavy himself hasn't come out and said it, it's all just sources now (not that I don't believe he blocked it, but there's nothing "official")

QUOTE (tommy @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:54 PM) I don't understand why is he waiting to confirm about the rejection, just do it already. some report said the Pads haven't made the official call to the White Sox, probably waiting for that. If they have a 9:05 or:30 game, he should be at or near being in the ballpark. I imagine SD is probably telling him they have no other solid offers and if he rejects this he's with them for the forseeable future

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:53 PM) I heard they flat out rejected it, so it will be interesting to get confirmation. That's going to be the rub to this whole thing, if they flat out rejected I can understand it from a future planning POV, but I cannot comprehend why they let it get this far if they weren't willing to accept it or give a reasonable offer. He wasn't going to leave a team he signed a NTC with for exactly what he could get by staying there.

QUOTE (Baines3 @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:44 PM) I don't see why the Sox even made the trade offer since they wouldn't pick up the option and knew Peavy was going to reject it. that's the 1m dollar question for me too. Hopefully KW will be on a show soon where the hosts actually ask it.

The Pads have to be frustrated, and yes they put themselves in the situation by giving a NTC, but this with Giles rejecting the trade to Bos last year they have so much money sitting there that they can't move. I just don't see who he goes to now. Stl and Hou probably aren't adding payroll, even if he waives his option demand for an NL team, the Cubs can't budge payroll and he doesn't want to pitch in the AL. I guess a team like NYY or NYM might just snap the option up, but do they have what SD wants?

QUOTE (tommy @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:37 PM) I so went to the game... I left off on page 50 something, what's the latest news? rejeted it seemingly because Sox wouldn't pick up the 22m option

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:34 PM) This is like Torii Hunter all over the again except this is the trade front and not a UFA. and fukudome and Cabrera from the Marlins. KW and the team obviously wanted him, but it doesn't mean he's going to curl up in a ball and not have other plans.

QUOTE (chunk23 @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:31 PM) So is there an indication that this is the end of negotiations or if this is posturing to get the option picked up. Peavy is suppose to talk to the media soon, what he says might be an indication. Of course the first thing he'll say is it's not about money. Gut feeling, this is done, this isn't negotiating

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 21, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) Next question, who are some of those 26-28 year old starters that might be out there as options? maybe nobody, but the Sox didn't win the WS with an "ace" coming into the season on paper. Not that many guys didn't pitch their career years, but a full 22m is alot to pick up. My main question is why did they even get this far if they weren't willing to pick it up? They knew he was reluctant to go to the AL, as Gammons said he was wary of LAA, Red Sox and NYY last year, so I'm not sure why the Sox thought he would just agree to a team he showed no interest in before for what he can get by sitting in San Diego for as long as he wants.