Chisoxfn

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 11:35 AM) A to be named later. He played on WSI's squad.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 05:19 AM) How about we trade him to you and he can give you all of the motivation that you need! Somehow I'm guessing the first word's out of Pratt's mouth would be: That other team is a bunch of "pussies".

QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 11:13 AM) And the plot thickens; Figgins for 2nd base anyone? I don't buy the Angels not starting Figgins. When healthy he is too important to what that club does, imo. I also don't buy the Angles making a big deal. Tony Reagins (GM) has indicated that they aren't anticipating making a big move. The club is 7 games up in first place, has a strong rotation, and the only real void is in the offense but they aren't going to go out and upgrade the offense without finding teams willing to take some ugly contracts off there hands.

Technically Hester has until August 5th or something like that because at that point the collective bargaining agreement indicates that he'd actually be giving up his UFA status for an additional year.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 09:43 AM) I'd put Rashied Davis ahead of Hester as a WR now and last year. I wouldn't. Davis is better fundamentally but he's got a ridiculous skill-set which enables him to get open with ease and make plays.

BADACLOSED

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) And I couldn't see approximately 1/3 of Uribe's annual salary being a financial boondoggle to Sox. So from my point of view, Uribe for Cora just doesn't make any sense what-so-ever. Now if there is a raw arm the Sox like or that extra cash is going to signing some international FA than maybe I could see it (or if Uribe has told them internally that he wants out and wants to go to a team where he'll play more). But talent for talent...Uribe > Cora and this is coming from someone who likes Alex Cora a lot (very solid bench player).

Street's trade value is higher than his current worth, imo. And since the Sox aren't desperate for a closer I'd pass.

I would probably do Lowe straight up for OC as long as the Sox weren't getting completely raped by the O's in a Roberts deal. I say that because Lowe is a significant upgrade in the rotation and acquiring Roberts makes one less thing the Sox have to worry about in the off-season. I'd prefer to get more than just lowe or include a contract the Sox want to unload but if the Sox can get Roberts without giving up both Poreda & Fields than I make the deal. I'm very very hesitant to trade Poreda because I don't think his trade value is as high as his potential upside.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 10:40 AM) Cubs got Rondell White from the Expos while he was (typically) on the DL I also like how people are ASSuming the 2 picks we get from Cabrera (something could still happen to him) = 2 top prospects. Give me a break. If the team that signs Cabrera also signs another type "A" free agent or two, it's very possible the Sox would have an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick. Based on the Sox's drafting history, I wouldn't be so sure to call someone a "top prospect" just because he was drafted early by them. I won't say top prospect, however, a year out from draft day, its highly likely that those top picks would have pretty high trade value (ie, the value of a top prospect). This isn't to say that those prospects will turn into top prospects or major league stars. However, 2 additional top picks (ie, picks within the top 3 rounds) will be very helpful at continuing to rebuild a depleted farm system.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 08:48 AM) In what world does trading OC in a walk year translate to another team's young starting 3B, a star in the making OF'er or a top prospect? Oh that right, xbox world. The Dodgers are a game out of first place with the s***tiest SS crop in baseball. You could make a case that the clowns they've had at SS are worse than Andy Gonzalez (yes, I said it). Therefor, trading something of talent to get a gold glove SS makes sense. We aren't talking about some POS player, we are talking about one of the better shortstops in all of baseball (plus, Dodgers would be getting two picks as compensation at the end of the season).

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 07:10 AM) I love this time of year. Here's my Super Trade Idea, a 4-team, 16-player deal. I think the last time anything like this happened was that Cubs-Red Sox-A's thing that I think was 4 teams and included a s***load of players including Nomar. My trade: Sox trade: Orlando Cabrera, Josh Fields, Aaron Poreda, Nick Masset, Chris Getz, Nevin Griffith, John Shelby Dodgers trade: Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, Chin-Lung Hu, Jonathan Meloan, Blake DeWitt Orioles trade: Brian Roberts, Daniel Cabrera, George Sherrill Rockies trade: Garrett Atkins Sox receive: Brian Roberts, Daniel Cabrera, Blake DeWitt Dodgers receive: Garrett Atkins, Orlando Cabrera, George Sherrill Orioles receive: Matt Kemp, Josh Fields, Andy LaRoche, Chin-Lung Hu, Aaron Poreda, Chris Getz Rockies receive: Jonathan Meloan, Nick Masset, Nevin Griffith, John Shelby From a Sox perspective they are giving up way too much. I like Cabrera as much as the next guy, same as Dewitt, but essentially I believe OC/Roberts are very similar players (and if there is a difference, I favor OC, although I could see where certain teams favor Roberts by a prospect like Getz or Broadway). Therefor, you are talking about trading Josh Fields, Aaron Poreda, Nick Masset, Nevin Griffith and John Shelby for Blake Dewitt and Daniel Cabrera. Are you f***ing kidding me? Fields has more value than Dewitt in the sense that most experts project Fields to be a starting 3Bman, entering this season few had Dewitt as a starting infielder. He's done an admirable job for the Dodgers and has a nice skill-set but one that you can't compare to Fields (and this is coming from someone who knocks on Fields). So I've already indicated that I probably wouldn't do OC & Getz for Roberts (note the O's have on interest in OC so OC would be turned into prospects the O's would want, hence the Dodgers or some other teams involvement). I certainly wouldn't trade Fields for DeWitt. That leaves Poreda, Masset, Griffith, and John Shelby for Daniel Cabrera. I love Cabrera's arm, but he's had a years in the majors and never proven anything. Masset has had a less time and has a less explosive arm but is there (no the O's wouldn't deal Cabrera for Masset straight up). Than there is Poreda who is as raw as it gets but possesses a better fastball than Cabrera (younger too, again, proven nothing at the big league level). I wouldn't trade Poreda straight up for Cabrera, let alone include Masset/Griffith (injury prone and I don't know if he'll live up to his hype but a good raw arm) and Shelby (whom I love as a prospect). Bottom line, this deal is terrible for the Sox.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 06:27 AM) If we turn Cabrera into Lowe, it was basically turning Garland into lowe. Yuck On a standalone basis, Lowe is better than Garland, especially when your talking about one season of either starter. Lowe will garnish type A compensation.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 06:06 AM) If it's Uribe for Cora, straight up, even the first domino bit doesn't compute. It wouldn't make sense unless financially the Sox needed to (as in they are up against the budget or something).

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 12:20 AM) I say LaRoche only because I don't think the organization needs another 2B prospect, nor do I think they need to spend a hefty price attempting to get one because finding an average to slightly above average 2Bman isn't that hard to do and the Sox have done it as well as any other organization; Ramirez, Iguchi, Uribe, Harris, Alomar, Jimenez, and Durham have all manned the position for roughly half a season to a full season for the Sox this decade and have, by and large, been atleast league average during their time at 2B. Getting a guy in LaRoche who has killed the ball at AAA in the PCL but has struggled in the majors - ala some dude named Quentin - for 3B this and next year would be absolutely wonderful. I have to imagine that's who KW is looking at from LA. I think a Lowe and Laroche for OC deal would make sense for the most part. I happen to love the s*** out of Lowe, although there is no denying his numbers would increase a bit leaving the NL (and Chavez Ravine). Lowe is essentially a bit better version of Jon Garland (albeit older). The guy is due to be a FA so the Sox still would be talking about type A compensation (no way is Lowe anything but A compensation, unless Elias hammers him for not having a ton of wins (he's thrown a lot of innings and posted ERA's under 4 throughout his tenure in LA). Essentially the Sox upgrade the rotation, get LaRochoe (thus making one of Fields/Laroche expandable in a trade for Roberts) and at the end of the day you'd say the lineup is better (Roberts is a better hitter than OC, albeit defensively you have to hope Ramirez is ready for SS). The rotation is much upgraded (Lowe immediately joins Vaz/Buehrle as the front line starters which takes the pressure of Floyd/Danks). However, do the Dodgers give up that much for help at SS (they are taking away from there rotation). If not, do they want Contreras because I would include Contreras in the deal if the Dodgers wanted him (again, I have no idea if they would actually want him).

QUOTE (JFields27 @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 11:01 PM) OC for DeWitt and something elses can be worked out id do that for sure .. DeWitt is a former first round pick, but he doesn't have star potential. The Sox shouldn't deal OC unless they are getting an attractive piece for the new few years (one that hopefully has upside). I say that because worse case, the Sox have an attractive SS for the rest of the season on there roster and than 2 top picks.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 09:30 PM) Also, I believe all Matt Kemp dreams can be put aside...not only do the Sox not need another outfielder, what with Quentin, Dye, Swisher, Anderson, and potentially Cook and Owens in the minors (and that's not including Wise, who wouldn't be a surprise on the bench next year), but there's bad blood between the Birmingham - who just so happens to be a minor league affiliate - and Matt Kemp. I don't ever see him playing in a White Sox uniform unless it's years from now. Great post, but I want to point out that the Sox seem frustrated with Konerko so you could arguably take Swisher out of that group. The inclusion of Cook, Anderson and Owens is a joke. None are major league starters (nor is Wise) so essentially you can say the Sox have 3 OF's capable of starting (Anderson/Swisher/Dye) however none of them are ideal CF'ers (Kemp is an upgrade in CF). Again, the Kemp is a dream unless the Sox truly believe they will move Paulie (whether its selling him low right now to a team like the Dbacks whose looking for pop (apparently the Dbacks are waiting to get all over Tex from the Braves but who knows how steep that price will be) or in the off-season.

QUOTE (BlackBetsy @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 05:48 PM) I started at 1999 b/c it was the year where the Sox had a ton of supplemental picks. And Kip Wells netted the Sox Todd Ritchie in probably Kenny Williams' worst deal. The 2004 draft was a real exception out of the last 10 years of the Sox drafting...not a rule by any imagination. Blind squirrels and nuts and all. Technically speaking Ron Schueler has always took the blame for the Ritchie deal. I still say that Kenny was the GM though. Man did I lamblast that deal at the time (I really liked the Kipster).

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 11:59 PM) So him helping us win the World Series 3 years ago gives him a free pass to suck forever? Don't take this wrong, I love Paulie and I root for him hardcore. His grand slam in game 2 was probably the greatest moment in my life to date, but this is 2008, not 2005. We want to add another one of those trophy things and some more of those shiny rings and he certainly isn't helping the cause this year. It doesn't mean you can't criticize his play. In fact, I don't ever have a problem booing when a player makes a terrible mistake. I personally rarely boo. Certain guys make my boo list though and its typically players that I can't stand because they get a lot more credit despite not being very good at baseball. That said, I think it goes too far if you boo him when they announce him in the lineup. If you want to boo the team or player after he makes a horrid play, fine, but anything past that is a little ridiculous when it comes to a guy that has had a tremendous career in Chicago.

I like it. This makes it sound as if the Sox would make two seperate deals, one with Bmore and one with LA (which could mean the Sox get something pretty good, ie Kemp, for OC).

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 03:23 PM) Although I have never been in that position, where I could be making millions of dollars per year and instead am making hundreds of thousands, I would like to believe that people would honor their contracts. You signed it, so deal with it. You knew when putting your name on that paper that you were going to get paid that much, under the rules of the contract. If you didnt like it, dont sign it, or you shouldve changed the terms of the contract when writing it up. Honor your contract. Thats my point of view. And yes teams can release guys under contract too, but they still have to pay that money, and if a guy is underperforming, then that team is stuck with that contract, they cant renegotiate with the player just because they feel its unfair. The NFL is a totally different game. You are one play away from a career or even life threatening injury and when your at the top of your level you deserve to get paid at the top of your level. If you don't produce the NFL will get rid of you immediately so it really doesn't work both ways. In baseball, I completely agree, honor the damn contract (that is because once you sign it you are protected where as in the NFL you have no protection). Now once you get one big contract, than at that point I will defend someone who holds out a lot less (I ripped into Urlacher for his actions).

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 02:04 PM) Oz already said Clayton would start in 6 days. Glad to see it. Sounds like he was solid for a first time start. Too bad the defense didn't step up for him cause that would have potentially helped him. Either way his velocity was higher than expected and you can't be ashamed when you strike out 7 guys in 4 innings.

In fact, in this instance can you really blame Hester. He's scheduled to make like 425K. Yes thats more than most of us make but given that he's the top performer at his position (EVER) and now opening camp as one of the starting WR's I would expect to get paid more. Especially when he's yet to get a "set for the rest of his life" deal. I expect a short term type of extension where the Bears give him more money up front and agree on negotiating again a year or two from now (basically a 2 year extension from his current deal with a good chunk of guaranteed money) when he's proven himself more at the WR spot (in which case the team will step up and pay him like a top WR). He's apparently asking for 6yrs 45M.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 02:45 PM) This is Urlachers Fault for b****ING and JA's Fault for giving in. Should have traded him. Believe it or not , principles go a LONG way. Have fun being a DOORMAT JA! Didn't the Bears actually step up when it came to Urlacher or man up. Urlacher held out and the Bears didn't really get serious with Brian until he finally returned to the team and at that point the Bears stepped up and made an offer that will keep him in Chicago for what will likely be the remainder of his career.

Oh man, that was entertaining