Chisoxfn

Depends who they are getting. It would take a hell of a ballplayer for me to give up Bmac; Anderson I'd part with relatively easily and Sweeney I'd hold onto tightly, but not as tight as Bmac; Munoz, Diaz and Grilli I'd trade if they were getting a serviceable player or solid pitcher or if it was an addition to sweeten the deal for RJ or whomever. Don't think any of them are going to turn into anything special. As far as the rest of the prospects go, they are all available, but just make sure you give up the right ones and for the right players.

I think the Sox are after Randy. Especially if reports are true and he was told that RJ would accept a deal to Chicago. If so get it done Kenny, just make sure Rowand is not part of a deal, unless its a package surrounded around him with Garland staying here. But Rowand and Garland together = NO DEAL. Unless Kenny all of a sudden gets approval to sign Beltran after the deal Someone on WSI said Berry (i think hes' the one that negotiates the contracts) is in talks ith 7 different FA's. Don't know how reputable the poster is, but figured I'd put that in here too. Said that Clement was one the Sox were seriously after. Personally I think Kenny may quickly reach a deal with RJ. I think it would have to happen quickly if he's considering it cause he can't afford to miss out on RJ and find out that Odalis Perez and Clement are off the market. Right now he has leverage and I got a sneaking suspicion (I've been wrong so many times lately on these though, lol) that he directly mentioned them being after Clement to give a clue to the Dbacks that Randy isn't the only option he has.

I'd be for the trade If the starting outfielder is Carl Everett: Garland, Everett, Marte, Anderson, and a mid-level prospect. However, and many of you will tell me this is stupid, this is contingent on the Sox signing Scho to a contract and putting him in Marte's role. I don't think Scho is as good as Marte, but he's a very good pitcher. Thats good value for the Dbacks who get a closer in Marte (signed affordably) a pitcher in Garland, a good prospect in Anderson and a prospect. They also get Everett who I guess can play left or right for them. Sox payroll pretty much stays what it was prior to making the Lee deal which means they still have 2-3 million. However, they do need to find a 5th starter still, but this becomes less of an issue with RJ at the top of the rotation. At the same time I don't want Grilli starting so I'd look to pick up a cheaper starter like Elo or Alvarez. I would make that trade...in a heartbeat in fact. Marte and Garland are good guys, Anderson is a who knows and Everett gone means the Sox use Gload more as a DH, until Big Frank comes back. However, I think the Sox making this move, JR should up payroll to 80 mill. Which would give the Sox 5-7 mill left after the deal to sure up some possible holes. RJ Garcia Buehrle Contreras Elo/Alvarez/Gil Meche Takatsu Hermy Scho Vizcaino Politte Cotts Spod Uribe Rowand Konerko Dye Gload Crede Davis/Burke Harris OR (sign Pyrz after the deal - note this is before Thomas comes back) Spod Rowand Konerko Dye Pyrz Uribe Gload Crede Harris Lineup isn't necessarily amazing, but its still average to above average. Once Thomas gets back its even better. Spod Rowand Konerko Frank Dye Pyrz Uribe Crede Harris ****Aaron Rowand CANNOT be part of a RJ trade package - DO NOT DO IT KENNY ********

I guess the D.C. city council ammended some of the guidelines for the new stadium and it calls for 50% of the costs to be privately paid. If that stays the case they will play one season in Washington's RFK stadium and then try to find another home, not in D.C.

Pods, Harris, Rowand will be stealing. Uribe has enough speed but needs to improve his technique. I think you could see Uribe steal 15 bases though with proper coaching, imo. But Ozzie did run at times when it was stupid to do so.

I think your right in just how negative the article was. I thought Cowley brought up some new facts, but at the same time you didn't see him mention much about the things Carlos did well. And there is no doubt Carlos is a good player. However, I think with the extra money (assuming its spent right...aka on a good pitcher) then this is a deal that helps both teams and truthfully thats how trades should be. Although it is great when your team can rip off another team, ie the Colon acquisition, lol. By the way, welcome aboard

Thanks for that info Ian.

Scallopped Corn? Green Beans are usually really good though. Also, I'm a fan of Yams with cranberries, some oatmeal and brown sugar mixed in with it.

I wonder if Boston is going to offer up prospets or someone like Arroyo. I could see Florida accepting Arroyo for Burnett. Florida seems to want to get rid of Burnett soley cause he's going to be gone next year and they want to get a guy whose going to be healthy for sure this year. I think Florida wants at least a big leaguer for him and I don't know if the Sox can get into that cause offering up Garland and someone else may not be wise, cause it still forces the Sox to pick up another pitcher. Although I happen to like the basis of that trade cause I really like Burnett. But I don't make that deal cause you put a lot of pressure on an injury riddled pitcher when you already are in doubt as to your 5th starter. I think the Sox have a move under their sleeve though.

In all seriousness, just watch....2 or 3 years from now Uribe will be the best shortstop in the AL not named Arod or Tejada. The guy reminds me so much of Tejada.

I don't get why people say its all about the money. It is. The Cards kept lowballing him (in his mind) and he was upset about it and the Red Sox wanted him. Its not like he's taking the money and going to a losing team, he's going to the defending world series champs. He's getting at least an extra 8-10 mill out of the deal. Although I think the Cards did actually offer him a fair deal. In fact I think both teams were stupid for paying this type of money.

Could be a possibility, but for the time being I think they focus on Perez and Clement. I also think they'll try making an offer for Huddy or Burnett but don't know if they get them. Hopefully they'll stay away from Vazquez at this point.

Wow interesting piece. I guess I could see that from Carlos but I always figured some of the stuff just wasn't true. He always had a smile on so you didn't see it. He isn't Sosa, but that article definately makes you question some things. It also reminds me why Konerko is my favorite offensive player on the Sox, even if I do sometimes suggest trading him cause his contract, lol. The end of the article really said some things. Cowley is a legit reporter and he does a great job so I take this as being very true. The guy is down in the clubhouse after most games and talks to the players often. This is something he couldn't do during the season, with so many Carlos Lee fans. Plus I'm glad he didn't cause it would of had a negative effect on his trade value.

He missed all of last year and I'm assuming his career is pretty much done, but I'm sure he'd love for an opportunity. Key with him has always been health, typically his arm. But when he's healthy he has a live arm. I hope he's not an option for the Sox this year unless he's willing to pitch down in Charlotte and hope he pitches himself onto the roster.

Did the Dodgers offer Odalis arbitration? For some reason I thought they didn't.

www.sports-wired.com is where I also recommend. Awesome site.

I'd start Willie over Amazega. Although I'd love Cora, don't know if the Dodgers non-tender him. I wouldn't if I were Depodesta.

I looked at his minor league numbers and the nice thing you see is that his numbers trend upward. And that it seems like he wetn from a platoon player to an everyday player and an adjustment is needed there as well. I think he's about a .270-.290 major league hitter and I think thats what we'll see him do next year.

Ya, Alou 2 mill buyout is counted in this years budget. Then you have Nomar who gets 8 mill plus 3 mill or so in incentives. I guess Blanco didnt' get as much as I though, so 1.5 (rounded up).

Maybe pick up Amazega as a backup infielder (for the league minimum) too. But I'd be so pleased with Pyrz and Perez. God would I be happy.

I figured 3 runs or less cause typically a quality start is 3 runs so anything over that a team should win more often than not. However, I know Black Betsy wrote a similar piece using a little different stats a few days after the one I wrote which was really good. http://blackbetsy.blogspot.com/2004/10/tea...jor-themes.html Thats the link to his piece. I think your right and a good breakdown would be to see how many of those pitchers were aces that they lost to or barely scored against, cause those are the kind of guys where having a guy who can reach base and get to 2nd on a steal and maybe even 3rd can really make a difference. But in the few piece set of that series of articles was that the Sox problems stemmed from an awful rotation and an awful bullpen and that this offseason they would have to fix the bullpen drastically (I wanted to good RH relievers) and that they needed another starter, one better then Contreras and Garland cause neither should be number 3 starters in this league until they prove they are capable. Thus far Kenny seems to be following that main path and I think the pitching staff is the most important aspect this team needs to improve on it. They've done it with the pen now lets see them get Perez. I also think catcher is a bigger void then middle infield at this point although I'd like to see the Sox bring in an Alex Cora (on the more expensive side) or Alfredo Amazega to help out the infield. But now that Harris can hit in the 9 hole I don't have a problem with him at all (well I never did). But this way the pressure isn't there and he's an above average defensive 2nd baseman who even while stinking part of the year last season put up a more then respectable OBP. I think Willie steals 30-40 bases if he starts next year. Spod and Raines should help him out.

I think he over-estimates it. By my projections the Sox should have between 185 and 205 homers which would still rank them in the top half of major league baseball. So I tend to disagree. However the key to this deal is filling another two holes, one being starting pitcher and another being catcher or middle infielder.

lol...I'm gonna have that "ring ring ring Bannana phone" stuck in my head all night now.

Well you have there spending this year: - Neiffi (minimal) - Todd Walker (i'm assuming this is a wash from Grudz/Walker last year) - Nomar (8 mill...plus some incentives, which is an increase) - Alou (2 mill option) - I think Sosa gets a raise in his contract, Wood does, Prior should get more, Derrek Lee gets more, Ramirez gets more. Don't know the specifics of all that though, but I think it pretty much washes up what they gained. - Plus They signed Henry Blanco at like 2 mill.