Chisoxfn

Badass...Thanks Willie

The acquisitions of Vizcaino and Hermanson make Marte available, thats for sure. I just hope Kenny is adamant about not giving up his boy Rowand.

My new job is to create work for other mods. I think I'll run over to PHT and make a post about the Sox signing Jermaine Dye and Dustin Hermanson.

ROFLMAO....I'm sure that crazy guy from WS still thinks I'm a little odd

Techinically the Sox have 10 mill available right now, so the 12 mill gained from the salary would increase the Sox budgeted payroll 2 million. Meaning there payroll would be 77 million, 2 million over the alleged 75 mill budget.

Call me crazy, but a healthy Scho can sure up the pen pretty good. He's not quite Marte, but I think Scho (as a reliever) is one of the best in baseball (in terms of a lefty reliever). Plus having Hermy and Vizcaino who are both gains. You lose a bit from Marte to Scho but gain a lot in Hermy and Vizcaino. Still giving the Sox a very good pen.

Disagree, I think only one of them is on his boards with Chris Young being a guy that will be on his 3 year board in the next year or two. Rowand is going to be here for a while. Now Spod will likely be too.

Ya, supposedly you can't trade a deferred thing. But I still have my doubts cause whenever Griffey was rumored to be dealt it was considered a nice thing that some of his money was deferred. But I think most everyone proved me wrong. But if RJ would agree to defer the money again and the union or whomever wrote it off then it would be fine. He did it once to ensure a world series and I'm sure he'd do it again. Plus, the Sox aren't going to get him without signing an extension. RJ wants another year guaranteed if he's dealt and when doing that negotiation you could negotiate or talk about the current year deferred, imo. Regardless, following the deal I expect the Sox to have somewhere between 7.5 and 8.5 mill available to spend.

One thing I want to say is. Richrd Hildalgo got 5-6 mill a year one year. Everett will be 4 mill this year. Now Hildalgo is better defensively but if in shape Everett is still versatile and can hit, just as good as Hildalgo can. Everett at 4 mill compared to Hildalgo at 5-6 mill is a realistic thing for the Sox to look at. Lets also remember the Arizona was interested in both Hildalgo and Dye but missed out; I actually do think Everett fits similarly to Hildalgo. If given the option, I think Everett is more likely to put up better numbers then Richard.

I'm not going to count Rowand in this, cause like I've said, I wouldn't make a deal involving him. So thats roughly 9 mill the Sox give up. They gain 10.5 and 6 deferred for a total of 16.5 mill. Its been argued that a traded player can force to get rid of his deferrals meaning the Sox would have to pay 16.5 mill this year. I'll assume it this way first. With that the case, you add the 6 mill saved from the Lee deal and your already at (9+6) 15 million. So the Sox still had 3-4 mill under budget prior to the Lee deal, which means after the RJ deal (16.5-15 = 1.5; 4-1.5 = 2.5) the Sox still have 2.5 mill remaining from the supposed 74-75 mill budget. However, if the Sox can keep Rj's contract deferred and this could happen since the Sox will likely be forced to negotiate an extension and put in that the first year is also deferred still; I think they can do this with approval). Then you figure if he only gets 10.5 mill, counted this years budget (don't know how JR will do it), then that leaves the Sox with (10.5 - 9 = 1.5; 10 - 1.5 = 8.5) 8.5 million leftover following the trade with the budget staying at 75 million. I do think that JR will up payroll to 80 mill if the deal is made (and the money isn't deferred) which would essentially give the Sox 7.5 million. So regardless, if this deal goes down, I think the Sox will still have 7.5-8.5 million available to fill some remaining holes.

I read something saying that its going to be hard for him to get two big name players because of some 40/60 financing rule. So before he makes any big moves in the rotation, he's going to first have to unload Brown or Vazquez, imo. Otherwise there rotation will be filled out. Pavano, Mussina, Vazquez, Brown, Wright. They could still sign Milton, but that would be cause they know Brown is going to get hurt, lol.

Imo, the Sox don't wait till Xmas, unless Kenny has a very good feeling (i'm talking 75-90% odds) that he's going to get RJ. He can't let the other FA pitchers jump off the market cause trading for RJ still leaves them a void. I'm assuming JR would up payroll roughly 5 million if they picked up RJ. I also think the front 4 with RJ coming aboard would look awfully good. But they need to get a serviceable 5th like Elo (who should do better then he did last year). And Elo did not leave the Sox on bad terms, I think he would gladly come back, as long as no one offers him a 3 year deal (thus far Washington hasn't done that, If they had, he'd of been signed already).

I agree the Dbacks are going to ask for Rowand. I just hope Kenny backs down on it and gives up prospects instead. Anderson and anyone not named Sweeney/Bmac and Everett. If it takes a package with Rowand, I think you say no and sign Clement or Perez. Marte is a very good reliever, Garland has upside, Anderson has upside, Diaz/Munoz could come in and be other pitchers, while Everett can help them now. I don't know if the Dbacks do it, but I tell them NO Rowand. Unless of course the Sox are willing to find a bat to replace him. I guess you could see Everett in left and Spod in CF but I don't want to see that. I'd want to see the Sox do something to replace Rowand and thats Beltran and I don't see that happening, lol.

Reds made two good moves in my mind. Weathers is a quality reliever and if Weber figures things out they pick up another good reliever. By the way ignore the Rotoworld thing that says Weber, who had been with the Astros.

Plus the Yanks don't seem as desperate lately, especially with Boston having such an awful offseason. Bostons pitching staff is going to have 3 guys right around 40...in Wakefield, Schill, and Boomer. There are some definate questions surrounding Boston and I think they'll get desperate and make a big time offer for Burnett (don't think Fla does it unless a 3rd team is involved that gives Fla a major league pitcher) or Clement. They don't have enough for Huddy, although Hanley Ramirez could definately interest Beane. He just won't provide immediate help.

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.