Chisoxfn

I was the one who said 6 million and I'll stick to that estimate. The market for Perez isn't the same as the market for some of these guys. The rest of the pitchers getting signed thus far don't have the character issues that Perez has. However, thats not to say that Milton is better then Perez cause he's gonna get a bigger contract. I just think Perez lack of wins (whether valid or not) is going to hurt him on the market, especially when mixed with the attitude he showed in LA. Their is a reason the Dodgers are making absolutely zero effort to resign him, even though, they have some holes in the rotation.

If they do it means Jacque Jones is on the market.

I think right now role players isn't a bad way to go. Hope you are right in Contreras and Garland making strides because on paper the top 4 stuff wise is better then a lot. I don't have much fait in it, but thats just cause I think the Sox wanted to spite me by getting rid of one Jose I couldn't stand for another. Although I'll give Contreras the shot to prove me wrong. On a sidenote, turning to Polanco still looks good to me especially since it seems like most teams are going after the ss's, which means a team like the Sox could quickly go in and snag Placido. Placido, Pyrz and Gibbons and then the team looks around to target a SP and RP. That would look good to me. If you don't like Gibbons their is always Burnitz (strikeout machine, but not that bad of a player), Jermaine Dye (problem is he's right handed bat) plus I'm sure some guys will be non-tendered.

That could be true. One thing I always remember in regards to Gibbons is that he's extremely strong and can pretty much muscle a ball out of the park. Hopefully it wasn't a cause of juicing, but I Think you bring up a potential problem in the whole steroid fiasco cause GM's could look at a guys down year for other reasons when in fact it was strictly steroid related. KW was hosed cause Koch got off the juice when in Chicago and the Sox suffered from it.

What if the Sox did something like get a cheap 5th starter, but at the same time signed a good reliever or two (or traded for) as well as picked up Pyrz, Polanco and a guy like Gibbons? They fill their position holes and the pen and live with the rotation for the time being, knowing that as time gets closer they could make a splash then or at least try to. It may not be a bad idea if you could pick up some of those guys relatively cheap, considering the Sox would still have a solid 4 man rotation and a guy like Elo or whoever in the 5hole.

I'll agree with that. First time I saw Wright out their in FA, I said, wow he could be a sleeper. Then I figured Atlanta would lock him up pretty quick considering the Mazzone factor and all. Didn't happen though, Benson got his fat contract and things changed. I agree with you on Vizquel as well. Considering he was a very good fit for this club. KW knows he has a limited payroll and you got to do your best not to overpay. I've long looked at players and just said hey, its not worth it. You only overpay if you need to land some names, ie Detroit or if your one guy from the series and he's the one that will put you over the top. The Sox are in neither position as of this point. If they landed RJ they could of been, so I was a proponent of that. If Ozzie feels strongly against starting Willie then once again it may be best to give Renteria a good size deal, although personally I think he's drastically overrated.

R&W thats a pretty damn good idea. If he gets non-tendered that could be a really good move if he's healthy enough to handle the day to day grind of being a reliever. That and if his salary demands aren't too high, cause I still see him getting 3 mill a year.

Well I write left handed but play golf right handed and switch hit in baseball but am better right handed. Long story short, I used to hit left handed. No one else on my team was left handed and so few players in the league were so I thought I was doing it all wrong (I was really young at the time) and turned around and picked up right handed hitting.

Don't look at me, I'm on a little break from studying for a final I got on Thursday.

Don't be too sure. If the Sox are out their late in the offseason still looking I'm sure he'd be willing to come back. He is a great guy and looked better out of the bullpen with New York in the postseason. Part of me thinks he was hampered heavily by the injury. I also think it helped that Jerry Manuel would constantly ask Elo how often he threw his changeup cause that pitch was non-existent in 2004 as was any pitch not called a cutter. He got too cutter happy and it burned him. But his arm was also banged up or so it seemed. Hell, I could see Elo making a decent setup man if 100%.

I heard the comments on the radio and didn't see the big deal.

Sounds like the Yanks will have Milton, Wright and RJ in the next 7 days. They are idiots for making the press they are for Eric Milton. Also remember their is still the possibility of Wade Miller being non-tendered. He'd be a dynamite type pickup if healthy. Although i read somewhere that Houston is pleased with his health status and may go to arb with him now.

The Cards offer him arbitration?

I'd give him an invite.

Heres a question. What starters on the block could the Sox get offering Konerko and Garland? I would have to think that should be able to land one good pitcher. Would it be enough to get one of the Big 3, I doubt it, simply because the A's would be adding payroll. If a 3rd team got involved, possibly. Could it be a package that could land Brad Penny??? That could be interesting. Would the Marlins be willing to deal AJ Burnett who will be gone at the end of this next season. Its a risk the Sox would be taking on his health, but he's a fantastic pitcher when healthy. Obviously Joel Pineiro is out their. But what about an all on full court press for Ben Sheets or someone of that magnitute. Seems like the Brewers may actually up payroll, but if you offer them enough they may bite on Sheets.

I swear someone mentioned him reupping with the Yanks a week back. Anyway he would be a good pickup.

I wonder how much of an effor the Sox really made.

The question is will Kenny panic and overpay for Vazquez and how serious are the Dbacks in dealing him. A week ago reports at least made it sound like they wanted Vazuqez for themselves. Obviously they want pitching and if the rumor is true that they will sign Glaus, plus they've offered arb to Sexson, it makes you wonder whether they would have any interest in Konerko at all.

I agree with the general basis of that study. But their are other factors. Odalis Perez and Jason Marquis are two young pitchers that have done just fine after leaving Atlanta, in fact both have done better. Now neither were really 100% with the Braves but still. I think in general I thought Jaret Wright would be a good pickup. Not at 7 million a year, but it is a better risk then paying Contreras 6 per. However, as long as healthy, Jaret Wright has very good stuff and has learned to pitch instead of throw. He's a good pickup by New York and with Lieber on the market their is another guy the Sox can turn their attention too. Unfortunately 2yr 14-16 mill is all of a sudden what the market dictates to get him and I don't know if thats worth it. Right now if I were the Sox I may consider heavily adjusting the plan and doing my best to acquire relief pitching and get a serviceable fifth starter and fill lineup holes instead. I'm not a fan of overpaying for questionable pitching. By questionable pitching i mean giving guys fat contracts who really aren't aces. Thats what screwed a lot of organizations over before this latest collective bargaining agreement and it seems like this year baseball is going back in that direction. Still, their will be some bargains out their. Hell, why not make a phone call and see if the Cards are willing to deal Ankiel and work the phones and try to make some under the radar moves to acquire power arms and see what else works out. Still, their are some good options still out their. I still say Kevin Brown could be intriguing, as could Vazquez. I like getting Vazquez a hell of a lot more then Contreras.

Could it get any worse.

He'll go to the Mets 4yr 50+ mill, imo. Boston will acquire one of the big 3 when shockingly they don't get Pavano.

I still think Odalis Perez can be had for 6 mill a year, the problem is, he has some durability issues as well as some clubhouse problems (at least in LA). Good stuff when healthy, but I question the fact that he seems to have trouble going late into games, especially this past season. I'd think Clement a better option, but at this point, a full court press of Carl Pavano would look really good cause the market is dwindling if Kenny wants to get a big name and this doesn't even begin to go into the crappy bullpen this team has. I'm an optimist, but I'm more concerned with the approach, imo, in the sense that I'm not getting this vibe that the organization sees the bullpen as a huge hole.

I don't think Konerko is using. I've been a Konerko fan since his days in the minors and he's always been roughly the same size.

Sox once again turn their attention, but their are still good pitchers out their. As far as Pavano goes, you can book it, assuming the ANgels make him an offer thats where he'll be.

As far as Gibbons goes, when healthy he's a far more dynamic player then last years numbers indicate. I have no doubt in my mind he hits 25 homers with a .270 AVG next season if he's playing everyday. He's young, has mammoth power potential and has power to all parts of the field. He's also a versatile player as he is a solid defensive outfielder and a good defensive first baseman. Plus at 2 mill he's gonna be a bargain. Think Ortiz type potential. Boston never thought he'd pan out quite like he did, but to me Gibbons has the same type of potential. I'm not saying he's going to put up Ortiz type numbers, but he's got some tools.