Chisoxfn

At 4 mill a year I'd be all over Darin Erstad. He plays gold glove first base and is a great top of the order hitter. As he progressed this past year he was just getting better and better. And no, while he's an awesome outfielder I wouldn't move him there. If the Sox deal Lee, going after Erstad may not be a bad option, if in fact he goes on the market. We all know they have Kochman. I read in the Register that the Angels were thinking about cutting payroll. Then I saw Gammons say they are going to increase it to 95 million and go after Pedro/Beltran. Now, I don't know what to think, but I do think Erstad is on the block. At the same time he's a mega fan favorite so I highly doubt they'd trade him for nothing. But if they would pick up 4 mill a year for 2 years, I'd give up a guy like Munoz or Diaz. Of course I don't quite think the Angels would do that. Erstad Omar Frank Lee Everett Rowand Crede Catcher Harris/Uribe Wouldn't be too shabby, especially if they opted to go after a RF via free agency...a left handed hitting one at that. That lineup would still have power but it would also have speed and Darin and Omar would give the Sox a totally different top of the order. Heck, come to think of it, I could see the Angels having interest in Konerko. Maybe they would do a Konerko for Erstad (partially paid salary) and Jose Guillen. I could see a package like that working. Konerko's salary is basically filled by Erstad and Guillen. Your lineup: Erstad Vizquel Thomas Lee Guillen Rowand Ben Davis Crede Uribe/Harris Only flaw with that lineup is you have a right handed stretch, but its still what I would call a potent top and middle of the order. Who knows, maybe its a possibility.

I completely agree. I mean in the perfect world you have a great 1 and 2 hole hitter and you can let Aaron hit back in the lineup. But right now with the true lack of a two hole hitter, that Aaron would be a good fit there. Hell, he puts up these kind of numbers over a full year (project his last couple months) and I'll stick his ass in the 3 spot. As far as a new CF goes, unless its Andruw Jones or Carlos Beltran, I'll take Rowand cause he plays a damn good CF and has one of the best CF arms in all of baseball. But Cheat, I pretty much agree completely with ya.

Personally I think Carlos Lee, if on the market, is one of the most valuable players on the trade block. And no, I wouldn't trade him. I'd trade Paul Konerko first. Their is no reason to trade Carlos Lee, imo. He does more things better then Konerko. And I'm a huge Konerko fan. For example, I'll throw this out there. Joel Piniero and Eddie Guardado for Carlos Lee and a prospect. Mariners seem to want to retool their offense and they have been shopping Every Day Eddie for a while and it appears they are willing to trade a hitter. They've always been interested in Lee and frankly he'd be a good fit. Now that deal, thats the type of deal I'd make for Lee. But as much of a fan of prospects I am, I ain't trading Lee for prospects, screw that. The Sox are playing to win now, especially with all these starters under contract.

Cabrerra has tools and is a fantastic defensive player. I think he has the talent to be a good offensive player too, but this is a guy thats yet to put it all together and 7 plus a year...YA RIGHT. I'm with you completely and I'm a Cabrerra fan. Had he not gone to Boston he probably would of gotten 4 mill a year.

I guarantee he is a Cub next year.

No way in hell would I make that trade, imo. Look at what Jimenez did. One good year from a closer guarantees absolutely nothing. Their are a lot of closers that had one or two good seasons and then completely dissapeared. If the Sox have actually shortened Crede's swing and corrected his flaw, then I will instill my faith in the man. I know a few stories referenced to this fact that he got it fixed right near the end of the season and they expect him to do good next year. Plus he provides defense and at his price it doesn't make sense to give him up.

Percival has been nothing but consistently great his entire career. The guy was amazing in the 2nd half of this season with the Angels. Had an ERA in the low 1's if not below that (I calculated it a while back, but don't have it with me and blew I think one save after coming back from his injury...while finishing like 21 games or something).

The same article quotes Cabrerra in the the 4 yr 30 mill range, which would be ridiculous to offer, imo.

He was one of the better bunters on the team and imo, I thought he did a good job when necessary. I'll take him in the two hole any day of the week if he produces like he did this year. Especially with Frank, CLee and Konerko as power hitters. Aaron Rowand in the 2 hole >>>>>> Aaron Rowand in the 6hole, imo. He gets tons of extra base hits and uses the entire field. His whiffs are a little higher then I'd like from a 2 hole hitter and his walks are low, but he gets tons of extra base hits and still does a solid job handling the bat. However, I think Omar will be in the 2 hole.

I just through it out there, who knows whats going to happen. Maybe Konerko goes instead and Gload will play 1st. I mean Everett is gonna be DH'ing at the start of the season anyway.

I fully expect Lee to be moved, so I'm assuming we'd have an outfield of Jurassic/Gload-Rowand-Gibbons (or someone else). I know it wouldn't be the best outfield in the world. If its the case you sign him. However, maybe if they deal Lee then they could add a reliever. Who knows to be honest, but thats a good point. IF htey were able to get another starter, Omar, and sign Gibbons then I'd be happy.

First off, if were looking for an outfielder and Gibbons gets non-tendered, I think he would be a good option at 1.5 mill or so and I think you could get him at a very very reasonable price if he is non-tendered. He had a very down year and he isn't amazing, but he's solid defensively and has very good left handed power. He always seemed like he had potential to be a pretty good offensive player. Anyway, I think if the Sox add a shortstop, starter, and outfielder (Gibbons maybe) then this team would have most of their holes filled. I do think it would be nice to get a good reliever, but at the same time Marte should be better next year and I guess we'll have to hope Shingo will be great in a full season as closer. If we don't add another reliever, Politte and Cotts are really going to have to step it up.

Right now, I'd give Percival about 4 million a year for 2 years. Basically the same offer given to Vizquel because I Think he would accept it and I think it would be a great move for the White Sox. The Angels haven't contacted Percival and he claims he's going to be elsewhere. He also has said he wants to pitch another 3 or 4 years.

This would be great if it happens. We still got to wait till November 12th or so when you can officially sign FA.

By the way, are womens as good as women?

Article Interesting, although I don't believe it what-so-ever, especially considering the author has mentions the Sox looking at shortstop and Randy Johnson. Its pretty clear for them to think that way that their payroll would be a bit higher. He also mentions that the Sox may look to upgrade the catcher position and haven't written off Alomar yet.

Sorry, gotta disagree heavily with you on this one. If it wasn't for the Angels well balanced offense, good defense, and awesome bullpen, they would of been toast. They had Washburn, who was lousy in the playoffs (some Angel fans dubbed him the ace of the playoffs, but he was nothing special) and Lackey (who actually pitched his ass off for a youngster). Minus those two, Ortiz was nothing special nor was Kevin Appier. The Angels rotation that won the series is one of the worse in recent history, imo. Luckily they had Krod, Donnelly, Weber, and Percy.

Here's to winning the Bull in the inagural year Cheat

Another huge difference is Pujols has probably made less then Manny did in his entire major league career (up to this point) then Manny made this year (20 mill). Just saying And I'm a huge Manny fan. I got a lot of respect for a guy that was put on waivers and pretty much told by the Red Sox we don't want you. Yet he still went out and produced like the animal he is offensively. Its like saying your 2nd best to Bonds, nothing wrong with that. Pujols is the right handed version of Bonds (although nowhere near as good, Bonds is in a freaking league of his own...greatest ball player I've ever seen)

So right now your clearly contradicting your argument in regards to Manny. Manny has had a great offensive career no doubt, but his past numbers don't tell me whose better now. Right now Manny is fantastic offensively, one of the best 5 right handed hitters in baseball, but Pujols is the best. Plus Pujols doesn't play in one of the best hitters parks in all of baseball (ie Fenway). Pujols >>>>> Manny

Cool, so it would be what you'd classify as a suburb? Or are they even too far from that. Thanks Crimson

Ya, I don't anticipate anything to happen until after the election. However, I do expect it to happen shortly. January is quickly coming upon us and they are going to have to do what they can to get as many of the insurgents taken care of, imo. Ya, I'm still wondering that. Bush's White House speaker said on FoxNews tonight that they weren't planning any major announcement or anything along those lines. They were going to continue doing what they are doing now (I know I left this open to the other side). I still expect something to come out though from one side or another. Last year around this time, Bush's DUI came up and sent Bush's momentum downward big time.

Ya, I also remember him really showing his stuff in a performance or two against the Sox during that 2nd half. He had great command of all his pitches and looked healthy.

I don't know about anyone else, but I know the writing was kind of on the wall when the British agreed to redeploy some of their troops, but I get the feeling that the US is going to go on an offensive in the days following the election in the Fallujah/Baghdad region. On a sidenote, does anyone want to explain to me where Fallujah is in comparison to Baghdad. I've asked some people because I kind of hear the two cities mentioned interchangeably? If Fallujah like the outskirts or something along those lines?