Chisoxfn

Book it, he goes to the Braves and if the Braves give up Andy Marte for him, they are stupid.

Let me be the first to say, I'm usually very willing to deal prospects, however, when a system becomes thin, then you have to stick to your guns and keep those few untouchables you have and use other bargaining chips, imo. I'd deal Sweeney in the right trade, but Cliff Floyd is not a guy you have to give up Sweeney to get. And if thats what they wanted, I'd go elsewhere, pick up a Kenny Lofton type leadoff guy and use a chip or two to add some quality relievers.

To be honest, I'd rather have Frank walk at the end of the year, stick Everett at the DH and spend the 6 mill elsewhere, specifically on Carlos Beltran and another pitcher or two, one of which would be a starter. (letting Maggs walk) Everett, Beltran, Lee, Konerko would be enough of a middle of the lineup to me. It would also give you two lefties with power and two righties with power and all 4 are capable of hitting for respectable averages, imo. Personally I like that more then Thomas, Mags, Lee, Konerko because in this case, you have two guys that hit lefty against RHP, and 2 guys that hit righty against RHP, so it better breaks things up, imo. Plus Beltran in CF is freaking amazing.

I wouldn't say no chance in it happening. This rumor had to come from somewhere, and just cause a GM says its false, doesn't necessarily mean its true. Heck, it could be 100% false cause its not Sweeney in the proposed deal or maybe its just not Floyd, who knows. What we do know is the Sox have been talking with the Mets and Bucs. Whose to say some deal isn't worked out where the Sox get Benson or where the Sox get someone like Al Leiter. Not saying its a very likely chance, but who knows.

To be honest, the way Garcia is pitching, I'd of dealt all of em for Garcia alone, let alone also getting Carl Everett and Cliff Floyd. However, in terms of Ryan Sweeney, I think the Southtowns reports were off. I will say this, if its Joe Borchard, I'd deal him for Cliff Floyd in a heartbeat. Stick Floyd in the 2 hole maybe even. The guy is a good hitter and gets on base as well as has some pop when healthy. The Sox could rotate between him and Everett, although defensively, I'm a little miffed. Also, if the Pirates don't like that prospect (anyone got a link) that the Sox were offering, then it sure as hell wasn't Ryan Sweeney. Another question is, why are the Mets going for Benson. Are they playing for this year, or do they want to add him and hope to sign him now? If they are playing for this year, I can't see how unloading one of their better bats in Floyd makes sense.

On espn.com they say Floyd makes 6.5 mill this year, what is the status of his contract for next year?

I should add, Floyd is a good offensive player. He has good power, a decent eye, and when healthy can mash. I don't know if Shea is considered a hitters park or not, but he would be a welcome addition to the offense. Just not for Ryan Sweeney, give em Arnie Munoz, although even him, I would be tough parting with because he is so young as well.

.277 vs's righties now. He's really came on over the year against RHP, althoug his OBP vs righties is still low. He's done a very good job going to opposite field against them, imo.

Turning into a right handed version of Trot Nixon

What the hell. Sweeney for a 32 year old who is prone to major injuries and has a big time contract. Gimme a freaking break, the Mets would unload his contract for nothing. This would piss the hell out of me. You don't give up a guy thats 19 and ripping A ball. The past 3 weeks the guy is hitting around .360 or so. His power is going to develop. This guy was in high school 14 months ago, like oldsocks pointed out, and has as high of upside as anyone in the minors (not just in the Sox system) offensively. The guy can be dealt, but for Cliff Floyd, HELL NO.

He'll be giving up hitting probably at the end of the year from what I've been told. This is just something he wants to do and for the time being the organizatoin is going to let him. Of course if he is really raking the ball and pitching awesome, I'm guessing he'll be allowed to continue both.

Good stuff. Whisler has hit well two straight games and Diaz, along with Stewart have been on absolute roles.

Consider Kenny Lofton another option. Yanks have him on the block and he's played in Chicago. I know Sox fans didn't think too highly of him, but he's been a great addition the past few years around the trade deadline. Yanks would probably do it for a not to big of prospect. Question is whether he stays healthy, but he has good numbers this year. .296 AVG, .365 OBP

Lets see Carl get the job done here. Carlos did his job and earlier in the game Willie did his thing for small ball. You can see the Sox must of gotten a lashing. Hopefully it pays off. Come on Carl, get the run home.

Another thing to note: Add someone like Hairston, Roberts (Brian or Dave), or Randy Wynn and now Uribe and Timo are on the bench. This will make this team a lot better. I have this same reasoning to why I would like to see the Sox add a starter like Tony Armas, moving Scho to the bullpen, thus really improving the pen.

List Randy Wynn as another option I'd really like. He can play CF, gets on base at a good clip and is a good baserunner. He is also signed another year I think. Seattle is obviously selling and you could acquire him and maybe Hasagewa (i know he's struggled this year) for probably not too much, maybe Arnie Munoz or maybe a package including Stewart or Grilli and a lower level guy. Wynn struggled early in the year and the M's will move him so Reed has a spot. .282 AVG, .352 OBP, 5 HR, 42 RBI, 13 SB 6 CS Only negative about Wynn is that he strikes out a good amount, although this seasons totals are lower then previous years. He stole 27 bases (8 CS) two years ago, and 23 (5 CS) last year. That is a pretty good %.

I'm going to start a little bandwagon and its called the keep willie at 2nd base bandwagon. First off, Willie Harris has tremendous speed. I think Ozzie, Santana and Cora should all take a more agressive approach with his speed, ala all the running he did when he reached base early in tonights Tigers game. For those that knock Willie offensively, all I want to say is he has a .354 OBP. Thats right at the major league average for a leadoff hitter and to me is pretty impressive for a guy without much major league experience. Aside from that, minus his one major slump, he has hti for a decent average. He also does what all very good and protypical leadoff hitters are asked to do and thats see a lot of pitches. Every game he works the counts deep and does whatever it takes to get on. He's a good bunter and on top of all of this, plays good defense. He has good range in the infield and an accurate arm. Willie should not be what the Sox replace. The Sox should bring in a bat in RF, not even a protypical RF bat, that can reach base and hit with Willie, either #1 or #2 and provide from there. Heck, if the Sox aren't super confident with Willie, move him to the 9 hole, and then have Rowand in the 2 hole with whoever the Sox get hitting in the leadoff spot (whether Hairston, Roberts, or someone else). That gives you after the 1st inning, 3 speedy guys that can manufacture and execute. Frankly a 1-2 with Harris and another fast guy puts pressure on the defenses and should reach base. Their is nothing to be mad about when it comes to Willie. He is reaching base and thats what you ask for out of a leadoff guy. However, the Sox need to be more agressive with him, maybe a guy like Hairston could teach him a thing or two as well. Its not like the Sox need to acquire a power bat, they need another bat that can get on base, even if that person plays RF, a typical power spot. Uribe should be relegated to the bench. He doesn't do what Willie does when it comes to seeing pitches, reaching base, etc. Nor does he have Willie's speed. I like Juan and all, but this team doesn't need him, it needs Willie and another guy atop the lineup. The Sox could also add a CF and move Rowand to RF. This CF could be a typical leadoff guy. One guy I will put out their is Dave Roberts. He may very well be on the block, although the Dodgers wouldn't likely make a deal with Roberts unless thy get a bat as well. He hasn't been hitting great as of late, but if he is healthy (pending a physical of course) he'd be a great addition and provide some speed and real smarts that would be great with Willie at the top of the lineup. And to think what a guy like that could teach Willie is just awesome.

To me the biggest thing of not having Maggs and Frank is what this team now does. If they had the two, they wouldn't of added Carl Everett. Instead they woudl of had the chips to add that big name starter, possibly Randy Johnson, and with an offense already in check to be very good, their wouldn't of been too many questionmarks. Now they are stretched out more thin and you have to wonder whether tis worth dealing everything to get someone like Johnson or not. Personally I think the team should try and get a starter, but not one thats talked about as much, someone like Tony Armas Jr.

No, he's been compared to that, but his command is nowhere near that, nor is his stuff as good as Buehrle. Mark may not have amazing stuff, but he has excellent command of all his pitches and has a great idea how to pitch. Stewart is nowhere near at that level, although he has some decent pitches. His command just isn't all that good, at least not as good as it needs to be for a finesse pitcher.

Problem is the Pads wouldn't. Pads want to add pieces, not give away their top young talent. They are probably the frontrunnres for the Wildcard in the NL and their is no way they will give up Burroughs, who is a very good 3rd baseman and will only get better.

Loaiza sucks becuase he is balless this year. He continues to go out after the Sox score some runs and he just gives the runs right back as the opponents score more, erasing what the Sox just did.

Ya, saw him play a few weeks ago. The guy has as bright of a future as anyone in the system, minus Sweeney and Anderson. Talent wise he has everything but the strong arm, although his arm is accurate. I'd probably compare his arm to Johnny Damon, who also has a subpar major league arm. Offensively, I know Cerb compares him to Mike Cameron. A guy who may not hit for a very high average, but will go get balls in CF, and while he strikes out, will also draw his fair share of walks. Personally I think he should be capable of hitting for a better average and better power. I'm incredibly high on Young and wouldn't deal him too easily. He's an incredible athlete and while he's 21 now, he had a setback because he broke his leg when entering the organization or something along those lines. He played his high school ball for a pretty prolific high school if I remember and was also a good high school football player (receiver).

Ya, I'm implying that: 1. No team will put a claim on Kendall, because I don't think anyone wants to eat his contract. 2. If a team did put on a claim, then the Pirates would not pull him back and would make the team eat the contract. Because of reason #2, a team like the Twins or any other smaller market team, wouldn't claim Kendall to prevent him from going to the Sox (not that I'm saying the Sox are going after him) because I think they know, if they put on the claim, they are now on the hook for his contract. I think another guy that this will happen to is Jose Contreras of the Yanks. Don't expect him to stay in New York and I could see it as a very realistic option that he will be in Chicago. Call it a gut feeling or whatever, but I could see something go down where they get Munoz or something decent for Contreras and pick up some of his contract.

Well, I'm going to write a quick post talking about some players that could be available in a trade and that could have some value still. This should help when talking about trades and what not, since the deadline is coming up and maybe some names get mentioned. Their are the untouchables: Anderson Sweeney McCarthy - To me these 3 can't be dealt unless a team is giving up a top line player that will be in Chicago for more then this year. The next guys have good value and could be had, although doesn't necessarily mean they should be dealt: - Arnie Munoz, LHP - Felix Diaz, RHP - Joe Borchard, OF The next list consists of lower level talent that will have some value, but obviously their value hasn't peaked and typically with lower level talent, you have to give up a little extra to get something valuable in return. I think the Sox have a lot of players that could turn into valuable pieces, both in trade and in terms of potential of helping the Sox at the major league level in the next few years. - Mike Spidale, OF - Chris Young, OF - Thomas Brice, OF - Andy Gonzalez, IF - Pedro Lopez, IF - Robert Valido, IF - Micah Schnurstein, IF - Casey Rogowski, IF Next is a group of players in Charlotte that could be had and could have some value. They may not make it in the majors, but all these guys have a shot, and could interest a team or two, but not for a stud player: - Jason Grilli, RHP - Josh Stewart, RHP - Dave Sanders, LHP - Wilson Valdez, SS - Bryant Nelson, 2B - Ryan Hankins, C It will be interesting to see what happens. My preference is to use one or two of the veteran Charlotte guys, like Stewart, Grilli, Sanders and package them with one or two lower to mid level guys (maybe a Ruddy Yan type player) and try to go that way. I'd try to keep that lower level group around, on the most part, because those guys should have much higher trade value at a latter point and plenty also have the talent and ability to help the Sox at the major league level. You also have a lot of younger pitchers that could be available, but I'm not one to deal anymore mionr league pitching. The Sox are thin in that regards already and the group of Ryan Rodriguez, BMAC, Sean Tracey, Lumsden, Whisler, Brian Miller, Daniel Haigwood, Rafael Flores, Gio Gonzalez should be capable of producing some serious major league talent/potential, imo. I'm sure I forgot some names. Plus Wing and Honel on the DL, but both are talented. I'm not as high on Honel as many, but I'm very high on Wing, and if both of them get heatlhy, that definately gives the Sox some legitimate pitching prospects.