Chisoxfn

Well if anyone thinks their is any truth to it, maybe Reinsdorf is on his way out as owner and Einhorn is really taking over (I know Michelle and Steff mentioned Einhorn being more involved) maybe he'll really get more involved. All I'm saying is they add 10 million this year, but lose Lee's 4.5 or so making it only a 5.5 mill addition and could easily make that back in playoff games (Or I'm assuming they could). Plus think of all the extra season tickets that get sold. If the Sox go deep and show commitment to winning, I could see a season ticket base of 30,000 or so, which ensures avg attendance around 35,000. THINK OF THAT ONE JR

No way the Pirates make that deal. Rauch, Harris, Bullpen pitching prospect (maybe Dan Wright), and a top 5 prospect. For Kendall and Giles, I'd make that deal. EDIT: I'm assuming they won't want Carlos. I'd still make that deal. Then the Sox unload Lee for a reliever or starter (if they can get Ponson great). I think the Pirates would take Lee though. Still young and productive. He can semi fill in for Giles.

Ponson is an ace on some teams, a #2 on others. He'd be the #4 of this staff, but the rotation the Sox would have would be absolutely awesome. In a dream scenario Ponson, GIles and Kendal would be coming over. Then in the offseason you try to move Kendall and let Colon walk. Ponson replaces Colon, Olivo back into the starting lineup. Get Kendall for 4-5 mill a year (Pirates paying the rest; they still save 20 mill over the long haul). I think Kendall is marketable at 4-5 mill a year.

Do whatever it takes to get JR to sign off on this deal. I mean anything. KW - get hire a marketing guy (a real one) to tell him all the money he'd make if he made this deal and the Sox won the series. Can you say sold out US Cellular for the next few years. Look what the series did for the Angels.

i don't know about kip, as much as i like him, he may take a spot for one our prospect coming up. you make one trade and not lose too much prospect, then you have a surplus for another poss trade. how do you think this will affect the clubhouse? Only heard great things about Giles and I've never heard anything bad about Kendall. Was supposed to be a good guy and a hard worker. SI is the resident Pirate expert, so we'll see what he thinks. Pirates won't give up Kip, he's cheap for the time being.

The whole reason why the Pirates team is available is because they are losing money. Don't look for Pittsburgh to deal anyone they'd have to pay the salary of anyway. I think that they will have to pay salary for Kendall, at least to the point where the Sox pay Kendall like 4-5 mill a year. Still, thats a good deal for what he can do and the Pirates are happy cause you take on a ton of salary and give them Lee who they can either keep long term or move to someone like the Dodgers for more prospects. Rauch is a solid pitching prospect who is ready for the show. If they ask for anyone else give them Yan back, but don't give them anymore pitching unless its a marginal guy.

Well, I think we know the deal I'd pull of if I were GM. The key is convincing JR to add payroll. I'd find some really hot twins for him and see if that makes him more lose with the pockets. Come on Kenny, be on the same wavelength as me. Kendall and Giles for Lee and Rauch and a PTBNL. Pirates pay most of Kendalls salary, Sox take on Giles entire salary. New Lineup Alomar (S) Kendall ® Thomas ® Ordonez ® Giles (L) Konerko ® Everett (S) Crede ® Jose (S) Bench Graffy ® Daubbie (L) Harris (L) Rowand ® Alomar ® Minors Olivo Damn I'm drooling over this one

I was just talking to Mario and he mentioned that the Pirates are willing to unload Giles for not too much if a team is willing to take on Jason Kendall. Think, the Sox could take on Kendall and send Olivo to AAA. The key is the Sox get Giles to play center and wouldn't have to give up much. I'm sure the Pirates would have to pay a lot of the salaries though, but taking on Kendall means they could do it for less. Kendall is hitting .308 and could definately hit in the 2 hole. He has a .386 OBP Acquiring those two would give the Sox all the bats they need. And the rotatoin is there, although acquiring Ponson or an additional reliever would be great. The best part about this deal is its a long term thing. I'd freaking hug JR if he were willing to add the payroll.

That would be highway robbery if we get pull out the Giles trade you just suggested... But i doubt that will happen..there's gonna be another team outthere who can probably offer up better players.. IT wouldn't be all that bad if the Sox gave them Lee and Rauch. Rauch may develop but I don't see it happening with the Sox, especially with Honel, Wing, Cotts, Pacheco and Rupe their. Of course this trade is easier to make if the Sox only lose one arm in the Everett deal. The Pirates get a potential solid starter and a solid outfielder that is younger then Giles. Sox get a stud outfielder that will be an all star and is signed for the next couple years. Pirates also have Jeff Suppan on the block and I think you could even pry him if the Sox wanted an additional starter. I know HSC wanted the Sox to sign Suppan in the offseason. This is all assuming that the Pirates pay Lee's salary and the Sox pay all of Giles and Suppan's salary. I'd do the trade even if Suppan wasn't a part of it. But KW better not make the deal if its only Suppan Giles is signed for a few more years at like 6 or 8 mill a season. This season he's hitting .301 with 10 hr's and 48 RBI. He has a .438 OBP. This season he's struck out 34 times while walking 61. That would be an awesome addition to the lineup.

Talk is the Braves are going to acquire Kris Benson for Jason Marquis and Wilson Betemeit. I think that would be too much for Benson. Benson has too much of a history with injuries.

24 and hitting .280. I wouldn't complain about that. Especially since they had Lenny Freaking Harris playing 3rd. Lofton is also a huge upgrade over Goodwin. I will give the Cubs credit; Hendry made what looks to be an exceptional deal. If those guys blow up, so what, they tried and at the time the deal was made it definately made sense.

I think picking up Giles would be really nice if all the Pirates are doing is looking to dump salary. Sox could move Lee and a prospect to them and the Sox can use Everett in left with Giles in center. If that offense can't produce then who knows. I'd hit Everett in the 2 hole and Giles in the 5 hole behind Maggs with Konerko in the 6 hole, Jose in the 7, Crede in the 8 and Olivo/Alomar in the 9 hole. Then if the Sox want they can use one of their bench bats not named Graffy to acquire a reliever.

All I will say is if Kobe did it, then he can rot in hell (aka Prison). I"d never root for him.

Bruback is solid if I recall. Great move by the Cubs, especially since I don't think Cruz would be a PTBNL.

I'd love to see what Williams could do if he had a decent size payroll. I really think the Sox could have a fantastic team. Oh ya, Yanks payroll is 180 million. For cripes sake that is freaking ridiculous. They are like two small market teams more then the New York Mets (2nd Highest). This is absolutely ridiculous. Its unfair for fans of every other team. Somehow they need to get a cap when the next bargaining agreement comes up.

Thats great news.

I gotcha on that Rex. I definately think that deal was more luck. I think the Sox probably saw a guy that had a good arm and figured to take a shot on him. Turns out the coaches and him have figured something out and now he's becoming a legit prospect. If the guy was supposed to be that good, their is no way the Sox could of got him for Alomar Jr. I think everyone finds a diamond in the rough every once in a while. The key is to have the scouts to find them, and the coaches to develop them.

I thought, when he makes a good trade, someone else is doing the trading, but when he makes a bad trade then its him in charge We all know where I stand as I'm one of the few that pretty much backs KW

This is a huge step forward. The people in Iraq will not fully trust the Americans until they know that there is no way that Saddam or his sons will be back. I think one of the biggest things is they fear that the US will just walk out and that Saddam will be back in power eventually.

I agree. I definately think Dunn should be moving to AAA pretty quick. He's been in AA for a while now. Meaux is just up there so I'd guess he would finish the season there. I could also see someone like pacheco or Cotts get promoted if Diaz is one of the guys dealt and Pacheco isn't dealt. If you see Pacheco and Diaz get dealt. I'd think that Cotts would move up to AAA with Honel moving up to AA and potentially Heath Phillips or Frankie Fransisco (IF not traded) moving up as well.

Well getting Wunsch back will be huge cause i trust him and in all honesty I still trust Koch. If somehow he got fixed, then we'd have 4 guys I trust. White is really coming around so you could even argue 5. Still until they prove it, right now we got 2 guys that I trust.

Or of course playoff games

I think right now if I were the Sox I'd be talking to him about a 3 yr 18 mill deal with option years and incentivies that could push the package to like 3 yr 25 mill. Even throw in an incentive that if he wins the Cy Young he gets like a 3 mill bonus (meaning you pay him 9 mill that year). I love deals with incentives cause it means if the guy plays good, he gets paid fairly and if he play like crap he gets paid less and at a more fair rate. I'd also give Buehrle his contract around 5 mill over 5 years guaranteed (total of 25 mill) with incentives that could push it around 30-35 Mill. Then if Loaiza keeps pitching, talk to him about a 3 year deal. Unless a pitcher is really young, I don't think its wise giving big long term deals to starting pitchers. I do agree a rotation of Colon, Buehrle, Loiaza, Garland and insert #5 here would be damn good. Flip Flop Colon/Loiaza but always have Buehrle in between. In the 5 hole I'd love it if Cotts were ready or if Wright could dominate.

Damn I got close.

Wolves get Sprewell for Terrell Brandon Van Horn is sent to the Knicks 76ers get Big Dog Hawks get Brandon 76ers GM says the deal is almost official. This is a great move by the TWolves as long as Sprewell has a good attitude. They add Cassel, Olowakandi and Sprewell to go with Wally and Garnett. I know everyone talks about the Lakers amazing offseason and how they got two hall of famers and Brian Cook, but in my opinion the Twolves are having as good of one if not a better one. They are my sleeper pick to win it all this year.