Chisoxfn

I hear the Padres are really excited about their young pitchers. I am not sure if Lawrence fits into their future plans and I know Tomko doesn't. It will be interesting to see what Kevin Towers does. They have a great farm system and will be a much better team next year when they move into their new stadium(Not this upcoming season, but the next.)

I tend to agree with you. I've raved about Palmer since the start of the season an even mentioned him last season. The thing is, I love Mcgahee and if we could get Mcgahee and then Banks with our 2nd rounder, then we'd be doing really good too.

The problem is, with Manuel, you never know what he's thinking. IF that was the case, then he should say that. He's always making comments that could really confuse players. I sure hope he's more obvious when he talks to his players.

I don't mind Armas Jr. one bit. Still, to me that doesn't help. I'd just as well have Rauch start because he's more talented and imo just as proven as Armas Jr. The Sox need someone proven, whether its Byrd, Vazquez, Colon, Lawrence, Ponson or other.

I couldn't even imagine signing or acquiring someone like Vlad, man that would be amazing. It would be like acquiring a Pedro Martinez.

Well, if he signs a one year deal, then next year he'll become a restricted free agent where other teams can make offers, but if the Rams make a tender offer to him then it could cost the Bears as much as a 1st and 3rd rounder plus whatever we decide to pay him. Then again, they could forget to check the Box next year

They are expected to make the official announcement of how much money they will need to cut just before the Winter Break. Odds are, tons of teams are going to be making offers and the Sox may just be best off trying to find a bargain in the free agent pile while other teams drive the price of Vazquez, Colon and Vidro up.

All I know is i don't even want to think about Liefer as our everyday left fielder. Hollandsworth...sure, but not Liefer. He's way over-rated by most Sox fans. I liked what I saw out of him two years ago, but he has a long swing and just doesn't look like anything special to me.

I like him quite a bit. I haven't seen him near as much as I've seen Palmer and Banks. I like Ragone a ton too. In all honesty, the guys I like the most are Banks, Palmer and Ragone, but I hear so much great things about Leftwich that its hard to turn him down. I saw him once last year and he was very impressive, but i plan on watching his bowl game and then watching the senior bowls and all the other postseason games.

Well he's an exclusive right free agent or something, so all the Rams have to do is basically offer him the minimum and we know thats going to happen.

Its just been reported that his season has come to an end. Prelimanary MRI reports show that he has a slight tear of his MCL as well as a hyperextended knee. Jauron has said that Chandler will start next week and they will use Burris very similar to the way they used him last week. Please don't let Jauron be here when the Bears are trying to groom their future qb(The guy we draft this year)

Don't worry LDF, I've felt that way since last season. I've heard he's really out of it down in Winter Ball. Personally I think Joe needs pretty much another full season. He could come up late, but we'd only be hurting him calling him up any sooner.

I think dealing Lee is out of the question, because the Expos can't take his salary. If we are dealing Lee, then I'd pretty much say Lee straight up for Vazquez and see what they'd say. Otherwise, add Ginter. Still, I don't want to deal Lee. I think he'll be an integral part of this offense and with all the young hitters we will have, we need to have great hitting vets like PK, Maggs, Frank, and Lee in the middle of the order. You can't expect a thing from Crede, Jimenez, Olivo, Rowand, etc. I think they will do well, but they've done nothing to say you can count on it.

I like the tree they get

Bulger is great, but it would cost a #1 pick. The rams are the only team that can negotiate with him and right now, I Think they are probably thinking they'd rather deal Warner.

I think Mac brings up a great point. If you go around and look at most pathetic teams in the history of the majors you don't see many 17 game winners for bad teams that are a fluke. Typically if your a fluke pitcher, your gonna do it for a really good team with a great offense. Tapani had that fluke year with the Cubs(He's good, but not that good). JB had a fluke year with the Sox a couple year ago, imo. You don't have a fluke year when you win 17 for as bad of a team as the Royals. Can anyone look up all the 17 game winners for teams with a winning pct of like .450 or less. I'm guessing not many on that list are bums.

Ya it would of. I think the Sox will really make him happy signing him a year early. He'll end up making more, but having your ace happy is more then worth it, especially when they give you a discount later on. And if Buerhle keeps pitching the way he does, he will end up making a ton if they go to arbitration.

I am of the belief you can never have too many starting pitchers. First off, your pitchers always get hurt, and secondly, every team in baseball is always looking for another pitcher, so if you end up needing a centerfielder because Rowand isn't cutting it or anything else, then you could always move the extra pitchers. If you have an extra infielder, you never know, not as many teams consider that a key piece to the puzzle.

I think it all depends on price. If the Expos are willing to do it for Willie Harris and one of our 2nd tier pitching prospects(Maybe even Josh Stewart), then I'd definately do it. If it were to cost us Jon Rauch, then I'd think long and hard about it. Especially considering we could sign Byrd and keep Rauch. If it costs us Rauch then you have to ask what will be better. A rotation of Buerhle Vazquez Garland Wright Ritchie or Buerhle Byrd Garland Wright Ritchie Eventually Rauch

I could live with that, as a backup plan, but its an expensive backup plan. I think our bullpen is really strong right now. The only question is Rocky Biddle, and I don't really consider him a questionmark cause the Sox seem to like him.

First off let me say this, if Manuel does any bullpen by committe crap, then KW should fire him on the spot. Koch is our guy, just like Foulke should of been last year. I like Osuna, Marte, and Glover a ton, but they are set up men, nuff said. As far as the Sox go, they will lock Buerhle and Koch up by spring training. I also wouldn't be shocked to see them work something out with someone like Garland during the season. On a sidenote, I think it was a good thing that Buerhle didn't comment on the extension, to me that means talks have started.

I wouldn't give up anything special for Tomko, I know that. This is a guy that never lived up to his hype, but he looked real good for the Pads. If we picked him up, I'd want him to replace Ritchie, and then the Sox pick up someone else for the middle of the rotation.

Byrd isn't a fluke, but Vazquez is young and has amazing stuff. This guy is going to be an ace and he's got the possibilty to become a cy young award winner. Byrd is a good pitcher, but not a great one. Still, he'd be an amazing pickup for the Sox. 6 mill is a lot for the Sox to spend either way. I'm just saying if we could get Vazquez it would be huge. Big thing is, Vazquez is a hard thrower, and it would be nice having a hard thrower since Garland, Buerhle and Ritchie don't really rely on the whiff. I can't wait to see Rauch produce, he's my pick for rookie of the year, but hopefully he'll be competing with Joe Crede

At 3 mill a year, Tomko should come cheap as he's simply a salary dump by the Padres. If the Sox are smart they offer them pretty much Ginter to save the Pads some salary so they can make a so called push at Maddux.

QB, RB, CB, Safetey, Dline, WR Those are the Bears needs, imo. I think they should look for a wide-reciever via free agency, draft a qb, draft a fast rb(I want McGahee damn it), then get a corner as well as safety(One Via Draft, one Via Free Agency, ie Veteran). I also think they need to pick up a reciever via the draft as well as in free agency. As far as the Dline goes, they could use a future dt, just look for someone that has some upside and is a project type. I'm pretty happy with the oline, we have a lot of bodies and when health yit should be pretty good and pretty deep. Imo, Thomas isn't the answer at running back, I like Peterson though. We all know we need a qb(I want one of these 4, I'm happy with all of them: Leftwich, Ragone, Palmer, Banks) I think Mcgahee is the best back to enter the draft in years(If he enters it). Of course if their was a Charles Woodson or Champ Bailey available I'd snag him and hope Ragone or Banks falls to u in round 2, if they don't move up.