Chisoxfn

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 06:37 PM) The Sox desperately need some of these young guys to turn into above average players. Sadly, we all know how awful the organization has been for over a decade in developing offensive players. Outside of Beckham (and to a lesser extent Viciedo) the Sox really haven't had any legit offensive prospects in a while. Anderson was more of a defensive guy with a solid bat (and potential but not what I'd call a developed hitter...albeit his minor league numbers were good). In fact, it really has been a long time since we've had a good core of what I'd call difference making prospects. I'd still say we are away from that (unless Hawkins, Thompson, Barnum, etc take a lot of steps forward...however at least I can say we have some guys with the "tools" to be excited about), It truly is pathetic how s***ty the org has been at drafting and developing positional talent.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 06:27 PM) Are there people really saying no to Robbie Cano? Are we just going to be forever afraid of top free agents? I know everyone wants to rebuild but if they grab Cano I believe they become instant contenders. I love Cano but it will be hard for the White Sox to win if they go out and sign guys to mega deals. They just won't maintain the type of payroll it takes to be able to cover up for those guys when the contracts are no longer playable. The Sox best case is using their money on younger players (who they acquired during the pre-arb years) and on quality veterans on more short-term deals, imo. Its unfortunate that the Sox couldn't just go on a draft and international signing spending spree. Hell, I'd love it if we just said f*** it next year and took the penalty on the international front and just dropped a s***-ton of money.

I expect the Sox to be embroiled in a good number of rumors between now and the end of September. I also wonder if at any point they'd consider letting Ramirez, Rios or Dunn go for absolutely nothing other then salary relief. The other question is, will any of these guys clear waivers because of their contract (if you'd believe the rumors, you'd maybe think Rios and Dunn would go through) which would at that point, allow you to freely trade these guys and send cash (could be important depending on what happens from an injury perspective, etc). If it were me, I'd keep Ramirez and only trade him for value. Dunn and Rios I'd let go purely for the salary relief and hope the Sox could better use their payroll on other assets.

The White SOx havne't had this good of a position prospect in years (at least not when it comes to the "hit" tool and I for one am really excited to see Garcia with the Sox and for the first time in a long time, I expect this guy to make an all star game or two with the White Sox. Yes, I've dranken the Garcia cool aid. Of course, I'll temper that by saying the only other guy in the past 5-7 years with this type of hit tool in our organization was Beckham and well he's had his issues after that rookie year. He was such a good pure hitter that first year with us and I look at Garcia in a similar fashion. He can hit the ball to all fields and the power will come. He does have some areas to improve related to his overall patience and approach but I think that will improve with time. This is a really talented kid and in my opinion I'd take him over pretty much any of the other top prospect names we heard the past couple days (I say pretty much...not necessarily all).

I fully expect there to be some rumors related to Ramirez and Rios during the waiver process and as a result of such I'm going to leave trade winds open. I fully expect the Sox will make another deal during the waiver period (it might just be Lindstrom) but I expect another move.

Albert Pujols or Josh Hamilton (with the Angels sending a hundred million bucks our way, haha).

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 12:58 PM) We're going to have a buttload of money for next year I still see a lot of what is saved not being reinvested back in the club. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see the team adding another 20-30M in payroll this off-season. I see them maybe adding 10M in payroll which isn't all that significant. IF they unloaded Rios and Ramirez, then I could see the club dropping 20-25M in the off-season (potentially). However, I could see the team target some young players who will be due bigger contracts sooner and land those players and then extend them.

Seeing what the Angels were able to get for Callaspo, I'm relatively dissapointed we haven't been able to capitalize on a Ramirez deal.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 12:53 PM) The Sox have eaten some money recently with a couple players. If the reports are accurate they won't eat any money for Rios, it would indicate to me they aren't being offered any worthwhile prospect or prospects at all in order to do so. In which case I have zero problem holding onto him. At some point a team will be in need of a RF (either in the off-season or at the next deadline) and at that point, with less cash owed, this team should potentially be able to get a good asset for him. The downside is we know Rios can be streaky and if he didn't show, you'd then be stuck eating all 18M for a relatively unproductive player (probably part of why teams are unwilling to take on his contract). Still, I'd like the Sox to pair down the payroll and free up cash to add assets. Despite these few trades, the system is still pretty barren and we are going to have a tough time rebuilding if the team doesn't have ample cash to use to add talent (this includes veteran FA's).

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 12:53 PM) God I hope not I don't know if Vicedo's bat profiles enough at this point to stick in one of those positions. The good news is he has improved significantly year over year against right handed pitching and I tend to think his performance against lefties is a little fluky. Ultimately we've seen him take quite a few steps forward and that is a positive sign. We know the tools are there and this is just his 2nd full year. It would seem to be that he is potentially in line for a big step forward in 2014.

If you are willing to keep him only to deal him at the next deadline, you are going to spend quite a significant chunk of money and tie-up a roster spot which could be filled by Garcia or Thompson (Trayce is raw but I'd think in a rebuilding year the plan would be for him to be on the big squad starting as early as next season). Seems to me in that case, you might be behooved to kick some salary to the team acquiring Rios to speed the process up (and ensure you get some prospects back now...who can help kick start the rebuilding process a little sooner).

Heard a Pirates beat reporter on the radio today who said the Pirates are not looking at Rios anymore and are focused on Schierholtz.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 09:24 PM) In theory: with the money they saved with the Peavy deal, the Sox can now eat money in a Rios, and Ramirez, trade right? I sure as s*** would hope that was the plan.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 08:58 PM) So we got another Soptic. I like it. Our org has a good track record at developing pitching. I'd rather we get raw arms then raw bats by and large. We have better odds at converting the raw arms, imo.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 08:40 PM) Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 1m Cleuluis Rondon: Really smooth defensive shortstop. As for his bat, well . . . he's a really good defensive shortstop. Expand I like it. Nice tools and he has some offensive upside...none of it has really shown up as of yet though.

Thrilled with Garcia. Guy has a great hit tool and that is something the Sox are severely lacking. Plus he's got solid speed and solid defensive skills. I think the power will come and he's been raking in AAA. Really really pleased with him being the top guy (I liked him more then a lot of the other offensive names thrown around as the top guy in a package). Interested in seeing who the other 3 guys coming are. My assumption is we will get a few pretty high-upside raw guys and I'm very exstatic about that. Boston has a great farm system and some really nice young players who the Sox could grab (and hopefully develop). If we are getting s*** back, then my opinion might change, however, I really like Garcia. I almost crapped myself when I first read Garcia and MIddlebrooks...that would have been incredible.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 03:54 PM) That's what surprises me. How he can go from somebody pushing a .400 before ASG last year to now...don't get it unless it's some sort of injury. Well last year I thought it was his wrist. He got the wrist fixed but it seemed like the back was bugging him. Again, that could just be the nature of being old or he could have been trying to play through things and finally just said, hey I need to shut it down. I don't know the answer but Paulie was consistently good for a long time (quite a number of consecutive 800+ OPS seasons leading up to this year (and a good amount of .900 + OPS seasons as well).

You wonder if the back was bothering him a while prior to the injury and if that was impacting his numbers? No idea..he's old so he might just be done but If I were a contender i'd try to get Paulie. If I were the Sox, I wouldn't care what I got back, the point would be to do whatever made Paulie happy (imo).

QUOTE (GoGoSox2k2 @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 01:23 PM) I think Arizona is the destination. Heres to hoping Owings and Davidson are heading our way I'd be ok if they wanted to sell low on Kubel and Kennedy (if that was what it took to get a nice haul of prospects). I don't think that will be the case, but i'd be fine with it. Would also make it much easier to move Dunn.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 10:35 AM) But that was a little more specific. If money were no object, the Sox could trade Rios to just about any team. But apparently it is a huge object, and he really doesn't define close. He throws out it may not happen which indicates to me there is a pretty big divide as far as the money is concerned. I do know Rios has been far from JR's favorite, so he may be willing to eat a lot of cash to see him somewhere else. I don't think he endeared himself to the organzation with his take on his benching. I think its a matter of how much cash for the right prospect(s). You move Peavy and I think JR has an easier time sending some additional cash and the Pirates probably give us a decent return if we send over some cash (a few mill).

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 10:34 AM) Yes interesting. I think the opposite. If the Sox move Peavy, it gives them more flexibility to send additional cash to move Rios (IMO) and potentially the same to move Dunn for a potentially attractive piece. I think if Peavy and Rios go today, we are in a good position to potentially move Alexei, Dunn, and obviously Lindstrom tomorrow! IF we hit on the Peavy and Rios trades, I'll be a happy camper.

QUOTE (Sockin @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 10:21 AM) Kaplan says Sox and Pirates are close on a Rios deal. https://twitter.com/thekapman/status/362261208809734146 in my Mr. Burns voice..."exxxcellent"

1 top 50 guy along with 3 to 4 other prospects (who would all be good prospects, I presume) is fine with me. I'd consider that a pretty good value for Peavy.

AJ with a huge 9th inning homer against the Angels. He loves delivering against the Angels!

Liriano has been really good this year for the Pirates!