GreenSox

I don't know why the Pirates gave one to Liriano.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 3, 2014 -> 10:24 AM) IMO, its going to take this off season, the 2016 trade deadline and next off season to build a contender. Just too many holes. The Sox are not the Yanks, BoSox or Dodgers that go out and buy multiple FA's to fill in holes. If this were the case, JR could turn this into a contender by signing VMart or LaRoche to DH, Ramirez or Headley to play 3B , Rasmus or Melky to play LF, BMac to be a starter (if he could stay healthy) as well as sign a few bullpen arms. But that's not JR and in fact I'd be shocked if the Sox signed any two of those guys. I'm just hoping the Sox gain another 10 games in the win column in 2015 and anything more than that is a bonus. Just keep improving. As for Moncada, if I have to explain to you that he's an investment in the LONG term future then the discussion is already over because there's a huge difference between the reasons you sign players like VMart and Moncada. I agree with most of this. A couple of things though - if the Sox put together a team that figures to win 83ish, it could win 86 and in this division, that might be enough. But in 2016, not only will the Sox be poised to win, it will be for a much longer window than 1-2 years - something that, with good drafting, can stay going for a long time. And the Sox won't be saddled with any albatross contracts either. I also think that more aggressive moves aren't worth the risk (nor the prospects) at this time. But for 2015, they really need to add a LF, another hitter, a mid-level starter and a bullpen pitcher. They may be able to get some of it by trade.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Nov 3, 2014 -> 12:50 PM) I'll throw out one from left field. The Sox acquire Jeff Samardjiza from Oakland for prospects. Sale and Samardjiza would be a sick 1-2 and if the Sox can sign him to an extension, even better. If the Sox aren't good and he won't sign an extension then deal him in July. He landed the Cubs Addison Russell and could be a great trade chip for the Sox too if they felt that was the route to go. No rents if the cost is legitimate prospects. Sign him next year if we want him. As for a trade chit, we will have to give up prospects to get him, so that, at best, washes out. Last time we did a deal with Oakland and then flipped a short time later, well, it was ugly.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:10 PM) So your starting rotation is the 2 solid lefties, Noesi, Danks, and Bassitt, and you're telling me you think you have a competitive roster? Because I don't. If you're going to sign Martinez for a huge price, you better go into the season with a rotation that can win the division, because signing Martinez and going with a rotation like that sounds like wasting Martinez's probably best remaining season to me. He would be great to have, but the Sox will get more bang for the buck by spreading the money around and filling holes, of which there are many. To pay him that kind of money and then have Viciedo in left, Danks in the rotation and Lindstrom and/or Belisario members of this bullpen, is hard to justify. RE the sniping on the Sox prospects I read hereon, prospects are a currency. The Sox abject lack of prospects (caused by poor scouting but also by the Sox under-valuing them) put us in this mess. As it is Anderson is raking and errors are no way to judge defense anyway and is a top 100 prospect. Re Bruce, even at his high end (which he may never ever reach again)he is extremely high K and mediocre OBP. Sox are building an organization and an annual contender. Not every move will be made for next year (thankfully).

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) His "declining veteran numbers" are still leagues better than the Sox production at the position over the previous 2 seasons. Based on fangraphs estimated value and his contract, if AZ sends along half his salary, it is a very worthwhile upgrade over the Sox current AAAA catcher "logjam" Flowers is handling the position defensively. Montero would be an incremental upgrade, and we'd still be lousy offensively at catcher. And of course, I 'm sure people want to send a good prospect along for this marginal upgrade. Why the love of high priced declining veterans? Because they are obtainable? Of course they are obtainable. Danks is one of those - he's obtainable. But would you want your team trading for John Danks?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 12:32 PM) I'd say so yeah. You're counting on the money from Alexei to be freed up to make that ok, so we're playing a rookie at the back of the lineup and downgrading from the veteran who's had that position for years? Just because a rookie takes a spot doesn't mean you are rebuilding. Teams need an infusion of youth. The timing looks like it will be about right The Sox will have vets at plenty of other positions. Signing a good DH isn't all in - it means you're competing. It may be a year early to sign someone like V Mart. But certainly by 2016 the Sox should be in a position to contend.

High priced declining veteran. Pass.

Fine for a fourth OF. Certainly better than what the Sox have had in ages. But as a starter? That would indicate a major on-the-cheap initiative.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 01:52 AM) Thoughts? a)Do not trade our top prospects. We will be in the position we are in 2 years from now probably without a playoff appearance if we do that. The farm simply isn't there yet. It's improving quickly though. b)No rents that cost any talent to acquire - ridiculous for a 73 win team. c)No good prospects for veterans off of bad years unless at a severe discount. d)Get a good reliever(s). "Proven closer" Closer is not that important. Petricka and Putnam, both virtual rookies, have the stones to close and are likely to improve. Sox need 7th and 8th inning guys to get out of jams. e)Be wary of giving up top draft choices for a FA. The hit rate for #1s is higher than people think, if the club does a good job scouting. This actually is a good year to do it, if a player warrants it. Otherwise, looks okay.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 11:10 PM) And guys don't lose all their value by having one bad season due to injury. His value will be down, which is why we should pursue him, but it will not completely disappear. If the Reds can't get package like Montas & Sanchez now, then they'll simply wait and then him rebuild his value. If they can rebuild his value. It's a big if, with the flaws in his game that he's always had.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 08:39 PM) We have a DH option worthy of starting 130 games right now? Who? Lind can't be a full time DH because he's a platoon hitter. So with him, we'd have a partial DH. Yea, Roost, that's a big improvement offensively and defensively at a reasonable cost. Gillaspie could play some first, OF?, DH. Maybe another guy from the right side of some sort.

He's a platoon hitter at a position at which the Sox have a 130 game starter. Not a great fit. Interesting scenario, Roost. I like the idea of Headley. As for Crawford, I would have thought he was north of 35, but he's only 32.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 05:14 PM) We don't need an upgrade at 1st. We need an upgrade at DH with a guy who can play 1st 10-15 times a year maybe.. And I think Gillaspie can play 1st But we do need an upgrade at LF; and at 3B (at least defensively and really offensively too). We could get a couple of OF and have them rotate through DH. Who knows.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 05:23 PM) Montas & Sanchez would be a huge discount. The guy would have cost us three of our top five prospects prior to last season. He wasn't worth that last year - for us (high K, mediocre OBP); and he's not the 1 top 5 and 1 2nd 10 this year. Old habits die hard.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 04:28 PM) There have been several reports that the Blue Jays want to keep Melky Cabrera but they are close to tapped out on salary with the big deals they have & couldn't make anything long term for Cabreroid work unless they cleared some money. Makes sense. That would explain things.

If the Sox wanted him, it really wouldn't have been hard to exceed what the Brewers offered. The Jays with moving Lind, rumors of MB on the block, counting on Smoak yet still wanting to bring him to arbitration - they may be going on the cheap again. Lind was purely a platoon hitter last year. That may be a reason Sox might not have been interested.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 12:37 PM) If you had to bet everything you had on 2 deals the Sox would make this season, 1 being a player they sign, 1 being a player they acquire through trade, what would those 2 moves be? Not the deal you want the most (signing Shields maybe?), but the 2 moves you see the most likely to happen. -- Sign Brandon McCarthy. (3 yrs/$39M) Need some depth after Sale, Quintana, and Rodon, and McCarthy was drafted and came up w/ the Sox, maybe he'd like to come home. He'd be a nice #3-#4 starter. -- Trade for Jay Bruce (Carlos Sanchez and Frank Montas) He will be a nearly-28-year-old lefty OF coming off his worst season of his career. I'm hoping that given the Reds slew of OF top prospects, they may be fine dealing Bruce. Bruce is a .250+, 30 HR bat who has actually been a very good defensive RF over his career. He is also signed at a decent contract if you assume he can bounceback from his 2014 season. He is set to make $12M in 2015, $12.5M in 2016, and has a $13M team option for 2017. He has easily been worth those figures in every other season in his career. He is a player I think the Sox could really use. We could also use young righthanded pitchers who throw 100. Bruce's season wasn't simply his worst - it was a horrible season by any measure. His acquisition should be at a deep discount.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) Me too. I guess the good thing about Estrada is he's cheap. Trying to figure out who the comparable Sox player would be, and I suppose Noesi. They had similar numbers last year, though Estrada has more of a track record. Interesting that Toronto wants to bring to the Rogers Centre the guy who lead the league in giving up homers. Plus, Estrada's a rent himself I think. Looks like a giveaway job to me. Toronto just made sure to get him out of the AL

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 02:28 PM) If the chips fall as MLB Trade Rumors projects - the 2015 White Sox will feature Victor Martinez at DH, Colby Rasmus in LF, and Luke Gregerson as an anchor to the pen. The Cubs would be adding Lester, Masterson, Russell Martin, David Robertson, and Jake Peavy. Um... yea. I'll take it!

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:50 PM) Alex Rios is now represented by Scott Boras. lol LOL indeed Play hardball - for the services of Rios.

Excluding his dismal postseason(s), Shields is still not an "ace" and has had only 1 season where he pitched like one (and that was only sort-of). He tops out as a 2. Sure some teams will/have used him as an ace, but that's not what he his. Yes, with the Sox, he would fit nicely as a #3. But he wants #1 money and while I don't think he'll get it, he'll get solid #2 money (15-20 mill per). We can probably get the same with McCarthy at 60% of the price, although without the durability. On the other hand, Shields is 32 and that wear from heavy use may be showing. Signing pitchers is always risky - who knows?

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 08:00 AM) To his credit, Ozzie was on the Marlins coaching staff in 2003 during their championship run. I don't think experience is necessary, but it definitely can't hurt. He had 2 or 3 years of coaching before he became manager, and the coaching started right after his playing career, so he was in the game. Ozzie knew what he was doing - didn't agree with some of his philosophy and he was the worst I've ever seen at evaluating talent - but he knew what he was doing as manager.

QUOTE (palehose23 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 08:56 PM) Sign 1. Brandon McCarthy 3yrs 38 mil 2. Andrew Miller 3 yrs 26 mil 3. Luke Gregerson 2 yrs 12 mil 4. One of these 2 (preference in order) Nick Markakis 3 yrs 33 mil Melky Cabrera 3 yrs 47 mil (Move Avisail to LF left if you acquire Markakis) 5. Justin Masterson 1 yr 8 mil teh problem here is that if you sit back and look at it , the Sox have spent $141 million on 2 bullpen pitchers, a #3, starter, a #4 starter (a #12 starter if he repeats 2014) and one outfielder. A lot of money for a lot of decent talent. Factor out last year, Miller is indistinguishable from the Sox bullpen pitchers last year. I know we'll have to sign one of these relief pitchers but I wouldn't go overboard. It's reasonable to expect some internal improvement from these guys and the Sox farm actually has some real prospect arms. McCarthy is an injury machine - I like him (I liked him a lot when he pitched for us) and he would be a good fit for this rotation IF we can get 200 innings out of him, which has happened exactly once in his 10 year career (last year).

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 09:51 AM) He's got a plus fastball and a slider that is looking quite good. The issue is, he's really a two-pitch pitcher, at least right now. That could change of course and I'm sure he's working on that, but right now he profiles as a reliever for me. I guess this is partly a question of timing. Do you want to... A. Make him a reliever, and in that case IMO, he's MLB-ready today or B. Keep him in AA/AAA to refine secondary stuff and see if he can make another pitch or two at least playable or MLB average (knowing that may or may not happen, but the value then goes up) I don't have the answer, though I'd lean towards A myself. If his ceiling IF he develops that third pitch is MLB average, I'd go with A. MLB average I consider a 4 or 5. If he can be a 3, I'd give him another year in AAA.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 07:34 PM) as green sox mention, I really think the closer may be in-house already with Sanburn and sharing with the other 2 pitchers, Petricka and PUtnam . I wouldn't be oppose for the sox to pick up a real closer to work with the 3 rp pitchers that I mentioned. My objection to the "real closers" is that they are a)usually overpaid and b)often aren't the best relief pitcher on their team (teams use their best relief pitchers to get out of jams). Weren't there 2 closers on the market last year both of whom were just awful this year? I think we will get an experienced reliever- maybe 2 - more of the setup variety. Of course I think Danks should get a look in the pen, although Coop thinks he can still be that control type starter.