GreenSox

Hope the Sox keep their minds eyes open. I'd be willing to trade Quintana for, say, the package the Cubs were asking from Toronto for Samrardzija.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 08:11 PM) Phegley with his 13th home run (Probably would be better then Flowers in the hitting department) I wonder if he's improved his catching at all.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 08:18 PM) Please just DH Avisail Garcia next year. It would be easier to add a LH outfielder...like Rasmus or Cabrera...than fixing Garcia's defensive approach, or lack thereof. We've seen him play for 2 months. Good gracious.

If it's inconclusive, which it isn't, the safe call should stand.

EAton's clearly safe here.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) Also if Viciedo's floor is a bad defensive 4th OF and PH while Maurer's floor is a quality RP then I think we should accept that deal and be done with it if that's the best Seattle will do. But how can you say Maurer's floor is a high quality relief pitcher, when he's been nothing but a low quality pitcher over any sustained period of measurement thusfar? So to me, another piece is warranted.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) How much do we have to see of Viciedo to realize he's a bust? I'd trade him now following a good series. Trade him to the M's. They had to be impressed at the 4-hit game. Get a catcher with promise and a pitcher with decent upside and that's good enough. No one will pay that if they think he's a bust. I think that would be a fair return, actually. Nieto and our AA catcher are getting a little interesting. I wish I had a sense of their defense, however. Hope to see Nieto in a little more action the 2nd half.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 11:37 AM) If we can get a Maurer type out of Tank then, while maybe "underwhelming" at first according to the numbers, that could be a huge benefit to us. Maurer has a good arm. We don't know if he can be fixed - he has the talent to be fixed. But his production has been decidedly worse than Viciedo's and Seattle's the team in imminent need, so I would hope we could add another piece.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 12:42 PM) I still completely disagree. No big deal; we certainly weren't going to get a ton anyway. Texas will probably move him this month - we'll see what they get.

I would lean toward keeping Danks and try to move him next year, barring some nice offer. A lot of money is coming off of the books this year anyway, and with his spot in the rotation, we won't have to rush a player, reach on a Free Agent, etc. I don't know what happened with Rios last year - we certainly got underpaid for him. We might have asked for too much in July, and then just settled in August just to get him off the team. I really would solicit offers for Alexei.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 10:45 AM) There is no way that they are $1-$2 million off. the slot amount is $5.7 million. The Sox literally only have like $6.5 million left. It's not old system. There just isn't any magic money that can be spent. I bet they are quibbling over the difference between the remaining Sox slot money, something just over $6 million and the overage without incurring the draft pick loss which would be over $6.5 million. He will sign. He won't get $6 million next year. Who knows? Boras could be demanding that the Sox pay the tax (or, conceivably, worse). The Sox could be obstinate about staying right on slot. It should get settled for around 6. And if it doesn't at least the compensation for not signing is very fair.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 01:20 PM) Richmond (who was picked up as org filler but is maybe kinda interesting). Looking at his numbers, he's been okay at every stop except for a miserable year with Texas' high A team.

Dunn has 12 homers and 12 doubles in 1/2 a season. That's what teams are buying. Platoon DH and PH. His walks are a little bonus, but that's not really why teams would want him. As per above, take what we can get.

What's with all of the relief pitchers? Is that some rule? There are numerous starters better than any of those relief pitchers. Watch them put Samardzija on the AL team if a spot opens up.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 6, 2014 -> 03:41 PM) I will take this Maurer kid for Viciedo. Close the deal after the game. I like him too, but try for a little more. They've got to be desperate for some pop.

Danks has a contract through 2016 I believe. He's a back end starter on a contender. If someone offers us value, then we have to move him. I see us as more of a 2016 contender than 2015 (where we could be a 80-85 win team). The Front Office also wants to set us up for consistent contention, which means that depth and a strong farm are parts of the equation as well. Moving Danks, Alexei, et al, if good offers emerge, will bring more assets onto this team that we'll need when we're ready to contend in a year or 2. Their losses can be replaced. The pitching needs a ton more depth, especially as the farm is particularly empty right now.

QUOTE (Dizzy Sox @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 05:24 PM) -Contrary to popular belief, Mitchell did start for 3 seasons at LSU. Yes, I know he was playing football as well for the the first couple of years, but the fact remains that he did get three full college seasons under his belt. When he joined the organization he wasn't necessarily as raw as advertised, which is important because: Sounds like you think he just wasn't that great in college. could be. But he was raw, despite that college experience, likely because of all the time spent on football, versus honing his baseball skills. I live in LSU country, and while I'm not a LSU fan, he was one of those players that you knew had talent but just wasn't a complete player yet. Maybe I'm confusing raw with just a lack of ability, and that could be. He was drafted for his tools, but, they were at just a bit more advanced than high school development so when you look at the time for an expected matriculation, you're looking at 25 instead of 22, and with any setbacks, it's 27 or 28 instead of 24 or 25. But that's also why I haven't given up on him, although with raw tools guys, the hit rate is always low anyway.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 6, 2014 -> 10:42 AM) We're QUITE unlikely to be competing for the division next year if we trade Ramirez...the other alternative is to spend a ton of money on catching, bullpen, the back-end of the rotation, at least one outfield position and DH. Depends on what we get for him and how we spend. He's at peak value now, 32 years old, and if we are going to trade him, now is absolutely the time. The Sox are a little better than mid pack in runs scored (above average in SLG, below average in OBP, as always), getting subpar production from C, LF and RF. Replacing Alexei for a SS who can at least equal his defense, plus improvement in the corner outfield spots and on the mound, with more depth in the farm, is a big 1 year improvement for this organization. I absolutely would have Alexei front and center on the trading block and hope we do.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 6, 2014 -> 10:10 AM) I've seen it many a times. Hell I (And 1 or 2 other posters in the game thread) wanted to see him pinch ran for when he first reached base. It was a "win now" move that didn't pan out. That actually would have made a lot more sense because he reached base with no one out and a PR could have helped "manufacture" a run with only 1 hit. But he did it when 2 were out with a .230 hitter up and a less than 75% chance of success and in a situation where Abreu would have been off with contact anyway, lessening the need for a PR.

We didn't exactly get a haul for Vazquez. Flowers was an extremely low round pick of a couple of years prior who enticed Williams with a great year in High A and in the AFL. A couple of other minor prospects were thrown in. Braves also had a young McCann and Salty in their system; so they were deep like the Yankees appear to be. Some due diligence is warranted: with 3/4 catchers in their system, why did they sign McCann?

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) Ya man, what an awful decision to bring in a LHP to face Cano...Managers shouldn't play matchups at all....Dreadful. Always a good idea in the 9th with this talented, experienced bullpen. And who wouldn't pull one of the best hitters in MLB out of a tie game for a pinch runner!

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 07:43 PM) There is already space in the payroll as is and that doesn't include Dunn's contract coming off the books after the season is over. I really am all for trading Danks, just don't want to trade him as a salary dump as its not necessary.Agree

After a 2 day hiatus, time to refresh this one. Another Robin Ventura dog and pony show.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 01:06 PM) Those numbers are extremely inflated by 4 starts....Again in over 75% of his starts he has a 2.45 ERA with a Whip of 1.06. A low 4 era isn't even THAT bad.....It's 73rd among qualified pitchers....I don't think anyone is saying he's gonna net a huge package, but it most certainly should net something decent. 4 isn't bad - but they can find it for a lot cheaper than 14.5 million a year. He's not throwing hard and his K rate is low.... On the other hand, just scanning the top 50 pitchers in ERA, most are on teams that are contending (not coincidentally). Market may be tight. Hope you're right.

He was rushed to AAA. Don't know why. He was a college player when drafted in age only...his hit tools were high school when drafted. They say he's a non-prospect. Maybe so. If he keeps hitting, he can get another AAA try. Don't know which AA pitchers he's faced.