GreenSox

Castro was actually outhit by Flowers last year. They even had a similar number of Ks. Why in the world would the Sox want this guy.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) . Sox appear to have their fourth outfielder. He'll make the team. If so no need to pursue Aoki.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) Jose Abreu, on the other hand, is what we would consider an "exceptional free agent," in that he entered our market by illegally fleeing his country, thus bringing circumstances into the fray that are both unusual and thus not normally applicable to the tendencies of free agency. There's retrospect to that. No one really knew what he would do in the majors. Today, he'd get twice his salary. QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 01:43 PM) A deal like M. Johnson, Beck, and Hawkins for CarGo would greatly improve the OF defense while also adding a legitimate bat to the lineup. At an extremely high salary and for 3 of our top 10 prospects as you posit it. And his bat wasn't elite last year; he was also injured.

Rasmus would be fine - reasonable risk. The problem with the other guys is that they are all past their prime. to me only the 3B look interesting. If board fav Heyward were up this year, he would be someone to consider - in his prime and he can defend. Trouble is, teams are tying more and more of these guys up. Comparisons to Keppinger (way past his prime, if he ever had one, which he didn't - that was Joe Maddon using him brilliantly), Belisario (not a top end reliever), and the scrap heap are misguided, imo. As it is, the so got 3 keeper players last year off the scrapheap - Putnam, Guerra, and Noesi. Not great, but replacement level. (a healthy Jones would have helped immensely last year). Wish we had had replacement level at LF, 2B, and 3rd and 4th starter last year. As for DH, I'd go fishing again - vic for Dom Brown - until there is more out there or more foundation laid. Remember, teams like the Giants and Red sox have frequently traded prospects who turn up aces - thing is, they have a pipeline that produces 5 more prospects to deal when that happens.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 11:02 PM) I think it's very possible because chances like this do not come along very often and the goal is to win is it not ? Trying to stay below $100M payroll and expecting to compete doesn't work out very often so take full advantage of that protected pick and go for it. Also lets not forget that TV money of $25M every yr through 2021, . It all won't go for player payroll of course but there is plenty of money available. Who is really worth losing that pick for? First, they aren't going to sign one of the high end pitchers. So that leaves, Sandoval, Headley and V Mart. That's about it. They aren't getting the first two (they will be outbid) so that leaves V Mart. What they need more than V Mart, is an outfielder, who plays good D and who can hit and who is in his prime.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 4, 2014 -> 05:19 PM) Since when is starting pitching an area of no need? Mid rotation is an area of need, but the Sox don't need another top of the rotation guy -oh, not that they couldn't use one, but the marginal benefit v. cost is smaller there for the Sox than at other positions. I would say a mid-level guy, but you have to give up the same draft choice that you do for the top end guy. Which leaves "roll your own". And they are making progress on that end.

Belisario is worth nowhere near $4 mill. Guerra is definitely a keeper. I assume Lindstrom has been let go. He's been bad in Chicago.

Well, I was just kidding. 13 mill option for Rios - yikes. It will be fun watching Boras peddle him around.

Did the Rangers give a QO to Rios?

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 3, 2014 -> 04:04 PM) Probably just covering their bases to get a draft pick, I think they will be shocked if he accepts it, but he should. Yea he should - but do the Pirates want him to? And is anyone really going to sign Liriano and give up a draft choice and give him some multiple year deal at 15 mill per? I know the Braves signed Santana for 1 years, but they were desperate after a lot of injuries.

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.