GreenSox

QUOTE (striker @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) I'm intrigued by both Ackley and Franklin. Both have raked in the minors but haven't gotten over that hump in the majors. They both have good BB rates, would be upgrades defensively and would cost less. How about De Aza and Viciedo for Ackley and Franklin? You could use our infield surplus to try and get a catcher or pitching. What's intriguing about Ackley - he can't hit a lick. He walks a little, but his obp and ops are horrid. Franklin's not a top defender. Don't see much upside with Ackley at all; maybe with Franklin if he can start hitting. Prefer Maurer (upside, but he's not enough). QUOTE (striker @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) Then ship Beckham to Yankees for Murphy. In our dreams. He's definitely the Yankee catcher prospect I'd want.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 11:44 PM) I'm sure there have been some all-star catchers and some good defensive catchers who have lead the league in passed balls. That doesn't mean much at all. Why not? That's his job - to catch the ball. Does he make great blocks to compensate? It seems to me it would be like fielding errors: lack of errors doesn't mean much; but making errors does.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:53 PM) You mean like Hermanson, Vizcaino, Pods, Dye, AJ and El Duque? Use Youkilis as your example - he who was declining, whom we got for cheap in terms of players but who had a high salary, but who ended up carrying us into contention in 2012. Dye (good year before we signed him) and AJ (1 bad year) weren't declining like Craig and we got each absolutely dirt cheap. No 3/25 or 4/38. Pods was Pods. Bullpen can be 100 for all I care.

His numbers have declined for each of the last 3 seasons. I trust we've left the approach of adding declining veterans in the rear view mirror. And, indeed, we shouldn't buy high either. (Seth Smith is 32 and essentially a platoon player) Find and sign players that we think will improve.

I think seeing success at A and AA is exciting. that's how farm systems are built. Drafts are getting better. Foundation.

Hopefully Nieto will get more work after the all star break.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 11:21 AM) Interesting to see Addison Reed on the trade market again. We should check out Detwiler and Doubront (lefty again, so that works a bit against him) for the back end of the rotation. Among outfielders, there's Cuddyer, Quentin, three Phillies (Brown, Mayberry and Revere) as well as Desmond Jennings. Jennings and Brown would seem to be the most interesting...as Cuddyer is likely to stay in COL. Not interested in any of those guys. Some are just mediocre/bad players. We have clones of most of them as it is. Detwiler's been declining since he turned 27.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 10:53 AM) Quintana is the only trade legitimate trade chip that will bring back a significant amount of talent that can help in the near term. The Sox have consistently struggled to attract top tier talent in free agency, so if this team is going to improve it is going to need to be through the trade market. A deal with the Jays with Beckham for Sanchez, Norris and Pompey would be something to consider. Based on his age, contract status, and performance, he should have as much value as Smardzjia did in a deal. He should have much MORE value than Smardzija in a deal. Much more. That said, no one was going to give all of that for Smardzija. I would consider trading him for, say, Stromand and Sanchez and one other of their best. But really, they should see what Alexei will bring. Time to sell high.

Ridiculous. NO

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.