GreenSox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) Look, we're not going to be a major league quality catcher for De Aza unless we target guys at the low/mid A-ball level that are multiple years away. We're just not going to. Apparently they're willing to run him out there as a backup, I would not have been, but they've made their call. I'd personally have taken "best available offer" eitehr right before training camp started or right now. Concur

Do yall really believe that Danks has suddenly become an excellent hitter? I hope so, but the chances are remote. Still, he could do an okay job, certainly enough to warrant trading of De Aza, if someone offered something decent. Boggs was a disaster. Great that his contract wasn't guaranteed.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 09:05 AM) There's something incongruous to targeting prospects in trades that are well past the midpoint in their development while in the same breath talking up the value of keeping draft picks. Actually, it's very consistent. You're trying to restock your farm system to maintain competitiveness, while getting at least competitive on the ML level and not tanking it up (Astros and Pirates and Royals for a decade). You aren't winning anything in this era without a vibrant farm system.

What was the deal that Masterson was willing to sign? I certainly wouldn't have given him Homer Bailey's deal. Big year for him.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 02:05 PM) Speaking of, Hahn must really, really like dealing with Towers. I would too though I think. If for no other reason, he's willing to deal. While I didn't like a lot of KW's trades, at least he was willing to deal. In aggregate, the trades helped the team. Hahn, too, obviously.

So far so good; improving the major league team and aren't trading away prospects to do it, and we've even added a couple.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 09:48 AM) He hasn't even thrown 200 innings at the major league level. For Christ's sake, he threw 12.2 innings in 2011. Yeah, if I can get him for Viciedo (another Boras client, mind you), you bet your sweet ass I'm going to make that trade every day. I'm not saying he's not any good. I'm still looking for how he's stud with a low K rate and high WHIP. Viciedo, fine. But I'm not for trading our prospects at this time. And these prospects are developing nicely. Dumping them is foolish.

Alexei still swinging at balls in the dirt, I see.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2014 -> 08:15 AM) Mind you, he did that as a 22 year old. But a 22 year old who is in his 3rd stint in the majors. He's not pitching like a stud, so you don't pay that kind of price, imo. Boras client; near arb eligibile. That's certainly not who I would look for for Semien or Johnson - their value figures to go up a lot this season anyway.

Turner had a 1.44 WHIP last year and a mediocre K rate. That's a top prospect? And did I read elite? Now way do I trade Johnson for him. Maybe Sanchez, but I wouldn't do it. We have surplus in the middle infield - use it wisely, like, perhaps, to trade for a nice catching prospect.

Well we were one of the worst teams in baseball last year, so it's no surprise we have a position at the bottom. Can't fix everything in one off season. No time to chase others' backup catchers.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Mar 18, 2014 -> 10:12 PM) Per MLTBR Houston has inquired on every available 1B. Dunn blows but who knows, maybe there's a ray of hope there. Please Houston, take this big pile of crap away from here for good. They have a Dunn: Chris Carter

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Mar 18, 2014 -> 06:26 PM) Jordan Danks making real hard for the Sox management starting him AAA. He's had a great spring. They have no choice unless they move De Aza or Viciedo, which I hope they do.

He's an incremental upgrade. That's not what we need right now. Fill a couple of more holes first with plus players and then settle for some incremental talents.

I agree with rick's approach. If we find a top prospect or long term answer, go for it. But no way should we use any resources on a backup catcher. We have one of those: Flowers.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 15, 2014 -> 09:38 PM) They also have a lot of bullpen arms, guys like Crawford and Knebel and of course Rondon...other than that, the most interesting names are catcher James McCann and 1B/DH/LF/RF type Steven Moya, who's their best young power hitter...but that's like saying Andy Wilkins is ours (well, it's still probably Barnum or Hawkins, I guess). For sure don't trade for bullpen arms. That's an utter waste of a trading piece. QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Mar 16, 2014 -> 12:32 AM) They got some other piece from Boston, right, not just Iglesias?Nope. Actually, they sent another piece to Boston - a relief pitcher.

Nola's really - deadly command and control. Just doesn't have the stuff for top 5.

My Green Wave drilled Hoffman today. His D let him down, but a top 5 should be shutting down teams like us (or any team, really).

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Mar 14, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) Spinning a perfect game. I thought we had finally put him out to AAAA pasture in Charlotte. I like the guy - pitches as hard as he can.

Is Axe really pitching?

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 10, 2014 -> 07:51 PM) Dunn ,Keppinger ,Alexei combined 0 for 12. They are veterans. Professional vets know that spring training stats are meaningless. They are just testing a few things and just don't want to show their stuff until it counts. These are the 3 that will lead the rebirth!

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Mar 10, 2014 -> 04:49 PM) Outside of our core young guys this team is awful to watch. Only reason I'm excited is for our young guys. Cannot wait to see Ramirez, Beckham and Dunn all gone +1

I can't believe Keppinger will be around for another 2 years.

Adam Dunn is a professional slugger and is just using the spring to test a few things. He's saving it for when it counts.

The Sox need a power hitter in LF. De Aza isn't it. He's average, and would I think have some value to a contender as a 4th OF- he'd be very good there. Otherwise, he's a decent placeholder for a non-contender like us. Viciedo COULD be the corner we need. Don't know yet. Saunders has 33% more plate appearances and sports a .295 career OBP. The chances of him improving are less than Viciedo. I wouldn't make that deal straight up. Trade De Aza for prospects; dump others in July. By the end of the season, we should have a much stronger farm, which could allow us to trade to fix more holes.