SoxAce

I'm sure this will probably eliminate the Jenks rumors unless the Rays trade Burrell (freeing up money), or they feel Soriano is better suited as a set-up guy (or Jenks) and want to spend more money on the bullpen.

Preliminary agreement: Lowell to Texas for Max Ramirez Texas continuing to be aggressive this offseason. More than likely this will open up an Adrian Beltre signing to Boston which has been linked for a while now. Lowell will probably be a 1B/DH for Texas (since they moved Micheal Young to 3B) This is Max's fourth team he'll be traded to, and it seems that the 24 year old has been around forever.. Geez.

Here is Sickle's Top 20. *Albeit subject to change of course*

Pretty interesting Alex. And of course only you would find something like this out. I'm basically like Peavy, though I'm not THAT blind without glasses/contacts.

QUOTE (SockMe @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) D-Backs get the best of this deal IMO. Ian Kennedy AND Edwin Jackson! IF.. IF, Kennedy pitches like he should. Like I said earlier, if he pitches like he's projected, the Diamondbacks can be really, really good this comming year (Haren, a healthy Webb, Jackson, Kennedy) and Ian going to the NL certainly helps his chances to develop for them. I've seen various reports that the D-Backs feel they traded two relievers (Scherzer they feel is a future reliever cause of his mechanics and Schlereth) for two starters. That is quite a risk they are taking with Max regardless, cause he is definitely the better pitcher based on potential alone than Jackson/Kennedy will be. Poor Edwin Jackson. His third team in three years now, but man he's gotten better every year the last couple years so you gotta love his chances with the D-Backs. It would not shock me at all if he becomes the ace of that staff this season. Not saying it will happen... but it would not shock me. Really looking at this deal again, it isn't AS bad as some think for the D-Backs.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:21 PM) We tend to leave it that way as it is pretty popular. That being said, we don't actively try and compress and merge single subject threads like that unless it really makes sense. If you have a question or anything like that, start a new thread. I love when you make your admin authority like that...

Good to see one of my favorite players on the Hawks get the GW goal.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 07:24 PM) i love the Harden signing for the Rangers. if Feliz and Holland establish themselves in that rotation they'll be filthy together. Absolutely. Gotta love what Texas is doing in the off-season. They need pitching, and though Harden is a risk (though at one year, is not bad at all), when he's on and healthy, he is as good as anyone. Now if we can somehow pray Smoak away from them.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) BTW, this team is better off losing and getting a high pick then gaining like 3 more wins for nothing. It could be good and bad honestly. Let's say the Bulls finish in the bottom 5, but somehow win the lottery again and draft #1 overall again? You draft John Wall (who most think is Derrick Rose or will be even BETTER than Rose, and so far is more advanced in college [Calhoun called him the best PG to come in since Jason Kidd 15 years ago]) and actually think of trading the homegrown Rose who will probably command a ransom or a young stud SG/PF/C/SF? You trade the pick (basically trade Wall) for something? (I won't even say passing him up because you cannot pass up Wall I'm sorry, even though I love Favors) and perhaps move down to draft whoever else? I mean it could be good in a sense that your getting another very good young player or trading for a very good young player and perhaps entice a Wade/Bosh, but it can also tell those coveted FA that even with a Rose/Wall and whatever, we are still not looking good and that's not to say VDN will still be the head coach either. Again this is just hypothetically speaking on my part as far as the lottery.

My goodness what a well informed piece that was.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) Crisp is light years better than Pods defensively. His arm is still better than Pods if Greg wanted to go that route. I believe there was an article/posts out there who said there's only a handful of guys that have a weaker arm than Scott Podsednik. Damon, Pierre just to name a couple.

Hawks playing the Rangers tonight. Over/under: 2, as in the number of fights/scraps some of our guys will be in with Sean Avery?

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 03:33 PM) 30bps meaningful, but dont discount the fielding ... Matsui is toast, JD's numbers would increase if he was simply DHing like Godzilla, and most importantly, is not nearly as sexy. Hell, even if you count the fielding, which both are terrible, but Matsui actually sucks less than JD does. And I'm not sure how "sexy" JD is from Matsui, but I'm sure both are good, happily married men.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) So, we'd have Rios, Crisp, Matsui, and Quentin battling for 3 spots? More or less rotating which is what the sox want. I'm sure Matsui would probably DH more-so than Quentin/Crisp.

As long as he keeps his attitude in check, I'm sure he'll be gladly welcomed.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) He was also a serviceable player back then. Now he is just baggage, especially as he offers little as a backup. Maybe the Nats can record tapes of him (since he probably won't be ready in 3 years) when Bryce Harper (who they will probably pick) is ready to emerge to learn a thing or two? I don't know.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) Great read from tango here on position switch, from the defensive stand point. When and when not to make the switch. It's currently done wrong way more than it should be. Probably no one will read it, their loss http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/...on_adjustments/ Very nice. I'll finish reading the rest of it tonight. Thanks A.J.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 04:07 PM) What are you talking about? The dude at MLB Trade Rumors is using Gordon Edes as his source. The only thing MLB Trade Rumors has done in the past is make up false rumors or go based off of some sketchy sources, neither of which were the case here. It's the same thing Rotoworld does on a constant basis. In fact, here's what Rotoworld had to say about it. Checkmate. You used the same source (mlbtraderumors/Edes which rotoworld followed up on twice.) The Rosenthal one I'll give you, though that was AFTER the sawks decided not to part with Masterson originally. Did you even look at the google articles I gave you? I know it feeds your ego, but step down once in a while bro.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:54 PM) http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/07/pretty-good-cha.html Take a look wite. And shame on you for actually using mlbtraderumors as a source to try and "be right." Talks "stalled" later but I think that was more or less on either Pena getting injured round that time, or the sawks riding what they got.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) MORE TIM KURKJIAN!!! Agreed. One of the very rare guys I tolerate on ESPN.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:47 PM) I remember the Sox wanting Delcarmen. I don't think the Red Sox were willing to give Delcarmen. He was having a fantastic season acting as a setup man and was going to be counted on for years (and he's essentially fulfilled that, though he was mediocre this past season). The Red Sox wouldn't jump at it because they didn't need Dye that badly (and considering they won the World Series, I'd say they were right). I remember it like it was yesterday.. and just googled it. Now you do the same and get back to me. And I actually forgot Justin Masterson was almost in it/exchanged/being discussed as well.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:40 PM) I seem to recall the best offer Williams getting for Dye at the deadline in 2007 was Wily Mo Pena and Craig Hansen. It was Willy Mo and Manny Delcarmen actually. I remember it like it was yesterday.

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:37 PM) We need to get younger, not older. Well I've reiterated Austin Kearns as a possible buy low many times on this board. Not sure how "good" he is anymore (though he's had bad luck and playing for the Nats... well... sucks), but defensively he is still very, very good. I believe he was in the top 5 of the fielding bible from 05-07, though that is more Kalapse's M.O. to know. He's only turning 30 in May and even with two horrendous (though not that many PA) years, still has a respectable .355 OBP in his career.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) It'd be really interesting to see a study about players who switch positions throughout the year as opposed to them later playing just one position and seeing if it really does make a big difference. My guess would be that there is little difference and that there may be other factors that play into it as well. I'm sure our good (and I use that term very loosely) friend qwerty can find some sort of study/stats for it.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:25 PM) Who else is available that can give Matsui type numbers at DH>? We need offense bad I would still take the younger Nick Johnson at DH just because of his outstanding ability to get on base, even though he's had a Quentin type injury history himself (I trust Herm though) but who knows how high his asking price is. For all this talk about power, I think he can net you 15 homers here (he did hit 23 about 3 years ago when he actually had 500+ PA) but like I said... it is a bit of a risk. QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:27 PM) Then Matsui isn't their guy. You can't rotate him between LF and DH and expect that to work. If this comes to pass.. obviously they disagree.