R.J.

Brian Roberts would pretty much be perfect if the price was right.

Sorry if this has been answered - but what are the restrictions on taking a team's first round pick? I know a team can't lose their first round pick if it's in like the top 10 or 15, what's the official rule? I saw the Giants were interested - but I know we wouldn't get their #6 pick through arbitration. What's the line? What I mean is, who are we rooting for when it comes to signing Cabrera?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 06:58 PM) NO, NO, NO!!! Who said anything about CF? Nobody that I can see. I'm somehow not sold on the Rivera/Borbon master plan. Call me crazy.

So Juan Rivera is going to lead off and play CF after shattering his leg, posting a .282 OBP, and playing one game in center over the last 2 years? Cool.

Jenks and Poreda... for Julio Borbon. You're kidding me.

Duchscherer would be such a prototypical White Sox target. So would Jonathan Sanchez. Guys like Matt Cain we don't have the ammo to get. I'm sure that we have our eyes on someone "undervalued" like those other two. I'm also convinced that we'll jump on Daniel Cabrera when he's non-tendered.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 03:26 PM) Poreda's second pitch, his slider, is already pretty well developed from what I have been reading. What he needs is to get his third pitch, the change-up, working effectively, to be a solid starter. That's interesting - I did hear that his change-up was still pretty much experimental at this point, but the reviews I saw of his slider were still underwhelming. If he can throw even a mediocre breaking ball I think he can be solid out of the bullpen. Starting, though, might be cruel to him. Get Buehrle to teach him a cutter.

I went Richard and Broadway. I must qualify this by noting that I feel that given 32 starts in the major leagues, Lance Broadway could establish himself as the worst pitcher in baseball history. I still think he gets first crack over the other guys on this list. I hope the Sox are smart enough not to trot Aaron Poreda out to a major league mound until he develops a second pitch.

The Braves were the primary suitors for Peavy using these same prospects. I don't understand your reasoning. I don't think our Fields or Poreda added to guys San Diego already decided weren't enough is going to swing that pendulum. I do think that we're looking to trade for a pitcher, just probably not one with so many obstacles (no trade clause, etc.) like Peavy.

If you move Lillibridge off short his value nose dives.

I mean seriously, this would clear about 10 million bucks here right? Swisher cleared about 5? We have OC and Uribe gone clearing 15? We should have some money to spend, even if the economy's in the tank. edit: way beaten.

Lillibridge/Flowers/Reyes would have been a pretty sweet return. Lillibridge/Flowers/Someone-less-valuable makes it more of a salary dump.

More evidence that we're tightening our belt as the economy continues to fall (but the ticket prices, they still go up you see). Not that I'm all that interested in this years Japanese class, but how many times now has Kenny been quoted as saying our money is drying up?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 05:09 PM) You seem like someone who also believes in "hard nose football" and "Bears Weather!!" Wait, is Willy Taveras a GRINDER~!! who has the fireandthepassion it takes to play Ozzie Ball? Because in that case, I'll pick him up at the airport.

The myth of Scott Podsednik is going to kill this team. In 2005, Pods had a nice year and was a nice player in his role, but too many people credit him for winning us that world series. With that said, If you're looking to recapture that 2005 Podsednik spirit, you won't get it from Taveras. His career numbers are below those thresholds. You're going to get a really fast guy making a ton of outs at the top of your lineup. I also assume that the proponents of acquiring Taveras and giving him 650 ABs are willing to write last year off as a fluke, and no, no I am not. This guys a good 4th outfielder to have if you give up nothing to get him. Keep looking for an everyday guy.

I think Dye, even at his age and with his defense declining, is definitely worth $11.5 million to a contender. The problem is that the Reds, despite their booming confidence, can't spend like contenders.

It's a little early in the offseason to begin settling on this guy as our target for center field. He'll still be there in February. We should at least look around a little and see if we can find someone who can top an OPS+ of 56. No, I don't have any names for you. I agree that Roberts and Figgins might be too expensive to acquire. But it's December 1st. Let's look at who gets non-tendered. Let's look at any free agents who are undervalued. Let's look at what kind of prospects are available if and when we decide to move Dye or Javy or Jenks. Let things develop before you close the book and say "this is it, it's this guy or nobody." Yes, if the Rockies are only asking for Broadway or Logan, then there's no risk on our part. In that case, what the hell, go for it. I have no problem trading our garbage for some new garbage. Just don't then promise said garbage a lead-off spot and a starting job and stop looking for better options. I think there are a few minor league free agents who can put up a .604 OPS and play center field. We've got 2 months before we need to wave this white flag.

Man, some people just love singles.

I think Wily Taveras is in the bottom 10 of starting position players in baseball, and giving him 500+ at bats in any spot in our lineup would be a devastating mistake, but I'd still trade Boone Logan for him.

It's already been alluded to, but the negotiations in the Peavy deal did not include Hanson or Heyward, so expecting the White Sox to snag either of those guys in a deal for a lesser player would be unrealistic. Also, after hearing some of the recent comments KW has released, it looks like we're in full payroll cutting mode here.

I don't think we'd even get any compensation for Crede if he signs elsewhere, so it doesn't matter. Uribe would likely accept and get around $6 million, so we'll likely decline. Griffey would likely accept too, so same story. It's a no brainer to offer Cabrera arbitration because there's no way he'd accept it on the eve of his last big free agent contract.

This... is not a good sign.

If we can become the hot place for all the Cuban defectors to sign and prosper, then sign me the hell up. Like most have already said, this is like grabbing another 1st round prospect. Young, big bat, a lot of upside, nice move. Now it's time for me to learn how to pronounce his name. Lil Help?

Victorino is not going to be moved. Halladay could be moved at some point in the next 2 years, but the White Sox don't have the ammo to get him. I think maybe we should be tempering our expectations as far as trade candidates go.

I've never been to spring training, but I'm getting the impression that this is an upgrade for people looking to build a vacation around spring training? Are there things besides baseball games to see or do in the Glendale/Phoenix area?