GreatScott82

At this point, I truly believe the best approach in regards to Samardzija is to simply wait until the deadline on July 31st. That is when teams come out of the wood work and offer up a bit more in an attempt to bolster their rotation for the playoffs.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 23, 2015 -> 10:24 AM) Samardzija and Alexei to the Pirates for Meadows, Garcia, Kingham, and Luplow I definitely like your idea of linking Alexei and Samardzija together. I just can't see the White Sox taking his $11 million option. I can see them signing Alexei to a 1 year $4 million deal if they truly feel Anderson isn't ready OR they can't improve this position via a separate trade.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jul 23, 2015 -> 07:58 AM) I love Sale and Abreu but I could almost be fine with seeing us ship everybody out and have a massive trade deadline and August waiver party. I'm tired of watching a s***ty team. But Sale is a generational talent and I'd hate to see him leave. Thoughts of trading Sale makes every Sox fan sad. However, with all the holes on this team, management needs to ask themselves, "how can we accelerate our progress". One way do this would be to trade from the teams strength which is starting pitching. If Sale is untouchable, they must look into dealing Quintana. Quintana's cost control is ridiculous for his age and performance. He won't bring back the type of package Sale would, but he will bring back a package that can most likely fill at least two of the glaring positional needs. Since free agents cost draft picks, don't expect them to go this route anytime soon. Lastly, the final option to fill up all these holes would be to simply undergo a rebuild. This means it would make zero sense to keep Sale as it would likely burn 3 additional years off his career. He is in his prime now, any trade for Sale would bring you an absolute haul and can completely transform a teams future. With all speculation aside in regards to Sale and Q, expect Shark to be dealt within the next 5 days. Today will be his final start in a white sox uniform. I'm hopefull to obtain a catcher for him.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jul 18, 2015 -> 01:54 PM) Does it have to be said that you would love the idea of acquiring the best prospect in baseball? Even given Q's two extra years of cost-effective control, I would have trouble saying no to a Q-Puig swap. I also think it's funny Speigel mentioned adding in Avisail Garcia as if it makes a difference. I don't think the Dodgers would waste a roster spot on Garcia. They do a great job of getting outfielders who either have great defense, great platoon splits or both. Nope it doesn't have to be said, but I said it anyway. I have been a fan of Seager long before he was considered the "top prospect" in baseball. It will be fun to watch him play in the big leagues soon! The future is bright in LA with him and Joc Pederson. The fact that we have nobody near this level of talent is the reason why fans and writers keep suggesting the idea of trading Sale and Q. When your scouting and development is poor, it's time to start considering major organizational changes.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 17, 2015 -> 07:09 PM) You aren't getting any elite hitting prospects unless you trade Chris Sale. I think you can get a tremendous package in return for Quintana. The Seager idea may be a reach, but just about every team in baseball would love Q on their team with his contract. I'm not sure what defines "elite" but Quintana should get you a haul.

Everyone knows that I LOVE the idea of acquiring Corey Seager. I really like Austin Barnes as well. If I'm Rick Hahn, I don't go anywhere near Puig and focus on bringing back some of LA's top prospects in return for ANY deal involving Q.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jul 17, 2015 -> 07:36 AM) Per Rosenthal: One rival executive says he expects the White Sox to make a big offer to right-hander Jeff Samardzija in an attempt to keep the team's starting pitching intact long term. I look at this and see a few different outcomes. #1- The White Sox do indeed sign him long term in attempt to ride this season out and make a wildcard push. If they go this route, I really do see them dealing away Quintana this winter. He can most likely bring more back in a trade than Samardzija and the one way to acquire offensive help would be to trade away pitching. I HIGHLY doubt they will go the free agent route this winter. (They NEED to maintain draft picks) #2- They are saying they plan on extending him in an attempt to increase his value even more as teams will definitely get into a bidding war close to the deadline. Steve Stone currently believes they can get a team's #3 prospect for him or multiple prospects who are younger. Things sure will get interesting within the next few weeks. I believe this home stand will be pivotal in determining the team's direction. Personally, I hope they find a way to acquire a few top prospects before the deadline. They need to fill that 3b, 2b and C spot badly.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 16, 2015 -> 12:19 PM) I actually think that Rongey's become too cynical and negative, which is saying a lot...coming from my perspective. Undoubtedly a product of getting tired of being wrong whenever a "false positive" turns out to be incorrect over the last 3-4 seasons. After you've painted so many rose-colored scenarios that haven't come to fruition, you also start to believe that no matter what the team does, something will go awry. It's almost reminiscent of someone living in denial when a political campaign has been pronounced dead by the media and they're drawing handfuls instead of hundreds/thousands at events...but the strategists have to fight on anyway, because they can't realistically quit or give up. Watching the positive vibes around the Cubs and Maddon, it's impossible not to sense/feel the dichotomy in terms of the atmosphere surrounding both teams. Some fresh blood would help...in the front office/coaching staff, the broadcast booths, marketing, etc. Things have just gotten stale...at some point, you just have to move on to a new challenge. Well said! Things have gone extremely stale around these parts. A fresh start, new blood, different brains and a new identity is definitely what this organization needs. I'm not upset from them moving away from 670, I just hope they make the proper changes on WLS!

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Jul 16, 2015 -> 10:58 AM) Use this change to dump Farmio and Rongey. Yes! I can tolerate Farmio a bit more as a color guy. But Rongey doesn't bring any insight to pre and post game analysis. He just pretty much states the obvious. It would be nice to have a guy with a little more knowledge of the game of baseball. One guy who I thought was terrific in this role was Dave Wills back in the day.

I'm pretty sure Hawk will retire after this season. If thats the case, I will make a call down in St. Louis to try and bring Rooney in as the TV play-by-play man and bring back Stone as well.

QUOTE (BigFinn @ Jul 14, 2015 -> 09:50 PM) Stats for Andy Burns: 2015: .277/.338/.360 Career Minors: .268/.344/.432 Burns is thought of as a utility infielder. Pentecost hasn't returned since shoulder surgery this February. Yep. I thought it was a horrible trade idea. I saw it and felt the need to share with Yall. Good 'ol Bleacher Report.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 14, 2015 -> 08:56 PM) I know you're just passing along what you found but I think I take that with a big grain of salt. A Catcher that has not played yet this year due to having a second surgery on his throwing shoulder since being drafted last year and a 24 year old 3B that hits as lite as Gillaspie for Samardzija? Yep, sounds like an article written by the bleacher report. I was thinking the same thing.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 14, 2015 -> 04:30 PM) What's Jeff's trade package looking like as of today? Any news? Pics? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2521642...culation/page/3 Bleacher Report keeps predicting a Toronto deal that would bring over C Max Pentecost and 3B Andy Burns

I also like Chisoxfn's thoughts on swapping minor leaguers. Lets say a team is loaded with offensive prospects but is desperate for pitching prospects, this is the White Sox strength so it would be an ideal match for a necessary transaction to readjust the farm.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 10:29 AM) Sox should do a bit of both. Focus should be on 2016 and 2017 and better positioning the club. They shouldn't be afraid of selling some current assets today a bit (especially pieces who might walk or aren't good fits) while adding to the talent pool, but also, if the right parts are out there, they shouldn't be afraid to buy either. I think we'll be in a unique spot where we sell a couple guys but also get involved as a 3rd team in some trades to try and swap some of our minor league talent for other teams talent changing hands (but maybe as positions we have bigger needs, etc). Good post! There is a lot of talk on the radio today about the team possibly going for it after this recent 9-3 record. While the defense has been playing better, the offense is still really bad. If you can trade Shark for some MLB ready young players or MLB ready prospects who can hit, you must make the trade! I agree with you in regards to postioning the team for 2016 and 2017. I think if the organization plays their cards right, we can get back into the race as early as next season. However, they MUST address the glaring needs- offensive help at 3b, SS, C and 2b. One thing the White Sox have done in the past and have failed frequently under KW is that they went into buyer mode at the deadline rather than selling off guys for minor league talent. For some reason, the organization seems to be afraid to sell high on players. I truly believe they messed up badly not dealing Alexie Ramirez when they had the chance this winter. They also could have sold high on Carlos Quentin back in the day. The team is in no position to be delusional. They will not win a wildcard in 2015- they MUST focus on 2016 by selling high on Shark.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 10:04 AM) Has there ever been an all-lefty 5 man rotation in MLB? Thats a really good question, knightni! Can someone look that up for us?

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 09:45 AM) and why not, i would love for hm to come back. i can see, at least wishful hoping, he comes back on a team fav salary. danks and his contract is unmovable. the only way, not being in the pro ranks is to utilize him in a least damaging way for the team. how??? i don't know, the smarter people will need to figure that out. The Sox pretty much have three options this winter for Danks: #1- Trade him, get little to nothing in return and likely pay at LEAST 50% of his remaining $15,750,000 in 2016. #2- Put him and his ridiculous contract in the bullpen, similar to what the Giants did with Lincecum. #3- He remains in the rotation, which pretty much would eliminate a spot for a possible Buerhle return. You CANNOT fill two rotation spots with both Buerhle AND Danks because as of right now you would have: Sale (L), Quintana (L), Rodon (L), Danks (L) and Buerhle (L). I just don't see an ALL lefty rotation in 2016, do you? Now if management trades Shark AND Q, then there might be a small chance of Buerhle returning even if they cannot move Danks. On a typical younger team, I would rather see some of the prospects in the rotation rather than Danks taking up a key spot. Guys who are getting close to being MLB ready are Frank Montas and Erik Johnson- we need to see them in the rotation soon.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 09:39 AM) Yep. He'd help save the innings on the young arms and the pen. I just don't see this unless they find a team to take on Danks and his ridiculous contract?

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Jul 13, 2015 -> 09:31 AM) ...And sign Buehrle in the offseason. I was actually thinking about a possible homecoming for Buerhle today. Unfortanately, with Danks apart of this rotation next season, I really don't see this occurring. This is a shame because the fan base would LOVE this move.

My hope is for them to sell high on Shark for a near MLB ready Catcher or 3B prospect who can rake! This offense is not good enough to win a wild card spot. I wonder what it would take to acquire a guy like Corey Seager?? He has the potential to be an offensive monster and many scouts have him pegged as a future 3B. He is currently defending at SS.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 01:41 PM) I'll admit the bar is a little lower with Samardzija, since the opportunity cost is a few months of starts for a last place team and a comp. pick when he leaves as a FA. But with Quintana, you better be getting a freaking HAUL! Trading Quintana for pitching prospects, no matter how good, doesn't make any sense at all to me. Indeed. The whole point of trading Quintana would be to obtain a package centered around a team's top position player prospect(s). This team needs depth at just about every position on that field.

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 12:50 PM) Really? As if trading Shark and not re-signing him for next year wouldn't weaken our pitching staff enough? Let's face it, this team is not as deep as we think in regards to pitching. Even if we trade Shark this year and don't re-sign him (which we definitely won't be able to if we make him pack his bags again and trade him), who the heck do we have in the minors that can take his place...Fulmer? The jury is still out on that one, he is young and unproven. I look for him to eventually replace Danks next year. Additionally, who the heck is going to trade a BIG BAT for a rental like Shark?...nobody. We are not going to get a starting C, 3b, SS, or 2B for Shark. Maybe for Q and Shark, but then your rotation is just plain bad. Major League ready starting pitching is our position of strength. Keep it in tact. If we even had "serviceable" players at 3b, C, SS, and 2B this season, we would be above .500 and in the race. The players we have in those positions now are just plain bad and would be back-ups on other teams. Show Shark some respect, don't make him pack his bags again and trade him. Re-sign him. Drop Ramirez and don't pick-up his $10M option. And go get a couple of "serviceable" Free Agents this winter to at least fill a couple of those positions. Ideally 3B and Catcher. It still believe with some seasoning that Micah Johnson can add some spark to this offense. And as far as money is concerned, the White Sox always tend to surprise. Jerry will open his wallet for a winner. Have you looked at the free agent class yet? Not to mention the White Sox tried to patch things up in free agency this winter and it failed. I HIGHLY doubt they try this route a 2nd year in a row. Listen, I respect Shark and believe he will get a nice contract this winter, but not with the White Sox. When you have 10 teams interested in a guy and your team has a 0% chance if competing for the playoffs, you can't be ignorant, you trade him to a contender and bring back prospects. In regards to Quintana, you can get A LOT for him. When your team has a weak farm system position wise, you have to explore trading from a strength which is the starting pitching. As for your concerns with the rotation in 2016 goes, if i'm right and both Shark and Q are traded, you will likely get an arm back in such a deal AND it appears as if Erik Johnson may have found his way again which is encouraging. Montas and Fulmer should be ready by 2017 just in time for Danks to leave after the 2016 season. I hate to bring this up, but the White Sox will not be contenders in 2016. They need to build a new infield, obtain a catcher and hope for Eaton and Garcia to continue to grow. I can see them being competitive in 2017 if Hahn plays his cards right. Its hard to be patient with this horrible offensive/defensive team but at this point, we have no choice.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 12:18 PM) An elite arm like Stroman, Norris, Hoffman, Severino or Urias would be un-pass-up-able. Otherwise, the Sox just set an ALL-TIME team record for home offensive futility, have no significant help coming from the farm, and are faced with a meh free agent class this winter. Getting a significant bat via trade has to be a priority. And this is why we might not only see Shark traded at the deadline, but Quintana as well. I hate to see Q go, but position wise, this team has way to many holes to even consider competing for a division next year. Lets say they leave the OF alone for 2016; which is reasonable, they still would need to be upgraded at 3b, C, SS and 2B BADLY. With the lack of farm depth at all of those positions, trading a cost controlled #2/3 starter might be just what the doctor ordered at this point of time.

I would like to get a future every day position player for Shark, but wouldn't be upset if they acquired a top pitching prospect as well. At this point, anything can happen.

More than half of the starting lineup is hitting below .228. What a sad state for this offense. Worst in the league in multiple offensive categories. 5. Adam LaRoche .228 6. Alexei Ramirez .226 7. Gordon Beckham .203 8. Tyler Flowers .224 9. Carlos Sanchez .162 This is the bottom half of the lineup. I think it's safe to say this is the worst offensive White Sox team of my lifetime. The defense is pretty bad also.