joeynach

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 3, 2010 -> 01:12 PM) Last year, in the "Fangraphs player value" world, Diaz was worth $2 million and Jones was worth $7 million. Diaz had a solid 2009, but was awful in 2008 and basically a backup in 2010. Jones has been a solid backup each of the last 2 years. I'd say Jones is probably a $4 million-ish player and I might commit $2 million to Diaz. I could be off on that though. The problem with Fangraphs is that their player value doesnt take into account the players role on his team. Jones is a 4th OF, even if he did produce at a $7M clip no one is going to pay him that much for a backup role with 250 ABs tops.

this might help, turn on the range rings http://hittrackeronline.com/detail.php?id=...p;type=ballpark

Wow sox just cleared 4M in payroll and got rid of bad reliever, Win Win.

This is great trade if the braves assume all of his salary. That would give Kenny some ammo to resign Putz or find another quality arm for the pen. Bye Bye Mop up Linebrink.

Hes an interesting candidate. Though hes never had more than about 360 AB's in a given year he has some really nice offensive seasons. Hes posted an OPS of .840-.880 three times and owns a career slash line of .301/.350/.456. Quentin on the other hand posted an .821 OPS this past year, a year most ppl consider a bit down for CQ, so you can see CQ is no offensive kitty kat either. Defensive speaking I think a good starting point is baseball-reference.com. Look up the player you want to go to his "Player Value" section and find the players Rfield value. This metric measures Runs from Fielding, the number of runs the player was better or worse from average for all fielding situations. Therefore 0 would be average, - would be worse than average, and + would be above average. Matt Diaz's Rfield 2006: +10 2007: -5 2008: -2 2009: 0 2010: +4 CQ Rfield 2006: +3 2007: +12 2008: -2 2009: -9 2010: -20 The numbers speak for themselves, Diaz is consistently average as a defender, Quentin on the other hand has become progressively worse. 2010 was espeically awful for Quentin has be posted one of the worst Rfield values for all OF's. Its pretty clear that if CQ is going to be a productive player he will need to improve in the outfield or he will find himself relegated to DH/Bench at the age of 28. In terms of Diaz hes basically not that much of a difference player than Quentin. Hes got a bit less power, but a more consistent fielder who wont kill you in the OF. If hes available I wouldn't mind him as a 4th OF type, but hes no replacement candidate for CQ.

Manny Delcarmen was non-tendered by the rockies. I believe KW has been after this guy in the past, wouldn't be surprised to see the white sox make a run. Also DJ Carrasco was non-tendered if the sox are looking for another long man. Alfredo Aceves from the yankees, and Jeremy Accardo from the Blue Jays were was also non-tendered. Just some thought when gauging the availability of adding to the bullpen.

QUOTE (daggins @ Dec 3, 2010 -> 12:14 AM) Man remember when J Russell Martin was considered one of the best young catchers in the game? LA just non tendered him. Damn. When a guy goes from a cant miss All Star to a non tender.....that ole "S" word tends to creep into consideration.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 10:30 PM) I fully expect to hear that PK has been signed, Linebrink and Teahen moved, Byrdak signed and Man Soo Lee brought back to Chicago by midnite. The off-season is a bust unless Man Soo Lee is brought back.

My gut tells me KW will pencil him for the bullpen. I think he knows the importance of quality arms in the bullpen, which are not a commodity in baseball. With Peavy out for awhile I think he relies on Freddy for a bit. Buehrle Danks Floyd Jackson Garcia/Peavy

Giving just a raw comparison I want Konerko, add the semantics I want DLee. That means I assume Konerko costs $12M per year on a multiyear deal and DLee costs similar to what Vlad and Matsui got in 2010, about 1 year $5-$6M. If I sign DLee I receive 2 draft picks from where ever Konerko signs. DLee is a plus defender and most likely in line for a bounce back year giving he will play in a better lineup and stadium. Ill take DLee, my draft picks, and my $6M savings to reinvest in other players.

Its pretty obvious he will be a primary DH, which is fine by me, you DO NOT want this guy in field more than the occasional start. You do want either Konerko or DLee to be your 1B. Interesting thing is for the price of Konerko (assume $12M) you can have DLee (assume $7M) and AJ or Putz (assume $5M). Which do you want.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:04 PM) Makes perfect sense to me. Me too, plus there is no way DLee can be that bad again. Just the thought to sticking him into a more productive lineup should bring him back to average numbers, and he is a plus defender too.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 06:47 PM) Quentin. Dunn would probably hurt himself while costing the team 40 runs. Quentin might only cost you 25-30. Look at his WAR, I bet you the less defense Dunn is allowed to play the greater is WAR. Dunn could easily be a 6 WAR guy in a DH only role, which is RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. The only way Dunn can be bad is if he is allowed to play defense and costs enough runs to negative his .900+ OPS.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 04:17 PM) More to the point, what do we do without the ability to use Thornton in high-leverage spots? We're shooting ourselves in the foot by putting Matt in the spot, without another viable bullpen arm. 100% agree, this is an absolute crucial point. If the sox want Thornton to close, fine by me, but you better find a suitable replacement for the 7th/8th. You simply can not win ballgames without a multitude of quality "go to" arms in the pen. And any baseball betting man will back that up.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 04:46 PM) $5-6 mill should be about the amount it is going to cost per year to get Putz. It's a matter of whether the Sox will let him close and how many years they are willing to go. I think Putz is a guy you let the market dictate the terms then decide if you want to match or not. No doubt hes a quality arm, durability is a bit of a factor, but he can definitely work the 7th/8th/9th and shut it down. If someone wants to give him 3/18 you probably say goodbye. If someone wants to give him 2/10, you prolly match right. If less, even better.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 06:11 PM) What happened to Rauch? I think hes gone.

QUOTE (MuckFinnesota @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 04:08 PM) I'm glad that they cut ties with Jenks (thank you for 2005), but I hope that they don't go into this year with a closer by committee approach. If Sale isn't a starter, I would think he would be a good option. Who would the White Sox realistically bring in to close from another organization and who is a realistic (and not a pipe dream) free agent that the Sox would bring in? Closer's are just quality bullpen arms assigned to the 9th inning. How many big free agent closer contracts have really worked out? The most important thing is to gather quality arms in the pen, whoever closes, I could care less. Not that this is an easy thing, but give me 5 Matt Thorntons in the pen and let which ever one you feel like close the damn game.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:31 PM) Score saying KW is putting AJ on hold until PK is sorted out. Makes sense to me, having PK come back is huge, especially for the reliability he bring to the 1B position. Believe me Alexi, Vizquel, and Beckham want PK at 1B picking their low throws and one hoppers across the infield. If its Dunn or Viciedo is there we have big problems from an infield defense point of view. Still the though of Dunn/Konerko/Rios in the middle of order is very very nice. But something tells me that if Konerko comes back to play here with Dunn, AJ wont really want to be left out of the party. AJ strikes me as a guy where $$ isnt the issue, its the opportunity, the respect, the fun, etc. With Konerko/Dunn on board, AJ will want in.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:19 PM) Of course it would. And that would be a drastic overpay. Beckham is the only piece that would even come close to getting it done, but we need to move CQ just to have a place for Rasmus. Think about it though, if you have Rasmus in right you can sign someone like Orlando Hudson to play 2B (1 year 5 mil). Hudson, if healthy, will actually give you numbers pretty comparable to what a good year for Beckham would produce, about .280/.350/.420.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 2, 2010 -> 07:11 PM) If you sign Konerko and Dunn, everyone knows you're selling him because you have no spot to play him. Konerko and Dunn is your 1B/DH combo. I hope that Konerko does resign becuase Dunn's value becomes very diminished if he allowed to play the field regularly (1B or RF). You still need a RF, Quentin can play, I guess, but I would welcome a trade for a more defensive minded RF. Still would a CQ and Beckham package get it done for Rasmus?

Konerko officially has his first offer on the table, its from the Orioles! http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/orio...a-contract.html

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 1, 2010 -> 12:22 AM) I'd be ok with Lee and Dunn. That depends on what Lee will sign for and you woudl have to deal Quentin which kind of stinks because you are selling low on him (I say you must move him because Dunn would have to be the DH and Quentin shouldn't play the OF regularly). I dont want Adam Dunn anywhere near 1B, let him DH. He is an absolute butcher at 1B, think Mark Teahen like. If you let Dunn play 1B I gurantee you see a ton more throwing errors from the infield, hes downright awful. If you want Dunn, fine, but dont let him near the playing field. Problem is so is Quentin and so its Teahen and these guys need their AB's. Its not a good thing to have a host of big oaf like sluggers in your lineup with no where to stick them in the field. I believe and I still think KW and lots of baseball minds believe that championship baseball begins with speed, athleticism, defense, and pitching. After that you can plop a DH slugger in, but first and foremost lets get the core in place.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 30, 2010 -> 03:12 PM) They could bring him back if he'd take a paycut, but it would be silly to offer him arb. His performance has deteriorated as has his health is recent years. I really think this is a guy who could be one of the greats if he had the desire and discipline to do so, but he chooses to be a slob and its going to cost him a ton of money. I think one way or the other Jenks is gone, but I would be concerned about promoting on of the solid 4 bullpen arms we need to the closers role. No doubt that Putz/Thornton/Sale/Sergio have plus arms that can all close, but the strength of our bullpen last year is the fact that we have those 4 guys shortening the game and locking it down in late innings. Removing one for the closers role will really hurt the overall strength of the pen, that is unless a suitable addition being a set up man or closer is found via trade of free agency. Nonetheless, I think we need 4 shut down guys that would pitch the 6th/7th/8th and then a suitable closer for the 9th.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 30, 2010 -> 04:04 PM) I disagree. A player's demeanor in a club house can make a big difference. They can cause a real division in the clubhouse and as long as you are winning it's fine. However, when the team hits that inevitably losing streak, problems can arise. These players are together all the time and it can wear on a player mentally and emotionally. Think about your workplace, if the person at the desk next to you is always complaining or is a real jerk, it has an impact on your performance. It doesn't always make a difference if the team is always playing well. But it can make a difference which is why guys like him and Bradley are shipped around even with the talent they have. Performance has a way of allowing people to get away with abrasive and annoying personalities. At work if the top performer is an asshole or just plain mean, you put up with it. If hes not performing you fire him. Same with Swisher, if the abrasive ass in clubhouse is hitting .210 and striking out like crazy, you trade him, if hes a tremendous performer, making great plays, and the glue to your pitching staff (ala AJ) then you keep him around. Its that simple. Performance trumps personality/demeanor.........im not saying I agree I'm saying we know thats how it is.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 29, 2010 -> 11:02 PM) Hudson is f***ing annoying and doesn't know when to shut up. There's a reason why he never gets re-signed by teams. And Jessica Simpson has an awful voice, but....... Orlando Hudson is going to give u .280/.350/.420 and is a plus defender, thats what matters, thats all that matters when it comes to evaluating him as a player, PERIOD!