Marty34

Adam Dunn is part of the product the White Sox are trying sell. The disdain he's receiving is nothing personal, just business.

I'm surprised Dunn was at Soxfest, the Sox usually have a better feel about this sort of thing. Was he there in 2012?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 03:32 PM) He will have a breakout season this year I hope you're right. I wish Dunn were somewhere else.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 03:04 PM) My greatest hope is that Dunn hits 25 HR before the All Star Break and then gets traded for a top catching prospect. Then Marty and Greg can continue to make up reasons why we should have dumped Dunn earlier. Keep dreaming.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 01:41 PM) From what everyone seems to be saying, there's 2 guys head and shoulders above the others as things stand now and then a number of guys who could distinguish themselves at 3. Is my assessment wrong in that? If you could save $500k on your first pick by taking a guy who might otherwise go number 5 at #3...while not sacrificing a lot in talent, that's like adding an extra 3rd rounder to the draft. The setup has to be right, you don't want to do that when the #3 pick is head and shoulders above the #4, but so far no one seems to be making a case that there's an obvious #3 guy in any of these threads. My first thought after hearing this possible strategy is that they won't take Kolek even if he is the consensus pick at 3 because he's too far away from the Majors. Taking him at 3 is the total opposite of the ML-ready prospects they've acquired via trade. i don't think that's the right approach to the draft.

Sorry for bringing up a sore subject, B. I thought you were over it.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) We agree! But, seriously, I wonder if, since it's supposedly such a deep class, that they like a few guys they figure to be available in Round 2 as much as the guys they could pick at 3. Doubt it, but maybe. Still, don't care for it. #3 pick is rare, god willing, and we shouldn't pass up a chance to get someone who could dominate in a few years. We do agree, there must be something wrong with me. If this is a cover not to take Kolek, I think it's a bad idea. Like you said the #3 pick is too rare not to take the BPA.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 01:18 PM) Of course, considering the very concept blew your mind last year to the point you declared the draft a failure. You still got Viciedo as the next Vlad, B?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Both Lauman and Hahn have alluded to possibly taking a guy at #3 that would sign under slot and spreading out the money throughout the draft. I don't know what's going to be available at #3 right now but I'm not crazy about the idea I'm theory. Agree that this would be a bad idea. Disappointing that they are even considering it.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) Sure it is. Shoulda signed Hamilton last year too, Carnac I was wrong on that one. Maybe, I'll start posting pithy one-liners.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:11 PM) And costs millions less than Jimenez Dealing Chris Sale is a better argument for what you are advocating.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:11 PM) Lol ok. Spend all the money, spend it on whoever signs first, and continue to ignore the minors. Marty's flawed argument, rinse, repeat, say "we won't compete until (3 years from current year) anyways, so let's not be patient and sign people. You calling anyone's argument flawed is hilarious I called your argument flawed which it was.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:06 PM) It only allows you to deal from depth next year if everything goes right. Jimenez is not consistent enough to put that kind of a wager on And that 2nd round pick is only worth something if everything goes right too.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:54 AM) Pick a lane Marty, you are simultaneously complaining that there is no depth in the minors and advocating trading away the ability to restock the minors. Jimenez isn't worth the money you are saying should be offered or the pick that would be surrendered. "Pick a lane" . . . please. Your argument is flawed because the reason they have no talent in the minors is because the way they used those picks not because they were giving them away by signing free agents.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:50 AM) Jimenez or Santana is going to cost us 10 plus million a year, while our 2nd rounder is going to cost us a fraction of that and could possibly be in our organization for the next 8-10 years. I honestly would rather not give a draft pick for mediocre, aging free agent fodder at all. It's not that Hahn isn't participating in free agency, he just is being selective about who to pursue. The addition of a SP would allow you to deal one from depth next year. The idea is Johnson shows enough in the rotation in 2014 to take Quintana's place in 2015 if need be and they can deal Quintana. Or if Danks has a bounce back year he can be dealt.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:32 AM) He makes this year's team better and if he has a decent first half he suddenly becomes tradeable for actual players I thought the point of making this year's team better was a bad thing.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:17 AM) Exactly the right way to go in this situation. Say what you'd like about the odds of a 2nd rounder amounting to anything, but a team coming off a 99 loss season shouldn't be signing 30 something starters that cost a pick. Why? The Sox need talent on the Major League level as desperately as they need it in the minors. If the Sox can't outspend the big spenders (as shown by the Tanaka pursuit) they are going to have to go after guys like this. Would you rather give up a 2nd round pick this year than give up a 1st rounder when they are in the middle of the pack?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:17 AM) Dunn is frustrating as hell to watch, but given our lack of offense and left-handed bats, he definitely has value to us against RHP regardless of what the common Sox fan may think. Dunn is symbolic of a failed strategy. This franchise would be better off without him even if he hits 30 homers.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 11:16 AM) Yeah, unfortunately I was really disappointed. I'm sure I'll enjoy Lauman and Bell better. but you can blame them for asking Robin about his credibility and for booing Dunn. I don't know I just prefer professional discourse instead of the meathead talk. It's not my style to boo players, but Dunn still being here is bad for this franchise. Throw the fans who attend the games a bone by getting rid of him.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 08:39 AM) Ok take Danks out of the projected starting rotation, it was just an example. But outside of Johnson, what starting pitching prospects do we have that get you at all excited? I like Danish, but still feel his sidearm action and quick release still project better as a reliever long term. Beck hasn't shown the upside to be anything more than a #4 or 5 starter at best in the show. Yes, he did look much better after getting promoted to AA, but this incredibly low strikeout rate at A ball has me concerned. He needs to show solid improvement this year to be considered legitimate in my eyes. Outside of these two, who in our system even projects to make the major leagues as a starting pitcher, let alone excel? While I'd be happy to draft Turner, this shows how much we need to stock up on quality arms in the farm system. I like Keaton McKinney later in the draft, he has a solid frame, the best changeup of all HS pitchers and great control. The organization's SP depth is vastly overstated by many on this board.

You can't blame fans for being unhappy about Dunn still being here.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 07:21 PM) You have some fair points in this thread, but Hahn's goal right now it to improve the major league roster as much as possible without jeapordizing the future well-being of the organization. Guys that cost draft picks should be off limits unless they are true impact players and neither Jimenez or Santana fall under that label. Veterans can be added on cheap and/or short-term deals, but both pitchers you're talking about will require at least 4 or 5 years to get it done. I actually agree with you that we should spend money when opportunities present themself even if winning in the very near-term is unlikely. Some posters seem to think we'll develop this magical core all at once and then will spend our millions to plug these holes, but fail to realize there may not be players to fill our needs in future free agent markets. However, it's quite clear that isn't the case next year regarding starting pitching, which makes adding a Santana or Jimenez right now a bad idea. Draft picks aren't the only way, or I'd argue the best way to build, at least not for the Sox. It's going to take a long time to build that farm system up Sox fans aren't going to sit through that. Look what has happened with the Astros getting beat in the ratings by a WNBA game. The Sox aren't going to the Astros extent in rebuilding, but they do have the Cubs to compete with. The Cubs farm system is stacked which is one reason why I believe the Sox chose ML-ready prospects in trades. The Sox can't afford to fall behind them in terms of Major League talent which could very well happen once the Cubs prospects start making it to the majors. For that reason, the focus for the Sox has to be on the big league level right now. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. That 2nd round fee it would cost for Jimenez, along with the big spenders not being interested, will keep his price down and you can recoup the value of the pick by dealing from rotation depth next offseason.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 12:36 AM) Homer Bailey has to be a target next season if the reds don't extend him. On the starting catcher front I'm not seeing much next year as well... We're likely to get our catcher via trade IMO. Barring injury, Homer Bailey will be out of their price range. They're not going to outspend the usual suspects when it comes to the top of the free agent market.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 06:22 PM) What? How do you figure? You don't need a stud 5th starter to compete. If we get to the point where we only have 3 good SPs, THEN we sign a fourth. The depth of talent in this organization remains paper thin. The truth is Abreau, Eaton, and Davidson are question marks to one degree or another and beyond those three there's no position players arriving anytime soon. If Johnson and Beck bust there's no depth to deal to fill holes that arise.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 04:30 PM) You have a good young piece in Quintana right now, and a bust of a long-term contract in Danks. You want to trade Quintana - again, an already proven, young piece - for prospects, and then trade Danks for prospects - meaning, eat his contract, hope to get a guy that throws 88 MPH. You then want to venture down the long-term contract for a 30something pitcher while then counting on the development of Johnson and/or Beck, who are guys that could easily bust. Ultimately, you may end up with 0 good pitchers while eating Danks contract and adding another bloated contract in there as well. Do I really need to explain this further? You don't have to make extreme moves to rebuild. You can take it slow. This doesn't have to be done in one year, and frankly it doesn't have to be done in two years. If both Johnson and Beck turn out to be busts your rebuild is screwed whether you hang on to Quintana or not.