fathom

Please add - why did you trade Jon Garland for a 33 year old SS in his last year of free agency who doesn't want to sign a contract extension?

Oh KW, you never let me down. Blaming the "loose lips" of other people is just freaking pathetic. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

If the Cubs can get Roberts without giving up Hill or Pie, it's a great move for them.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:41 AM) If the Sox are smart about it then this signing could work. Specifically, you have to think about him in the Royals mode. You do a 1 year deal, minimal dollars, and you expect that at some point during the year, due to injury, out of the 20 teams in the pennant race, 1 or 2 will emerge who lose an OF to injury who could use a veteran at those positions or as a DH/Platoon player or something. Exactly what the Rangers did with Kenny Lofton last year. Even if all you get is a mediocre prospect, the more depth in the minors you have the better off you are. But, with right now, Owens and Quentin, followed by Anderson and Sweeney as still potential OF candidates, you can't give him 50 at bats a month unless someone is hurt. Because as young guys, Owens and Quentin, or Anderson or Sweeney could push their value much, much higher with a good/lucky season. Not for one second would I trust Ozzie to use Luis properly.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:19 AM) Last resort... if we don't get anyone and I mean DeJesus, Lofton, etc., bring him in. To play where?

Sounds like Cubs have a great chance of getting Roberts. He's a damn good player, and would really be an upgrade over anything they would have had at 2b. Getting him and Fukudome would be devastating to the rest of the NL Central.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 11:07 PM) the only reason Boras is an issue is that he overvalues his clients and lies to other teams about what his client has been offered. The man lies and cheats to get his client the best offer. Some people don't mind it, others prefer to deal with others. I would prefer to deal with others. I'd prefer to deal with the best players. Sometimes it seems like we're a college team that can only recruit players that aren't just academically qualified, put also would be accepted into the school if they were a normal student (like Stanford used to be).

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:42 PM) No way does Hamilton get a top prospect. No way. Not with his problems. A lefty hitting leadoff CF for Broadway....where do I sign up?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:40 PM) You bring up Hamilton, when in all likelihood it would similarly take Gio + others to land Hamilton. I don't buy for a second that the Reds were asking for Sean Marshall. BS -- I'm reasonably comfortable saying they were either asking for Marshall plus another quality player (Marmol? Gallagher?) or for just Rich Hill. No kidding, the same Marshall who was pulled from Cubs rotation when his fastball wasn't reaching 85 mph. I was stunned to see that report, and it figured to be bogus.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:40 PM) You bring up Hamilton, when in all likelihood it would similarly take Gio + others to land Hamilton. I don't buy for a second that the Reds were asking for Sean Marshall. BS -- I'm reasonably comfortable saying they were either asking for Marshall plus another quality player (Marmol? Gallagher?) or for just Rich Hill. I'd give up Gio and any prospect not named DLS (I don't consider the rest of the AAAA pitchers as prospects) for Hamilton.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:33 PM) Well, all these people are jumping off a ledge because we don't have proven veterans at every position and so we can't compete for the next 4 years, so if they're demanding it then that's an option. I think it'd be stupid, but I think a lot of these desperation find a CF moves are pretty dumb as well. I just think DeJesus is nothing special and likely won't improve from the level he's been at over last few years. That's why I'd be just thrilled with Josh Hamilton. It's a huge risk, but also the reward is possibly incredible at all. For him, I'd have no problem finding a platoon partner if necessary.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:38 PM) As currently constructed, what OBP machine would be in front of Thome if we hit him third? Cabrera, of the we-should-be-pleased-with-a-.340-OBP variety? Hopefully we announce a Fukodome signing so we don't have to go any further with this. That solves everything, Fukodome leads off with Cabrera second and everybody (that I can tell) is happy happy. I hate when people let announcers and managers/GM shape the way they view things.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:26 PM) Things could change if they were to sign Jones or Fukudome. So wouldn't that mean we'd have to come up with a better offer than Chuck James? Doesn't seem like it would be in our best interest to give up something like Gio and another of our few legit prospects.

QUOTE(Allsox @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:22 PM) Hmmm, after looking at DeJesus' #'s, I wouldn't mind him here. Tough trading within the division but he's a pain in our ass. Me likey! Batting GP AB R H 2b 3b HR RBI SB At BB K Avg OBP SLG 2004 24 KCR AL 96 363 58 104 15 3 7 39 8 11 33 53 .287 .360 .402 2005 25 KCR AL 122 461 69 135 31 6 9 56 5 5 42 76 .293 .359 .445 2006 26 KCR AL 119 491 83 145 36 7 8 56 6 3 43 70 .295 .364 .446 2007 27 KCR AL 157 605 101 157 29 9 7 58 10 4 64 83 .260 .351 .372 Fielding for '07 in CF GP TC A E FP% 2007 27 KCR AL CF 156 401 5 4 .990 The Braves offered Chuck James, a highly touted lefty MLB starter, and I believe the Royals said no. I'm worried about what we'd have to give up to get DeJesus. I'd much rather trade for Josh Hamilton.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:17 PM) Look out, Sox might get Gooched over on this one. from Rotoworld "Agent Rocky Hall said he's expecting the Brewers to extend a two-year offer to Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi would likely take over as the Brewers' third baseman, with Ryan Braun getting shifted to left. That's not the kind of upgrade the Brewers first seemed to be shooting for when they entertained the idea of moving Braun, but it might work out OK." Terrible idea by the Brewers....Iguchi might need a cut-off man to reach 1b.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:16 PM) There are certain lefties, such as Johan that its better to face them as a traditional lefty as it takes away their best pitch, the change up. Used to be that way, but it wasn't true last year. I can't believe how bad his home run numbers were last year. I really think he's going to begin to fade sooner rather than later. I feel bad for the team that signs him to a 6 year deal (obviously, he'll be an ace for the first two years or so).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:09 PM) Little early to cast judgment. That hasn't stopped this site from doing it in the past, but it's still early. On second thought, I should have said "won't", instead of can't.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:10 PM) BP said they thought there was one really big offer for Fukudome -- and they thought it was from the Cubs. And Hendry did say he would outbid anyone for him. Plus, Fukudome strikes out. He's not the player Williams is talking about. given what he said, I'm guessing they are targeting David DeJesus or Crisp. Crisp doesn't do much of anything offensively.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:11 PM) Where exactly are you coming up with the conclusion that Richar can't face LHP? According to MLB.com's splits, and those are just his rookie numbers, his OPS against LHP last year was .696 and his OPS against RHP was .695. He won't be facing lefties...I'll guarantee you that we'll platoon at 2nd base. I actually wouldn't mind a Richar/Ozuna platoon at 2nd.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:04 PM) I will take a high OBP guy who can get on base regardless. They need good hitters, not necessarily guys who hit from one side or the other. You've criticized Guillen for being too appendage aware, as long as the guy is a good hitter who can get on base, what's the difference? As for what Hendry might or might not have told the agent, well, maybe that's true but there's all kinds of chatter at these meetings. My guess is the Cubs do get him but I hope the White Sox seal the deal on this guy. Hoping against hope. But what if it's a guy that can't get on base against LHP? As our division stands right now, it's possible we'll have to face Santana, Liriano, Rogers, Robertson, Willis, Sabathia, and one or two other tough lefties in our division. We already have a 2nd baseman that can't face LHP and a DH that is below league average when facing lefties. Does anyone know how Fukudome is against LHP?

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:04 PM) Fuk? In regards to what? Why I'm confident he's Cubs bound.

BTW, I promise after he decides that I'll reveal what I've been told. Until then, I will hold out hope that the Sox get him. Hearing that mlb.com interview with Ozzie does give me a little more optimism, but I'd still put Fukudome as 90 pct likely to be playing for the Cubs.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:00 PM) The Sox have been courting him too and it goes back to last summer before he got hurt. How's this for irony after the stories we heard yesterday.....Piniella was telling Kaz Matsui during the recruiting process that he'd have another japanese player on the roster.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 09:59 PM) Why? Fukudome appears to be exactly what the White Sox need. You're bothered by everything else, but it wouldn't bother you if he turns down the Sox and goes to the Cubs, or any other team? I don't think he'd be a competent CF, and I really want our new CF to be a right handed hitter that can face tough lefties. Also, as DA pointed out last night, Hendry has let Fukudome's agent know they'll outbid anyone.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 09:56 PM) Have you ever heard that Fuk prefers the Cubs, or that the Cubs really want him? No one heard about the Halos and Hunter either.... Yes, I've heard from a ton of places, either in the media or from some people involved with the club, that the Cubs and Fukudome have been working on a deal for over a month now.