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QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 02:40 PM) Crede is getting dealt. KW is just trying to drive up his value a bit to squeeze that extra piece, but the future of the White Sox at 3B is Josh Fields, not the Scott Boras-led Joe Crede. You just don't send a guy down to AAA who had a pace of 37/108 in his rookie year. IMO The future of the Sox is not one player it is a team of players. The best 25 we can field. Joe Crede is better at 3B and is just as good with the bat as Fields, if not better. Josh strikes out a lot. We have two talented players and both should be kept by the Sox. So Joe Crede makes $7M or so, why is that suddenly an issue? The team ownership and GM keeps telling us that they will pay the money to field a contender. You don't do that by trading away your talent. I have to wonder if it isn't just the dislike for Boras that makes these decisions for the Sox. We have players developed in our own system and we don't keep them because they reach a point where they can make some money. I am not following the logic of this. We will pay someone elses players though? Fields should have been in winter ball or at the AFL learning the LF job. KW and his "ready to deal sign" is not impressing me. He is no Bill Veeck.

We are excited aren't we about Hunter? We may have the inside track right now, but you have to wonder about the money and years. And there ain't no hometown discount I am pretty sure. Plus we need to get some middle relief pitchers. But, they might not be all that expensive.

I see that Kenny Rogers and Freddie Garcia are available too

The disssapointing thing to me with the management stance is they say on one hand how they will spend the money to make the team a contender, but on the other hand won't keep our own established players, who are as good as anyone on the FA market, if not better and let them walk or trade them for a bunch of lower minor league talent. I think we have a winning ballclub with who we have and add some folks in the bullpen. We can sign a FA for CF.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Nov 7, 2007 -> 08:21 AM) Ozzie is very good friends with Miguel Cabrera; both are from Venezuela, and Ozzie coached him in Florida. For all we know, Ozzie and Uribe may hate the s*** out of each other. This is the problem I see with this thinking (Ozzie and motivation). Uribe needed to be motivated to keep his weight down and be more selective at the plate and get on base more. Ozzie failed to do that on all counts. Now we think he can motivate Cabrera? I don't think so. Not to say Cabrera doesn't have a lot of upside because we know he does. Plus It seems the Yankees want him so that's who will most likely get him and sign him to a deal worth billions.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 7, 2007 -> 01:31 PM) Yes. Fields is one of the in the organization that would have real value to Flordia. A deal of Fields/Gio/DLS would certainly be something Flordia would have to listen to. Just another reason why having a solid farm system is so important. The Konerko thing is also interesting. Konerko could obviously bring back some nice pieces, but do some of those get moved for Cabrera?? Are the Sox really doing the right thing by taking Konerko and Fields out of the lineup, and replacing them with Cabrera? If Cabrera is a 3Bman why trade Konerko? Salary issues? I seem to remember the Sox saying they would pay what they have to pay. Now salary is an issue? Contreras and his $10M salary is soemthing that should be traded and not Konerko.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Nov 7, 2007 -> 01:00 PM) We need to get a 3-way deal going, involving at least one of Garland, Contreras, and/or Crede. Brian Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Chris Carter, and perhaps another spect, depending on who we get back for Crede/Contreras/Garland. Would that work? Forget those 3-way deals. One team always comes out aloser in my opinion and I would be afraid it will be the Sox

Gio talks surprise me some. The team seemed so high on him and he showed good poise in his September call up. I sometimes question KW's take on young players.

I am not impressed with Eckstein, who is showing his age as much as Uribe is showing his waistline. Defensively you don't get a heck of a lot better than Uribe. Not too say we can't do better, but the pickings are slim.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Nov 5, 2007 -> 10:16 PM) Bruce Levine reports from GM meetings that White Sox have made Torii Hunter their #1 priority. This means either that: 1) This info was disseminated to Levine in order to help negotiations in acquiring a different CF (Rowand, Damon, Crisp, Jones, Cameron). or 2) Getting Torii Hunter is their #1 priority. As usual I am going to take a firm stance on these rumors. I feel strongly that there is at 50/50 chance something might happen

Rather than trade away primo talent in Crede for a guy that lost his starting CF job I would rathe go internally, or use our younger OF and AAA pitchers in a trade for a guy like Crisp

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 12:02 AM) I'd make that move in a heartbeat because it provides the Sox leverage in the outfield (they won't have to overpay for anyone) and if they do get one of the Cfers you just have Crisp play left and he'll be amongst the best defensive left fielders out there. He lost his starting job to a rookie. We trade for a 4th of'er and give up a great 3B man? I don't think so. There are other options on the FA market much more attractive than Crisp.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 06:53 PM) proof. please. Defensively and offensively Joe has improved. Damon has not. Agewise also is an issue you need to consider. You hear these ssame commenst on different sites and in different stories. Joe Crede turned in an absolutely great 2005 and the champioshp games. Did the Yankees win with Damon? Did the Yankees win with A-Rod? I think there is a team chemistry we forget also. I think what we may have mssied when we consider trades is the fact the Sox have a surplus on starters. If someone wants a starting picthger they may have to go trades and not FA. I still think Contreras might go with his $10M salary. That frees up money for a run at a CF candidate and may fill another hole with the trade.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) How often do you see someone label a 30 year old player as "up and coming"? I don't think I've ever seen that before. The point I was making is that Crede still is on the upswing and Damon is on the down hill side of baseball life

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 05:23 PM) What makes you think that Joe Crede will sign an extension. Remember his agent is Bora$$. He lurks quietly during the pre-arbitration years, then goes year to year on contracts waiting till he can become a free agent. Do you really think one year away, that Bora$$ is going to take anything but top dollar for his player. Joe Crede's own comments that he would like to stay with the Sox and he not Boras makes the final decision

QUOTE(SadChiSoxFanOptimist @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 01:03 AM) The last thing we need is to get an old OF'r on the way down. I'd rather watch someone with a real future grow than the inevitable decline of a veteran. I think this is the exact point folks should keep in mind. Damon is speedy in the OF, but has a weak throwing arm and is in decline. You don't trade an upcoiming gold glove star for someone just because they were with the Red Sox and Yankees. When is the last time the Yankees won with all that money they have spent on stars like Damon and A-Rod et al? It is a bit tiring also how anytime the Yankees are mentioned in a trade we seem to be giving up the farm to them in any propsoed trade. Damon isn't the answer and not worth Joe Crede. Now maybe trading Brian Anderson or some other youngster we have decided can't help us for a Damon might be a good trade

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Nov 4, 2007 -> 12:48 AM) What's the consensus on trading Crede, are people for it or against it? I don't know if I like it, he's been with the team for a while now, so personally I'd hate to see him go, but if this trade helps out this team, then I'd be more apt to agree on the trade. If these are Crede's last days here, then I have to say I appreciate everything he's done for this team, his clutch hitting at the end, his great defense, and his power numbers. It could be that Joe Crede signs an extension and Fields is in LF. That would make more sense to me for a championship run. We have developed some good players here and it's stability and expereince that win championships and not penny pinching. You trade Crede and put Fields at 3B and you lose a gold glove defensively while maybe being close hitting wise, but I think Joe is better, but Josh has a good future. Put Josh in LF and work to develop adequate defense and you have a very good bat out there. You are ahead that way. We don't have anyone ready to step in that LF position and not much in the way of free agents.

Uribe

We only need better middle relief help. We have plenty of players in our system to play CF, if they can step up. Fields in LF and Crede at 3B. If we really want a new CF'er than Hunter or Rowand. SS will most likely be Uribe again and hopefully Ozzie puts his boot in the guys rear to get him to be more selective at the plate. We need one of two more set uip guys in the pen and we will be contenders. We lost because of injuries to Crede and Ozuna and career poor performances by some hitters, but mostly because of that pen. You don't trade from strength in one area to improve another without real solid options.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Oct 30, 2007 -> 05:33 PM) Are you kidding me? NO ONE has brought up the fact that Uribe was FIFTH on the team in WALKS last year with 34!!!!!!! That's just plain ridiculous...and if it doesn't change, the Sox aren't goin' anywhere. I'm flabbergasted and appalled by that stat. Patience at the plate, go the other way, take an extra base, etc, etc. Boston's offesnse showed us that and in 2005 we did it. Walker as the hitting coach apprently can't get it through to our people. Situational hitting is a key component to winning games obviously. Crede is a great clutch hitter, but we hear too often about trading him for people with no proven abilities or on their downside. Uribe is an enigma but I am not sure Eckstein is the answer to replace him either. I still think that having a healthy Joe Cred at 3B in 2008 is like making a trade to benefit the club. Fields in LF for a full year is great too. We can fill our holes internally except maybe for relief pitching. There are people out there in free agency and I don't see the need to tear up this team through questionable trades.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 29, 2007 -> 03:10 AM) The issue is...he basically already had that coming from the Yankees. The rumor was about $28/8 counting the years already existing, and that's with the Yankees already having $21 million from Texas. LOL, Joe Buck saying John Henry is on his blackberry is smiling...and yea, it's because ARod is available, not because they're 6 outs away from WINNING THE F***ING WORLD SERIES you moron buck. LOL ARod upstaging this. Joe Buck is the same one that during the Fox TV show was commenting on the New England/Boston fans being excited about the "Patriots, the Boston College football team" and as they showed the Red Sox jumping around said, "White Sox in the World Series". I really find Joe and McCarver as irritants.

There aren't many 3B folks out there better than Joe. He is in the upper tier. Interesting stat about the WS Rockies team. 16 of their players are home grown. We have a tendency to trade or let walk our organizations stars when they get to the point they can make some money. You don't build a stable winning team doing that and why would we just continue to trade or let walk away our best talent!? We get youth from another organization and continue to work through the learning curve. It seems KW may be changing that approach as we have seen lately, but Joe Crede needs to stay also.

Pablo is the back up for sure and can play what? 4 positions? My thought for 2B if Richar doesn't develop is Iguchi again. Now maybe Tad can play SS also???

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Oct 27, 2007 -> 05:55 PM) Your love affair with Crede is quite evident. Regarding Fields, have you gone mad? Listen I am not crazy. I may look and sound wierd, but I am just an ordinary guy like you Now what is wrong with my idea of Crede at 3B and Fields in LF? I just asked if anyone knew if Josh had ever played SS or 2B? It appears not though from other posters.

Sign Joe before the season starts. Fields is not the 3B person we need to make a run at a championship. It is Joe Crede. Josh needs grooming out there in LF. He can play an occassional game at 3B along with Ozuna though. One question I have though - does anyone think Fieds could make the transformation at 2B or SS? Did he ever play there?