Wanne

QUOTE(WinninUgly @ Nov 26, 2005 -> 01:38 PM) There also aren't that many teams looking to pick up Paulie for either financial reasons or not being a team need, so weighing options shouldn't be that complex. I have to believe that every team that has interest in him has already made an offer so they too can look in other directions if it doesn't pan out for them. These Winter meetings should be very interesting. True...obviously the only teams which have already been stated are: 1) Angels. They have alot of decisions to make...plus I'd imagine the want Kotchman to get alot more ABs this year. Are they waiting for the Red Sox to get their s*** together in terms of a GM to work out the Manny deal (which seems to me is what's happening)? Plus...I can't see them shelling out 5 years at $12M+ for Paulie. 2) The Red Sox. Again...waiting on the GM deal and Manny. But I can't see PK evening thinking about it. 3) Dodgers. I REALLY can't see PK heading back there...but stranger things have happened. Is there a sleeper team in the mix? Oakland? San Diego? Texas? (Remember that Teixeira was originally a 3B...so it's not out of the question to sign PK and move Teix back over to 3rd and move Blalock). I think everybody's just waiting to see what deals are made before committing anything. btw...can you believe the Jays shelled out that kind of jack for Ryan?!?

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 06:49 PM) I don't think i will ever get used to that. Nor seeing Frank in an A's jersey.

QUOTE(OldSox2 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 06:46 PM) Let's see. Our defense is worse, our team speed is worse, our payroll is up, but we opened up some spots in the Birmingham rotation for 2006. The Phillie farm system is now a whole lot better, and ours is worse. We also opened a spot on the major league roster for either Timo or Joe B. Whaaat...

Thome trade a done deal By Rob Maadi The Associated Press November 25, 2005, 6:21 PM CST PHILDADELPHIA -- The Phillies and the White Sox on Friday completed their deal that sends slugger Jim Thome to the Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand. The trade was announced on Wednesday, but wasn't official until the players passed their physicals. Philadelphia also gets minor league left-hander Daniel Haigwood and a player to be named later. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines Still doesn't specifically mention Gio though.... Nevermind...the ESPN story says it's him... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2236730

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 02:21 PM) 2.25 mill is a bargain for Marte. Lets not forget Marte is still better than Scott Eyre and most other lefties in the biz. Sure he had a rough season, but he was still solid and he's signed to a very affordable deal. Yeah...if he regains his confidence and doesn't come in and immediately walk the first two batters he faces. If he could be used in a package...I wouldn't cry losing him. I think he cost me 2 remotes last year when he'd come in!

One other thing I found: Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez: signed 2-year worth 8M thru 2006 on 12/22/04- he will make 3.5M in 2005 and at least 4.5M in 2006- + he can earn 1.5M in bonuses in 2005 based on innings pitched: $187,500 for 100IP then $187,500 more per every remaining increment of 10 innings- + a 1/3 of the total amount of whatever amount of the 1.5M in incentives he earns in 2005 is added to his 2006 salary- + he can earn 2M in bonuses in 2006, making the total value of the deal with all incentives earned, 12M Agent: Greg Genske Service Time: 6.117 Not sure what this all adds up to... "Dammit Jim I'm a doctor....not a mathematician!" And also... Damaso Marte: signed 3-Year worth 4.5M on 3/2/04- + he receives salaries of 500K in 2004, 1.25M in 2005, 2.25M in 2006- + deal includes 2007 and 2008 Team options, both worth 3M or 250K buyouts- + he can earn 500K in bonuses in each year of deal- + the deal includes 500K in salary escalators per year based on GF Agent: Martin Arburua Service Time: 3.122 $2.25M for Marte in '06?!?....OUCH!!!

El Duque and Crede for Hank Blalock?...and maybe throw in a Diaz. Look...I'm not looking to break this group up by any means. But there's a couple issues with Crede that stand out...a) his back...is it a lingering long term thing B) his arbitration number plus the fact Boras is his agent. c) His propensity for extended slumps. Hey...I love Joe...but it there was a way to pull this off without giving up one of your top 5. Joe kind of falls in the same mode that ARow did...his value may never be higher. I realize Texas would probably want either Garland or BMac instead of Duque. Just a thought....

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:29 PM) Dunno why I have an iffy feeling about Contreras in 06. Why's that?!? With his newfound confidence...he could have a monster year next year.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:10 PM) On Haigwood and Gonzalez's inclusion--Williams better be preparing himself to structure long term deals for Garland and Contreras (dependent on this season). Don't expect production from the minors in the pitching department for quite awhile. That's ok...who on the staff was drafted by the Sox anyway. The Sox have been fortunate enough to pull young talent out of trades. Plus...they drafted 31 pitchers in last years draft and tons in the years before. Let's see how guys like Broadway and Liotta pan out before we do the "whoa is us" cry for our arm talent on the farm. Hell...Buerhle was drafted in the friggin 38th round...so sometimes...ya never know.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:51 PM) Thome is NOT better defensively than Konerko at first. Thank you...I was just getting ready to say this. Paulie is one of the most underrated defensive 1B in the league. You seem to forget some of the plays this dude has made all year long...not to mention the 3 or 4 HUGE scoops in one game from erratic throws in the ALDS against Boston.

I know if he's ready to go...he could be valuable to have around as a spot starter and long relief...but at $4.5-5M...that's kind of a pricey insurance policy IMO. I'm not sure what other options there may be besides the Annual Felix Diaz Tour (which I'm not down with)...is Adkins ready. But bottom line...if money become a real issue...you've got Duque's $$$ as well as Marte's $1.25-1.5 to try and move. Is Arnie Munoz ready to step up in Marte's place (actually Cotts and Neal is your main lefty out of the pen).

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2005 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 01:52 PM) Duque has been injury prone for as long as I can remember. Thome shouldn't be penalized for ONE injury prone season. Hell, we wanted Griffey last season for crying out loud. Oh don't get me wrong...I'm not comparing Thome and Duque in terms of injuries. I've just always cringed just a bit or wondered when I hear people saying "he's in the best shape of his life..." when referring to a professional athlete in their upper 30's.

Crede's back would be a major question if I was Kenny...but I'd love to see him locked up for 3 more years. As for AJ...he is absolutely A MUST!!! He's filled a hole and solidified a position that has been such a question mark for years...not to mention the influence he has on his teammates. In my mind...almost everybody on this team is replaceable to some extent...EXCEPT AJ!

Awesome job dude!!!

QUOTE(phillychuck @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) You guys will love Thome--he's as healthy as any 35 year old baseball player can be. I'll take him back if you guys don't wnat him...but we get to keep the lefties! I remember hearing that about El Duque too. I'm not doubting this about Thome...but I'd rather see it than just hear about it. I can't wait to see if it's true in ST. That being said...I know I've heard everybody say Frank is gone. It sure would be nice to keep him around in some way shape or form if his bat is needed at some point. Will it happen...doubtful. Hell...we don't even know if Frank's foot is healed properly.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 05:11 PM) To be honest I don't think it means anything either way. We only added 4 mill for this season so this deal just doesnt effect PK either way imo. How'd we add $4M...are you just assuming some arbitration figures?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:57 PM) You're missing the buyots that those guys got. Referring to your assesment....thanks!

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:49 PM) Not that I'm advocating getting Pierre, but would we be able to afford him and Konerko? Off the books: Frank: $8M ARow: $3.25 Carl: $4M I know I'm missing something else here...but giving Paulie $12M and Thome $6.25...the Sox are still $5.5 ahead going into arbitration with our other dudes.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:36 PM) I read somewhere the Angels are willing to go 5 years , $60 million for Konerko, not quite what Landis was looking for but pretty significant. The Sox have an excellent shot of re-signing him. I think KW and Jerry would go 5/$60 for PK...actually not that unreasonable IMO.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:37 PM) Okay, the trade doesn't go through if he's injured. I don't know why people overlook that. There's a reason physicals are done. Edmonds plays the OF is older and is still productable. Thome had one year in which he was injury plagued(his elbow last year) and now he's just an old and injured guy? Uh no. And Dye was our best OF IMO. Rowand was our best starting OF defensively. Taking all things into account, Dye was better. Plus it got to the point where ARow was almost an automatic out in the playoffs. While I'll miss the guy on the team...I really won't miss him in the batting order and think BA will fill in nicely.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 04:11 PM) Aaron's bat was a bit of a question mark too...let's not forget he is coming off a very poor year with the bat. And anywho...think of it this way...if Brian Anderson can hit .250 with 15 home runs, he's only a very small step down from Aaron Rowand. Some would also even say that Anderson is equal to or better than ARow in CF (we'll see). However, if Jim Thome can hit 40+ home runs like he has almost every year of his career except last year...how much of an upgrade is he over Carl Everett? I think BA could easily put up 20-25 HRs if he was the full-time CFer. Ya know something else that was always in the back of my mind about ARow...and I'm not trying to point fingers or demean him in any way....but I always wondered if his 24 dingers from the year before was due to roids for his shoulder injury.

QUOTE(robinventura23 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 03:52 PM) Just wondering, how could this make Konerko come back. Could this spell the end of him? Could Konerko see Thome as a replacement for him? I'd think he'd be thrilled having Thome batting in front of him!!!

Anybody got a definate number on the amount of cash in return?!?...$24M?!?

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 03:47 PM) green? I'm either a complete bonehead...or it's the fact that the green feature won't work on a mac. Probably a.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 03:42 PM) Our 2 best pitching prospects Haigwood?!?...BEST?!? Would you have rather thrown Honel in the deal Willie?!?