WHITESOXRANDY

People are suggesting the Sox sign Crede long term? Wow. Has anyone heard of Scott Boras?

Well, to me this team needs Dotel or the like to have a solid bullpen. As it is, the pen seems about average at best. I don't think Linebrink is going to be a big success but coupled with Dotel it could be special. I also feel that expecting Contreras, Danks and Floyd to make 30 starts each and with some consistency is a HUGE stretch. And, who do the Sox have to fill in that could do better ? Nobody. I'd atleast take a chance on the guy that's been one ofe the best pitchers in the game the last 10 years. The Sox and other teams want him enough to sign him but the holdup is his contract demands. Now, I would like to have him for a reasonable price this year and with an option for 2009 but apparently he's asking for much more. I'm sorry but without upgrading the pitching, I can't see the Sox finishing any higher than third.

Well, it's definitely NOT obviouos that Colon would be a downgrade from Danks and Floyd. I believe that it's very likely that he would be an uograde. But, the point of the post is not to debate this. I only phrased it this way because these are the 2 guys that KW appears to be trying to acquire now in hopes of adding pitching. So, just for the sake of conversation, assuming these 2 guys are added would that make the Sox realistic contenders for the division title ?

If the Sox sign Dotel and Colon and assuming Crede is traded for a prospect so Fields plays third what are the Sox chances of making the playoffs ? With what would appear to be a very good BP and a pretty good rotation with some depth and a lineup that looks pretty capable, could the Sox hang with Detroit and Cleveland ? For how long ?

Well, I have to believe that KW would've dumped Crede by now if he thought all he will be able to get for him healthy is a C prospect. He's obviously holding onto him and posturing that Fields might start the season at Charlotte because he believes that once he proves his health that he's going to get something good that's worth waiting for. And, I believe that KW is basing this on conversations that he's had with other GM's. So, I have to and want to believe that the Sox can get a lot more for a guy who was on the verge of becoming an All-Star thirdbaseman before his back went out. If he's healthy, I think the Sox can get either a player that can be a contributor to this year's team or two very good prospects. I'd be stunned if they couldn't get Willits plus another player from the Angels. I think the real question will be how many teams will need a thirdbaseman by mid-March. I don't believe for one second that Crede will be on the opeing day Sox roster.

What would we want from the Phillies ? They have no outfield depth anymore or starting pitching depth. Minor leaguers Carlos Carrasco RHP and Jason Donald SS ? That sounds pretty good to me. You guys are missing the point of the thread. I'm asking for your hopes of what specific players the Sox could get for him should be prove healthy with good play not what it would take to get Matt Cain.

We know the Sox want to trade Crede but apparently no one is willing to give up much for him until they know he's healthy. Just for fun I'd like to take guesses at what the Sox might be able to get should Crede appear perfectly healthy and have an excellent spring training by early March. What's the most the Sox could get ? Could they get a young starting pitcher from San Francisco such as Lowry or Cain ? I imagine that he'd be worth the most to a team that has a relationship with Boras and feels that they have a good chance to sign him long term. The Phillies ? The Angels ?

Does anyone else think that this signing means the Sox won't sign Colon or another starter ? They decided to bolster the pen even more because they are sticking with this rotation ?

I love the signing also but I have to believe that this pushes Linebrink up to the 7th inning, hopefully. 1. The Brewers already have too many arms so they don't need Mac and they know Crede is a 1 year rental for them so I doubt this could happen. 2. I'll answer later when I stop laughing. Baltimore sending 2 All-Star caliber players for....umm...a pile of mediocrity. 3. I'm not sure that helps the Sox so much.

You think the Sox have a shot at signing Torii Hunter ?

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/news/top50/y2008/ Just read the top 50 prospect list from MILB.COM and it was interesting to see that 5 of the 50 top prospects were from Venezuela - Franklin Morales, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Carrasco, Elvis Andrus and Alcides Escobar. Two of them are SS's. Anyway, it made me wonder about Ozzie Guillen. Wasn't he supposed to be somewhat influential in his native country and weren't the Sox supposed to benefit from his connections there and overall from having a Spanish speaking manager. Why is it that the Sox have NO good prospects from Venezuela in their organization ? And, how much have they benefited from Ozzie's heritage and connections? Just curious and trying to make an analysis. I expected there might be more of an impact for the Sox from Latin(Venezuelan) players with Ozzie.

Cedeno ? He's clearly the worst of the group. Marshall could be very good and Gallagher is a decent prospect. Cedeno wil be nothing.

Let's see.....what team is in WIN NOW mode and desperately needs and wants and has been talking and talking about getting a legitimate leadoff hitter and oh has an opening at 2b ? Hmmm.....must not be the White Sox.

Now, we'll have to sit through all of the interviews from current and former White Sox personnel about their Gossage stories and read so many articles in all of the Chicago area papers about Gossage development in the Sox minor league system and his 5 years with the team replete with all kinds of highlights and so many pictures of him in a Sox uniform. This could go on for weeks with this town celebrating former White Sox Gossage's election to the HOF. Oh wait, I forgot we're not the flubs so we won't see any of that. Barry Rozner will write his Daily Herald article about former Montreal Expo Andre Dawson.

Although I don't believe that the Sox can hang with Det. and Cleve. right now, they might if KW can make a couple more of the right moves. People say the Sox have too many old/slow/injury prone players but what about Detroit ? Todd Jones- closer, Kenny Rogers-3rd starter, Gary Sheffield-DH, Carlos Guillen-1B, Ivan Rodriguez-C, Maggs Ordonez-RF and Edgar Renteria-SS. That's 7 key players that fall into that category. I'm just saying that they are NOT a lock. Cleveland worries me a little more right now. But, if the Sox could bolster their pitching, they might get lucky.

Atleast Kenny Williams is consistent. The bullpen was crap in 2006 and 2007 and will be in 2008. The outfield was a joke in 2006 and 2007 and will be in 2008. Who says that he doesn't learn from his mistakes. I'm more convinced than ever that Kenny won the lottery in 2005 and he'll never come close to getting that lucky again.

Please please please unload Kenny Williams. I'll buy him a plane ticket anywhere.

If KW would get Bedard and Roberts from Balt. for Gio, Danks, Sweeney, Anderson, Richar, Masset and Aardsma and then sign Rowand - I would feel wonderful about the Sox.

I'm not trying to bash KW here but doesn't it seem like this is his first year on the job ? If I didn't know, I would think that this is a new GM that's trying to figure out how to acquire players. What's going on with him? Seriously, does anyone have any insight ? How can this guy, after 7 years, miscalculate the free agent market so much as well as his dealings with other teams. Other GM's are seeming to meet their goals, get deals done, stick to a plan and acquire the players while moving in a distinct direction. What's up with KW?

I'll try; 1. Trade Kenny Williams to the National League - to the Cubs in fact. He can tell them that all the pieces are in place for 100 consecutive World Championships. The Sox get back a Steve Stone beanie baby. 2. Trade Ozzie to the Tigers to be Cabrera's conditioning coach. The Sox get back Mark Fydrich to counsel Brian Anderson and Carlos Quentin. 3. Trade Orlando Cabrera to the Angels for Jon Garland. 4. Trade Jon Garland for prospects. Maybe to the Rockies for Jason Hirsh, Wily Taveras and Tyler Bucholz. 5. Trade A.J. to the Mets. He's about the only catcher left that they haven't almost signed. They've got young talent and AJ would be perfect there. Give the starting job to Mike Burke. 6. Trade Konerko to Arizona. Let the guy go home and lead the youngsters. They've got kids to spare for the Sox. 7. Trade Thome to K.C. or Minnesota. Maybe they'll have pity on the Sox. 8. Trade Dye to the Giants. In a few years, after he gets his AARP card, he'll fit right in. 9. In the Spring, after Crede proves healthy and teams sustain injuries unload Uribe and Crede. 10. Dump MacDougal on somebody. 11. Trade Vazquez to the Dodgers for a bundle of young talent. 12. By now, Buehrle will be begging to waive his no-trade clause so send him to, naturally, St. Louis for Colby Rasmus, Anthony Reyes and Bryan Anderson, C. 13. Trade Linebrink to some NL team that plays in a pitcher's park. Oh yeah, and the new GM should be the collective Soxtalk memebership.

Bingo.

Yeah, never mind that his OBP is the same or higher than the other free agents, his defense is better than all of them and Cameron, Rowand and Hunter "k" quite a bit also. And, he's expensive ? You mean not like Hunter ? $ 90 mil. or Rowand ? Oh, and the Sox don't need those 40-50 homers that he would hit too. Owens 14 doubles will be all the offense the Sox need at the position.

Thanks. That's a good idea.....now if I can only figure out how to do it.

Andruw Jones will have a better season defensively and offensively than Hunter,Rowand, Fukudome, Cameron or any other CF free agent.

I would've wanted him last year but not this year. The Sox wouldn't come close to winning even with him. But, if anything would re-direct the talk from Kenny's foibles it would be having Bonds on the team. Maybe it will happen. As long as you're going to be vilified anyway you might as well spread it around.