WHITESOXRANDY

I'm not saying that I think Fields will be an All-Star but I think his defense will be fine, he can run a little bit so one less plodder on the bases and he'll hit in the .250-.280 range with an OBP of .330-.360 25-35 homeruns and knock in 90-110. That's my prediction. If he can do the low end of that, it'll be one less position for the Sox to worry about. Fill the other 5-6 holes.

If I were Kenny Williams, I would trade Konerko, Thome, Mackowiack, Uribe, Pods, Erstad, A.J., Iguchi, Dye, Crede, Buehrle, Contreras, Garland, Vazquez, Jenks, Thornton and MacDougal between now and next season for as many top prospects as I could possibly get. What could they bring ? Maybe 3 top prospects each for Konerko, Garland and Vazquez. 2 each for Mark, Jenks, Thome, Contreras and A.J. One each for the rest. That's 25-30 top prospects. I'm thinking about 7 or 8 A-/B+ level prospects and probably 20 B / B-/C+ level prospects. This would give the Sox an interesting team for the fans to watch next year and get their farm system jump started so that within 2 years they could have serious depth and still begin playing competitive baseball. They save tons of payroll for the next 2 years and develop a handful of young stars. Then, add a few free agents and they could seriously contend in 2010. Plus, they will have 2 drafts in which they will have great position and no excuses - spend the money on draft picks and player development. That's really the only way that the Sox can build this team back up to a serious contender and an exciting team. They already have Danks, Gio, Floyd, Egbert and a few other good arms. They already have Fields and Sweeney. I say go for it. Would Kenny do it ? Would Jerry do it ? Would the fan base support it ? Yes, attendance would drop significantly next year but once Sox fans see our young Crawfords, Pabelbons, Rios, Verlanders, Lincecums, etc. - people will get excited and start coming out again.

The Konerko and Mark situations are completely different. The Sox were willing to go long term with Paulie. He didn't give up huge money to sign with the Sox. Why don't some people get this ? The Sox will go only 3 years with a pitcher. Mark wants atleast 5- as he should. The Sox won't give it because it is too risky for a pitcher due to arm injury. Mark, and other pitchers, want the long term deal for the same reason. Last year, Zito got a 7 year deal. Mark will easily get offers for 5 years and probably some for 6. Can everyone see the difference between 3 years and 5 or 6 ? Which would you choose if you were Mark ? A 3 year $ 40mil. deal (which is MORE than the Sox have offered) or a 5 year $ 75 mil deal ? Let's see that's only a difference of $ 35 friggin million !

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 10:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is great news, imo, because it sounds like the Sox still plan on negotiating him this off-season, even after he is dealt. You can't be serious. Give it up man. QUOTE(Al Lopez @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This all conjecture, but perhaps Buehrle's agent has already told KW that no matter what, he will not sign a multiyear contract until he's a free agent this winter. If so, maybe KW is making it easier on Buehrle by letting teams know there's no conditional deals to be made. WOW. Something that makes sense.

I think Jose still has a lot of talent left but the problem is that his body is starting to break down. That's why there is so much inconsistency with him. He can still be dominant and he could be in the NL. I'd like to see the Sox move him if they got a really good offer. But, I wouldn't be upset if he's in the rotation next year. I think he'll pitch well enough next year that the Sox could still move him for something good.

There's no such thing as too many projects for Don Cooper.

Think about what chaos it would be and how disruptive if Kenny makes a deal and then the deal falls thru and then he won't get as good an offer from the next team. He's better off dealing this way and let the other team deal with signing him.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He's a strikeout machine that will have to make a lot of adjustments to be successful regularly in the major leagues. I don't know how anyone can come to the conclusion that he will have a high OBP at this point. I think people are forgetting Crede hit 30 homers and was hitting over .300 until his back gave way last season. If he's healthy, he's damn good. Better than Fields. If he's hurt, Fields is better, but its not like he's lighting it up right now. Just yesterday he did something VERY WELL that Crede wouldn't have done - bases loaded walk.

Does anyone have reason to believe that this is actually going to happen ?

I'm not sold on Milledge at all. I don't think he'll be a star for various reasons. I would only want the Sox to get him if they got him cheap. The Sox better get more than that for Mark. I do think that they can get 2 excellent prospects for him. If it's only one then I want it to be more of a sure thing than this guy. Also, I would rather the Sox get other team's Major League ready talent than draft picks. History has shown that the Sox do much better scouting for these type of players than they do with draft picks.

Right now Buehrle is better than every starter they have except Beckett. No matter what these idiots say. That's why Theo is interested. Schilling is hurt. They'll pay up for Mark and so will some other teams. He is by far the biggest difference maker available this year. The White Sox will do fine.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've said it before and what the hell, I'll say it again. I would not trade Mark Buehrle straight up for Robinson Cano. Fortunately, neither would KW. The Sox will do just fine on their return for Mark.

If I'm the Sox GM, I would take offers for anybody. If someone offers a great return why would you not take it ? This team's not going to the WS next year. Imagine all of the top young talent they could get for Thome, Jenks, Konerko, Contreras, Javy, Garland, Buehrle, A.J., Dye, Iguchi, Pods etc. Go for it.

He's never going to be Crede defensively but that's ok. He'll be adequate. The guy is going to hit and drive in a lot of runs. Even more importantly, he will have a high OBP. This guy will walk more in his first full season than Crede did in 2 seasons. I'm fine to keep him at third and leave him alone. How about finding 3 outfielders that can hit ? That shouldn't be so hard especially since we have 4 quality veteran starting pitchers to dangle .

After watching today's game, I think I changed my mind. Erstad over Ramirez. You see if you strictly concern yourself with the games that Erstad is healthy enough to play in and only include the at bats in which he gets a hit when men are on base - then he becomes more valuable. I just needed to look at it in the proper light. I was confused before and blinded by all those runs that Ramirez guy was producing and not looking at the overall grinder effect. But, today's game really opened my eyes.

You know the next partner added for Farmio would make his third. And, if one more were later added, it would make it his fourth. Please relieve me.

No player on the White Sox, THIS YEAR, is hitting like Ramirez. That's a big reason the team is not scoring many runs. The Sox are "grinding" their way to the # 1 draft pick. Maybe it is working out well. Grinderism is a nice feature to have in a player as long as the player can also produce a lot of runs which are known to be needed in the winning of baseball games. Aramis Ramirez plays a position for which it is harder to find adequate defensive play and he produces a s*** load of runs with his bat. There is no question that he is a significantly more valuable player than Erstad. I don't care if Ramirez is a lazy ass or whatever and if Erstad is a prince. The White Sox absolutely suck right now and if they don't add a lot more players that can produce like Ramirez then they're going to stay that way for a long time.

Now, who's going to pick our Matt Bush, Bryan Bullington or Kris Benson ? Damn the luck.

I am rarely in favor of doing this but in this circumstance if I were KW, I would offer Buehrle 5 years for $ 75 mil. right now. That would actually solve a lot of problems for the Sox - if he would accept it. Firstly, they could then trade Contreras and Vazquez or Garland. They could get a lot for these guys because they are signed. Look at what the Sox gave up to get Javy and then double it. Secondly, they would be retaining the best pitcher of the bunch instead of getting rid of their best pitcher. Thirdly, Buehrle would be much more help to Danks and Gio than any of these other guys will be to any young pitchers. Fourthly, attendance. Need I say more ? Lastly, clubhouse influence for whatever it's worth. Buehrle is a leader on that team and the other 3 are certainly not.

I picked Ramirez but that's only because it makes me happy when my favorite team wins baseball games.

I hope that I'm wrong but I think that we're going to be surprised that the "haul" for our 3 guys will not be that huge. The Sox would probably be lucky to talk Omar out of Milledge and Humber for Mark. And, Dye is all banged up and slowed down and not hitting real well. Can't imagine that we'll get much there.

QUOTE(Nokona @ Jun 20, 2007 -> 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He was also under 50 at that time I don't know if it's true but I heard that he taught Fidel Castro the forkball when they were kids. I say trade him now before one of the other GM's sees him using his AARP card.

After reading some of these trade ideas, I now realize how easy this will be to turn the Sox around. Buehrle to the Mets for Reyes and Wright. Dye to the Dodgers for Billingsley, Broxton, Elbert and Martin. Contreras to the Phillies for Utley, Hamels and Rowand. Uribe to the Marlins for Cabrera and Willis. Iguchi to Texas for Gagne, Otsuka and Texiera. Konerko to San Diego for their bullpen. Fields to Seattle for Ichiro (insist on contract extension) Keep Thome. We don't want too much turnover.

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Jun 19, 2007 -> 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> didnt we trade Miguel Olivo and Jeremy Reed for Freddy Garcia who was a rent-a-player for 6 months before signing an extension in the off season? He signed an extension DURING the season. Are Buehrle or Dye cousins of any current managers in baseball ? Maybe that's where we should trade them ? I think I heard that Dye and Theo Epstein are related.

Richar is one of those high upside types that people have been wanting the Sox to get. I'm not worried about one game. He's worth the risk....which was almost nothing. He could still become a really valuable player for the Sox.