chitownsportsfan

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 28, 2016 -> 04:55 PM) Our DH next year will be Morneau or Garcia. I can see us getting another OF'er, but one we can keep around and he might comes a prospect from a trade. Remember we are rebuilding so spending a lot of money on a one year deal makes little sense. It would be a classic "you scratch my back I scratch yours" scenario: aging slugger will be guaranteed playing time on the South Side in return for a slight discount on the one year -- so they can "bet on themselves" and go after a big contract next year. Chicago hopes for the best case scenario where they can flip the guy for something at the deadline and in the worst case scenario they simply move on. There isn't anybody really to block, so the only thing they'd be out is money, and it doesn't really seem like that's much to worry about given it will most likely be a one year dear for under 10 million.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 27, 2016 -> 02:15 PM) Oh really? So you knew they would trade Sale and Eaton. Got it. Yea seriously. Exhausting? Uh, ok. Just sit back and enjoy the process. It's not like Q won't be as valuable or perhaps even more valuable at the deadline or in June. Hahn has shown he's only willing to make a deal where he gets fair or better value in prospects. If the deal isn't there he's not going to make it just so the fans can relax or something.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 04:05 PM) On to the argument about how we didn't get enough hitters. hey now, did something happen?

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 09:56 PM) They really only needed to get healthy to improve dramatically for 2017. It'll be interesting to see what the Tigers and Royals do. They are both rebuilding if this offseason is any indication. It's the Indians division to lose, no question.

281/323/430 ~2-3 WAR. I'm trying to stay conservative and factoring in defensive regression. If his defense stays good and he stays healthy that slash line would put him closer to 5 WAR than 2.

Damn, this guy's swing looks like Ichiro's. I really like the way he keeps his hands loose and away from his body and yet has a quick cocking mechanism and obviously a devastating lower body turn.

Pump and dump baby! Fix'em coop!

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 14, 2016 -> 05:10 PM) If Shuck plays any games in Chicago this year when the Sox have Tilson/May/Engel I will be livid. There is negative value in playing that guy. Someone told me he was a Robin guy last year in ST. Could be a Renteria guy too, but we need young players out there even if it's just to confirm they're not of MLB quality. true.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 14, 2016 -> 04:11 PM) So we can't flip them for anything? Seems like there's a decent chance Frazier and Abreu will both be here and I would say neither really has a future here. Lawrie and Robertson may still even be here. I'm talking someone like Matt Davidson hitting 190 in July with 15 errors. Obviously proven MLB talent like Jose and Todd I'll be rooting for to maximize their trade value. I mean I'll root for Matt too if he's crushing it but the Sox have quite a few replacement level options to trot out this year that are no longer prospects they are just guys. Actually, is Shuck still on the roster? He'd be a perfect CF.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 14, 2016 -> 02:54 PM) I don't care how many wins they get as long as our supposed building-block players are performing well. This is sig worthy. Well said, in few words. I want the future guys to do well, the guys they are just trotting out there with no future I hope they suck as much as possible. This is a true throwaway year except development wise.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Dec 13, 2016 -> 07:40 PM) Slight exaggeration here. He has his flaws, but is still a legitimate MLBPer, just not as good as we all had hoped when we got him. Too many posters here treat him as if he were some hobo off the street corner. He's a negative WAR player. It's pretty obvious just watching the games you don't have to look at Fangraphs or B-Ref. Unless he magically improves his defense or walk rate he's going to Japan like Viciedo.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 13, 2016 -> 04:06 PM) That still bothers me. I can't stand Avi the player but dude works his butt off and didn't deserved to be booed. he's paid fairly enough to take it. That said, no, he didn't deserve it. He is a scapegoat for the orgs failure. He busted his ass to come back ahead of schedule from the injury. It's not his fault that when he was acquired the FO apparently didn't realize he has zero pitch recognition skills or ability to track a baseball in flight.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Dec 13, 2016 -> 12:39 AM) Hmm, I don't really agree. Sure, some of his targets were justly targeted. But it was the targeting itself -- the intensity of the targeting (ugh, me must have player x) -- that got him in trouble. Targeting Swisher was a good example -- it was so widely telegraphed and it was Gio AND de los Santos AND Sweeney. He'd always toss in that extra prospect to get the deal done. Targeting Samardzija was another example. Billy Beane just feasted on Kenny. Point is, it wasn't it just a harmless quirk, it led to continual overpayments and, ultimately, an environment that devalued our own prospects and contributed to a crappy farm system that is FINALLY being righted. I agree, we agree.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 12, 2016 -> 08:21 PM) Never thought that guy would throw another professional pitch ever again to be honest. you mean MLB? He's a helluva a competitor he just had the single most devastating injury to a pitcher...and he's being paid nothing. Minor League deal he can be cut at any time.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Dec 12, 2016 -> 10:36 PM) Good old Tunnel Vision Kenny. That was so infuriating. With the asterisk of never 100% knowing whether reported progressions toward a trade jive with actual reality, that seemed such a pattern with KW. He was going to get his guy. Period. And his counterpart just sat back and let Kenny add another piece and another piece until Kenny "wore them down." Who is that guy now? We've got to find him. But that sure seemed to be the book on Kenny -- throw the young slugger soft stuff low and away; identify Kenny's must have target and just sit back and smile. KW's strategy worked a helluva lot more often before he ran out of guys to trade, whether they panned out or not.

With the moves already made the idea is clearly "best talent available, timeline secondary". Of course most teams that want these guys are contenders and aren't willing to give up 2017 ready starters, so it's a strategy as much of necessity as preference. That said, Q should have as much value as Sale, he's not as good, but his deal is even better.

Calm before the storm?

Benetti is ok but he is too corny and too generally naive or ignorant about the nuances of the game for my liking. Stone is fine imo. He is a know it all but most former player analysts are. Hawk? Dude, he needs to be put out to pasture. He was fun in his prime but those days are long passed. Hawk will die in the booth if JR lets him and that is not how it should end.

Hahn sure does know how to nail interviews. Let us hope he keeps dealing and can nail a winning season withina few years. Ty for the synopsis.

I root for the laundry. It doesn't hurt me anymore seeing Sale move on then it did Derrick Rose. As an adult fan now, there are no more heroes like Frank and Robin for me, just guys that I root for when they are Sox. Sure I like some players more than others and will follow their careers regardless but these moves have given the Sox the best chance IMO to win another WS before I hit 40. I'll take it.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 02:50 PM) Adam Eaton was my favorite current Sox player. I liked that he was not a genetic freak but made the most out of his talent with hustle and hard work. I would show replays of Eaton to my daughters (who play softball) to show them how I want them to play full speed. I was fortunate enough to go to spring training a couple of years ago and I watched Eaton sign autographs. He seemed like a cool guy. I will keep rooting for him. Damn you stole my thunder. At the two games I attended at Camelback in 2014 he was by far the most interactive with fans. And as a short guy myself that was always told in my baseball career that no scout would appreciate a 5-9" CF I appreciate that he fought through bias in the industry to make it big. That said, at times he rubbed me the wrong way. I thank him for his time here though and wish him well. I'll never forget the amazing defensive show he put on last year.

Well, it certainly appears they don't expect a 40 man roster crunch. It's a fire. sale.

Did they sign David Wells' son or something?

QUOTE (HeGone7 @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 12:37 AM) Great upside but far from on the level of Moncada or the level of the arms the Sox got. Tools are great. Production is what counts. Thing is, if this was 2012 Basabe would be a top 5, maybe top 3 prospect in the system. Hell, if it was two days ago he probably is top 3. He might only turn into a Mike Cameron type CF once every 10 times but hey I'll take it.

Well said Chisoxfn. This is a clear direction. Now, it's not guaranteed to work, but for once it appears the thinking and the process is correct and 100% everybody is pulling in the same direction in the FO. The team could still suck 4 years from now but at least they will suck with youth.