rowand's rowdies

Does Andrus make sense at all as a buy low? Small ball type of player, he and Eaton would make a nice 1-2 combo. We can move Alexi in a trade or move him to 3b. Elvis Andrus has a contract that is beyond awful. 8 years 120 million. But what if... We shipped Johnny Danks and his $28 million back home to Texas. Gave up a couple mid tier prospects. And got $X from Texas to cover some of his salary. What's the magic #X for you? I'd say if we rid ourselves of John Danks and his $28 million, we're at 8 years 92 million. Not to mention that eventually someone could take him off our hands with no money thrown in if he rebounds (then the Danks $ is all flush). I'd need at least another $12 million thrown in, but at 8 years $80 million does Andrus interest anyone else? Or am I crazy. I still would rather sign the Cuban SS Prospect with this $. So that's still a better option IMO. Just asking.

Having lived in AZ the past 6 years and watching Miggy play a lot, I don't mind the idea. 1) We would not want to give up much. A few mid grade prospects at most plus Flowers of Phegley. 2) That contract could become immovable after another bad 1st half. 2 years 27 Million for a 32 year old washed up catcher would be a serious drain on our resources in 2 should be contending seasons. This would be my biggest hangup on this decision. If the DBacks would throw in 10 million, which they never will, then 3/30 makes perfect sense and isnt such a risk. Since the DBacks will need something of value for Montero (new GM doesn't want to pull a KTowers immediately with a fan favorite), and they will never include any $ in the trade (they are cheap and cash strapped), I don't see it happening.

As far as I'm concerned, the White Sox have enough $ to sign any free agent. This would limit the price tag of other additions obviously, but our payroll can take on any contract. Not saying it is smart to do so, but it could be done. Out of that MLBTR list these players would fit on our team nicely. Cost will be up to debate, but purely from a baseball standpoint, and the fact that we could sign anyone $ wise, here's what I see. 1) Max Scherzer - RH Starter with a Cy Young on the resume. Cost will be astronomical, but Sale/Scherzer/Quintana/Rodon for the next several years is quite the rotation in their primes. Playoff worthy with even a little offense. Then it depends on who is hot anyway (ie Giants winning 3 of the last 5 with a similar mentality). 4) Hanley Ramirez - DH option that KW has always loved. Health could be better with no defensive responsibilities, but could also fill in at 3B. Cost will be astronomical, but would fit right in. 5) Pablo Sandoval - Good fit, no way he's leaving SF. 6) Victor Martinez - Great fit, for two years at any price. 3-4 years would be throwing away $ and a possible Dunn 2.0. 8) Russell Martin - Cost will be too high, but he would fit perfectly. 9) Nelson Cruz - Another big masher possibility. Would be a poor man's Hanley offensively at the DH spot with a shorter contract. 10) Yasmany Tomas - We Heart Cubanos 17) Andrew Miller - Bullpen stud. Should be stellar most years of contract. 28) Michael Morse - DH potential fill in short term. Reasonable price. 29) Michael Cuddyer - DH option. 32) Luke Gregerson - Because we didn't learn our Padres lesson with Scott Linestink. 35) Sergio Romo - Coop will fix him. 38) Ryan Vogelsong - RH SP Option with Coop will fix him potential. 40) Nori Aoki - Spark type player who would pair well w Eaton as a 1-2 lead in for Abreu. 41) Billy Butler - Still on 29, has forgot how to hit, but I remember this guy killing us for years. He's not too old to re-figure it out and be a great DH option. 43) Emilio Bonafacio - And I was like....Emilio!!!! 46) Brandon Morrow - Coop? 50) Jung-ho Kang - Potential 2B option like Tomas, but cheaper. HM) Chad Billingsly - Coop? HM) Luke Kochevar - Coop? HM) AJP - Why not? Have we figured out something better since? Those are my thoughts. I'm thinking we do most of our big moves via trade.

Rotoworld says Mark has been made available and the Jays will have to eat some of his $19 million salary. Why not let them take John Danks off our hands for Mark, straight up, for one last season for Mark, much like Paulie's last year. These last year type years will help bridge the gap until Rick and the boys can. Thoughts? Any prospects match up?

Ike Davis would come cheap. He's considering going to Japan if he doesn't get a major league deal, so 1 year/$3 million probably keeps him in the states. Low risk high reward if he can figure it out. He's a LH bat who can DH and play 1b. Has hit 30 HRs. Former top prospect, only 28 years old.

Jeff Samardzija will be a free agent after 2015 (final year arbitration eligible in 2015). This article talks about how he would like to potentially come back to Chicago to be close to home. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/white-sox/...-eye-on-chicago Can anyone think of a much better more realistic option to add as a front line RH SP to our lefty trio of Sale-Quintana-Rodon after 1 more warm up season? Wishful yet realistic thinking. Sounds good to me.

I just saw the Gattis/BJ Upton info and also saw they may include Mike Minor if someone eats BJ Upton's contract. Is this crazy or not? White Sox trade: Dayan Viciendo, A Couple Solid Prospects Braves Trade: Evan Gattis, BJ Upton (All his $48 million comes with him), Mike Minor Upton is a terrible player, but if taking on his $12 million per year helps us net Minor & Gattis... Am I crazy? What type of prospects would it take to get Gattis & Minor?

Alexi and Quintana for Bogarts and something else? Not sure I would do that but would be an interesting move...

The class act Canadian Ryan Dempster will sit this year (not retiring yet) and forfeit his $13.25 million salary. Can we dump something on them? Alexi? Sounds like they may have to sign Drew but they aren't excited... What else do they need? Any fits? Any BoSox prospects of theirs that might be interesting? Edit: I am not saying we should try and trade for Dempster, AT ALL. I'm saying they just opened up $13 million so they may be looking to address a need and take on salary.

Little Hurt you wanna pay for garbage why don't you become a cubs fan? Those places are disgusting and if you think otherwise you obviously haven't had them any time recently. My credibility is just fine, so much for helping out w advice... Back to baseball talk, pitchers and catchers are ready to rock I'll be out there Monday.

QUOTE (SI1020 @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) 1. I can see why you don't like the fast food places you mentioned but I doubt the average person will have that extreme a body reaction to the food. 2. Why don't you like Tucson? I've been there a time or two, find it beautiful and accommodating and we are considering relocating there some day. 3. A sub culture of Dodger fans are dangerous indeed. They can take extreme offense to your rooting against their team. You can get a savage beating or worse. It's unfortunate because most Dodger fans are no better or worse than any other team's fans. I consider a game at Dodger Stadium a treat. Spend the money on the better seats would be my advice. 1) If you want to go against that advice, feel free. It's not me who's going to be having issues in situations with no bathrooms. Feel free to regret these decisions and find out the hard way. 2) Tucson has a few nice areas, but in general is not safe or a growing area. There are much better areas to relocate to, in AZ or elsewhere, but again, someone's trash is someone's treasure. 3) It's never about the average fan. It's about the extremists, like in anything in life, and they have some of the worst. They are the official team of all gangs basically, so wearing the LA logo or cheering against LA is often seen by enough by intoxicated extreme LA fans to make your day worse. Just a heads up. Don't poke the hornet's nest.

I keep seeing the bucket list comment. Please, if you love the White Sox and baseball to be an active message board poster, get yourself to spring training. If not now or next year, when? It's been (I hear) the worst winter in 30+ years. Take some time off, book a flight to AZ, and come check out baseball paradise on earth. With the temps and weather we've been having (90+ this weekend), it's looking like the warmest nicest spring training in recent memory. Get out of the artic cold, come out for some warm weather and baseball. It'll be worth it. Wanne and I have laid out a map of what to do and not to do to help you plan it and with all the advice you've got from other Sox fans who have done it in the past in this thread alone, you can make it happen. Stay warm.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Feb 11, 2014 -> 01:45 AM) Any hotel suggestions for a night in Old Town Scottsdale? I'll be there from Feb 28 - Mar 3 so I have four full days. All in all, I want to do a game at Camelback and a game each at the AZ/COL complex, the SFG complex and the Cubs complex. Additionally, I might hit the Suns game Friday, Coyotes game Sunday, make the drive to Sedona, and hike Camelback Mountain. With lots of sun/pool/beer mixed in. Old Town- Valley Ho if you can afford it, otherwise it doesn't matter you won't be in it much just keep it within 1 mile for walking purposes. I agree that you should do 1 game in as many parks as possible, and you have 4 of the nicer ones picked out. get your tickets now online if possible. Get extra tickets for sell out games (weekends at cubs/giants parks), scalping is legal here in AZ in designated spots. You can make some $ or at least go for free. People will pay $30-$50 for tickets to sold out spring training games, I s*** you not. The Suns and their arena are a waste of energy. I worked for them for a few years about 5 years ago. The arena is poor, ticket prices are still inflated from past success, but try the ticket exchange and you might get a sweet (or suite) seat for cheap. especially if they start losing. The Coyotes suck. I attended last Friday's Coyotes/Bhawks game unfortunately and all 70%+ of us in the crowd as Blackhawks fans couldn't even cheer for 1 goal. We have some problems playing against Tippett in Glendale, I'll say that for sure. That team is consistently way less talented but gives us fits here in AZ, I think personally the boys party the night before and Q knows the Tippet has him figured out. Sedona is a great call. There's a little coffee/hiking shop called hike house where you can get all the hiking advice you could ever want personalized from experts who will also make you coffee. Stay in Oak Creek (town next to Sedona, also closer to I-17 back to PHX) to save $. Also try Elote Cafe, it's Maynard's (singer from Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer) favorite spot, so maybe you will eat next to a rock legend. Do the vortex hikes and don't waste a lot of time in touristy downtown Sedona, go explore the red rocks. There's also an amazing sandwich place just of the main road downtown in Sedona called memories or something. They are closed on weekends but their sandwiches are amazing and huge and cheap. Hiking Camelback is cool but intense. You could hike A mountain in Tempe to save some energy and time. Pool/beer/sun is a terrific mix that will leave you in bed after a few hours, use it wisely. Remember to wear sunscreen, the sun loves pale Chicago skin. Good luck.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fantasy-roto...8--fantasy.html Anyone read this write up about the White Sox from Yahoo? Paulino as our #3?

Arroyo to DBacks for 2/23.5 w team option for 3rd year + some type of buyout $ I'm sure + incentive $. Most likely at least 2/25 by the time its all said and done. That would have been a really bad deal for the White Sox, and I personally will eat crow for suggesting (before I realized he is 37, because he has been baseball's most durable pitcher for the last 3-5 years. My bad. Bad deal for the DBacks, who just pushed Archie Bradley out of the rotation. That means Ervin Santana is going to cost a 2nd rd pick AND minimum 2/28 w option for 3rd year (buyout of at least $2 million). So he's at cheapest/shortest 2/30, most likely with incentive $ that means if he is good his salary goes up. Ideally the White Sox would want him at 3 years, to have 1-2 years of him when we are competitive. 3 years/$42 million is the cheapest he is coming, and that's without a buyout or incentives that there are sure to be. I don't see a good deal for the White Sox here, so I officially change my mind to NO on all remaining SP FAs.

Why don't you moderators with nothing to add to the conversation topic start some new brilliant topics so we can discuss them. I don't know what you want in pale hose talk if news of the top starting pitcher left on the market's price dropping in the news isn't topic worthy. God forbid someone tries to bring up a new non 44 page topic about this news/pitcher. Sorry about the poor topic for baseball conversation that you feel is not topic worthy, please feel free to take this topic/thread down.

I don't think a 2nd rd pick, albeit a high one, is a hold up when you can get a solid pitcher like Santana for a below market deal, but that's definitely arguable. Ask me tomorrow and I might change my mind. I'm not high on E Santana, but we need all the talent/trade chips we can get. Arroyo is a little older than I thought, so ya no go on a 3 year deal, and yes he may not be much of a trade chip so I'm not sure I would even go 2/15 for him, so maybe no go on that idea. Ubaldo sucks and anyone who thinks we should sign him should buy some bleacher season tickets to be ready to catch a lot of deep home runs hit by the power hitters of our AL Central opponents.

Ceiling for that core IMO is the Oakland A's of the last 10-12 years. Might make some runs but no World Series. Lots needs to be done adding complementary pieces as well as a few stars and maybe another superstar to have a legitimate chance at greatness.

Just read on rotoworld that Ervin Santanta's asking price has dropped "significantly", maybe even to 3 years. At worst he's a trade chip that could be very valuable, especially in year 2's trade deadline. My top offer if I'm RH to him probably still isn't enough, but maybe at this point it could get it done. I don't offer him any more guaranteed than 3/33, but at $11/year, or 10/11/12, at worst he's a bloated contract #3 guy who some team with lots of added TV revenue will look to add at any time of need. Arroyo is not an idea pitcher for the Sox and the Cell but a very ideal pitcher for what we need. A RH innings eater. He may even go to 2 years, but is most likely looking for 3 to get a deal done. He is older but durable. I wouldn't go more than 3/24, but at that price I would bite, again for a most likely solid trade chip this year or next with a stable RH option in the rotation. Thoughts and max offers you would give?

I wonder how the most famous non American White Sox fan became one, Barack Obama

Mark my words, we play him against RHP and to PH for the 1st half, he will be considered an impact bat add for a team for the playoff run, which remember there are more of now because of the 2 extra wild card spots. He will only be owed $6-7 million around the trade deadline, someone will give us a top 10 prospect for him then. Not a top 5 prospect, but a top 10 prospect, especially if we throw in some cash.

I'd highly suggest if you are planning to come to spring training this year for the 1st or even 2nd time, feel free to ask Wanne, myself, and any other members who live in AZ or have lots of experience here for spring training, any questions in this thread. Phoenix can be a paradise or a nightmare. It's a big sprawl city with lots of good spots and even more bad spots. Checking in with us with any questions you may have should help you a lot. My business takes me all over this valley on a daily basis so I've got a pretty good idea of areas and where to go/avoid. I'm not a big Glendale/West Side expert, however, but it looks like Wanne is from Glendale so he's got answers for you, too. Let's make White Sox fans the most informed of the spring training snowbirds. There will be lots of cubs fans down here to see more meaningless baseball in their new stadium. Let's try to organize some meet ups and get togethers out here in AZ. Anyway, here are some east side restaurant favorites of mine: 4 Peaks Brewery - Tempe and Scottsdale (and apparently a new location in the airport now, too) - Amazing food, great local beer. You may have seen Kilt Lifter in liquor stores. AZ chicken rolls are the world's most perfect appetizer. Ocean Trail - Seafood in the Talking Stick Casino - Scottsdale - 5 star Creole Seafood in a Casino Orange Sky Restaurant/Lounge - Scottsdale in the Talking Stick Casino - Scottsdale - Amazing views from the 14th floor. Expensive. Sake Bombers Sushi - Tempe - Great Happy Hour and Sushi Oreganos (AZ Chain, located all over) - Only Deep Dish equivalent I have found out here. Also great pasta and boom dip. Spinatos (AZ Chain, located all over) - Aurillos AZ Cousin, owned by same family or cousins. We now also have out here for your convenience some chains you know and love - Jimmy Johns, Potbellys, Portillos, Culvers. Pier 54 - Tempe - Cool Patio on a private lake good little restaurant. Anyway, see you guys out here where it's been over 70 for over a month now and we are breaking temp records daily.

The book is out on De Aza. Every GM and serious baseball fan knows what he is and is not capable of. I don't think he loses value on the bench at all. He loses value with a serious injury playing in games, though. Just my thoughts.

Some people think that real pro sports are the same as in the video games they play, with injuries off, so extra players never get to play. Thank you Vance for again pointing out it is OK to have a surplus, as slumps and injuries will happen. I don't get the freaking out over our 4 OF for 3 spots. Like you said, Puck Dunn, he can sit every game and Viciedo can DH for all I care. "De Aza is getting paid like a starter he can't be our 4th OF" - This comment is so off base on so many levels I don't care to even write them out. Relax, our White Sox need all the talent we can get. We can always trade some midseason. It's not like we have a World Series squad ready to roll into the season. And honestly, if you know your team is not even playoff worthy, all focus should be on finding out what you have and ridding yourself of non essential future players, when their value is high enough to get a possible future piece in return. Dumping a player like Dunn, De Aza, or Kepp for nothing may get ABs for younger players and save $, but the goal should be to get future assets for them, not just to clear space and dump salary, and that's what I believe Hahn is doing.

You can always take the bus to the light rail to get away from airport car rental companies. Also, AAA cabs here in Phx has a $15 cab ride from the airport within 10 miles. Westgate is NOT within 10 miles, but many Tempe and Phoenix locations are within 10 miles.