spiderman

Is Joe Cowley's KW's mouthpiece ? That last line was rather stupid.

To Kenny Williams: After failing to sign T.Hunter to the 5 year, 75 million deal, you said in regards to Aaron Rowand, that you can't spend 1.00 if you only have .50 cents. Please clarify

A couple of points, taking into account that the White Sox stated goal is to win the 2008 Championship. 1) Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand were overpaid in free agency. Long-term, 3 or 4 years down the road, I'm extremely happy we won't have those players huge salaries on our budget. Saying that, if they are going to pursue premium free agents, don't you have to overpay, and sometimes go overboard if necessary to land your target ?? As much as some of us think a guy like Rowand is being way overpaid, and as much as that may be correct, isn't Kenny Williams going to be left holding his #### by his unwillingness to make the plunge ? 2) How flexible is Kenny Williams ? If you can't land a premium CF/OF (Hunter, Cabrera, Rowand, Fukadome) in free agency or trade why not just give your young CF, Jerry Owens, a chance in 2008 and focus your attention elsewhere to improve the club ? Is Juan Pierre and his $9 million salary for the next 4 seasons or Coco Crisp for a top prospect(s) really that much of an upgrade considering the money/prospects you are adding to your payroll ? Why not look for a lead-off hitter at another position, say Brian Roberts via trade ? Why not look to add another top of the rotation starter so that your offense doesn't have to be a dynamic scoring machine ? I realize that Williams/Guillen are extremely confident in the abilities of Floyd and Denks, but I believe we're much more likely to suffer through their growing pains than win a division with them, at least while they are young and inexpereinced. A rotation starting with Buerhle, Vazquez and Bedard/Haren looks pretty tough to beat. 3) Back to the OF position, where I still believe 2 spots are in question - LF/CF. As much as I was against the idea of adding a veteran player, wouldn't it be smart to add somebody like a Mench/L.Gonzalez (1 year deals) if they do end up going with an inexperienced OF, not as a crutch, but as insurance for SOME production in the OF should the younger players struggle ?

He's the kind of pitcher I can see the White Sox being interested in - a veteran looking to prove himself, get an opportunity at the bottom of a rotation. Saying that, I think Prior has an inflated opinion of his value, and any team that doesn't get him for 2 seasons (1 + an option) is crazy. He'll probably be too expensive as well since I'm guessing some team will be a sucker and pay for him potential.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:56 PM) 4/48....looks like we couldn't even make the Cubs outbid us. I think we probably were around 4/40...just guessing though.

QUOTE(jenks45monster @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) If Nathan was included in a BoSox deal they would probably include Ellsbury and Lester/ Buchholz plus 1 or 2 mlb ready players. I hadn't heard that Nathan was involved, but yeah, they'd be getting nearly every Boston top prospects.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) Have to disagree on this part. I think the Cabrera trade was and still is a good move, both individually and for the greater picture. With all the pitching prospects that they believe they have, specifically John Denks, Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez, it's not really surprising that they opened the spots for them and also freed up some $$$ from their starting rotation to address other areas. I just wish they hadn't resigned Juan Uribe. I still don't know what the harm was in letting him become a free agent.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:50 PM) No kidding....he really messed that up, especially considering Cabrera won't sign an extension. That's a really interesting aspect of that Cabrera trade. I'm not sure if there are better options available next off-season OR if Kenny Williams really believes that he'll get him locked up, but we could find ourselves looking for another SS next season.

QUOTE(jenks45monster @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:47 PM) They don't want to resign him for how much he wants now and its not like he would give them a discount. Plus why not get 1-2 amazing prospects and 1-2 major league ready players for him? I agree. Also consider that they will get more top minor league talent for Nathan, and this is a team that is potentially loaded once these guys get some experience in the majors, and we know their solid reputation for developing talent.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:41 PM) You think they will be keeping Santana around? Or extending him? Its possible, but it seems unlikely to me. I don't think there's any way Santana is resigned there. He has turned down a few offers already. I'm still expecting him to be traded before spring training.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:40 PM) Makes sense. If they aren't going to win in 2008, and Santana isn't going to re-sign, they might as well get players that will be there for 5 or 6 years for him. It still boggles my mind Boston was hung up on not giving up Ellsbury in a trade for him. Santana, Beckett, Dice-k and Bucholz would be tough to beat. Agreed. Barring injuries, Boston would have been nearly unstoppable, and I have no idea how a 1-2 playoff combination of Beckett/Santana would lose a series.

Phil Rogers (Chicago Tribune) says: Terms of the deal were not immediately known, though it's believed to be $50-to-$56 million. He didn't mention years, but that's probably 4 maybe, 5 years. He did say the White Sox made an offer, but I'll just speculate that it was nowhere near this and probably in the 4-40 range.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:37 PM) Who cares what place you come in if you don't make the playoffs? Just responding to another post.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:34 PM) If Liriano comes back anywhere near where he was, the Twins can still be pretty good. I don't think he'll be near that level in Year 1 after that surgery, and if they trade Santana, that's clearly a youth movement preparing for the 2010 season in their new stadium.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:30 PM) Right now: 3rd or 4th. If they can improve CF: solid for 3rd. If they can do that and improve at least one SP slot: 3rd and in shooting distance of 2nd if either CLE or DET falters. Outside shot at a playoff spot. I'd probably open it up from anywhere 3rd to 5th no matter what we do the rest of the off-season, battling with KC and Minny for these spots. I think we'll make some sort of acquistion in CF, have an open battle for LF with Quentin the likely winner, and move Crede for a prospect (hopefully Uribe too, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him open the season here).... I really don't see a serious starting pitching come here, maybe a non-roster invitee with some potential upside, but I really think that the Sox think that Floyd/Denks will be fine in the rotation (I don't).

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:19 PM) Rosenthal said it best...if Rowand wants to go to a team for 5 years that won't win, then that's his choice (and a bad one). Yeah, but signing for 4 years with the White Sox doens't mean he's any closer to winning.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:03 PM) Rosenthal said Sox are still keying on Rowand, and might offer 4 years with an option. Rosenthal say the Giants and White Sox are among the teams competing for free agent Aaron Rowand. Is this a bidding war we can win, especially with SF possibly willing to go 5 years ?

QUOTE(The Beast @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 09:50 PM) I just went to the Chicago Cubs MLB.com message boards and people are looking for links that are just not there. ESPN doesn't even have a story out yet. I think that something is coming but I doubt a contract has been signed yet. Kenny should just stick his nose in the door and try to sign Fukudome for the hell of it before Fuk-u-dome makes the biggest mistake of his life with the Cubdom. Yeah, there's no link, but a top story on WGN News is 'Cubs Get Their Man'. I'm not sure if they have actually signed him, probably have just agreed to terms on a deal. Also, hearing some talk that the Giants may be a team willing to go 5 years on Rowand. I think the White Sox view him as a last resort or a lesser choice because they have now been after Hunter, rumored to be talking trade for Cabrera (which could have meant a cheaper alternative in CF like Jerry Owens), and Crisp. While I still think there's a chance of Rowand, I think the Sox are probably exhausting other options first and I don't think they will get into a bidding war with the Giants (or anybody) for him. I just want to know if the White Sox were agressively pursuing him like some stories were speculating or if this deal was Cubs all the way.

QUOTE(The Beast @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 09:38 PM) Now I expect to see people jumping all over the Aaron Rowand bandwagon since it appears Fukudome is going to the North Side. Either way, the Sox are going to have to pay for a Centerfielder. I for one will not be satisfied with Anderson in center. Crisp WGN is reporting that the Cubs have signed him..... I'd like to know what level of interest the Sox showed, though it appears that it was the Cubs all the way for him.

And Milwaukee would make this trade for what reason ???? They have signed Riske, and Gagne, still have TurnBLOW, and traded for Torres. I don't think they want our bullpen stiff at this point. Crede would be a nice move for them but he's going to be making decent coin and is still a question mark. Andy Gonzalez ?

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 05:09 PM) I'd love for KW to bring in Colon on a Randy Wolf type deal (1 year, $4M guaranteed with a chance for another $5M in incentives.) From what I've read the arm strength is still there which means he still has the potential to be a damn good #3 type starter. Bartolo should be healthy by opening day unlike Garcia who is supposed to be back some time around the All Star Break. Agreed, but I'm expecting some guy brought in as a non-roster invitee to challenge for a #5 spot. Not sure if they are full of crap, but they (KW/Ozzie) really seem to believe their pitching staff is fine.

These guys have potential, no doubt, but they are young, and mostly inexperienced. I would expect both to show flashes, but to mostly inconsistent. I don't think the White Sox have a chance in the AL Central unless one of those two guys gets 15 wins. Highly unlikely.

I don't think we'd have a shot at either Bedard or Haren if we are competing against other teams best prospects for these guys.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 08:18 PM) Watch "the sky is falling" and KW bashing when Fukudome picks the Cubs because they are more well known internationally. Especially if the White Sox are involved in the bidding. As much as you are right, are we going to make a move for a premier player off-season or just pocket the money and add role players ?

Does anyone really give the White Sox a fighting chance in winning a bidding war ? I'd say there's only a small chance of the White Sox feeling desperate, and outbidding everyone though I think the Cubs will land him.