RME JICO

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 11:34 PM) Thome could probably hit 50 Home Runs in US Cellular Field. His swing is perfect. Plus he is a local guy. I would be happy with 40+ and 100 RBI.

The Phils still have Burrell, Abreu, Michaels, Victorino, and Chavez as OFs correct? So when you add Rowand, is Michaels now available?

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 10:50 PM) With Thome in the lineup, I think the Sox could afford to lose abit of the pop if they can't resign Paulie and swing a deal with Marte going to Milwaukee for Overbay....Thats who I still think the Sox should use as plan B Is Overbay available? That would be a steal, but I don't see the Brewers giving him away for Marte, but I guess you never know.

Do the Phils trade Rowand to shore up another need, or will they keep him to start in the OF? I could see the Yanks and Sawks drooling over Rowand right now. Whoever does not get Damon really could use Rowand.

I think the Sox feel they can keep this pitching staff basically intact for the next couple of years, so they will be able to groom some new prospects by 2008-2009 when they need a new arm.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:48 PM) I still haven't seen anything in print to even suggest this. Anyone? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2234843

QUOTE(BDavisFutureHOF @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:43 PM) After last year -- I trust KW as well but this trade reeks of trades/signings that we made in the past to build our team around "mashers." We finally found the winning formula and we are reverting to the ideas of yore. As my 7th grade history teacher once said "History is tought so the future can learn from past mistakes" I personally think this is a HUGE mistake. I hope I am wrong. You are making like Thome is replacing Rowand in the OF. Thome is replacing Everett at DH, and he is a huge upgrade there. He is a lefty bat that fills a couple of needs. I don't think this one move signals that the Sox are going back to 5-6 mashers. The Sox will either acquire someone like Pierre or bring in Anderson to fill the OF position.

So who do you think is next, and why?

QUOTE(ptatc @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:25 PM) The injury did not effect his ability to straighten his elbow. The ligament in question keeps the forearm from going away from the humerus (valgus motion). This strtches the unlar nerve and the tissue on the inside of the elbow. It is nearly impossible to throw with this condition. Since he throwa righted and hits left handed its his front arm that is effected. This injury would cause pain or numbness in his hand and forearm on his follow through of the swing. My best guess is that he injured early in the season tried to play through it (which caused the poor performance) and shut it down due to the symptoms. I just hope your avatar doesn't happen to him, ouch!

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:34 PM) I like it. Its worth a shot. The Sox top prospects are OF's and Rowand who was great in 2004, wasn't much more than average this championship season. Even defensively where he is given so much credit, I thought with the exception of about a two week period, which included their trip to NY, he had regressed. He wasn't getting very good jumps and Ozzie was pissed with his habit of playing too deep. His throwing was very erratic. That said, what's to say he won't go back to his 2004 form both at the plate and in the field? The Sox have to start making room for their top prospects if they aren't going to deal them, so moving Rowand makes a lot of sense. Thome is a gamble, a huge gamble, but if he's healthy, they have him for a huge discount. I completely agree. I also think Aaron unfortunately has some below average baserunning skills. He had a couple of brain farts in the post season and was bailed out by guys later in the order. Besides his hitting with 2 strikes, I think his baserunning was his next worst skill.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:29 PM) Craig Landis will not turn against the White Sox because one of his guys got traded. It's his job to represent his guy...Konerko...and right now the Sox are in an excellent position to give PK every single thing he could ask for other than that 6 year deal. I don't mean that he is going to turn against the Sox, but instead use this as leverage to get more money, or maybe that extra year (5th not 6th). I still think the 4yr, 52 Million deal is great for Paulie and the Sox.

I don't see this as a replacement for Paulie compared to an upgrade at DH and a Lefty bat. If Paulie doesn't resign, then the Sox will still try to fill that void with someone outside the organization. Otherwise it would be Dye at 1B and the Sox would pick up another OF to play RF.

Yep it has been mentioned, thanks anyway. I am just wondering how this will have an impact on signing Paulie as Craig Landis is the agent for Aaron and Paulie. Will this have an impact?

The Sox will be looking for someone to get on base more (better OBP). Jones does not fit that mold.

QUOTE(Felix @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 08:02 PM) He's old. Anyone that's old and misses a season due to an injury is an injury concern. He had elbow surgery and it is not like he is pitching or playing outfield. He will be the DH, and maybe play a little 1B. There is a lot less concern.

I know it was mentioned, but compared to the amount of media coverage the NYY and Marlins rumors were getting, there was not that much. Also, the other trades (Beckett, Delgado) had a few pre-trade rumors pop up, where this one just hit without any earlier warnings.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 07:47 PM) This IMO is a good trade without question. And the folks that don't like it will come around, they are just very understandably saddened to lose such a great guy like Rowand. You are correct. I am sad to see Aaron go, but getting Thome is huge for the Sox. I would hate to be the Indians right now.

The Phillies had to give up a lot of cash to get those prospects though. The Sox leveraged the money with the prospects. So the Sox get a proven veteran lefty for 4.5, 6.0, and 6.0 million respectively over the next 3 years.

Sorry had a typo. Was reading the quote I was replying to. No he is not washed up. He is a very consistent player, and is a great player in the clubhouse. The Indians opening series just got cranked up another notch!

If he shortens up his swing with 2 strikes he will raise his average and OBP by 20+ points. Did anyone see this coming? Everyone heard the NYY rumors and the Marlins rumors, but this one came out of nowhere. I wonder if this was expedited because of the Delgado deal? Either way, this was a good move for both teams.

QUOTE(Antonio Osuna @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 07:26 PM) I believe Thome is washed-up. But I also believe that Rowand isn't going to ever match his 2004 offensive numbers. So I see this as kind of a wash. If Gio lights up the National League, then I think this will go down as a fairly bad trade. But I think he's too injury-prone to do that. I don't think Thome is completely washed up. He is obviously not the same player he was 5 years ago, but he will be a huge upgrade at DH for the Sox. He will also have the ability to play first as needed.

Yeah, it seems like Pierre is the only feasible option outside of BA.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 07:19 PM) true. but 22 million is still a lot of salary to eat. I thought it was 24 Million? Yeah, it is a lot to eat, but you can't look at it at eating the contract, because they got 2 prospects and Rowand, and they already had Howard. Actually, when I look at the deal, this is a steal for the Sox: Thome's remaining contract: $12.5 Million - 2006 $14 Million - 2007 $14 Million - 2008 $13 Million - 2009 with Club Option $3 Million Buyout Phils pay $8 Million a year in the trade. Sox pay: $4.5 Million - 2006 $6 Million - 2007 $6 Million - 2008 $13 Million - 2009 with Club Option $3 Million Buyout Only 4.5 Million in 2006!

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:29 PM) I really like this deal. Hopefully Thome bounces back this year, but the Phillies are eating 22 million of his salary (looks like they think he's about finished). Not really, they had a pretty good player named Ryan Howard step up and win NL ROY.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 06:56 PM) f***.NO. I second that one!