G&T

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 7, 2007 -> 04:16 PM) I thought the reports on Ramirez in winter league stated he wasn't anything special. I know nothing except what was posted in the Ramirez thread.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2007 -> 04:08 PM) I get the feeling the Sox are going to make a run at Alexi Ramirez for way less than either Rowand or Fuk gets. I think he fits in better as well with the pickups KW has made recently mainly based on his age. 26 years old fits in with Quentin and Richar.

Score is reporting that the Cubs are ready to outspend everyone for Fukudome. No numbers given, but now I'm curious to see what they spend on him.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 12:12 PM) . . . afraid to click this link from work. . . If half naked plastic women are nsfw then don't click.

QUOTE(Friend of Nordhagen @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 08:58 AM) Wonder if the signing bonus is Andruw's insurance against the Mitchell Report . . . Interesting take, though I think the contract is probably guaranteed anyway. I was thinking it might make the contract more moveable. The Dodgers could pay the signing bonus but another team might pick up the rest if he were traded.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 05:18 AM) Stolen from Cheat's blog, courtesy Joe Cowley There will be some people in here who really like this UHHHHHHH KW gets a bad rap sometimes, but those are straight up hilarious quotes because of how absurd they are. See, if that quote were true, Miguel Cabrera would be at 3rd base next year. That's my take on it.

$18 million a year is a lot as it is, and I'm sure the Sox would have had to give more. That's a big gamble.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 02:04 AM) THE SOX ARE NOT A CONTENDING TEAM. PLAY YOUR YOUTH. PLEASE, SOXTALK, F'ING UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT, PLEASE If Fields, Quentin, and Richar don't play everyday I'm going to be pissed. Especially Quentin and Richar because I see no reason to trade top 10 prospects in our system for bench players.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 01:11 PM) Ozzie's wife told Cabrera about it, after Ozzie called her and told her he was dealt. Everyone is saying what a pain in the ass the Marlins have been to deal with. This couldn't fall through, could it? Keep Cabrera out of the AL Central, unless he's with the White Sox. Don't get your hopes up. There are 8 players involved and I can't even speculate on the paper work that might go into each player's movement (actually I have no clue at all). That said, it is odd that they haven't informed any agents or players. There could be a money issue with Miller. I wonder if the Marlins want the Tigers to pay some of that deal because it could be worth $7.5 million. 4 years/$5.4M (2006-09) * Miller may opt out of contract early & go to arbitration * escalators may bring total package to $7.5M, based on when Miller makes 25-man roster Something tells me that could be a cause of concern for the Marlins.

Well now there's a thread on this in PHT, but something tells me they might have had him before the Tigers got into it. The Tigers seemed to put the trade together in a couple hours.

Cowley is on the Score saying that 4 years won't do it. If they give 5 years, the money could be less.

According to Cowley, the Sox would have had Cabrera if they would have given a couple extra prospects to get Willis too. The Sox wouldn't do it.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 10:49 AM) that sounds about right. at the least rowand is an upgrade over the current situation and he's a popular guy. at the same time, i can't say it's really sensible financially and i don't think it moves us out of third place in the division. Well I hate to say this but if this team think Rowand will put people in the seats, they will make a deal. Right now they have to be thinking it's going to be tough to get people in the stadium with this team in this division.

The Angels and Dodgers have both inquired about Rolen, according to Rosenthal, which leads me to believe that Crede must be in that mix as well.

Out of curiosity, if MCab went to a team other than a division rival, would anybody here really care? We knew the Sox didn't have the players to land him, and even if they did, there was a question of how they would fill the holes in their roster. I'm pissed too, but if the Angels got him would be people saying, "good thing we didn't blow up the roster for one guy."? I do agree though that this should be a turning point in the mind set of the front office because this team won't be competitive in this division next year. Unfortunately they've started down the "win now" path and probably can't reverse based on the contract extensions they gave out.

I still don't know why people think MCab is going to hit FA. The Tigers will pay whatever it takes to rebuild around him for the next ten years, or trade him for a similar package they paid and that will sign him to an extension. The Tigers aren't going to let him go for nothing. Meanwhile, if Orlando Cabrera signs an extension now I'll be shocked. He seemed luke warm on the idea before, I can't imagine he's feeling different now.

QUOTE(max power @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 07:15 PM) How are they going to be able to afford to pay him and the rest of the team they field, with a now barren farm? I have no idea. But who knows where that system will be in 2 years. Other guys could be moved.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 07:44 PM) Wow, with this deal, there are about 5 teams that are hands-down better than the Sox (two are in our own division). The Angels, Indians, Tigers, Yankees (especially with the possible acquisition of Santana), and Red Sox. We really should have started to rebuild when we had the chance. Or, you know, made some serious moves this offseason. Gotta imagine that KW will look into moving PK to teams that lost out on Cabrera. Don't know if any move is really out there though.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 07:14 PM) He's got great sources. And re: steroids -- I just don't see the league taking all that much action or the union allowing it. Even without Sheffield for awhile, Detroit's offense is top-notch. On this, there's always a possibility that MLB takes no action because there is an on-going criminal investigation from the Florida pharmacies. The players might have to testify and, in order to ensure that they are biased, won't be disciplined. I'm not just making this up. A Major League Baseball attorney told my class as much. He also said he expected to see disciplinary action, but you never know. QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 07:14 PM) We'd have a couple of things in our favor though. 1 - Surely he'd put up better numbers at the Cell instead of Comerica. Would help in his HR chase of A-Rod someday. 2 - The relationship with Ozzie. The big plus for us. Obviously it's going to cost a lot, but I think we'll have some big salaries coming off the books then. I don't think Ozzie will matter. If the Sox suck he's not going to want to play here, and I'm doubtful the Sox will beat the Tigers. But that's years away.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 07:08 PM) Oh I'm already resigned to the fact that MigCab is going the FA route after 09. No chance in hell he decides to stay in Detroit. Why? Even if he enters FA the Tigers would overpay to keep him because it would be a disaster for them to lose all their prospects and Cabrera after 2 years.

QUOTE(max power @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 06:59 PM) The marlins wanted to dump willis with him. We probably didn't want to give anything for him, so we lost. That's how I am guessing it went, but I'm wise enough to see that I can easily be wrong. I really doubt the Sox had any chance, Willis or not.

ESPN reporting it again. Unbelievable.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 05:38 PM) I'm trying really hard not to get psyched about this. First, remember what the Marlins have done to the Angels. This could be a ploy to get other teams back in. Second, the only source that ever seems to point to the Sox getting Cabrera is the Palm Beach Post. Seems odd to me, but correct me if I'm wrong. I think the Marlins might be leaking information to get the Angels back in. This is two teams TODAY that have these sudden links to Cabrera.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) Or maybe it was the trades of Dukes and Young which left them with only Upton, Crawford, and Baldelli in the OF... with Ruggiano being called upon when Baldelli inevitably gets hurt. They're rumored to be taking Barton #1 in the Rule 5 draft later this week... They can't really afford to trade any more outfielders right now. You and your logic and remembering stuff. I still think everyone is available at the right price, though. It just never seemed like trade talks ever really heated up for him. But I could be wrong.

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