NorthSideSox72

They're allowed to do a one-game callup that doesn't hit the 40 man. But Hahn said no to Rodon. My suggestion, since the Sox are not competing anyway: Matt Zaleski. He's the only pitcher - ever, as far as I can tell - to play 11 seasons in just one organization and never make the majors. And he's actually been decent in AAA. Give him a start, save the MLB arms.

I don't know what Gattis' play at C is like, but if it can be league average and he works with pitchers well, then I'd be all for trading Montas for him. I also think Montas isn't going to get it done, at least not alone. Trades involving multiple major leaguers from one team are pretty rare, so Upton and Gattis together seems a long shot. But it could work. I think the Braves are also happy to get Upton off their payroll, so you could maybe pull off getting both for, say, Montas plus another (lower level) prospect.

Recap posted

QUOTE (QuickJones81 @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 08:48 PM) Alvarez with another homer. What's your take on him, flash in the pan, or real potential? Tough to say. I think, to an extent, age goes out the window with him. But it's still early to say what they have there. I think we'll know a lot more next year.

FutureSox post on the seven players is now up. Also there is a pinned topic in PHT.

There is a discussion thread in the FS area, but here is the FutureSox post on the seven players being sent to the fall prospect league in Arizona. Feel free to discuss.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:04 PM) You're right, and I would probably put the number at 40-50 but closer to 40. Wait.. you don't think Hansen or Recchia are among the top 40-45 guys? That's hard to believe. I can certainly see not T20 or T30, but it's hard to think there are 45 or so guys ahead of them.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:22 PM) It would be strange if there were a rule change that isn't disclosed until after the selections. I wonder if the rules are somewhat flexible and negotiable. Well, I should say, it appears they ARE.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:14 PM) While I agree the Sox did send Charlie Leesman and Nick McCully last year. And Leesman has seen the majors, I think they saw him as one of those marginal guys. McCully has generally performed well as a reliever but they kept having him start again, not sure what the deal there was.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:15 PM) How is this even possible...? It's also 7 names, not 6.

Something else to consider - I see no good reason why any team would send an "org guy" to the AFL. The slots are valuable for multiple reasons. I DO think they typically send a guy or two who are on the fence - fringe guys who they aren't sure are prospects but they want to test them and force the direction. But no one below that level makes any sense to send. If they are going to Arizona for the AFL, they are at least seen as a marginal prospect by the org.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 02:46 PM) Hansen played his age 22 season in Kannapolis, his age 23 season in Winston-Salem and has pitched just 4 games in AA. I suppose he is just slightly behind the age curve, but I didn't see anyone mentioning him in their top 25 because frankly, he hasn't done anything to warrant it other than some solid strikeout numbers. I think this is more of you and I having different parameters for what qualifies a prospect. I think you are correct about terminology being the primary issue here. There are probably 50-60 guys in the system I'd consider prospects - obviously at varying levels. That's out of some 200 guys in the system. Well, 150+ guys, I won't include DSL guys in there because other than a few high priced ones, I really can't call those guys prospects OR non-prospects yet. They're kids. What Hansen has that makes him interesting isn't found in his numbers. It's a mid-90's sinking fastball from an extreme downward plane, and a slider that gets a lot of swing and miss.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 02:31 PM) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/winterleague...;id=player_elig "All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1. One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team." I know you're Recchia's biggest fan and Hansen isn't a guy to overlook but neither of these guys are really "prospects." They're kind of in between prospects and org guys largely in part of what the Sox have shown they have been able to do with pitchers regardless of pedigree/career trajectory. Hansen has shown some great peripherals but with the caveat that he was too old for the levels he was pitching at. I like Recchia as a potential Axelrod/Carroll-type-contributor and he's been pitching great for a while but this guy was pitching for the Thunderbolts just over a year ago and will be 26 next year. I thought someone said it was two players below AA earlier - apparently it's just one? Got it. I will simply disagree with you on Recchia and Hansen. First, to me, if a player has some reasonably non-zero shot at a MLB job, he's a prospect. So they both easily qualify. Second, Hansen is 23 in AA, after starting the year in A+. He's age-appropriate (in fact younger than league averages at each stop, but in line with more normalized prospect expectations), not sure where you are getting the old for level thing. As for Recchia, his stuff is significantly better than Axelrod or Carroll's. You have to look beyond the numbers - what Recchia throws is nothing like those other two. The fact that he was in Indy ball just over a year ago and has gone through 3 levels successfully only further illustrates that point. Age is an issue for sure, but as a total package, he's a prospect to me.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 01:50 PM) Hansen and Recchia are the two org guys that I could see getting the call. Snodgress seems almost like a lock to me given the state of our LHRP at the top of the minors plus he has been outstanding all year against lefties. I would think they really want to get him acclimated to a relief role as he has/had a big arm. But again, both Anderson and Montas could not be sent together. They are both below AA player because Anderson reached Birmingham after the August 1st cut off. I quoted flavum's post because I heard the same thing from Bell but interestingly enough, Bell had noted Montas as well. It would not surprise me if Bell did not know the stipulations and requirements surrounding the players sent to the AFL. See my response just now. Also, I don't see Recchia or Hansen as org guys, I think they both have decent shots at MLB futures in some role.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 01:47 PM) You have to pick one of Anderson, Montas and Coats, since all were below AA as of 8/1 I'd would go with: Bassitt Snodgress Hansen/Olacio (interesting both were moved up to AA just before 8/1, meaning they might have had AFL in plans for them) Anderson Trayce Thompson Nieto Damn, I missed that Coats was after the deadline. Replace him with Hansen or Olacio then, for me. I kinda doubt they send Trayce again, though he is just getting hot lately. And Nieto seems like an odd choice, but I guess it's possible. But Montas and Anderson can both go - they can send two of those. Just not three.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 01:32 PM) Balta, I'm convinced you want a $60M payroll next year. Even if we aren't major players in free agency, there is nothing preventing Hahn from acquiring an overpaid, but productive player that costs minimal minor/major league talent. In fact, I'm pretty sure Rick recently hinted at doing just that. I've said this many times, but financial flexibility is worthless if you're afraid to leverage it. I understand you'd like to use your resources on guys like Abreu that offer some potential surplus value, but those guys come few and far between. Sometimes you simply need to add production and pay accordingly. I'll take 3 WAR from James Shields for $20M rather than 1 WAR of Hector Noesi for $2.5M. You may be losing out from a surplus value standpoint, but you've added a decent amount of production to your rotation. And I get you're effectively paying $17.5M for two incremental WAR, but you only have 25 rosters spots to work with. Limiting yourself to a 1 WAR player in one those of spots simply because he's underpaid is quite foolish IMO. If Hahn thinks we're close to being competitive, then he'll use his financial resources to upgrade the roster regardless of potential surplus value. While I agree, I also agree with Balta in that I think they use that flexibility in great part on pitching. They may also leave some room to breathe for mid-season if things go well.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) Anderson would technically be an "A+ or below" player as well as he would have had to join Birmingham prior to August 1st to lose that label. So your list has four guys that would be below AA when each team is only allowed one. If memory serves, you are allowed to take a rule 5 draftee even if they have reached a full year of MLB service time so I think Nieto would be available. I'll go Snodgress, Nieto, Tim Anderson, Bassit, Recchia and Trayce Thompson. OK, if Anderson doesn't qualify... and we know Montas is going because Bell said he is, I believe... I'd go with: Montas Anderson Bassitt Snodgress Ravelo Coats Also very possible: Kyle Hansen, if he's healthy by then. If Snodgress goes to Chicago, that makes Hansen a strong candidate. I don't think they send any SP's that pitched the full year. If they do, Recchia is a possibility, so is Bucciferro.

Semien makes a nice foil for Gillaspie (who I fully expect to be at 3B for the Sox next year), and he can play 2B well and SS enough to cover on rare occasion. He's also played some OF, and I've been told they have worked him out in CF a few times and liked what they saw (outside of games - he's only played corner OF so far). Basically, while I think his bat makes him higher ceiling at 2B than Sanchez, I get the impression they are setting him up to be the utility INF next year, or else he's back in Charlotte probably learning the outfield. That part depends on what they see in Sanchez. I would also love to know more about Sanchez' defense at shortstop (i've heard terms ranging from fringe to playable to average). Because if it is MLB playable, they may trade Alexei this offseason (likely for pitching) and put Sanchez there, Johnson at 2B, and Semien as the utility INF and platoon partner for Gillaspie. You'd then have a full-on youth skill Infielder set of 4 guys, all cheap too. I also think it is very possible one of Sanchez or Semien is traded this offseason.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 01:17 PM) From what I understand, you wouldn't be allowed to send three guys from below AA. Did Anderson qualify? Not sure.

For these discussions. My final guesses on who goes: Bassitt (2nd time) Montas Narvaez Anderson Lopez Ravelo Not sure about Lopez though. Could also see a reliever from AA or AAA going, not sure which one.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 25, 2014 -> 09:17 PM) Id love Zaleski to get a Lucas Harrell one of these days. They've got a DH coming up and can add one extra player for that day - might be a good opportunity if they were ever going to do that.

This was a truly unique one - got to interview Eddy Alvarez on Friday. For those unaware, Alvarez is a speed skater who won a silver medal at Sochi in February, and then signed with the So in June. Here is the interview - discuss, enjoy!

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 23, 2014 -> 04:20 PM) What'd you do to him NSS??? LOL, I wondered the same thing. Last year, our interviews were the Midas touch, guys got promoted shortly after. Happened again with Dykstra this year, but apparently it worked in reverse on Beck. Hopefully the guy I interviewed Friday won't be in trouble.

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I love doing these interviews. Just finished another one today, to go up Monday. An infielder this time. Stay tuned.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 12:14 AM) It's definitely not any worse than people overreacting on James Dykstra's Low A stats and ranked him in the upper teens in the ranking. And I think most of the FS voters had Dykstra much higher than Bassitt, which, to me, is the bigger crime. I am probably one of Bassitt's biggest supporters, dating back to last year. It isn't just based on his recent success. Even so, I think his potential only tops out as a back of the rotation starter, with bullpen as the much more likely destination. But given that he was a 22 year old college senior drafted in the 16th round, and now he's moving closer to getting a chance to start in the majors, this has to be one of the bigger success stories for the Sox in recent years. I had Bassitt, and Recchia for that matter, higher than Dykstra. But I can see arguments the other way. It's kind of hard to draw a bright line between any of those guys.