Lillian

As I stated in the thread entitled "Who can the Sox acquire," this team is not in need of a total rebuild. Moreover, the front office would be too worried about the fan reaction, if they did. It wouldn't even be too late for them to get back into the race, if they were a really good team. Unfortunately, while most of this team is pretty solid and well balanced, there are some serious flaws. The hole which they have dug themselves into, is too deep, from which this team is probably capable of digging themselves out. If they had all of the pieces, one might have confidence in their ability to overcome this horrendous start. However, they simply don't. The team is flawed, not enough to merit a total rebuild, but enough to keep them from going 80 and 60, the rest of the way. That would get them to the 88 wins, which will most likely be required to win at least a Wild Card spot, in the playoffs. So, the question is: Who can they trade, to set them up better for 2016? My original post, in the other thread, was to trade Samardzija, and most of you seem to agree. I also stated that they really need to try to dump La Roche's salary, and look for a better option for next year. The more I think about that, the more convinced I am that it should be a high priority. He is the same hitter that Dunn was, in his worst seasons with the Sox. He's a strikeout machine, and completely incapable of doing anything against LH pitching. It might not be so hard to accept, if he weren't the clean up hitter.

Note that I said the purpose of talking to him was to "not burn any bridges and to keep open the possibility of bringing him back", as a free agent. I didn't say that they should necessarily do so. In fact, unless the contract were reasonable, I'd be opposed to it. He is not an Ace, as many of you have suggested. To the point about getting compensation; I understood that once he were traded, none of that would be relevant to the Sox. In fact, if they don't plan on making a qualifying offer, at the end of the season, that is even more reason to trade him, and get something back.

QUOTE (spiderman @ May 3, 2015 -> 05:13 PM) His situation is interesting. If the White Sox move him early, they can get more for him since a contending team can get 6-8 more starts from him. If they think (or cling) to a hope that they can go on an extended hot streak, and/or believe they can resign him in the off-season, he can walk with no return and/or a lesser return. Obviously, he appears to be the barometer to what Hahn is thinking. Why couldn't they sit Jeff down and explain the predicament, in which they find themselves. Tell him they would love to sign him long term, but that they understand that he wants to test free agency. Candidly admit that their chances for competing for a play off spot this year are fading fast, and that they have a flawed offense, which they will try to fix, in the off season. Suggest to him that he would have a better shot at winning, if they can find a suitable trade partner, for the rest of this season, and that they hope to fill one of the few remaining holes, through the trade. After the season, they would like to discuss his signing a long term contract with them. The benefit of that candor would be that they wouldn't burn any bridges, and keep open the possibility of bringing him back. They could arguably be well advised to consider trading him sooner, rather than later, as you suggest.

Woah!! Let's not throw in the towel on this entire team. While I am very pessimistic about their chances for this year, I love the core going forward. Next year could be very good, with a little tweaking. Everyone whom they want back, will be there, except Samardzija, and I've already expressed my thoughts on what to do with him. The bullpen appears to be fixed, the lineup is greatly improved, although the results haven't shown it, thus far, and by next season Rodon should be a force. There is some hope that the Sox may have a more impactful centerfielder soon, as Thompson seems to have turned the corner. Meanwhile, May is coming along, and not too far behind him. This is the year to develop Garcia, Johnson, and or Sanchez and Rodon. If they all mature into solid contributors, they could be key to the long term success of this team. I still feel that signing La Roche was a mistake, and I hope they can find a taker, just to clear salary and room for an upgrade, next year. To me, the big question is going to be SS. Is Ramirez worth bringing back, by exercising the contract option, or will Anderson be ready? Next year's rotation could be Sale, Rodon, Quintana, Montas and Johnson. That would eliminate the need to pay the big contract, for which Samardzija will surely be looking. In any case, this team, while off to a season killing start, is not bad enough, or old enough, to completely tear down.

And Thompson keeps hitting. 3 for 3 today. It's a lot more fun following these Minor Leaguers than the Sox.

Sanchez another double. Now 2 for 4.

Once Jeff is in demand, after getting on track, and a starter for a contender hits the DL, they can't afford to waste such a good trade asset. Barring a miracle, after today, the Sox will have to go 80 and 60 the rest of the way. The odds are not good on that. Next year, they have got to have all the pieces in place. Use Jeff to acquire 1 or 2 of them. If Jeff would be the final piece, sign him in the off season.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ May 3, 2015 -> 10:07 AM) Trade Samardzija now after his value has dropped due to a horrible start to the season? Same with LA Roche? Didn't we learn anything from the Swisher fiasco? Your point is well taken. OK, wait until he proves he's himself, re-establishes his trade value, and then trade him.

Very funny, "Jordan4life". But seriously, what is the point of keeping Jeff? This team isn't going anywhere, and he will be a FA.

Why not trade Samardzija? He could net quite a haul, and this team is not going anywhere, even with him. If they really want to spend the money on a long term deal for him, they can always sign him in the off season. I'd like to see if some team would give up a good young, potential left handed power hitter. But then, you probably all guessed that.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 3, 2015 -> 07:58 AM) Welcome to Dan Black/Miguel Montero as your DH. Since Wilkins and Viciedo are already gone. I'm less concerned about who takes his place this season than I am about clearing his salary off the books, so that Hahn can sign someone else, this off season. They sure as hell better not head into 2016 with La Roche as the clean up hitter.

I'd settle for a salary dump with La Roche, wouldn't you? If he's not off the books, how can the Sox pursue someone to take his place, for next year?

One of the biggest problems with this offense is Adam La Roche. You all know how important I thought it was to have a left handed power bat, sandwiched between Abreu and Garcia. La Roche is likely not going to be the answer. It's interesting to note that he is exactly the same age as Dunn, and that Adam has already retired. At least when Dunn joined the Sox he was, 4 years younger than La Roche, coming off a pretty decent year; 36 doubles, 38 homers and 103 RBI's. La Roche has already declined significantly, the last 2 years, vs. LHP. He now looks like he doesn't hit RHP too well either. He leads the League in strike outs; an incredible 30 in 74 at bats!! He should never start against a lefty, and he probably isn't good enough to fill that slot between Abreu and Garcia. Let's face it; he was a poor choice. Let's just hope that he is the last left handed DH/first baseman, from the Nats, named Adam, whom the Sox ever sign. If someone wants him, he is the first guy that I would like to see gone, in the "fire sale", which may have to occur. I'd bat Melky in his spot vs. RHP, and give the DH role to whomever. I'm already looking ahead to 2016, and I hope that in the off season, Hahn can finally find that left handed, power bat, they need.

9 consecutive hits, including 3 doubles and 2 homers!! What the hell is he on?

I've been touting Sanchez, as a better option right now than Micah. Bring him back up. Put him in the 2 hole, and move Melky into the heart of the order, where he can be a run producer. Maybe he can help jump start our pathetic offense.

While it may be too early to become sellers, themselves, it's certainly makes little sense for the Sox to be buyers.

They are now 8 and 13. To make the Wild Card, it will probably take around 88 wins. They need to go 80 and 61, the rest of the way. How many of you think that they're capable of accomplishing that?

I'm getting more and more excited about Carlos Sanchez. He may not have the raw tools to make him a super star, but he seems like a really solid player. He's still playing at a higher level than his age would dictate, which he's done pretty much his whole minor league career. When you consider his .297 Avg., last year at Charlotte, what he did in Spring Training, where he hit almost .500, and now leading the Knights in average, how can you not be impressed? I love that he's a switch hitter, and seems to handle righties and lefties equally. He could be a significant contributor, in the #2 hole, where he seems best suited. That would free Melky up to bat lower in the order, where he could be a run producer. His glove at second is top notch, and he can turn the double play. The problem is that Micah has the big upside, and seems only suited to second base. It's a nice problem to have, but a shame that he isn't getting a chance, at the Big League level, especially given the underwhelming state of the Sox offense, so far.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2015 -> 10:22 AM) Adam Eaton is our CF, and he isn't going anywhere for a while. Even if he sits, it will be JB Shuck that plays this year, not any minor leaguer. Please note that I said we would hopefully have an internal replacement, way before Eaton's contract expired. I didn't suggest anything about this year.

The best thing is that the centerfielders at Charlotte, Birmingham and Winston Salem, are all playing really well. I'm hopeful that Thompson, May or Engel will emerge as our centerfielder, way before Eaton's contract is finished. Who among those 3, intrigues you guys the most?

So, let me get this straight; The Orioles will make the concession to the Rays, to travel to Tampa, instead of playing that entire series in Baltimore, as originally scheduled. However, they expect the Sox to come back and play a double header in Baltimore, on a day that would have been an off day. Seems the Rays will not be inconvenienced in the least. They didn't have to make a trip for nothing, have their entire schedule disrupted, or suffer any other negative consequences. However, the Sox just have to bend over backwards to make it all work for Baltimore. Maybe whoever said; "The Sox are just bending over, to get shafted", or something to that effect, was right.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 05:54 PM) He wouldn't have signed if that was the arrangement. I would think that even a selfish player would want to sit vs pitching that makes his stats look that bad. Moreover, he could be a tremendous asset, as a pinch hitter, on those days.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) LaRoche has a career 88 wRC+ against LHP. That is by no means good, but it's also very much not a disaster, and very much not that far off from what other guys have against the platoon split, and fortunately for us, there are vastly fewer lefties than righties. I am not suggesting that having someone inept is isn't a problem, but the precedent LaRoche has set isn't quite that bad, and certainly, IMO, not bad enough to drag the rest of the team down ASSUMING that team is playing like it's capable. Like Eaton, Garcia, Ramirez, Gillaspie, and Cabrera can't keep sucking, or it'll be a moot point. The good news is that we don't have any reason to believe that they WILL continue sucking. He wasn't too bad, earlier in his career. The last two seasons have been brutal. I posted the stats.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) It's just that practically everyone has noticeable platoon splits, so you diversify so that a team has to wreck the bullpen to exploit it. There was no way for us to get an elite hitter to plug in there, but we got LaRoche and it's still a major upgrade overall. We'd all love to have the hitter you're imagining, but he just isn't available to us. And missing him isn't our biggest issue. If none of our guys hit like they're supposed to, we're going to lose no matter what. We just gotta ride this thing out. Thanks for reassuring me. I'm confident that most of the guys will hit like they usually do. If you're right, in your assertion that having an inept hitter vs. LHP at cleanup isn't that big of a problem, then we should be fine. I do hope that you're right, but can you understand why it's a concern?

To the last few replies: Hey, just because I was wrong in suggesting someone else, does not invalidate my point. My ability to identify the right guy has nothing to do with this issue. I'm not the GM. I'm glad that Robin is batting La Roche further down, vs. left handed starters. However, vs right handed starters, the same dilemma will occur late in games.