Dick Allen

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 05:45 PM) Via tweet from Bruce Levine: " Billy Beane will wait until Scherzer and Lester are off the market in order too max out on a trade of Samardzija." FWIW If they wait for Scherzer, it will be spring training.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 06:24 PM) Semien was MVP of the Southern League when he was in Birmingham posting a .420 OBP and solid batting average and power numbers. His early season trial with the Sox didn't go well but he had a handful of game winning late inning hits. He got more seasoning in AAA and when called up in September looked much better. Defense is still a question mark in some's eyes since his error total was not optimal at 3rd or 2nd base. He got time in the OF in AAA but not on his recall and I get the general feeling that the OF might be his future but would've liked to have seen him out there in September but he was never put out there. Avi, Montas and Rondon (low minors defensive whiz of a SS ) came in the Peavy deal. Josh Fields, Jery Owens, Brent Morel, thise guys all lit it up in September. As Ozzie said, if you aren't in the race, don't believe what you see in September. The jury is out on Semien. If he is the main piece in a Samardzjia trade, there are going to be a few more pieces. He does seem like the type of guy Oakland would like.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 06:22 PM) Assume Samardzija won't sign for a discount. Then it doesn't matter whether he's going to sign an extension before you trade for him. You trade Player X with no extension for him, you sign him for whatever he's worth. or... He signs for whatever he's worth, and you trade Player Y. Why would the player change? The only way you pay more (in talent) for an extension now is if you think his value is likely to increase dramatically between now and the end of next season. I don't see why it would. I don't remember if it was Heyman or Rosenthal or both, but it was said Beane wouldn't grant a window to work on an extension.

Heyman has now thrown Anderson out there as a possible price. Maybe he read this thread with his twitter.

If the Sox are willimg to send Anderson for Samardzjia, they probabky could have worked something out for Donaldson. Donaldson and a free agent pitcher seems like a nicer upgrade than possibly one year of the former Cubbie.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) Putting aside, for a moment, the cost in players to acquire Jeff S., if he would ultimately get close to $20 Million per year, on a multi year free agent contract, why isn't it far more attractive to simply acquire him for one year, at approximately half of that? He's already 30, and at the end of the year, he becomes even less attractive, as a long term commitment. I'd prefer to have him for one year, at a far more affordable annual salary, without the risk of being stuck with a bad contract. At the end of the season, the Sox could make a qualifying offer, again for one more year, and receive a draft pick. They could then go back into the market, and see who else could be had. Why isn't that preferable to signing any 30 + year old pitcher to a big, long term contract? Comparing the deal Beane made to acquire Samardjiza is not relevant, as he was acquired for a season and a half, during Oakland's playoff run. Now, he would be dealt with one year remaining, and Oakland may be back to a rebuild mode. The circumstances are not the same. I originally assumed that it might require dealing Alexei, to which most reacted negatively, asserting that such a move would fill one hole, while opening another. So, now we are talking about a deal that would net them this year's #2 or #3 starter, a right hander yet, and not create a hole at SS. If the Sox take on "Sharks" approximately $10 million arbitration salary, they would still have about $15 million to spend on an outfielder, and a closer. To reiterate, they could then stay within a projected $100 million payroll, with no long term commitments, and field a very competitive team. In the meantime, it gives some of the youth in the system more time to develop, and the front office would have a better idea of the team's needs for 2016. Then, there is still the outside chance that they could move Danks, who would be completely expendable with the Samardjiza's acquisition. Therefore, while the fact that he would be a mere one year rental would reduce the asking price, it could actually be more attractive, IMO. The question is; what would Beane take in exchange for one year of the "Shark"? If Anderson is the guy in the deal, if there is a deal, and he becomes a good SS and Samardjia is around for one season and the Sox don't at least make the playoffs, it is a horrible trade. There are a lot of ifs. But if the Sox are willing to trade Anderson, there may be something more attractive than on year of SamArdzjia available. Doesn't hurt to float his name around and see what someone else may be willing to give you.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) And then someone originally described as his best friend tweeted "best of luck in Oakland, bud." Turned out to not likely be anyone he knew. There was another asking if he was on his way to Oakland. I don't know how much AA guys follow offseason moves and news. I just wonder why he wouldn't respond if it meant something else rather than deleting everything I am sure we will find our fairly soon whether he meant what some of us think he may have meant.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 12:20 PM) Some of it can be miles. However its really more the age. As you get older the blood flow decreases throughout the body. The rotator cuff is in a vulnerable position due to the way it turns down from the scapula to the humerus. This is why it is such a common injury . In this deal if you want proven pitching you need to give up quality. I get that, I just think the Sox need to hang on to the quality, and they can still pick up their target in a year. If they don't want to wait, they have to make 2015 more than just a half assed or 3/4 assed attempt to win. They have to really be "all in".

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 12:04 PM) Rick Hahn will not trade a promising SS Anderson for one year of Samardijza. Relax. I wouldn't think so, but Anderson's tweet is causing havoc.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 12:06 PM) That's true at any age. It's the nature of overhead athletes. I agree. They talk about his background. He doesn't have the "miles" on him most do at his age, but there are guys who are younger with a lot less "miles" than he has currently that are done or in the process of being done. It can go at anytime, although with some of these guys, you have to like their chances of staying fairly healthy. Maybe he is one of them. I do remember Alex Fernandez. He is one guy the White Sox were willing to go really long term on back in the days they were going 3 years max and they mentioned his mechanics. I think his agent was Boras, so it didn't work out. He blew out in Miami pretty quickly.

QUOTE (mataipaepae @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:58 AM) Who cares. He has 6 good years still left in him. This isn't football. 30 isn't old in baseball. With pitchers, you never know.

QUOTE (Fantl916 @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:52 AM) Speaking of Gavin Floyd, this whole rumor factory around this samardjiza deal stinks of the Gavin Floyd to Toronto bs from a couple years back. Everyone has sources and is throwing all kinda of ish against the wall at this point to see what sticks. Still haven't heard a peep from any notable baseball writer/reporter on the sox being involved. This is all spinning of Susan sussler's singular mention. Think everyone needs to temper their excitement. This thread started over 3 weeks ago when Rosenthal mentioned the Sox and Samardijia.

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:45 AM) Thought it's about winning championships... While it is true, there has to be a mix. The White Sox could trade Sale and Abreu and Quintana today and wind up with the top farm system in baseball. It won't help them at all in Chicago when 8k are at a Sunday afternoon game watching them lose, but some would be happy to hang their hat on a high ranking. That said, you do need some talent in your system. Especially when you can't support a $170 million payroll. If they are trading Anderson, I hope they are right. A SS with 6 years of control at rookie and arb rates, if this guy reaches his potential, saves huge cash.

The White Sox don't have enough prospects to get Samardjia and Upton in the same deal. And they are both 1 year rentals at this time. I read something the other day where Atlanta was initially making it a necessity to take BJ Upton if you wanted Justin.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:38 AM) Stocking your minors with quality SS prospects is like burying gold for later And a lot of minor league SS wind up at different positions as they advance.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:31 AM) Just noticed the A's top prospect is a AA SS. Kinda odd they'd be looking at adding another, esp. after adding Barreto. Maybe Barreto would be part of the trade, if this is even something. Or maybe even Lawrie. Lawrie seems like the type of player the White Sox would have been coveting.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) Samardzija isn't even that good, for Christ's sake If you sign him to an extension, you also will probably be sporting a 35 or 36 year old Shark on your roster in the future. I wouldn't want to pay market prices for him either.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) Maybe but what is wrong with a trade with prospect that is a couple of years away, if he makes it all for a proven #2 or 3 starting mlb pitcher? If the sox get an extension that is. I think Anderson has more value than that. Especially since Samardjia isn't even signed past 2015. It worked out trading highly thought of prospects for Freddy Garcia. Even though 2 of 3 were busts, it didn't work out trading for Nick Swisher. The way pitching is really starting to dominate, I think the Sox are better off keeping Anderson, signing a back end guy, and if they still want Samardjia, sign him next winter.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 11:01 AM) Hmmm. So the question is did he delete it because he realized he would cause a s*** storm and he meant something else, or because he is really traded and is not supposed to let it go public until it is announced. If he is gone, and Samardjia is all that is coming back, this waiting years to build a foundation is BS. He is the one guy the drafted who actually seems to be developing.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) Anderson's friend tweeted at him "best of luck to you in Oakland bud" There were 2 Oakland responses and they seem to be deleted now.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 09:22 AM) All of that stuff could be quite true but go into some details on the argument. They're both first year arb guys next year. Lawrie will be slightly cheaper...because he's done far less. If he starts performing like Donaldson, his salary would catch up in the 2nd year. And if Lawrie starts performing well enough that you'd want to keep him for several years...the A's have given up a year of team control. So the As give up a year of team control on a near MVP caliber guy 4 years away from FA and immediately get worse to bring in a couple "wild cards" as you guys describe them. For a team always financially strapped, giving up a year of team control seems silly. Even if Donaldson was trending down, man I have to think I'd be thrilled if the White Sox gave up a comparable package. But the way Beane operates, none of these guys are long term A's. The extra year of control isn't as important as the few million in savings and hoping Lawrie can stay healthy, and at least one of the other three becoming a true asset. I don't think anyone would have been upset if the White Sox sent a similar package for Donaldson. But there is a reason Oakland did it. They either think he is going to fall off, Lawrie is ready to explode, or there is something they will be able to do with the extra couple of million they will save.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 09:20 AM) Except the Shark. There should be no limit to the value of being graced with his presence for just a mere year. I have never been a fan of his. I also don't think the White Sox line up well player-wise to trade for him. It does seem the White Sox have had a hard on for him for a couple of years, but I think if they want him, wait a year.

Or maybe it is just trying to read the crystal ball. Donaldson was great, but he was down in almost every offensive category from the year before, is getting paid more, and while still was outsatnding, he may be starting to slide. Lawrie is cheaper and younger and if he can stay healthy, a big if, might evenbe better moving forward, plus you get 3 lottery tickets. For the 2014 season it would have been a huge downgrade, but moving forward, maybe not. Donaldson has a career arc that is pretty uncommon. He was virtually nothing until he was 27. Then he became MVP caliber. We have all written off guys who had shown just as much or even more up until that age.

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 07:23 AM) If it happens, hoping for 3 way deal, otherwise we'd probably have to give up Micah Or Anderson, right? I doubt Hahn would trade Anderson. Micah, maybe, but I think Semien is probably trade bait. They seem to prefer Micah over him. I just don't know what else they would have to give up. I would imagine if it is significant, they, like when they traded for Freddy, would be very confident in an extension.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 12:25 AM) FWIW, you guys are right. A lot going on. The next week or two will be very active. Rick and Beane have been in talks all week. Dodgers cooled off. Still heavy talks with Reds and Rockies as well. LOL.