Dick Allen

QUOTE (kapkomet @ May 22, 2009 -> 03:04 PM) What the hell happened to fathom? Quaaludes and gin.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 22, 2009 -> 01:29 PM) I actually agree with what Heyman said about the White Sox in his article. Verducci makes it look like the Sox may actually be worse than the Padres. Maybe they are.

Hawk didn't think the deal would get done because of the NTC. Seems like the White Sox were swinging hard in case they hit it and they missed. Although I suppose there still is a chance this gets done, I find it extremely doubtful. BTW, a guy I work with works out at the same gym as Mayor Daley. His grandfather was an alderman so he has conversations with him. Regarding the 2016 Olympic bid..........if Chicago gets the bid, Mayor Daley will be the most surprised guy in town.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 22, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) I'm not listening to it, but I'll give it a guess... Not afraid of the AL, but he's a better fit for the NL, White Sox are great and it was a tough decision, he could revisit it at any time, no money specifics were talked about. I heard it went exactly how you predicted except he threw out how much he would love playing for the Cubs at the end. I'm sorry, I have no problem with a guy using his NTC for whatever reason, but to throw Cubbie love in at the end is BS. I now hate Jake Peavy and Barry Axelrod.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 22, 2009 -> 12:27 PM) Barry Axelrod on ESPN 1000 right now. Has he mentioned the atmosphere at Wrigley Field yet?

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ May 22, 2009 -> 12:30 PM) I don't always like using the Sox draft history to cast doubts on those currently in the system(it isn't fair to them), however, given this teams inability to devolp pitchers consistantly, having to give up Ely and Hudson isn't that tough of a pill to swallow. Again, I don't want to make it sound like the enitre system is awful, or Hudson and Ely aren't worth a s***, but at this point they are lower level prospects, and if can get you Jake Peavy, you bite. I agree.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 22, 2009 -> 11:06 AM) Did you see the rumors about Peavy's contract demands? For the Sox sake, I hope it is over. If he ever agrees to go to the Sox, he'll have to drop those demands. The only thing I think there's flexibility on is a broader NTC in a couple years and maybe re-working that option year to a guarantee worth far less money. He does have 3 small kids and just built a new house so maybe he does need a week or so to sit on it. The only thing is he did say he would play for the Cubs so I don't know why he would have a problem with the other side of town. From what Rozner wrote, he hasn't rejected the trade, he just said he needs more time. I do think if its a week or so from now and he still hasn't made up his mind, its time for KW to move along unless something else opens up for him sooner. Who knows. Maybe Peavy had some concerns about this year's team and KW told him how the holes would be addressed and he's told him, fill the holes and I'll say yes. SD is a bad team, but their record is better than the White Sox.

According to Barry Rozner, this isn't over yet.

I think its between Pods and Wise and I think Wise wins. For some reason, Ozzie loves Wise. Letting either of them go isn't going to be much of a loss.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:39 PM) Hudson also would have cost us a first round pick. Which would have saved about $1 million in a signing bonus for someone who chances are will never amount to anything. The fact is JR isn't going to take a bath on Peavy, not with the current roster, because Jake Peavy with no other changes isn't the difference between a World Series and winning 75 games this year. He's not this mythical "special player" that guarantees victory. They went after Hunter. They went after Fukudome, a guy who had never played in the major leagues before. The money is there. Their every dime in goes out BS has been exposed a few times. There's nothing wrong with a business making a profit, but KW needs to stop the woo is me, I have no money, and then hey Jake Peavy I just found $50 million, come play with us, then Jake says no and we will go back to the "we have no money" routine. Some will buy KW only has $.50 and can't pay the electric bill. I think most know better now. He said he was working on Peavy for 11 months, maybe he withheld his salary believing he would acquire him, but there is money available. JR doesn't operate in the red.

QUOTE (Krivanka @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:27 PM) Indeed, Peavy canceled the trade today, enacting his No Trade Clause. He did? Do you have a link?

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:17 PM) It's not that you don't take long-term picture into consideration but if it's a guy that you want badly you can always make it work. Four years is a long time and a lot of changes/moves can be made in that time frame. The necessary adjustments can be made and be done smartly as you have plenty of time to make them, this opposed to the situation that the Padres are in right now where they are over budget by 5 mil and have to trade their best player for pennies on the dollar to get under budget. The White Sox are going to have some cash to play with for a couple of years, however if a few of the Barons pan out, they will all be hitting their arb years together. Some will be bought through them some will not. It would be a shame to have to rid yourself of a good young player because you foolishly guaranteed a $22 million option in a trade 4 years earlier. One thing about pitchers, its not a question of if they are going to get hurt but when.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:07 PM) You don't go into a trade situation worrying about making salary room 4 years down the road. If you want the guy you get him and make it work out when you cross that bridge. We can only have 5-6 guys tops that are even signed through 2013 so its really not much of an issue. Totally disagree. You have to plan that far out. If some of the younger guys pan out, they will be making some good money.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 21, 2009 -> 08:28 PM) I read the article and I don't know what's so inaccurate. It really has little to do with the Cubs, but more to do with the NL. I think it was a little harsh on the White Sox. There definitely are some nice pieces to build a team here. There are some gaping holes without a doubt, as Phil Rogers said today, if you have Scott Podsednik leading off everyday, you have a problem. I'm sure the Sox went over their plan for the next several seasons with Peavy.

QUOTE (scotty22hotty @ May 21, 2009 -> 08:12 PM) Please... stop bringing up the 2013 option and that Peavy doesn't deserve the 22 million. Its been brought up countless times: For 76 mil over 4.75 years (16 mil per year), Peavy is a steal. KW knows this, and I doubt he'll leave this alone. If it were such a steal, why didn't the White Sox agree to pick up the option?

Heyman quoted another baseball exec when asked if he would pick up the $22 million option to get Peavy to agree to a trade, "you have to be out of your mind" If that truely is what it takes to get Jake Peavy, the Cubs can have him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:52 AM) I'll keep this really simple 100-40+20 Long term the Sox would still be cutting payroll. Not to mention this rumor has been reported as being legitimate out of the San Diego clubhouse of all places, so maybe you need to find yourself a 14 year old for a source, because this one seems on to something. Not to mention that Jerry has always been open to adding a player who is special. They did the same thing with Torii Hunter a few years back. I'll make this even simpler. When I used the same math you just used, you basically told me I was an idiot. Funny you also used the Phoenix Coyotes, a team 72 year old JR is now linked to. When I questioned the payroll you responded with this: You are reading waaaaaaay too deeply into that statement and turning it into a 100% truism. I never said they completely abandoned common sense. It would be really stupid to add payroll to the point where you know you are going to have a loss in total revenues. As I said when you pulled out that tired Fukodome/Hunter arguement before, times have changed. Just because the team was willing to spend money last year, doesn't mean they are now. If the economy was the same as last year, I have no doubt the payroll would be the same, or even higher this year. There are years of history that prove that out, as compared to the anecdotal hypothesis with zero flexibility you are trying to paint this as. Failure to recognize that times have changed is the type of stupidity that turns you into the Phoenix Coyotes. And now you say adding Peavy's contract, and I never insisted the Sox spend the amount of money they would pay Peavy both short and long term. I'm sure if KW says he's broke tomorrow, you will believe him and a $3 million a year guy who could lead off for one season would be ridiculous.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:14 PM) Not to mention the tampering implications from running around talking to other teams players about trades and contracts. The point being the Padres could ask Peavy if he would waive the NTC or what it would take to get him to waive it. That's not tampering. Its one thing to work on a trade for a long time and not match up, but to come to an agreement and Peavy just saying no seems like a bigger waste of time than the countless meetings I have to attend at work.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:12 PM) Ya, but you can't go to Peavy until something is done because in all fairness, the Sox are going to have to sell him on the fact and so many other things. Plus you don't want to constantly bother Peavy or really get too involved unless it is serious. I'm sure the Pads told Kenny there was a chance and if they could reach things than you could talk to Jake and try to swing something. It didn't work, no biggie. I'm sure KW and JR were in full recruiting mode yesterday and today. For whatever reason, the White Sox still aren't a preferred destination for major league players. Which in a way makes no sense. They have a lot of guys with great reputations on the team. Chicago is always voted favorite road city. There have been ringing endorsements from well respected guys like Thome and Griffey. Dye, Buerhle, Konerko walked away from more money elsewhere to be here. It pisses me off so many want to play for the Cubs but not the Sox.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ May 21, 2009 -> 07:05 PM) Shouldn't this process begin with; Towers, "Hang on Ken let me call you back." Towers, "Jake if the Sox can get a deal done, will you go there......no.....what will it take to get you to agree..........ok" Towers, " Ken, Kevin, this is what Jake wants and this what we want.........deal?" Then the process begins. Is this whole thing ass backward or is that just me? Stop making sense. KW said he's been working on this for 11 months, gets an agreement and all Peavy has to say is no for it all to be for nothing. I've always wondered that when they trade guys with no trades. I think the only explanation is just above every player will move if you make it attractive enough.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:15 PM) I wonder if the Sox are going to continue to pursue this. I would think KW needs to move on. Maybe in a couple months at the deadline Peavy will be ready to leave SD and the NL, then maybe he gets re-involved, but there obviously are other places he'd rather be and until he's satisfied those options have all been exhausted, he probably is fine where he's at. Its his move now. The other thing is, two months from now, maybe KW doesn't want to give up Poreda or Richard(s) or maybe Towers doesn't want them.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 21, 2009 -> 06:11 PM) Levine stressed it heavily that until the sale is finalized the Cubs payroll is completely frozen, they can't even add DeRosa's contract back now that he's seemingly on the market. Past that it seems the new ownership group is not going to be adding payroll left and right, they just flat out won't be in the financial position to do it Anyone think Ricketts is going to regret buying the Cubs? Its reminding me of when the Indians got sold. They pretty much were sold when every revenue source was pretty maxed out. I'm sure there's a probably a few more ways to bring in some more money, but when these backloaded contracts come to be paid, either ticket prices are going to be like they are with the Yankees or the Cubs are going to take a bath.

I really thought the Sox would be a much better team with Peavy. The trade was a no-brainer, but he took a hometown discount and got the NTC put in there, so I can't fault him for using it. Only he knows the entire reason he said no. I just wonder, because I'm sure the White Sox went over their future with him, if he was scared off by the young guys coming up. Veterans like veterans. Maybe he looked at the current roster and then looked down the road and saw Thome and Dye probably gone and wondered how they would score any runs. Good pitchers making a lot of money on bad teams wind up in trade talk. Maybe he thought in a couple years the Sox would try to send him packing.

QUOTE (almagest @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:47 PM) That's absolutely disgusting. Hopefully the Sox are getting pissed off, because I know I would be, if a team kept pouring it on even after a game was obviously over. What are they supposed to do, stop trying? When Broadway and Gobble come in, runs usually follow in bunches.

The talk is JR is now willing to re-work the 2013 option making it guaranteed at a smaller amount with money deferred. It would pass the Players Association sniff test as more money becomes guaranteed.