Dick Allen

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.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:28 PM) in case anyone was wondering, KW's new bar and grill by my house is getting horrific reviews on Yelp. When it opened, it didn't even have a liquor license. When they finally got one, some newspaper critic went there and ordered a mojito. The waitress came back and told him the bartender didn't know how to make one. I hope for KW's sake, he's more name than money for his piece of the pie.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:20 PM) Never held one, just petted them. They're hilarious though. They just slink around with their eyes closed and will fall asleep as you're petting them. I was told that the reason they sleep so much is because the eucalyptus leaves the eat f*** them up, like they're drunk or high or something all day. I remember as a kid going to a zoo and a guy at the zoo talking about koalas. He said they sleep all day and only wake up to eat or have sex. What a life.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:09 PM) Why can't you sell off players while trying to reload for the following season at the same time? I'd have absolutely no problem with this. Let's be honest...getting Peavy this year means nothing unless Gavin and Contreras can do something to contribute. 3 reliable starters won't get the job done unless you have a strong offense. They can afford Peavy this year, and have a lot coming off after this season. The guys available aren't going to get you top prospects. You might as well go for it. They would increase their chances drastically this year adding Peavy.

QUOTE (almagest @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:06 PM) It's $18 million, not $22. $4 is auto-guaranteed. Also, someone already broke Peavy's contract down in this thread. It's not the horrible albatross you make it out to be, assuming of course Peavy ends up injured or sucking. If you can't see the value in adding a true ace to your rotation via trade, without mortgaging the farm system, for what ends up being a perfectly reasonable contract, then I don't know what to tell you. You've got your mind set on this team being cheap and/or stupid, and nothing will change that. Good luck with it. Its more money per season than the White Sox have ever paid anyone. I don't have my mind made up on anything, I've already said this would be KW's best trade if he pulled it off. I said they were cheap (btw the only time I have ever said they were cheap and I've had season tickets 20 years) when KW cut payroll said he had $.50 and wondered how they would pay the electric bill, and now they have the money for Peavy. Guess who is right? Now I'm saying while taking his contract is a good, bold move, guaranteeing the option, which the White Sox will not do, is stupid, and I agree with them 100% on that. Maybe they will broaden the no trade the last couple of years of the deal, but picking up that money is not wise. They can pick it up after he's pitched here for 3 1/2 years.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 21, 2009 -> 02:04 PM) There is an agreement. We all have known that since 6 or 7am. That's between two parties who now have no control. He's talking about negotiations between Peavy and the White Sox. Is it a certainty they are negotiating? Can they even negotiate without the commissioner signing off on it?

QUOTE (almagest @ May 21, 2009 -> 01:52 PM) Yeah, a guy with arm problems who hasn't thrown less than 166 innings since his rookie year, and still managed 173 last year with an ERA of 2.85, then was shut down for precautionary measures. That screams risk to me. How do you know what the Sox going to spend? I didn't see you predicting a possible trade for Peavy in any threads here. What the team says to the media and what they actually do have been radically different since KW became GM; I don't see why this would be any different. Because we've been through this before when they tried to sign Hunter and then Fukudome. They said they were busting the budget, not that the money was available. If Peavy declines, we will get the same story. If owing a major league pitcher $22 million 4 seasons from now doesn't scream risk to you, nothing will.

QUOTE (bighurt574 @ May 21, 2009 -> 01:47 PM) $22 million 4 years from now is a lot (it's really $18 million, $4 million is already a sunk cost), but: (1) you're getting 3/4 year at $11 million prorated, which is way below market; and (2) you're getting 3 years at $16 million average, which is still likely below market, and not all that different from MB's contract. When you look at the overall contract, it's reasonable for a pitcher like Peavy, especially when you compare it to the contracts that other "aces" have received recently. If we have to overpay a bit for year 5, I'm ok with it. As someone who thinks the White Sox have been very cheap this season, and knowing if Peavy is outstanding for 3 1/2 years in Chicago that $22 million would be fair, to just guarantee it now is not smart. What if he gets hurt? What if he turns into Barry Zito? Stranger things have happened. If it were a hitter, that's one thing, but JR has been correct on his 3 year contracts for pitchers. He's extended to 4 recently with a couple of guys, but if they keep doing it, they will get burned, and $22 million would be a horrific burn.

QUOTE (almagest @ May 21, 2009 -> 01:42 PM) So the Sox are too cheap, but now you don't want them to commit money to an ace? What? Yes to guarantee $22 million for one season 4 years from now is crazy. The $56 million or whatever is left on his contract is a pretty nice committment. This is a guy who has had elbow issues. They have been cheap. They already said they have no money, yet Peavy may be here. If he declines, its not like they are going to spend a bunch of money elsewhere.

Pitching wins, but to guarantee a $22 million option 4 years from now is insane. If he doesn't want to be here, let him go to play for the Cubbies, I'm already sick of it, although if Broadway is involved .......................................

Where would he play?

QUOTE (sayitaintso @ May 21, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) Perhaps a negotiating tactic???? He likes Houston too. Pop ups get out of there. Lillibridge can go deep there.

Why would Peavy be leery of USCF but love to pitch in Wrigley? It makes zero sense.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 21, 2009 -> 12:19 PM) It sounds to me like this will be a no-go. However, the agent coming out and saying he doesn't think Peavy will accept means nothing. The Sox need to pick up the option, if they do, its done. It's all about the Benjamins bay-be. It would be silly for the White Sox to bite if this is the case. Peavy loves California, and just built a new mansion there. He doesn't really want to leave and if he does he wants to go somewhere he really will feel comfortable. He probably has very little White Sox information. He's doing what anyone would do. This is a guy who received a NTC and the organization cannot afford him. He's not the one asking to be moved. Isn't Barry Alexrod the guy that rep'd Sutcliffe? He probably wants Peavy in Cubbie blue so bad thinking he will be just like the Red Baron in popularity etc.