Dick Allen

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 08:55 PM) Absolutley. I still think the Angels would have interest in Konerko. They are clearly still looking for a big bat, and there are some fits between the two teams. I think A Konerko-Crede/Kotchman-Figgins deal could make sense for both clubs. Why if Kotchman is just as good as Konerko and will probably make at least $30 million less than him in the next three years, would they make the trade A. straight up and B. Adding Figgins their leadoff guy for a physical question mark who will certainly be a free agent after next season? If you're saying the deal makes sense to the Angels, you're saying Konerko is a heck of a lot more desireable than Kotchman.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 08:11 PM) We are also talking about a 24 year old compared to a 31 year old. Kotchman has put up solid numbers in everyone of the stops he has made, and I see no reason to think he is anywhere close to his peak. Coming into next season, Konerko will be 32. Why should I think Paul and his arthritic hip will have a bounce back season, and mash another 40 HR? I still think Konerko is a very productive player, that has an affordable deal and has a lot of value on the market, but to cast judgement on a 24 year with less than 800 AB's in the majors is, well, not smart. Then you can look at it the other way, if Kotchman is basically just as good as Konerko is at a fraction of the cost and is only going to get better, the Angels would probably have zero interest in Konerko so why even bother speculating a trade with them.

It also may be they talked to them before they got Quentin.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 07:13 PM) It isn't horrible, but my biggest issue is that I don't think that a guy like Luis Gonzalez helps us rebuild from a 70 win season unless he's there as a backup. If he takes AB's away from Quentin, or right now, even Owens or Anderson, then all that does is prevent our young guys from having a chance to either learn or to build some value on their own. If he's a backup, fine. Otherwise, if you're thinking of him as a starter, then that means you think Quentin isn't ready, and if that's the case, then the Carter/Quentin trade was moronic. The other single benefit of going after him is that maybe 1/2 way through the season someone finds they need an OF so you consider picking him up just to move him for an A ball pitcher at some point in the hopes of restocking, because Luis Gonzalez is not going to fix this team. Esp. not if we think he's a starter. Unfortunately KW has decided to try and win as many games as possible in 2008, so while I agree seeing what the younger players can do over the course of a full season and getting them some experience, while perhaps acquiring more of them for older expensive players makes probably the most sense at this point, that's not going to happen. Quentin has a chance of being a very good player, but there are some concerns. KW's win now attitude has him not as an everyday player, but a guy who will split time at several spots and probably get fewer ABs than most regulars. Injuries and performance obviously can change that. I don't want Gonzalez batting 600 times either, so if he expects to get paid like a guy who would, I would pass, but if he's willing to fit himself in the budget, he can still hit a little and get on base, and is a good clubhouse guy.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 07:07 PM) Well, the one thing worth noting is that he would cover our need for a backup corner OF. If he's paid like a backup, and plays like a backup, ok. But we really don't need to try to platoon every single one of these guys. As "horrible" as people might think he is, he hit .278 with 15HR and a .359 OBP with the Dodgers last year. That's not exactly a hitters paradise in LA. I wouldn't want to pay him $7 million, but if he wanted to play for half that, its certainly more production than they got out of Pods.

QUOTE(whitesox94 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 07:01 PM) please no... that would be hell having him... isn't he like in his 40's? He will turn 41 during next season, but he's essential the same player numbers-wise he was 10 years ago. Hits about .270, 15 homers, good OBP. He is awful defensively, but is supposedly the second nicest guy in baseball behind Thome. They would have a real "neat" relationship. He wouldn't be bad to platoon with Quentin or give Thome's back a rest at DH as long as the price wasn't too high.

Crasnick on the espn.com blog reports the White Sox are one of a few teams he has talked to about him. Looks like KW envisions Quentin as a 4th OF at this point.

QUOTE(bschmaranz @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 06:29 PM) You never know... with the current state of Kenny Williams madness, he may have thrown something insane at him. It's possible, but the White Sox usually come in second place or lower in bidding wars.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 04:19 PM) for what its worth the marlins payroll next year to start may be 8 millions dollars......the yankees will probably average that per player....the marlins highest paid player will probably be andrew miller (if he makes the team) at a bit over a million per year....otherwise it will be kevin gregg at around .5 mil per year.... unbelievable....but i heard on mike and mike this morning that someone in the marlins office confessed that they had 350 people show up to a game last year.....i have to think that more than 350 people work at the cell alone I heard today the Marlins are guaranteed $60 million in revenue if they don't sell 1 ticket. Loria is printing money.

What happened is things cost $1 and KW only has $.50.

Looks like Iguchi may go play 3rd in Milwaukee.

He's beyond brutal defensively, but at least he used to be able hit. It would depend on how much it costs. I don't think the Sox will go there. Dumped by Tampa and the Reds doesn't look good on the resume.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 03:28 PM) this is from will carrols chat.... i really think ti could be the sox.....sox offer rowand 4 years 55...he declines...sox offer it to kosuke fyi: he had reported earlier that both chicago teams appeared to be making the strongest offerings He said the Sox did make a big push for him today. It would be hearbreaking if he wound up on the other side of town.

QUOTE(False Alarm @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 03:01 PM) from will carroll at 1 pm ET: Considering how KW had his chest puffed out a couple of years ago saying all the Japanese players want to play for the White Sox because of Iguchi and Shingo, it would be interesting if Fukudome goes to the Cubs. This is a guy the White Sox need. He only wants a 3 year contract.

What's really got me puzzled is Ozzie now thinks the pitching is fine, and the offense needs a lot of work. Swapping out Garland for Linebrink on the pitching staff that ranked 13th out of 14 and now you are fine? The other thing is makes clear, is Ozzie isn't too high on the rookies.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) Thome doesn't hit into too many double plays (you have to make contact for that to happen). Plus he would be the first player ever to lead off a game by hitting into a DP.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 02:12 PM) Isn't Richar the exact definition of a young talented player at a key position? Yes, he's not Kendrick. But he's also not chopped liver either. Hell, if the plan was to bring in MCabrera, then why the Heck didn't we hold onto Cunningham to use as a bargaining chip there? The Marlins probably weren't going to bite on a deal that didn't bring them along a solid OF prospect. If you want to deal Konerko, that I understand more than insisting on Kendrick as the payment. A .230 AVG with a .289 OBP and 1 steal and not exactly stellar with the glove doesn't make him a sure bet. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but a lot of guys do. He will need to improve a lot to be a contirbuting regular on a good major league team. For comparisons sake, Brian Anderson hit .225 with a .290 OBP in 2006 and most people thing he should be stocking oranges at Jewel.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 12:03 PM) 12:58 p.m., from Amy Nelson • Since news broke of the Marlins-Tigers blockbuster, Detroit left-hander Andrew Miller has not heard a word from anyone in the Tigers' organization. One of Miller's agents ran into Jim Leyland in the hotel lobby Tuesday night, and Leyland told him the deal wasn't anywhere close to getting done. What is unclear is whether any of the eight players involved have to physically be examined, which is why the trade could be held up. So far, Miller and his agents have not been told anything. Word is that the deal might not be completed until after the winter meetings -- unless there are other factors preventing it from getting done. Miller, in fact, is working out at the Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla. He met with the trainers this morning, had his sore left knee worked on, and is now out playing golf with some of his teammates. Late in the season, Miller had an MRI on his left knee, where it turned out there was some mild cartilage damage. He's been rehabbing it ever since. Since he's officially still a Tiger, he wasn't denied treatment. Ozzie's wife told Cabrera about it, after Ozzie called her and told her he was dealt. Everyone is saying what a pain in the ass the Marlins have been to deal with. This couldn't fall through, could it? Keep Cabrera out of the AL Central, unless he's with the White Sox.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) Couple points. First, I believe there's still some decent bad blood between the 2 sides after his first stint here. Second, my question again: Does the upgrade from Jerry Owens to Kenny Lofton win us the AL Central next year? Even if you combine it with another trade other than dealing for Johan, I don't think it does. So why would we spend the money on that? Maybe we get lucky, Jerry Owens hits .290, steals 70 bases, and then we can do the reverse of the Pods/Lee trade and sell him at peak value. Or Owens fails and Sweeney gets a shot. Or Owens fails and Anderson gets a shot to rebuild his trade value. If people do not think that we have a shot to win the Central as currently composed, then small measures don't help with that, and they don't help us rebuild either. Right now there aren't many upgrades available without the White Sox adding substantial payroll that would make them the favorites in the AL Central in 2008. I don't know about bad blood. I do know when Lofton was on the Sox he was on fire in April and KW tried to get him to sign an extension. He fizzled as did the team and KW unloaded him. Was there something about a lack of effort? I seemed to recall something along those lines, but I don't think its anything they couldn't get over. KW should be rebuilding right now IMO.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 11:40 AM) Angels OVERPAID. Tigers OVERPAID. No team went as high as the Angels for Hunter, obviously, it sounded like Hunter was surprised he was being offered that and took it. The Tigers took Willis who, it seems, the Sox didn't want AND dealt away their replacement for a 42 year old LHP and their top position prospect. Plus, the Sox didn't have the horses to get the Marlin deal done, which IS Kenny's fault. But, people seem to forget, they fired the guy in charge of the minors...this new guy may be trying to start from scratch. Maybe he didn't like Carter as much as BA or anyone else did? Just like a new CEO or GM or anything, they want to make their mark and that mean cleaning out the old guys personnel. Give Wilder, Regier, Bell and Laumann do in the next draft. That's what it takes these days to add stars. You must overpay. If you're not willing to overpay, you will not get them, so its a waste of time targeting them. You're right, they have got to improve the farm system, so they can get guys either other teams want or that they can plug in cheaply and perform so they have money to overpay for great players.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 09:50 PM) exactly my thoughts... what a joke!! Sorry KW we've accepted your excuses last year with the whole "Market Correction" crap. But if you offer Hunter that much money and then come back and say "im not going to give you a dollar if i only have 50 cents to offer" crap, you lose a TON of credibility. What a joke this offseason is turning out to be... we might as well re-sign Erstad and sign Eckstein at this point. . I love how Kenny thinks he can do what he did in the 2004 offseason again... That 2004 team going into 2005 didn't have as many holes.. all we needed was a couple of pen guys a leadoff hitter and 1 starter. The rest of the team was pretty much filled. . The team we have now has waaaaaaaaayyy too many holes... this team is going nowhere fast.. and even JD sees that. The bigger joke is KW has more money to play with than most GMs. He had a payroll of $108 million and the team was competing for the worst record in baseball in September. His "market correction" ain't happening anytime soon. He's going to have to break up some of the big contracts he's passed out and try a different combination. This one isn't working. The other thing comparing it to the offseason prior to 2005 is that the division is much better. He has a long way to go to make this team a contender. He still has time, but he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. He's says its not about the superstars, yet he tries but comes up short for most that are available. Why even bother if its not about them? I think KW has to realize right now is a very dangerous time.

Anyone as sick of this quote as I am? KW hasn't broken it out since pre-WS title "You try to do things that make sense and you can afford," Williams said. "I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

I believe the Marlins are non-tendering Olivo so with this trade their payroll becomes something like $15 million for the entire team.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:24 PM) so is steve phillips just a moron or is this thing gonna happen? Wouldn't Chris Burke to the White Sox send a buzz through the hotel lobby in Nashville like we have never seen before?

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:16 PM) I realize we are talking about the Cubs here, but why aren't they making a play for Johan. They get 3 milllion sheep every year, now second highest ticket prices. The Cubs would dominate the NL for years with Johan. But I guess that makes too much sense. Instead, they spend money on a guy that has never played an inning in mlb. They really jacked up their ticket prices. All those season ticketholders paid for the playoffs and only got 1 game. They will get their invoices and probably will be too drunk to figure out how much more they have to pay. They will probably think prices went down. The only thing I can think of with Santana is that may be too much money for them to take on as far as an extension before the sale, and trading for him and not signing him would be horrible because of the price.