Dick Allen

If this signing does become reality, Linebrink will be making more than the rest of the bullpen combined, at least for now.

This guy is mediocre, but face it, its still a huge improvement. If you can't develop your own guys, the bullpen is going to be expensive these days.

Justin Speier last year would have made more sense. There's the $3 million savings + the $1.5 million the Angels kicked in for 2008. So the trade is Cabrera and Linebrink for Garland.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 01:06 AM) Did you actually see Jones play in 07'? Because he was in the best shape he has been in in several years. He worked out like a madman at Boras' request getting in good shape for his FA season. While this seemed to improve his defense, many believe it may have been part of why he had such a down year at the plate. His poor FA season had absolutely nothing to do with him being overweight. In fact, perhaps the fact that he lost weight had something to do with his performance at the dish... The rest of baseball is concerned about his body From Jayson Stark today "The big worry on Andruw is, his body is starting to scare people," said an official of one team that went into the winter shopping for center fielders. "You look at the body type, and you wonder: What are you getting? The question we were asking a few months ago was, 'Torii or Andruw?' But now Torii has gone way by him. I go back to bodies and conditioning. And based on that alone, I'd bet on Torii as the guy more likely to give you more productive years than Andruw, even though Andruw is younger."

QUOTE(Linnwood @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 09:00 AM) Has he ever been correct about things like this? I may be very wrong, but I still think Hunter is all about the money. Anything else I believe is an act.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 08:58 AM) Does that mean that he likes to eat a lot of grinders? because if so, then I totally agree Im so sick of that term anymore, sorry KW referred to Cabrera as that term several times. I'm sick of it too.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 09:22 PM) Hunter is only 2 years older than Jones. Defense is equal. That is a wash and shouldn't even be a point of argument. Jones didn't look very good last year at the plate and has never played in the American League. There could be a period of adjustment while switching leagues. Torii Hunter wouldn't have this issue. I would much rather have Hunter at 15 per than have Crisp or Patterson roaming my CF. Torii is much better at the plate than either of them. I can see your points, but I think Hunter has less question marks than Jones. Boras also said that Jones won't be accepting a 1 or 2 year deal, so you will be with him for the long term. To me, Hunter is a huge upgrade over Crisp or Patterson, especially Patterson. Jones was the CF version of Juan Uribe in 2007. Fat, didn't get on base much. Struck out often. I'm amazed anyone would want to deal with Boras and give this guy 8 figures, plus the new league is another good point.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 05:17 PM) You can quote me on this. The deal is done. Torii Hunter is a Chicago White Sox. It will be announced between now and next Monday. There is no doubt about it. I'm quoting you on this. You now have egg on your face.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 05:23 PM) "If by some time you mean by next Monday you would be correct. They will announce the Torii Hunter signing Monday or sooner. Book it." Again, where do I claim sources? Where do I post it as fact? I posted this on the message board yesterday - Monday. Cowley had it the same day, not a day before - I just looked it up. Maybe we have the same sources, eh? Like I care about getting egg on my face from a message board. Who cares. You don't have to claim sources." They will announce the Torii Hunter signing Monday or sooner", is stated as a fact. You must care, you respond to everyone rebuking your claims.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 05:20 PM) Then explain to me why Torii was having dinner with Hicks last night. Is he hard up for a dinner. Don't believe everything you read. There was no dinner. All those quotes from the Texas people and from Torii are fake.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 05:03 PM) Again, believe what you want to believe. I am telling you that I believe he is already signed and an anouncement will come by Monday, but quite possibly even sooner. My guess it will either be announced tomorrow or Monday. We already have him. My opinion. My speculation. I never claimed anyone told me or I got an inside source, I am just voicing my opinion. How does that lead me with egg on my face? Now if I claimed an inside source, like others on here, and nothing happened, then I would have egg on my face. Now, it is just one person's opinion against anothers. So be it. QUOTE(southsideirish @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 09:38 AM) If by some time you mean by next Monday you would be correct. They will announce the Torii Hunter signing Monday or sooner. Book it. That's not saying its your opinion, thats saying its a fact. If Hunter does anything but sign with the White Sox by Monday you will have egg on your face. Considering Cowley had the Hunter story a day before your post, even if he did sign by Monday, hearing it from you first wouldn't work either.

If he was already signed, he wouldn't be getting offers from other teams. It would be financially the biggest acquisition in White Sox history. He would be at a press conference in his new city.

Ding dong, Pods is gone.

He talked about him yesterday. He thinks he's great. The Angels coaching staff raved about him.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 11:34 AM) Hasn't he been dealing with a broken hand or finger or something though? And isn't Fenway somewhat difficult for LH hitters to go deep in? As for the Vizquel situation, I think everyone thought he was coming here. So much so that the White Sox significantly changed the manner in which they approached free agent signings because of that specific incident. I think it's unfair to blame that on Levine- he certainly wasn't the only one made to look foolish by Omar signing with San Francisco. The thing Levine did was announce he was staking his reputation on it. Once he did that and it fell through, he looks like a fool. I think Coco would hit better away from Fenway. He has been banged up. If KW could acquire him to play LF with Hunter in CF, not much drops in the OF. I just hope KW gets the pitchers that can keep the ball in the park, and who can throw strikes.

I wonder why Torii said Cowley's report was untrue, and why he had dinner with Texas, and why they are going to get back to each other after the holiday if he basically has already agreed to be a White Sox. Things change. Omar Vizquel was supposed to be a White Sox. Levine staked his reputation on it, then when it fell through, backtracked.

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 09:38 AM) but theyre garbage every year! never improving. The White Sox have won once in 90 years. Its not exactly a winning tradition.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 09:30 PM) Thats a good call DA. That makes a lot of sense, and there is a very solid relationship there with Williams and Byrnes. If he still hasn't moved, does Williams turn around and ship those prospects, along with a few of our own to the Marlins for Miguel??? The other thing is supposedly Baltimore is discussing a Bedard/Kemp deal with LA. KW has been after Bedard for years. Is LA trying to get him for KW?

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 09:40 PM) Levineline is on ESPN 1000 and says his sources say the Sox are far and away the leaders for Hunter and he might be signed by Thanksgiving.... In the conference call on whitesox.com he tries to get KW to spill the beans on it, but he didn't bite. It could be Omar Vizquel all over again. Levineline puts his reputation on the line, another team like Texas gives an extra year, and KW is calling Rowand's agent.

Maybe they trade Konerko to Arizona. They have a ton of nice prospects and some cheap young players. If KW is really going for it, and all indications are he is, Jerry Owens is not going to lead off.

One other thing is Ozzie knows Cabrera pretty well from when he was coaching in Montreal.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 03:44 PM) Hmmm ok. Well I have mixed thoughts right now. I'm happy I no longer have to see Juan Uribe in the starting lineup ever again. That alone makes me very, very happy. We get an upgrade offensively, adding more OBP to the lineup, and Cabrera should hit in the #2 hole, which would push Fields down to a #6 spot. I imagine Uribe could be traded to say the Devil Rays. They're desperate for a slick fielding SS, and it would certainly help their defense. He'd be useful as a 1 year stop gap before their SS prospect Breignic (something like that) is ready. So try and get a decent prospect off them, or even try to nab Baldelli possibly? But now the problem, it leaves a big hole in our rotation. Buehrle, Vazquez, Contreras, Danks and Floyd is not a good rotation from where I'm sitting. 1st 2 guys are fine, Contreras is iffy at best, while the last 2 have question marks written all over them. Do we go out and try and sign a SP now? Do we trade for one? Do we give pitchers such as Egbert, Gonzalez and Broadway and open competition in Spring Training? Still a lot of questions remain. And I thought Garland was set for a real solid season. But maybe the Sox think that with his shoulder issues, and with him only 1 year from FA, now was the time to get some value for him and fill a need. Also, do we try to re-sign Cabrera now? He'd be in for a decent contract, especially considering David Eckstein wants Julio Lugo type of $$$. KW supposedly said he would try to sign Cabrera to an extension.

This trade can be better judged after all the dominoes fall. Right now a GG SS who hit 300, can run and handle the bat plus some financial relief, for a pitcher with a knot in his shoulder making $12 million seems acceptable. I'm pretty confident KW is not going to go into the season expected 200 innings from Danks and/or Floyd, so he will pick up someone, and the couple million saved may be a sweetener for a real CF instead of guys like Jerry Owens.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) I'm sorry, but USS Mariner greatly undersells Garland. Garland should be easily replaceable? Really? Can they count for me how many pitchers, over the past three seasons, have pitched 600+ innings of an ERA+ of 110 or better? I agree with some of their points. The Angels seem to strengthen their greatest strength, but, on the other hand, (a)Aybar isn't very good and ( B ) they lose defense with whoever they go with (Izturis, probably?). Garland is an extremely valuable pitcher to have, and we'll miss him dearly. There's not a chance in hell that Gavin Floyd or John Danks or Jack Egbert or Gio Gonzalez replicates Garland's 2007 That's where Garland's value lies. His overall numbers aren't really all that impressive but you can put him down for 200 innings of a little better than average pitching. If his replacement gives you 140-150 innings, a bullpen that has really struggled is going to be taxed with more work. It is a scary thought. I hope KW picks someone off the scrap heap that can bounce back.

If Floyd and Danks are half as good as KW says they are, this trade is brilliant. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they are.