Dick Allen

The problem is the health is not going to get better next year. How many times the last few years have they been hoping to get everyone healthy by the playoffs? Yeah, right. They can't play 3 games in a row without someone going down, yet when the playoffs start, everything will be fine. Maybe now the injuries are worse. They knew Dunleavy would start the season hurt, and he misses 20% of the seasons anyway. Noah hasn't been healthy in a couple of years. Butler missed time last year, and it's happening again. General Soreness is General Soreness. Noah has been injured for years. Hinrich is always getting hurt. Taj has been able to play, but he usually misses 15 or so games a year, so he's due to go down. If the expectation or hope was that this team would be healthy, that is just an unrealistic expectation. Maybe 3 years ago you could have assumed as much. But coming into this season?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 2, 2016 -> 07:51 AM) They need to have a talk with their ex pat Law who says he could play major league SS right now defensively, if he hit 8th or 9th and the Sox basically gave up on his plate discipline ever developing. Another thing they wrote was that the White Sox stick with their prospects too long. I really enjoy reading BP every year, but this year's write up on the team and players was beyond bizarre. It was as if a sports talk call in wrote it.

And if you want to win, what kind of strategy is selling high? Should the Sox trade Sale, Abreu, Quintana? How will their trade value be any higher? Unless you like perpetual rebuilds, you build around good players. Eaton is a good player.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Mar 2, 2016 -> 08:21 AM) I'm not against the Raburn idea but given his age and that the Sox already have Sands I'm guessing the Sox would roll with Sands instead of signing Raburn. Raburn would make a great platoon partner for LaRoche though. I like that Raburn can draw some walks too. VS. LHP Raburn could play RF with Avi at DH and VS. RHP LaRoche DH's with Avi (gulp) in RF. Screw it, sign Raburn and drop Olt! Sands has a lifetime .846 OPS vs. LHP. Not a bad guy to give LaRoche a break. I'm with you, he basically is Raburn.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 2, 2016 -> 07:34 AM) Nah, this was happening when they were healthy. The Bulls problems are almost all related to dysfunction, and the injuries are magnifying it And the injuries are nothing new. Expecting these guys to play close to a full season would be like the Reds expecting Ken Griffey Jr. not to get injured. Great if he stayed healthy, but he isn't going to stay healthy. Taj is going to get hurt. Noah is going to be hurt, DRose is going to be hurt, Butler is going to be hurt, Hinrich was going to be hurt. Pau, at his age, is going to miss a couple of games. It doesn't matter who is coaching them, unless they ride pine all year, they will come up lame at some point. The Bulls need a new mix. One with a core you can reasonably expect to remain somewhat healthy. If they don't change the mix, they will be blaming injuries again until they realize the problem.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 09:43 PM) I want to trade Eaton because he would bring far more in trade than Thompson (esp off of a career year). Also, Thompson would be a competent replacement (for sure he can handle it defensively) and would have addressed a big need: defense. I don't want to dump Avi because we would get zero for him. I don't hate Eaton nor love Avi. Trading only players you hate is "selling low", a philosophy I consistently reject. Why don't the Dodgers play him or trade him? Maybe they don't think that baseball ends in 2017 like you and KW do. Otherwise, I have no idea what their plans are for him. Let me ask you: Why did the Dodgers take Thompson/Montas/Johnson instead of Frazier??????? I didn't like out 73 win team making short term deals 2 years ago and I don't like this 76 win team (which, with pythag 72, may have been worse than the 73 win team) doing it either. If this were a legit 80-82 win team and then you make those deals? Yes it makes sense (the Frazier deal would; the Samardizja trade was inane on all levels). the Dodgers didn't need a 3B and are looking to cut payroll. As to Eaton, your story on him has changed from a few months ago

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 05:28 PM) I'm curious how common it is for a third baseman to shift over to 1B as he ages. Outside of Miguel Cabrera who are some other examples of plus-offensive guys moving from 3rd to 1st in the last few decades? Chipper went out to left, Arod doesn't apply to this convo, Beltre no, Rolen no. Is this really a thing? I think it is pretty common. Not necessarily because of aging, just maybe incompetence at 3B. Some with White Sox ties Dick Allen, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko. I would guess a good percentage of RH first baseman started their professional careers at a different position.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 12:33 PM) Man I hope his adjustments pay off. If he is still hitting everything to RF, I doubt they will. But it is way too early to come to a conclusion obviously.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 11:15 AM) man that was a great yr for sox baseball, growing up, however the WS yr was great, esp the playoff, that was great. And there were several WS Champs that weren't exactly stellar defenders. Paulie was decent, but no range, Iguchi was average, Pods couldn't throw, Dye was Dye, AJ not so great. As long as the team makes the plays it's supposed to make...I think sabermetrics makes a bit too much out of most defensive upgrades. There are days OFs really don't have to make a play.

The White Sox did a good job upgrading their infield defense during the season in 2015. How did that translate wins-wise? If they can be average, they will be fine if they score runs. One of the most exciting teams in the past 40 years was the 1977 Southside Hitmen. They may have had the one of the worst defensive teams ever assembled.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Feb 29, 2016 -> 11:41 PM) And do they not realize Atlanta can't attract anyone, including Dwight? The 6 titles in 8 years was able to attract Brent Barry, Ron Mercer, and Eddie Robinson.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 29, 2016 -> 07:51 AM) I find it odd they offered 2/$17 mill for Fowler (plus a draft pick) but are supposedly not interested in Jackson (likely a guy who may take a one year deal plus no draft pick). I doubt that we don't have interest. According to Levine they offered more than 2/$17 million for Fowler.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 06:07 PM) and i still think this draft, esp with the sox projecting to keep their comp pick, will have some surprise players at #27 or 26. i am really excited on the draft side this yr. this draft if deep, if no one gets hurt. There definitely will be someone who will have a great career available.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 06:01 PM) i don't know how i missed this .... great work in assembling the list. the thing is, every yr the draft is different, and on top of that, 1 draft may be deeper with prospects players, the other yr not so deep. plus many players are signing there contracts the first time around. well the point is, i see the draft starting to get more overall quality ..... or it could be that this and last yr has me a not observing the talent as much. Every draft is different, but this is over 30 of them and not much luck at 27. The good news is the Sox are now at 26 and it is a little better.

Merkin doesn't think Jackson is in the plans.

I find it hard to believe David Freese is still looking for work with the shortage of 3B in the league. He is not the greatest but has put up over a 2.0 WAR the last couple of years. His price has to be pretty reasonable at this point.

BTW one of the comps for Sale in BP is Sam McDowell. Hawk is happy.

Jackson has put up 5.5 WAR higher in his career than Fowler in about 100 less PA. He is younger. The difference being Fowler gets most of his offensively, Jackson, at least the last couple of seasons, defensively. Eaton said today he will be ready by opening day, but the Sox could use a guy who can play CF. no QO attached. It comes down to price. He obviously wants more than $6 million. He Probably wants more than $12 million at this point. it appears the Sox were willing to go around $10 million a year for Fowler if Bruce's report is accurate. This has to be the play, doesn't it? I guess it will all come down to when Boras feels there is no chance at the money he is looking for.

How many teams have traded prospects this offseason for 3-4 WAR players?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 02:33 PM) Except it's a little bit late for that philosophy change after addressing quite a few of the issues on the major league roster...and also not having the position player depth (other than Anderson) to realistically fill those remaining holes over the next two seasons. At that time, we'll have to fill even more holes without buying free agents at the highest prices and/or running into budget limitations. Funny how you were against giving up,draft picks and anything more than 3 year contracts earlier this offseason. Of course that is when everyone assumed Gordon to the White Sox was likely. Wanted to wait until June to sign Desmond. Wanted to give Latos $10-12 million, wanted to give Parra $8 million, even though he hasn't shown he can hit in the AL, and wanted no part of Fowler and the draft pick, pointing out without realizing he has spent a season in the AL, that he would be a good candidate not to be able to adjust.

Unless Curry gets hurt, who is going to beat GS 4 times? This season is ova! The only drama is whether or not they get the record.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 09:51 AM) Nice value signing for the Rangers. If Desmond has a good year in 2016, they'll get that pick back in the following year's draft. I'm ok with the Sox passing on this deal, but this makes it even more important to land a guy like Austin Jackson at bare minimum. I see the price tag, I get a little jealous. If he shows he can play the OF with any competence, and you never know, Alex Gordon was an infielder made outfielder that turned to gold, Hanley Ramirez not so much, he is probably a steal. I think it is worth the $8 million and draft pick to find out unless you have something else, which seems like they do. But every passing day makes you wonder. They will get somebody. I just hope they get the guy who is their target now. It may be they have to wait for roster shakedowns and wind up getting a less talented player.

If the Sox could have got him for 1/$8 million, I think that would have been worth the draft pick. So he turns down $107 million. Turns down the $15.8 million QO, and gets $8 million. Yet another player who needs a new agent. I hope his agent is decent enough not to take a commission. Scott Boras got Ian Kennedy $70 million. I think Ian needs his number.

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 08:49 AM) Another one bites the dust. Cheap organization, man. Absolutely ridiculous. Go Avi... There are several ways to look at this. Desmond might thrive, but his offense has gone down 3 years in a row. He is changing leagues. He has about 5 weeks to learn the OF. And he would have cost a draft pick for one season. OTOH, his bat is potentially the biggest impact left on the market. I just think he is worth more as a SS than OF. Of course, he could have been nice insurance if Rollins can't play anymore, Saladino can't hit enough to play, and Anderson not being ready. I am all for giving up the pick, but for one year makes it tough. It is no longer a bargain signing. Assuming you are OK at SS, if the Sox need an OF, I would rather they get a guy who has been there. Desmond may be fine, but right now you can't be sure.

Does this move them to 26? There have been some good players picked at 26 including Alan Trammell 40 years ago. this is going to be interesting as Desmond will be a LF. He did go to a good park to put up some numbers.