Dick Allen

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 03:14 PM) Sounds like they were definitely talking about Micah. I thought the same thing and went to Micah's write up. Not too flattering, but they said he could be good once he made the inevitable move to the OF. They didn't think much of Trayce either, but thought Montas' floor was elite reliever as long as he was healthy. And that's where it was weird again. The write up said Montas had a good body. As I wrote earlier, I get it every year, and it is IMO worth the read and the $15 Amazon charges, but they have to take a close look at this year's staff. There are some who should have participated in their last Prospectus.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 02:54 PM) BP has Anderson at #19 on their top prospect list, they're higher on him than anyone else. I know. It's very strange, but the write ups this year didn't match the PECOTAs. I get BP every year, and this year's White Sox section was about as weird as it gets. They spent a couple pages going over their efforts to replace Ray Durham. They even wrote one of the Sox biggest problems was sticking with their young players too long. Said Carlos Sanchez was not a good defensive 2B, but that he had a lot of speed, which he doesn't. Very amateurish.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 01:37 PM) so the sox didn't offer market value. I have no idea what they offered, but Bernstein said Fowler wouldn't budge from his demands and signs for 3/$33 million when a couple of days ago the report said he wanted at least $45 million or 4 years. Seems like he budged.

So Levine was on the radio and said the Cubs would get the #28 pick, and possibly the #14 pick if the Gallardo deal falls through. How does he have the job he has and not have any idea about the rules?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 08:20 AM) Great points and going by Anderson's recent comments, picking Rollins' brain is exactly what he will do. Saladino will likely be doing the same. I'm hoping Rollins has two shadows following him everywhere he goes throughout ST. Anderson is a very bright kid and will benefit from spending time with Rollins this ST. I think the Sox deserve some credit for signing Rollins. There's a bigger picture than just signing Rollins to compete for the SS position. The additions of Frazier, Rollins, Lawrie should liven up the club house quite a bit. If you take BP seriously, they tell you Tim Anderson is never going to be a major league SS. The people doing the White Sox position player write ups this year were a bit cranky. They loved the pitchers, except not so much for Rodon. They did call Quintana perhaps the greatest 6 year minor league free agent signing of all time.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:03 AM) One thing I want to point out--Sox are already committed for 3+ years to Melky and Eaton. If you lock up another OF right now, you are out of the market for any OF available by trade or FA after the 2016 season. Maybe, once they didn't get Gordon/Cespedes, they decided they like what may be available in a year better than Fowler or Jackson. You can't sign Fowler for 3/$35 and then go and sign somebody else in a year. Not necessarily. There are always trades and the DH.

QUOTE (Sockin @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 09:55 AM) Dan Bernstein ‏@dan_bernstein Sources tell me the #WhiteSox made a "firm, serious offer" to Dexter Fowler, but he opted for more money, not budging from his demands. So 3/$33 million was not budging from his demands? Great source Bernstein.

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 07:15 PM) If you aren't looking to replace your worst position player with an absolute steal (3 for $33M!) I don't know what you're doing. It is hard to understand. I have been the one preaching different prices for different players, but if $11 million a year is too much for Dexter Fowler, I am coming to the realization that they really couldn't have been very serious about any of the others. at least they can still get an upgrade.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 01:33 PM) Way too early to say that. We'll know more in like April or May. Hostetler really lit up when someone asked him about Ray at Soxfest. Obviously the connection with him playing in their ACE program, but he couldn't hide the giddiness.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 07:05 PM) I don't understand why the Sox should have paid Fowler and given up a valuable pick just because he's better than what they currently have. It would have been humorous to see White Sox fans complaining about Fowler's deal next offseason though. That is where I disagree. The guy if he stays healthy is going to give you over a 2 WAR. He has consistently dome that. Plus it is an upgrade that may be the difference in the team's season. If he does what he has done, No one would be complaining if you owed him $23 million the next 2 seasons. Hopefully Hahn and KW and JR prove to be correct, and either they bring in a better deal, or Avi makes fools of the doubters. And they select a guy with the pick they save that eventually helps the team as well.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 06:51 PM) excellent break down, for s***s and grins, what will you see has jackson in that same scenario but on the sox??? I don't think there is any question he is a better defender than Fowler, the question would be offense. He has struggled since being traded from Detroit, and wasn't so great his last couple of months there, but he is only 29 and could bounce back. I really like him ,but really wonder about the cost, and think he hits from the wrong side of the plate for the White Sox brass. They seem to wanted a lefty bat. But OBP is really not a strength. It would be great to have a legit gold glover everywhere, but you can get by with mediocre defense in the OF at USCF. There isn't much space. Small parks, you can get away with it. The Cubs won a lot of games with Schwarber, Fowler, and Soler. Their defensive prowess is questionable at best.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 06:36 PM) If they sign Jackson for peanuts I get it. If they trade for Ethier without giving any of our big prospects I get it. If Avi is still our primary RF come opening day then don't get it. Fowler wasn't perfect by any means, but he would have been a significant upgrade over Avi and that's all we really need to have a good shot at winning the division. Exactly how I feel. Not only that, but his strength offensively is OBP, something this team could really use. Let Wbreu hit with some runners on base, and someone behind him who can drive home runs, and see what happens. On the bright side, if the Orioles sign Gallardo as well, they forfeit #14 and #28 so the Sox 3rd pick moves up 2 spots. It will probably be the most scrutinized late 20s pick in White Sox history.

I feel bad for Avi. He tries. He has sucked but many Sox players have sucked and haven't brought out the hate, even to the point of getting booed at Soxfest as much as he. I just think it's from the Little Miggy stuff, to the potential 30/30 stuff he just probably had no shot of living up to working against him. Harold Minor was Baby Jordan. Did his home team fans hate him? If he starts, there is going to be so much pressure on him. Even if somehow he hits, is he suddenly going to know how to track down a fly All? Is he suddenly going to remember the good things Vince Coleman told him about running the bases? BTW, is Vince still with the White Sox?

Except for 2014 because he missed 50 games, Fowler has always put up a WAR over 2.1 since 2010. There is an excellent chance this deal doesn't come back to bite the Orioles, he has been pretty consistent with the WAR, so the risk IMO is my opinion is minimal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 05:40 PM) That's a great deal for Baltimore. Yes it is.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 05:39 PM) Sox have the 26th pick now - right? 27th.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 05:37 PM) Until he fails his physical... Very true. I am extremely disappointed the Sox couldn't or wouldn't go to this level. I still think they have another move they will make, but if they don't, and Avi fails, they deserve all the grief they are going to get.

So the Sox pick would be back to #28 correct? Unless you are just messing with the player, if there is something wrong enough with this physical to hold up the signing, why would you give up #14 for that opportunity?

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 12:49 PM) in retrospect, you are changing your tune, and i like that, thinking on the fly. but again, it goes back to the premise of my discussions, they have the money and even you admitted so, by the example of shopping. trying to build a team on a penny budget. The less the upgrade, the less JR, you, or me would be willing to pay. It doesn't make one cheap. It doesn't mean the money is not there. You don't spend to spend. There is no question the Sox need to upgrade the OF in my mind. Cespedes would have been nice. Fowler would be nice. Jackson would be nice. It has to make sense. Locking yourself into a mistake causes problems down the road.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 12:44 PM) i would also like to add, it is really not the place of the fans to tell the owners how to use their money, but it is the place of the fans to relay to the owners of the fans displeasure of how the team is being run, and the only way to get their attention is thru not buying tickets. affect them where it hurts, money. Sox fans have been doing that for years.

I agree with the posters who think the Sox were making offers to the big 3 guys. But the question is how much would it have really cost the White Sox to sign them? It's not like ebay where another $1 would have been enough. And at what point does the price become too much? We will see what they do about an OF. Obviously they had Rollins in the wings as the alternative to Desmond. He most likely will not be as good as Desmond, cost wise, I could see where it makes sense. As far as the OF goes, we will see. I think 2/$25 million for Fowler is a gamble they should take. Maybe they have an alternative that comes to light in a bit where you could see why they wouldn't do that. It's like shopping on Stubhub. Your available funds are based on the quality available seats. Where you might be willing to spend $100 on certain seats, you won't spend $25 on others.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 12:25 PM) first, no one knows if the reason the sox walked away, if they were in on the desmond, was b/c of the draft pick. no know that. second, you and others are keying on 2 or the 3 players, and saying phrases of, they will not have sign anywhere else. but it does come back to the money, b/c no one knows if the sox even made an offer. there were no chatter of that. third, again if the funds were so tight, then sell the team lastly using other teams esp the yanks as an example is a little weak, the yanks, thru there press has mention that they want to reduce there team salary. per sportac their team salary going into 2016 is at $220 million. seeing you and other poster trying to justify the reluctance of the sox spending, this remind me of the phrase of Tilting at windmills' Funds must be tight league wide because of Cespedes, Gordon, Upton, Fowler, Desmond, and Jackson, the free agents most mentioned on this board, at this point, 3 of the 30 teams ponied up the cash to sign them. Are the White Sox the only other team that could use their services?

Someday one of these types of signings will work out really well. Maybe this is the year and both Latos and Rollins look like bargains.

QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 12:04 PM) first, it is deceit of the owners if they were really not going to make an effort to get anyone, the next question should be, why did they, the sox FO do this??? soxfest comes to mind and trying to pacify the fans, getting the fans in the band wagon to purchase tickets. second, if they did make funds available, then that in itself says that the money is there, why hold back??? Because different players make different impacts on teams and the box office. It's a big deal if the Sox sign Cespedes, not so much if they sign Fowler. Take Desmond. I'm sure the Sox wouldn't mind having Ian Desmond on their roster, but apparently not at the cost of a draft pick and the money difference for Jimmy Rollins. I am sure they wouldn't mind having Fowler on their team either, but apparently not at the price he is asking even though they could pay it without the checks bouncing. I think one thing you are missing is there are a lot of teams that could use these guys. But Gordon and Cespedes liked where they were. Upton went to a team that doesn't care how much it costs. No one has signed Fowler. No one has signed Desmond. No one has signed Jackson. How are the White Sox cheap but not the rest of the league? Who have the Yankees signed this offseason?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 11:51 AM) Therein lies the fundamental problem with the White Sox organization. They "are in" on top tier free agents, but only on their terms, which in reality aren't realistic, so it's basically a bunch of lip service. They signed Robertson, Melky, Abreu.....all teams have their limits. The Dodgers who supposedly have no limits let Greinke go. If the Sox gave Cespedes $150 million and he stunk up the joint, all the people who wanted him now would be calling the White Sox idiots.