Dick Allen

At least they did something.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 02:03 PM) If you are Rick Hahn, are you willing to go to Jerry Reinsdorf and the Board of Directors and tell them that Dexter Fowler is the guy you need to put you over the top? Considering some of his other choices, I think that would be easy, and an easy sale. If JR didn't want to pay, OK. Of course, JR was sold a bill of goods with Avi. The biggest problem I have with the wait until they play a couple of months and see how Avi fares, , if Avi sucked, you may have cost yourself precious games. If you sign Fowler and Avi suddenly shows he can play, there will be plenty of opportunities to play him unless LaRoche snaps back, and Melky returns to his steroid day performance. And if all of them came up big, who cares? They were willing to stick their necks way out for Cespedes and Gordon, if the reports are anywhere near accurate. For Fowler or Jackson or someone similar, the neck doesn't have to go out as far. At least theoretically.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 01:50 PM) I have said all winter that I don't think it is fear. I think it is a limitation of resources. They have spent all winter trying to get someone, but haven't been able to. That tells me there is more to the story than fear. I am the first to say there is more money in a budget to sign a guy like Cespedes or Gordon, than a guy like Fowler. And I will give you they don't have unlimited resourses. But if they can't afford Dexter Fowler or some of these other lesser guys, there is something wrong somewhere. It's the time to stick your neck out. It's not sticking your neck out so far you put the franchise in danger. Not making the move may actually cost you more in the long run than making it.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 01:45 PM) "We're fine with what we have." Part... I don't even know It's a championship roster. Just wait until next year when they all come back and are all healthy the entire year. General Soreness may play 82 games.

If the Sac pick is top 10 protected, if trading them Snell could make it top 9 protected, send him away.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 01:24 PM) Yes we are a couple of pieces short. So is the entire AL Central. I don't think we are the leading candidate here, but we sure aren't out of it. The team has been improved a lot during the off-season, and it might be enough. Here is the thing though, even if we can't win it this year, the next off-season is probably going to be one of the best sellers markets in the history of baseball. All you have to do is look at the free agent market and know that teams that are willing to trade assets aren't going to be competing against quality free agents. They are going to be going against the worst free agent market in modern history. In a scenario where the Sox don't make it, AND decide to sell, they can decide to sell short term assets, such as Frazier and Lawrie, or they can go full out rebuild and trade from the starting pitcher stash. If they were to do it, they should be able to control the selling market more than most times. All the more reason to buy one of these guys next season. If they are so afraid they may have to sell off next year, these contracts aren't going to do any damage to them. As Stacey says, if your scared, buy a dog. You want to win, need an OF, and some reasonably priced OFs are available, if you don't jump on them and your guy fails, you failed. Then it's time to bring in someone with other ideas. This half assed going for it hasn't worked. Yes, they are improved from last year, but why stop now? It's like scoring 5 runs in the first, and giving up all of your other ABs. If they are going to go for it, go for it. It doesn't require a superstar or $100 million for a huge upgrade.

According to Hoopsrumors, the Kings are high on Tony Snell. They are high alright.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 01:12 PM) Napier for Brooks might be the trade, Bulls would save some Luxury Tax money apparently... Brooks would have to approve because he would lose his Bird rights.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 11:46 AM) Bulls in discussions for Shabazz Napier Maybe that will entice LeBron to ask for a trade.

QUOTE (ozzfest @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 09:58 AM) Rumor out there that the Bulls are discussing Jahlil Okafor with 76ers. I have no idea who the Bulls could trade other than Butler to net Okafor. If I would say there is a zero percent chance of the Bulls getting Okafor, would it be considered too optimistic?

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 09:33 AM) @SAMAMICK: On Pau Gasol-to-Sac possibility that the Yahoo crew reported, I'm getting skepticism from Bulls side that a deal will materialize today. @SAMAMICK: Worth noting: DeMarcus Cousins has always cited Pau as a big man whose game he admires perhaps above all others, so that'd be a fun pairing. People can b**** at ozzfest all they want, but if the Bulls don't move a piece or 2,particularly Pau who could get you something, it is a GarPax fail. I can't blame them for not trading Snell. Someone would actually have to want him.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 06:46 PM) the assets are the opportunity cost. You're spending money and a roster spot and basically giving up on what could be an asset in the future -- Avi -- and for what? You're giving up flexibility that could be used on a much better upgrade later on. You guys that are pining for Jackson -- have you watched him play since he left Detroit? He's on the wrong side of 30 and put up a whopping 1.7 bWAR last year. Steamer projects him for 1.1 fWAR. He's no great shakes and you're asking him to play RF mostly, where he's played a total of 22 games in his career. The upgrade to go get is Fowler. That is a clear upgrade. Jackson is not worth the opportunity cost. he is on the same side of 30 as Avi.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 06:41 PM) The only assets Jackson would cost is money. Jackson defense alone is a big upgrade over Avi. Yes, and Jackson has averaged a 3 WAR the last 6 years. A low of 0.9 in 2014, but had a 2.3 in a down year in 2015. Of course, we have no idea about cost, but if he is cheap, another no brainer.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 05:28 PM) Yeah, it seemed like a show when he was with Sox to parlay it into a bigger gig and to be Marriotti. But, honestly, I kind of admire it too. It's annoying. I can't read it. But he is the only beat writer in Chicago who beats out national reporters. He got Marriottis job didn't he? Then he popped off about the female pilot, got suspended, and became a beat writer again. His final couple of years with the White Sox, there was nothing more he seemed to want than Ozzie and Oney's approval.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 03:46 PM) Samardzija? Liriano? Paulino? Let's not be too optimistic until we see where he's at physically. Fwiw, pretty sad we're arguing about guys like Shuck, Sands and Raburn after all the excitement beginning in December. Why did you suggest giving Latos $10-12 million in your new market inefficiency thread? You mentioned him several times in that thread, only ranking guys who got $80 million, one rumored to be on the verge of 40-45 million, and $70 million ahead of him. Considering it was a market inefficiency thread you yourself started, I would think the $3 million the Sox paid out would be something you would consider a good deal. But what was I thinking. Caulfield: sign Mat Latos for $10-12 million. Maybe sign Parra for $8 million, and sign Desmond in June. It will be better than signing Cespedes.White Sox sign Latos for $3 million. Caulfield: don't be too optimistic until we see where he is at physically. True colors (royal blue) shown.

According to KC Johnson, the Bulls want a first round pick plus a rotation player for Pau, or Taj, or Snell. Good luck.

I've been chanting patience as much as anyone, but if Fowler signs for 2 years $20 million with Baltimore, and Hahn doesn't have something else up his sleeve, I will be more than a little perplexed.

I wonder if the NIU student body is upset Wrigley will be undergoing renovations and is unavailable.

I just think it's weird they made a decision years ago to get away from multi-purpose outdoor arenas, and now it's a craze to play football games in baseball stadiums.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 12:55 PM) Which is why it's unrealistic when fanbases (like Chicago) get upset when they don't win a title. Getting to the ECF or Finals is a legit accomplishment in the NBA. Only a few teams really have enough talent to win it all, and that's proven true year after year. Superstars win titles. If you don't have one, you aren't winning one. But the Bulls have only make the conference finals 1 time since 1998. That's pretty weak. I think the fanbase has a right to be upset. They have reached a certain level, but haven't been able to take the next step. Now it looks like they will probably be retreating for a season or two. Expecting the return of the Jordan era when it was 8 conference finals in 10 years, and one Hugh Hollins call from being 9 out of 10, and one MJ retirement from being 10 years in a row, is crazy. But this team leads the league in attendance. The fans deserve better than the totally conservative route this team has taken in regards to player moves, and reluctance to pay luxury tax. Reinsdorf has said he all he wants his baseball team to do is break even. If that was the same with the Bulls, I think they would have been far more aggressive over the years.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 12:21 PM) Doesn't have a full no-trade? I wonder what teams he'd be willing to go to. Not many make much sense. Would the Bulls really trade him to a playoff rival? Or anyone in the East? He's too slow for the Warriors. Clips don't need him. San Antonio doesn't need him. Thunder maybe? Durant really wanted him during his last FA. Im' with you. How many teams are a Pau Gasol away from perhaps winning a title who really have a spot for him? Not too many. Maybe OKC. But the Bulls need to trade him. They aren't going anywhere. I don't know why a team would give up a 1st rounder for a couple of months of him. If the Bulls really are willing to pay him $20 million a year, he can always come back. If they trade him, and even just get some athletic tape for him, I will applaud GarPax for at least being realistic. That's the problem with the NBA. There are maybe 4 teams with a legit shot of winning, and if GS stays healthy, probably fewer than that.

If Fowler would have taken the QO, would the Cubs still have signed Heyward?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 09:33 AM) I kind of hate that deal. Everytime I see Rudy Gay's name, I think of Rick Majerus on ESPN discussing the draft. When he said "I am not a big Gay guy", he cracked up the entire set. Watching them try not to laugh was hysterical.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 07:24 AM) Jackson would be my preferred pickup. Upgrades the bad OF defense immensely. If Jackson became a White Sox, I would be happy. Yet another guy with hardly any chatter, and he has no QO offer. Boras is a magician with contracts, but sometimes his players get burned. Jackson seems to be heading that way.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 08:13 AM) They used to offer more Mexican food (from 2006ish-2013) at the general food stands, but they don't anymore. I used to get that stuff all the time. The new Mexican food just isn't as good IMO, so I have to "settle" for hot dogs, burgers, and pizza. At the old park, they had a taco stand under the LF seats. It was hard to beat. It was authentic. It wasn't a Sportservice type of thing. If the game sucked, at least there was tacos.