Dick Allen

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 12:10 PM) You got me too. Only a troll would question 8 million for a pitcher who gave up homers at an alarming rate. I'm just not into 81 wins and home run derby like you sages If they trade young players, you moan. If they sign young players to reasonable extensions, you moan. I think you need a different hobby. Besides, even if his post surgery HR rate continues, he can be a s***ty reliever still making peanuts, with a contract the Sox will be unable to move. Isn't that perfect for you?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 12:00 PM) I think the chance is bigger than small to be honest but I don't see it as a salary dump. The most obvious salary to move in order to get one of those big OF bats is Robertson, Danks, Melky or LaRoche. Robertson has the most value and would be the easiest to trade. Hahn has been saying they would need to get creative in order to sign one of those FA bats. There is about zero chance they trade Robertson. They signed him for a reason. Creative is not ruining your bullpen.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:18 AM) Except for teams that actually win. But the sox were still in it all of last year and Kenny Williams could see a 10 game winning streak right around the corner. Bloody bad luck it never happened. You should move to Charlotte or Birmingham. You would have a much happier life. Probably better at Birmingham because AAA teams hero worship and bring in washed up veterans to fill AAA rosters.

Considering what middle relievers are getting paid, if Jones is just better than average, he should be a bargain for 6 years. He took less money to play for Robin.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 10:58 AM) As someone who has lived very near both cities, I can fully understand why somebody who enjoys living in Cincinnati would not want to move to Washington. Does he actually live in Cincinnati or just hang out during the season? It isn't like there is a ton of time during the season for them to do other things. If he wants to win, it is a pretty simple call, but he might as well try to extract a few more dollars. If he lives in Cincy, that could be another story. The other thing is many players live by the spring training facility, and one is in FL the other in AZ, that is 6 weeks less of living at home, and could be persuasive, especially if he has a family.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 10:14 PM) Also, is Albers 100% gone. He was a big piece last year for that bullpen... Chances of him repeating that performances are about as slim as he is not slim. Let someone else pay him and sign another guy. The Sox are usually halfway decent at picking up bullpen guys off the scrap heap. Putnam, Albers. Those guys get really cheap in about 3 weeks.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 09:12 AM) Ken Rosenthal just said on MLBN that an O's beat writer said that the O's aren't spending 100 million+ on a player other than Chris Davis. So now, that is the Angels, Giants, Cardinals, and O's now out on the big OFs. That leaves the Sox, Nationals, Tigers, and Royals that have reported interest in the big 3 OFs. If the Royals are lowballing Gordon, offering him about $50 million for 4 years, they aren't in on the others. They are out. There are always teams that say they are out that are in, and some surprises, but it does seem to be working in favor of signing one of these guys nowhere near what the prices appeared to be in October.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 08:54 AM) How exactly are they expendable? Have you seen the bullpen? Have you seen how thin this starting rotation is? Hahn just traded 2 young pitching prospects for 2 more bullpen guys with no control that he hopes "Coop can fix" although Coop hasn't fixed a thing in years. Need all the arms they can get and hope a couple can do something. Avi in RF Thompson in CF May in LF Saladino at 3B Rondon as SS Sanchez at 2B 6 year minor league free agent at 1B Nieto at C who cares as long as he is making minimum at DH Do you get hard looking at that line up?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 07:59 PM) Cespedes is a much more dynamic and exciting player. He's a natural companion piece to Abreu in terms of teammates/camaraderie and marketing. He can also play any of the OF positions, but is much stronger in RF and LF. Having Cespedes and Eaton together improves your defense quite a bit...and psychologically, knowing you have a competent fielder on your left side allows you to cheat a bit more to the other side and protect Cabrera in the gap. Upton is an average fielder, at best. All of his value comes from hitting and speed/athleticism, which is on the verge of declining in the next couple of years with all of the wear and tear on his body from being healthy for such a long stretch. Yoenis is proven in the AL and NL. He basically was the borderline NL MVP last year, certainly for the last two months. He performed well in both the AL West and AL Central. Upton hasn't shown that...doesn't mean he's not capable, but it's not a given at this point either, not with all the recent issues we've had in that area (LaRoche, Dunn, Samardzija, etc.) With his age and the current White Sox "open window" of 2016 and 2017, a contract for four years for Cespedes with higher average value (or maybe an opt-out again after 2017) makes a lot more financial sense than possibly being "stuck" with Upton for six years. Upton hasn't hit very well the last three years against the AL in inter-league play, only a .207 average in over 200 at-bats. Now the Sox window is the next 2 season? Who have they lost the last few days that has destroyed any chance of them being good in 2018, when you said was the best case scenario of them being good last week?

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 08:49 AM) Serious question about that, do you think he had to get permission by the team to where the Sox jersey in Cuba? I understand why he would, but he is a free agent. It's really not important, but interesting to think about. Why would he need permission? You can wear a White Sox jersey, why can't he?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 02:32 PM) We need to add an impact bat to the lineup somewhere. Simultaneously, we need to NOT degrade the defense. Resources are limited. I think it's easier/more cost-effective to achieve our goal by upgrading RF and living with the light-hitting, glove focused Saladino than it is to find a difference-maker at SS. That is what I think. The upgrade offensively and defensively in RF could be huge. Maybe Alexei hits better than Saladino at SS, but fielding seems like a a wash. The overall upgrade isn't that huge, and it could go the other way. Spend the money on the rightfielder. Let Avi go down to Charlotte or somewhere else. Sign some relievers in January. Maybe sign a starter or 2 off the scrap heap. The team should be pretty good.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:06 AM) Celebrate all you want, but the most important part of the offseason is whether or not JR will open the wallet on Upton, Gordon or Cespedes. Do that, you win back everyone you've lost and skepticism diminishes almost completely. Start Opening Day with Avi, Saladino and LaRoche in the line-up and expectations are tempered. Half-assed and pointless. Hanley Ramiez, CarGo, Ethier, Blackmon, Peralta, Fowler, Span or Parra leaves you somewhere in-between. 3/4's of the way but that undoubtedly means the Tigers and/or Royals have one of Upton, Gordon, Davis, Desmond or Cespedes. Please leave the Royals out of all conversations about big name free agents. According to this they are offering Gordon 4 years $52 million, what the White Sox did when Ventura was a free agent and they wanted to show the fanbase they "tried" http://www.royalsreview.com/2015/12/16/103...9892.1442855805

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:40 AM) I am still waiting to see Arrieta's arbitration numbers. Boras v cubs could be interesting as I am pretty certain Boras does not care about the feel good story that is the Chicago cubs. I could see Boras asking for $25M for Arrieta in arbitration He would lose. I think the projection is about $10-11 million.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:24 AM) Still need another bat or it was a waste IMO. 2 years of Frazier/Lawrie isn't enough time to hope we don't still have black holes in RF/LF/DH/SS/C - not to mention Lawrie isn't a sure thing. Have to capitalize on potentially not having an embarrassing offense for once and not be half in half out. It doesn't have to be one of the big free agents, but it is the move that makes the most sense. They do need someone who could hit in the middle of the order, and avoid giving up anymore prospects. As long as it is a productive hitter great. Too bad the 2005 Jermaine Dye isn't available for $5 million.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:13 AM) Just seems like everyone on the station feels only way to be successful is via complete tanking/rebuilding. Because...Cubs. I pointed out yesterday, the only 2 players Theo drafted for the Cubs who have actually played for the Cubs are Bryant and Schwarber. They were lucky to get Bryant. All the other players could have been acquired while trying to remain competitive. If Houston drafted Bryant, the whole Cubs tank would have been for Kyle Schwarber, and maybe at a later date, Almora.

Doesn't Span have a hip problem?

He will talk about the trade, but he won't reveal much about anything else. No need to get discouraged about a big bat OF unless he just says no way.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 08:35 AM) I understand and agree. I'm just surprised by the sheer amount of people who were saying they were done with the team. It wasn't just one or two, it was practically every reply. They were bad, and are now worse. Their team is hopeless for the foreseeable future. Except for MPWs (mediocre prospect worshippers) their team isn't going to appeal to people not related to the players.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 08:17 AM) From Jersey, but yes, I know they loved him, but saying that they'll never watch their team again seems extreme to me. That is just the same talk that a few from every team's fanbase feels necessary when they are disgruntled. I'm willing to bet they watch the Reds opening day.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 07:35 PM) Anytime you can give a 32 year old a 10 year contract, you do it. Probably didn't" t think they would regret it when he was 33. Pujols, Hamilton...I,could,see,where Moreno,says probably out, although he did steal Torii Hunter from the White Sox and he worked out fine.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 07:16 PM) It was just announced that Pujols is very likely going to have to player a lot of DH. They have CJ Cron but the Nava move makes sense for that reason. He still was great, and the declines were slight, but Pujols was trending down his last 3 years in St. Louis. What is that contract going to look like in a couple of years when he needs a walker with the tennis balls to get up to home plate?

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 07:12 PM) Per Bernstein, Thompson a 2 war next year Frazier a 3.7......OK The bigger thing matheny did not coddle heyward as much as maddon and that is what sealed the deal.....the $26m per had nothing to do with it. Christ I just need to delete that as a preset. Everyone wants to play for Joe Maddon. That is why Theo has only had to shell out about $400 million for Heyward, Lester, Zobrist, and Lackey. A steal.

People want the team to suffer and build through the draft. There were exactly 2 Theo Epstein draft picks on the 2015 Cubs. If Houston knew what they were doing with #1 overall picks, all that tanking would have been for Mark Appel and Kyle Schwarber. All the other guys he could have acquired trying to be somewhat competitive. Being bad isn't necessary to be good in baseball.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 06:19 PM) Agreed. I think they view Turner as one option from a depth perspective, but I do think they are going to add an arm and an outfielder. I expect the arm will be a solid player where as the outfielder will be a more high profile move. One guy I wouldn't mind them looking at because he would be minimum and worked well with Coop is Edwin Jackson.

The Sox are also going to need a pitcher or 2. Teams usually don't make it through entire,seasons with 5 or 6 starters.