harfman77

What about a deal that would send Flowers, Jenks, Morel for Upton and Burrell, the Sox have to give up less in the way of prospects, take on some salary, and fill the DH and OF holes for next season. CF Upton SS Ramirez LF Quentin 1B Konerko C AJP 2B Beckham 3B Teahen DH Burrell RF Rios Bench De Aza Vizquel Blanco Kotsay Still a pretty right handed lineup, with a lot of money coming off the books after next season with Konerko and Burrell.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Nov 20, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) That's $600K over the league minimum, it's not going to keep the Sox from making any other moves. We needed a backup infielder who can play good D all 3 positions and Vizquel fits the bill. Plus he can do one thing with the bat the seemingly no one else on the Sox can, lay down a good sac bunt. He can be a terrific situational player for the Sox, he is definitely not equipped to be a full time starter at this stage, but can give Ozzie some options for a situational defender or pinch bunter.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Nov 17, 2009 -> 10:36 AM) Wow... Sounds like Cowley has been sippin on some Haterade... In any deal like this, GMJ probably ends up on the Sox. If we send Konerko to the Angels and are getting a spect back it is likely because we are eating a bad contract. GMJ would fit defensively in the OF and hold the CF spot until Danks2/Mitchell are ready. The Angels would probably include someone like Wood, a guy who has no spot in their plans, with Izturis likely shifting the 3B. Konerko would be their DH and that would prevent them from having to use GMJ in that role. I dont know why the Padres would be interested in Wood at all though, his bat seems a lot better fit for the Cell than Petco.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 02:51 PM) Okay, I don't see the range at all. I don't know or care what UZR says, I don't see that with Carlos. Beyond that, half the time he doesn't even know where he's supposed to throw the ball after making a play. DH would be fine, but I think he's okay in LF. I just do not want that guy in RF at all. And I don't know what UZR says about Ichiro, but the Mariners aren't the only team out there with strong defense in RF. I agree, Carlos has not been great in the OF since he has been here, and LF is easier to play than RF. Also not sure I want a guy with a history of shoulder problems in RF. The UZR stat has to be one of the most worthless in baseball because if you watch the players play, you can tell who is good and who is not, but UZR boosts marginal players to make them look great and makes great defenders look marginal. An OF with CQ in LF Rios in right and signee/tradee/Danks/De Aza in CF would be light years better than what we threw out there last season.

Too much money and has some history of injuries. A solid player but he will not be the piece that puts this team into the playoffs, so he is not worth it to me.

I dont think Pods is the full time answer in CF defensively, and he has not shown the ability to stay healthy through an entire season. I think a CF upgrade will be the priority for the offense for the rest of the offseason along with re-tooling the bullpen a little.

QUOTE (gosox41 @ Sep 15, 2009 -> 09:45 PM) I hope he has finally figured out that this team needs more speed. The extended slumps are ridiculous. We do need a balance of power and speed but we definitely are more weighted toward power now. The team is definitely moving that way, thats why a transition season like this is so frustrating. If/when Rios gets it turned around and depending who is brought in to replace Thome and Dye we will have a pretty balanced lineup going into next season.

The top priority for KW in the offseason should be getting another LH bat to play either DH, CF or 3B, or all three. CF Pods RF Rios LF Quentin DH Konerko/Kotsay 1B Konerko/Kotsay C AJP 2B Getz/Beckham SS Ramirez 3B Beckham/Fields A trade with Texas might make sense to acquire a LH OF, as they have about 6 guys for three spots. Borbon and Murphy are both platoon players for them now and would fit nicely in to the Sox OF and provide a big upgrade defensively. The Rockies also have some extra pieces that they may consider moving in Ian Stewart and Carlos Gonzalez. Both trades would require us to give up some pitching, but outside of Hudson, Peavy, Danks, and Buerhle, all of our pitchers will probably be available this offseason.

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ Sep 10, 2009 -> 08:39 AM) Seriously, How can Pods not be considered for a part on this team next year? He plays every day, hard, and has to be at/near the top of AL lead-off men this year, and does not appear worn down like others on the team He is not as worn down cause he has played about half as much this season as the other regulars. I think he would be a decent option, but if he gets to much work it takes a toll on him physically which led to the injury problems he had here before. I think he could be a good platoon option which means we still need to find another OF for next season as none of the farm guys will likely be ready.

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 07:20 AM) No way should anyone want to pay Branyan anything near what he'll want in free agency. This is a career season. And prone to injury

QUOTE (suicidesqueeze @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 10:44 PM) This idea I like; that lineup would be solid throughout, with Blalock at 3rd and Becks at 2nd The only issue I have with that is you would only have two LH bats in the everyday lineup in AJ and Blalock. Maybe that isn't as big of an issue as I make it out to be, but that is an extremely right handed lineup.

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 05:57 PM) I don't see why the Rays would let go of Crawford. They have a team option for around 10 million for him. If for some reason they don't take that option, he will get a buttload of cash from some other team. He is having a career year. There has been a lot of speculation that the Rays will exercise the option and trade him in the offseason for a return. That would give us one year of Crawford and the opportunity to let Danks or Mitchell slide into that role the following year.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:38 PM) If we hadn't just committed over $60 million to Rios, I think that Blalock would be a possibility. But it may be tough now. Then again, if the Sox unload Dye, Thome, and Jenks in the off-season... well, you never know with Kenny. Its very possible that KW will say goodbye to both and go and get a player like Blaylock to play 1B/DH/3B or could finally get his guy in either Carl Crawford or Chone Figgins to replace them. CQ could end up DH'ing part time to try and keep him healthy for the whole season.

This is a win-win for the Sox, it allows the team to have stability in the OF and kept Rios from the Tigers where he would have probably replaced Maggs.

I think KW will probably oblige him as he does not seem to be in the teams long term plans. http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2009/07..._wants_out.html On a side note, Jeff Clement was pulled from a game yesterday, maybe a swap of former top prospects? Beltre is a free agent at the end of the season and they do not seem to have an in-house option ready. Castro is a FA here, though Clement would give us two LH C's next season.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:16 AM) So, the Sox may be in better position to make a major move, but only if the cost is not exorbitant in both money and prospects given up???? Theres probably not a team in baseball that isnt in better position to make a deal than the Cubs.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 04:58 PM) Like I said, the money is going to be about the same. It's not like he's going to get $4M+ more on a multi-year deal. There's no reason for me to believe that a 36 year old Octavio Dotel is going to find a team willing to drop $8M+ on him on a 2 year deal in this economy. Octavio Dotel could make more through arbitration than Juan Cruz (30 years old, coming off a 176 ERA+, 1.26 WHIP, 12.4 K/9 season) got on the open market on a 2 year deal this past offseason. So like I asked originally. Assuming the money is about equal (which it will be) how is a 2 year deal more desirable than a 1 year deal? It's not. Two years at $5M is what he will be looking for rather than taking a one year deal at $6M, he is 36 and is only getting older meaning it will be more difficult for him to sign a contract after next season and the season after that. If he was 26 then the one year deal makes sense as he can only improve his value from that point forward, at 36 his value is heading south and this is his final opportunity to capitalize. The Sox will not likely take the chance though and deal him before the deadline since they have seemingly acquired his heir apparent in Tony Pena.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) Just curious, but how is Kotsay a better deal than Brian? Is he better at D? He doesn't seem any better at the plate...and he's older...and BA was a first round pick. He is better at the plate, he has lost a step defensively but can play both corner OF spots and 1B. If Fields goes back to AAA he shouldnt need to an option as he has already used one this season I think. It gives the Sox a solid LH bat off the bench that they have been lacking.

QUOTE (Chet Lemon @ Jul 26, 2009 -> 12:16 PM) I have read many hypothetical/speculative trades involving Dotel from all types of sources. Why would the Sox want to move him this year? Linebrink has been disappointing. Pena has not pitched well at all this year. Jenks' WHIP is rising. Second to Thornton and maybe DJ, I think Dotel is one we need this year. For all the reasons you stated, Dotel is the one to trade. His value is the highest and will bring back the biggest return, other than Bobby, and will bring back the biggest return. Plus Pena was acquired to serve in Dotels role, so there is a replacement in house already.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 07:47 PM) Is a 36 year old Dotel getting $6.5M+ guaranteed in this economy? Because that's what he'll get at a minimum if he accepts arbitration. Keep in mind Juan Cruz got 2 years, $6M from the Royals this past offseason, very comparable pitcher only 5 years younger. If the interested ballclub isn't willing to risk offering him arbitration (something the Sox probably won't do) then his value takes a big hit. A 36 year old Dotel is likely to decline arbitration though to hold out for a multi-year deal, which makes his Type A free agent status come into play and adds value in a trade.

I could see the Sox looking at Josh Bell if they aren't sure that Viciendo is going to be able to stick at 3B. Zach Schreiber is another guy they could look at as a late inning reliever if Dotel or Linebrink are moved.

Colon will be back on the 24th for the DH KW said. So based upon their results between now and then thats when the move will be made.

KW is almost always in buy mode, especially during the season. The closer we are the more aggressive he gets, and being 3.5 out, he will be extremely aggressive.

I think that if he can be had for a reasonable price it makes a lot of sense. He could immediately start at 3B and allow Beckham to move to 2B, pushing Getz into a UTIL role that he is well suited for. He can also spell PK, CQ, and JD, giving the Ozzie a lot more lineup flexibility. Teahen could be a solid run producer in this lineup. Teahen buys another year for Morel/Viciendo and adds more pop at 2B by putting Beckham there.

The Jays released Ryan, and after DFAing Gobble the Sox could use another LHP in the pen if they want to eventually move Poreda into the rotation or down to the minors to pitch some more innings. Ryan was decent last year after his surgery but struggled this year, could be a buy low guy a la Dustin Hermanson. He could probably be had for cheap as Toronto is still on the hook for his contract.