harfman77

What does it tell though, that he is ready or that he is the best of a bunch of not very good options at this point. I think it would be a mistake to rush him that quickly, give him a full year adjusting to professional baseball and then give him an audition in September if he handles it well. The Sox should still make Hudson a priority and then have a nice problem of having too many infielders down the road.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 17, 2008 -> 08:15 PM) A big part of the rumored scandal involving the latin American players was that the scout would write down a younger age for a guy who was actually older (i.e. write down 16 for a 19 year old) and thus the team would spend more money on a signing bonus for the kid because he was so highly developed at a young age. The crooked scout would then pocket a good chunk of the signing bonus, and the kid would burn out pretty quick in the minor leagues. At least, based on press accounts. Yes but with the new immigration rules this is a lot tougher to pull off then it once was. This is why there was an adjustment of a lot of the Latin players ages a few years ago. Not saying it cant still happen, but it is rare now and is probably what led the FBI to catching these guys.

Even at 19 he goes to ST and competes for the spot along with Fields and Betemit, or whoever the candidates are for OF at the time, similar to the path the Ramirez had, and if he is good enough he gets a spot. I dont think he should be arbitrarily be sent to the minors just because of his age.

I like the deal, Betemit was a mega prospect who has never gotten everyday at bats outside of a period when Chipper was hurt back in Atlanta, I think that if he has a chance to play everyday his numbers will improve as he gets into a rhythym. Marquez is a sinkerballer, which will play great in the Cell and is a viable option to be a number 5 next season, he can be at least as good as Garland was with the Sox. Nunez has a live arm has a high ceiling but a long hill to climb to reach that ceiling, he could end up as a closer one day or maybe never make it out of AAA. Swish didnt have a position this season and wont have one next with the Sox, so there was no value in holding him unless you could get PK to sign off on a deal someplace else. I think Betemit is better than Swisher and has more upside, combine that with a legit SP option and the Sox made out pretty well. I would have rather gotten Cano or Melky, but Swisher would not have brought that kind of return.

I think that the Mets are not the best fit for Jenks in regards to matching up needs with the Sox, I think that marketing him to the Mets could raise his value to a team like the Braves who have a gaping whole in the closers role as well, but it will depend what their team looks like after Peavy is traded. Any deal to the Mets including Jenks needs to return Kunz to the Sox. If for nothing more than a trade chip to make another deal. A Kunz Martinez package would proabaly be suitable, but Martinez is not major league ready and is least a full season if not 2 away from being able to contribute to the ML club. The Mets dont have much in the way of non ML players that would be very interesting for the Sox. Beltrans salary and agent makes a deal for him unlikely and he would need to bat second in the lineup the way it is currently constructed, which would mean we still have to make a deal to find a 2b who can lead off. I think this is a smoke screen to raise the value of players involved and give teams leverage in signing free agents. I think there is a possibility that the Sox will move Jenks, Vaz, Dye, and Kong in separate deals, but probably not to Mets.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 01:29 PM) Rickie Weeks would be a bad acquisition, he's poor offensively and defensively. I'd love to see KW unload Vazquez to Washington for Zimmerman and prospects, then send Dye to SF for Jonathan Sanchez. Zimmerman > Vazquez And SF has a glut of outfielders and with Winn, Lewis, Rowand, Roberts, and a couple prospects like Ortmeier and Bowker. If we make a deal with SF it will be sending them a corner infielder where they are very thin.

Does this mean they wont be offering arbirtration? I had always assumed that they would decline the option because it was quite pricy for the production, but it seems silly to give up a draft pick for the chance that Jr would accept it.

Furcal is likely going to be too expensive for the Sox to consider and will probably re-up with the Dodgers if he plays well through the playoffs. Hudson might come at a discount due to his recent streak of injuries, but the Diamondbacks have cleared out all the other 2B in their system so they will likely try hard to get him to return. There are some guys out there that we could take a look at, but not really high end guys. Joaquin Arias from Texas is a player who is blocked can play both middle IF posisitons and has speed. He is young and cheap and could probably be had for some of the pitchers that do not figure into the picture for next year. Also you could trade Fields and a 1B either Swish or Kong, if he would accept it, to the Giants for Velez, Lewis, and a P. The quality of the P will depend on which guy goes there in the trade obviously. Doing that allows KW to go out and spend money for a 3B. I have pretty much assumed that Javy will be traded this winter mostly due to his contract status. Somewhere like Atlanta, Cincinatti, or Milwaukee would proably make sense for him. Not sure how well any of those teams match up as trade partners so its possible if he is traded it is in a three way move, because one thing is for certain, Kenny does not trade for prospects that do not have a shot at making the club in the next season.

I think whomever is the 2B next season is merely a placeholder for a season as Beckham should be ready to go on opening day in 2010. If Juan accepts arbitration, then you have a three way contest between Getz, Fields, and Uribe for the two IF spots along Alexei, unless there is some type of deal made in which we ship out a 1B (Konerko or Swisher) and fill one of those needs. If Juan does not accept arbitration then we would need to look elsewhere I think to fill that need. There are a few players that will fill the needs that the Sox have in free agency and will not cost us a draft pick to re-sign.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 17, 2008 -> 09:31 PM) Why can't MLB do something like the NFL does, with rotating divisions, but still factor in their rivalry series? Interleague is lame enough as it is, it may as well make sense. They should I think the problem is the NL Central having too many teams to make that work and the AL West not having enough, also the fact the the Sox-Cubs, Mets-Yankees, Dodgers-Angels, and Giants-A's each have to play each other twice, that throws a wrench in the system. The only way to make that work would be to expand interleague play even more to about 21 games a season, 2 series against your "rival" and 5 against the division that you are facing that season.

Cross Garcia off the list, the Tiggers got him.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Aug 12, 2008 -> 10:51 AM) I don't believe anything that Kenny tells the media. His statements are made to put him in a position to get better leverage in negotiations. Probably. I wouldn't trade Poreda for Millwood. But I might package him with Fields and an a couple of A-ballers for somebody like Halladay. Poreda straight-up for Burnett might not be a bad deal, although he's been unusually mediocre this year. Given how badly Thornton and Logan have been pitching and that Poreda will be cheap and under Sox control for several more years, I think he'd fit in very nicely on this team. I wouldn't trade him for Millwood straight up, but I would trade him and Fields for Blalock and Millwood. Blalock fills the 3B whole next season and gives us a bat that crushes RHP. Millwood fills Joses spot for the next year and a half and likely nets a comp pick. Millwood was pretty successful in Cleveland, so that lends me to believe that his struggles are more related to his current team/environment than talent level.

I am starting to thing Millwood could be an option. He is on the DL now but will return soon, has a contract similar to Joses for next season and has a vestion option for 2010. I am not sure why KW would clear all the remaining high ceiling prospects in the system for a head case like Bedard. He is the most unmotivated pitcher in the majors and that is something Coop cant fix. There are several options out there, but it will probably be someone we have not thought about or talked about if and when a deal does happen.

Mlb trade rumors reported the two PTBNL are from the D-backs 40 man roster. One is expected to be a MLB ready pitcher and the other IMO is likely an OF. Maybe Owings and Salazar? I have no problem giving up Poreda for an SP at this point. I feel that Poreda will eventually become a Brian Fuentes clone as a smoking LHP out of the bullpen. I dont think that he has the arsenal of pitches to be a succeful starter. I definitely wouldnt give him up for Byrd, but if there is a high level player out there, preferably one who would be a Type A free agent in this year or next, I would send him and Fields. We can deal with the consequences in the offseason, but we are close to the playoffs and have the opportunity to go deep, its time to go into play for today mode. AJ Burnett is probably the best target for right now if he can make it to the Sox in waivers. Or maybe a combo deal with the Rangers for Blalock (TO for next season is relatively cheap at 6.25 MM) and an SP like Millwood (signed at $11 MM in 09, $12 MM VO in '10) basically replacing Jose's contract next year. Millwood has not been terrific in Texas, but that is the ballpark pitchers go to die.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 7, 2008 -> 09:58 AM) Here's your real question. Do you offer him salary arbitration? If he maintains his "B" level status you have to offer him arbitration. If he walks you get a comp pick, if not you get a backup MI who is one of the best defenders in baseball. There is no lose in that equation.

The only problem is that the talenet level in next year's draft is supposed to be significantly lower. But Alvarez may be back there as well. I think that Beckham will sign, they are just waiting for other people to sign to gauge what they should be getting a their slot.

QUOTE (tommy @ Aug 6, 2008 -> 10:26 PM) No one voted to trade Swisher? Last night must have something to do with it. You can't trade Swisher now, he is signed cheaply for quite a while. He has had problems this season, but he is still young and can bounce back. It doesn't make sense to move him to keep someone more expensive and is on the wrong side of 30. He has never hit for a high average, but he gets on base consistently and can move when he is out there.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2008 -> 05:35 AM) I actually have a feeling he could be Longoria-lite...which is why I feel he's perfectly acceptable for 3B, given that his arm is adequate. But if you can get that type of power from a MI, it is silly to move him to a power position unless you have some stud already there. I think that Beckhams ceiling could be a RH Chase Utley and his floor is probably around Josh Barfield from his rookie season. I think that Field's progress between now and next season will determine if Beckham has a move to the corner IF in his future.

A month ago I would have thought slim to none with slim on the first flight out of town. But now, he seems he has earned some playing time back, plays the best defense of anyone on the team, and most importantly has not caused a distraction with his benching. With the market tight for MI and OC as good as gone, what are the chances Uribe is brought back as at least the utility player that Ozuna was meant to be this season, and maybe as the starting 2B? He has one of the worst offensive approaches in the game, but pitching and defense contributes just as much to winning as hitting does. I am going to add the disclaimer that is not my preference that Uribe returns as the starter, but Beckham may not be that far away depending on when (if) he signs, and signing another MI long term may not be cost effective.

I could see a deal in the offseason that if Tex signs elsewhere, the Sox send Konerko, Anderson and a spect to the Angels for Sarge Jr and Figgins. I think that the Sox will be outbid for the O-Dawg, who would be a perfect fit. Then KW can pursue someone like Blake, McPherson, Grudz, or whomever. Figgins gives a solid lead-off option and base stealing threat and can play 2B or 3B and OF if needed. GMJ is an above average fielder who would solidify the Sox's defense up the middle. 2B Figgins/Durham/? 1B Swisher LF Quentin RF Dye DH Thome C Pierzynski SS Ramirez 3B Fields/Blake/Figgins CF GMJ

Maybe Royce Ring instead? He was DFA'd by the Braves if we want a former Sox LHP back.

The main competition for Freddy will be the Yankees, Mets, and Cardinals. Obviously the Sox know him better than any of those teams, but may not be willing to pay what it will take to beat out the other teams. Three weeks in AAA to raise his pitch count and bring him up when the rosters expand Sept 1. Then give him a shot to see if he can contribute in the rotation or the pen in the postseason while giving Danks and Floyd some rest before the postseason.

The 2010 lineup will be something like: C Pierzynski 1B Swisher 2B Ramirez/Beckham SS Beckham/Ramirez 3B Fields RF Dye CF Anderson/Wise/? LF Quentin DH Konerko SP Danks RP Logan SP Floyd RP Wasserman SP Buerhle RP Linebrink SP Poreda RP Thornton SP Broadway RP Wasserman/? CP Jenks RP ? And 2009 is likely to be C Pierzynski 1B Konerko/Swisher 2B Ramirez/Getz SS ?/Ramirez 3B Fields RF Dye CF Swisher/? LF Quentin DH Thome/Konerko SP Buerhle RP Logan SP Floyd RP Wasserman SP Danks RP Linebrink SP Vazquez RP Thornton SP Broadway/Contreras RP Wasserman/Broadway CP Jenks RP Dotel So the main needs in the offseason are a MI filler until Beckham is ready and a long term CF. Resigning Griffey does not accomplish either of these tasks. I could see making a deal with the Angels if Teixera walks trading PK for Sarge Jr. and a spect in a move that helps both teams fill holes with players that might need a fresh start. I think that either Vazquez or Contreras will be traded in the offseason, most likely Conteras but it might be hard to find a taker.

Freddy Garcia is supposed to be auditioning for teams on Wednesday, I believe. Since the Sox were unable to find a match for a P through a trade, what do you think the chances are that Ozzie convinces KW to take a chance on his old friend big game Freddy? We already went back to the Loaiza well looking for help, FG is the next logical step in our attempt to recapture the past. The price may be too high when all is said and done though and it may make more sense to turn to someone like Livan Hernandez to use in the bullpen/spot start role.

Maybe the trade is to bring in an SP and a Griffey salary dump is part of the deal. Maybe Fields and Anderson for Harang or Arroyo and Griffey. If not JD is gone to another team for an SP, Red Sox? if they really do trade Manny. Teams that would be in the market for an OF would be the Diamondbacks, Mets, Yankees, Marlins, Cardinals, and Rays. Tampa and Arizona would be the two that would have the pitching to get a deal done and still be able to contend. And we know that KW likes to make deals with the D-backs. Marlins may have the pitching depending on how Sanchez comes back this week.