harfman77

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 28, 2007 -> 09:55 AM) He's already missed 2 full months this season, was hurt all last year and has spent more time being mediocre over the course of his career than he has anything else. Every lineup performs better when there's a guy at the top getting on base, this is a fact, you can do the same research I have, the only problem is Scott Podsednik is either injured or bad more often than he's going good. And I never said there was a replacement for him in house, that's why I pine for Carlos Gomez who would force the Scott Podsednik era to die. Podsednik does hold the key to the offense, I can agree with that, the only problem is he's not healthy nearly enough, it's foolish to rely on a guy like him to be a major player on your team when he has shown time and time again that he should not be relied upon. He has mediocre tools and constant groin strains (definitely a good thing for a leadoff hitter) I don't want to see this lineup rely on a guy like that. These are all reasons why I do not understand the fascination with Rocco Baldelli

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Jun 28, 2007 -> 09:14 AM) Anyone find it odd that it appears that Ozzie Guillen and Mark's family (dad/wife?) are trying to iron out this deal? So much for Guillen being on the hot seat by the way he seems to be confronting KW head on with this. Let me throw this conspiracy theory out there, do you think this is Guillen and Reinsdorf trumping KW or nudging him toward signing Buerhle? Could Vazquez be the KW guy that Guillen has tired of who now will be moved to rebuild? Hey, I like soap operas. I gotta tell ya I like that Gonzalez kid at least today I do. How bad of an infielder is he that Cintron and Uribe are getting at-bats. Juan Uribe should be arrested not for shooting flares at the Italian Navy but for armed robbery of the White Sox, Mackowiak and Cintron could be as well. Those 8th inning at-bats by Uribe and Mackowiak made my eyes hurt. Don Baylor is 58 today. Vazquez is not going anywhere after he signed his extension. He is signed reasonably and is has the best "stuff" of any Sox pitcher. Garland is the guy that will be dealt IMO, he is young, has value and will cost a lot to resign. I think we could see a rotation of Buerhle, Vazquez, Danks, Floyd, Haeger/Masset/Broadway in August.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 08:56 PM) Thome aint going no where... Why, because he wants to play a fourth place team next year too?

Its possible that Fields could end up either DH'ing or splitting time between 1st and DH with Konerko next season if Joe were to be retained and Thome were traded this summer.

I'd rather deal him to the Red Sox for Lowell, Ellsbury, and Lester/Bucholz/Hansen. Lowell is a free agent at the end of the year and will likely bring back A level compensation, also he could play 1B the rest of the year.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 11:02 AM) Except Thome can't play first anymore because a week of playing first would kill him. Not LITERALLY. -- I'd love to deal Konerko away, but it's not going to happen. He can still DH though

I think it is a lot more likely that Thome ends up in NY than PK.

Jayson Stark just said on ESPN radio that three of the teams that he spoke with that had Buerhle interest were not told that he is no longer on the block. He said it was probably just posturing the way the Boston rumors were. I dont know that I buy that, but I guess if some team feels that a deal is imminent they might go into a panic and offer up too much. I think Mark will end up re-signing at this point.

My list of people that will be traded: Buerhle Garland Contreras Dye Thome (50/50)

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 12:52 PM) The Brewers would be an intriguing place to send Buehrle. Plus the management of both clubs has a good rappore. A deal centered around Weeks makes sense (even though I know a lot of people here say they won't give up Weeks for Buehrle, I think they'd consider it). I dont think they will give up any starters on their major league roster, but I would like to see a package that included Escobar and Gammel.

I think that Jones wouldn't be a bad idea, he will be able to be had for cheap before it is all done, and he can act as placeholder next season in the OF if we acquire a young OF in any trade that may need another year of seasoning in the minors (Gonzales, Martinez, Rasmus). The Sox will not compete next season and $5 mil is not bad for a one year deal in the screwed up market started last offseason. Obviously Jones is not the long term solution but he can run out there and put the ball in play versus righties for a year while the young sox players develop.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 11:13 AM) I still think Schillings shoulder is the wildcard here. As of right now it looks like he'll miss 2 starts but the team doesn't know for sure. If he has a setback Epstein could get antsy. From what people around baseball have been saying about Pedros injury on ESPN, it sounds like it will be very difficult for him ever to return. They said the Mets are trying to keep up appearances but they are concerned that he may never pitch again. I think it was Gammons that said that on the Big Show with Dan and Keith.

I think the reason you say no negoitiating is because you are left looking foolish if Mark and the other team cannot make a deal. Then everyone knows you tried to make a deal but failed and then that will drive the value down because at least one team will then be out of the running. I agree we could get more value if MB agrees to a deal with a team, but we will get less if the negotiations dont work out, sounds like a risk kW doesnt want to take.

According to an article on ESPN's insider, Tampa was one of the teams scouting Buerhle's last start. I dont see how that deal would make any sense for them, but they have some good prospects. My feeling is that it would be part of a three way deal.

If Milledge is all that the Mets offer, hope they enjoy losing to Mark in the playoffs.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 12:30 AM) If the Mets offer anything close to a top propsect than the Sox absolutely have to jump on that deal to shed themselves of Jose's contract. I'm with Kalapse though, we're not getting much more than a B or maybe 2 B level prospects for JC. Contreras is a pitcher that throws 93-95, has playoff and WS experience. He would be going to a park that would better suit his pitching style. He may be a little older, but older pitchers are having more and more success. He definitely has value to the right team. Dont sell him too short. He has been slumping, but he still is a well thought of pitcher

I would love a package of Gonzales, Reynolds, and Callaspo. That would fill out middle infield next season, and give us another option in the outfield, even though Gonzales probably wont be ready until 2009. I can see Garland getting moved to Arizona, the Dbacks love the sinker.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 04:57 PM) Hughes, Gallardo and Homer Bailey are the three untouchable pitching prospects in baseball. Joba and Kennedy are much more realistic. I'd take Melky and Kennedy for Buehrle. I'd rather have Betances and Tabata. Both are farther away but have higher ceilings. I take that back, betances ceiling is probably equal to the other two pitchers

QUOTE(Phil @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 07:13 PM) I don't know how much you've seen of Crisp but he's been playing gold glove level defense for Boston this year. While he has struggled with the bat he has recently shown signs of turning it around. His OBP for June is around 350. Crisp costs more than he is worth and is not that good. He doesnt get on base enough, though he has been hot in June. Last season that Red Sox couldn't give him away. Add to that Wily Mo Pena is even worse. If we make a deal with the Red Sox it should not be for anyone that is on their current ML roster.

QUOTE(diegotony06 @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 02:26 PM) If I am KW I am listening to offers for EVERYONE. I'm not saying I would deal everyone, but it doesn't hurt to listen. You may get blown away by an offer, so I would listen to offers for whoever teams come calling for. I agree, it is time to do a Marlins style blowup and build up the farm system. Then we can spend money on free agents to add in to compliment the young players that we have. There should be no one off limits.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 12:51 PM) So, I assume the Yanks would stick Dye at 1B then. I'm not to familiar with Joba and Kennedy. I know Joba has a good fastball. Are they better suited for the pen or rotation, etc? They could use him as a DH as well.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 12:54 PM) Salty for Jenks straight up. I'd do the trade in a heartbeat. The question is would the Braves do that trade? They have Soriano and Gonzalez who could be their future closers... I would not do that trade, that is not enough to make me want to trade him, and since we have no incentive to make that deal, and they are going to move Salty anyway because they have no place for him to play, that is not very good value. We would need at least three prospects back for Jenks, one major league ready, and maybe two prospects that are a year or two away.

Given the lack of offensive players in our farm system, I would love to see a deal that brought us back an A level outfielder and a low level MI player. Any player we trade we need to get more than one back, even if they are low level guys or throw ins. The more people we get the better chance that we will get someone special, or a diamond in the rough. Remember in the AJ trade Liriano was a throw in player in a deal that Bonser was the centerpiece.

Maybe they are looking at Thome as a replacement for Giambi. I know, I know, NTC - but he waived the clause to come to Chicago to win, not rebuild.

QUOTE(NCsoxfan @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 12:34 PM) First question is whether the Sox are CONSIDERING trading Bobby Jenks? IMO, if the Sox won't be competitive for many years, then why do we need a upper-echelon closer like Jenks? Given that Jenks is locked up for many years at a reasonable rate, he could probably fetch MORE than anyone of the Starting Pitchers. Agree? If we blow up the team, why would we keep Jenks? He seems like a luxury that a rebuilding team should not have..... Thoughts? I agree there isnt much point in keeping him if we are not going to compete for a championship in the next 2 years or so, because by the time we are ready to make a serious run he will be either in or nearing free agency. That said, I think we would need a pretty significant package back for him. Possible destinations off the top of my head - Atlanta, Cubs, Yankees - probably Marianos last season there, Detroit - do not want to trade him within the division though, Philly, SF, or maybe Florida. There are not many teams close to being in contention that need a late inning guy, but of the ones that do it would take a real good offer to get Jenks. Really, there is no one on the roster that should be off limts, if someone is willing to pay your asking price.