harfman77

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jul 22, 2015 -> 10:43 AM) I'm not certain exactly what the Dodgers needs are at this point, but what would the Sox have to include with Samardzija for the Dodgers to part with Barnes and Schebler? Quintana. The Dodgers aren't trading Barnes for a rental, he is going to be there unless they get a guy that is under contract back in return, so for either Q or Hamels, other than that Barnes will not be traded IMO.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 06:56 PM) I'll be honest, I'd trade Sale for any three in that group. It would have to be all four and even then throw in some low level guys or absorb a bad contract. Too much bust capacity in those four products to give up a generational talent like Sale. No ones untradeable but you need to quality and quantity in any deal for Sale.

QUOTE (Brian26 @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 03:42 PM) IS there actually talk that people want EJ back? LOL. Good Grief. Somebody has to step into the rotation when a guy gets traded and EJ has put up as good of numbers as anyone else to warrant a shot again.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 03:41 PM) He's not, though. 73 wRC+ is awful and very much below league-average, and his defense (at least to the extent we can measure it) doesn;t make up the difference. He's a replacement-level player. He's the definition of a hole in the lineup. This is exactly what the catcher position is for the most part.

There really are just not many options to upgrade at C, and in turn is the most expensive position to upgrade significantly. The Sox have Flowers but also 4-5 other guys in house I would want to try out before giving up much to improve the position. Neither McGuire nor Pentecost are gurantees to be better at Tyler either offensively or defensively. Tyler had a really strong offensive profile coming up and the thought was that he would not be able to stick at C defensively but his bat would allow him to play a corner IF spot. Obviously that didn't turn out, but you need to be very careful when looking at prospect catchers as most with any skill offensively are moved off the spot to play a position that will allow for their bat to carry them through the farm.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 03:27 PM) If they want that, they're going to have to trade one of the guys they don't want to trade. That does set them up to get Hamels. Or they could trade Puig the guy they do want to trade instead, especially now that Crawford is back.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 02:57 PM) If the Sox could get Barnes for Samardzija I would be far beyond happy but I wouldn't bet on it. Going by what's being reported, the Dodgers are after a #1/2 type starter like Cueto or Hamels. IMHO, the Dodgers end up trading for Cueto because he is front line starter they are looking for and the Dodgers get first dibs on re-signing Cueto to replace Grienke after Grienke opts out when the World Series is over. I agree with those that say some Sox fans will be disappointed with the return on Samardzija. And it sounds like the Dodgers are only looking at guys signed past this season as insurance for when Greinke opts out at the end of the year.

I think Johnson could be a similar player to Scott Podsednik in LF, his speed gives him range to make up for bad reads. The more experience he receives in the OF the better he will get at making jumps and fielding fly balls and he can be at least an average defender in the OF. With Sanchez entrenched at 2B, Johnson's only real path to the majors is LF unless the Sox want to dangle him as a trade chip.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 05:46 PM) With the Braves moving to a new stadium in '17 I don't see them moving Simmons. I'd like to get Arenado from COL They may do it just to shed Johnsons contract. With Anderson going to the Braves it takes away some of the sting in them dealing away Simmons. Sliding Q between Teheran and Miller may be to tempting for them to pass up.

Sox re-sign Shark Trade Quintana, Ramirez, Anderson, and Garcia to the Braves for Andrelton Simmons, Jose Peraza, Christian Betancourt Manny Banuelos and Chris Johnson.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 02:56 PM) I don't know where else to post this, but if I were Rick Hahn I would be calling the Dodgers to see what it would take to get Corey Seager. They're in a win now mode and if the Sox were to put something together that could bring them closer to the championship, they would have to consider it. It would take an awful lot. They are not in a "win now" mode that Sox fans are used going "all in". They are planning a long period of success. They have Seager sitting there ready to step in for Rollins next season, so unless it is Sale involved in a deal, I dont think they will be including Seager in anything as they dont really have much in the way of options to fill that spot next season without making another deal and the FA SS market is not good.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 02:03 PM) One problem I'm now noticing...who would play 1b? Abreu looks like he's about to fall apart right now and that's after 5 days off. I don't exactly care about losing more games, but seriously who plays 1b for the next few games/if Abreu goes on the DL and LaRoche is shipped out? I dont know that it matters at this point. If the team is going nowhere you can throw Beckham over there to spell Abreu, he could handle the position fine. You could give Davidson a crack at the majors to close out the year, or bring up Rob Brantly or Kevan Smith and have a three way platoon between C and 1B. Sure the results would not be pretty, but, you could save some wear and tear on Abreu and get a chance to see if any of those bats are going to play on the ML level. If not, you are playing for a draft pick anyway at that point.

If the Sox can get Shark to agree to an extension, I can see them parting ways with Q at the deadline. They would be able to fill in gaps receiving more in a Q trade and still have an above average rotation going into next season. It also increases the number of potential buyers that would be interested though trading Q may make more sense to do in December.

10 years ago Jay Bruce would have made sense, give his current contract, declining performance and the drag that will accompany him moving between the leagues he is not a good fit.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 10, 2015 -> 11:30 AM) I still think they should be punished beyond that (even though I know they won't). Yes, they expanded the original punishment from 1 season to two, but, there are always going teams that find their way around whatever system is put in place. I am sure with the draft it will be about trying to shield guys and sign them in free agency to deals worth more money than they would have had gotten in the draft.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 9, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) If they are serious, I wish they had played it smarter and taken full advantage of the 2 year penalty they'd get. There are a lot of Cubans available that would make it worth while to go over this year, all much more advanced than the 16 year olds that are typically signed. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 9, 2015 -> 09:23 PM) Yeah, they didn't envision teams taking this approach. The rules will change next time for sure. Yes, they will all be subject to a draft.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 04:50 PM) I agree with those who reject the idea of trading both Samardjiza and Quintana. That would leave this team with a weak starting staff, and probably still an anemic offense and poor defense. It makes far more sense to maintain the one strength they have, which is after all, the most important part of a team; PITCHING. Of course, they are going to have to acquire one or two more impact bats, but not at the expense of trading two starters. Does anyone think that Davis could be signed as a free agent, after the season? I'm sure that it would require a very expensive contract, but he would look pretty good as a DH to replace La Roche. The door is never closed on trading anyone, it all depends on the return that you could get. If between Shark and Q you get two young nearly MLB arms to go along with 4-5 position players, then you need to think about making those deals. The pendulum has swung in the game, pitching is not nearly the premium that it was during the PED era and quality hitting is a lot harder to come by.

This is the problem with trying to normalize numbers that do not have a linear relevancy.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 04:25 PM) Billy Beane did it when he gave up Cepedes to get Lester. Yes and the team collapsed down the stretch and all the pundits pointed at that move as huge reason why. MLBTR says AA will deal from the ML roster though. If thats the case, I can see a deal with Navarro coming back in some sort of package for Shark.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 04:20 PM) Because Sano is the future at the position Maybe the future DH, I believe his defense is still pretty weak.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 03:41 PM) This might get heavy opposition here, but what would people think of Trevor Plouffe for Samardzija? Why would a team trying to contend trade away one of their starters? Same thing with the Jays and Travis, I am not sure any GM out there is willing to make his lineup worse to get a SP its just robbing Peter to pay Paul. If I am dealing with the Twins I want a SS (Polanco or Gordon) and Adam Brett Walker.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 02:10 PM) If they are even talking to Martinez, it means they are willing to go over their limit for the right guy. Hahn basically just said that. If they find a "special guy" they will go over, if they can get two or three then it would make a lot of sense to go over. I imagine that only works if they can move some payroll from the MLB roster to afford the bonus/tax.

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 03:24 PM) If you have an academy type setting you could also have school. These are very young kids. Teach them english, it would help them if they come over and being bilingual would help those that don't make it have a skill in the tourism industry. It would also be nice if they could steer some of the kids to college programs that aren't going to get selected at 16 or 17 and guarantee college for those that are selected as is done in the rule 4 draft.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 12:09 PM) you take the bpa in draft. then you trade for a specific need. if not, then those holes will always be there. question, to mask the holes the team has, how would it be done?? You still take the best package you can get and then you use your excess assets to upgrade your gaps.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) Acevedo is nasty, I've had the chance to watch him (because he plays for the team I work for), though it's admittedly tough to tell how stuff translates to higher levels when you're seeing them throw to Single A hitters. I think he could be a Montas like guy in a package. Would really be nice to fill in the lower levels with another to shelf arm especially with Fulmer likely moving quickly. QUOTE (Mike F. @ Jul 7, 2015 -> 10:41 AM) Would you guys trade Shark, Putnam, and Duke for Judge and Sanchez? I would. I am not really interested in Judge. I think he is too big and that major league pitchers will take a lot more advantage of his expanded strike zone. He is a good player but not one I am taking a chance on to be an impact player. I would rather have the comp pick as that will give the Sox a lot more slot flexibility to get some high level talent in the draft next year and you can spread your risk out over four players rather than just putting all your eggs in the Judge basket.