harfman77

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2015 -> 02:44 PM) But the $20 million will stop us from spending. Remember, even last year with the #3 pick in the draft we spent less than $15 million on all of our draft players AND the international players... combined. The Sox are not that team. If they spent that kind of money on Moncada, they would take the money either out of future budgets or out of the major league team budget. Would you trade all of the guys that we signed in the July 2 class this season for Byron Buxton? That is the closest equivalent I think you can find to Moncada, both are projected to be future stars and have some elements of their games that are major league ready but neither are a sure thing. Personally I would do that, as with an advanced prospect like Moncada there is less projection and more skill which you can make an evaluation of. The Sox are going to get shut out of the major guys in the July 2 class now that you have the alternating teams breaking the limits to grab up the top talent.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 28, 2015 -> 09:46 AM) so would i. but that is the problem with all this different mock draft, different writers see things differently. but then again, that is why i like to continue to read them, can pick up different opinions on their reasoning. I am not a huge fan of that pick. If that is the way the draft board plays out I would rather either take Happ or work out an underslot deal with Bickford or Stewart and use the savings later in the draft to go over slot to replace the talent lost by not having a second or third round pick.

Would much rather move Shuck or L Garcia off the 40 man than Viciedo.

I say sign a bunch of guys on the cheap and go for Moncada.

What I would like to see is one big event in July. Thursday night - Draft first night Friday - Draft mid rounds; celebrity softball Friday night - HR derby Saturday - Draft conclusion Saturday night - All Star Game Sunday - Futures game I like the idea of moving the draft back to allow kids in the CWS to focus more on that experience than worry about negotiating their contracts. You can push SS ball back to start mid to late July and run the season a little later than it currently runs.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 10:14 PM) Without their second and third picks, it's critical that they hit with their first round pick. They need to go out an acquire as many quality players as possible, putting all your eggs in one basket to get one guy is way to risky. This organization needs depth, there will be a time to bring in some elite level talent to the system, like when the Sox get two picks next season, but this year the focus should be on getting as many guys that have high ceilings throughout picks 4-10 and a guy with a higher floor and a lower draft pool hit with pick 1.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 10:18 AM) I hope they don't. I think it would require a significant overdraft in order to save the type of money you would need to make this strategy work. The only significant under slot signing in the first round last year outside the top 3 was the injured Kyle Freeland at #8 (~800k under slot). Even the injured Jeff Hoffman signed for slot at #9. Unless you have one of the top 3 or 4 selections or target an injured pitcher I'm just not sure how workable a strategy it is. Personally I'd rather they just go all in on the #8 pick and ensure they have at least one impact type talent entering the system. I'd rather have a 1st and a 4th round pick than two 2nd's, if that's the trade-off. Thats what the Cubs did last year, took a guy that was a projected to be a mid to late round pick and then signed two HS pitchers later on that had slipped due o signability concerns. Hoffman was a consensus top 3 pick before he was injured and had other options than signing as he was only a junior, so he had a lot of leverage, so getting at slot money at 9 was a discount. The strategy is really going to depend on if there is someone sitting there at 8 that the Sox feel is a can't miss prospect, or if they are going to find a safer guy that is projected a little lower and try to roll the dice on getting someone who slips like they did with Trey.

QUOTE (AlSoxfan @ Dec 15, 2014 -> 09:33 AM) Yes I agree with everyone Bonifacio's a good fit and I do like Webb over Surkamp. As far as the bullpen goes, I think spring training will give us a better clue who stays or gets demoted. Bonifacio also provides insurance if/when Sanchez is scuffling.

I am not sure JR owns the team long enough to warrant looking into building a new stadium, unless he feels that it will give him a better price when he sells the team. The team could partner with the City of Chicago and the state of Illinois to get some economic development funds to offset a good share of the costs in securing and preparing the site, the team could then sell off parcels of land to commercial developers to surround the stadium area to help fund the stadium, or they could lease the area to add additional revenue flow for the forseeable future. It would be expensive, but a lot of times these initiatives are funded with a quite a bit of public money.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 11:19 AM) AAA Phase, Sox take Peter Tago, RHP, Colorado Looks like he has pretty good stuff for a bullpen arm, needs to get his control fixed though.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 12:51 PM) Maybe so, but the FO loves what Petricka brings to the table. Fits their ground ball MO and they think he has a special arm in terms of longevity in a season. Its the difference between trading someone at peak value (Petricka) and someone at their floor value (Webb). Webb has the stuff to succeed and I think he is going to be a lights out guy eventually, but his development is going to take a little longer, something they have the luxury to provide with Guerra, Putnam, and Robertson also in the pen. If you can get a solid return for Petricka, the Sox should take it. RP's are the most unpredictable position for year to year performance.

The Angels drafted IF Chris Curley and the Reds took Euclides Leyer in the AAA portion of the draft. The Sox took 22 year old RHP Peter Tago from the Rockies. Pitched in A+ last season, here is a scouting report from HS: http://www.bbprospectreport.com/2010/05/07/peter-tago-report And a video http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/0/v7222481/dr...tago-hs-pitcher

QUOTE (peppers312 @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) did the Sox pass on making a Rule 5 pick because their 40-man roster is full? *confused* Perhaps they have something in the works that will fill it up, so just saved themselves the $25K.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 10:59 AM) Did they fix their bad bullpen? They added Alex Wilson, who was pretty good with the Red Sox, they feel that Soria and Rondon will be much better this season according to Dombroski on the mlb network.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) It seems substantially better than Danks and Noesi to me. It doesn't to me. Simon periperhals aren't that good and he is heading into his age 34 season. Shane Green put up better numbers in the majors than he did the minors, so it seems to be a bit of fools gold there as I would expect him to regress into the pitcher that he has always been. Both the Yankees and Reds sold high on each of those guys and I think when they get to Detroit they will not be what they were last season. Noesi was really good in the minors before bouncing between roles in the majors, entering his age 28 season, he seems to have worked out a some of what has troubled him in the majors. I would say he is pretty comparable to Simon, but what he team had to give up to acquire each makes it much easier to replace Noesi if he does not click.

Good. I was interested in him joining the White Sox on a 1-2 year deal, sure glad Hahn wasn't the guy to hand out that deal.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 10:33 AM) I have a feeling that Mr. Reinsdorf has not spent all of the money that he is willing to spend. Their payroll may be at around $100 Million, but they don't really have that much committed, longer term. Again, the only long term money that has been committed this off season is to Robertson and Duke. Samardjiza is a one year (so far), and LaRoche is 2 years. The core is all still either a ways from free agency, or signed to team friendly deals. Wouldn't it be fantastic if the Sox made one more big acquisition, that would represent a key core piece, for this 3 or 4 year "window"? Hey, if J. R. wants to go for it, he can't continue to spend like the mid market teams. He was willing to take the payroll up to around $130 Million, as recently as 2011. The revenues are higher, and teams are spending more now. He isn't getting any older, sees a division with no team uncatchable, and he has the nucleus of a group that isn't that far away. While Sale, Q., "Shark", Abreu, Robertson, LaRoche are in the fold, this may be his best shot at winning another World Series, providing he is willing to take that payroll back up to around $130 Million. We have seen the front office cry poor, and then spend beyond expectations. I just have a hunch that we may be at such a juncture again. Well, I'm hoping, anyway. I think they are pretty much up against their limit, you don't want to paint yourself into a corner and leave little room to operate in the summer if you need to make a move to push for the playoffs. If they can move the ~$20M that is owed Danks and Viciedo, they would have some room to play. Several teams have contacted the Rockies about Corey Dickerson, I would not be surprised if the Sox are trying to get involved there.

Jed Bradley sounds like a good candidate to take and utilize as a LOOGY, if he can put everything together working with Coop, he could be a potential rotation piece down the road. I like the idea of Matt Hobood too, former #5 pick, 94-96 mph fastball but has had development hampered by injuries. He could be hid in the bullpen and used as a mopup guy. Whit Merrifield is a position player that would make sense to compete with Garcia and Saladino for the UTL role.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 10:08 AM) If they do land Cueto somehow, they should be the favorite to win the AL. Their OF is a disaster. Cepedes and Gose are not very good offensively and Martinez does not have the track record to back up what he did last season. In 552 AB's Gose is hitting .234/.301/.322, and Cespedes is a pretty much Viciedo offensively. They will be solid defensively across the OF, but I think they will need to make a move this summer to upgrade their offensive production.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) Sounds like two starters from Boston which may be packaged for one of the Reds starters,, Latos would be the likely guy to me. Sounds like Latos is heading to the Marlins, so perhaps it is Cueto. Still dont think that the Tiggers have the prospects to get that done though, their return from the Red Sox was meh.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 09:33 AM) Who plays CF for the Tigers? I still have Davis there. JD Martinez in RF, Cespedes in LF, Castellnos at 3B. Right? Anthony Gose

Sounds like Porcello for Cespedes, Alex Wilson and another pitching prospect.

Sounds like two starters from Boston which may be packaged for one of the Reds starters,, Latos would be the likely guy to me.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 02:06 PM) No. The dollars won't work anymore. Unless Danks is part of the deal.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 02:03 PM) Which is why I also think the Sox may be smart to hold onto Danks until July. Let Rodon warm up to the role (ideally in AAA, but maybe the pen), and give Danks a shot to improve. He also has less money on his contract then. Just makes sense. If this team is where they should be in July, it is going to be very difficult to sell Danks if has improved.