harfman77

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 17, 2014 -> 12:01 PM) If Moncada signed a $40 million deal, he costs the team close to $80 million this year, because of the overage penalties. I was thinking $20 M and $40M with penalties.

QUOTE (Baron @ Nov 17, 2014 -> 12:57 PM) What good young pitcher did the Cardinals trade for Heyward? They traded two. Miller has TOR stuff if, he is still young and really just had a bad season which happens to young guys and Tyrell Jenkins who has the stuff to be a #2 or 3. Really great trade for the Braves getting two really high ceiling rotation guys for one season of a mediocre offensive OF and an overpriced RP.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 17, 2014 -> 10:04 AM) You might be OK with it, but if the White Sox are as broke as some here seem to think, they aren't going to spend all the cash they have for the next couple of years on a guy who is probably 2 or 3 years away from contributing. They cannot and will not punt these seasons. If you do that, you might as well trade Sale and Abreu. Then you would have the best system in baseball. If they can afford him and still throw money into the major league team, that is the only way they should consider him. If it is all their cash for the next couple of years then no. But there is cash there to be spent, the Sox are projected to have a payroll about $70M at this point. If Moncada costs $40M, that puts the payroll at $110M for this year but that number would drop back down to $78M next off season if Alexeis option is exercised and Danks isn't moved during the season, so there would be financial flexibility again next season to add an arm. If Moncada is ready to take over third base in 2016, you are filling that spot with a cost controlled player throughout your window of contention, it also allows you to go after a better class of FA's next season. You have Abreu and Sale under contract for 5 more years and the goal should be to get as much talent on the roster to surround them but to also keep the team in contention when/if they leave in free agency. The all in mentality is what got the franchise to the state that it is now.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 05:58 AM) is it legal, that a contract with a window that is built in, where the player can redo his contract after 2 yrs??? This is legal. This is what the Astros have been doing with their prospects before bringing them to the majors. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 11:38 AM) That is my question. Suppose the idea that we have 40 million is right. Suppose we offer $25 million to Moncada, and win. That gives us $50 million in payments and penalties. Are people OK with forgetting about the free agent market to spend that kind of money on Moncada? Remember he can 't sign a major league deal, so I don't believe you can spread that money out like a normal dea. I am OK with it. The FA market is pretty strong at the top and then thins out very quickly. To me this is a situation akin to Byron Buxton being declared a free agent, yes there is some risk, but to acquire a star level player is worth more to me than taking a chance on some re-tread. With his talent level he could use one more year in the minors and then fill a hole on the roster for the next six years at a minimal cost over that duration. Yes it make take the Sox out of being as large of players in FA this season, but they will have the same amount of money to spend next year when they can go after an OF like Upton, Heyward, Cespedes, or Austin Jackson, and find a RHSP like Cueto, Latos, Fister or Gallardo to round out the rotation. I am totally fine punting FA this year as I think the team is going to need some time to develop SP this season as Noesi and Rodon try to take steps forward and they get another year to determine what they have in Beck, Johnson, and Danish and figure out the bullpen situation. It also leaves money free in case Shohei Otani is posted next fall. The other piece to remember is that the Sox will be saving ~$7M in the next two seasons in international spending, money which can be re-allocated to bringing in some additional bullpen arms. Many fans may be different but to me it is much more about acquiring assets that can keep the Sox competitive over the long term than a race to see when the Sox can be competitive.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 04:19 PM) 1 last question to what you answer. isn't next yr int'l draft suppose to be better than last yr ???? I side with taking a guy that is closer to the majors over anybody that is 16 and may not be in rookie leagues for three more years. Michael Ynoa got one of the largest bonuses as a 16 year old and now looks like a middle reliever. Starlin Castro got a pretty small bonus and plays at a high level in the majors. There is so much uncertainty in those signings that I would not be against taking a shotgun approach to signing as many kids as possible under that $300K number for the next couple of seasons as the bust rate for latin american talent is very high. From Kiley McDaniels via mlbtr: "McDaniel writes that were Moncada not subject to international spending limitations, he’d probably clear $100MM with relative ease. Some scouts, he notes, feel Moncada is more talented than Jose Abreu, Rusney Castillo and Yasmany Tomas." QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 11:17 PM) I was reading an update on Yoan, he was given permission to leave and pursue baseball and he can come back at will to Cuba. I find that a little nerving and isn't it against the rules. wasn't there a player who was force to go back to Cuba b/c of something like that. I know he had a fake passport and all. still the MLB made the country send him back, b/c he could always go back. there is that 1 ball player, how bout the couple who are playing in Asia, if they get the same kind of situation that Yoan is getting, then why can't they play in the usa. Alfredo Despaigne was sent back to Cuba from Mexico, but I think that was related more to the Mexican government busting him for using a fraudulent passport more than anything he is one of the two players that went on to play in Japan.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) Would love the potential of his bat at 3B. Thats what we said about Viciedo.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) there has to be a loop hole. someone just hasn't found it. if it is posted for this yr, I still say pass. what are the posters opinions? I say go for it. There is not often talent of this level available on the open market, this is not some 16 year old kid, this would be like signing Nick Gordon from last years draft as a FA, except a better prospect. The Sox can just use their international money to sign 30 kids at $300 K, as the whole LA thing is kind of a crap shoot anyway.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 11:10 AM) Assuming they don't put a provision in his contract that gets him out into free agency early. I think the only thing they could do is limit the Sox ability to make a QO, and on an amateur deal I am not sure they even have the ability to do that, I believe the rest is governed by the CBA. On a ML deal they can get pretty creative.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 11:24 AM) I hate to burst your bubble guys but I doubt we get Snydergaard for ramirez. If ramirez was younger and under contract longer then that might happen. If they wanted to give up their no 1 prospect and 10th best in all of baseball then they would be getting starlin castro, elvis andrus or troy tulowitzki. It would be like if the Mets had ramirez and we gave up carlos rodon for him. I doubt you guys would be happy with that. We should get a top prospect if we are moving him. I would say montero, bullpen arm and lower level prospects would be more in line. I am cool with that, just not a one for one trade for any minor leaguer.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) do you really think that???? is he worth at 60 mill ??? how many yrs are attached to those bids? No years, he is being signed as an amateur and will go through the minors just as any other high school kid would, free agency will be calculated from when he reaches the majors, so it could be 6 years or it could be 10 depending on his development. Sounds like he is able to handle 3B and 2B well and some teams think he could still develop as a SS. So for that money, if you feel he can stick at SS, he is definitely worth it.

Trading Alexei for Syndegaard straight up is crazy talk. Syndergaard has no track record and you are just as likely creating two holes instead of filling one. If if was deal structured similar to the Peavy deal last year where Syndegaard was the headliner accompanied by some low level guys that have a chance then it would make sense. But you dont trade an AS level SS for a guy that simply might flame out, you need to have more insurance than that or the deal isn't worth it. If you are talking Wheeler it would make a little more sense as he has shown that he can pitch in the majors, albeit very inconsistently.

I wonder what it would take to get Profar at this point as he seems to be without a position unless they can unload Andrus. His value may be too low for the Rangers to consider trading him, but he is at least solid defensively and could provide some value with his bat if he can stay healthy.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 08:09 PM) The only one of those that should be considered would be Ravelo, possibly. I wouldn't put Montas or Rondon there unless you had no choice, which I don't think is the case yet. Same with Anderson. Montas and Rondon have to go on or they will be exposed to the rule V draft. Saladino would have already been on if not for his injury.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 07:29 PM) Players that I think will be out righted off the 40 man: Ronald Belisario Raul Fernandez Jared Mitchell I don't think they let Fernandez go. Ravelo, Jaye, Montas, Rondon, and Saladino will be added.

Too much money for a bullpen arm. Rather sign three LHRP's for that money and see what you can get to stick. I really think the Sox are just checking in on every quality free agent to gauge interest and price.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:17 PM) ESPN's Adam Rubin now saying Mets and Mariners could be trade partners with the Mariners sending over Chris Taylor or Brad Miller but it would seem more likely if the Mariners sign Hanley. Mets fan trying to alter the market.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:40 PM) yeah, but next yrs int'l pool looks very exciting, Vlad son and others that will be coming out. next yr I hope the sox will over spend in their limit. but with ref to Yoan, if by signing him, ruins our chances for next yr. I don't know I think I will sign him. Many of those players are already attached to teams that are not the White Sox though. The Cubs are going to go all in again and I would not be surprised to see the Rangers do the same. I would expect another haul that is similar to this seasons, which is solid but not spectacular. The Sox can still spend in LA, just cannot spend more than $350K per player and there are a number of good players that can be had at that number.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 09:41 AM) I don't even think its going to be a JR issue. He's willing to spend. The real problem is throwing away the next two years of amateur LatAm signings - which I don't think Hahn or KW are willing to do, just when that pipeline has started working again. Is Yoan Moncada worth two Micker Adolfo's? If the answer is yes, then make the deal.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 02:58 PM) Grandal was pulled from the lineup on July 31st last year. I agree he'd make sense. That is also a place where Tank is actually a fit. 1B - LH Yonder Alonso - .240/.285/.397/.682 LF - LH Seth Smith - Had a great year last year but sucks against LHP. RF - LH Will Venable - .224/.288/.325./613 The thing that is strange about Hahn's comments in that three way trade is he made it seem like that player was a notable type. The only guys that make sense are Grandal and Ackley. I am not enamored but Ackley but would still love trying to add to the young talent with Grandal. Viciedo + an arm for Grandal would make me very happy. The Padres have plenty of reasons to make that trade too. They have underperforming left-handed options in the corner outfield as well as at 1B. Plus, Rene Rivera was the much better catcher for them this year and Austin Hedges has elite defense at the top of the minor league system. Another thing to consider would be the regime change and how none of these players were acquired by the guy at the helm. Whether the Padres have interest in a guy like Viciedo is uncertain, but they do have three potentially starting caliber catchers in Rivera/Grandal/Hedges. Something has to give there. Yoder Alonso was listed as a non-tender candidate on mlbtr.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Nov 10, 2014 -> 09:31 PM) I'll take Montero and Mejia. Nope. Thats not enough. Montero profiles as a backend starter, Mejia is a bullpen guy who could have the chance to start sort of what Noesi was coming into last season. It is a very shallow market for SS's and Alexei may be the most valuable SS on the market given his contract. That would be a great deal for the Mets casting off spare parts to fill a whole at a premium position, but would not really help the Sox at all.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 08:19 AM) The only outfielder we could give them is Viciedo. I don't think they even have a need for an OF now though with Granderson, Lagares, and Cuddyer from left to right. I have heard they plan on playing Cuddyer at 1B quite a bit as a platoon.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 09:27 AM) you are correct. i think he is a great 1 yr quick fix. I think if we miss on other guys, we may as well leave the spot open and try out a bunch of guys that have a better opportunity to be long term options.

Mets are going after Tulo now.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 10, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/mino...oct-31-nov-6-2/ Apparently the Sox have signed RHP Junior Guerra. Maybe he's Javy's brother. Going to be 30 in January. Reigning Italian Baseball League champion T&A San Marino added 29-year-old Venezuelan right-hander Junior Guerra to bolster the pitching staff for the 2014 season. The former catcher played for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets organizations before joining the independent league circuit. Guerra made a name in Europe during the 2010 season, when he dominated the Spanish Division de Honor, pitching for CBS Sant Boi. He had an 11-1 record with an ERA of 0.89 in 17 games. He struck out 122 in 91 innings, while allowing just 47 hits. Last season Guerra pitched for Wichita in the American Association. He went 9-4 with an ERA of 3.30 in 21 games. He struck out 126 and walked 58 in 122 2/3 innings. In San Marino he replaces Jim Magrane as foreign starting pitcher on the roster.

Xavier Avery is an intriguing option as a fourth OF competitor. Juan Diaz and Argenis Diaz would be good competition for Leury Garcia's roster spot. Elvis Araujo and Nik Turley would be worth a look as LHRP options.