harfman77

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 1, 2014 -> 10:40 AM) seems like a guy who is trying to save his job and win NOW. Not sure his job would ever be in jeopardy there as they know they have a good thing going. Seems to be a guy that looks at his watch, sees its closing time and pushes all his chips in to try and win big before leaving. Would not be surprised to see Beane leave Oakland after this. The only problem I have with his strategy was to include the first round pick in getting Lester. That roster is going to need to be blown up this winter with Donaldson and Samardzjia being traded to fill holes on the roster and get some semblance of talent in their farm system to try and contend again in the next few seasons.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 02:16 PM) Tanking just isn't that big of a deal in mlb to worry about this. It hurts in nba because one player can change everything, immediately. Mlb plans are so much longer term and the draft just rarely has that impact. This is solving a problem that doesn't exist. The impact is really in the amount of money that a team can spend, you can roll the dice with more high upside players when you have a larger bonus pool to work with. The Astros will likely have the largest draft pool in history next season with two of the top 5 picks and 4 in the top 40. So if they go underslot at #2 they can grab some guys that are too expensive for everyone else in rounds 3-5 which does make an impact to the overall depth that an organization has. If it were about one player the results would not matter as much. Last year no one here would have wanted a draft lottery as it would have cost the Sox a shot at drafting one of the big 3 in last years draft. If they were to do a lottery, I would like to see teams 11-20 get one ball each, teams 6-10 get two balls each, and teams 1-5 get three balls each. It keeps the randomness and scales towards the teams that do not have a realistic chance of competing but gives a team that is trying to contend, like the Brewers this season, the opportunity to get a franchise changing player.

Updating this thread as the season has wrapped up, the Sox have 42 on the 40 man roster as Jones and Paulino will need to be reinstated after the post-season Free Agents Lindstrom Konerko Team Option Paulino $4M or $250K buyout Non-tender candidate Belisario DFA possibilities Maikel Cleto Jared Mitchell Frank De Los Santos Michael Taylor Players that need to be protected on the 40 man roster Kevan Smith Rangel Ravelo Tyler Saladino Francellis Montas 2015 Roster C Flowers 1B Abreu 2B Sanchez SS Ramirez 3B Gillaspie LF Viciedo CF Eaton RF Garcia DH Davidson/Wilkins* UTL Semien BE Phegley BE Sierra BE Wilkins/Davidson* SP Sale SP Quintana SP Noesi SP Danks SP Carroll* RP Petricka RP Webb RP Putnam RP Guerra RP Bassitt RP Surkamp RP Veal* *Positions to upgrade in FA or via trade

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 08:15 AM) The problems in general are, that RBI and pitching wins are not accurate assessments for players anymore. They have no control of either of those stats. They never really were good assessments. Too dependent on others to really measure what a player can do.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 30, 2014 -> 09:37 AM) Will this get Guerra non tendered? It may get him a two year deal at a more manageable AAV.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 29, 2014 -> 11:38 AM) so Tomas the fa Cuban will not count against the int'l allotment pool? No he will not. He his over 23 and has 5+ years of professional experience. If Yoan Moncada ever comes out of hiding, he would be subject to the spending limits.

Working out the draft order, looks like the Sox will be picking eighth. 1. Diamondbacks 2. Astros (for not coming to terms with 2014 No. 1 pick Brady Aiken) 3. Rockies 4. Rangers 5. Astros 6. Twins 7. Red Sox 8. White Sox 9. Cubs 10. Phillies 11. Reds 12. Marlins 13. Padres 14. Rays 15. Mets 16. Braves 17. Brewers 18. Blue Jays 19. Yankees 20. Indians 21. Mariners 22. Giants 23. Pirates 24. Athletics 25. Royals 26. Tigers 27. Cardinals 28. Dodgers 29. Orioles 30. Nationals 31. Angels

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 05:44 AM) Ichiro...too old, more of a 4th/5th guy now Granderson...was often mentioned as a possible free agent signing in the offseason, probably too expensive for that level of production, basically a platoon guy at this point in his career Aoki...maybe Markakis...depends on the cost in dollars/years Nava...meh Jay...don't think Cardinals will make him available after bounceback year Ethier...see Carl Crawford below Leonys Martin...another Cuban, coming off pretty decent (for him) offensive year Rasmus...will the output be worth the "potential" tag often attached? can anyone get through to him? Denard Span...quietly having a very strong season for Nationals Carl Crawford....either or neither Ethier can stay or go (bad attempt at pun) Josh Hamilton....often debated/discussed Matt Joyce...this is the typical KW bounceback/buy low candidate after a disappointing 2014 Gerardo Parra....declining defensive splits, nothing close to average offensively Domonic Brown....see Matt Joyce, non-tender candidate who's another version of Dayan Viciedo in many ways Dexter Fowler...would definitely have some interest in him, depending on cost CoCo Crisp...how many baseball lives can this guy have? about as many as Victor Martinez seemingly Grady Sizemore...just for Lillian if she's still lurking I disqualified Melky Cabrera off the bat for being out of our probable price range Off that list Leonys Martin is very intriguing, though I am not sure what it would take to get him. Matt Joyce is probably someone they can get in a reasonable deal as he is a year away from FA.

I think the Sox take whichever college RHSP that slips to them between Buehler, Matuela, Bickford or if they are all gone pick whichever of Fulmer, Funkhouser or OF DJ Stewart are left. All of them, potentially with the exception of Bickford, look like they will be quick movers and be able to add value to the ML roster in short order. In the second round they will find a high ceiling guy that slipped to continue to reinforce the bottom of the system.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Sep 12, 2014 -> 09:55 AM) Except the fact that Tomas is 5 years older than Viciedo was and he's also 6'4 240 pounds. But he is pretty close to what Viciedo is now, a ton of raw power with questionable plate discipline and pitch recognition. From the profiles I have read, Tomas sounds more like Wily Mo Pena than the other recent Cuban successes.

I can see Hahn trading for Samarddjzia and one of Dom Brown or Pedro Alvarez. Then in free agency pursuing someone like Emilio Bonifacio. CF Eaton 2B Sanchez 1B Abreu DH Alvarez or Brown/Viciedo RF Garcia 3B Gillaspie SS Ramirez LF Semien/Bonifacio C Flowers Semien and Bonifacio can play around the diamond spelling other guys in addition to splitting time in LF. I think they will add three pitchers, someone like Masterson, Billingsley, or Floyd on a smaller one year deal with a team option and then a couple bullpen guys like Franklin Morales and a rebound guy like Jim Johnson, Andrew Bailey or Chris Perez. SP Sale SP Samardjzia SP Quintana SP Danks SP Noesi/Masterson

QUOTE (knightni @ Sep 11, 2014 -> 07:08 AM) Okay. When he got drafted, it was intimated through the media that he wanted to go to the Cubs. Because he had a pre-draft deal worked out with them.

I think Samardjzia is traded this winter, so the Sox have a chance to grab him then. The A's went all in on this season and are going to need to do a tear down to rebuild. The A's are losing Dunn, Lester, Hammel, Gomes, Callaspo, Lowrie, Gregorson, and Soto to FA. They may re-sign of Lowrie or Callaspo but the other will leave a hole. Maybe a trade around Johnson or Semien for Samardjzia will help both teams fill holes.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 25, 2014 -> 09:30 PM) People are telling me that it's better to have the 5th pick instead of the 12. It seems logical but in history it doesn't seem to matter. Of course everyone can view it differently that's half the fun of the discussion. There is no right or wrong just truth from a different point of view (Yoda). My original point was in response to a post about X number of games back of the 5th pick in next years draft. There really doesn't seem to be much of a better chance of a good player in the 12th spot compared to the 5th spot. Unless you have of the the top two or three is just seems pointless to aggravate yourself with losses. That's all. Rooting for poor play just isn't a fun way to watch a baseball game when it doesn't seem to matter unless the team hits near 100 loses. This isn't life or death it's baseball. Enjoy it. If enjoying it for you is to root for poor play. More power to you. i'm just saying that in the end it really doesn't matter unless you have one of the top two or three picks. Where it really matters is in the size of the draft pool that you have to assign through the draft. A larger pool will allow you to get more high end talent later in the draft as the Sox did two years ago getting Michaeleski and Danish and this season getting Adams despite having to go over slot for Rodon. It just gives you more chances at successfully drafting a MLB level player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 31, 2014 -> 12:54 PM) Shoulda happened a month ago. The A's probably don't give up Sanburn a month ago when they were running away with the division. Good trade for Hahn. The A's are going to be torn apart over the winter.

I think DJ Stewart lines up very well for the Sox. ACC player of the year as s soph, .472 OBP .557 SLG and walked more than he struck out (40:30). Could really shore up LF for the Sox and solidify the young core in the OF. If not Stewart, I think one of the Vandy RHP's Bueler or Fulmer will be in play to try and sync with the rest of the core. The Sox will then do something similar in the second round getting a HS guy that slipped and backloading the system as well.

R.A. Dickey was placed on waivers. He would make sense in that his salary isn't going to kill you ($12M followed by a $12M option) he would be a solid inning eating RHP that could hold down a spot in rotation until either Beck, Danish, or Johnson are ready to contribute at the ML level. He hasn't been great in Toronto, but it would be one less gap to fill in the offseason.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Aug 27, 2014 -> 03:30 PM) Latos would be a amazing get if the Sox could go for him. One of the MI prospects Semien/Johnson/Sanchez + one of Danish/Montas/Adams + Beck/EJ/Bassitt? Would that even suffice? Toss in Hawkins or Thompson as sweetener? Thats an awful lot to give up for a guy coming of a mediocre year and headed to free agency.

Could be Mike Leake, I seem to remember a rumor around him and the Sox a couple years ago. I dont remember if it was legit or someone on here throwing darts at the wall.

QUOTE (rowand's rowdies @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 05:42 PM) I just saw the Gattis/BJ Upton info and also saw they may include Mike Minor if someone eats BJ Upton's contract. Is this crazy or not? White Sox trade: Dayan Viciendo, A Couple Solid Prospects Braves Trade: Evan Gattis, BJ Upton (All his $48 million comes with him), Mike Minor Upton is a terrible player, but if taking on his $12 million per year helps us net Minor & Gattis... Am I crazy? What type of prospects would it take to get Gattis & Minor? Minor has had a down year. The rumored deal that was discussed between the Braves and Cubs had the Braves sending Minor along with Upton to the Cubs for Jackson. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/brav...-offseason.html If we are going to take back Upton, I think we would want to hold out for Heyward rather than Gattis. Gattis is not a very good defender and he will likely soon be stuck in a 1B/DH role and the Sox. Heyward would give the Sox three legit ML OF's and another much needed LH bat in the lineup.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 04:36 PM) I assume the Cubs planned to then move Upton to their starting rotation? I do not know what the Cubs are thinking, a lot of their moves seem counterproductive.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Aug 23, 2014 -> 11:58 PM) Otani can enter the draft, I think Not anymore. He almost did out of HS. He is now playing OF and pitching and will stay in Japan until he is posted by Nippon-Ham, Yu Darvish's former club. He is probably 5 years away from the majors.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 04:32 PM) You figure out where to come up with the money Upton has remaining. Sounds like they were close to a deal with the Cubs swapping Upton for Edwin Jackson.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:22 PM) Apparently the Braves are mulling over moving him in the offseason with Bethancourt on the way. I think this is something Hahn should really explore. Have him split time between catcher and DH, then get Andy Wilkins to DH when he catches. Helps bring some pop to the lineup if they decide to put Semien in LF. Thats interesting. The last I had heard they were planning on moving him to LF, playing Heyward in CF and dumping BJ Upton.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 02:32 AM) There is definitely a solid number of people that want to keep Danks. Personally, I prefer Noesi over Danks at this point as a back end of the rotation guy when you factor in cost. I think most prefer Noesi at this point, but those of us that want to keep Danks feel that we are going to need both of those guys next year. Danks was relatively effective until the rails fell off a month ago against the Astros and he has been bad ever since. But Danks still represents a better rotation option than anyone else the Sox have to fill out the rotation behind Sale, Q, Noesi, and Rodon next year. I am reticent to let a league average guy walk without having a replacement in place. If you can sign someone like Masterson in the off-season, then a Danks move makes sense.