harfman77

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) They must not think much of Stryker then, because four years is ample time to move through a system. Maybe he can be had cheap. Stryker was never a sure thing to stick at C, they may see him as a RF down the road.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) Except that they have a huge commitment to Montero already in place, $50M thru 2017 season. What am I missing here? Here is the quote from Towers, he does not mention next season as I did: ""Our biggest needs in our system are catching," general manager Kevin Towers explained to AZCentral.com's Nick Piecoro when asked Thursday about the idea of trading a shortstop. "If it’s the right, top-notch catching prospect. Someone we could have right behind Miggy [Miguel Montero]. ... We have a lot of bullpen depth, infielders.""

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) If the Dodgers had such little faith in Guerrero, why would they deal Justin Sellers? Sellers is going to be exactly the type of player they'd want on hand as depth. They have Chone Figgins, Brendan Harris, and Justin Turner in camp. All of those guys offer insurance as a backup or stopgap to Guerrero. If the Dodgers trade for a starting 2B, I'll eat the entire peel of an orange and record it. I think the point is that the Dodgers have the resources that they don't need to wait for a guy to "get it". They aren't giving up on him necessarily and could keep in AAA at SS as insurance in case Hanley walks, or move Hanley to 3B and use Uribe as UTL for his final season. I do not necessarily buy the report either and think if they are hesitant with Guerrero they will send him down and roll with Figgins until they are comfortable. - But I still want them to trade Pederson for Semien. - I really like the idea of an OF going Eaton, Pederson, Garcia next year.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 10:50 AM) Yeah, or they don't see him as a C long-term. So young though, you'd think they'd give him a healthy shot at it. Hes still a ways away, and they are looking for someone to be able to step in next season. A Sanchez for Owings swap makes sense.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 08:57 AM) Good call too. Lots of raw tools, now can we get anything out of them? This is the Sox system in a nutshell. So many tools, but big questions on whether the players will hit enough to put the elite power and speed to use. So far the answer for Mitchell, Walker, and Thompson the answer has been no. MJ shows some promise if he can get things with his glove figured out. May is a guy that looks like the complete package, but has a long ways to go.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 08:32 AM) But what if he only hits homers from here on out? Send him back.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 08:54 AM) That is true, but it still makes more sense than just completely giving up on him already for good. It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to give up on him for good, Hanley will be a FA at the end of the year and Uribe next season. They can take their time with Guerrero in the minors until he forces their hand and then they can make room for him or trade him off for some pieces to help down the stretch. More from Bowden on the need for a 2B "Yes, they signed Alex Guerrero to a four-year, $28 million deal last fall, but the 27-year-old Cuban hasn't proved himself in spring training, and manager Don Mattingly told me the position is "up in the air." I was in Dodgers camp Friday, and multiple evaluators told me that Guerrero needs extensive time at Triple-A to refine his skills at second base (he played shortstop in Cuba) and regain his timing after not playing at all last year. The club loves his work ethic and thinks he will be a contributor down the line, but signs point to him beginning the season in Albuquerque. Assuming that's true, the Dodgers need a second baseman. Let's break down the possible alternatives to Guerrero both inside and outside of the organization."

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 05:03 PM) So if Gordon Beckham sucks so badly, why are the Dodgers and Yankees apparently interested in the guy? Who said Beckham sucks so badly? Here is Bowdens write up on him "Scouts have finally accepted that he is not going to be the star many predicted, and if you can forget about the fact that he was once an elite prospect, he could still be a solid player who could also benefit from getting away from a team and fan base that views him as a disappointment."

Jim Bowden says the Dodgers are poised to move on from Alex Guerrero and get a 2B that they feel can better help them to a WS. He then lists Dee Gordon, Chone Figgins, Justin Turner as internal solutions and Stephen Drew, Nick Franklin, Darwin Barney, Scooter Gennet or Rickie Weeks, Daniel Murphy, Beckham, and Danny Espinosa as external options. I'll add Uggla as an option for them as well. But thinking of the big picture, what about a Semien for Pederson deal? I know Pederson is more highly rated, but Semien can contribute right now. Which side says no?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 03:34 PM) Conor Gillaspie's brother, Casey, is expected to go in the first couple rounds as well. Law is very skeptical of board favorites Hoffman and Turner. Miami fans are in pretty similar boat as us. Their fans are split between Turner, Kolek and Hoffman. I'll be happy with either of the latter of two. We are in a good position this June. I join him on his thoughts on Turner, I am warming to the thought of Kolek. The Sox will get a good SP at #3.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) He penalizes Hawkins and Sanchez for being placed extremely aggressive and doesn't pay much attention to their tools. I would argue that Sanchez has a much better chance of making an impact in Chicago than Micah Johnson, for example. Micah Johnson at age 23 looked very over matched at A+ and AA. Carlos Sanchez dominated those leagues at age 20, but struggled (understandably) at 21 in AAA. And that's not even factoring in huge defensive advantage Sanchez has over Johnson. Sanchez can play two or three positions (2B, SS, 3B) passably while Johnson has yet to find a position. I can see where he is coming from though, one someone goes to a level and fails, it can be tough for them to ever figure it out. The aggressive assignments ruin a players confidence and sometimes they can never figure things out after that. I would doubt that is the case for Sanchez given is DL performance, but the Sox may have broken Hawkins beyond repair.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 01:47 PM) From what I understand he was supposed to take over the Bulls but had little interest in the Sox. Regardless, too young. Prayers to the Reinsdorf Family. He is supposed to inherit the chairmanship and JR has said he advised selling off the White Sox as baseball is a lot tougher business to be in.

Is this a SS game?

I think this team was much better last year than their record and I think they have improved since then. I think they look like a .500 team.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Feb 28, 2014 -> 10:48 AM) Lefty reliever, Chris Jones (only 25) was released by O's today. Between AA and AAA, he had a 2.83 ERA. He could be someone to take a flyer on on a minor league deal especially since there is basically an open competition for it We would have to trade for him and open a 40 man roster spot to keep him on. Could DFA Cleto for him, but that probably won't happen.

Only would make sense if they are spinning off another SP someplace else. Leake is second year arb eligible and getting more expensive, he is pretty good, but not really what this team needs now.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 10:58 AM) The Sox were going to be getting Scott Williamson from the Red Sox as well. This thread is amazing in retrospect http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13181 All the PK hate in that thread is funny.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 07:55 AM) I didn't realize Montas was still considered a potential starter. Awesome list, btw. I am not sure he is, but the Sox typically get their high end arms as many AB's as possible by utilizing them as starters before they ultimately move them to the bullpen in the upper levels. Preticka and Jones took similar paths, Jones had 49 starts in the minors and Petricka had 60. Montas is sitting at 54, and I imagine he will have one more season of starting before they move him over FT.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 27, 2014 -> 07:12 AM) Yes to this. Many people are underrating Murphy. He's 22 and much better than anything in the Sox system currently. I am not really sure why people keep comparing him to Phegley. Kind of different players. They aren't. Minor league profiles are similar, both are offense first catchers, JR Murphy is Josh Phegley without missing time for injuy/illness. Too many people get caught up in the Yankee prospect hype machine. I would take him for Keppinger, other than that, pass.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 04:39 PM) I didn't think Pablo Ozuna was such a bad guy. It would also mean getting rid of Flowers, but I don't think many would mind that. I just don't care for Cervelli because he's not that good. Not that good is better than what we had last year though. I would take Cervelli as a stop gap and long term backup while I work to find a long term starting solution. Perhaps its Phegley, perhaps you have to make a deal, but the most important aspect of a White Sox C should be the ability to handle a pitching staff and frame pitches well.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 02:16 PM) Alright, assuming the 25 man roster in Chicago goes like this... C Tyler Flowers 1B Jose Abreu 2B Gordon Beckham SS Alexei Ramirez 3B Conor Gillaspie OF Dayan Viciedo OF Adam Eaton OF Avisail Garcia DH* Adam Dunn SP Chris Sale SP Jose Quintana SP Erik Johnson SP John Danks SP Felipe Paulino RP Nate Jones RP Matt Lindstrom RP Scott Downs (L) RP Donnie Veal (L) RP Daniel Webb RP Mitchell Boggs RP Ronald Belisario Bench Josh Phegley © Bench Jeff Keppinger Bench Alejandro De Aza Bench Paul Konerko Here is who my guess is will be at each level, followed by a list of guys for each level that I just couldn't find a spot for. In the case of AAA, it is a loooooong list of extra guys. The surplus is mostly in pitchers across the system right now, and I had to put guys who really should be starting (i.e. Blough, Recchia, Leyer, Freudenberg), into some bullpens. AAA Charlotte C Miguel Gonzalez 1B Andy Wilkins 2B Marcus Semien SS Carlos Sanchez 3B Matt Davidson OF Jordan Danks OF Michael Earley OF Blake Tekotte DH* Dan Black SP Andre Rienzo SP Eric Surkamp (L) SP Charlie Leesman (L) SP Spencer Arroyo (L) SP Stephen McCray RP Jake Petricka RP Deunte Heath RP Brian Omogrosso RP David Purcey (L) RP Taylor Thompson RP Evan Crawford (L) RP Nestor Molina Bench Hector Gimenez © Bench Leury Garcia (INF) Bench Cody Puckett (OF) Bench Alex Liddi (3B) AAA LEFT OVER: Zach Stewart Matt Zaleski Scott Carroll Salvador Sanchez Ryan Kussmaul Mike McDade (1B) Parker Frazier Tony Pena Jr Dylan Axelrod Frank De Los Santos (L) Jake Elmore (UTIL) Terry Doyle AA Birmingham C Kevan Smith 1B Rangel Ravelo 2B Micah Johnson SS Tyler Saladino 3B Chris Curley OF Keenyn Walker OF Jared Mitchell OF Mark Haddow DH* Christian Marrero SP Chris Bassitt SP Myles Jaye SP Scott Snodgress (L) SP Chris Beck SP Jake Cose RP Sean Bierman (L) RP Cody Winiarski RP JB Wendelken RP Jarrett Casey (L) RP Henry Mabee RP Bryan Blough RP Kevin Vance Bench Mike Blanke © Bench Eric Patterson (INF) Bench Jaime Pedroza (INF) Bench Grant Buckner (OF) AA LEFT OVER: Luis Sierra (UTIL) Dan Wagner (INF) Jeremy Farrell (UTIL) Dan Remenowsky Jake Floethe David Cales A+ Winston-Salem C Mike Marjama 1B Keon Barnum 2B Joey DeMichele SS Tim Anderson 3B Eric Grabe OF Courtney Hawkins OF Jacob May OF Jason Coats DH* Adam Heisler SP Jefferson Olacio (L) SP Tyler Danish SP Kyle Hansen SP Frank Montas SP Braulio Ortiz RP Brandon Hardin RP Terance Marin RP Mike Recchia RP Euclides Leyer RP Storm Throne RP Andre Wheeler (L) RP Stew Brase Bench Omar Narvaez © Bench Ben Kline (UTIL) Bench Jake Brown (INF) Bench Joe DePinto (OF) A+ LEFT OVER: Martin Medina © Brent Tanner © Michael Johnson (INF) Josh Richmond (OF) Zach Isler Diogenis Rosario Jeremy Dowdy © David Putman Nick Basto (INF) A Kannapolis C Trey Wimmer 1B Danny Hayes 2B Cleuluis Rondon SS Tyler Shryock 3B Christian Stringer OF Adam Engel OF Jacob Morris OF Nolan Earley DH* Zach Fisher SP Brandon Brennan SP Tyler Danish SP Tony Bucciferro SP Brad Goldberg SP Andrew Mitchell RP Alex Powers RP Jacob Sanchez RP Matt Abramson RP Jose Bautista (L) RP Matt Ball RP Joey Wagman RP Chris Freudenberg (L) Bench Dillon Haupt © Bench Kale Kiser (OF) Bench Justin Jirschele (UTIL) Bench Jean Almanzar (INF) A LEFT OVER: Yoandy Barroso Anthony Santiago Zach Voight (3B) Juan Ramirez (OF) Hunter Jones (OF) Grant Monroe ROOKIE, EXTENDED, DL or RESTRICTED Sammy Ayala Patrick Palmeiro Jose Barraza Toby Thomas Trey Michalczewski Michael Carballo Dane Opel Thurman Hall Corey Thompson Thaddius Lowry Jose Brito Tyler Barnette Sam Macias Angel Rosario © Audry Santana (INF) Tyler Williams (EXT) Adam Lopez (DL) Jeff McKenzie (EXT) Nick Blount (SUSP) Kyle Bellamy (DL) James Dykstra Sean Hagan (L) Eric Jaffe Charlie Sharrer Devin Moore Jon Bengard Brad Salgado Carl Thomore (OF) Cody Yount (1B) Nick Parent (SUSP) Rondon at 2B? Isn't his major asset elite defense at SS?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 02:38 PM) Selling low on Beckham? Do you still think this is just a four season-long slump? The improvement was 103 games of 88 wRC+. Also, if he was recently showed improvement, wouldn't it be selling high? This is a make or break season for him. No reason to run him out of town yet. Chris Davis had similar struggles with Texas and Baltimore, starting coming on at the end of his age 26 season before busting out last season. Not that I think he will be Davis, just that a breakout age 27 season is not unheard of. I am not giving up Beckham for something that does not significantly improve the roster, and a backup C isn't going to do that.

Cleto has a huge arm, but struggles to get pitches into the strike zone.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 11:51 AM) I don't really see Phegley being as solid a prospect as Murphy. And I'm one of Phegley's bigger proponents on this board. Murphy's defense, looking at what scouting information I could find, looks better than Phegley's - but as we saw with Phegley, sometimes reports of improvement are exaggerated. Murphy's walk rates are higher, contact rates similar, power potential similar, but Murphy also did all that at younger ages per level. I think he's an upgrade, though not a huge one. Part of the equation is, I'm not believing that Beckham can even be an average starting 2B. That may be his ceiling, but his defense is decent (not great), and hitting-wise I think he'll be below average just as he has been. And, key here, he'll cost a lot more in the coming years, versus Murphy being just into his pre-arb years. As an overall transaction, replacing Beckham with Semien (who I think can be an above average overall 2B), Phegley or Flowers with Murphy (a small upgrade), and saving the club a few million a year is a deal worth doing. Cervelli on the other hand, looks like a backup to me, and if you want a defensive backup C, Miguel Gonzalez is there and has options left. Phegley and Murphy have pretty similar profiles, so much so that giving anything up of value of this point does not make much sense. I do still believe that Beckham can be a pretty good hitter, he has shown flashes, and just needs to find a consistent approach, something that I think has been hampered by having three hitting coaches in three years. If can't put it together this year, he is a non-tender guy at the end of the season. But I am not going to give him to the Yankees and let him put it altogether there. Keppinger on the other hand, while I think he will rebound, would be a good salary move for the team. Cervelli definitely is a backup, though backup offensive production is a step up from last season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 26, 2014 -> 11:41 AM) Peavy was also locked into an extra year of his contract to, which in this day an age, also has a price. Peavy also had a track record of producing at a high level were Feldmans performance was more of an anomaly. Peavy will also likely bring back draft pick compensation, something Feldman was ineligible for due to a trade in the final season of his deal.