harfman77

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 01:12 PM) Last year's team was significantly better on paper coming into the season than this year's team will be (barring a few starting-caliber acquisitions). Last years team totally forgot how to play defense and run the bases, and half the team didn't start hitting until June and PK never did. If that were not the case I think last years team would have won 80+ games. The team wasn't as bad as the record indicates, they just did a lot of bad things a lot of times.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 01:10 PM) Adam Spanky Eaton...The new Dustin Pedrioia....sounds like he could end up being that guy. Possibly, but I think it is really hard for a rookie to be that guy and not be cast as the odd ball. The culture of the Sox clubhouse seems so laid back, maybe thats just perception.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 09:01 AM) Worst case scenario, the Sox keep all 4 and increase their depth on the bench. I don't see that happening, but that's not a bad worst case scenario. Eaton can play all three spots, De Aza probably can too if the Sox need flexibility to give guys rest and play match-ups, its not the idea if they can't get appropriate value back in a deal.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 12:52 PM) I think 80 is a bit much, but definitely agree. I think replacing PK's ailing bat with Abreu and upgrading the OF defense alone has probably gotten us there. I see this team as a potential third place team in the AL Central. The biggest question I have is who is the guy on the team that will get in peoples faces and hold them accountable, I am not sure we have that guy on this roster.

To be completely transparent though, they are leaving out the additional ~$25M they are set to receive in the national TV deal, that amount alone should pay for all the amateur signings they need to do for the upcoming season. I still approve of the practice, as there is no need to go out and throw money at someone when it doesn't make sense, but they are banking some money, either to use for a FA, take on salary in a deal or to payoff their long term obligations (deferred salaries). That is unless of course they use $20M of the $25M to post a bid for Tanaka.

Sounds like a great strategy. Hold payroll down and fill the roster with high potential cost controlled players and then have the ability to spend eventually to add a missing piece. The Sox will be in great shape next season to bid on Headley or Sandoval if they feel the rest of the roster is in order.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:15 AM) No where to play Smoak. Charlotte until Dunn is moved.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 07:07 PM) They wouldn't have made Leury Garcia the centerpiece of the Rangers trade if they planned to give away his position to someone they picked up on waivers. The position is Garcia's to lose coming into the spring. Now, of course, if they can somehow manage to deal Keppinger, that would change...but they're better off with Dunn/Keppinger/DeAza/Danks trying to re-establish value. Same thing that eventually happened with Rios...we didn't have to eat very much salary at all ($1 million or so), whereas trading 3 of those 4 names would cost the White Sox around $15-25 million total right now. If they were to trade Beckham, it would be to open up the spot for Semien (eventually) and/or trading for someone like a Howie Kendrick with higher OBP abilities. Definitely not to open up the position to Elmore. Or they want Garcia to play everyday and will make him the SS in Charlotte to take over for Alexi when he moves on or his traded. Elmore can be your super utility guy and you get to have an IF of 2B Sanchez, SS Garcia, and 3B Semien to make sure those guys are ready to contribute on an every day basis at the ML level.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 01:49 AM) ADA only had 171 plate appearances in '11 so I don't know if that's a fair sample size to make this damning comment. I want to live in a world where we can trade Viciedo and Beckham for Sandoval and Lawrie. Grandal isn't blocked by Hundley. He supplanted Hundley in 2012 and performed great. Injury kept Grandal down last year and gave Hundley the chance to start. I don't know how much the Jays actually want Beckham even though that was talked about. Their fan site gave Gordon Beckham a resounding no. Grandal also got busted for PED's after 2012 which opened the door for Hundley this season to take his job back.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 03:55 PM) Considering you called the Eaton deal, I won't shoot this down haha...that was pretty lucky.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 01:47 PM) The option vests with 600 PAs, so you'd be on the hook for another $11.5 mill In his nine seasons, he has only has 600 PA's twice.

What about Adam Dunn for Rickie Weeks. Both are FA's after the season and both fill a position that needs and upgrade for each team. Weeks was not good last year after being injured, but it would allow the Sox another year to groom Sanchez and Semien and move Beckham and De Aza in a package to upgrade 3B or C.

Bottom line to me is Viciedo is more valuable to the Sox given his potential ceiling than he will net in a trade at this point. He along with Danks would be giving up assets for a devalued return.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 09:43 AM) I think Sizemore would be a better comp I wasn't trying to comp the players, more the situations that led them to ending up on new rosters despite not being able to stay on he 40 man roster. Defensively he sounds a lot like Zobrist in that he can play ANY position...I believe he is the only player in MLB history to pitch and catch in the same game. Offensively I am not sure what he is.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 09:29 AM) Viciedo would be the definition of selling low, and we all know how sensitive Soxtalk is to that. I am not sure, it seems like Soxtalk wants to sell low on guys that dont perform and get top 10 prospects back and Hahn for some reason just wont do it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 08:09 AM) Wasn't Elmore acquired off waivers from the Astros? If he can't play for the Astros, and looking at his stats in the minors, if anything, it makes me pause concerning Eaton's minor league stats. A report on the trade said the Sox had interest in Kendrick. I wonder if that was to play 3B, or would have involved trading Beckham for a 3B. Ben Zobrist was also a guy obtained from the Astros that couldn't crack their roster, it seems they would like to have him now. The Astros were up against their 40 man limit and had to outright him so they could protect Wojciekoski and Domingo Santana. They also had to leave Carlos Perez exposed and there are quite a few people here that think he would be a valuable selection.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 04:24 PM) Isn't he a second baseman? Not that I'm against the idea. I think the mets are still looking for OF help so this could work. He was a 3B in the minors and had to move when he hit the majors because of the presence of David Wright.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:49 PM) I'm fine with the Santiago for Eaton idea but what I'm not fine with is management's idea that this is our big move. (KW said this will definitely excite fans) Maybe he meant exciting as in something is happening, not that it was huge move. In fact I believe he corrected someone when they said a big move was coming, to say it was exciting, not big.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:26 PM) I don't think Brown's value is going down though. If the Phillies are down on him, then I believe his value is low right now. He does have the potential to be a 30-40 homer guy, but he's also got potential to fall flat on his face and be barely anything more than a platoon player. Thus, I don't want to give up a ton for him, but I'd give up some. That is, I'd do so if there were room for him. This is also about the one instance where I'm OK with taking on a lot of Dunn's salary - if the Sox can find a significant upgrade. Sure, I would give up Dunn and eat salary, but I am not giving up Viciedo who will likely be a much better all around hitter over the next decade. People are too quick to get down on players after a down year and too quick to promote players after a banner year. The truth lays somewhere in the middle .

The Mets also need OF help and are looking to move Murphy, he came up as a 3B and could fill the gap here.

Hopefully he is worth a swap of ML talent. The Giants are said to be looking for a LF and would love to pry Edwin Escobar away from them as they dont have position players at 3B or C that would be a match. The Mariners need help in the OF and I would call to see how down they are on Montero or Ackley who presumably dont have a position for the forseeable future.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:17 PM) I like Paulino as a swing man (long reliever/6th starter) guy. It'd be nice to add an innings eater/vet right hander/ or right handed ace (push hard for Tanaka if/when he is posted?) to the rotation. 1. Sale 2. right handed ace 3. Quintana 4. Johnson 5. Danks And after todays' trade, I think De Aza is likely the one out. (I remember Baltimore wanted a left-handed LF. Maybe we match up in a deal?) I love the thought of Brody Colvin in the swing man role, he has the ceiling to be your right handed ace if he can work things out. Also would be worth a call to check in on Tommy Hanson and see what his price tag is for a deal similar to Paulinos in length.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 02:54 PM) I haven't seen him, but even with a .270/.325/.490 season, he was only worth like 1.6 WAR. UZR was like -15. He's really bad. Again, he can probably improve, but he was not good last year. He's got an incredibly high ceiling, so in that sense he's worth a bit more just to gamble, but I'm not overly optimistic. I wouldn't give up Viciedo for him when Viciedos stock is low and Browns is inflated. I think a Dunn trade is on the horizon.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:02 PM) I've been all about keeping an open mind to trading Sale and I agree AZ still has the young players we would desire but its just hard for me to imagine a trade happening now. Doesn't mean we can't speculate til we trade DeAza and have something else to talk about. How about a DeAza trade speculation/value thread? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Thats probably better for the winter meetings thread.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 02:53 PM) It will depend on the prospect we give up If its Morel, I think everyone will be fine, if its Beck people are gonna be pissy.