harfman77

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:58 AM) So you think the 2016 draft pick, which could even be a second rounder is reason to give up what you would have to give up to get him? AJ and Ruiz only cost you money. I think the production in between in conjunction with the opportunity to have a long term solution, lower salary, and the draft pick compensation better position the franchise than a retirement age stop gap. We know Ruiz has an offer for 2/$20, not sure what the market is for AJ yet, but I imagine it will be close to that once McCann and Ruiz are off the board.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 09:59 AM) I think the only possible suitors would be Seattle (if they lose Ibanez and Morales) and Colorado (if they don't sign a catcher and move Rosario to first). He can split time between DH and 1B with Smoak in Seattle and with the Rockies he can play 1B. A middle of the lineup of 3. CarGo LF 4. Tulo SS 5. Cuddyer RF 6. Dunn 1B doesn't look too shabby. The Sox can send Dunn and say 7.5-10 mill to either team receiving a fringe MLB player in return. The Sox can then: sign Paulie to DH, or slide Viciedo into a DH/1B rotation and then sign a left handed hitting outfielder or if they don't think you are going to contend next year, let Thompson and Mitchell battle it out in spring for the final OF spot. Since the free agent catching options are bad next off-season as well, I would offer AJ a 1 year deal with an option for '15. The team gets more left handed and Flowers and Phegley are terrible and there is nothing in the farm regarding catching anyway. The Orioles need a DH, the Mets are looking for some power at 1B, the Rangers will be in play if they miss on McCann, the Red Sox could be an option if they dont re-sign Napoli, and the Yankees could be in play if MLB wins its case against ARoid. There are quite a few options for Hahn to look at. And once free agency gets rolling, the Sox will not need to pick up any money, because I have a feeling that Dunns contract is going to look like a bargain by the time the winters over.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:50 AM) Extension and Boras don't go together. Considering you keep saying signing someone like AJ for a year or two makes zero sense, how does it make sense to give up players for basically the same concept with Weiters? Because Weiters will give you draft compensation at the end, which is something a rebuilding team could really use. There is always a chance that he steps away from Boras and signs an extension if he likes it here and feels he is compensated fairly. He at least presents the opportunity for long term value, AJ and Ruiz do not.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:37 AM) I'd make that deal. Weiters just had a down year and was still 2.4 fWAR. Flowers just threw -0.1 at us. If Weiters is good, the White Sox can extend him and solve the catcher conundrum for years to come. Or let him walk and add a piece through the draft that can replace a player they trade to fill the slot if they cannot find an internal option by then. Wieters makes this a much better team as he is good defensively and a huge upgrade offensively. He will earn less than Salty over the rest of his arb years, is the same age, and has been better over his career. This is a great buy low candidate, because if he bounces back you can spin him next year for better players than you are going to have to give up to acquire him. If not you have at least a serviceable C for two seasons.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 08:50 AM) The questions would be why would Boston want to trade him, and what would it cost to get him? Most likely a lot more than a 2nd round pick. Victorino's contract is at 2/$26M. I would take him as he is a great clubhouse guy, plays good defense, and gets on base. Not sure why the Red Sox would move him though, at least until they get some replacements in house. I expect that they will sign Choo, but they still need a LF'er to play with Bradley in CF, unless they want the Gomes/Carp/Nava platoon out there. I just don't know how the two teams match up for a deal. The Red Sox need upgrades at the corner IF positions and C and the Sox don't really have anything to offer there. Their rotation is over filled and they are looking to move pitching, so I just dont see how a deal gets done.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 12:42 PM) I'd be willing to take him if we can extend him and buy out 1-2 years of FA. I know that isn't Boras's style but I'd be willing to pay a slight premium price to do so. Given that we'd have to extend him I'm not sure I'd be willing to move Quintana in said deal. We have had players (Danks) dump Boras before to sign an extension. Maybe a year in the clubhouse makes him amenable to such a deal.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 12:40 PM) As stated in the other thread(perhaps we can move all take here?) I'd rather just sign Salty if possible. Then trade a pitcher to fill a hole else where. Salty will cost twice as much and not be as good. And the way the market for catching is looking, the Sox are probably out on Salty anyway. McCann goes to Tex, Ruiz to the Rockies, and the bidding war starts for Salty.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 12:32 PM) Soon to be a free agent. Boras client. I'd still take him. He would be a huge upgrade for two seasons and would yield a first round pick after that, or if he gets back to where he was producing before this season you could spin him for more prospects after next season.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 03:03 PM) He's only had one good season but it was his first full season. We need young upside, right? BABIP was high but not insanely high. 10% walk rate! What makes Santiago more valuable? He's had one good season that had all kinds of signs of unsustainable success. I am saying they hold about equal value to me. Santiago is younger, they both had break out seasons this year, but Castro is now in his arb years. I would do a Santiago for Castro swap, just not sure how much else I would give up to facilitate a deal. Maybe Petricka and Snodgress, but not high ceiling prospects.

I am not sold on Castro enough to give up anything like that package. Santiago for him straight up, perhaps, more than that is iffy give he has had one good season. I would rather have Dionar Navarro at this juncture because at least I know what I am getting and signing him doesn't deplete the roster at all.

Really the market for Granderson should be the market for Dunn. Both are three outcome players, both play shaky defense, Granderson gives you a better base runner and someone who can play some OF but Dunn gives you more power and gets on base more. Hahn should call anyone in on Granderson and say that he can provide a better bat, on a cheaper contract, without having to give up a draft pick and try and make a deal. I would like to see the Sox open the DH spot in case Abreu just can't play 1B.

QUOTE (wardo @ Nov 9, 2013 -> 01:38 AM) Todd Frazier hit 19 home runs and drove in 72. They also signed Jack Hannahan last year but I don't know if he's a free agent now or what. I don't necessarily think a Keppinger swap works here but Hanigan wouldn't be a bad presence behind the plate for a year or so. Keppinger would be a UT for them to back up Frazier, Phillips, and Votto and be a solid PH off the bench. It would really be a swap of back ups. There is speculation now that the Reds are preparing for a big trade, sending out Mesoraco instead of Hannigan.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 03:41 PM) Then you don't have enough power. You can't have 2/3rd's for your outfield hitting 15-18 homers unless you're playing in a huge stadium. And trading Viciedo isn't going to get you a bonafide major league ready 3B prospect or 1st/2nd year player anyway...maybe you get someone like a Headley or Sandoval for one season, but then you're starting all over again trying to replace that player via trade or free agency. We've already gone through this list (3B trade possibilities), and couldn't even agree that we could get Lawrie for Santiago. You're certainly not going to get him for Viciedo. The problem is power is down everywhere for every position, so trying to find the guys that are going to hit 30 homers a year is going to be really expensive, so you have to find other ways to compete. Hopefully you get enough guys on base so that when your big bats step up there are some runs there to be driven in. The approach of getting power hitters at all the corners isn't really viable anymore. Check out the two world series teams this year.

Perhaps of Viciedo is moved in another deal for a 3B. I would like Spann in CF and De Aza in LF, combined with Garcia in RF and the Sox will have one of the better defensive OF's in baseball. If this team is going to be built around pitching it is important to shore up the defense behind them. Plus the additional LH bat provides for better lineup parity.

I think the majority of the Sox remaining moves will be trades. Maybe a signing like Suzuki that can provide a LH bat behind the plate. Hahn can call anybody looking at Granderson and tell him he can deliver a better offensive upside with a smaller financial risk and not having to give up a draft pick. Obviously the defense is an issue, but for an AL team, it would be a pretty good deal.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 03:17 PM) If they get a position player, I'd just like them to prioritize the hit tool. Worried some guy's power might not develop? Fine. If he has bat-to-ball skills, I'll gamble on the rest of his game. Would much rather that than gamble on speed turning a guy into a five-tooler. I am totally with you there. The Sox need some guys that make contact first and then can develop other tools. They need some table setters for all of the power guys they have been going after. A lot will change with the draft board between now and June, but I think that is what the Sox need to spend the most resources in identifying.

Maybe a Hannigan for Keppinger swap is in the works. Reds need IF depth and Hannigan is a top flight defender behind the plate and while he had a terrible year at the plate, has a pretty good track record. Defense is the most important characteristic in a pitcher to me given how this team is currently constructed. Keeping Phegley behind him would probably be beneficial in the long run to give him a chance to click on this level.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 08:25 AM) A plus defender at SS with plus plus speed, a plus bat, and the ability to develop power is not a bad choice at 3. ESPN scouting report on Turner "Turner has elite speed and should be able to stick at shortstop, but there might not be much offensive upside. "

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 03:33 PM) That is such a weird concept to me, that minor league sports teams can essentially be traded to other organizations. Who do the people who live there then cheer for? Are they Pirates fans now? Are they fans of wherever these Bristol players move to? It's got to be a weird thing for a little kid whose favorite team is a minor league team. Its not as much that they are traded, as they are free agents. There was a big shakeup in the Midwest league at the end of last season and a lot of the teams are realigned now. When I was young our local team was a Reds affiliate, then in the mid-90's they became an Angels affiliate, this year was their first season as a Twins affiliate (great season for Buxton to be in A ball). The local team wanted to align with a more geographically aligned major league club to help boost attendance, and having some of the nicer facilities in the league were able to get one of their top choices. By the way the Twins prospects are good. I think they had 2/3 of an eventual major league OF here with Buxton and the underhyped Adam Brett Walker.

Turner's scouting report sounds a lot like Tim Andersons, so not sure I would think about taking him at 3. Gatewood fits in the mold of Hawkins and Zapata, being athletic with big power, but we are pretty loaded with those type of guys (all power, no contact). Jackson could be intriguing if he could play third. I think the pick is one of those three, but a lot of time to go. I would like to see Jeren Kendall in the second round. Anyone that makes contact first is appealing to me.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 03:50 PM) It's probably closer to 5 million. Last year's top 5: 1. Astros $4,943,700 2. Cubs $4,557,200 3. Rockies $4,213,800 4. Twins $3,908,600 5. Indians $3,636,900 Which you can blow through, at last count the Cubs were at $7.9M for the year. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/08/cubs...-next-week.html

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 02:57 PM) It's supposed to hurt the player -- it's designed to give the team enough leverage to retain its best players. The tiered system was abused for profit by teams like the Blue Jays and Rays, and Elias' ranking system was hopelessly obsolete. I agree about the ranking system, but teams should be able to designate a B level offer to a second tier player, or a C level offer to RP type. The problem is teams have too much leverage now and its costing players money, so this will be an issue in the next CBA.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 02:50 PM) I think he could still get more than that on the open market (or perhaps get the Yankees to sign him to a 3 year deal before the accept/decline deadline). I'd probably be willing to part with a 2nd round pick for him at 2/$20. He could probably get more years, but he will not get more than the $14.1M per year. I think he would be that he could sign a one year deal worth at least $10M next season to make that a better option than signing for less this year. The Yanks are after picks, I dont think anyone is going to sign the guys they made offers to though. Cano will return, no real market there for him as everyone who can afford him has the position filled, and Kuroda probably only wants a year anyway. Of those that have received qualifying offers, the most likely to accept them at this point seem to be Granderson and Stephen Drew.

I dont think he would have any interest in pitching for the White Sox, he either re-signs, goes back to the Jays, or finds a nice pitchers park in the NL to finish out his career.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 02:43 PM) Yep. The QO takes the Sox out of the Granderson market. It actually hurts the player. Most teams won't be giving up a draft selection for Grandy. He should accept the offer. I agree that the new system hurts the player, not only does a team lose a draft choice, but they have to pay enough to compete with the qualifying offer. They should have looked at a tiered system where a player like Grandy would cost a team their second or third round pick instead of their first or second pick.