Vance Law

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 26, 2016 -> 11:39 AM) Brett Anderson took it as well and Estrada signed a 3 year deal. Ah yes, that's right. And Fowler, Gallardo, and Kendrick all signed worse deals than the qualifying offer they turned down. Saw some people here saying they think Fowler is "betting on himself" (annoying phrase) by planning to have a great year and get a bigger multi year deal next year. That's not what's happening. How great of a year would Fowler have to have in order for a) the Cubs to offer a QO b) some other team to give him a 4 or 5 year deal at age 31 coming off what would have to be a career year? He's "betting on himself" to be mediocre. To not be offered a QO. And to have more teams competing to sign him because there's no pick attached. 2016 is for him to prove he's not worth a QO. He's betting he can get better than 2 years/$22 million- the Orioles offer minus the $13 million he gets from Cubs.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Feb 26, 2016 -> 09:54 AM) With the way this offseason has gone I think come next year team's will be way more hesitant to offer QO's and players will be much more likely to accept if offered. I mean before this offseason nobody had ever accepted and like 3 or 4 guys did this year. And in hindsight it looks like all those players that accepted definitely made the smart move. I think just Rasmus and Wieters accepted, but yes, more players should be inclined to take it. My post was responding to someone suggesting that it's no big deal to lose a pick by signing Fowler to a one year deal because you'll just got the pick back the next year. It looks like you and I agree, that's not likely the case.

QUOTE (Jake @ Feb 26, 2016 -> 06:03 AM) I don't believe Dexter Fowler was worth a late 20s pick at any price. Exactly. 1 Anderson 2 Fulmer 3 2016 1st pick (#10) 4 Adams 5 2016 supp. pick (#27) Why would you trade your #5 prospect for one year of Dexter Fowler? You wouldn't. Which is why Hahn, a sane man, didn't.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:07 PM) Thanks. So then the lost pick is replenished and isn't that big a deal. Not sure why the O's reportedly drew such a line in the sand against the one year opt-out. There's no guarantee Fowler is good enough to deserve a QO next year (lost pick). And there's no guarantee he wouldn't accept it if he was offered it (lost pick, now Fowler makes $16.5 or $17 million in second year)

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 07:27 PM) Ethier is a large upgrade defensively over Avi Yep. The guy played 500 innings in CF in 2014 at spacious Dodger Stadium. He's a huge upgrade over Avi in the outfield (and at the plate).

QUOTE (iWin4Ron @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 02:45 PM) need an OF pick up/trade for me to be entirely thrilled. yep.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 02:34 PM) Some people were for turning down the option and bringing back Lexi at the Sox price tag, that's how I remember it. There were fewer of those as I recall. Either way, Rollins was better than Alexei last year and by all projections is expected to be better this year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 01:12 PM) Hahn also said he wouldn't be surprised if Anderson was in the major leagues this season. Maybe SS will be like the closer in 2005. Rollins starts out, sucks, is released. Saladino takes over, does OK, gets hurt, Anderson comes in and shines. Yep. Three guys to cover the position over the course of the year. Vastly different levels experience/current ability/potential. And no reason to do anything other than give the playing time to whoever is playing best. Smart move (which I predicted). And some people wanted to pick up Alexei's $10 million option.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 10:23 AM) A potential fit is Coghlan if the Cubs end up bringing back Fowler. I agree.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 07:29 AM) Over the last two seasons: Player A: .261/.358/.401/.759 Player B: .266/.348/.393/.741 Player A is Dexter Fowler, Player B is Brandon Guyer. Rays have Morrison/Pearce/Pena/Dickerson/Kiermaier/Jennings/Mahtook/Souza Jr./Jennings/Guyer for DH, 1B and the three outfield spots. That's ten guys for five spots. They have to move a few guys. Guyer gives the Sox a pre-arb outfielder who can play good defense at all positions. He's a luxury as a 4th outfielder and a strong insurance option for Avi. He's a grinder too, hah. vs. RHP L CF Eaton S LF Cabrera R 1B Abreu R 3B Frazier L DH LaRoche R 2B Lawrie R RF Garcia/Guyer L C Navila R SS Saladino vs. LHP L CF Eaton R RF Guyer R 1B Abreu R 3B Frazier S LF Cabrera R DH Garcia R 2B Lawrie R C Navarro R SS Saladino Guyer would be better as the right handed part of a platoon (.673 OPS against righties). We've already got Avi for that. Guyer also did that with only 679 PAs over the 2 years while Fowler maintained it for 1195 PAs. Those Guyer numbers look slightly better than a guy who did this over 2 seasons: .265/.322/.404/.725 in 958 PAs (Conor Gillaspie)

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 08:03 PM) Not true. If a SS gets injured in ST, especially on a team projected to contend, he will have a job in no time. I'll amend- Desmond has nowhere to go before June *unless a team trying to contend loses their starting shortstop for a very long period of time and don't have an adequate replacement and decide it's worth giving up their unprotected pick.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 07:16 PM) Talks are fluid. As some have stated, they have a range they will stay within for free agents. As of tonight that's not a match for either camp. It's really that simple. Thanks for the info. Also important to note. exactly zero other teams are willing to meet Desmond or Fowler's current demands. They'll come down. Desmond has absolutely nowhere else to go before June.

QUOTE (Jake @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 04:28 PM) These players are proof that something has to change with the QO system, because they truly aren't worth a lost 1st round draft pick when you also have to pay them money on top of it. They need to get smarter about the real cost to their market value attached to that QO. But good to remember, no one had ever accepted a QO until this year.

QUOTE (Tony @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 03:18 PM) It's ONE draft pick. Again, if Fowler signs for 2/20 or even 2/25, if the Sox miss out fans should be upset. Not if they sign Desmond and/or another outfielder or trade for one.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 12:23 PM) I think my point is being misunderstood - I am not mad he is around and I have no problem with Turner. I hope he turns into a stud with the Sox and he certainly has more upside than a AAAA pitcher. Its just a bit of curious move in hindsight, but I definitely don't think the Sox anticipated Latos falling into their lap for $3M. It's necessary to sign guys like this for depth. People are often clamoring in the offseason for the Sox to sign a guy like Latos and 2 more for depth while ignoring the logic that there's no chance an ML caliber starter wants to sign to be the 7th guy on a depth chart. You need to sign guys like Turner (Paulino, Noesi, etc.) who can't get a guaranteed rotation spot anywhere on a big league team. If they could, they would.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 01:22 PM) Just to point out roster is now full. There's a bunch of guys they can dump to add an outfielder and/or Desmond.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 11:33 AM) 1 I believe. If so, I like this. When Latos' arm blows up or if Danks is ineffective Johnson could see plenty of starts this year.

Does Erik Johnson have any minor league options left?

Does Erik Johnson have any options left? Could this be the precursor to to trading E-Johnse for an outfielder?

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 8, 2016 -> 01:01 PM) When you're hoping for 7 pretty important players to rebound...you aren't a very good team. http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/163...-in-2016-season Compare this to all other teams.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 5, 2016 -> 01:17 PM) Like Fowler, his UZR numbers were a lot better in 2015 than they were the rest of his career, he also had a big surge in power last year. Not sure what to make of it. There's a good interview with him somewhere where he detailed a concerted effort to increase his slugging and on base percentage, caring less about batting average. Kinda like what 6' 4'' 250 pound Avi Garcia should do.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 08:40 AM) I'm thinking the same as you guys. Fowler is probably using Melky's contract as a starting point. Perhaps, but the market matters a lot. Who is out there now looking to sign an OF? Who is willing to give up a 1st round draft pick? Who of those have their first pick protected? The only noise we've been hearing is Cubs or Sox. I think it will drive his price notably lower than Melky's. MLBTraderumors (I know, it's just one random projection) projected Howie Kendrick to get 4 years and $50 million (from the Sox). Not only did he have to settle for 2 years and $20 million, but it was from the Dodgers, who didn't have to give up a pick. So to sign with any other team, his price would have been even lower than that. I have to assume the market is pushing Fowler's and Desmond's price down and pushing an Ethier trade package to compete with that. And I think it's pushing Austin Jackson's price higher than it would be otherwise. Sox are in a great negotiating spot with everyone but Jackson. None of these guys are gonna want to wait until June after the Morales and Drew debacles.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 02:43 PM) I agree. That's why I brought up the Ethier AND Austin Jackson. Realistically, Shuck will probably get a fair amount of ABs against LHP if Ethier is acquired. Ethier and Jackson is a pipe dream, but man it looks good on paper. Ethier and Desmond would be my preferred route. Avi platoon with Eitheir. Saladino platoon with LaRoche, moving Abreu, Lawrie, or Frazier (or Desmond) to DH on that day.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 09:19 AM) Oh, my bad -- I thought it was the other way around (only hits lefty). So strike him from the list. I believe he's said he's going back to switch hitting this year. Remains to be seen how it will go.

All things considered I'd rather have Ethier than Fowler. Both would be an upgrade. If it ends up being Fowler, hopefully the Ethier/CarGo trade rumors drive his price further down.