Lemon_44

people seem to be hung up a bit on $100 million payroll number. In todays game, i would say 120mill+ is the new barometer for being a big spending team. With all the attendance records being set and the players salaries going up i would think the Sox can easily handle 110-120 million payroll. I still think Garland or Contreras will be moved to get some salary flexibility but i don't think it's a necessity or precludes the Sox from making a big free agency splash. With the Sox getting 30,000+ a game, the fans are defintely supporting the team and the money is there to be spent.

Well there's 4 CF's he's always seemed to like in Jones, Griffey, Hunter, and Rowand. He' asked for Proctor in the past and there's always A-rod.

I'm all for stealing 2nd and then bunting him to 3rd. But that brings a couple more things into play. One,if Owens get caught then people will complain that he didn't bunt. Two, if Owens is safe and Fields gets him to 3rd, then you're taking the bat out of Konerko and Dye's hands because they will both be walked to load the bases. Throw in the fact that the Sox have been absolutley putrid this year when the bases have been loaded, i can see what Ozzie was doing.

I think any scenario for the Sox this off season includes the trading of Jon Garland and Jose Contreras. I think the ideal landing spot for Garland is in Milwaukee. They desperately need SP and have some young guys that the Sox could definitely use. I would offer up Garland and AJ for Corey Hart and Johnny Estrada. If there was a way to get Trurnbow in the deal then i would add a prospect. I'm sure Estrada is more available after the confrontation with Yost. Next, moving Contreras may be tough but a big market team like the Dodgers could afford his contract. Plus, he'd be in a pitcher's park so they may be willing to take a chance. KW has always liked Scott Proctor and the Sox need all the relief help they can get so a Contreras for Proctor deal seems reasonable. Lastly,on the trade front.I would see what Baltimore wants for Tejada. I don't think his price will be too exorbinant because the O's would love to rid themselves of his salary. It's possible a deal of Brian Anderson amd Lance Broadway would be plenty to get Tejada as long as the Sox take on his full contract. On the free agent market, i would be on the quiet side. I would re-sign Dye and try to acquire Linebrink. Budget-wise the Sox come out ahead because they will have rid themselves of Garland, Contreras in trades, and Pods,Erstad,Macdougal and Uribe(all released) contracts and only picked up Tejada's in big money deals. That would leave a 25 man roster of: SP-Buehrle, Vasquez, Danks, Floyd, and Gio,Masset,Haeger, or another youngster to battle out for the 5th spot. RP-Thornton, Logan,Linebrink,Proctor, Turnbow, Closer-Jenks OF-Fields, Hart, Dye, Owens, Sweeney IF-Crede, Tejada,Richar,Konerko,Ozuna and either Cintron or Gonzales C-Estrada, Hall DH-Thome I think this is a pretty good mix of youth and veterans to go along with a good mix of speed and power in the field. The pitching has some youth in the rotation but the bullpen would look to be a strength.

They'll probably also try and get Dye through waivers. I'm sure someone will claim him and the Sox will pull him back but he'll definitely get put out there. If he clears, then who knows what'll happen.

maybe Kenny re-acquired Geoff Blum

that's 3 open spots on the 40 man roster. something else has to be up. at least you would hope so.

Being from Columbus,I watched Wily Mo when he was in Cincy. Basically, it comes down to if he can ever hit the breaking ball, he will be a an absolute stud at the plate. His problem is that he has had to learn at the MLB level. I think he can be a good fit for the Sox. One thing that i believe can help turn him around is that he'll probably be more comfortable playing for Ozzie. Also, i don't think his defense is as bad as everyone is making it out to be. He was playing CF at a game i attended in Cincy against the Cardinals and he made two extremely nice play in CF by robbing Edmonds of a HR and made a diving stop on a ball hit by Rolen. It was only 1 game but he definitely wasn't lost out there. I always thought Cincy was stupid to get rid of him. Someone earlier mentioned a comparison to Konerko. I could see the same thing happening. PK had been shuffled around with 2 teams but when he was given a shot at playing everyday, he thrived. It's like Darrin Jackson said in the booth one day, alot of times all a young player needs to hear is that he's the guy and will be out there everyday. That relaxes them instead of having the pressure on them everyday to go 3-4 to stay in the lineup.

Here's a thought. Let's say Anaheim offers the world for Konerko and he gets traded,possible but not likely. Re-sign Dye and play him at 1b. He's defintely athletic to make the move and it will save the wear and tear on his knees. The guy will still hit.He's only 33 and was a top MVP candidate last year. We get a top SS prospect,Kotchman, and a pitcher.That would free up some money to sign a CF(Rowand??) and some relief help. It would be nice to unload Contreras to free up some more money but that's probably not going to happen The lineup next year could look like: C-AJ 1B-Dye 2B-Richar SS-Figgins, Aybar, ??? 3b-Crede LF-Fields CF-Rowand RF-Kotchman DH-Thome IF-Ozuna, Gonzales OF-Sweeney, Owens C-Hall

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 27, 2007 -> 07:32 PM) Sometimes I'm just taken aback by the inflammatory, knee jerk reactions of Sox fans. It's disturbing. Just because a player was on the World Series team doesn't mean they have good trade value. Exactly, Carl Everett has about as much trade value as Iguchi.

That may have been the only deal anyone offerd for Iguchi and KW was going to take anything he could get for him. Plus, with the way the bullpen has been at the ML level, any minor league bullpen arm obtained is worth looking at.

As bad as Contreras has been, i would still rather him as a #5 starter than Floyd. I've only seen Floyd pitch twice but he seems to have nothing to get major league hitters out. The bad thing with Jose is that you don't want to be paying you fifth starter 10+million dollars. But, in reality, a starting rotation of Buehrle, Vasquez, Garland, Danks, and Contreras will be an upper echelon staff in 2008 that alot of teams would kill for. Contreras still has pretty good stuff but has absolutely zero confidence. Maybe they can get a few good starts from him in August/ September and he can get back on track. Look at the difference in Vasquez now that his confidence has returned. The same could happen with JC.

I don't think the Sox will trade any of their SP's right now. They'd be stupid to trade Vasquez because, right now, he's pitching like a top 10 starter in the AL. MB is going nowhere. With Garland, i think they'll try to sign him to an extension over the winter. If they can't get a deal done then they'll trade him. As for Contreras, we all know he has absolutely zero value. The only team that may even consider him is NY(Mets) because of the way Jose turned it around when he was with Hernandez. I wonder if the Mets made an offer for him earlier in the year that Williams is now kicking himself for not taking it.

Renteria has pretty much been a winner everywhere he's been but, to me , he seems like an old 31. The Sox have enough 30+ something players that seemed to have aged quickly. I wouldn't trade Garland unless it was in a deal for a couple guys like Kemp and Broxton, two young guys that have shown they are capable at the MLB level and not just some prospects that look like they can play at this level. The Dodgers would unlikely do something like that but that's what it would take for an established,young SP if i were KW. Some people are down on Garland but he has alot value. Potential 20 game winners(and proven 18 game winners) aren't just hanging around every corner. Plus, he's proven he can do it in the playoffs and World Series. That carries alot of weight as well.

There has to be something to not bringing a guy up. I remember a couple years back in Tampa when Piniella kept telling people the Upton wasn't ready. It was probably more a defensive thing but it looks like Lou was correct in his thinking because Upton is now tearing it up for the D Rays. I tend to lean to the thinking of throw a guy into the fire and see what he can do but there obviously is a key to knowing when a guy is ready. I just don't know what it is. Brian Anderson seemed to be "ready" but he sure as anything wasn't.

How about making Gonzales the utility IF and letting Cintron go? Gonzales is 0-19 but i'd still rather see him at the plate than Cintron.

I think he looks comfortable out there and doesn't have the deer in headlights look alot of rookies have. He has a chance to be a productive player and he has looked much better the 2nd time around. I would have to assume he'll continue to improve the more relaxed he becomes. As for not being able to hit it out of the infield, Juan Pierre has made a decent career out of not being able to hit it out of the infield. Owens also seems to be pretty confident, which is a big part of the battle. If Brian Anderson had Owens assuredness then he'd still be manning CF for the Sox. Anderson seemed to be more cocky than confident.

How about offering up Jermaine Dye for Lidge? He lost his closer role but still has some of the best stuff around and he could come to Chicago as a set up man for Jenks. That would give the Sox a terrific 1-2 punch to close out games.Plus, it would keep Lidge from having to see Pujols anymore. Houston isn't exactly loaded in RF with Scott and Burke. I'm not sure about Lidge's contract status but if he is signed for a couple years at a reasonable price then i think it would be a pretty good deal. If needed i would throw in Macdougal as well.

i do think it's funny that at places like ESPN you have two under .500 teams that are double digits in games behind in the Yankees and White Sox and yet the Yankees are supposedly " in it" and the Sox have no chance. In reality, they are both most likely out of it. However, if i had to pick a team more likely to make a run, it would be the Sox. Their pitching is a ton better than NY's and if the KW could somehow acquire some bullpen talent then it's possible they could make an unlikely run. It sounds to me like KW is saying he's not looking for young prospects in the lower levels. I think he's wanting young guys that can contribute right away. Guys like Khalil Greene, Pelfrey,Broxton who have alot of potential but are not necessarily household names yet.

I don't think there's anyway that all 3 of Contreras,Garland, and Vasquez are on the team next year. I fully expect 2 of them,Garland and Jose most likely, to be traded. That's 20+ million freed up right there but Ichiro should eat up most of that. Crede is the big dilemna next year. If he's healthy, you have to play him, if for no other reason, to drive up his trade value and be able to get something for him at the all-star break. But you're also hindering Fields' development by doing that. You never know what's going to happen with back injuries. Didn't Rolen have back issues early in his career with Philly? I've always thought Crede and Rolen were similar type players and i would hate to let a talent like that get away for nothing.Anyway Crede's contract is likely to be off the books by mid-season. Plus, i can see the Sox having a 100+ mill budget next year. They have been getting a pretty good attendance figure and Reinsdorf will usually spend a little more if the fans come out and they have.

I read and lurk here alot so i thoght i'd jump in a put out some trade scenarios that i think helps the Sox now and in the long run. With Buerhle getting done and Javier looking pretty good, i would build the rotation around those 2 and Danks thus making Garland and Contreras available. My first trade would be Dye and Garland to the Dodgers for Billingsley, Broxton and Kemp. I think Garland has a high trade value and Dye is 1/2 season removed from being a top MVP candidate. Those are 3 pretty good players the Sox would be getting in return and may be un-realistic but the Dodgers have made some head scratchers in the past and it's not like they aren't getting a high quality return to LA as well. My next trade would be Contreras and Iguchi to the Mets for Pelfrey, Heilman, and Milledge. Jose still has a big trade value despite his recent struggles. He was dominant until the break last year and i'm sure there are GM's that think he still has alot to offer come stretch run/playoff time. He was THE ace in the playoffs in '05. Iguchi fits in with NY because the have no one at 2b that is worth anything. Jose Valentin is about 50 years old and has horrible knees. From the Sox side they are getting some good prospects who have to try and live up to their billing. Pelfrey has struggled mightily and seems like his confidence may be shaken in NY. They can't count on him down the stretch. Heilman is the most sure thing the Sox would be getting and he fills a big bullpen need along with Broxton(if the other deal was done). Milledge is coming off injury and his trade value is almost nothing right now. The Mets have to be kicking themselves for not dealing him last year. My last trade is Brian Anderson to Arizona for Orlando Hudson. Let's face it,BA is done in Chicago and Hudson would bring great defense and some much needed speed to the lineup. Come the off season, i throw all my eggs in the Ichiro Suzuki basket and sign him. Guys on the current roster that would not be back for sure are Pods,Uribe, Bukvich, Macdougal, and possibly Cintron. There would be alot of competition for the last few roster spots.The pitching staff would look like: SP:Buerhle, Vasquez, Danks, with Billingsley, Pelfrey, Floyd, Massett, Gio, and Broadway to battle it out for the final 2 spots Bullpen: Jenks, Broxton, Heilman, Thornton, Logan,and Massett if he loses out the starter battle. The everyday players would be: C-AJ and Hall IF-Konerko, Hudson, Richar(i think they'll give him a shot at SS), Fields, Ozuna and Cintron if Richar can't play SS regularly. Crede is the wild card here.If he's healthy the Fields go to the outfield. OF-Fields, Suzuki, Kemp starting with Sweeney, Milledge, Tererro, and Gonzales battling it out for the final 2 spots. That's if Crede is healthy. If Crede is not healthy then i keep Erstad for LF. Tell me what you think and if i'm totally off my rocker or not.