beck72

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 12:54 PM) I was also talking about 2005 salaries. I guess I'm not sure why Aj and Iguchi can't fit this yr, and still give Rowand a raise[i'm going by the numbers in the 'Sox 2005 payroll' thread]. Uribe's deal calls for him to make $2.15 mill in 05, $3.15 in 2006 and $4.15 in 07. Iguchi could get $2 mill a yr for 2 yrs. And AJ might sign a 1 yr deal [the only reported offer was 1 yr $2 mill].

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 12:46 PM) Davis doesn't have any problems there, I'm just worried about his ability to call a game, that's the same problems Miggy Olivo had while he was here. It's less of a worry being the backup than a fulltime player. Let's hope he's the backup

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 12:30 PM) I don't think he can sign Iguchi, AJP and Rowand for $8 million total, unless he gives them all substantial guarenteed raises in '06. I'm talking about 2005 salaries. What happens in 2006 is another matter, but workable. the sox have few position players locked up [Dye, Uribe, Pods] and have room to get guys under contract. But the first two could fit, [$5 mill total] and Rowand could sign a Uribe type deal, between $2-3 mill for 2005. If the Sox go to ARB w/ Aaron, he could get a raise prob. close to $2 mill.

With that $3-8 mill, Iguchi [$2 mill], AJ [$3 mill] and an extension for rowand [$3 mill] could plausibly fit.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 12:01 PM) Thinking of the offer for Aj.... what is the payroll currently at?? Isn't it pretty far under the $72 to $75 million?? Looking at the "2005 payroll" thread, the Sox look to be near $67.275 mill. So they have anywhere from $3-8 mill for salary.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 11:59 AM) If Ryan Hankins didn't leave as a minor league free agent then I suppose he could have been the third catcher possibly, so you'd have A.J starting and Davis and Hankins on the bench. I'm just worried about how Davis will go catching our pitching staff mainly, he had the highest ERA out of all of our 4 catchers last season which was about 5.2 I think. From hearing KW and Ozzie talk, they both liked Davis' glove and defense. It was just his stick that was horrible. Coming off the bench, starting occasionally, he'd be fine.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 08:02 AM) Iguchi is a gamble, no doubt about it. But then, Ichiro and H. Matsui were gambles too based on the Japanese vs MLB theory. It's all in the scouting. KW says he's an impact player. Now assuming he's talking about Iguchi having a positive impact, I'll trust his judgement on this one. That is basically why I'm in favor of us signing this guy. KW [really, the Sox scouting dept] does seem to have a knack for finding a "diamond in the rough" type [Loaiza, Uribe, Marte, Gload]. It sounds like, at minimum, Iguchi can do the little things, such as play defense, steal bases, move runners over, etc, that could help this team. Yet he has the potential to hit for power, a high avg. and high OBP. For $2 mill a yr, why not?

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 11:42 AM) Just think if the Sox didn't resign Ben Davis, Pierzynski would pretty much be a White Sox player right about now, if the Sox decided to go the $3 mill route, they very well still might though. I think Davis was in the sox plans regardless, even as a backup. He's young, a solid glove, can switch hit, and who they think can improve even more in his hitting. Few other washed up players fit the bill as a backup. I don't think just having Jamie Burke being the only C on the sox roster would have been smart. Once you get a #1 C then you can make moves. But resigning Davis shouldn't have anything to do w/ the Sox signing AJ.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 6, 2005 -> 09:08 AM) Even if we do sign him to a one year deal with an option i will be pissed. We need to sign him for miltiple years. Is there really a reason not to? We know what we are gonna get from him for the most part. Even if he does have problems here i am pretty sure that we will be trade him for something. Even if we have to settle for a salary dump. Signing AJ for 1 yr trial basis makes sense with all the rumors surrounding him. That way the sox aren't locked into a deal w/ a headcase, whose contract they won't want to eat. If the talk is all hype, and AJ is fine, then the Sox can sign him during the season to an extension or afterwards. Then they'll know what they're getting

QUOTE(3E8 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 09:27 PM) I think Tampa is also competing for AJP. Qwerty said he was from that area so they may have some advantage there. TB signed SS Alex Gonzalez to a 1 yr $1.75 mill deal. There goes some of their cash. Now they still need an OFer and a 2B man. AJ won't fit here

You're comparison is wrong. It should be the Sox pre 2005 vs the 2005 Sox. But the 2005 Sox will be better than the 2004 club and probably the 2003 club. KW has finally seen where the roster has had holes, thanks to Ozzie, and is filling them very nicely How the sox match up vs the Twins is irrelevant unless the Sox are playing them. It's how the sox match up w/ the rest of the league, esp the AL central where the Twins have gained a lot of ground on the sox

QUOTE(fathom @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 09:43 PM) With absolutely no other catching prospects in the system that will be able to be a contributor in the majors for a few years, there's no reason not to give A.J. a 2 yr deal. Good point. If they don't offer a 2 yr deal, it must be that they aren't sure he'll be a good fit on the sox. The Sox certainly don't have any guys beating down the doors in AA or AAA

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 10:59 PM) I think Sports Weekly is a good magazine, but a lot of the info is usually a week or two old... WSCR said the Sox are still talking to AJ's agent... That might have been their opening offer. KW likes option years, so I wouldn't be suprised if the Sox nab either one of these two players, option years are involved. (FWIW, I think option years are a great way to go) I'd like to think this was only the first offer. A 2nd offer would be more in line w/ what AJ deserves. Yet I've only heard of one offer to AJ, after KW "re-thought" AJ's fit

QUOTE(3E8 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 09:27 PM) I think Tampa is also competing for AJP. Qwerty said he was from that area so they may have some advantage there. TB has only a few million and two or three other spots to fill--2b, OF. They have Toby Hall at C.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 08:54 PM) i'd be shocked if AJ couldn't fetch an offer for more than $2 million. if that's the case, there have to be other issues we don't know about. it's very strange Very strange indeed

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 09:04 PM) I think LAD is our only competition for AJP. If you look at the other teams most of them are set at C. Those that are not have less to offer than the CWS. The RJ trade is done. What remains is the Green for Navarro trade. If that goes down then there CWS becomes the only viable place for AJP. KW does not have to rush with this. That gives him a solid advantage over AJ in the negotiations. This is an enhancement & not a need. The best thing that happened in this off-season is that the small-mid revenue teams like CIN, PIT, MIL, DET, TOR have already spent the money. Most of the big market teams don't need a 2B, or C. That leaves the lowest revenue teams & the LAD the only real competition for the CWS. I'd be very surprised if he went to LA. LA fans give their players a lot of s***, and he'd face the Giants 19 times. Why put yourself through that kind of crap? Come back to the AL central and put up some good numbers

According to this weeks Sports Weekly, the Sox offer to AJ was a 1 yr, $2 mill deal. If no one else has made a similar offer, fine. But he's worth at least $2.75, $3 mill a yr.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 05:48 PM) Harris-Its a shame this bastard can't play everyday. Harris is the Sox best suited for the two hole, but unfortunately, he can't hit consistently or lay down a bunt. Besides, once he gets on base, he refuses to use his god-given speed and steal a base. 11 stolen bases? Ouch. Harris is not best suited for the #2 spot. #9 this yr, leadoff maybe someday. But with a SLG under his OBP, he'd never sniff the #2 spot. The #2 guy has to have some pop in his bat.

Uribe is more likely to start the yr in the #2 hole. Besides bunting [which won't be that big of an issue, as Pods won't need to be bunted over to 2nd, but will still be needed at times], Uribe can hit well w/ 2 strikes on him, when behind in the count [which should come into play to give Pods time to steal 2nd base], and hits to all fields. If Aaron can hit in 2005 like he did in 2004, he's the #3 hitter

Nen would be a perfect no-risk type signing with nothing but upside. If he's healthy and throws well in AAA, he'd likely be able to help in 2005. [Esp in case of injury, ineffectiveness, a trade of a bullpen arm]. Maybe the Hermanson signing had an effect on Nen.

I'm sure we'll hear something from the radio if the sox are as close as the Post predicts, AM 1000 or 670

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 10:54 AM) I hope it pans out, but I'm not going to get my hopes up too much...... Yet. Of course. Until I hear from local media, this is only a rumor It sounds like a lot of teams are scared off from Iguchi. He really only had 2 great seasons [in 03 and 04]. The rest were poor to avg. Rotoworld seems to think he's big upgrade over willie.

First saw the info from Rotoworld. Here's the link: http://newyorkpost.com/sports/yankees/37824.htm I'll see if any local papers have any info and post here.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 12:02 AM) I think what AJ brings is a guy who was a major part of winning baseball teams. I think its really important when adding to a team, you add at least a few guys who have experience winning. So many times guys are picked up from cellar dwellar teams, and although they have nice obp's , era's etc. they haven't been around a winning environment, they've been putting up numbers playing meaningless games, and really don't know how to win. A lot of players have been studs in Montreal, only to be traded and become quite average. 2 obvious exceptions are Pedro and Vlad. MLB is not Rotisserie baseball. Teams have to know how to win. Careful. You're coming very close to labeling AJ a "winner". And you'll have Jackie Hayes on your case until the day you die

QUOTE(raff @ Jan 5, 2005 -> 12:49 AM) great post beck. you make many good points. he will bring a central championship to the south side I wouldn't go that far. But he should help in more ways than one