beck72

Maybe you think this picture of Dean is funny but it's not, it's beyond offensive. You can disagree with his politics but this needs to be removed

Armas was only hurt last yr by my recollection, at least the first time w/ an arm injury. His trajectory was compared to Javier Vazquez before then. If it meant a few mid level prospects, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I think Det. could very likely decline his option. W/ his mother's situation up in the air, there's no guarantee Urbina will be back strong as ever, focused. If Det declines his option, and he'd be willing to come to the sox as a setup man, [whoever the Sox get has to come as a set up man--Shingo did well as a closer and didn't lose his job. Ozzie is all about performance and Shingo performed] he'd be a good pick up. Yet Urbina would be good Shingo insurance in case of injury or ineffectiveness

PK and hudson each will be FA's after 2005. Lee would still be locked up for a few years to whatever team he'd be traded to. Lee in this scenario would be a throw in. I think many of us underestimate Lee's and Pk's value. It's hard to find a big bat who can field decently for under $9 mill like these guys. Teams looking for a big bat could be stuck signing a FA to an expensive long term deal and get burned. think how few teams would be willing to trade for Posada [isn't he owed like $15 mill a yr for a few yrs?] or for Kendall's huge contract the past few yrs. A PK and Hudson deal makes sense for both teams [as each plan on fighting for the playoffs---few non-contending teams would want either players, no matter how good, for only 1 yr] so that they can fill holes for 2005. A Lee deal could help the sox improve in many areas; the sheer amount of trading partners looking for a Carlos lee on their team increases. The Sox could deal with Both playoff bound [who need additional offensvie help] and non-contending Teams, [who want a #3 hitter to build around].

IMO, Castillo is just as valuable as Pierre. Castillo hit leadoff vs LHP this year, and Pierre hit down in the order. A switch hitter, who plays solid defense up the middle is hard to come by. CAstillo also has a better SB %. Pierre was caught 24 times. BTW, Castillo was hurt early in the yr and came on at the end, when others were doing poorly. If either Castillo or Pierre were a fit for the sox, Ozzie would make sure KW tried to go after them. [i still think some deal with FLA will be made this offseason]

I'm not talking about Lee seeming slow. I'm talking about his work ethic, heart and desire for playing baseball. I think KW and Ozzie have hinted at this. Both said Lee "knows what he needs to work on" this past year. Seeing how he didn't make any errors, had a great offensive yr [except for his HR swings], and was very consistent overall, they never said Lee was a building block. He should be, but something is probably happening behind the scenes that we fans don't know about here.

Say a deal is in the works with the A's. To sweeten the deal, the sox would have to take on unwanted salary, pay cash or give up prospects. Rhodes was miserable as a closer. Yet has always been stellar in setup. He'd lighten the load on Marte and Cotts both, and would improve the 'pen.

The Twins will likely try and strike gold in a young pitcher [ala Silva from Phi. last year]. then try to sign a big FA SP. If they refuse to pay their own long time players like Radke, Koskie and Milton, I can't see them shelling out big bucks for an odalis Perez or Matt Clement. They're just too cheap.

The A's could throw in Arthur Rhodes and his $6 + mill owed over the next two yrs, which they'd like to get rid of. The sox could add prospects or Willie Harris.

When was the last time the Twins signed a FA pitcher!? Mulholland for $1. Kenny Rogers for $1 mill. The Twins will likely trade a guy like Jones for a SP, let rookies pitch, or go with cheap FA's [less than $1 mill]. If Minn loses Radke, likely to one of the other teams, they'll be in trouble. Sea, Phi, and LA all seem willing to pay $17 mill for Radke. He's probably worth it [due to his control and ability to eat innings], but not more than that.

I agree Hudson would be a nice pickup for Pk or even Lee. He's the type of intense competitor and work horse that would compliment Buehrle very nicely.

I'm sure other teams like Sea, Phi, or LA would pay more than the Twins. It's also pretty likely Radke would sign early [he's only looking for a 2 yr deal, most FA's would want 3+ yrs, he should be one of the first SP's to sign], before the Sox could explore trading for an ace. Yet Radke would be a nice backup plan if things fell through elsewhere. If the Twins don't sign Radke, that would leave them w/ a huge hole in their rotation. They'd basically only have Santana and Silva.

Would Sox fans be willing to give up either Lee or PK for a #3 SP? I don't think so. Both are worth more than a #3. If the Sox could get a #1 or a #2 SP by trading some offense they should go for it. I'd rather they do that than sign a medicore SP to a 3 yr deal who is more likely to flop [and not give the Sox innings] than an "ace" type pitcher.

Should the sox get in the bidding on Radke? The Twins reportedly offered Radke a 2 yr, $14 mill deal. The St. Paul Pioneer Press said that it would likely take a 2 yr, $17 mill. deal [with Seattle, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers the teams after him]. It's hard to see the Twins putting in another $3 mill+ or more. With LA and Phi. after him, the price could even go up a little. Would Radke be worth $17 mill for 2 yrs? At least he wouldn't have a long term contract. I'd certainly try to trade with the A's for one of their big 3 over Radke, or go for Randy Johnson. Yet making sure Radke was away from the Twins would be an even bigger blow to them.

A few things: 1. A deal involving PK and Hudson makes sense [though a bullpen guy or two, [Diaz and Munoz] would also likely be included. Arthur Rhodes and his $6+ mill, 2 yr contract could be included for salary relief. In Durazo and Hatteberg, they have 2 LH hitters for 1b and DH. One of those two should be dealt. No way will the A's pay a set up man $6 + mill. Yet a guy like Rhodes could help ease the strain on Marte and help Cotts develop better. 2. PK [i think] is from the California area [at least he came up in the LA organ.] The A's could sign him after '05 to a deal. 3. Few teams have the big bats to give the A's. [the yanks have bats but guys who are signed to outrageous long term deals. PK's contrat would be off the book in a yr. 4. the A's have few impact bats coming up from the minors anytime soon. Swisher may be decent but not an all star. Getting a proven bat for a SP who they can't resign to a long term deal, instead of lettinghim go for draft picks, is what the A's want. It's just a matter of what kind of big bat other teams have. Few teams could match the sox bats of PK and Carlos Lee in a trade

I'll disagree. Lee is more talented, yet I question [as does Ozzie and KW] Lee's heart and desire.

Hudson is a FA after 05. Zito has had control problems and hitters have had a lot of success with him the past year. IMO, Mulder is the key to their staff

Didn't PK hit 40+ HR's and 110+ RBI's, both more than Lee? One of Lee or Pk should be gone in 2005 to shore up pitching and other holes in the lineup. IMO, it's Lee because I question [due to KW's and Ozzie's comments about Lee not being 'a complete player', and that Lee 'knows what he needs to work on'] Lee's heart

You discount any of the sox minor league pitchers like B-Mac or Honel being better than Garland in one or two years. Any FA signing who could potentially give us 15 wins would also be signed for 3+ yrs. that would give the sox 4 SP's who are signed for 2+ yrs to big contracts. How likely is it that one of those would get injured, and the sox wouldn't have the money to fill the hole. RJ's money would be off the books in 1 yr, time enough for a guy like Hudson or Mulder to be available, and have B-mac or Honel just about ready.

Very good point. A Lee and Garland trade very well could land Mulder +. [ I think Hudson and Zito would take less than those two to get a deal]. I wouldn't trade them just for RJ. [one or the other could be a basic starting point for a deal yes, but not both].

No, no, no. Those guys are slow and old. The sox already have a slow old man for RF in Everett. [but I agree Everett should have a decent yr, Not huge though]

I'd trade a #5 SP [making $3 + million] for an ace like RJ any day of the week. Even if it's for one year, maybe two. The sox could get an innings eater for about $1 mill [which is what Garland is].

I'd say a trade with the D-backs for Johnson could start with either Lee or Garland as the center of the trade, but certainly not both. Both have a lot of value. The acquisition of RJ, though, would then make the other expendable. [Lee's salary would be too big w/ RJ; and Jon would be an expensive 5th starter--yet both have trade value to restock the farm system] Both Jon and Carlos could bring a good return for minor leaguers close to being ready for the bigs.

I think that's why the Sox should take risks on getting guys like Erstad and Tim Hudson, even at the risk of overpaying. These are the type of extreme competitors missing on the Sox, and IMO preventing them from winning. Yet I think PK fits in this category as well. Lee doesn't. that's why I'd only go for Ersatd if he could LF. If not, then the sox would have ot look elsewhere for a leadoff type OF to team with Rowand

I didn't know that. That makes sense. I'm just trying to see what exactly his injuries are and what Erstad's health outlook is.