beck72

ESPN lists his age as 31, born Dec 5, 1972. He'd only be 32.

Who's to say next year Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Marte and Takatsu don't all come down with injuries? The Sox should make their push now when they have a solid chance at winning. Though they are trading away young talent, the sox still have young guys to build around [crede, harris, rowand, uribe, the pitching]. Also, Rowand's development makes OF guys in the minors trade bait. He's proving he's a solid .290, .300 hitter who plays good defense. The Sox pitching is in good shape, relatively speaking health wise when you look at other teams around the league. It actually might make more sense to make a push now when the arms are healthy, then when a few bats are missing. At least with the bats, 9 guys could help carry the load. With pitching, you must replace quality with similar quality

He'd make Rickey Henderson look young, wouldn't he? The last 3 years my bad.

This would be a deal to get the Sox into the playoffs. Once there, anything could happen. Sweeney wouldn't help the Sox next year, or even in 2006. Kw is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Sox fans are packing the Cell and if nothing is done, doesn't that say KW is writing off the year? The Sox have this year and next to win, with Lee and PK FA's after 2005. They have as good as shot as any this year. No need to wait. A deal like this would make Maggs a FA, with the Sox getting draft picks to restock their system. The Sox can't really afford to give one player $13 mill, and even more so after the knee injury. The Sox need another big bat and OBP guy. Floyd could provide that, with Carlos probably moving down to #2 and Willie and Rowand splitting lead off. Not many other deals could land the sox a #1, #2 or #3 hitter. Also this deal prevents Minn from getting Benson [not a huge pickup, but better than what they got now and could in a waiver deal] BTW- Floyd is signed through 2006 making $6.5 mill a year.

Eric Valent could play LF. He's had limited playing time but has produced when he's started. He bats LH and is posting similar numbers as Floyd. The Mets have tried the big payroll guys and might have more luck with guys like David Wright and Valent over higher paid vets, esp. if they can improve their pitching. My only question is if it would take more than Sweeney from the Sox, like a relief pitcher [Kelly Wunsch?] as well. The Mets trading Ty Winnington [sp?] and Floyd for Benson seems out of whack Overall, I agree, it would be a win, trading a guy who won't be in the bigs for 3 years.

Floyd's played in 70 games this year. [out of 90 something] Floyd played through an injury last year which required surgery but didn't get it until the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs. Mets fans respect this guy. This is a guy who doesn't "cry". So if you have a link where he's stated this please post

Sweeney is 3 years away from helping the Sox in any capacity. The Sox have a lot of minor league OF talent with Anderson, Borchard, Nanita, Young, Brice. Floyd is a gamer in the Everett mold. He'd look good coming home to Chi. Maggs is probably not coming back this season.

Cliff Floyd is a tough hard nosed player, would probably play RF. Would be great in the #3 spot. [batting .301, with a .383 OBP, and a .527 SLG the last 23 years] I'd put Carlos in the #2 hole then.

But looking at their stats, I'm asking myself, are either guy that much of an upgrade over Harris and Uribe? Though Hairston is hitting over .300 now, he's been a .260+ hitter through his career. Roberts has tailed off from a good start, now back to his career numbers, ala Uribe. Both have better stolen bases numbers than Willie and Juan, though. If any deal did go down, Uribe from the Sox and Hairston Jr from Balt would make sense. With Tejada at SS and Roberts [LH hitter] at 2B, Hairston would probably be moved. And with Uribe a RH bat with low OBP, keeping Willie [a LH bat with a good batting eye] would make sense.

Sure does.

From today's Washington Post: Orioles Notes: Team officials, who as recently as Tuesday were speaking cautiously about the possibility of making any major trades this week, expressed more optimism Wednesday following a productive day of telephone conversations with rival teams. After weeks of focusing on the Oakland Athletics as their likeliest trade partner in a deal involving one of the Orioles' second basemen -- Hairston or Roberts -- team officials were buoyed Wednesday by the emergence of a new potential suitor. Team officials would not disclose the identity of the "surprise" team that has become interested in Roberts or Hairston. . . . =========================================== I know how much Ozzie loved Roberts' speed early this year, when he was running at will vs. the Sox. Balt. may want to trade Hairston though, as he's at his maximum value. He's a career 260+ hitter, same as Roberts, who's cheaper.

Catalanotto will be playing hurt the rest of the year, per the MLB site. He can only run at like 60%. He'd be a DH only [could move Everett to RF, but not ideal] Hairston Jr or Roberts could be nice at 2B. In the Washington Post an article today listed a "surprise" team in the hunt for one of these guys [Oakland was considered likely to make a trade bythe deadline w/ Balt.] Balt. wouldn't want Harris, nor do I think Willie should be traded. If he's dropped in the order, he'd be fine. Uribe could be moved in a deal. Jose is likely to re-sign next year at SS, with his defense [yeah i know] and power. SS Wilson Valdez may be ready next year as well, as he can hit and field. Ozzie has some inside info on the guy, so Uribe could be moved if Valdez could be an option if Jose moves on. But if Hairston could play a decent RF, then he could be there in 2005 as well. That way Harris could still be part of the Sox future.

I agree with keeping these 3 guys. They are most likely players to help the Sox this year and next.

I don't see this as Jackson or Cotts will be around regardless of how they play. I see this as Ozzie giving these guys a chance to turn it around or they'll be gone. As far as Jackson being a personal taxi driver, who cares what happens OFF the field. I'm more concerned with what happens ON the field. The Sox hitters didn't get the job done, neither did Buerhle. Blames lays with them, not with Jackson. Pros turn the game off once the lights go out. If a player is screwing around before or during the game, that's a more serious offense in my book.

Sticking up for a teammate is important. I saw Rowand and Lee try to take out Guzman at 2nd base. But playing with intensity on an everyday basis, and producing in big games [like vs the Twins] is more important in my book. And more important in to playing winning baseball. As far as Jackson is concerned, he's a vet who knows how to play the game right. [though he can't play very well]. I don't question his 'being a good teammate'. I just question his talent level

At this point in the season, if Ozzie has to light a fire up players' asses, the sox don't deserve first place. They need to learn to fire themselves up, without losing concentration and composure. I too hope they've learned.

Regardless of whether the Sox players think Hunter's play was dirty or not, [or us fans, Ozzie, the media ,etc] they need to step up their intensity of play. This isn't croquet. Sox players need to show the fire and intensity that wins games, that they showed in Cle. and the first two games with Det. The sox looked somewhat tentative. If Hunter's play helps get them going, which it should, then I see this as a positive. If the Sox don't get fired up over a play like this [a beat down at home in front of a packed house with 1st place on the line], then they don't have heart.

Catalanotto seems like the perfect bench guy being talked about. He could hit #2, and kills RH pitching. The only thing I don't know is how his injuries this year have affected his defense. He'd have to play D in order for him to be a good pickup, as Carl is the DH.

I agree on the need for a versatile player and bat like Catalanotto. If healthy, he's a guy who can play RF and LF, 2b, 3b and 1B, and a .300 + hitter to boot. As far as bullpen help, have people forgotten about Kelly Wunsch in AAA? If healthy he's a better option than most names being mentioned. Anyone know his status? One thing to consider--Neal Cotts has been more effective vs RH batters this year. Adding Wunsch to replace Jackson doesn't sound that strange then. But keeping Jackson for the stretch run [who I have to say, actually has looked decent in his last few outings] isn't something the sox should do

There are better options out there than Olerud.

Esp. for a team that openly wants to get rid of him so they might have a better chance of winning. Pitt's trades last year showed me this organ. is a joke.

Interesting to say the least. Yet many negative stories have been said about athletes, that not many of us fans know the full truth about. Guys with bad attitudes [on the field mostly but also off] won't last on the Sox. Whether that makes Kendall a good fit for the sox or not, who knows. One thing though. Kendall wouldn't be looked at as "the clubhouse leader" like he was in pitt, after signing his big contract. He's just another piece to the puzzle. Somehow, I see Kendall fitting in with guys like PK, Rowand, Buerhle--hardworking guys who play the game the right way.

I know he has a no-trade clause. The question is whether he would stay with Pitt, knowing how much they want to get rid of him [back to the Giles trade where Pitt was willing to pay 60% of his salary to unload him] or go to a better situation if he were presented with a choice. Would he veto a trade to the Sox? Only he knows. But his style of play would suggest he wouldn't

I think Benson and Finley will be had at very steep prices, ala Freddy Garcia. Teams will definitely overpay for them. At least the sox have Garcia for 3 more years. Finley seems even more adamant than Kendall about where he wants to play. {probably as he only has a few more years left]

If this were true, and Kendall only wanted to play in the NL, I wouldn't want the guy. Coming to the Sox would be one of the best situations out there that he could hope for. If winning, along with being respected and valued for the contributions you make for a ballclub, were most important to Kendall, he'd approve a trade to the Sox.