beck72

Cabrera would be a nice pick up. Have him compete for the 5th spot, and send him to work on his control in AAA if he's not better than what we've got. If the sox want to bring in a vet, like has been mentioned, they could do a lot worse. I'd rather go with a healthy arm that the sox could make adjustments with than count on a health risk vet like Freddy Garcia. Cabrera has been able to give the O's some innings at least. Looking at his splits the last few years, he really struggled pitching at Camden Yards, with a 5.91 ERA there the last 3 yrs. He had a 4.51 road ERA in that same time. Also, he threw much better in the 1st half than in the 2nd. He had a 4.33 ERA at the break in 2008. Could be conditioning issues-the guy's listed at 269 lbs. If he throws well in the 1st half, then Poreda/ Contreras might be ready for the 2nd.

Abreu would be a nice addition. He could slide over to DH in 2010 for the last 2 yrs of his deal [if its a 3 yr deal, or a 2 yr with the 3rd an option]. His ability to hit for avg, OBP skills, and ability to hit for XBH [40+ 2b's like Dye] would make up for the loss of Dye. Like many have said, Abreu + Bailey + Of prospect > Dye.

I'm all for a Bailey deal. IMO, he projects well and has good upside. But looking to 2009, Bailey will likely spend half the year in AAA, ala Gavin Floyd, to correct things. Even if Bailey pitches well in AAA, he may take some lumps in the bigs in 2009. People forget Floyd took all of 2007 to correct things, with 1/2 a yr of sporting a 5.00+ ERA in Chicago. Clayton Richard woud be ahead of Bailey heading into 2009, and more likely to earn a spot in the rotation. Of course, Bailey has more upside. Yet just going on who would likely help in 2009, Richard should be more effective and throw more innings in the bigs.

Not sure if this was posted. Sounds like what's holding up a deal is the Reds will give better prospects if the sox add cash with Dye. If I were the sox, i'd add cash so we get the better player in addition to Bailey. http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/o...1108spreds.html

So far, the Braves have been mentioned in about half the rumors out there. I doubt the sox and Braves strike a deal. Esp. after the Javy deal went down.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 07:09 AM) The same Reggie Willits who barely played last year other than late in games and put up a .552 OPS when he did play? There is no bigger proponent of getting on base and stealing than Scoscia, but when Willits plays 82 games and gets 136 plate appearances (which is an astounding statistic on its own, mind you), it tells you something about the quality of Willits. He's not a good player. If the Sox count on Reggie Willits and Willy Tavares to get on base and score runs for the Sox all year, it's going to be a long f***ing year. The same Scoscia that gave Willits 430 ab's in 2007? Willits was hurt last year. Willits has produced in every year except 2008. Is he an Allstar? No. But he can do the things the sox say they're looking to add-speed, contact, getting on base If we're talking trading Dye, the sox are left with Quentin, for either RF or LF. Who do you propose for the other two spots?

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 8, 2008 -> 11:54 PM) Wow. Willitis and Taveras. On the Same Team. In the American League Central. That's a recipe for disaster. I assume you’re a proponent of the speed never slumps, bunting is awesome, camp? Why would we ever put two speed reliant guys, with an injury history in a hitter’s ballpark, where they'd be playing against strength? It's one thing to have a guy who can run the bases, but when these guys are replacing the power production of a Dye, and a Swisher then it's ludicrous to put this combo out on the field. Like I said, Willits is an OBP guy. He has speed, yes. But he makes contact, works counts and hits for avg. The sox won't lack power guys, even if Dye is traded. They will hit their fair share of homers, that philosophy won't change in the Cell. But if reports are true, that basically every vet could be had, then the softball team approach to sox hitting is going the way of the 8 track. The sox need more well-rounded guys. Those are coming in the minors. But until then, the sox want to compete with guys like Thome and PK. And guys like Taveras and Willits may surround them.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 8, 2008 -> 10:36 PM) Give me one speed guy like Willits or Taveras, but definitely not two. Willits has a lot of SH in his career, which shows he knows how to bunt. And he can take a pitch, as shown by his over 4.00 P/PA. He has speed but doesn't need to steal bases. His SB % is more in line with O-Cab.

Reggie Willits.

I wouldn't do a Dye for Bailey straight up. A Bailey and AA CFer Chris Heisey though I would.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 8, 2008 -> 10:26 PM) So who's in CF then? A lineup with the likes of Willits, Taveras, and Getz is too grinderish. SS Furcal LF Willits RF Quentin DH Thome 1b PK 2b Alexei C AJ 3b Fields CF Taveras

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 8, 2008 -> 09:53 PM) Again, we need less grinders with good speed and little offensive skill, and get some actual quality MLB hitters if we do trade Dye. I swear some people would be happy with a pitching staff full of projects and and a lineup with all grinders. I'm not saying trade Dye for Willits. But if Dye is traded, Willits could play LF and Quentin could go to RF. A healthy Willits should be able to post a .285 avg with a .360 OBP. Willits probably wouldn't cost a ton to acquire. I'd still target Furcal for SS and to hit leadoff. Yet Willits is versatile enough to move around the batting order and OF.

Another name that hasn't been mentioned is the Angels Reggie Willits. Though he hit only .194 in over 100 ab's [due to injury], he's only a year removed from him hitting for .293 avg. and an OBP of .391 in 430 ab's. He'd likely come cheap if the sox could convince the Angels to give him up. He sees a lot of pitches per AB and has speed as well. He also could be a nice 4th OFer if nothing else. A switchhitter who can play all 3 OF spots. He is a career .304 minor league hitter with a .398 OBP. While he will turn 28 in May, he does have some potential to help a major league team based on his 2007 year.

Willy Taveras should get traded for, unless the sox add another CF via a major trade

After the deadline comes for Cabrera to accept arbitration, you should hear talk about a "mystery team" offering a deal to Furcal. The sox can't make noise now when OC still has a chance to accept. The thing is, Furcal does fit in the sox plans. The plan isn't necessarily to get younger. It's to get more athletic, versatile, better at running the bases, stronger defensively, better able to manufacture runs than solely relying on the HR or stringing 3 base hits together to score 1 run. Having Furcal to stabilize the top of the order for the next 3 yrs allows the sox to put younger players into the lineup, while trying to win now. This is all the more important as the sox move away from a PK, Thome, Dye led offensive team and toward an offensive team that puts pressure on a team's defense and pitching staff. Opposing team's have been able to sit back and relax in the field knowing they can turn a DP with ease or know the sox won't be taking the extra base on a single or double. Pitcher's just concentrate on not throwing gopher balls when an offense is one dimensional. A pitcher has to work harder when an offense has speed, can take the extra base, and can hit for contact.

With the lower contract demands of Furcal with the lowered market, he makes the most sense to target. Pencil him in as leadoff hitter for the next 3 yrs, while the team gets younger and more athletic. If the sox can sign Furcal, what to do with the IF when Beckham is ready will be a nice problem to have.

It's an interesting thought. A 2 year deal, for $12, 13 mill per? He likely could get a 3 yr deal from some other team. He's not getting a 4 yr deal. Ramirez would stay at 2b. Not the worst offseason plan.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 6, 2008 -> 03:22 AM) Jenks should not be used to acquire a group of prospects, unless one is elite. Major league starters need to be brought back for Jenks and/or Dye. Agreed. After the Javy trade for prospects, the sox have to use their remaining trade "chips" to help the 2009 club.

Both teams seem to match up well for a trade. The question is would it be for major league players, ala Jenks for Hart, or for prospects? Jenks needs to return a solid major league player who can help in 2009. The brewers need SP so a deal for a young arm to plug into the sox rotation in 2009 doesn't make sense. A deal around Hart maybe. the Brewers have guys like Hall, Hardy and Weeks to plug around the diamond, if Escobar and Gamel are ready. If the sox got Hart, they could trade Dye for a SP like Sonnanstine or Jackson [my preference would be Sonnanstine-he's got less of a ceiling but more of a solid SP who can throw strikes--perfect for a 4th SP].

If the sox are interested in Cantu, it's more likely for 1b than 3b. The sox may be looking to deal Konerko then.

Cabrera will refuse arb. He'll likely get a 3 year deal for $8, 9 mill. per. When he's in his mid 30's, the years matter.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 09:40 PM) I read an article or 3 from NY papers a couple of weeks ago, and Jenks was about option #6 for the Mets. That was before they started hearing about what Fuentes and KRod were asking for. Those reports also said Putz [who likely wouldn't be deal] and Wood were above Jenks. The Mets are only going to accept a top notch closer, or their fans will riot. They might have to overpay in terms of dollars or prospects to get it done.

Dye likely wouldn't agree to a deal to the Mets. But I could see Jenks going to them. Would the Mets part with Martinez for him? And would the sox do it? The same question could be asked of Pelfrey? Would the Mets do a swap of Jenks for Pelfrey and would the sox?

If Lillibridge is part of the deal, I see him being moved in another deal. I like Morton and Flowers.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Nov 29, 2008 -> 05:38 PM) I guess I don't understand why everyone assumes the White Sox DON'T need that... Like, do we have a guy coming up that can replace Vazquez's ERA and innings next year that I don't know about? Or is there some big FA deal in the works that would totally be out of KW's character? I'm not a big Vazquez fan, he's done a lot to hinder himself while here and definitely hasn't lived up to his potential (like everywhere), but if we trade him, whoever replaces him has to be of his value or better... I think that is what Kenny Williams is looking for--someone who can give the sox near 200 innings with a near 4.50 ERA. Bailey would be a guy who the sox would be counting on to do that. Whether he does or not, that's a different question. But if the sox can get 3 players who can be long term contributors, the sox would likely make a deal in a heartbeat. It seems their patience has run out on whether Javy would ever reach his "full" potential.