caulfield12

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 12:41 PM) Carlos Sanchez is your SS Yikes. Hello another season of 5-10 games under .500 baseball.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 10:07 AM) Sox have a good chance to play spoiler down the stretch. Tigers will crush the sox tonight so the Royals have to be on their A-game. That's what the Tigers thought last night with Bassitt on the hill, an inexperienced rookie with a 5+ ERA and still looking for his first win as a starter. There's a LOT more pressure on Felix Hernandez to stop the bleeding for the Mariners. I think winning the final game against the Tigers, almost coming back to tie CLE and then essentially knocking them out of the post-season discussion has helped the Royals to relax a little bit and breathe easier...they're only one game behind the Tigers, and the Royals also feel very confident about matching up with the White Sox. And isn't Sale going to pitch against DET and miss KC?

I don't think the whole "wait on Tim Anderson to be the answer at SS" train is going to get going until he proves he can field that position more effectively in 2015 than he did the last couple of seasons. Birmingham will be a big test for him. It's a make or break year for him sticking at his highest value position, IMO. To me, right now, I'm going to be more cautious and say he's still more likely to end up at 2B/LF just so I won't be disappointed in the future. If he does remain at SS, that allows for me to be pleasantly surprised at his development. I'd rather have a "plus" LF with good range and oozing with talent and an above average arm for that position (compared to short) than a below-average shortstop...unless Anderson's doubles and triples starting turning into 18-24 homers per season and you live with the errors in order for that kind of bat to be in the line-up at a premium position where 75% of the players league-wide are under a 700 OPS.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) Not sure why it HAS to be an OFer, and with that said, the guy I have my eye on is Justin Morneau. Rockies wanna move Rosario to 1B which makes Justin available. Because our defense in the outfield has been terrible this entire season outside of Eaton.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 10:27 AM) I need a haul to trade Alexei. He's one of the top 3-5 SS in the game and has been for years, is relatively cheap, under control, and we don't have a clear replacement. If there is no good return out there, then there is no risk in keeping him as I have very little fear that he won't live up to expectations for the duration of his contract. I'm very conflicted about what to do about catcher. If not Martin, who I think will ultimately be overpaid, then you're faced with guys who are probably not clearly better options than Flowers. While I can get behind investing in Martin, the main alternative I'd endorse pursuing is getting a younger guy in here. This might be a stipulation for trading Alexei. On the lower end, a guy like Wilin Rosario would be interesting to have in here - could be a Tank-Rosario swap? Rosario's kind of a headcase and the Rockies at one point were considering moving him out of the catcher's position because he was making so many frustrating mistakes...think of him as Dayan Viciedo, but at catcher. That said, I'd rather find talented but flawed (buy low) players like Rosario (or Grandal) than overspend on a soon-to-be-declining Russell Martin.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:58 AM) with the mariners, the trade talk according to some site were real. I was reading a rumors, wish I remember which, had the trade being close. the problem was the prospects the mariners had to give up. of course the only ones who would know are the players in the trade talk. so all the other rumors are that rumors. About Saunders for Viciedo, as well as Ackley and/or Smoak at different points.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) If you go with the premise that anyone is available there's so many more guys you could have named. If you wanted to find guys that you think are untradeable for various reasons ,there's Bryce Harper , Jason Heyward, Christian Yelich , Bret Gardner, Wil Myers, Joc Pedersen, Gregory Polanco, Sin Soo Choo. Than there's expensive and injured guys like Ryan Zimmerman and Carlos Gonzales. Coors Field products like Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon. Jay Bruce coming off a bad year. Michael Saunder injured a lot but much improved in plate discipline and good at everything on the field . High baseball IQ. We need some of those types. Steve Pearce who's the very definition of late bloomer . Platoon guy like Kevin Kiermaier. Dustin Ackley , Brock Holt. Nava also is a high IQ type. S/H but def. a platoon type . Splits are bad when he hits RH. Pretty good on the bases, good arm , good fielder . Will be 32 in February. Cargo's the most interesting name (to me) on that list, and certainly more interesting than Josh Hamilton or Ethier/Crawford. But he'd have to be 100% healthy to make that kind of gamble. Saunders is a much better player for Seattle then he would be playing 81 home games at USCF...for a long time, I always confused him and Michael Brantley until Brantley became something approximating a stud this season for the Indians. Someone mentioned Bonifacio before....yet another rebound candidate, not sure I'd pair him with Eaton, though.

1) I think we're going to get priced out of the Russell Martin sweepstakes by a team like the Dodgers. 2) Trading Alexei Ramirez is fine if we're only hoping for .500 next season, and not playoff contention....then it's the logical move, obviously. Playing Leury Garcia 145 games at SS is a sure way to the same record we have currently this same time next year. 3) Viciedo is likely to be the back-up OF/DH next year, at least as things currently stand, with another player brought in from the outside or via free agency for LF/RF. I don't believe Rick Hahn's just quite ready to throw in the towel...kind of the same set of decisions he had with DeAza and Beckham this past offseason, and he punted them into 2014 essentially. 4) The bullpen needs a reliable lefty not named Andrew Miller and another potential closer who we're not paying coming off a 30-50 save season in 2014, like a Joakim Soria who's currently in a set-up role. 5) As far as Shields goes, see Alexei Ramirez....not competing in 2014, it's the wrong move as his best season will be wasted and then he'll be declining. Agree about Victor Martinez. Will be interesting to see what it would take to make Nelson Cruz part-time corner guy and mostly full-time DH, paired with a LH-hitting left fielder. Once again, Nellie Cruz is more of a "nice if you're competing in 2014 but probably not the right guy" if we're positioning for 2015. I also think it's pretty clear that Sanchez will make a pretty nifty utility infielder but he's not a starter...and that Micah Johnson's not ready to play in the big leagues until June or July, so that's yet one more reason they need to reign it in and hold off spending until next offseason.

It's back to the Royals' example...most of their hitters are in the 50's and 60's for RBI's, Gordon is their most talented player, and he's been in a huge slump and they're still going to make the playoffs because of overall depth and balance and a rotation led by Shields, Ventura and Duffy at the top....with Guthrie essentially their version of Hector Noesi and Vargas a much better Danks. Essentially, Gordon/Hosmer/Perez/Butler are their four best hitters, although you could make an argument for Lorenzo Cain. What they do well is play great defense and then they wipe out innings 7-9 with Wade Davis, Herrera, Finnegan and Holland (like our 2005 and early 2008 pens).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:46 AM) The injury this year has been described as a broken hand. Hard to see that as a result of throwing a slider? Maybe he punched a wall after having an outing with no slider command, lol.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:33 AM) and I wonder who will pay to get him. the return for the trade. with a weak draft of players with limited power, I wonder if there will be a team willing? The Mariners name always comes up, and he was connected to a possible trade before Ackley emerged as a semi-regular in LF, although he's also been a pretty big disappointment overall, along with Smoak and Montero. They're not getting enough from CF (when Saunders was out and Jones was playing), SS...Kendrys Morales and Hart/Morrison have been disappointments for most of the season as well. Zunino has some pop for a catcher, but a very low BA and OBP.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:23 AM) $9 million for Denard Span is a steal. He'd get $12-15 mill per year on the free agent market. Here are my concerns: 1) You have a speed-based player turning 31 before next season... 2) His defensive value is lessened by playing LF at USCF compared to CF in Washington 3) You really HAVE to get big-time power from the DH position (as well as Avisail and Conor/Semien) if you have Eaton/Span/Micah Johnson in the same line-up. 4) He's been pretty consistent, a 737/707/765 OPS line over the last three years, averaging around a 3.5 WAR. That said, he had two very subpar seasons with MINNY where he was just a 2ish WAR guy, and that's concerning since he would be back in the AL and also facing some really tough pitching staffs in DET, CLE and KC. I'm willing to pay $12-13 million for a 3.5 WAR guy, but not a 2 who's going to presumably be declining. That said, Span/Eaton/Micah would create some interesting run-producing combinations...and bring a lot better defense to the table than what we've gotten out of Viciedo/DeAza the past 2-3 seasons. That's GOT to be a priority for Hahn, to shore up that hole both offensively and defensively. To summarize, for my money, I'd rather give Aoki two seasons with a mutual option, but Span's the better player...worth the difference in the end?, yes at 3.5 and not at all around 2. However, he deserves some additional benefit of the doubt as a playoff-experienced veteran and leader. We need to bring in more of those type of character guys, since Eaton can't be the only leader of the team, especially when he's injured. It would/could also make for an interesting debate about paying Span/Rasmus/Markakis $12 million vs. Melky Cabrera $15 million over 3 years. I'm not going to call it a "steal" unless we also believe we "stole" Alex Rios for the amount of production vs. his salary numbers.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:11 AM) I disagree somewhat, to me this seems like the shakiest they've looked heading into October in a while. Scherzer is great. Price has been great all year but is looking hittable and has sailed past his career high in innings. Verlander is obviously not the same guy. If they plan on using Anibal out of the bullpen in the playoffs, that is a weapon, but otherwise the pen is the same mess it always has been. Maybe this is wishful thinking, because I'm sick of them too. Verlander has actually pitched pretty well the last 2-3 times out (and has been able to get his FB back in the mid 90's when he needs it, unlike earlier in the year)...I'd be more concerned about Porcello and Price if I was a Tigers' fan at the moment, along with Ausmus' reluctance to move Joba Chamberlain out of the 8th inning in favor of Joakim Soria/AL AL. Sanchez is going to be very rusty...but if he's healthy, you have to give him a role in the playoffs. 1) Scherzer 2) Verlander 3) Price 4) Porcello Based on how they've pitched the last 2-3 weeks. Over the whole season, you would probably make the argument Price has been the better pitcher. Today's a really key outing for him to get back in track, unusual to see his ERA climb into the 4's. Six weeks ago, it would have been Sanchez and Porcello with Verlander looking like banishment to the bullpen would be his fate...and deservedly so.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 06:25 AM) Nava. Has had a solid 2nd half of season. he can also play 1st base as well. Would come cheap. But I don't think he can play center You definitely don't want Nava in CF. That would be the equivalent of Brian Daubach out there.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 07:26 AM) yeah, according to his profile he is consider the premier base stealer. so will the Nat'l give him a QO? what will he salary request be? 10:$0.75M, 11:$1M, 12:$3M, 13:$4.75M, 14:$6.5M, 15:$9M club option ($0.5M buyout) That's a pretty steep price to pay for Span, salary-wise, not to mention talent surrendered in trade. I'd probably pass at that price, although he is very familiar with the AL Central (especially the stadiums), so that would be a huge plus in his favor.

Ichiro...too old, more of a 4th/5th guy now Granderson...was often mentioned as a possible free agent signing in the offseason, probably too expensive for that level of production, basically a platoon guy at this point in his career Aoki...maybe Markakis...depends on the cost in dollars/years Nava...meh Jay...don't think Cardinals will make him available after bounceback year Ethier...see Carl Crawford below Leonys Martin...another Cuban, coming off pretty decent (for him) offensive year Rasmus...will the output be worth the "potential" tag often attached? can anyone get through to him? Denard Span...quietly having a very strong season for Nationals Carl Crawford....either or neither Ethier can stay or go (bad attempt at pun) Josh Hamilton....often debated/discussed Matt Joyce...this is the typical KW bounceback/buy low candidate after a disappointing 2014 Gerardo Parra....declining defensive splits, nothing close to average offensively Domonic Brown....see Matt Joyce, non-tender candidate who's another version of Dayan Viciedo in many ways Dexter Fowler...would definitely have some interest in him, depending on cost CoCo Crisp...how many baseball lives can this guy have? about as many as Victor Martinez seemingly Grady Sizemore...just for Lillian if she's still lurking I disqualified Melky Cabrera off the bat for being out of our probable price range

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 03:55 AM) I'm not rooting for it to happen. Just noting that he isn't likely to get a starting job anywhere. We could use a left-handed backup. Jaso-unlikely J.Castro--at what cost? Lobaton Hank Conger Grandal---Cuban connection, mentioned numerous times, huge disappointment this year J. Baker

QUOTE (hi8is @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 01:53 AM) Nostradamus says, Better make that Carl Crawford/Andre Ethier. Why am I so thoroughly convinced if KW was still the GM that Carl coming over with a huge contract subsidy from the Dodgers would be the biggest move of the offseason?

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 02:28 AM) AJP for backup catcher next year. Go ahead, tell me I'm crazy. You're out of your mind. We might as well bring back Buehrle (greg's dream) and Paulie for one more year, too. No thanks. Although I do think we need a veteran "mentor" of the Jose Molina ilk who can really teach Tyler about the finer nuances of the game defensively.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 02:52 AM) I assume he'll start in AAA, where he still has not pitched yet. I can't imagine they'd have him jump Rodon on the depth chart, so I don't think they'll have a slot for him or even that he'd be competing for one. I'll assume we sign (or trade for) one legitimate pitcher who's not a scrapheaper. Danks and Noesi with the final two slots unless they decide to start the season with Rodon. If there was an injury in there and they want to keep Rodon's clock from starting, I could see him getting the shot to fill in. He's prob right there with Carroll for that distinction as of now, but spring training would prob determine that. He's got to be the leader in the clubhouse for the spot right now, especially after proving he can pitch well against the Tigers down the stretch. He provides the perfect excuse to hold back Rodon until June, if nothing else. Now, of course if they add a veteran 3/4 guy (see Santana/Garza/Jimenez discussion), 2 relievers and at LEAST one LF/DH bat and probably two, then Bassitt's the long man or in Charlotte, although he could still figure into the set-up equation. In fact, that seemed to work wonders for Carlos Carrasco this year when he started off the year so terribly his first four starts. It forced him to pitch out of the stretch more often and simplify/clean up his mechanical issues. Sale Quintana Noesi Danks Bassitt Carroll/Beck/Surkamp/E.Johnson......then Danish/Montas....with the assumption that's the last time we ever see Rienzo in a Sox uni

QUOTE (hi8is @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 11:29 PM) But according to most of Soxtalk after his first start - he was s***. After watching Erik Johnson down the stretch in 2013 and then completely destructing in 2014, I'm not going to believe in any rookie pitcher unless they can produce over at least 3-4 months of starts...and, even then, they'll probably run out of gas in August/September.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 08:28 PM) Is Soria on a multi-year deal? Doesn't he still have closer stuff? Can Hahn get him? Someone like Soria is much more likely than paying for the top 5-6 guys wanting to get paid for this year's results and closing numbers. Those guys will all get $8-12 million per season. Someone like Soria should be available for $5-7ish million. 2 years/$8M (2013-14), plus 2015 option 2 years/$8M (2013-14), plus 2015 club option signed by Texas as a free agent 12/3/12 13:$2M, 14:$5.5M, 15:$7M club option ($0.5M buyout) If I was the Tigers, I would definitely keep Soria/AL AL and ditch Johnson/Joba.

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 09:19 PM) ding ding ding this is what I was waiting for. I was going to start on this in the offseason. my problem is his agent. But we all saw how Boras had no or little leverage with Stephen Drew and Morales this past season...and the prior offseason. Morales needs to sign quickly and come to spring training ready to play or he will be out of baseball entirely.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 08:34 PM) CJ Wilson can't throw a strike. Walked in two A's so far. He was excellent in his last start, fwiw. Just very inconsistent/disappointing this season. If they had Richards, they would clearly be the best team in baseball. As things stand now, all the teams entering the playoffs wouldn't shock anyone if they won, other than maybe the Royals. Even the Pirates have a good chance if they can get Cole, Liriano and Volquez pitching to the best of their ability.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 07:04 PM) Worth noting...Micah Johnson also profiles as a potential leadoff hitter and has a good chance of arriving next year. That said, Micah may have some injury issues too. Johnson has to be 100% with his hamstrings, AND he needs at least 2-3 months in Charlotte still. Let's not rush him a bit like we did with Semien.