caulfield12

1) Marketing is always a consideration (partial) in every trade, baseball is a business...but it should never be the main consideration. If you packaged the combination of all the players we've traded for Shark/Lawrie, what player could you acquire? We don't know. A long/er-term solution at catcher? We do know we have LESS starting pitching depth as a result. Whether it will or would be needed, time will tell. The biggest issue over the last 13 months isn't so much the trades as the fact that our financial flexibility has been dampened by LaRoche, Robertson, Duke, Bonifacio and Cabrera. That will be one of the main reasons given when/if they are unable to sign Cespedes/Gordon/Upton. It certainly won't be the 2017 payroll, because we're shedding LaRoche and Danks.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 30, 2015 -> 09:32 PM) Before the White Sox traded for Frazier, you said they wouldn't be able to compete for 2 years. Now it appears you are saying just the opposite, that they have 2 years to compete. Which of the prospects given up for Frazier were the key to the future? 2017 was always going to be the key year after most of last season's acquisitions fizzled out or under-performed badly. They re-opened that window again and went all-in, so of course the thinking has changed (once again). Now, they THEORETICALLY can compete with the current roster, but you can also make an argument for every single team in the AL with that line of thinking (compared to the NL, where you can eliminate 5-6 teams instantly). And they do have a current two-year window to compete (again), simply because of the players who will be leaving after 2017. We also don't have the luxury of knowing how Semien would have performed if given more time (compared to what Lawrie will do, and the fact he will have to be replaced). They would also be a lot better off having Bassitt or Montas as insurance for a hole in the rotation than Jacob Turner or Beck, but we'll find out how long they can go without having to use another starting pitcher. Right now, it's not looking particularly optimistic in terms of our position prospects unless Trey M., Engel, May and Hawkins make a lot more progress. We still don't have a catching solution in sight. The best-case scenario is that Fulmer and Anderson are both Rookie of the Year candidates in 2017 and 100% experienced and even better in 2018, like we expect that same progression from Rodon to take place this year. Quite obviously, Upton/Cespedes (Gordon to a lesser extent) would ALSO be the bridge to a new reloading in 2018...if it happens.

A lot of this is dependent on how healthy Ryu is...and what he has when he does come back. When he was going good 2-3 seasons ago, he was a solid #3 option, bordering on a weak 2 in the NL West. The Dodgers are currently dampening expectations and claiming that he's not going to be pressured to start the season in the rotation. Of course, the irony here is that they had a huge surplus of starting pitching a year ago (remember dumping Haren on FLA and basically paying his full contract?) and now it's one of their weak spots/vulnerabilities. Beyond that, this is the market for starting pitching. Some reports even had Chen of BALT closer to $75-100 million, but Iwakuma, Gallardo and Kazmir were all in this same 3 years/$50ish million range. Then below that you have the likes of Latos and Fister, which would/could be 2 White Sox potential targets if they miss on the Big 3.

https://www.overdrive.com/media/709737/wilpons-folly Just read anything from Megdal on Wilpon and the Mets. There's no way in hell they can afford Cespedes in 2018/19, and they can't afford the risk with signing him of being stuck with that contract since they already have $30 million balloon payments due on the Madoff settlement each year, basically like signing another Cespedes (+) except the money an outflow to creditors. Going back to Ptac's point, yes, it's POSSIBLE they can compete STILL, yes, it's probably NOT wise to sign Cespedes for 6 years (let alone Upton) and certainly not Alex Gordon for five, but the fact remains that: 1) They don't have enough minor league talent behind Anderson/Fulmer to pull off a major trade 2) That Cabrera, Lawrie and Frazier will be free agents after 2017 3) That next year's FA market is horrific 4) That another year of .500ish baseball would almost force a Quintana or Sale megatrade because there won't even be the talent available on the market to spend even if they want to do so. You can definitely see a scenario where they bring in one of Span/Parra/Jackson (no to Fowler because of the pick attached) and also add a starting pitcher that falls through the cracks for one year or one year and an option (like a Brett Anderson situation last year w/ LA, or Medlen with KC). Now that's going to move the needle up a bit, but is it enough? Maybe. Maybe not. They definitely should have a better option than Beck/Turner as their 6th starter. Realistically, you need seven legit starters at the beginning of the season in terms of depth, and I'm not even 100% convinced we have five right now with question marks about Erik Johnson still looming. The only other possibility is waiting for guys like Desmond and Fowler to not get signed and picking them up on "make good" or pillow deals for 1-2 years...but we all saw how poorly Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew performed when their spring training time essentially began in May. Desmond would be more of an investment for 2017 than one with an immediate payoff in 2016. Of course, those two cases with veterans doesn't mean every single player under 30-31 will struggle to get their timing and offensive rhythm back to the same extent.

@SSS_joshnelson still preferred Gordon, made a formal offer and were ultimately turned down. Then quickly turned to finalize Cespedes Josh Nelson 5h5 hours ago Josh Nelson ‏@SSS_joshnelson Another thought regarding White Sox rumors - I think Alex Gordon's heart is in KC. Ultimately I think he wants to stay. Someone is at least going along with that scenario that the Sox did make some type of formal offer to Gordon early this week...but how credible? Where is the ENIGMA machine to unscramble all the mixed signals?

What does Chris Rongey have to say...is he officially out now as far as being involved with the team next year?

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 30, 2015 -> 11:31 AM) Whatever happened to Alfredo Despaigne? I swear he defected last year. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfredo_Despaigne Apparently he's under contract through 2016 in Japan. I'm also pretty sure he is being allowed to play there under an agreement with the Cuban government...but he can't currently go to an MLB team as things stand.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 30, 2015 -> 07:17 AM) Jennings was fine the vast majority of the time, he had a 6 ER performance against the Reds that made his overall numbers look worse than they were. After the All-Star Break he had a 1.39 ERA. The problem is we need those numbers in April, May and June...

He makes up for a lot of mistakes with his arm. Sometimes it almost seems like he dogs it on purpose to bait a runner into going for an extra base on him.

I would take Gordon at $72.5/4 over Cespedes at $125-135 and 6...just because it's hard to believe they would nearly double their biggest contract ever. If the Cespedes numbers are closer to $110 and Gordon to $85 million, then the pendulum shifts back in the other direction. That said, they were supposedly willing to do it for Tanaka, but Cespedes isn't 26 and isn't quite the equivalent of a frontline ace despite the way he performed for the Mets.

Just keep him out of CF on a regular basis, that's the key...and another reason he might not like SF, that's a huge patch of grass to cover and Pagan needs to be moved to a corner spot. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseba...ally-heating-up This idea of platooning Cabrera with Garcia and not LaRoche is nutty...especially playing him in the OF compared to limiting the damage at DH.

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2015/12/29/106...-rangers-tigers Jesse Sanchez as source (someone needs to remind him both Martinezes can't DH in Motown). White Sox and Baltimore emerging as two favorites for Cespedes... Angels, Giants next, with Texas and the Tigers in the mix (Maybin, Gose, Aviles and Collins might not be enough, along with JD Martinez). https://mobile.twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/s...050454600069120 O's aren't likely to spend $100 million on Cespedes...fwiw http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck...1229-story.html Speculation that Alvarez is a more important add, along with retaining Chris Davis

China just invaded your country and destroyed it...unless you're already here...in which case we are simultaneously being wiped out by pollution.

If you're 100% satisfied with Jennings' performance...I guess.

http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/kids...654e57b745.html Some quotes (probably missed them earlier) from Gordon on his situation from the Harold Reynolds baseball camp there in Omaha...btw, Brian Duensing would be another name to throw in the mix for LHR/loogy.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 30, 2015 -> 12:09 AM) Just FYI the article did not have an others section mentioning KC. That was a caulfield special. Well, it's pretty illogical to list the Mets as being in need of someone they don't have the ability to sign. SFG and LAA are questionable enough, coming up right against the luxury tax already if they were to add $20-25 million to payroll. That said, you're right, there's no way that the Royals have any intention to sign him. It was more my mental checklist of possible teams for all three guys: White Sox, Orioles (two teams most logically in play for any of the three) SFG, LAA, StL, Nationals, Detroit...pushing up against payroll concerns Could probably add the Red Sox as a real long-shot. KC...only Gordon on a 3 or 4 year deal

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-leag...-233047425.html Lists top five teams most in need of Cespedes... 1. SFG (Pagan would move to a corner) 2. CHW (replacing Garcia in LF makes no sense but okay) 3. Angels (Todd Cunningham slated to start now) 4. Mets (not happening) 5. Orioles (need to compensate for predicted loss of C.Davis) Others: KC, Detroit, StL, Nationals

Well, great win for Iowa. One of those NCAA resume wins, any time you beat the #1 team in the country and keep the margin at 10-15 for most of the game, that's a good thing. 3rd such victory in program history, and first since 1999 (remember Jacob Jaacks?) against UCONN when Alford was the coach and nothing was really expected of the team that rebuilding year. (Just saw in a story that 1993 against IND and 2005 against Illinois, so maybe there's a difference between AP-ranked and others, UPI, USA Today/CNN, etc.) Yes, Valentine didn't play, but that will be overlooked when looking at NCAA tourney teams 3 months from now. Uthoff had a pretty miserable shooting game (obviously Izzo focused the defense on him), 4/11 with 8 to's, but he did manage to block 6 shots. He's going to be the best NBA player from Iowa since Reggie Evans almost 15 years ago. Gesell and Jok also played well (Iowa seems to go up or down with their fortunes)....and Nicholas Baer (hometown shout out) is really emerging as a surprising force for the Hawks. After blowing a huge lead (yet again) vs. Iowa State, nice to finally hold a lead in a big game. Purdue on the road this weekend, the odds of winning that one are pretty miniscule...so very nice to start off 1-1 instead of 0-2. Finally, two Iowa teams (vs. MSU, and UNI against UNC without Marcus Paige) have beaten #1 rated teams already this year. Guess Iowa State has to knock off KU at home for a 3rd. I'd have to check the schedule to see if Iowa gets Maryland at home, that would be another shot potentially.

The Mets reasons are 100% financial crippling in the course of the next 2-3 seasons because of Wilpon/Madoff, payments in that case of $30 million per year in the settlement are liabilities and a huge loan ($880 million) with balloon payments due in two years (debt was kicked forward into future, 2018-19)...not to mention they sold off X percentage of the ballclub to raise additional funds but those new partial owners have the rights to turn around and resell them back to the ownership group for the same price +3% interest per year.

Source: 24 new Sox season ticket packages sold as a result of Twitter news regarding Cespedes and Gordon. Hahn: "KW and I took this information directly to JR and he signed off nearly instantaneously on an additional $15 million payroll increase for 2016."

Somebody will pay Cespedes a handsome fee, though, and will be better for it. According to FanGraphs' calculations, Cespedes was worth $53.9 million in 2015 alone. His Steamer projection has him being worth approximately $24.9 million in 2016, but 3.1 fWAR seems like it is a conservative projection considering his seven-win upside. Yet he sits on the sidelines watching others snatch up huge deals. http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/12/2...yoenis-cespedes Why does nobody (seemingly) want Yoenis Cespedes?

Probably Upton doesn't want to leave the NL or prefers to stay near one of the coasts...

The Yankees missed on him and he grew up right across the water in NJ. Didn't Kirby Puckett spend much of his formative years in the high rise projects on the other side of the Dan Ryan (now torn down) from Old Comiskey? It happens. A lot of teams passed on Trout. Pretty sure he wasn't even considered at that spot by Sox scouts. Albert Pujols grew up in KC and played JC ball at Maple Woods...and yet the cross-state rivals unearthed that gem.

The #STLCards and the #Rockies discussing a trade that could send an OF to the #Cardinals, per @jonmorosi via @MLBNetwork http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben...6e42fa2746.html Writer argues for CarGo over Dickerson/Blackmon.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 08:17 AM) you make a great point, but why not a series of 1 opt contract with the last one at 33. for both the player and the team. now this scenario would work with cesp b/c there the team will not loose a draft pick. who knows, maybe even upton, he is young enuf. but the lost of the pick would hurt. now the mid market statement. i hate to bring up another sport, but look at the hawks and the signing of hossa. like the hawks, maybe, just maybe the sox will need to over pay, maybe in the front end. this is just a guess or an opinion. Agent would never go for that. Too much risk of injury to risk losing a huge guaranteed amount.