bear_brian

We could spend upwards of $40 to $50M on free agents and/or trades that involve more salary Melky as the every day left fielder and #2 switch hitter. Kendry Morales as a switch-hitting DH, another Cuban, who can play 1B as well. A right hander SP priced in the price range of a Jason Hammel or Aaron Harang. Two bullpen pieces, one a LH (Miller, Coke, Duke) , one a closer ( Frankie Rodriguez). Trade Viciedo. Move Bassitt to bullpen. Use Carroll in long relief.

I continue to think that Melky Cabrera makes the most sense for the Sox. I cannot believe Toronto, with an estimated 2015 payroll of almost $ 150M without Melky, is going to make a $15.3M qualifying offer for him. Melky is only 30, is a switch hitter, would absolutely thrive hitting in front of Abreu, would offer more speed and defense than Viciedo, and has already paid the price for using PED's. I see him as an optimum addition for us, and think a $12 to $13M per year contract could land him. He would upgrade our lineup and allow us to consider a short-term deal for a DH, Kendry Morales being my own sleeper choice.

Not sure where you have heard about a $15M qualifying offer. Melky currently makes $8M per year and is a 3+ WAR player.

Under the shaky assumption that Uncle Jerry will accept a $95 M payroll, would like to see the Sox do the following: 1. Sign Melky Cabrera (a switch hitter) to be the every day left fielder and #2 hitter in the lineup. Figure 12.5M per year, tops. 2. Sign Gregerson to be our closer at $7M (or less) per year 3. Sign Kendry Morales (another Cuban and switcher, tho a Boras guy) to be a DH/1B and cleanup, hitting behind Abreu. He is a big bounce back candidate based on his previous hitting history. 4. Sign one of the following: Brandon McCarthy, Chris Young, Jason Hammel as a RH SP; put Bassitt in the bullpen. 5. Sign Andrew Miller as the LH relief pitcher. Surkamp becomes the second lefty. 6. Trade Viciedo Figure these moves would cost us about $45M, but would absolutely allow us to contend. I know it's probably not going to happen, but each of these moves is doable if we were to be aggressive.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 10, 2014 -> 08:00 PM) Has there ever been a pitcher in the MLB or the minors who has ever been a full time starting pitcher AND a position player on his days off? I know Mike Hampton and Micah Owings and Carlos Zambrano had pinch-hit before, but did anyone play full time as both a pitcher and a hitter? His name was George Herman Ruth.

The best example I can think of in more recent Sox history of a left hander who never showed outstanding stuff, but had the great combination of poise, command, confidence and a pitcher's intellect would be that 38th round draft pick by the name of Mark Buehrle. Would that Surkamp be able to emulate Mark, but not sure he has Buehrle's makeup, which Quintana does seem to have. It is the consistent ability to throw your pitch, not the hitter's pitch, and it does not mean you have to throw 93+ to be successful.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Dec 24, 2013 -> 01:17 PM) Think he'll finally learn how to pull the ball? There are no data remotely suggesting a "breakout" -- you all need to stop talking out of your ass and give up on the dream. Before you make any more illiterate statements, here are the facts on Beckham last year: 1. Played the first 7 games of the season and was hitting .316 when he broke the hamate bone in his wrist. Was put on the DL, had surgery and did not play again until June 3rd. 2. From June 3rd through July 26th he raised his average to .320. On July 26th he aggravated the same wrist, but began to play through the pain. He was still hitting over .300 (.310) on August 15th, when he suffered a quad strain. 3. From that point on, his average began to drop, and he was absolutely awful in September. Maybe you see something different than real baseball fans, but Beckham was having a breakout season last year before he aggravated the wrist and suffered the quad strain. Ventura said Beckham was "hurting" most of the year. There are many things to dislike about the 2012 White Sox, but Gordon Beckham's efforts to continue playing while suffereing from two separate injuries should not be one of them.

There was some discussion a few weeks ago about Houston's possible interest in Dunn, since he is from Texas. Would a package of Dunn (with a Sox salary subsidy), Carlos Sanchez and Viciedo be anywhere close to allowing us to get Jason Castro??

Lucroy, Castro, Grandal - we do not have the pieces to put a deal together for any of those catchers, and it is very hard to believe that those teams would be interested in trading that type of valuable player. Realistically we are going to have to settle for a backup - preferably LH or switch - who has good defensive skills and can put the bat on the ball. I think someone like Hector Sanchez (blocked forever by Posey) fits that profile, though I am not sure what we have that would interest the Giants (Keppinger?). Am not fluent enough with other backups, but have to believe that is where Hahn is focused.

If they are below projected budget counting De Aza at over $4M (arbitration estimate) and Keppinger at over $4M, then - as I suggested in a different thread - they very well might have the dough to make a play for Tanaka - also, Dunn comes off the books next year. And I am tired of the doomsayers stating that we don't need Tanaka - of course, we do!

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 08:18 PM) If the Sox can use Ramirez as part of a deal for a young catcher, do it and don't look back. I'd take my chances with L. Garcia or whom ever might show they're worth a shot in spring training. Alexi is a plus defender, was arguably one of our best hitters, will be a mentor to Abreu, and comes to play every day. He is only 32, has a very fair contract. The Diamond Challenge fantasy baseball metrics have him rated as the fourth most productive shortstop in all of baseball. If we trade him, we had better get a LOT more than a young catcher. I believe we should be using Alexei as a complement to all of our young ballplayers. It is extremely difficult to find a shortstop that combines his offensive and defensive skills - they are a rare breed.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 04:03 PM) You get the point though. We're pretending Abreu's money doesn't count against payroll if we quote $83 million. Fine, spread it out however you want, it still is getting paid, in addition to a big expansion of draft spending this year. Tanaka's posting fee you're talking an extra $5 million a year in off the books spending. I am not sure on that. I have been running my own payroll number, and have used Abreu at $ 17M this year, giving them the $ 83M figure.

Not saying we would go after him, but if we did dump Keppinger and De Aza, our payroll would drop to about $ 83M. If Jerry sees the Cubs go after him big time, don't you think he might be willing to ante up?

We can dream, can't we?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:10 PM) I don't see Rienzo in the rotation. Sale Quintana Johnson Danks Paulino Jones Lindstrom Belisario Webb Petricka Veal Leesman Rienzo to AAA, will be the first call up in case a starter is needed. I think Paulino was acquired exclusively to be a starter. Ideally, we need a long reliever, and it would seem that Rienzo might fit that profile, or we go out and buy someone. We also need a veteran LH reliever, not Veal AND Leesman.

It would seem that the best option would be Jaso, though it would be hard to understand why Bean would trade him. I seem to recall somebody posting earlier that Hahn and Bean had discussed Jaso, but there was concern about post-concussion symptoms. Perhaps if there is a possible deal, they are waiting for Jaso to get medical clearance. We could only hope, because he would be marvelous against RH pitchers.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 10:20 AM) I actually had him in mind when I kept hearing Lobaton and Jaso's name. I think he would be a great addition. I'd do Rienzo straight up for him. Did you watch Rienzo pitch last year? He certainly is worth more than a AAA catcher.

Not only was Beckham rushed to the bigs, he was also moved from one position to another early in his career. I do not like to hear someone call me an apologist. All I am doing is reviewing the facts. There are MANY major league stars who went 2,000 PA's before figuring it out. Let's see what Gordo does this year, instead of acting out the typical Chicago Bear fan backup QB scenario ...

A few facts about Gordon Beckham last year: 1. Beckham hit .287 vs RH pitchers, but only .195 vs LH. That is the exact opposite of what you would think. 2. Beckham broke the hamate bone in his wrist after the first 7 games of the season. He missed six weeks, came back and through July 22nd had his average well over .300. On that date he re injured the wrist, tearing the ligament away from the bone. He continued to play the rest of the year, but hit .240 in August and a lowly .210 in September. When RV says he was hurt, he is not kidding. I think we need to give this kid a break. If his wrist has healed, there is no reason why he cannot be an above average 2B offensively - better than Semien - and certainly he is already an "A" defensively. There is little doubt in my mind that the Sox are going to commit to him unless somebody knocks them off their feet with an offer.

Jays could put Encarnacion back at third, or Bautista back there, I believe both of them have played there, tho probably no where near Lawrie defensively.

Was thinking that maybe the lack of news with the Sox today might be them waiting for Juan to decide. If the Sox ARE involved, then a decision by him to go with the Sox would free them up to trade Keppinger as well as De Aza, freeing up over $8M, a portion going to Juan the balance to whomever they set up with a deal or deals. Don't know, but there has been almost no news today ...

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 06:33 PM) Trading ADA keeps Viciedo in LF and Danks on the bench as the fourth outfielder. This makes a bit more sense than keeping ADA since ADA isn't the best outfielder and sucks at base running. Which ever player nets the best return I guess. Danks is not going to be on the bench this year, unless we only go with 11 pitchers. There is no room for him - Konerko/Dunn, catcher, L. Garcia, Keppinger/Gillaspie/other. Leury Garcia will be the sub OFer

De Aza will be 30, Viciedo 25. De Aza is "persona non grata" with Ventura after last year's blunders. De Aza may make as much as $1.5M more than Viciedo this year. Who do you think the Sox keep?

It's nice to pick and choose when you analyze trades, but Peavy, Rios, et. al has really netted us L. Garcia, A. Garcia, Abreu, Eaton, Paulino, Rosario, and an extension for Matt Lindstrom, with cash left to do a few other things if we want. I'd say that is pretty good, especially when you look at Peavy's downside, Rios and his ups and downs, etc.

Believe you mean Lenny, not Larry .