Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 4, 2017 -> 12:16 PM) None taken dude. Negativity always outweighs positivity. Men feel better about themselves when they insult rather than praise so you are just typical of the gender. No offense dude. GTFO of here with that bulls***. You made a stupid accusation that was completely off base, so don't catch feelings when you get called out for it. There is no general bias against Avi Garcia on this site, bad baseball players are simply not very popular amongst any fan base. Maybe you should look in the mirror and realize you are the one not being objective here. What exactly is there to praise about Avi? How is calling him a s***ty baseball player incorrect? If you are going to make an accusation against the board, support your claim with facts. Also, citing his horrendous defense in RF was relevent to the conversation. Please see the thread title if you don't see how Avi's defensive metrics might be applicable here.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 4, 2017 -> 11:32 AM) Great post...do you even know what the word "bias" means or are just being a dick for no particular reason? I feel pretty confident saying a guy with a career -1.4 WAR over essentially 2 1/2 seasons flat out sucks. Pretty much every offensive, defensive, & base-running statistic validates my viewpoint and having watched him over a couple hundred games my eyes tell the same story. Avi Garcia is simply a horrific baseball player and if anyone feels otherwise I'd question if they are biased. Also, I'd love to hear your argument for why he doesn't suck, but the sad reality is you most likely don't have one.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 4, 2017 -> 07:52 AM) I know the Avi bias around here is bad but why list his 2015 DRS? His Fangraphs DRS in 2016 was in the positive territory at 2 runs saved. His overall defense was also iin positive territory at 3.2 which places him 4th amongst all the right fielders in baseball. However to be fair he had limited innings there. No offense dude, but what Avi bias is there around here? The dude flat out sucks at all aspects of the game other than throwing. I asked for his 2015 DRS numbers simply because that was that last time he was a regular in RF. You are really reaching if you think people around here aren't objective when it comes to Avi.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 3, 2017 -> 11:12 PM) Wow. Keller's ceiling is much more projectable and much higher than Whitley or Perez at this point. In fact, it's higher than most pitching prospects in the minors right now. Have you heard anything on Quintana bucket?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2017 -> 09:14 AM) I believe the technical term for it is LOL> Who posted that hilarious GIF of the dog trying to catch a ball? Was that Eminor? Nothing better represented Avi's defense abilities.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 3, 2017 -> 09:32 AM) Avi was -11 DRS in 2015. So we're talking about a 32 run swing? Realistically, can it actually get worse than that?

A big plus from this interview is that Luhnow can no longer play the "we're good with what we have" card. That doesn't mean we have the upper hand or anything, but it does take away a certain level of posturing and should hopefully lead to more productive dialogue between the two clubs. Again, I'm really optimistic something will happen here in the next 11 days.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 11:46 PM) You're inferring, there's nothing explicit in the article. Nightengale is insinuating which is fun but there's nothing definitive here, he's just rehashing the 2 names that have been in the mainstream for awhile now. Fair enough, but what can't be disputed is that the Astros are still looking to add a TOR starter and that it appears the owner himself is eager to add one. And it doesn't take a giant leap to assume Quintana is one of their top targets. I still consider this a plus even if the owner didn't specifically mention Quintana.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 11:34 PM) One thing I have wondered last few days is if Hammel hasn't signed yet because he has an agreement with the Sox that will be announced after Q trade That could be very possible, as it's been awfully strange that he hasn't signed a contract already in such a pitching poor market. I know the guys on the CSN Sox podcast were speculating him wanting to stay in Chicago and signing with the Sox.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 10:58 PM) http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/c...vival/97431050/ Wow. Jim Crain flat out saying they are trying to get Quintana. This is a good sign. Thanks, Bob. Holy s***, nice find. Honestly, I'd be shocked if Quintana is on our team come February 14th, with the Astros the obvious favorites. That basically leaves 11 days to get a deal done.

QUOTE (Baron @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 08:19 PM) Eaton had like +21 DRS in RF last year. So that's not surprising. What was Avi's in 2015?

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 08:04 PM) Doesn't necessarily have to break camp with the big league team but I would be very surprised if he wasn't called up before July 4th (unless something went terribly wrong, like hitting .225 in AAA). Between injuries and trades it's hard to imagine a scenario where he doesn't get significant big league action in 2017. That's fine, but he also has to beat Liriano, May, both Garcia's, & maybe even Delmonico for playing time. Obviously that isn't the toughest of competition, but if he's struggling in AAA when positions open up, I'm sure they'll go with one of those other options, at least temporarily.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 07:38 PM) Rushing Engel? This is his 5th year of pro ball, after 3 yrs of college ball. He only has 161 plate appearances in AAA in which he struck out 31% of the time. I'd call giving him a stating gig out of spring training would be rushing.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 06:38 PM) Didn't put them in any particular order in previous post. I'd go LF - Tilson, CF - Engel, RF - Bourjos. And yes it would be brutal offensively but so is Avi. Might as well field a top 5 outfield defense then. Sure would help our future trade chips Q and Robertson. I mean, it's an interesting way to tank. I'll give you that. Just don't see them rushing Engel. He still has a non-zero chance of being a special player if (and it's a big one) he could ever learn to make consistent contact.

Nice job as always. Only have three comments: 1) Davidson is very likely to be on the major league roster, not sure Sanchez makes the cut 2) Sounds like Victor Diaz may be starting next year based on some comments from SoxFest 3) I hope to god that Adolfo doesn't start the year in A+, would be bad for his development IMO

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 06:15 PM) I thought i read somewhere that he was the best defensive OF the Cardinals had. And they had some good ones. Everything I've read suggests he's average at best out there.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 06:04 PM) Bourjos, who I think makes the team as 4th OF. Is Bourjos even that good of an OF anymore? I really don't see a scenario where we have an elite defensive OF unless we go with Engel in CF & Tilson in LF, which would basically be giving up on having an offense.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 06:14 PM) An outfield of Engel/Tilson/Bourjos would be quite stout defensively No way in hell Tilson would start in CF over Engel, but regardless that might be the worst offensive OF in baseball history. You might not get 15 HRs out of that OF.

QUOTE (Sleepy Harold @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 04:54 PM) MLB Network @MLBNetwork Trade talks for Jose Quintana are reportedly heating up! @BNightengale joins #MLBTonight with the latest buzz at 6pE. For anyone interested to hear the same things we've been hearing for a couple months now. Did anyone see this interview?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 04:28 PM) I wouldn't think it would be that drastic of a change. Cabrera will be the same. They lose with Eaton gone but improve with Tilson in CF and I would think a better CF is more valuable than a decrease in RF. Going from Adam Eaton (2016 version) to Avi Garcia in RF is probably as big of a defensive drop as conceivably possible. Tilson may be an improvement in CF, but he's not really not that good out there. He will not come close to making up the difference in lost RF defense.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 04:26 PM) I think it is too soon to know what the Sox are going to be on defense. If Garcia is DFA'ed in ST and Cabrera becomes the everyday DH, they could have one of the better defensive OF's in baseball. Or they could with the all Garcia OF to try and tank. Too many permutations at this time to buy into what they are selling. Who is even left to play OF at that point to form "one of the better defensive OF's in baseball"?

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 07:20 AM) I feel like Martes/Tucker/Laureano/Pick is a fair deal. I think Hahn could get more if he waited but I understand why he wouldn't want to. I was going to propose that exact package or one with Reed instead of Laureano. Regardless, I think either package would be very solid from an overall talent perspective, falling somewhere between the Sale & Eaton returns. Sure, Tucker may not be the positional headliner we were dreaming of, but I honestly think there's a good chance he's a top 20 prospect by mid-season. Laureano seems to be criminally underrated and Reed would be a great buy-low candidate. And while that pick is effectively a low end #2 pick, Hostetler was able to land Hansen, Call, & Fisher after the first round in last year's draft. And I haven't even mentioned Martes who gives us another starting pitching prospect with TOR potential. There's a lot to like here, although I can see why some posters would be disappointed, especially if they don't believe Tucker's power will ever develop or if they think Martes is ultimately a reliever.

QUOTE (Soha @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 07:07 AM) I think something is going to happen too. If you follow the Pirates blogger Rum Bunter, he's been saying for a while he KNOWS the Sox want to move Quintana before the season. Bruce Levine has hinted this as well. This all makes sense and comes together. They can't come out and say it, but they clearly want to tank for Beer or one of the high school phenoms scheduled for the 2018 draft, and having Quintana on the team doesn't help that cause. And they should prioritize the future draft pick with everything they do. In other words, don't hold out on 3 deals for that little bit extra, when it can cost you a lotta bit extra come the 2018 draft if we end up picking 6th instead of 1st or 2nd. There's no other ways to get guys like this, unless you get lucky with a slightly later pick. Prospects the caliber of Seth Beer or Kris Bryant or Kyle Schwarber just don't get traded. The Sox are probably learning that a bit as they have been rebuffed in trying to get guys like Meadows, Bregman or Torres this winter. So to conclude, I think Quintana does get moved and probably for what many of us will consider a slightly disappointing return. It feels like the Sox backed themselves in to a corner here and all of MLB knows it. I agree with this. I don't think Hahn will necessarily settle, but I do think he'll take something near the bottom end of his acceptable range that some posters here may find dissapointing. Personally, I'd be ecstatic with a four player package from Houston that was headlined by Martes & Tucker. Given the depth of their system a newly available comp pick, the 3rd & 4th pieces could be incredibly valuable.

Things just might be heating up with the Astros. Phil Rogers says we have revisited traded talks with Houston. The Astros were just awarded two additional draft picks for the next draft. And finally, Bob Nightengale with the obvious Sox office front leak stating talks with divisional rival Texas are getting more serious. I'll continue to shout this, but a move prior to season start makes too much sense for both clubs. The AL West is going to be competitive and I'm not sure Houston can afford to wait to fill what appears to be a pretty big need. Meanwhile, moving Quintana before opening day greatly improves our tank efforts. I'm not sure what the holdup is here, but I'm getting more confident these teams will find a happy medium before opening day with Martes, Tucker, ++ coming back to the southside for Quintana.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 1, 2017 -> 07:46 PM) To clarify, he was specifically asked about Beer, he didn't bring him up out of blue. What was Hostetler asked about Beer?