[Going All In Then It's Time to Try Beckham in 3 Spot]

Time to push the learning curve for Beckham. I don't think they win the division with him hitting 9th or Rios hitting 3rd, and while Beckham may be best suited in the 2 spot I believe he still has the potential to be a solid 3 hitter. A Beckham/Dunn/Konerko*/Rios, middle of the order minimizes the base-clogging of having Dunn/Konerko batting back-to-back.

Unfortunately, I don't think Beckham is ready for hitting 3rd and I'd rather not have him bat 2nd if Ozzie is going to insist on sac bunting Pierre over all the time. I'd rather have Ramirez batting 2nd and Beckham batting 7th. If he's got Dunn, Konerko and Quentin in front on him, Beckham is going to have a lot of chances to drive in runs.

[Boston DOES Acquire Gonzalez]

Wow, what a ridiculously backwards way of looking at things. If that's truly how the Padres feel, they are a stupid, stupid team.

 

"Well, we'd better trade this guy before we accidentally contend for the division or something..."

Do you remember the "White Flag" trade? Selling off key pieces in the middle of a pennant race can create a lot of resentment with your fans. Look how long it took our fan base to recover. I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to avoid a similar situation as long as your return isn't going to be insanely better at the deadline.

[Sox engaged in "advanced trade discussions"]

What does Quentin bring that Rasmus doesn't? Terrible defense from an easier position? I also don't know where you get the idea that Williams has stated that the White Sox are interested in Rasmus - if he said that, he'd either be guilty of tampering or you have a pretty damn good source and shouldn't be posting that kind of information on here. Beyond ANY of that, LaRussa has (virtually) no control over personnel decisions, and it's up to John Mozeliak to determine whether or not Colby Rasmus gets moved. Considering Rasmus has like 4 years left before he hits free agency, and LaRussa has like 2 years left before he hits the links, I think he's probably going to keep Rasmus.

 

Buehrle obviously makes no sense because they need to save money to pay for Pujols, and they have an entire rotation under contract. Where are you going to fit Buehrle into a rotation that consists of Wainwright, Carpenter, Garcia, Westbrook, and Lohse (who is due like $10 million)? What value does he add? The answer to that is "virtually nothing," so any trade involving that Cardinals does not involve starting pitching going over.

 

The main player the Cardinals would be interested in would be Alexei Ramirez. You'd also have to include Morel or Viciedo, and then another prospect too. People like to say that Rasmus isn't proven, but, lucky or not, the guy put up a .276/.361/.498/.859 line last year while playing CF. That's pretty much like Beckham doing the same thing. Are you going to trade Beckham if he does that, even if he said that he enjoyed sex with women over the age of 60 and wanted to make love to Ozzie's wife?

Are you saying you think it would take Ramirez, Viciedo and a prospect to get Rasmus? That price seems ridiculous. Why is Rasmus worth so much more than Ramirez?

[Sox engaged in "advanced trade discussions"]

It has to be the Cardinals, KW has a man crush on Rasmus and he will be in the Sox outfield next year.

I think KW wants to get Paulie and Putz signed quickly so he can look at possibly upgrading the existing roster. I still think there's a reasonable chance Quentin gets moved if KW is able to bring in another outfielder and Rasmus would be a great target. I just don't know what we could offer. Unless the Cardinals have interest in Viciedo or the prospects we get in a potential Quentin trade, I just don't see a match though.

[White Sox trade Scott Linebrink to Braves]

I actually think Teahen could have a Mark Derosa-esque effect off the bench for this team.

Unfortunately, two of the guys he would back up, Dunn and Quentin, both hit righties better than lefties, so his value would be minimal there. Also, with Vizquel on the bench, there is absolutely no need for Teahen to ever play 3B. So that really only leaves 1B as a decent bench option and you have Dunn available for those few occasions. The way this team is currently constructed, there's little reason to keep Teahen around.

[White Sox trade Scott Linebrink to Braves]

Is this 100% official? Doesn't Linebrink have a no-trade clause? I'd assume he'd waive it if asked, but I don't want to celebrate until I'm certain he's gone.

[White Sox Off-Season Catch All Thread]

At the moment our bench looks to be Vizquel, Teahen, Castro, and Lillibridge, and likely Dayan Viciedo. We' might have to go out and get someone who can spell Alex in CF, because i don't know how comfortable i am with Lillbridge being thrown out there. It's actually an oddly versatile bench, but it' sucess relies on Viciedo taking a step forward and Teahen assuming career norm production.

To be honest with you, I don't think Viciedo will be on our bench. I think they'll want a legit fourth outfielder and right now that guy is probably De Aza.

[White Sox Off-Season Catch All Thread]

Like it or not...the value of a blocked player who is seemingly limited to playing only 1b isn't going to be a top flight young player.

If you can resign Konerko, why not try to give Viciedo a chance in the outfield in AAA?

[Pierzynski Back; 2 years, $8 million]

I believe he's also out of options next year, so yeah, he'd be moved at the end of ST, because he'd be released.

Are you saying he's got zero minor league options left heading into this season? I thought he still had one left for the 2011 season, but I could be totally wrong about that.

[Pierzynski Back; 2 years, $8 million]

Pretty sure he gets 2011 to establish himself in AAA, if he is not moved by the end of the offseason.

And another season in AAA is the ideal situation, where he can continue to develop and serve as our emergency catcher.

 

I think a lot of people are hating too much on Flowers right now. He's still got a world of potential for a catcher. Last season was disaster, but I want to know if it was the result of too many changes to his swing. The strikeouts obviously need to be cut down one way or the other, but he's got great power and walks a lot. He doesn't need a great batting average to have value as a catcher if those other skills are there.

 

There's absolutely no harm in giving him another year in the minors and seeing what you really have. His value is so low right now, it can't really get much worse. I still think he's going to rebound this year.

[White Sox Sign Dunn]

The only thing I've heard is Sox are desperate to try and get Dunn to make a decision before Angels are done chasing Crawford and Soriano. Everything still points to Konerko going elsewhere though.

If you can get Dunn signed, then Konerko becomes an unnecessary luxury for this team. We don't need two veteran 1B/DH types past this season, since Viciedo should ready for a full-time role in 2012.

 

Even if we could somehow afford both of them, I'd rather spread the money available to Konerko across 1B/DH, C, and RP. I think this team is stronger and deeper with DLee, A.J., and random free agent reliever over Konerko, Flowers, and random White Sox minor league reliever.

[2010-11 MLB Offseason Catch-All]

Jason Varitek back with BoSox.

One less possible landing spot for A.J. I honestly think there's a good chance he's back with us next year. If we can sign him to a reasonable one year deal I'd be extremely happy.

[White Sox Sign Dunn]

Dunn today is worth $15 mil a year just as much as Kong was worth $13 mil a year 5 years ago.

He may be worth $15 million in a general sense, but who's going to pay him that much this offseason? I just don't see a big enough market for him this offseason to get that kind of contract. I don't see him getting more than $40/3 years.

[White Sox Sign Dunn]

Dunn Seeks Four Years, $60MM

I want to know what teams are interested in Dunn, because I don't see many offering him that contract. I think he's going to end up settling for a lot less just like last time. The fact that Pujols, Fielder, and Gonzalez are all free agents next year won't help his cause.

[White Sox Off-Season Catch All Thread]

cst_sox cst_sox

Getting the feeling that it's going to be a long winter for Sox fans - think "The Kids Can Play II.''

This is what I was worried about. Merkin has already started the PR spin in the event this happens:

 

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/artic...ws&c_id=cws

 

CHICAGO -- Near the end of the Giants' 2010 World Series victory over the Rangers, White Sox general manager Ken Williams was asked for an overview of his team's upcoming maneuvers as the Hot Stove prepared to burn brightly.

 

"I will expound on any thoughts, ideas, formulation of plan or plans at the General Managers' Meetings," said Williams, staying well below the radar, where the White Sox thrive on operating.

 

Those General Managers' Meetings have come and gone, with Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings set to begin on Dec. 6 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and it's not completely certain as to which direction the South Siders will be traveling for the 2011 season. Then again, there hasn't been a great deal of free-agent movement overall around the game.

 

Victor Martinez appears to be the most significant signing to date as far as the White Sox are concerned, as the catcher/first baseman/DH agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with American League Central rival Detroit. Although it was reported that the White Sox presented Martinez with a $48 million deal, either at three or four years, a Major League source has confirmed to MLB.com that an official offer was never made.

 

There was interest in the talented switch-hitter on Chicago's part, but clearly not at this particular level. The bottom line is committed money, and decisions to be made over the next few days will influence how the White Sox operate.

 

Tuesday marks the deadline for first baseman Paul Konerko and right-handed reliever J.J. Putz to accept or decline the salary arbitration offered by the White Sox on Nov. 23. If either player accepts, he will be under team control for 2011 at an increase from last year's respective salaries. Konerko earned $12 million in 2010 in the finale of a five-year, $60-million deal, and Putz earned $3 million.

 

Both are expected to turn down arbitration in pursuit of multiyear deals. Their decline would mean that the White Sox would receive two Draft picks for Konerko and one for Putz. It wouldn't mean that the White Sox are done with an organization staple for the past 12 years, in Konerko, and a key cog to a talented bullpen, in Putz.

 

With just more than $80 million already earmarked for 13 players and with a 2011 payroll expected to only slightly exceed 2010's $104 million mark, the White Sox won't have much room to work when they make their way to Florida. At least one left-handed-hitting run producer and a veteran arm or two to solidify the bullpen remains on the agenda, with a replacement for Bobby Jenks also a possibility, although the White Sox have Matt Thornton as a capable in-house choice.

 

Adam Dunn and/or Hideki Matsui would make sense in terms of filling the needs on offense, and both are more than simply pure designated hitters. It seems unlikely that the White Sox could bring on Dunn and bring back Konerko without making trades to free up salary space, so one of the sluggers signing would appear to affect the other.

 

But let's examine a broad-sweeping, potential "What if?" scenario. What if Dunn signs with the Rangers and Konerko signs with the D-backs, as purely hypothetical examples? What if free-agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski, the team's backbone for the past six years who was not offered arbitration, takes his skills to another city?

 

What if the White Sox non-tender Jenks on Thursday if they are unable to work out a trade? And finally, what if the White Sox can't pull off a deal using their surplus of high-end starting pitching to fill another void in a cost-effective manner? Do those worst-case endeavors mean the White Sox will be dormant at the Winter Meetings and beyond?

 

Not necessarily, especially with Thursday's date to tender contracts to players under team control presenting a new crop of non-tender free agents. Then again, the White Sox could go young, an idea floated by Williams.

 

It isn't about going young through rebuilding, with the White Sox having little chance to contend in 2011 -- not with the starting rotation they possess. It's more about giving such dynamic young players as third baseman Brent Morel, catcher Tyler Flowers, left-handed starter Chris Sale, outfielder Jordan Danks and slugging infielder Dayan Viciedo an earlier chance to prove their worth.

 

That decision won't come without growing pains, according to Minor League director Buddy Bell, who has a strong working knowledge of the aforementioned players.

 

"In our situation it's about, 'How much patience do you have and can you have?' " said Bell of the White Sox going in a younger direction. "You go into a season expecting to get into the playoffs."

 

Bell certainly believes that these players have Major League capabilities, but it's more about this talent playing out over a full season. Look at Jordan Danks, who is probably Chicago's best defensive outfielder but still has room to develop offensively.

 

"Guys have shown the ability to have stretches of playing like big leaguers, but inconsistency always is going to be expected in that situation," Bell said. "Again, it's about how much patience we have. It's hard for me to look into a crystal ball and say honestly what's going to happen."

 

Williams could make the same claim as the front-office crew prepares for the Winter Meetings. One thing to always remember about Williams is to expect the unexpected, which covers a great deal of ground with the GM not saying much about his team's plans.

 

"I've learned to worry about everything but obsess over nothing," Williams said.

[White Sox offer arbitration to Konerko, Putz.]

Heyman

I'd love A.J. back on a 1 year, $5.5 million deal and that still might be a possibility.

 

The only two teams I could see with interest and the ability to pay that much for A.J. are the Red Sox and Mets. However, both teams have young catchers who hit righties better than lefties, which would make A.J. an expansive and poor platoon partner. Throw in his so called "character issues" (which may be viewed as a negative when it comes to mentoring) and several cheap backup/platoon right-handed catchers available in free agency and both teams may believe they are better off without A.J. If so, the Sox would have a lot of leverage in negotiations with A.J. and would have made a smart choice in not offering arbitration.

 

 

[Juan Uribe Is About To Get Paid...]

Always have been a huge fan of Uribe, can't ever think of saying a bad word about him.

 

He's one of the players I advocated bringing back on a number of occasions.

 

As far as the comparison with Linebrink, it's just different for a starting player (which he was for most of his Sox career) versus a middle reliever or set-up guy. I get it, Linebrink 2008=Uribe 2004/05, but you have to take into account that Uribe made some huge plays for our WS winning team. If nothing else, that buys him permanent folk hero status.

 

I don't think very many care about barely getting in to the playoffs in 2008, and certainly his performance in 09 and 10 was comparatively worse than Uribe because Juan ALSO was one of the most important ingredients at stabilizing the left side of the INF after Crede went down in 08. Basically, that year's OMar Vizquel.

Which was a role Uribe had great value for us, but not one worth $5 million. That's what he was looking at for 2009 if we held on to him and I think the fact the Giants got him for $1 million shows we made the right call.

 

Just because people didn't want to overpay for Uribe doesn't mean he wasn't valued or liked. We all know he is a tremendous teammate and a clutch performer. He just wasn't worth what the baseball rules were going to force us to pay him.

[White Sox Sign Dunn]

It's a lot easier to rebuild from within when you have a top 10 pick for ten straight seasons, and a top 4 pick for 8 of 10 seasons. Maybe the White Sox should become the worst team in the league for the next ten years, maybe they can become like the Rays.

 

I will give them credit for making some good moves, but they also were bad for a really long time which helped them get the top talent in draft after draft.

Thank you! The people proposing a true "rebuilding" are nuts. It's a total crapshoot and if a huge portion of the players you acquire in trades (from selling off your veterans) and select in the draft don't develop into major league players, then it will be a long and painful process. Furthermore, I'm not even sure if KW and his front office could handle such a task.

 

Also, I don't know how anyone can advocate "rebuilding" when we have a starting rotation like ours. You don't have a 1-5 like ours very often and when you do you go for it.

[2010-11 MLB Offseason Catch-All]

While you've spent time tryinga to convince me of something I already believe...that the fangraphs dollar system is complicated but still remains a useful way of looking comparitively at player value if you pay attention to the reasons why it does what it does...you still haven't argued at all about why the Huff deal is a terrible deal.

I think the Huff deal is a bad move for the Giants. He's wildly inconsistent and your numbers support that to a certain extent. The Giants better hope they get two good years out of him or it will be a major overpay IMO.

 

Also, let me ask you this, what do you think Adam Dunn is going to get a year? $12 - $13 million? Wouldn't you rather pay the extra couple million a year, even if it's for two or three extra seasons, to get a pretty much guaranteed .900 OPS?

[3 added to 40 man roster]

I'm kind of surprised that Santeliz was not added to the 40. I thought the club liked him.

 

Also, surprised that Freddy Dolsi still is ON the 40.

Santeliz was on the 40 man roster last year, but they DFA'd him in September. I don't recall the reasoning though.

[Phils Interested in TCQ?]

Yes please... I don't even care what they get back for him...

You better get something of value back for him. We don't exactly have a ton of power hitters on the roster at the moment. Plus, if we can't sign/trade for any left-handed bats, Quentin at least hit righties pretty well. I have no problem with him being our DH next season if we can at least get one legit impact bat for RF or 1B.

[White Sox sign 3B Dallas McPherson]

Dallas McPherson...the new Josh Kroeger

I don't think that's a fair comparison. McPherson was the #12 prospect in 2005 according Baseball America, while Kroeger never made a top 100 list. Dallas definitely had a significantly higher upside than Josh.

 

Having said that, I doubt McPherson ever does much with the Sox. I do think this is a smart signing however..can't hurt to have some extra depth, especially when we have holes at 1B and DH.

[White Sox Sign Dunn]

"We are in the process right now of determining whether or not adding to the current mix we have would be the most prudent thing to do and gives us the best chance to win a championship or turning some of our players into young, impact guys," he said. "What we don't want to do is we don't want to be in the middle."

 

That's a killer quote by KW up there. I hope he follows his own advice.

 

I'd love to hear how you are interpreting that quote, because I'm not super excited about it.

 

The way I'm reading it is that KW is considering making Morel our starting 3B, Viciedo our starting 1B or DH, and Flowers our starting C instead of signing veterans to fill these spots. That "in the middle" comment makes me believe KW is implying not just making one of these guys a starter but actually all three of them. IMO, this quote seems like nothing more than some advanced PR spin so we aren't all super pissed if the Sox go the cheap way.

 

Also, what's wrong with going with one young guy, say Morel at 3B, and signing/trading for vets at the other spots? I think a mix is the ideal way to go if you're trying to balance current and long-term success. I really don't see how developing three young position players in the same season is really going to give us a better chance to win next year. Especially if one of them of is Tyler Flowers, who needs another season in AAA before he should even enter into this discussion.

[Marlins to Sign Buck]

very good piece.

 

I agree the Sox should offer AJ the arb after reading that article. And if AJ accepts, then what is stopping Kenny from trading AJ somewhere since $6M isn't a huge commitment to a team, and as long as we get a player or two back, even if they are crappy, we can just consider them our draft picks that we would have done if AJ rejected arb. Either way, if he accepts and we trade him, or he declines, we could earn ourselves 1 or 2 prospects in return that we would otherwise not have gotten if we didn't offer him arb.

What's the date we need to offer arbitration by? Isn't there a chance a team desperate for a catcher would sign him before that deadline? I didn't think Buck would move so quickly, but him doing so has thinned out the free agent catching market quite a bit. Maybe a team would be willing to sacrifice a pick (especially if it's a second rounder) and make an offer to A.J. early if they know other teams will be waiting on our arbitration decision.

[Arizona Fall League]

Carter is behind the pace you'd expect for a really good prospect. He started off as a starter, but hung up for a year and a half in high-A ball in 2008 and 2009. Last year, he was moved to the bullpen pretty early in the season, put up a 3.92 ERA in Birmingham which isn't good, but his overall peripherals weren't bad. He doesn't seem to give up a ton of hits, but the 22 walks in 46 innings is the real long-term issue. He'll be 25 this year, so if he made it to the big leagues he'd be on an "Ok" schedule. He could be a middle relief/long relief option this year, but I wouldn't count on him at all this year.

I don't know much about Carter, but I thought I remember hearing that his stuff improved significantly when he was moved to the bullpen. If so, then his performance in the AFL could be a better sign of things to come than his totals in AA.