Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 05:00 PM) No it's not a solid deal for the Cubs. #3 starters are regularly available on the free agent market and can be had easily for that kind of money. He'll be 29 this year and unless someone is seeing something I'm not, the Cubs will be shooting for another high draft pick this year even if Sanchez turns into Verlander. The earliest the Cubs could possibly compete, IMO, is 2014; if they think this is their last rebuilding year, then this is $15 million blown, and $15 million less they'll have to spend next year when they are more certain what their actual needs are. If they aren't going to be ready for a post-2013 spending spree and competing in 2014, then this deal is even worse. I think it's pretty clear by this deal that they are targeting 2014 to be competitive. And your comment about having less to spend in 2014 when they finally know their needs is ridiculous. They need starting pitching and lots of it. That won't change between now and next year, so there is no reason to wait until then. Do you really expect them to acquire 2-3 quality starters in one off-season in addition to other needs they might have to fill? The Cubs had to give Sanchez 5 years to make this deal happen, but the cost per year itself isn't that outrageous, at least not in this free agent market. Also, who are all these starters on the market that are as good as Sanchez?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 04:51 PM) Sanchez to Cubs for 5 years and $75 million. The Tigers will be looking for pitching now I assume. Pretty solid deal for the Cubs. Sanchez is a good #3 starter and they can easily to afford to pay him $15 million a year to fill that role. Obviously five years is fairly risky, but at least they're getting him for his prime years.

Rumors of the Cubs signing Anibal Sanchez. If true, guys like Quintana and Floyd quickly become more attractive.

5 years/$125 million

QUOTE (beck72 @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 06:50 PM) There's no hate at all. It's just the sox entire team makeup can't be low OBP, low AVG guys who all hit RH. Alexei, Gordon, Flowers and Rios reverting back to his career norms all project to be similar type hitters as Dayan. The Sox supposedly put his name out there. If they are willing to dangle him, they may be worried other teams may be able to solve him. With his very respectable 2012, you'd think he'd be a cornerstone. Hahn may be thinking differently. And if teams offer up enough talent to fill multiple holes, I could see where a trade would make sense. I wouldn't call Flowers low OBP and I wouldn't call Rios low average, but I agree that our offense is too right-handed and needs more high contact and/or high OBP hitters. If Hahn really wants to improve the offense he's got to move one of our right-handed hitters, I just don't think Viciedo is the guy to move. He has the potential to become a solid contact hitter with plus power and is under team control for five more seasons. Unless you can use him in a package for a left-handed middle of the order hitter, I don't see a reason to move him.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 03:37 PM) His 96 OPS+ disagrees. If you can get someone to give up anything for Viciedo, please do. Wow, you're really going to say a guy blows based on one full season worth of stats. I guess if you don't put up Mike Trout or Bryce Harper stats your rookie year then you're worthless and have no chance of improving.

I still think Hamilton at 4 years/$25 million per makes a ton of sense for us. Trade Rios & Thornton for prospects and we'd only be adding $6.5 million in salary. 1. De Aza, CF 2. Keppinger, 3B 3. Hamilton, RF 4. Konerko, 1B 5. Dunn, DH 6. Viciedo, LF 7. Flowers, C 8. Beckham, 2B 9. Ramirez, SS #1 Sale #2 Peavy #3 Danks #4 Floyd #5 Quintana CL Reed SU Crain SU Jones MR Veal MR Omogrosso or veteran MR Leesman or Septimo LR Axelrod or Santiago (loser starting in AAA)

Missing 3 games in the middle of a pennant race for the birth of his child is what pissed me off. Every man has a right and IMO an obligation to be with their wife or girlfriend during child birth, but I can't comprehend how it required him missing 3 games. He obviously took off as much time as he felt he could, which may make him a good husband/father but a very s***ty teammate. I'm pretty sure someone on here with inside knowledge posted that this rubbed teammates the wrong way.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Dec 12, 2012 -> 05:17 AM) Viciedo comes to mind as a guy likely to be traded. Hahn should be looking at higher OBP guys. In the short term a guy like Jason Kubel could play LF, as the sox need consistent production. Viciedo could bring back some talent for the long term-LH bat, someone who could hit for avg, get on base. Think a guy in AA, AAA, maybe ready by end of next year but for 2014. Dayan prob. Won't hit for avg. and won't walk at all. the sox run the risk of him pulling a Gordon, peaking in his first year. I just don't get the hate Viciedo gets on this board. The kid is going to turn 24 next March and only has one full major league season under his belt, yet so many people are ready to write him off already. What in god's name makes you think he may have already peaked? Also, I bolded the part of your post that bothers me the most. The kid is going to hit a lot better than .255 and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes close to a .300 hitter in his prime. And while he'll never have a great OBP, he's going to walk a lot more as he matures as a hitter and naturally becomes more selective. He showed great improvement in this area in his last season in AAA and even showed some signs for us last year. And let's not forget that this kid hit 25 home-runs as a rookie. The power is his best tool and I'm not sure why so many people are eager to get rid of it given the age of our current 3, 4, & 5 hitters.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 8, 2012 -> 09:58 PM) I just think Keppinger is not even as good as Teahen, that's all. Give it a rest troll.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 8, 2012 -> 11:38 AM) My source gets held to a higher standard by the posters that don't like me. That's the way it goes on here. Marty, I actually think you're an intelligent baseball fan. Unfortunately, the minute you came on here and claimed that Hahn would ever consider bringing back Guillen as manager, you lost all credibility of possibly having a real source. There are so many reasons Hahn would never bring him back, but let me just name three. 1) Loyalty to KW over Guillen 2) Hahn is a numbers guy, Guillen goes by instinct 3) Oney called him and other members of the front office "nerds" Guillen will never be back with this organization as long Hahn & KW are around. If you are honestly suggesting otherwise, then you are some sort of troll, because you know too much about baseball to be this stupid about this particular issue.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 7, 2012 -> 10:38 PM) This is exactly right. This isn't the NBA though. If we give up 4 or 5 good pieces, we'd most likely struggle to build around Upton. Marty, what to guess the cost would be?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 7, 2012 -> 05:18 PM) He did. I don't understand this apparent zeal of the Sox to trade him. He gave us the best leadoff work in a decade. Because his value is at an all-time high, he seems injury prone, and some have questioned his ability to play CF. I get he was very solid as our leadoff hitter last year, but I think there's a case for moving him now while his value is still high. Also, OF is our deepest position in terms of depth in the minors and we have a couple guys who will be knocking on the door in the next season or two. Having said all this, I'm not necessarily advocating trading him. I just think you have to gauge his value, and if even a single GM thinks he's close to an elite leadoff hitter and is willing to pay a premium for him, you move him in a heartbeat and worry about your own leadoff guy later.

These De Aza & Viciedo rumors are both from a Tribune article last night. It was interesting that the article said Hahn was looking for prospects from Seattle for Viciedo. I'm not sure how much stock I'd put in Tribune published rumors, but they do support the notion that Hahn is willing to move quite a few players, including any of our outfielders, to improve the team one way or another. As for Upton, he's a great player but I'd be worried about the cost. If they're asking for Andrus plus from Texas, I don't want to know what it would cost us. Given the overall lack of talent in our organization, I'd rather risk big money on Hamilton then trade four or five good pieces for an area of organizational strength.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Dec 7, 2012 -> 01:42 PM) I don't understand what you mean when you talk about surplus value leading to wins right now. Surplus value is the difference between what a player's talent would cost on the open market and what they are actually being paid. It can be used to determine what a player who isn't a free agent might be worth in a trade. I was referring to your point about Floyd not having as much surplus value as a top 100 prospect. However, I re-read your original post and agree we are in agreement.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Dec 7, 2012 -> 11:32 AM) Unfortunately, only one year of Floyd at $9.5M doesn't offer much surplus value. The estimate surplus value of a top 100 prospect is well over $10M, and Floyd is nowhere near that. Maybe the scarcity and high price of free agents bumps it up some, but the chances are low Floyd himself could bring back an exciting prospect. It saddens me as co-member of the Gavin fan club with wite. The problem with your logic is when a team is trying to compete, then actual production is going to be more important than surplus value. Why do teams pay big money for free agents who will most likely provide less value than their cost? Because they have a given need and future/potential surplus value doesn't lead to wins right now. Teams that want to compete next year and need pitching will run into a problem at some point. The market will continue to shrink and guys like Floyd be in greater demand. These teams will probably have the choice of going with a young guy that has a high potential of sucking, signin a crappy free agent of the scrap heap, or can trade for a veteran with a good chance of pitching 180+ innings with a solid ERA. I understand we won't get a ton for Floyd, but as usual with starting pitching, it's a supply and demand issue and we should be able to get something of value for him at some point.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 6, 2012 -> 08:47 PM) Rumor has it the Mariners may be front-runners for Hamilton and are offering 3/75. If he signs for 3 or 4 years, I'm much more interested, even at $25m per year. QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 6, 2012 -> 09:21 PM) 4 yrs/100 mil. Let's do it. This is what I'm talking about. 3 years/$75 million seems like a no-brainer to me and even 4 year/$100 million may be worth the risk. I would never consider going past 4 years with him, but his elite left-handed bat would change the entire dynamic of our offense. Plus you wouldn't have to give up any talent, although we'd obviously have to clear some salary.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 6, 2012 -> 05:43 PM) Assuming $25 million for Hamilton, that commits roughly $81 million to the following players for both the 2013 and 2014 season: Hamilton ($25 mill) Danks ($14.25 mill) Dunn ($15 mill) Peavy ($14.25 mill) Rios ($12/$12.5 mill) That doesn't include extending Sale nor deals for 2013 nor any smaller deals already signed for 2014 nor any other additions the team may need nor arbitration eligible players. If Hamilton is only going to get three or four years I'd definitely consider it. The new TV deal money is going to lead to larger payrolls across the game and $25 million for an elite hitter like Hamilton won't seem quite as crazy in the near future IMO. Look what average OFs are getting in free agency this year, things will only get worse in a year or two.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 12:48 PM) He's a nice little player...I like that Hahn can see that. This is a good sign for Hahn's first real move. Would have preferred 2 years, but oh well. Agree 100% and it shows that Hahn is serious about winning this year and won't be p****-footing major needs like Kenny occasionally did.

QUOTE (Sockin @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 12:46 PM) 3 yrs, about 12 mil. https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/276396840881106944 Tremendous deal given the current market for 3B. Obviously no one wants to go with 3 years with Keppinger, but it's really not a big deal at $4/million per. Worst case scenario, the guy is an overpriced utility player in a year or two. I do love that he's a high contact, low strikeout hitter. He can either bat 2nd or lower in the lineup to break up some of the low contact, high strikeout guys.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 11:02 AM) Sanchez's optimal value is as a SS, he should not be moved to another position. The problem is that Sanchez is not really a SS. Based on all the scouting reports I've read, his defensive projects to be very good at 2B, but passable at best at SS. If the guy was a legit SS propsect, he'd be playing there almost everyday, but I can tell you from following him closely that isn't the case. The guy is a true 2B, both offensively and defensively.

Does anyone know what the Padres plan on doing with Jedd Gyorko? My Cubs fan friend said there were rumors of the Cubs going after him, offering Darwin Barney plus. If there is any truth to this rumor, I hope the Sox are out there offering Beckham & Rienzo. I know Gyorko is super unlikely, but I hope Hahn is looking at some other 3B prospects that are blocked at the major league level.

Didn't see it posted elsewhere, but Yunel Escobar traded to the Rays for their #9 prospect. There goes another 3B option for the Sox.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 05:47 AM) The deal kicks in 2014. The Sox always say they are at their payroll limit. Sometimes it means Darrin Erstad leads off and plays CF. sometimes it means they are trading for Jake Peavy and claiming Alex Rios. Sometimes it means we get to watch Andy Gonzalez try to play baseball, sometimes it means signing Adam Dunn and bring back Paulie and AJ. Oh ok, I didn't realize it didn't kick in until 2014. Sure seems like teams are already spending this money, given some of the contracts we're seeing this winter. But you're right, the Sox always say they are up against the wall and oftentimes they magically find some money at the last second. There's nothing wrong with this approach, as telling other GMs your exact figure payroll would be plain stupid. I do think we have some money to play with, especially if the pricing changes are expected to bring in more profits.

Question, if there is a new TV deal that's giving all these teams millions of dollars to play with this winter, how come our payroll is going to remain flat according to rumors? I think we have more flexibility than has been reported.