Chicago White Sox

People need to realize that there will be like 5 or 6 starters on the market better than Volquez. The Padres will get something solid for him, but let's not pretend they have a ton of leverage here. Teams will move on to other options if the price is outrageous. Also, there just aren't enough teams anymore that are willing to sacrifice a ton of young talent at the deadline for average players. The new compensation rules won't help either. Prices should come down somewhat, although I think the additional wild card spots will negate that some.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 01:02 PM) Otherwise, I don't know how to do it without using Viciedo. What? We can add a starting pitcher without trading Viciedo. Maybe not Hamels or Grienke, but we can definitely get a decent innings eater for much less. Also, the cost of rentals should drop with the change in compensation rules.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 12:34 PM) Did I miss a game where he pitched poorly? He had a terrible one batter outing when he looked very green. The rest I can remember were fine outings that made it seem like he deserved his role. I didn't see the particular outing, but caulfield has mentioned it multiple times. I've liked what I have seen of him so far.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 10:10 AM) Beck was a consensus top 10 pick prior to bulking up and losing a bit of mobility, which cost him some velocity and ultimately his overall draft status. Lot of upside with this pick. Heiden is young, has put up good numbers, however, his overall stuff is relatively fringy. He is a lefty and he has seen some increases in velocity since joining the system (which is a plus). I tend to think FS as a whole thinks lesser of Heiden than it probably should, however, I can easily see why it is hard to get excited about him when you consider his stuff (he does possess a good sinking fastball). Heidenreich is a righty.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 08:59 AM) The problem of course is that if a rookie reliever comes up in a pennant race and has repeated outings where he can't throw strikes...he might well have a great future as a solid reliever for the next 20 years, but he'd still be a liability during that particular pennant race. Repeated being the key word here. He's had one so far. Let's give him a few more appearances before we start looking at other options for this year. I'm not saying you're guilty of this, but there are way too many people on this site who have no patience for young players. Let these young guys get some work in and get over the initial pressures of being in the majors before writing them off. That's all I'm saying.

QUOTE (WHarris1 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 08:40 AM) All this talk of Humber coming back make me Why? He'd be replacing Axelrod. Worst case scenario, it's a neutral move. Best case scenario, Humber is a significant upgrade. I'm not sure what's not to like.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 08:41 AM) Septimo's going to be on short notice too if he has a couple more outings like Sunday. Walks and no clue about holding the runner (Rajai Davis) on base....wild pitch, the perfect storm of a bad appearance. It's one thing to do well against the Yankees in games that are out of reach, but pitching when the pressure's on? I've seen you make this same statement four or five times now. Why on earth would you jump to conclusions on a reliever after one appearance unless his stuff was terrible? Clearly that's not the case and he's new to the majors. Let's give him some time before we write him off.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 12:20 AM) Is Carlos Sanchez going to have the glove to stick at 2B? I want to be excited about the kid because a 20 year old with those kinds of peripherals - ISO aside - looks like he could be a very valuable member of the lineup, depending on how he fills out. Just based on his height/weight, he sounds a lot like Alexi Casilla. Alexi Casilla - age 21 - A+ - .331/.390/.406/.796 in 359 PAs, with a K% of 10% and a BB% of 8.4%, and much better speed numbers (12 2B, 6 3B, 0 HR, 31/37 in SB). It's eery how similar those seasons really are. So, if Sanchez has the bat to stick at 2B, he could be a nice player. It also depends on how he fills out, because if he can get stronger, a few of those singles can turn into doubles. He is probably the one player in the Sox system I'm the most interested in going forward. Sanchez plays a lot of SS, so I'm guessing he can stick at 2B long-term.

1. Jared Mitchell 2. Courtney Hawkins 3. Simon Castro 4. Keon Barnum 5. Nestor Molina 6. Trayce Thompson 7. Carlos Sanchez 8. Keenyn Walker 9. Tyler Saladino 10. Andre Rienzo

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,5498797.story

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 9, 2012 -> 12:49 PM) Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisBA RT @BAHighSchool: #WhiteSox signed Sammy Ayala for $258,800. Calif HS C went in 17th rd. Physical w/ plus arm, good pop. #mlbdraft Pretty nice get for the White Sox here. I didn't think he was signing. This is great news. Glad to see we're actually using our excess funds.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2012 -> 04:23 PM) I wouldn't feel like a team needs a multi-year run like the Rays to have "broken through" or become good of however we're going to say it. Pirates are right in the thick of things this year, 11 games above .500, leading the NL Central at the break with a better record than the White Sox. Good for them. I'm actually cheering for them to win the division. I just don't think it's going to happen. Also, I hope you realize the Sox are much, much better team than the Pirates. I could care less what the records say.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jul 8, 2012 -> 12:36 PM) What does that matter? Not everyone on your team is going to be long-term, hell we are losing Peavy/Youk next season most likely but that doesn't change what they are doing for us this season. You build from within the organization and take chances on guys like Burnett/Bedard to help get you where you need to be. Because I'm talking about the long-term outlook of the franchise and that right there is 2/5 of a rotation to fill and we're not talking about stiffs. Balta made a comment as if the Pirates have finally broken through and that's just not true. The only reason the Pirates have been good this year is because of their pitching and they'll have to replace those two guys fairly soon or commit big dollars to them that will prevent them from doing other things. Plus their offense is garbage outside of one player. I just don't think they have a great major league core to build around yet. Not sure what you're even arguing here.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2012 -> 09:26 AM) Pittsburgh isn't out of anything yet. But it helps to have guys like Longoria and Price, or McCutcheon and McDonald, etc. Thank you. Pittsburgh may have a good record right now, but it's not going to last, as their offense is incredibly bad. Also, they have two starters in Burnett and Bedard that aren't long-term solutions. Everyone likes how they're building that organization, but let's not give them too much props just yet. One other thing people need to realize is that teams like KC and Pittsburgh have spent big on the draft to quicken their rebuilding efforts, but a good chunk of these over-slot players are Boras clients. So they'll have these guys for six years and then they're likely off to the highest bidders. IMO, the Royals are in big trouble, because by the time they develop a half-way decent pitching staff, a bunch of their position players will be gone.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jul 7, 2012 -> 06:07 PM) I believe the majority here believes Sale will be shut down at some point at the end of season. I don't believe that all. I think there will be one, maybe two breaks along the way. Sale is critical to any post-season success.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 7, 2012 -> 11:57 AM) You guys are delusional for where the free agent market is going. In what sense? I don't see any reason to extend him now, but if he keeps it up the rest of the way, my max offer for him would be two years, $15 million. I really don't see a lot of teams going much higher. His age will limit the years and his reputation will limit the dollars. I think he'd be willing to take a $1-2 million less a year to stay in Chicago.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 6, 2012 -> 04:25 PM) A better hitting backup catcher would at least be useful if one were available. Does Flowers have any options remaining? I don't want to lose him for a marginal upgrade at backup catcher, especially when there is no guarantee A.J. will back next year.

QUOTE (kapzk @ Jul 5, 2012 -> 11:40 AM) String of 4 straight left handed pitching begins today, hopefully Dunn doesn't suck where we see him hit below .200 by the All star break. This is why it would be nice to have Conor Jackson on the bench. He'd be in the lineup today instead of Escobar, which would be a big upgrade IMO.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 30, 2012 -> 10:23 AM) I just don't see getting anything of consequence for Walker or Thompson. Given the Sox having the worst system in MLB, any team can beat that offer. First off, I didn't mean trading them right now. I was thinking more along the lines of 2013 or 2014. Also, toolsy prospects always have value if they're still young. Are either of these guys going to headline a major trade at the moment? No, but they could be part of a package and their value could grow significantly if they improve.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 29, 2012 -> 10:29 PM) If Crain goes on the DL yet another rookie will be called up. I hope KW is looking for relief help. I really don't think we need relief help from outside the organization. We still have several guys in AAA that could provide just as much for nothing.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jun 29, 2012 -> 09:58 PM) Thompson and Walker have done nothing to indicate they will be MLB players. You are jumping the gun here. I agree completey, which is why I said they should be trade bait. Not sure where I jumped the gun.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 29, 2012 -> 05:33 PM) Mitchell would be trade bait if I were the GM. Football players are almost always being in developing anyway and missing a year hurts that. If Hawkins develops like the Sox think, Mitchell is more than expendable. I would definitely consider trading him for something that gets the Sox into the playoffs. Mitchell is far from a sure thing, so I wouldn't lose sleep trading him in the right deal. However, I'd really like to hold on to him if possible. He's shown some flashes this year of being an elite leadoff hitter.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 29, 2012 -> 03:51 PM) I'd agree that he's unlikely to make it in 2013. I think the 2012 Sox outfield, barring a surprise trade or ijnjury, will also be the 2013 Sox outfield, and very possibly 2014 as well. Sometime in 2014, some one or multiple of Mitchell, Thompson, Walker or others (perhaps even Hawkins, but probably not) will be knocking at the door. I agree about the 2013 outfield, seems pretty set to me and I think we're better off giving Mitchell a full season at AAA next year. However, I think there's a good chance we trade Rios before the 2014 season. Mitchell should be ready by then or else he's probably flopped out. Plus De Aza will be a 2nd year arb player, so getting Rios' salary off the books would free up some money for De Aza and other needs. As for Thompson & Walker, I don't see either of them challenging for major league jobs before 2015 at the earliest. Honestly, if Mitchell pans out, we most likely won't even have an opening in our OF until 2016. By then Hawkins might be a serious prospect and we won't want to commit to any other young OFs until he is ready. I see both Thompson & Walker being trade bait in the not too distant future.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 28, 2012 -> 07:52 PM) Humber is going on a rehab start here soon. And Simon Castro has a monster of a game going right now. He may be a lot closer than most people think.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jun 28, 2012 -> 05:15 PM) No conflict at all. With or without Viciedo there's not a lot to build around after this year, dude. Earlier this year you kept saying we needed to do everything we could to acquire young pitching or else we'd be screwed for years to come. Now you want to trade one of our most valuable assets for a rental player in an "all-in" move. This is called a flip flop.