SOXOBAMA

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales AJ (right oblique) feels better but status for Texas series remains iffy

I'd say the team that improve the most this off season, were the Bears.

What NFL team will be the biggest bust? My vote would go to the Steelers

I'd take Vargas and League

Rangers

If Danks isn't coming back this year, we need to add a quality starter. I 'd hate to have Floyd/Humber pitching a playoff game.

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick In his last 7 starts, James Shields has a 6.15ERA. He's allowed 62 hits in 45.1 innings. Not helping his trade market No thanks for Shields

JJ would be a great addition

I don't think we will be seeing Danks until feb..

Maybe we are trading Reed for Greinke and picking up a bullpen guy to replace Addison.

Chicago White Sox ‏@whitesox Danks said his strength is not great, he’s hoping for better but didn't take a major step back. Chicago White Sox ‏@whitesox Danks said he was hoping for a little better bounce back but has been assured he can keep pushing & building up strength without damage.

I wonder what other bulllpen guy, KW is going after.. I'd guess Brandon League or Darren Oliver Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi #WhiteSox haven’t ruled out possibility of adding another reliever, even after getting Brett Myers.

The signing of Cole Hamels on Wednesday to a six-year, $144-million contract was great news for Phillies fans. But for Mariners fans, it was an ominous development. Not that anyone thought locking up Felix Hernandez was going to be cheap. Not when in April, the Giants' Matt Cain signed an extension for six years and $127 million. But the Hamels' signing is just another reminder of what sort of commitment -- financial, and in years -- it's going to take for whomever winds up signing Hernandez to his next deal. Because here's the bottom line: Hernandez is arguably better than both those pitchers, not to mention almost every other one in MLB. And in 2015, when he starts his next deal, Hernandez will turn 29 in April -- the same age Hamels will be next year when his deal kicks in. Right now, of course, there is considerable debate over whether the Mariners should trade Hernandez, perhaps as soon as next week's non-waiver deadline. But perhaps the more pertinent debate is whether it would be wise for the Mariners to give Hernandez the contract he has coming to him, by virtue of established industry standards and his own body of work. Because, obviously, the two debates are intertwined. If the Mariners conclude, for whatever reason, that they can't, or won't, re-sign Felix, then it would be incumbent upon them to pursue a trade Mariners are paying Hernandez $18.5 million, and until Monday, were paying Ichiro $17 million. That's $35.5 million out of a total payroll of about $84 million -- 42 percent. History has shown that devoting that much to one or two players is not conducive to building a winning team. But to bring Felix back would likely require, based on the progression of salaries we've seen given to elite pitchers -- Hamels' being the latest example -- a deal that averages at least $25 million a season, almost certainly for at least six years. Would that be wise for a team like the Mariner, who unlike the Yankees or Red Sox, can't afford a whiff on a contract that large? As great as Hernandez has been and continues to be, he has been a workhorse in his six-plus seasons. That's part of what makes him great. But you also have to wonder how much of a toll all those 200-innings seasons will take on his arm. Already this year, we've seen decreased velocity, though it hasn't seemed to affect his performance. But those are legitimate questions to ask as you ponder whether to give out an astronomical contract. And they are questions that have to be answered soon, because with Hernandez's current deal ending after the 2014 season, the time to begin negotiations on an extension -- or ponder the dreaded trade -- are rapidly approaching.

Tom ‏@Haudricourt Sticking by my prediction that Zack Greinke will pitch for his new team on Sunday, not the #Brewers. Makes zero sense to pitch for them.

I don't mind giving up Jones for Greinke but not Reed Jones and Santiago for Greinke. Then make a minor trade for Darren Oliver

WSCR) For the White Sox, it’s Zack Greinke or bust as far as the trade market is concerned. Reports have indicated general manager Kenny Williams is hot in pursuit of the former Cy Young Award winner, who is 9-3, 3.44 ERA this season. “The White Sox are trying very hard,” Jon Heyman of CBS Sports told The McNeil and Spiegel Show. “He is choice 1, 1A, 1B – everything else for the White Sox. We gotta see if they can put a deal together. Kenny Williams has been willing in the past to trade guys off the Major League team. I wouldn’t rule out anybody – Addison Reed, (Hector) Santiago, (Jose) Quintana, whoever. because he’s traded in the past. … They don’t have a deep farm system. I know the Brewers don’t like their farm system. No surprise there, as very few do. Kenny has been able to make these deals in the past. I’m not ruling them out, even though Texas has a lot more. The Angels have a little more and the Braves have significantly more also.” Heyman said it might take a young pitcher like Addison Reed to sweeten the pot for the Brewers. “Kenny has been able to do it in the past,” Heyman said. “He’s been willing to take chances, obviously, trading guys off the Major League team that are comparable to the guys that we’ve named. Addison Reed would hurt, but it’s going to have to hurt a little bit to get Zack Greinke when, right now, there are four viable places for him to go.” http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/07/27/hey...in-for-greinke/

Its Greinke or nobody. We are going all out for Greinke, the Brewers want Reed. According to Heyman, he was on WSCR

Gonzo is a great beat writer. I don't think he would mention Felix, if it wasn't possible.

A Seattle top scout wouldn't be scouting the Sox, if it was for Figgins, bullpen help or even Vargas. He would be scouting our minor league system.

I was looking at the numbers of Gavin Floyd vs. Zack Grienke and besides 2009 for Grienke, I was not that convinced that he was that much better than Floyd? How would you compare them? -- Dan Hebreard, Woodridge It's a no-brainer for me. Greinke is much, much better. And don't out Felix Hernandez. Seattle had one of their top scouts at the Sox's series against Minnesota http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...,0,819977.story I know that this is probably a pipe dream but this could be the "Chicago Tough" guy, that KW was talking about. This deal sounds a lot more of a KW deal

We might have to face Greinke this weekend, if he is traded to Texas by sunday.

I've a feeling that KW is toying with the media. KW said he wanted a guy who is " Chicago Tough" and Greinke doesn't fit that at all. My idea is that KW will get Matt Garza. KW knows to get Greinke will put us in the hole next season but Garza is signed through next season.

He is the beat writer for the Brewers.

I'd trade Floyd in the off season for pitching prospects. I want him & Q on our playoff roster.

Tom ‏@Haudricourt Four teams that have shown most interest in #Brewers Zack Greinke: Rangers, Angels, Braves, White Sox. I'd handicap them in that order.