chisoxfan09

A lot of good posts on this thread, I personally think Ozzie is on the bubble to at least bring home the division but I don't know that it will be enough for a new contract next year. Just my 2 cents.

Latest update: #chisox pen not bad w/ sale, thornton, santos, crain, pena. but soriano would be fine jenks replacement -- if they find $ Like I alluded to in previous post this does not seem likely with Boras. Maybe he sold some "Mystery Team" crap to Heyman and he ran with it. Dunno but with Boras you never know what kind of BS is going to come out of his hype machine.

Another wildcard although probably not realistic (Has been mentioned in a few threads) is that JR has given KW the auth to open the checkbook because he wants to be all in since he is 74 and may not be able to enjoy another WS winner in his lifetime. Anything is possible. Especially with KW selling team improvement ideas to JR. But what is obvious is that with Boras as the uber (Darth Vadar Evil Empire) agent representing SOriano this has a snowball´s chance in hell to be true and is just a gimmick to pressure the real players to come to the table with checkbooks ready. Wish it were true though.

He pretty much has been set up now to take the blame if we fail to win the division. He has got most of the tools now.

It seems Rogers is pointing a picture of ultimatum for Ozzie this year. Thoughts?? Link http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...,3684590.column What has been more notable about the White Sox this winter — what they have done or what they have not done? They have super-sized the payroll. Specifically, they have added free agent Adam Dunn and re-signed Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski in the wake of adding Jake Peavy, Alex Rios and Edwin Jackson in the previous year and a half, taking the Opening Day figure near $130 million from $103 million at the start of 2010. They haven't extended manager Ozzie Guillen's contract. Barring a late change of heart by Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Ken Williams, for the first time in his eight-season run as manager, Guillen will enter the season with no contractual obligation beyond its end. Guillen's current contract, signed in September 2007, expires after 2011 with an option for '12 that vests only if the White Sox win the American League Central. Guillen's situation appears exactly that clear — win or go home. By improving the lineup and keeping the starting rotation intact while Peavy works to get back as quickly as possible from surgery to repair a muscle below his right shoulder, ownership is giving Guillen a legitimate shot to overtake the powerful Twins (who don't seem as powerful with Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan attempting comebacks, Carl Pavano lingering in free agency and its bullpen in a transition stage). On the other hand, ownership and the front office is sending a strong message that will be in play if things don't work out. That one never may be stated but it's this: Blame the manager, not us. When Guillen and Williams clashed throughout an up-and-down 2010, one of the subtexts to the soap opera was Guillen had become the so-called face of the franchise because of his daily sound bites and standing as a popular former player. There never has been an ownership group or a front office in professional sports that likes to be told its manager/coach is indispensable, and the White Sox are no different. They are saying to Guillen: Remind us again why you are so valuable. Guillen worked through the media in an unsuccessful attempt to pressure Reinsdorf and Williams into a contract extension in September. It's easy to see why he would have expected one, as management previously had expressed its approval in him by giving him security. Originally signed to a two-year deal with a third-year option before 2004, Guillen received a contract extension in May 2005. The new deal ran through 2008 with an '09 option but was extended in September 2007. Ownership could have agreed only to an early exercise of the existing options but in both cases went one better, adding two additional years. It will speak loudly about a managerial change in the near future if Guillen does go into 2011 as a lame duck. In the wings: Guillen should be in demand if he does leave the Sox after 2011. The Marlins contacted Reinsdorf for permission to talk to Guillen about their managerial opening late last season and were told they could if they would give up a significant player in exchange, most likely 23-year-old outfielder-first baseman Logan Morrison, who had a .390 on-base percentage in 62 games as a rookie. The Marlins passed, opting instead to give interim manager Edwin Rodriguez the job on a permanent basis. But Rodriguez got only a one-year deal, so the job could be there for Guillen after 2011. Rodriguez, who was Guillen's double-play partner for the 1984 Las Vegas Stars, understands many see him only as a place-holder for his friend. Guillen developed a relationship with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria when he served as Jack McKeon's third base coach in 2003, the season the Marlins won the World Series after trailing the Cubs 3-1 in the National League Championship Series. "I'm going to deal with the situation the same way that I dealt with it last year,'' Rodriguez said during the winter meetings last month. "When they called me up back in June, it was a one-day deal, a one-week deal, and so I just concentrate on the task at hand. … I approach it on a daily basis, one day at a time, and now they made an extension on that contract to 2011 … If I don't do my job, it could be Ozzie, it could be anybody. But if I do my job, I'm pretty sure that a good thing might happen." Rodriguez hoped to share a drink and some conversation with Guillen at the winter meetings but Guillen already had left for Venezuela when Rodriguez arrived. The Phillies and Braves are considered stronger teams but the Marlins have Hanley Ramirez, solid pitching and potential young stars in Mike Stanton, Gaby Sanchez and Morrison. The lineup is in transition after trading or discarding Dan Uggla, Cody Ross, Jorge Cantu and Ronny Paulino since late in 2010. Rodriguez says "win/win'' describes his situation. "Not only because I am managing at the big-league level, but because I'm going to have a chance to manage a very young group, and also a very talented group,'' he said. "They have a chance to win a lot of ballgames, and they are going to have a chance to play together for a long, long time. I'm more excited about that than the fact that I'm going to be managing in the big leagues.''

Kinda offtopic but related. Where does anyone thinks Jenks will end up and for how much $$?

KW shoots down CQ trade rumor. http://twitter.com/davandyck/status/13627784962248704

MLBTR reporting this deal may fall apart yet due to the short extension window. Agon´s camp wants the extension done now and the BosSox want to wait, Stay tuned.

Looks like an almost done deal mods do you want to update title or thread? Link: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds..._talk_gonzalez/ ORLANDO, Fla. — According to a major league source, trade talks between the Red Sox and San Diego Padres with regard to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have reached the stage where medical clearance and a contract extension may be the only things standing in the way of a deal that would bring the lefthanded-hitting slugger to Boston. The 28-year-old Gonzalez is expected in Boston today for a physical. Talks have centered around some of Boston’s top prospects, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo and righthanded pitcher Casey Kelly. The deal would likely involve three or four players from the Sox, including one who is major league-ready. The Sox likely would have to be assured that Gonzalez’s right shoulder, for which he underwent surgery last month, is healing properly, and would allow him to start the season. While talks have heated up recently, Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Padres counterpart Jed Hoyer have discussed a possible deal for some time, dating to last year’s winter meetings. Both Hoyer and San Diego’s new senior vice president of baseball operations, Josh Byrnes, were former assistants under Epstein in Boston. Whether the Red Sox would need a contract extension in place to complete the deal is unknown, but they would likely have to know that an extension is plausible. Calls to Gonzalez’s agent, John Boggs, went unreturned. Gonzalez, who was raised in the San Diego area, has an inside-out swing that is perfectly suited for Fenway Park’s left-field wall. He has hit at least 30 home runs in each of the last four seasons, playing half of his games in pitcher-friendly Petco Park. He also has won two Gold Gloves at first base. The feeling was that the Sox planned to take a run at Gonzalez after this season when he becomes a free agent, but the Padres are said to be ready to deal now rather than wait until the trading deadline. By then, the Padres could be in contention, and it would be more difficult to trade their top star. The Red Sox have been courting free agent outfielders Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth in recent days, but it appears they would shy away from giving an eight-year deal to Crawford, and could add Werth, in addition to Gonzalez, if agent Scott Boras’s asking price isn’t too high. The addition of Gonzalez would shift Kevin Youkilis to third base, and the Sox would likely drop out of the Adrian Beltre talks. Boras and the Red Sox spoke yesterday, presumably about Beltre and Werth. Gonzalez is under contract this season for $6.2 million. An extension would likely be for six years at an average of $20 million per season.

MLBTR takes Tim Brown's Yahoo rumors and ponders who could be potential trade partners for the Sox if Beckham really is available. Link: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/11/pote...on-beckham.html I know this site is generally known for picking up other site's rumors but I don't think they are bad.

How about thinking of the radical and contemplating dangling Beckham for Colby Rasmus in a straight up swap? Maybe a A or AA filler from us?

This should pretty much put the Agon debate to rest. No way we can afford him with our budget and KW/JR just don´t have a history of shelling out the megabucks (over 20 million per season) that it will take to even draw interest. Link: http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/669865530630144# Content: spoke to #padres superstar adrian gonzalez's agent john boggs. mentioned teixeira, howard, mauer. clear he seeks 22 mil plus. That translates to 5/110 or 6/132 minimum to get the bidding started if an extension window is even offered by the Pads to any trading partner, let alone what kind of trading package they want. The smart thinking would say that eventhough they had a good year his trade value is much higher at the WInter meetings than at the July dealine next year. There is another article that still puts the Sox as interested trade partners but this ship has long sailed (I was once really excited about the prospect of trying to get him here). More realistic is Paulie on a 2 year with nice salary and incentives.

Anyone think Escobar can develop into our version of Starlin Castro?

JPN- Apart from the decent FB what 2ndary ptiches does he have? I mean I heard the same kind of write-up about Poreda having a great FB and no 2ndary stuff and he has really been a bust.

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,4617074.story Mark Gonzalez has a nice article up about Leesman and how he improved at Birmingham. JPN - What did you think of his delivery, upside, and mechanics? He notes Ozzie really likes his 95 MPH FB. But the downside is behind Sale he is the best lefty in the Org right as a prospect and KW may trade him. Thoughts?

Yeah I don't imagine him to be there in 2015-2016 but was implying it could be a pretty good defensive infield from 2nd to 3rd base.

Would it be possible to imagine an infield defense of Morel, Escobar, & Becks for at the next 4-5 years? Obviously the development of Escobar as a hitter has to continue but it could be a great double play combo for a few years. Morel showed some good contact and has room to improve. Only thing in the grey area is 1B (Konerko or Viciedo)?

Bout time I say to pretty much look to next season, hope Ozzie is gone. Not much hope we are gonna catch the Twins if/when they get Morneau back. Let´s just face the hard facts, we absolutely sucked balls against the cellar dwellars this year and it has come home to roost. The lineup and bullpen have run out of gas (BP just shattered now with all the injuries).

Blaze, too quick for me. :-)

Freddie Offense RISP Scoring Keep it up fellas!! GO SOX!!! Mods, can you merge thread pls..

Peavy has lasted almost 8 years now with the M mechanics and has not had any major elbow issues. Some shoulder but no major elbow ones. As you say some can last longer than others.

Well if we offer him arbitration and he declines and finishes the year as a type A (Big if but he has the potential to be a very good starter) then we get 2 picks. Not bad still.

Dude, I agree. We can´t f´ing win any series against our cellar dwellars. I see another big slide coming.

The bullpen has completely collapsed after the AS break. And our constant inability to beat bottom dwellars has pretty much sealed the deal. We lose this game and it can´t really get worse. But in reality this is worse then that God awful 24-33 start. Must be about 7-8 blown saves now.

I hear ya, I was just pointing out that after 2011 the rotation may change in a big way as Buerhle's contract is over, JDanks may be dangled/traded if he does not commit long term, Peavy (WHo knows how he will return), and EJax is also a FA. Only one under contract with any sort of stability will be Floyd. There will be many threads about this next year of course.