dpd9189

I still think in the end, Castro is the odd man out. Most likely next offseason for a SP. I was reading they have a 1B in AA named Dan Vogelbach who has been raking and there really is no place on the roster for him as well since RIzzo is their 1B. He might be a guy that goes for SP as well.

I've been waiting to see Russell in the majors since he was in Oakland. I think this kid is going to be real good. The good thing about the Cubs being good is the White Sox management always seems to try harder to put out a better team than the Cubs (like all the moves this offseason). Jerry and KW will never sit back and let this team suck while the North Siders are surging.

Great win! Now Sox need to build on this win and win 5 to 7 games on this homestand.

I don't see anything happening to Robin unless the team starts something like 8-20.

It's way too early to say the upcoming series is a "must win" series for the Sox vs. the Tigers but they really can't afford to get swept and fall 7.5 back this early. This team doesn't have the make up to play catch up all year to the Royals and Tigers.

It's not the end of the world but this team really needs to win at least 2 out of 3 against the Twins this weekend.

I think the Sox can finish anywhere from 1st to 4th place in the AL Central. While I don't have a "bad" feeling about this team I don't have a great feeling either. I think for the Sox to make the playoffs the following needs to happen. 1. No big injuries to key players (Sale, Abreau) 2. Samardzija has to have a good year - he tends to have a real good 1st half and then a less than stellar 2nd half. 3. Bullpen needs to be much better - just stating the obvious there. 4. Bottom part of the line up needs to produce, can't just be top heavy. Right now I still have the Sox 3rd in the division behind Detroit and Cleveland, I think KC takes a big step back this year.

Yeah you always take BPA over need. Drafting for need can get a team in trouble.

AL East 1-Boston 2-Toronto (WC) 3-Baltimore 4-NYY 5-Tampa Bay AL Central 1-Detroit 2-Cleveland 3-White Sox 4-KC 5-Minnesota AL West 1-LAA 2-Sea (WC) 3-Oakland 4-Texas 5-Houston NL East 1. Washington 2. Miami 3. Mets 4. Atlanta 5. Philly NL Central 1. Pittsburgh 2. STL (WC) 3. Cubs 4. Milwaukee 5. Reds NL West 1. LAD 2. SF (WC) 3. SD 4. Col 5. ARI WC Seattle over Toronto, SF over STL DS - LAA over Seattle, Boston over Detroit, Washington over SF, LAD over Pittsburgh ALCS - LAA over Boston NLCS - Washington over LAD WS - LAA over Washington

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 11:50 AM) Between Cueto, Porcello, Greinke (most likely), Zimmermann, Fister, Price, Latos and Samardzija I feel there are too many arms available and not enough teams willing to throw huge bucks around now. i feel like Samardzija (knowing who else is out there next winter) may be wise to take a good extension from us now. I agree with you in one sense because as well as Samardjiza has pitched, he was the "Ace" of a bad staff and a bad team for the majority of it and he has had a couple of rough 2nd halves aside from last year so in one sense it would be wise to sign an extension that will guarantee him around $100 mil (he turned down 5/$85 mil from the Cubs). But on the other hand baseball is the one sport without a salary cap and most good players take advantage of that. Samardjiza has been pretty adamant for a while now about testing the market. I think if the offers are all similar and the Sox can come close to matching then he'll stay but all it takes is one team to take that bidding to another level. All that being said I trust Rick Hahn will find a suitable replacement for Shark if the Sox can't resign him after this year.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 4, 2015 -> 11:17 PM) I could see the cubs giving him a shorter deal but for a lot of money. Everything that has been reported lately is they didn't want to lock up another high priced guy in order to go after Price next year. I am not a big Shields fan, but I still hope Cubs don't get him. I think Shields will be a good get for whoever gets him at this point. I think next year's free agent pitchers (Price, Zimmerman, Samardjiza) will command major coin and Shields may look like a bargain. Also take into account that none of the real heavy players (Red Sox, Yanks, Dodgers, Angels) landed any big arms this offseason. I don't see that being the case next offseason. I expect all those teams to be heavily involved in those guys I mentioned. Like I said when the Sox got Samardjiza, I think it's a one year deal. If he has a good year (and we all hope he should for this year's team), I see one of those teams paying him a huge sum of cash that the Sox won't be able to match.

I think Jake's initial post was fair and brought up some good questions and points. Despite all the moves I still think the Sox need a couple more to get them to where they need to be. I still see them as a team on the outside looking in. They need more depth and I think Hahn will address it in time.

Right now I'll say around 80-84 wins. I still don't think Hahn is done and I still think he needs to add some depth to this team as well. Injuries will happen and the Sox have to be prepared to replace those guys with players who will play well in their absence. I think the SP will be fine and the bullpen really can't be any worse than it was last year but the line up still may be a little top heavy. Would like to see a few more moves before the season starts. Also I think the goal should be to win the Central and not the WC route. I know the Central got two teams in this year and KC only had around 88 wins but I think the bar will go up this season and it'll more likely be 90 W's minimum for a WC birth.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 01:17 PM) It will be interesting to see if the Rays consider dealing Longoria to the Cubs after the Maddon tampering fiasco It would depend on the return. If they made an offer the Rays couldn't refuse then a deal probably gets done. The Rays should probably get over it already. If Maddon didn't leave this year for the Cubs then he'd probably leave next offseason for the Cubs/Dodgers/etc.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 11:57 AM) the cost to get this trade done was steep. however even if its for 1 yr, QD him and lets see what the future looks at. i just want to have the sox regain their strut, being the best in chi. It was steep but not even close to as steep as what the A's paid the Cubs to get Samardzija. I think if the A's really would've wanted Anderson or Rodon in the deal, Hahn would've balked and looked elsewhere. I think this trade is win for the Sox on so many fronts. It makes them much more competitive this year for starters. If Samardzija does well here and likes it, it could help entice him to sign long term with the Sox even though I don't think the Sox will get much of a discount. If he signs elsewhere the Sox will take the draft pick for him. Worst case if they stink this year, then they can move him in July and get some prospects for him.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 11:53 AM) As would Price I have a bad feeling Price winds up in LA after this year wearing the blue and white.

TB Times Rays guy Marc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays 5m5 minutes ago #Rays Longoria trade chatter (#Cubs, #WhiteSox) no more than usual winter meetings rumor mill stuff; highly, highly, unlikely he's dealt

No reason to be p!ssy about it but the Cubs are having a very good offseason. Gotta give credit where credit is due. This would worry me much more if it were the Tigers, Tribe, Royals or Twins doing what the Cubs have done. Regardless they're in a different league so at the end of the day who cares.

I think Hahn made a great move getting Samardzija for what he had to give up. That being said I'm just looking at this as a 1 year rental for the time being. I think Samardzija as much as he loves the city and all, first and foremost wants to get paid top dollar. MLB is the only sport without a salary cap and players seem to take every advantage of it. I'm not trying to p!ss on anyone's parade here but this guy has said for a while now he intends to test the UFA market and I believe he will do just that. Not confident he'll be in a Sox uni in 2016 but I trust Hahn in making this team competitive the next few years with or without Samardzija.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 11:24 AM) Unless they do something big, they are going to take a huge hit next season. To be fair to KC, there's still a lot of times to make moves. Not everything has to get done at the Winter Meetings.

Hahn is a smart guy and I think if he does acquire Samardjiza he does with two scenarios in mind. First is hope that the Sox make a run this year and Samardjiza is a big part of that. If the Sox can't re-sign him after the year then they'll gladly take the draft pick. However if the Sox aren't doing well this year then the plan may be to do what the Cubs did last year and flip him for some a high end prospect.

I'm a bit late on the Samardjiza news but here are my thoughts. If the Sox can get him without paying a Kings ransom then do it but I would go into it knowing that it's basically a 1 year rental. If the Sox are doing well this season then you keep Shark for the whole season but if not then you move him by the deadline and get a nice haul back. As for a long term deal, I don't see it happening. JR won't want to give out the years and cash that Shark is looking for and don't be mistaken, he wants to get paid big bucks. If I remember correctly Samardjiza turned down 5/$85 mil, he'll want 6 years, $100 mil plus. Also regardless of where Samardjiza goes, I don't see it happening until after Lester and Scherzer have signed (probably late next week) unless someone blows BB away with an offer.

Russell Martin is a good player but unless it's Posey or Yadi, I wouldn't go crazy on overpaying a catcher. Wasn't a big fan of the McCann signing last year either, catchers bodies tend to break down quicker as well (see Mauer, Joe). Also it doesn't matter who your coach or GM is, it's ALWAYS all about the money. Anyone who thinks different is a moron.

I just don't see the Sox signing Scherzer for $170-$200 mil. Save that money for Sale's eventual extension which will most likely be in the $100 mil plus if he keeps on pitching the way he's been pitching.

Hahn is a smart guy, if he does move Ramirez he won't give him away. The Sox will something worthwhile in return.