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QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jul 13, 2011 -> 03:19 PM) I see what you are saying, but it's quite possible that despite how awful we've looked this season, we could conceivably find ourselves only 3.5 games out in the next week or so. And if that's the case, then I just can't see us making any moves that would even remotely appear to make us weaker vs. stronger for the remainder of this season. The only way I see trades of any useful veterans is if we take a nosedive in the standings between now and July 31st. I agree. I think KW's worst case scenario is that we remain 5-6 games out by July 31, instead of getting hot or completely falling apart. If the next ten days seals our fate, it'll be an easy decision to make.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jul 13, 2011 -> 02:50 PM) I'm assuming all of this talk and speculation about moving significant parts of our ballclub is predicated on the belief that the Sox will collapse in the next two weeks and be completely out of the race for the division by month's end. Because outside of that scenario, I personally don't see any useful veterans being moved for younger talent, especially unproven talent. That would completely fly in the face of and contradict the "ALL IN" propaganda of this year, and more importantly, it would signal another "White Flag" scenario. I cannot for one second imagine Jerry Reinsdorf allowing this organization to get anywhere near a situation whereby the Sox could be construed as throwing in the towel prematurely. The amount of criticism and abuse that was heaved on this organization after the "White Flag" trades of '97 was unbelievable. I could see, maybe, a trade of someone like Jackson for someone who could be viewed as instrumental in this year's race, but otherwise, I just don't see any of this happening, unless we fall out of the race in the next couple of weeks. Maybe it's my faulty memory, but I feel like '97 was totally different. 3.5 games out with lots of signs of life. This year's team hasn't played well at all for 95% of the season so far, and with a record payroll there are major implications in not dealing some guys. This team has the feel of a total failure, only because on paper they should be running away with the division. Of course, that also implies that you don't want to give up to soon because they could get hot, but it would be very very risky to hold onto Jackson/Quentin.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jul 13, 2011 -> 01:57 PM) I almost think Paulie wouldn't mind a trade to the DBags at all...you'd probably have to take back a crappy contract (Zack Duke)...but their farm is rich. Problem is I think they really value their farm and don't really want to purge it. Realistically there's probably only 2 places he'd ok a trade to....AZ and the Angels. AZ needs a 1B badly, too. How much you want to bet we'd end up getting Brandon Allen back? Ha

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 13, 2011 -> 10:09 AM) Except we also know that Quentin is one of the few guys that seem capable of carrying this team offensively right now...we know his streakiness, and usually when you're about to give up on him, he'll put up another hot streak and look like the CQ of 2008 and you feel silly to even think about moving him. I don't know how we can say that we can't afford to pay Quentin $7.5-8 million when we want to pay Danks the same amount...and we're paying Juan Pierre the same as Carlos this year. Maybe you're right. Dunn/Rios/Peavy force us into this cost-cutting mode, but I think it's not sound decision-making unless the player we get back in return will be with the White Sox for at least 4-6 seasons. And we have to remember we're committed to paying AJ $6 million next year. Seems silly to be forced into giving up your second best player offensively (at USCF no less) when offense is the MAIN issue standing between the White Sox and being a competitive team again. We're not even close to being able to count on Dunn and Konerko's due for a return to mean AT SOME POINT, and Quentin's also due to get hot again...so I'm not buying that KW will actually pull the trigger unless it is for Beachy or a similar pitcher. I still maintain that we're pigeon-holed with Dunn/Rios, and if both of them continue to play like AAA veterans, we aren't going to win anyway, CQ or not. We have to assume/hope that they'll improve, we don't have any other choice. Trying to replace their production while they're still here is an exercise in futility. I think you need to put the pieces around them that will work when they work.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 13, 2011 -> 09:34 AM) The Sox basically gave away Ryan Sweeney. The only difference between Sweeney and Bourne is 40 or so steals. Trade Quentin for 40 steals? Uh, no. We need a Pierre upgrade...but it doesn't cost your best (or 2nd to best) power guy to gain that. And those guys who slap-hit, if their OBP falls much below .340, as it does for most of them on a regular basis (including Bourne), their value erodes. Everyone seems to be overlooking the fact that it doesn't make financial sense to keep Quentin past this season. Viciedo is the same player and he needs a home, and Quentin's All-Star season will make him very expensive in arbitration. In this instance, it makes a lot of sense to trade him while his value is at its peak. There are a number of teams that need corner OF bats for the stretch run and CQ is getting colder at the plate with each passing day. You have to take the context into consideration. You need to move the guy, and if you can fill a need like leadoff with a quality player, you have to do it. It isn't as simple as "is Quentin better than Bourne/Beachy/etc." in a vacuum

Extra base hits are good, regardless of whether or not the bases are empty. Every time Jose Reyes leads off with a triple, it makes it easier to drive him in. SLG is great everywhere, but OBP is more important in front of big hitters.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 04:17 PM) E-Jax (and some cash) for Rasmus. Rios for Lowe. Quentin for Beachy. Danks, Jordan Danks, Floyd to Pirates for prospects (preferably a 3B who can hit, to at least push Morel, a LHP, and a catcher. Or something of value). Throw in Flowers if that might get you a catching prospect. Resign Buehrle. Next year's rotation: SP - Buehrle SP - Humber SP - Sale SP - Beachy SP - Peavy/Santiago (when Peavy is on the DL) Next year's OF: LF - Rasmus CF - De Aza RF - Viciedo No offense, but NONE of that is realistic, except 'resign Buerhle.' ATL would not want both Rios and CQ. ATL would not give up two members of its rotation in the midst of a playoff run. STL would NEVER give us Rasmus for only Jackson. Floyd/Danks/Danks is straight out of a video game, PIT would never take that kind of salary on, and if they did they'd have to dump the entire farm which would be a ridiculous move. And the staff we'd end up with up there is a total rebuild of a staff.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 04:00 PM) I agree, there probably isn't a high OBP, "traditional" leadoff hitter available. I would rather the Sox not spend ($ or talent) to acquire a traditional leadoff guy and just find someone with a high OBP that can handle the role. I'm all about that, IF we fire Ozzie so he doesn't insist on making whoever that person is steal every time.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 03:56 PM) Brewers opening day payroll the year they traded for captain cheeseburger: $81 million. Pittsburgh's opening day payroll this year: $45 million. Even if they now have a little bit extra in the budget...they NEED to go with the long term plan. Deviating from it would be suicidal. Agreed. They need to go out and get someone like Carlos Pena - a clear upgrade one a reasonable expiring contract that costs next to nothing in talent.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 01:38 PM) Like I said, he's a nice player, but despite the speed (stolen bases), I would really prefer a leadoff guy with an OBP better than that. As Balta mentioned before, it "feels" like another Lee for Podsednik, but it really doesn't make any sense for the Sox to do this. I would too, I just don't know that there's one available.

You're correct that OBP is a much better statistic when evaluation a leadoff hitter. But SLG is good in any position. Leadoff hitters that get onbase hitting doubles are better than those that get onbase hitting singles.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 01:27 PM) I wouldn't trade Q alone for Rasmus, let alone with Jackson. That seems unbelievable to me, given the financial considerations and the upside and the injury risk.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 02:30 PM) Not those moves alone, no. It'd have to be a sustained plan. And c'mon, do you really think Quentin will tear it up the rest of this year and next? The guy is erratic as hell, and there's a good chance he has a terrible year or that he breaks his wrist wiping his ass. Exactly. Paying Quentin now is paying for his peak performance while probably not getting 70% of it. It doesn't make financial sense when you have Viciedo to replace him on the cheap. Only logical move is to cash him in while he's most valuable.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 01:46 PM) None. That's why I said "creative" ways to trade. I think Jackson and Quentin for Rasmus would be idiotic. Jackson must be a headcase cause he still has good stuff (I guess Cooper can't fix this one) and Quentin is a good player. You're incorrectly evaluating Jackson and Quentin because you aren't taking their contexts into consideration. Jackson has to go, period, because we will lose him at the end of the year, and we have 5 starters already. He is a borderline type B right now, so you try to trade him for more value than a supplemental pick. To get max value, we have to trade him. Quentin is good, but very streaky and inconsistent, and will make $8m next year. We have a younger, cheaper, high-upside replacement in Viciedo in AAA. It doesn't make sense to pony up for CQ in this case. I'm not saying these are bad players, I'm saying that circumstances make it a good idea to move them for other things we need. A power-hitting, high-upside CF like Rasmus would be a great grab for us. No one wants Rios without us eating the contract, so it makes no sense to sell low on him. We can move him to RF and put Viciedo in LF next year. Viciedo/Rasmus/Rios is better and cheaper than De Aza/Rios/Quentin

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 01:19 PM) Teams that have zero use for a corner OF: 1. St. Louis Cardinals. This is true. For some reason I was thinking in terms of them ditching an OF and getting one back, but obviously CQ can't be in center and is not starting over Holliday/Berkman

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 01:20 PM) We should throw in John Danks to be safe. You wouldn't make that deal?!

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 11:35 AM) I don't really get the excitement over Bourn. His career best (this year) OPS is .746. Sure he's more of a prototypical "leadoff" hitter, but he doesn't get on base all that much, and he doesn't have much power. He's a nice player to have, but I wouldn't want the Sox giving up much for him. OPS is not the right statistic to measure a guy like Bourn. His OBP's from the last three years are 354, 341, 351, with SBs of 61, 52, 35. He also has 20+ doubles eery year, and will have 30+ this year. Those numbers, from a guy that can play above average CF, I'll take any day on this White Sox team. It's time to replace Pierre with a real table-setter, and if it means trading CQ for Viciedo, I think it's well worth it, both in terms of the performances and the finances.

Edwin Jackson AND Carlos Quentin for Rasmus

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 10:43 AM) Bourn really doesn't help us. I might be more open if he wasn't a 2013 Free Agent...he won't be extremely cheap next year as its his last arbitration year, and then he's a free agent. Well, he helps us a lot for next year, which is probably the last of our current contention window.

CQ for a couple young ML ready SPs allows us to trade Jackson for prospects this year and let MB walk (maybe for draft pick comp) at the end of the season. Pierre walks, Viciedo promoted, and then we have a few bucks to sign Pierre's replacement. Or maybe flip the Jackson prospects for Bourn or something.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 10, 2011 -> 11:49 AM) It means that the Sox have the pitching staff to beat the elite teams whereas the Twins get by beating the lesser teams and really have no one to match up against the better teams in 7 game series. But why can't the staff that beats elite teams beat lesser teams too? Makes no sense.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 03:59 PM) I don't understand how anyone thinks this team, as constructed, will be anything more than a .500 ballclub. This team is performing at maybe 60% of its capability, and has been all year.

I think Phil Jackson is available.

http://sportsnews72.com/mlb/mlb-trade-rumo...atlanta-braves/

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 05:22 PM) http://mlb.mlblogs.com/2011/07/06/white-so...antas-pitchers/ Mark Bowman of mlb.com seems to think the Sox are definitely scouting Atlanta's pitching but he hints that the Braves would be more interested in Pierre than Quentin. What? God I hope it's Rios that they are interested in. LOL, Selig would veto the deal, fantasy-style.