CWSpalehoseCWS

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 02:41 PM) Who is another viable option for the Sox to be their Cleanup hitter? It would be reassuring to know that there is another candidate, if Cespedes signs elsewhere. Please don't tell me that Cabrera, or Frazier is going to bat behind Abreu, or God forbid Adam La Roche. There must be a player out there somewhere, whom the Sox could acquire, without giving up too much. Is there someone, to whom a team would like to rid themselves of paying a high salary, for the next 2 to 3 years? Someone besides CarGo or Ethier? Ask it stands right now, Frazier is most definitely slated to bat behind Abreu. Still better than what the Sox had last year. I just don't see the Sox making any more trades to improve the lineup. It's going to cost too much. Maybe they say screw it and forfeit the pick to get a guy like Fowler to strengthen the top of the order as opposed to the middle. Eaton, Fowler, Abreu, Fraizer is not a bad 1-4. I'd still rather have that big bat though...

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 10:26 AM) Gulp.... https://mobile.twitter.com/masnRoch/status/...387617805709312 Wow, well I hope he enjoys his time off this upcoming season. No one is going to give him a contract bigger than Davis.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 09:11 AM) Should be interesting to see how Kennedy's stats translate to the AL with the DH. If he pitches well, the Royals gave him a good contract but if he doesn't the Royals are stuck like a pig. I guess that's the gamble though. Did the Royals even do their research on him? This is a puzzling move...

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 10:00 PM) I did say that . "Fowler with the cost of a draft pick and Cespedes no draft pick. " I'm losing it. This thread has done me in.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 09:34 PM) I understand perfectly . The Sox need Cespedes more than they need Fowler . Would it be good to have Fowler and his OBP ? Of course . I'd just like it a lot more if there was someone to drive him in . Fowler with the cost of a draft pick and Cespedes no draft pick and one of only 2 players ( Abreu being the other) to drive in 100 runs 2 straight years. Not fooled by a career year one iota. Not only will he produce way more runs but most likely wil save more runs from scoring also while adding a boost to the Sox in just about every way imaginable when it comes to excitement and being competitive. Does Fowler really seem like that guy to put the Sox over the top and into contention after getting Frazier ? Right now I'd like to know there's a guy besides Abreu who can be counted on in the middle of the lineup. Great way to put it. Don't forget to add - you're losing a pick with Fowler.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:34 PM) That was in the early months of last season and the off season heading into 2015. There's really not a huge amount of difference between Frazier/Lawrie in 2016 and Samardzija last year, something like $5-6 million, or about the same as Bonifacio/Beckham. The real issue here has to be cash flow THIS SEASON, because next year LaRoche and Danks will both be off the books. Ah, didn't realize you were referring to last year. I was wondering if I missed when the Sox tried to get Shark back, haha. I'm with you - I don't understand not making a splash in FA when there is a large sum coming off the books next year + a weak FA class in 2017. Unless the Sox are thinking about blowing it up next offseason if they fail yet again, because the high price tags might be realistic at that point...

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:03 PM) Didnt the Sox have some money they were trying to offer shark. Is that money still floating around or did they spend it on something we don't know about. Wasn't that before they acquired Frazier and Lawrie? They went from a middle infield making league minimum to those two. For all we know, that money could have been what allowed Hahn to get both of them.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:02 PM) He's been marketed as a corner OF, too. IMO, any team would be f***ing stupid to put him in the OF.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 05:56 PM) Smart move by Baltimore and I seriously doubt they are posturing for the Davis negotiations. If Boras/Davis want to wait why should Baltimore? Cespedes would fill a void that Baltimore has. Slowly but surely it sounds like Cespedes' market is coming around with Baltimore and Atlanta rumored to have made offers. What I'm really interested to see is if the O's indeed sign Cespedes or Upton. Where the hell else could Davis go? Who else has that kind of money for a 1B?

Could be an interesting guy to go after. I'd rather the Sox sign him if they pass on Upton/Cespedes. I want nothing to do with Fowler or any of the other remaining 2nd tier OF's.

I think the market should start moving soon. O's are either playing Davis or moving on.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 07:33 PM) Josh Reddick is a FA next year. That doesn't mean that the Sox are guaranteed to sign him.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 07:27 PM) I think Sox want to give Garcia one more chance this year. Danks and LaRoche deals will be off the books next winter, If Avi stumbles again Sox will get a new OF. Problem with that is it is a real bad FA market next year. To get a good OF next year the Sox will have to give something up by going the trade route.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 06:56 PM) In 2012, Marisnick was rated as the 35th overall prospect and from what I've been reading is still considered a potential 5 tool player. Might cost more than Adams? I really have no idea. I think any trade talk starting with the Sox would almost immediately revolve around Anderson or Fulmer. Teams would be stupid to not at least try. Doesn't mean that's a fair deal, but I can't see any team not attempt to pry either away.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 09:29 PM) I saw a post on Twitter that was interesting and could possibly be true. It said something along the lines of that the Sox are waiting until SoxFest to announce an acquisition to try to garner more interest in the event itself. I don't know if it's true or not, but it does seem like the Sox usually announce something big at that time. I'd be shocked the Sox would be able to keep a tight lip for 2 1/2 more weeks if they signed a player like Cespedes.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 12:08 PM) I think it's a gamble with a double edged sword. On one side, if Upton performs as usual then he should hit paydirt next winter but if he under-performs he lowers his value. I'm probably in the minority on this but I don't have interest in Upton for a 1 year deal, he either accepts a 3/4 year deal or f*** him and move on to someone else. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see Upton in a Sox uni, just not for merely one season. There's just too many options available to give into his demands, he can either meet the Sox half way or he can piss off. Plus Upton costs a pick. A 1-yr deal is dumb.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:42 PM) Where are the Blue Jays payroll-wise? Apparently around $144M according to roster resource: http://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-toronto-blue-jays-info/ I can't see them adding a big contract to that.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 08:48 PM) As time goes on and more rumors surface, the White Sox stance makes much more sense. The Sox know there's realistically less than a handful of teams that can pony up the money or have the need for players such as Cespedes/ Upton and that there are also numerous options available on the trade market. IMHO, Hahn is playing this perfect. I know the waiting game really sucks but I think when all is said and done, most Sox fans will be happy with what Hahn pulls off. Even if its not Cespedes or Upton. We as fans need to keep in mind that we really don't know the discussions Hahn is having in the FA/trade markets so all we can do is trust that Hahn will add a solid upgrade to the OF. He's playing the market perfectly or so it seems. Kudos to Hahn, I love the fact he's the polar opposite of KW and has patience when trying to make deals - even if it causes us to go out of our minds for waiting around.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 11:27 PM) You can make an argument for Gordon or Upton going shorter because of the horrific FA market next year and their injuries (Gordon) or inconsistency (Upton). For a player in the prime of his career, you're not hearing about many teams aggressively pursuing Upton, at least not in the press. Could be a smokescreen. That said, you could imagine Gordon coming off an injury-filled year betting on himself bouncing back and signing a shorter deal for one year. On the other hand, Cespedes is never going to have a better season and age 30 is the perfect time to strike. Still, there are at least 9-12 teams who would love one of those four. I thought I read somewhere that teams were questioning Upton's effort/work ethic or something along those lines. I could be mistaken, but I swear I saw that in an article recently (could have even been on this board too). If that's true, then that might be why there literally doesn't seem to be any market for him.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 10:54 PM) Maybe cespedes takes a 1 year deal if he don't get offered the money he wanna. Can't see that. He's going to want to cash in on his career year he had.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 09:27 PM) Does anyone know the relationship between Abreu and Cespedes? Are they friends? It has been mentioned they are.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 05:09 PM) If LaRoche hit 240 with 18-22 bombs would make me happy. I can't see that happening. Best bet for the Sox would be to play LaRoche strictly against RHP to get rebuild some value and then try to dump him to a team midway through the season. I can't see LaRoche rebounding to 18-22 HR's while in a platoon.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 09:18 PM) I think it's posturing for sure, I just don't know why the Sox would have done that. Garfien seems to think they could have done this as well, too. I guess what it does confirm, yet again, is that they are right in the mix for one of these guys. Garfien also seems to suggest that no other team is willing to go beyond 3 years for their services as of this moment. That would absolutely shock me if that was the case. Guess we'll just have to see how this plays out. I'll be extremely disappointed if the Sox cannot get something done with any of the big 3.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 04:49 PM) Ok, if not Segura, any other players come to mind to play SS? I'm not super familiar with who may or may not be available SS-wise. I love Saladino's glove but and not sold that he can hit as a starter--he seemed to tail off dramatically the last part of the year. Especially if we don't end up with a big bat from Gordon/Upton/Cespedes, Salad's weak hitting will potentially stand out even more. The only player in FA SS other than Ramirez is Desmond who is going to cost a draft pick. Not worth it IMO. Saladino's 2016 projections are not that far off from what Ramirez did last year. I would much rather see the Sox go with the internal option and allocate their resources towards other positions. I think with the additions of Frazier, Lawrie, and Avila/Navarro to Sox will be ok with Saladino in the 9 spot. The lineup is already 100x better than last year. Adding a big OF bat will only make it stronger.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 1, 2016 -> 04:27 PM) Time will tell if the Sox are indeed moving to the back of the room when it comes to Gordon/Cespedes/Upton. While I'm not ready to throw in the towel on one of these guys quite yet, if we are out of the mix do the Sox quickly pivot to finding an answer at SS or a starting RHP? Who would you target out there if that's the case? There was some buzz earlier on Segura from Milwaukee as a younger SS option, is there a fit there? Any way we can flip Danks or Laroche to the Brewers somehow in the process? Just spitballing here... I really hope the Sox stay FAR away from Segura. Going after him doesn't make any sense, especially if the Sox are as high on Anderson as they appear to be. They need a stopgap at SS for 1-2 years until Anderson proves he's ready. If anything they'd be better off bringing back Ramirez rather than trading more talent for Segura - who hasn't been the same player since he lost his son two years ago. I'm perfectly content with Saladino at SS next season with some of the offseason additions the team has made.