CWSpalehoseCWS

I don't know if having Konerko on the team really sets the bench. Beckham could probably play a few games at SS in a pinch. Alexei rarely if ever needs a day off. So a bench or Danks, Flowers/Phegley, Keppinger, and Konerko could work too.

Trading Sale is just dumb IMO. He's a young, cost-controlled ace. He's a piece you build around along with Abreu. Trade anyone else to help improve the team.

Hector Gimenez is back on a minor league deal.

If the Jays are going to non-tender JP no matter what, their asking price must be extremely low. Maybe it's worth it to trade for him for some low-level garbage prospect? As bad as he is/was he still looks like an upgrade over Flowers, although I'm not familiar enough with him to know anything about his defense.

Asencio had a pretty decent year last year in the minors, so I actually like this signing even if it is only to provide depth at Charlotte.

I like to see a question about his stuff. What types of pitches he throws, what the Sox had him work on last year, what pitches he feels are his best and which ones he feels need more work.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 1, 2013 -> 07:59 AM) I know I'll get flamed for this, but I'd seriously consider jumping into the Cano market IF the Yankees move on and sign a different major free agent instead. IMO, the only way Cano gets an insane deal is if the Yankees essentially bid against themselves, which is what Cano's agents are clearly pushing for night now. Take them out of the bidding process and you have a completely different market for him. Still unlikely we'd be able to pull off a deal, but I at least hope Hahn would be talking to Cano's agents. I don't think you should get flamed at all. IF (and that's a big if) the Yankees move on and sign a guy like Beltran, Cano will have to drop his asking price if he wants to return to the Yankees, which could help other teams that have interest in him. I don't see the harm in the Sox looking into him, but considering this team is still a ways away from competing, I can't see the Sox being serious bidders. I don't think the Sox would be willing to offer both the years, and money that Cano will be asking for.

Wouldn't hurt to provide some competition for Veal and Leesman. As long as the asking price isn't ridiculous, I say sign him up.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 24, 2013 -> 04:56 PM) I don't see how a trade makes sense with San Diego at all. Alexei doesn't make any more sense for them than Headley does for us. Unless its a young pitcher for their young hitter swap. Grandal is literally the only guy that makes sense from their team to me. And I think that might cost us Q, not sure they'd let him go for Hector. I'd prefer the Sox look somewhere else. Grandal has been suspended for PED's, and really screwed up his ACL & MCL last year. That can't be good for his long term durability at catcher.

Ridiculous. Not worth that kind of money IMO.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 23, 2013 -> 07:18 PM) Like this idea myself. He's a few years away but why not? Wonder what the Yanks would want. They would probably ask for Quintana back. Big mistake on their part to let him walk in free agency a few years ago.

4 years?! Are they nuts? He's isn't even that good of a pitcher. I can't imagine what Garza and Santana must be thinking. If the demand for mediocre pitchers is that high the Sox should make off with a nice hall if the trade one of Santiago/Q.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 21, 2013 -> 12:15 AM) With all due respect, I love how people see NO possibility of Paulie bouncing back and yet they see the possibility for guys like Kepp, and Dunn still has his supporters, too. Paulie, who can still field the position very well, can still hit lefties. His power has been zapped but that may because of injury. I just don't get why people see Paulie as having zero chance of returning to Paulie form and give these other guys the benefit of the doubt. What if Paulie ISN'T finished? What if he comes out and goes 2-5 every game the first month with an occasional homer? Four homers a month is a 24 homer season. He's capable of that. I never said Konerko can't have a bounce back year. But look at the facts. He's going to be 38 years old to start the 2014 season. With his recent drop production and injuries he's having to deal with I think it is far more likely that he is starting to break down. Konerko had a hell of a run for his 30's compared to other players. My previous comment was not meant to sound like I'm rooting against Konerko. He's been one of my favorite Sox players over the year and deserves a statue and retired number in the future. But the writing is on the wall in my opinion, and this Sox team cannot afford to keep aging players on the roster that are going to continue to get worse. They need to let the kids play and figure out if they have anything special. Blame Dunn too if you want. His immovable contract doesn't allow the Sox the flexibility to carry a guy like Konerko on the roster. If the Sox found a way to dump Dunn, I might be more willing to lean towards my homer-ism and bring back a fan-favorite like Konerko, but even then I still think it is in the teams best interests to let him go. That's why I would rather him just retire, because I don't like the thought of Konerko playing his last season in another team's uniform. This is eerily similar to what happened with Frank Thomas back in 2005 (he was going to be entering 2006 at 38 also). He started showing signs of declining production and injuries kept piling up. I know there were MANY other factors that determined him coming back, but if you had to pick the "safer" option as to who would have a better year, the majority would have picked Thome over Thomas any day of the week. I don't know if Konerko still has the ability to go another 1-2 seasons. I like to think he could and have one hell of a last hurrah, but not many players get that opportunity. Even Konerko is contemplating this same question. If he wasn't he would have already announced his plans for next season.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 20, 2013 -> 09:04 PM) I only mention Sanchez because his season in the minors had many discouraged about him. I don't know the level of play in the Venezuelan League, perhaps it is High A or double AA and Sanchez is still primarily a singles hitter but nice to see him doing well and maybe he can rebound this season in the minors. I never did understand all the discouraging opinions on Sanchez. He was barely 21 and in Triple-A. Who wouldn't expect him to struggle? It's nice to see him have a decent stat line though. I honestly have no clue either as to what the level of competition is compared to in the Venezuelan League, but I bet you are probably right with your assessment. I always think of him as a future Nick Punto-type player for the Sox.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 20, 2013 -> 07:34 PM) Carlos Sanchez is the 3rd leading hitter in the Venezeulan Winter League. .361 BA 119 AB 43 hits, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 13 BB , 20 K , .434 OBP , .437 SLG, .871 OPS http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?po...&pid=570560 Andy Wilkins there also doing well http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?po...&pid=519421 But Sanchez doesn't belong on the bench, he's still so young and needs to be playing everyday. And Wilkins is completely limited to 1B, which is the one position the Sox don't need at this point. I wouldn't be surprised to see Wilkins claimed in the Rule V, considering McGuiness got claimed last year with similar numbers. Anyone have any clue as to why McDade and Heath are still on the 40-man? You can't tell me the Sox can't find a better option than either of those two in the minor league FA pool...

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Nov 20, 2013 -> 06:35 PM) I wonder if the Sox think his versatility makes it easier to keep Konerko on the roster. I really hope not. I really wish Konerko would just retire. He may be a fan favorite and a face of the franchise, but I don't want to watch him struggle again next year while the Sox refuse to DFA/cut him out of respect. Plus, I don't want to see him take AB's away from Abreu.

QUOTE (kevo880 @ Nov 20, 2013 -> 06:20 PM) Could this mean we are trying to find a taker for Kepp and Elmore takes his spot? That makes a lot of sense actually. Although, then the Sox really don't have a veteran presence off the bench. IDK if that is necessarily important, but I'm not sure how I feel of a bunch of young players making up the bench.

Sounds like competition for L. Garcia in ST.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 20, 2013 -> 03:29 PM) I expect to see at least one of our SP's get dealt, soon. Excellent.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:21 PM) This has to receive precedence I think and we can contend even if he goes pile of terds on us. Hahn's apparent drive to expedite the process has me as excited as I've ever been during an offseason. I gotta agree about the offseason. Signing Abreu has really got me excited. I don't expect the Sox to contend, but my excitement level at this time is far greater than it was last year at this time.

Saw Black tweet this article earlier today and I finally had a chance to read it. Gotta feel sorry for the guy, he obviously has worked his butt off and it's highly unlikely he's ever going to see the majors in a White Sox uniform. I wonder if another team will take a chance on him in the Rule V?

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 09:36 AM) Not that it means a whole lot, but it probably cements Brent Morel getting non-tendered in a couple weeks. More likely McDade. Liddi can play 1B too. McDade is a waste of a 40-Man spot. Between Black, Wilkins, McDade, and now Liddi, there's a lot of (not very good) 1B options for Charlotte. I'd be shocked if McDade is still on the 40-Man come ST.

I still doubt the Sox move either of them. Especially Viciedo, he's still only 24, and will be just 25 on opening day. That's still years away from his "prime" years. He still could turn into a nice offensive middle of the lineup bat.

My Prediction: C - Saltalamacchia 1B - Abreu 2B - Beckham 3B - Semien/Gillaspie SS - Ramirez LF - Viciedo CF - De Aza RF - Garcia DH - Dunn Bench: C - Flowers IF - Keppinger OF - Danks UTIL - FA Signing I think the Sox are going to look at Salty more than ever given he was never offered a qualifying offer from the Bo Sox. He offers another left-handed bat which the Sox are in need of, IMO. It just makes sense. Yea, he's not a superstar, and he's far from the best catcher in the majors, but he provides some stability at a position greatly lacking within the Sox minor league system. Flowers is nothing more than a backup catcher that can hit lefties (if he's lucky), and Phegley just did not impress me as starting catching material. Between those two, the Sox should be able to find some type of semi-decent bat that can spell Salty from tough lefties. It's an upgrade from last year. I don't think anyone can argue that. Is he our dream catcher we all wish the Sox had? No, but the catching position is very weak across the MLB in case anyone has noticed. I can't see them going after any of those big name free agents. Hahn's going to try to move Dunn, but at the end of the day it just will not make much sense to eat that contract. I think it's far more likely we see him moved at the deadline when the next 2013 Texas Rangers come looking for a big bat to provide some pop for a playoff push. De Aza stays as well. Again, not the best option, but I don't see anyone blowing the Sox away with an offer for him. He's not the best option, but it sure as hell could be worse. If anyone gets moved, it'll be Santiago or Quintana, and they will be moved for close to MLB ready prospects; similar to the Peavy deal. I really think Hahn has a good plan in motion for the next few years to get the Sox competitive again, and signing aging vets like Granderson and McCann to huge handcuffing deals is not apart of it.

I would pass. He was terrible in 2011 & 2012, and at 34 years old, I can't expect we will see good 2013 Juan more than old, aging Juan. He doesn't even make sense as a platoon player against left-handed pitching, as he has always historically been better against righties. I actually think the Sox are better with Keppinger/Semien against left-handers and Gillaspie against righties.