CWSpalehoseCWS

I really like this signing. Classic high reward/low risk move.

Now that I think about it, if the Sox sign Uribe, could this mean the end of Beckham? Sox get Uribe, move Kepp to 2B until Semien, Johnson or Sanchez is ready, and Uribe becomes the backup IF for 2B, SS and 3B. Makes sense, especially if the Sox do indeed trade for Headley.

Interesting. Seems like that would be 1 too many then to carry on the bench. Maybe Kepp is on the move after all? Uribe would solve that problem of not having a legit backup to Alexei.

Only other WTF player on the 40-man is Heath. I still don't see what the Sox see in him. Nice to see McDade finally moved off for someone more deserving.

Nice read. I really never paid much attention to Bassitt until this year, and I'm really pulling for him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him late next season out of the Sox pen.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Dec 8, 2013 -> 09:53 PM) The Sox have so many problems that...when I look at a garden variety Keppinger year as a rebound....plus Conor against righties..... .......I almost feel like this isnt a priority. I mean, everything is a priority..but you have to figure out what to do with Kepp's $ then.. I say all this in terms of how much cheap labor Quintana provides in the future...............more than Kepp/CG affection, necessarily. The Sox could look into moving Beckham if they acquired Headley. Move Kepp to 2nd as a stopgap until one of Semien, Sanchez, or Johnson is ready. I think that could be very realistic.

If the Sox go into ST with Veal as their #1 lefty out of the pen, then that bullpen is going to be brutal to watch. I like Veal - for what he is. A situational lefty that can be really good when on. But he is not consistent enough to be that go to guy when that tough LH bat is up and the game is on the line. And Leesman is garbage IMO. I've never been impressed with him. He seems like an Axelrod-type pitcher. I hope he proves me wrong though.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 7, 2013 -> 02:41 PM) Murphy's keeping it classy Absolutely 100% poor taste. Saw this on twitter: At least they got their heads out of their asses and fixed their mistake.

I'm not advocating taking AB's away from Abreu, but does everyone realize that the Cuban National Series (where Abreu played) is only 90 games long? Abreu is probably going to need a rest every once in a while so he doesn't completely burn out in the second half. And as for trading Dunn. The Baltimore Orioles are still the best trade partner IMO. They already have a fantastic 1-2 punch with Davis and Jones, so Dunn would not be leaned on heavily as a main power source and would probably hit no higher than 5th or 6th. Their DH is currently a combination of Danny Valencia and Steve Pearce. This is the same team that traded for Mike Morse, a guy who absolutely blew chunks last year. I'm sure Hahn could figure out.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 4, 2013 -> 08:48 AM) Guess I'm one of the few who thinks Ellsbury will age really well. Glad the Sox didn't sign him, but that's a fine deal and I expect him to earn his money. I agree with you, I think Ellsbury is going to be a very good player for years to come. He's going to kill with that porch in RF.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 4, 2013 -> 08:11 PM) You have to think that Japanese players will try and find a loophole if the teams start refusing to post them. Didn't Darvish exploit a loophole so he could come over earlier? I thought Darvish opted out of his contract, but I could be wrong.

I posted this over in the Tanaka thread but in case no one read that: Doesn't sound too good for anyone interested in Tanaka at the moment.

Doesn't sound too good for anyone interested in Tanaka:

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 4, 2013 -> 07:25 PM) With AZ asking about Cespedes and also wanting an ace I wonder if they would "settle" for Viciedo and Quintana? Quintana could put up near ace numbers in the NL and Viciedo has the potential a "poor mans"(and I use that term loosely because he has the potential to be just as good) Cespedes. Could be talking about some of the same guys we're talking about for Sale. I'd be very interested in learning if those two could be traded to Arizona for a nice package. I'd even try Viciedo and Santiago together too. I fear the Sox may hold too much value in Viciedo though. With Abreu signing here, I'd almost think Viciedo, like Ramirez, might hold more value to the Sox than other clubs see. I hope I'm wrong on that though.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Dec 4, 2013 -> 06:13 PM) Hell, I can't fault the logic behind the bolded, but I don't think the mechanics should have anything to do with it. Now that he's had two full, studly seasons, some scouts are saying that his delivery is actually surprisingly "clean", despite the appearance. The CYA tendencies of these guys are funny, and not surprising. And if the fear of the mechanics diminishes the return in any way, fuhgeddiboutit. Oh, and if his arm falls off in year 13, I don't think that will have vindicated the doomsayers. Plus not to mention, looks at the amount of TJ surgeries that many "clean/ideal" delivery guys have had over the years. A guys mechanics is a crapshoot nowadays in all fairness. I think it comes down to whether or not the Sox would find somebody willing to overpay for Sale. No way am I pulling the trigger on prospects unless the other team is literally overpaying for Sale. No fair trade that helps both teams. They other team needs to make a dent in their future.

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.