Frank_Thomas

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 01:22 PM) Where's the option for Alex Gordon? The signing of Upton, Cespedes or Gordon would significantly improve this team going into next season. Danks and LaRoche come off the books after this season and free up money that can go towards signing one of these three players. Gordon might make the most sense in terms of length of contract and dollar amount, plus he bats left handed. Cespedes and Upton would require lengthier contracts I don't particularly like the idea of signing Fowler or Span because of defensive concerns I want nothing to do with Fowler either seeing he costs a pick. Span is an interesting option just not as flashy as the others. But something I wouldn't mind if we strike out on the big three.

I posted this in the J Up thread but I'll do it again since this thread is comparing these guys. Here our a few visual tools to help make your decision. Surfing other fan forums and found this comparing the free agent OFs.... Pretty nice visual tool to compare these guys offensively. HT Angles Win fan forum http://i.imgur.com/PNm8mjt.png http://i.imgur.com/HJcXhkw.png http://i.imgur.com/DSxb0OE.png http://i.imgur.com/0iT6r7G.png http://i.imgur.com/qWpIdsZ.png

Out of J Up, Cespedes, Gordon who do you think gets the most $ and years? I think Gordon cost the least and may be the best fit for this team. A LF handed contact hitter who is an elite defender. Id be absolutely floored with any of these guys. So to choose one is hard because I think all three bring different tools, skills, assets, and character we need. Just get me one for Christmasy Rick please.

Another great move by Hahn and the FO. I love seeing how determined they were not to give up anyone they didn't want to to CIN and in order to get the guy they wanted they sought out LAA to facilitate the trade. As far as the pundits hating it or not liking the move, that a good thing IMO. They loved everything we did last year and we stunk. We as fans are happy and know we got a good deal for a guy who really fits what we are looking for I a lot of ways. Very happy. But I do hope we go out and get Upton or Cespedes. You add one of these guys and we are right there at the cusp of competing for a division title. Do you think Upton and Cespedes sign before Xmas?

Detroits GM says they are not looking to add a LF bat (Gordon/Cespedes) but article also states not to count out the owner Ilitch. This basically means they'll sign them both lol. https://t.co/NogfC2RbiV Link to them saying they are out... But not really...

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 01:58 PM) Where would Sanchez go in this scenario? Utility guy most likely. But have a chance to win the position in spring training and if Alexi offensive production continues to slip.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 01:55 PM) and i know i will shoot myself in the dang foot, but hades, i would even sign alexei to a nice team deal for yr. i still like his hitting, even thou his avg last yr wasn't too good. I was thinking the same thing honestly. Although I wonder if he could play second and allow Saldanio to still play SS. Alexi has seemed to get worse on D but I think he'd be above average at 2B.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 01:00 PM) i think i would like it. if this was a done deal, i think it is a win - win situation. the sox will have a nice bat in ref to the complete hit tools. when the sox goes to cuba, they will have a base of players who many cubans can relate to, and the new pr and media news, coming from that front, as well all merchandising that will open there. popularity growth. I agree with this. I would love to have both Abreu and Cespedes not only in our lineup but both as spokespeople when they go to Cuba. Cespedes is a hitter and brings a plus glove to our outfield. He also doesn't cost a pick and has played and been successful in the AL. I'll take either him or Upton obviously but the more I think about it the more I like Signing Cespedes and if we had the money Murphy. Otherwise an addition of Cespedes and another IF would go a long way to making us in the conversation as competitors.

QUOTE (Real @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 03:32 AM) look at those graphs, Upton is the clear choice if you ask me the strikeouts don't mean much to me as he still has the highest OBP of the group and 2nd highest number of homeruns I agree. It's amazing his OBP is the highest even though he had more strike outs than hits. I would be estatic with either Upton or Cespedes.

Surfing other fan forums and found this comparing the free agent OFs.... Pretty nice visual tool to compare these guys offensively. HT Angles Win fan forum http://i.imgur.com/PNm8mjt.png http://i.imgur.com/HJcXhkw.png http://i.imgur.com/DSxb0OE.png http://i.imgur.com/0iT6r7G.png http://i.imgur.com/qWpIdsZ.png

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 12:18 AM) There's always the option to sign Murphy (who also plays 2B and 3B) and one of the OFs. True but I think he requires a draft pick. So if we did Cespedes and Murphy fine but I don't want to give up two picks if we were to sign him and J Up. Not to mention there is no way we throw that much money out there to sign Murphy and J up, Cespedes, or Gordon. However if we were to trade for someone like CarGo, Puig, Kemp, Either etc. I would love to consider signing Murphy. It's not just about his postseason run that makes him attractive but more of the fact he stroke out only 38 times all of last season. That's the kind of bat we would benefit from in our lineup. Another negative though I'm pretty sure his defensive is sub-par. The stat heads I'm sure are better off assessing that though.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 11:16 PM) I still don't get this: 2 year rent NL Slugger High K, low OBP Dreadful 2nd half Splits heavily tilted to home park. Do we forget so quickly? I'm staring to feel this way about Frazier as well. Another 30+ career National League guy who hits HRs and Ks a lot, we've been down this road a bunch and it hasn't turned out well. I'm just advocating another IF acquisition because an infield of Lawrie, Soldano, Sanchez, and Abreu is not going to do much for us offensively. If we are indeed rebuilding I'm good with it but if the FO is expecting to compete in '16 this will simply not do. Even if we ass one of the talked about OF bats I still think we need an offensive addition in the IF whether it's at 2B, 3B, or SS.

STLCards not chasing Alex Gordon - or any "dynamic" signing, @dgoold reports. So maybe down to CHW, Balt, and LAA ( the O's are rumored to be targeting Gallardo)

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 03:29 PM) Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS 36s36 seconds ago cueto has agreement with giants. 6-year deal. Interesting to see if he got as much as AZ offered or if that decision to turn it down cost him $.

Well this should eliminate them from the OF market. It's been widely reported the had the money to make one impact move whether it's was for pitching or a bat.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 03:25 PM) if JR is really as loyal,as most say, I don't know why he would leave Robin with an in between roster and throw him to the wolves. He is obviously the next fall guy, so get him the horses or back off and make it clear the team is in transition. Great post and I agree 100%

May get a lot of gruff for even mentioning this possibility, but would you all be interested in trading with the Red Sox for either Hanley or Panda if they either ate a large portion of the contract if we gave them a better package of prospects or other players on the MLB roster (hypothetical so I don't want to include names, to spare the it's to little too, too much, etc. You all know better than me who it may cost) or traded Laroach, plus; and absorbed most of their contract. Again I know it's a lot of money for sub par players last season, but we are talking about two NL players who were pretty damn good for a extended period of time. Who transitioned into a new league (which we all know is superior). I have know doubt both of these players bounce back next season and can fill a spot in our dreaded lineup (as of now). But is it even worth the cost in either talent or $? Again just a thought.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 13, 2015 -> 12:36 AM) So you think the Sox will be the 5th worst team in baseball next year, even though they've already upgraded 2 spots and it's only December 11th? This board is absolutely maddening sometimes. I understand your frustration but do you really believe the two upgrades are really enough to make a 5-10 game difference in the win column? Cause I don't! No fan should be happy at the state of this Organization right now. We have literally sucked since we won the WS in '05 which was 9 years ago. Our fan base are hard working blue colored fans who actually enjoy good baseball and show up when we see it. The sad saps they have run out lately have not gotten butts in the seats and unfortunately the Cubs have forced our hands. As much as it sucks to state it's a fact. I don't doubt we are working on more but the fact it was reported we didn't know our direction a few weeks ago is worrisome. I love my sox and will watch, live and breath white, silver, and black. But most cAsual fans won't we need to win and now.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 02:18 AM) Do the Sox have a plan? To me it's so simple. Make the necessary trades to wind up with Frazier at 3rd, Lexi at ss, Lawrie at second and Abreu at first. Is Hahn this dense? That's a winning infield. Then you got Melky in left (ugh, but he could have a better year I suppose), Eaton in center (we all are OK with him) and Cespedes in right (acquire him). Trayce is begging to play which is why we should dump Melky and Avi and sign Cespedes! We have the two nobodys at catcher which is kind of a problem IMO. And we have LaLousy at DH which is a problem. We have GOOD pitching. With these moves I suggest (trade minor leaguers) the Sox would be a team that finishes over .500 and competes for a division title PROBABLY. Without these moves, this team will REEK. Does anybody truly believe the infield of Lawrie at third, Saladino at ss, Sanchez at second and Abreu at first is adequate even?? It's NOT. Then you've got the outfield of Melky, Eaton and Avi which is unacceptable compounded with the DH problem. FIX IT MR. HAHN. It won't take too much. I agree with most of this, as the infield stands today, we are looking at another top ten draft pick and another season like the past 9-10. I don't think we are going to sign Cespedes or trade for Fraizer although I completely agree with your logic and the fact it makes sense I just don't think either of these guys happen. I do however bet Hahn has one or two moves left (hopefully) just by reading between the lines of his comments leaving the meetings, it's a work in progress. After the past few seasons it's hard for anyone to legitally give this FO the benefit of the doubt but we should. I trust they are not done. Most of the baseball world loved our moves last season and we face planted. But Hahn and the scouts and FO can only go by what's on paper and track records of players when they all bomb it sucks, and we as fans lose patience and trust in these guys to right the ship. Lastly, don't think the brain trust doesn't see the threat the Cubs bring to the pitiful attendance and TV viewership problem we already have. After the past two off seasons and last season they know the pressure is on them to fix this thing and make us a winning club again. This is not just about staying relative in this city, but we'll have a generation of Cubs fans coming with all the kids watching the Cubs be built into a dynasty if they continue to win and go deep into the playoffs. For the Whitesox to stay relevant in this city we need to WIN! The time is now for them to get this turned in the right direction. Otherwise casual fans are going to start jumping ship.

By the way as the article states the Philles have $0 on the book for 2019...

Was reading through Bleacher Report and came across an article by Jeff Passan about the possible free agent list for 2018. It's stupid good. It's almost hard to fathom the contracts some of the names will receive in 2018. Especially the way contracts have been increasing dramatically from year to year. But I thought it was a good read and a good topic of discussion. https://t.co/Q6juVf3HGL

Well I think it's safe to go to bed should be an interesting few days and weeks to see where the discussions get us. Good start tonight with Lawrie, hopefully more to come in the near future. Nice job RH and the FO team, go bag a big one now.

Hey Philly, I like your haul.

@CSNHayes plus, Sox 3B combined for a -2.2. fWAR in 2015. Compared to Lawrie's .6 last year, its a +2.8 increase

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 09:53 PM) Money wouldn't fit probably. Have to get rid of LaRoche in need of Upton. So who do you think would DH?