GGajewski18

I'm really starting to lean towards taking Hoffman or Turner. Both their floors are much higher than others.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Dec 21, 2013 -> 12:48 PM) Personally I think that unless you get an MLB-proven young player (who would of course be very expensive) the C situation is pretty much addressed. Loabton excites me like cauliflower in my food. I'd rather we get no MLB backup guy than get someone like that. I'm not sure there's anything left to do there if you can't land a big fish. Then there's the IF sitaution/bench. This would sort itself out pretty well with a trade of Alexei and/or Gordon, but there are other smaller options like dumping Dunn to keep Kepp, dumping Kepp, etc. that could happen if the Sox eat cash. Maybe Gillaspie goes, but I think the Sox would rather keep him as a 1B/3B/LH PH type, and I'd say he makes more sense than Kepp does at this point. Also I'm not sure anyone should be penciling Davidson in for the Opening Day roster at this point. There's there's the SP situation which looks like 3 lefties plus Johnson and some sort of battle between Paulino and Rienzo, but I don't think it would be shocking if the Sox brought in someone else. Rienzo = bleh IMO, Paulino may not be ready, and the Sox might want to use those guys more to push Johnson than anything else. Then there's the DeAza situation with Viciedo looking like he'll take that PT from him. Currently with the bench Jordan Danks doesn't have a spot, which on the surface isn't much of a problem however it is nice to have a true CF and OF on the bench, not just a UT IF being your only real OF bench option. Lastly, the Downs signing pushes Leesman and Veal into a competion with Rodriguez and others, but a small move for another LH project ala Borchard for Thornton/Gload for Sisco/Guerrier for Marte would still make a lot of sense even with Veal out of options. There are probably some other things I'm missing too. So what happens next? I would think the catcher position isn't filled yet. I hope we can acquire a young catcher to fit into this young core that Hahn is building. Grandal and Rosario are on my list. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of Dunn, Keppinger, Gillaspie, De Aza and Beckham traded. I definitely see Downs and Veal as the lefties in the bullpen. Also, with next year's pitching class, I can see Hahn going after Scherzer, Shields or Bailey for the rotation.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 20, 2013 -> 02:14 PM) During Davidson's interview Addison Reed walked behind him doing curls. Pretty funny stuff. Just got done watching the interview. It was funny stuff. Eaton wasn't kidding about the full head of hair. He looks like Robin Thicke lol.

Baltimore just traded for David Lough from the Royals. Did they just get their left handed OFer? Giants get Morse. Running out of teams for De Aza?

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 12:38 PM) Start Viciedo, trade De Aza, Danks as 4th OF. Bingo. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 12:40 PM) I believe the org thinks he could be the next Carlos Lee. Definitely could be. QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 12:45 PM) I don't think either DeAza or Viciedo is a starting OF for a championship team, so I trade whichever one gets me the biggest return, or both if I can get a decent return on both. Platoon is a last resort if there really isn't a decent trade deal out there for either one. Viciedo is only going to be 24 or 25. You don't just give up on him while he's that young.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 08:59 AM) - They are currently below projected budget Tanaka. Tanaka. Tanaka. Oh please Tanaka.

QUOTE (flavum @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 08:31 AM) Hahn on the Score now. Brief summary after please?

I'm really starting to like the idea of Jason Castro. A solid left handed catcher that could hit too all fields and good defensively. What would Sox have to give up to get him?

QUOTE (oldsox @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 06:09 PM) Been thinking a lot about this trade for two days now, and I don't think I would have made it. Reed is a very good closer, only going to get better. His ERA got too high because of 2-3 really bad outings. He took the ball and saved 40 games for a lousy team. The kid has guts and big time experience. I would have kept him. Dbacks got a good deal, IMO. I completely disagree. Addison Reed is a really good closer, one of my favorite players. But, the Sox can develop pitching real well. I have that faith in them, and the Sox can plug Jones or Webb into the closer role. The reason its not a bad trade is because the Sox could of just acquired a franchise third baseman that they have control for 6 years. You don't pass that up when you can fill the closer role internally and get a bat with Davidson's potential.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:33 PM) I think you are right. I have this sick feeling John Buck is going to end up a White Sox. I'd prefer we make a deal for somebody besides Buck and simply dump Flowers. I can take Phegley and a new guy at catcher. I also have a feeling Hahn has more moves in him. I bet he dumps DeAza or Viciedo, just a feeling. I hope Buck is not on this team. I would rather much have a platoon of Flowers/Phegley or Flowers/Nieto. Like again, taking at bats from young developing players. Hahn definitely trades De Aza before Viciedo because even though Viciedo is not all that popular on this board, he still has time and is young enough to turn it around. He's only going to be 24.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:20 PM) I couldn't disagree more. He has literally zero value to the White Sox. If anything, with his contract, he has negative value. There is no need for a veteran slugger to be taking up so many AB's on a team that will not be competing. Ok, I understand where you are coming from, but who is going to take those at bats then? Konerko at full time DH? But then that goes away from your theory taking young hitters from gaining experience. Unless we acquire another left fielder and move Viciedo to DH, I don't see anyone that can be ready by next year. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:20 PM) No doubt about it. Odds are pretty good that at least one of the guys we just got, turns into a bust. I understand, but it doesn't hurt to hope. If anyone, I would think Davidson but if he can still put up a 230-240 average with 20-30 home runs a year than I would be perfectly fine with that. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:22 PM) Hope the AZ guys play like the last offensive prospect the Sox received from them. TCQ. That would be ideal.

1. Jose Abreu 2. Matt Davidson 3. Erik Johnson 4. Marcus Semein 5. Tim Anderson 6. Courtney Hawkins 7. Chris Beck 8. Micah Johnson 9. Carlos Sanchez 10. Tyler Danish 11. Daniel Webb 12. Trayce Thompson 13. Jared Mitchell 14. Jacob May 15. Scott Snodgrass

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:12 PM) Just remember...the right assumption for all of these guys is that they're going to struggle. Assume Davidson is going to look like Tyler Flowers at the plate, assume Eaton is going to look like Phegley. You hope they're going to be better, but if they struggle mightily in their first season...that may only mean they weren't quite ready or that they needed longer to adjust to big league pitching. I agree with Balta. Even though I believe Sox can be somewhat competitive next year, there will be many growing pains throughout the season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 01:10 PM) I think it's pretty much guaranteed that 2 out of Dunn, Keppinger, and Gillaspie will be moved. You just can't have a roster constructed any effective way if they're around. At the worst, the 2 IF's get cut at the end of spring training if they can't be sent elsewhere. De Aza still also seems likely to move, but it seems potentially useful to wait until Choo has signed to see what that does. I really don't see the point in moving Dunn right now. He has more value to us than being on another team right now as he is the only LH power hitter in the line up. I could see 2 of Gillaspie, Keppinger, and De Aza being moved before spring training. I prefer De Aza and Keppinger to go before Gillaspie, as I think Gillaspie could be a good bench guy once Dunn and Konerko are gone. I think the we move Dunn at the deadline, one because hopefully he has a decent season, and he would be owed less money for teams to pay.

No

I don't know if this was posted anywhere but, Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 3h The #WhiteSox have improved more than anyone in #MLB the last 6 months with acquistions of 1B Abreu, RF Garcia, CF Eaton and 3B Davidson. High praise by one of the best baseball writers out there.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:31 PM) That's just stupid. Unless Reed is packaged with three other pieces. I saw that and thought of David Price.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:29 PM) Yeah, Viciedo isnt going before De Aza. It would take a monstrous trade package for them to deal him. As I expect, you just don't deal a 24 year old power hitter after one bad year. He has the tools, just needs to figure it out.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:26 PM) The problem with Viciedo is we don't know what the coaching staff says about him behind the scenes. They could think he just had a bad year and the injuries made it worse...or they could be calling him "uncoachable". If the staff doesn't think they can salvage him, this staff will still be here this year, so it would make more sense to get whatever you can for him now and let someone else take a shot at him. I agree with your points, he still put up a decent average last year, its just that his walk rate was low, terrible defense and not much discipline at the plate. Before last year, he was hitting real well. If he can hit 260-270 with 25-30 home runs the next few seasons, I'd gladly take him in LF and possibly move to DH. He has a cannon for an arm and is mostly accurate with his throws, he just needs to get better reads on balls in the air.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:25 PM) I am legitimately excited for the team at this point. I think everyone is. Hahn has done an amazing job in a short amount of time.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:23 PM) De Aza, Rienzo, Carlos Sanchez enough to get Grandal? I agree, adding Grandal would make me VERY optimistic for 2015. I would think so. MLB LF'er, close to ready MLB #5 long relief guy and a future SS.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:22 PM) I hope it would be Dunn honestly. I like the idea of Viciedo DHing and De Aza playing left and being flipped in June/July to a team that needs a left or center fielder. Edit: Paulie and De Aza would platoon in this situation I guess? De Aza against righties in left with Viciedo Dhing and Viciedo in left with Paulie DHing against lefties? I agree, still way to early to give up on Viciedo. With a good year, he can easily be part of the core.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:21 PM) There was also a "They're still trying to move Dunn, De Aza" blurb early in this thread. Levine I think. I'd guess 3 of De Aza, Dunn, Gillaspie, and Keppinger aren't with this team opening day. What I hope is De Aza, Dunn and Keppinger is gone What I expect is De Aza, Gillaspie and Keppinger to be gone Either way, I'm excited to see what else Hahn has up his sleeve.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:18 PM) I guessed the wrong Arizona CF though. And Salty can't happen. If Hahn can somehow manage to get Rosario or Grandal. This off season will be an easy A for me, if it isn't already.

With the recent additions of Eaton and Davidson, does the change our outlook on the draft? Go after best pitcher available?