ChiSox59

QUOTE (Lillian @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 08:00 PM) Latos didn't sign for that kind of money, without some kind of guarantee to get plenty of innings. That's fine, as he is probably a better pitcher than E. Johnson. Nevertheless, the Sox need the depth. They didn't have a single starter lose significant playing time, last year. It would be unusual to go two years in a row, with all 5 starters not having any down time. Come to think about it, I don't remember any Sox starter missing a lot of time in 2014 either. Sale had that ankle injury in Spring training last year, but he didn't miss much time. That is the only instance that I can remember, in the last two years. Am I forgetting something? Rodon missed a start or two with a blister, but that's about it for last year, that I can remember anyway.

I used to throw a knuckle curve back in little league through high school that I gripped fairly similarly to that. It moved more like a slow curve that dropped 12-6, but certainly not like that. Sweet pitch and love the name.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:48 PM) Yep Aside from the Olts and Brantlys, there's some guy named Daniel Fields...never heard of him. Look him up. He's the type of guy you would have loved as a starting outfielder on the Sox a year or two ago!

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:39 PM) Why not? He can gain good ML experience in the pen. Plenty of starters have served time in the pen (like, oh, Sale, MB).(uh, no pun intended). Another year in Charlotte is utterly pointless. I suppose its possible (in the sense that anything is possible), but the Sox don't have a ton of starting depth and he will likely be needed at some point. I still think he may make the opening day roster (whether that be Danks in the pen/released/traded), but I'd bet on Johnson being in the rotation in Charlotte. The Sox will want to keep him stretched out. Plus, our pen is pretty full. We've already got more ML pen arms than we have spots. I am very certain Erik Johnson will not start the year in the pen, and the only way he would result there is due to a ton of injuries, complete ineffectiveness, or just getting some innings as a September call-up.

QUOTE (JoshPR @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:34 PM) Rather have Gallardo. But he wasnt gonna be cheap. Latos is trouble. Wife is trouble too..... Kinda good thing he pitched in another band box before. Used to k some people. Looks like EJ is in the pen or gone No chance. He'll be starting in Chicago or in Charlotte. I suppose he could get traded, but I doubt it, and there is zero chance he goes to the bullpen.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:10 PM) Just makes you wonder what is really up with Latos when Fister, Arroyo, and Masterson all got deals with the possibility to make double what Latos got. As everyone here noted his peripherals were for the most part good and his velocity was even up a tick. Plus he's still under 30. The writing is on the wall for a very plausible bounce back and there was literally 0 market for him? Just doesn't make any sense. Either he's the world's biggest douche or there's something else up we don't know about. Masterson is still a FA, no?

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 02:24 PM) From mlbtraderumors chat: 2:08 Justin: Thoughts on Latos to WSox? 2:09 Steve Adams: Pretty stunned that the deal is $3MM without any sort of incentives. There are tons of reports of Latos' clubhouse persona being a negative, and I've heard from a couple execs who were very averse to the thought of adding him to their clubhouse, but I still expected a bigger guarantee. Love it for the Sox. Aaaand he's a Twins fan.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 01:02 PM) Latos may be an asshole, but this is a very solid move. Danks & Johnson competing against Latos for the #4 & #5 spots is way better than them competing against Turner and now we actually have some depth (assuming Johnson starts in AAA). How many options does Johnson have left?

Latos also gave up 9 ER in 2/3 of an inning on opening day last year. You take that start out and his ERA is a much more palatable 4.25.

This is great. Love the move. Absolutely zero risk associated with it, and he's two years removed from being a top of the rotation guy. He was pretty terrible last year, but bounced around and his peripherals weren't all bad. LOVE LOVE LOVE the move. A little surprised he couldn't get more than $3M.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 10:12 AM) So are we assuming you're just putting them in a time machine and making them play the 2016 season? ie Honus Wagner is great an all, but he might not make it against today's pitching. Or do we just get to copy + paste their stats from that season into our lineup? Think you have to go with an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Might be fun to have an all-time fantastic shortstop instead of the pitcher, but the peace of mind from - barring injury - not having to rely on both EJ and Danks pays off more, I think. 2002 Vlad Guerrero: .336/.417/.593, 39 HR, 40 SB. Last year of Vlad's career before he lost a step and became a defensive liability. 2001 Randy Johnson: I'm taking a lefty because damn if the possibility of having 4 dominant lefties isn't awesome. Young Vlad would be unreal on this team.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) I'm not sure any of these are big enough names that we are going to get a bunch of "non-report" reports from the national writers. Wouldn't be surprised if all of the remaining free agents are just "SO AND SO signs X player to deal" out of the blue. I guess, but the dominoes have to start falling soon, you would think. I guess I could see Desmond and Gallardo going into ST, but there are still plenty of useful ball players out there without QO attached, and someone is going to sign Fowler.

The speculation sure is dead around here.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 8, 2016 -> 11:08 AM) Nate Rackley @RackleyNate @BenBadler Do you see either signing before the start of the 2016 season? If not, a timeframe? Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 12m12 minutes ago No chance. Given MLB's pace, might not see Gurriels playing in games until 2017. Pretty wild that it still takes that long.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Feb 8, 2016 -> 10:40 AM) I'm looking forward to when the Sox are sold and they move to the suburbs. That's my hope at least. Honest question - what would be the benefit to moving to the suburbs?

I've never lived in Chicago or Illinois in my life, so that doesn't make a huge difference to me, except for my annual weekend trip to Chicago for a series. It was a bigger deal to me when I lived in Milwaukee, so it was just a short trip down for games. If they were to move, I'd definitely still be a Sox fan - but I see the likelihood of that actually happening as virtually zero.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 11:05 AM) I'm hoping for the same. If the Dodgers ate most of Crawford's contract and offered another player, then maybe but it would depend on who that other player is. Crawford + money + Thompson for Duke + Webb? Eh, highly doubtful. The Sox are not reacquiring Trayce. Time to put that idea to bed.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 11:12 AM) It isn't really like that anymore. It was a tongue in cheek comment.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 10:52 AM) I think the media is making the Dodgers look more desperate than they really are and it seems like the Dodgers value Ethier more than the Sox. Definitely not looking like a match at this point. I believe the writers when they said the Dodgers prefer to trade Crawford, I would too if I were them. But Crawford has less than zero value and thankfully, the Sox have less than zero interest. So I guess that brings us back to Fowler, lol. ...but KW always gets his guy. Honestly, I hope the Sox have zero interest in Carl, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did, assuming LAD would eat most of his contract.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 10:11 PM) Jon morosi on mlb network said he doesn't see the Sox getting ethier. Said he was the Dodgers best hitter after all star break and they may want to see him going forward. Tho that seems to be his opinion. Also said sox are more heavily involved in the free agent market with fowler and Desmond. JP Morosi is an idiot. He may have some contacts, but he can't value a player to save his life.

Guys, Quintana is not getting traded unless a top 5-10 prospect in all of baseball is coming back. That guy is not the damaged good that is Puig. I don't doubt that the Sox have interest in Puig, but it is not going to be for Q.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 03:43 PM) If that RF is Ethier, then someone needs to face LHP for him as well. That's my point. I agree. That's why I brought up the Ethier AND Austin Jackson. Realistically, Shuck will probably get a fair amount of ABs against LHP if Ethier is acquired. Ethier and Jackson is a pipe dream, but man it looks good on paper.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 11:40 AM) Sands is really good vs LHP though. If Shuck is on that roster, who takes the place of LaRoche vs LHP? That's the problem. Avi. RF is someone not currently on the roster (Ethier/Fowler/Jackson,etc.)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 10:36 AM) Shuck is the only guy they have who can play CF off of the bench. He can play all 3 OF positions. He will be on the opening day roster. Avi should be a LaRoche's platoon partner. If they acquire Ethier or another LH OF that can't hit LH pitching, they should get someone who mashes lefties. Sands comes to mind, but they aren't going to carry 6 outfielders, so something has to give (Cabrera, Eaton, Ethier (or other LH bat), Avi, Sands and Shuck). Either Avi is in AAA or Shuck/Sands is DFA in that scenario, but Shuck is the only guy that can really play CF, unless Leary finds his way on the roster. Austin Jackson AND Ethier should would be nice. vs. RHP: LF: Cabrera CF: Eaton RF: Ethier DH: LaRoche vs. LHP LF: Cabrera CF: Jackson RF: Eaton DH: Avi Shuck is 5th OF and Sands is in AAA where he belongs. Probably a pipe dream, though.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 11:36 AM) Injuries and attitude. Never heard good things about him. Really? Seemed like a pretty good guy to me. Obviously intense, but didn't seem like a bad clubhouse guy at all.