SCCWS

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 12:02 PM) Changing the topic for just a minute, I feel like if the Sox were going to go the bolded route, they would have actually signed some guys. They've let some pretty decent bats go off the market for dirt cheap. Colby Rasmus would have been nice on this team at $5M + incentives if they were planning to try to compete this year. The Sox would be mentioned more with the DH types on the market. They wouldn't be going into the season with Avi/Liriano at the top of the RF depth chart. They'd be looking at a guy like Hammel. At this point, I think its pretty obvious that the Sox are planning to let Melky and Frazier have a couple months to rake, move them for what they can, and then field a down to the studs starting lineup. That to me doesn't scream a team doing a half assed rebuild. Not trading Quintana prior to Feb 1 doesn't change that. Melky had a very good year last year. I am not sure why he didn't get moved yet, but I think there is a decent chance his value drops. Hopefully he puts up good numbers the first half and has value at the deadline but he is 32 and we could also see a decline as well.

Usually trades made after February 1st are more for filling a hole than a major trade. But we shall see next week. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-brief-his...raining-trades/

QUOTE (ypres @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 04:24 PM) I have no stats to back this up, but I feel like he's going to have a break out offensive year. I think he will move to CF and soon will remind people of Mike Trout.............................................

I wonder what is thoughts are on throw-back jerseys????

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 14, 2017 -> 05:57 PM) Other than Fisher/Call most likely being fourth OFers on a playoff roster, we're looking pretty good. Obviously, we've got the draft, more trades, FA's, international players, etc., to address those holes, too. Jones, Frazier, Jennings and Robertson all have varying degrees of value and can hopefully put up solid numbers in the first half. How old would Donaldson be again upon signing a multi-year deal? I don't see Moncada getting recalled until September. I think he needs a full year in AAA to work on both sides of his game.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Dec 20, 2016 -> 11:56 AM) I don't see it. Sale/Price/Porcello/Pomeranz is a pretty good top 4, and arguably in the playoffs that's all you really need starter's wise. He's not going to pillage his farm system even more for the rotation IMO. Actually Steven Wright is their #4 and Pomeranz is 5th.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Dec 15, 2016 -> 11:06 AM) Guys, seriously. They're shopping Quintana, Frazier, and others as well. You wouldn't be shopping Jose Quintana if the whole purpose was to dump the Drake distractions. C'mon. I also doubt they only wanted to unload the undesirables , but if they did we really don't know if they are truly shopping anyone else until they are actually traded.

I would dispute his statement that Boston would not be able to extend Sale. Not sure how he came to that conclusion since they dumped a ton of money on Price who is a step down from Sale. A bigger question will be how Sale survives the media frenzy in Boston. Some guys like Pedroia and Ortiz thrive there. But Adrian Gonzalez did not. If Sale loves Boston they have the resources to resign him. But I wonder if he will survive the scrutiny.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 13, 2016 -> 12:59 PM) A contender could be very interested in Nate Jones though. He is not a proven closer, but he has the stuff to close out games Often it is the mentality as much as the stuff. But Jones would be a potential insurance package for a team with a questionable closer and he is already an excellent 7/8 inning guy. Also comes pretty reasonable for a set-up guy.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 06:32 PM) Jones gets a blown save if he allows the tying run in the 8th or inning before the last. Yes but Jones also has closed in his career. He has closed 40+ games. But he only was given 3 saves in those 40+ games. In comparison, Robertson in 300 more appearances has 29 blown saves. I don't see someone gambling Jones is a closer and giving him $12 Mil type money

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 04:42 PM) Saves and ERA are bad way to look at a reliever, I agree Peripheral stats like WHIP , hits, k's, walks, FIP all need to be considered Nate Jones is certainly a guy that could have trade value as either a closer or set up man He had a really good season and could be a sell high candidate I think Jones is a very good set-up man. But for his career he has 3 saves and 18 blown saves. Now as some have noted, saves can be a misleading statistic. But saves versus blown saves may be telling. There are certain relief pictures who can be great set-up men but wilt when they come in w the game on the line. Jones may be in that category.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 12:21 PM) Swihart but I really think DD was being truthful when talking about avoiding trades on any 2017 MLB pieces. I think they are going to use Swihart around field. Though I expect them to deal an SP. I don't think they will. According to local paper today, Vazquez will probably be b/u catcher and Young is their 4th outfielder. So it looks like Swihart goes back to AAA.

It makes sense to get the best deal on the table when doing a rebuild. Once you have all the pieces and a feel for what pieces fit your team you can trade the extra to fill holes.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 04:15 PM) My understanding is they already paid him about 20 million of the 31 million dollar bonus. The other 31 million was tax, which the White Sox won't be paying. So in essence they got 11 million thrown into the deal. Not quite as good as 31 million but not bad either. True. Red Sox have to pay an additional $31 Mil owed to Moncada. Supposedly this is why the package was less than Hahn originally wanted.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 04:47 PM) Both Benintendi and Moncada are excellent prospects. Benintendi is further along in his development and profiles to be a fringe all star outfielder with quality skills across the board. He is mlb ready to contribute starting in the 2017 season. Benintendi is an above average fielder. Moncada has above average hit tool and above average power, elite 70 grade speed, great 65 grade arm, and average fielding skills Benintendi has a higher floor, but a lower ceiling. I would place his floor as Jason Kipnis, but an outfielder...and his ceiling as Mookie Betts Moncada plays infield, where offensive production is even more valuable If Moncada can become a .280+ - 20+ home run, high on base percentage hitter who can steal bases he will be a very exciting player for years Moncada may not be an infielder. Great arm but I have seen a lot of baseball people in New England feel he will end up in a corner outfield position. Now he was blocked at 2nd in Boston and struggled some at 3B in minors. It will be interesting after Spring Training where Sox think he should play in AAA

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 04:38 PM) It probably has more to do with the fact Benintendi came up and hit good and Moncada came up and struggled. Fans tend to overreact to small sample sizes (as seen here a lot yesterday). Listening to a Boston talk show today with Felger and Mazz who are long-time media people. They tend to be negative Red Sox since their station does not carry them. They felt Moncada was the one to trade since too many Cuban hitters have not lived up to their advanced billing. Some write-ups have said Benintendi may turn out to be an all-star but Moncada can be an MVP. One compared the two to Fred Lynn and Jim Rice when they arrived.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 01:41 PM) Love Moncada (not the K's), not sure if the others are enough. Kopech is a bigger hot head then Sale, Basbae is a strikeout king as well, and the other is a filler that might end up being a reliever True but maybe that means he has a "closer" mentality. We need Melky to take him aside at spring training since I always have a concern about suspensions

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 01:29 PM) Moncada starts with the Sox next year, correct? Any chance he starts in AAA? Based on his performance in September and the fact he has never been to AAA, I assume he will be in Charlotte next year. He really doesn't have a position yet. But he ooozes potential.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 6, 2016 -> 06:18 AM) How many bats other than Encarnacion are left on the market? The cost savings as well as the age advantage are worth $35-55 million alone...and signing him's (EE) going to cost a pick or picks...so isn't a hitter in the prime of his career a pretty darned valuable asset if you take off your WAR-colored glasses? Napoli who may be somone Boston will go after if EE is too expensive.

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Dec 5, 2016 -> 07:24 PM) It sounds like they aren't doing that. They will trade off anyone they get a good offer for at any time going forward and patch the holes with short term fixes. Someone like Frazier, Eaton, or Jones could be traded at the winter meetings but Sale could potentially be here another year if the asking price isn't met. Don't see how teams are going to get pitchers with how things are going I highly doubt TB is going to sell low on Archer with that many years left on his deal. I think Archer goes but Longoria stays. I know some writers have said Archer could get more than Sale. I think he will bring a little less but will get dealt.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 5, 2016 -> 06:40 PM) Trade him in a year or two when you can actually get somebody to handover fair value. I do not support a Sale trade just to move on. I agree but the longer you wait the more likely his value drops. A year from now he has lost a year of value to the team trading for him. Also next year should have more options for free agent pitching. But maybe Hahn makes other trades, gets prospects and builds them around Sale. I have said many times that Hahn has a value he wants back for Sale and it appears no other teams agree with that value. See what takers there are for Q and Abreu. Hopefully trading them to different teams bring back 5-6 prospects.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 5, 2016 -> 01:23 PM) Moncada. He's can be the Sox version of a Russell or Baez and he can be a staple of the middle infield for the next 8-10 years. Most projections have him landing as a corner outfielder if he can't stick w third.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 5, 2016 -> 01:05 PM) He specifically mentions no Robles in the McCutchen trade but then there's that sentence that I posted. Makes it seem they are trying to keep Turner and Robles then decimate the rest of their farm. It's not possible. Another possibility could be the Pirates don't want Robles in the trade but instead want a different headliner.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 4, 2016 -> 10:29 PM) That seems to be the size of it. They keep their jobs with mediocre seasons, why threaten them with a risky rebuild unless it involves "sure things". Aggravating considering Hahn and co are a lot better at evaluating minor league talent than major league talent. I have said consistently that i don't think they will trade Sale. But in fairness, let's at least give them a week to see how determined they are to "rebuild".

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 3, 2016 -> 10:51 PM) Well it pains to me to say, they are the World Series Champions and with that young core-- they will be very good for the next 3-4 seasons. Normally the team that most recently wins it all becomes the most attractive model. In this case-- its unique because the Cubs were very transparent about their plans early on-- pretty much indirectly admitting to their fansbase they planned on tanking for multiple seasons to obtain high draft picks and seek out quality prospects. When Theo took over in 2012, the Cubs had nowhere near the assets that the White Sox currently have to offer. If Hahn does this right, the White Sox farm system and main roster will be very fun to watch in the very near future. Listen, I know not all the prospects the White Sox get in return will stick-- but as important as quality of returns-- it doesn't hurt to acquire quantity as well. Chris Getz-- you will be very busy the next few years. Don't screw up the development of our incoming prospects and high draft picks. With this accelerated rebuild, I want my favorite team ready to compete for a World Series by 2019-- 100 years after the sad blacksox scandal. How sweet would that be? "100 years after throwing a WS, the White Sox win it all. Okay, sorry. I'm a bit of a baseball romantic. Are you assuming the other team "throwing" it in 2019??