BlackSox13

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 12:53 PM) Fowler > Garcia, therefore Fowler improves the defense. Yep, I agree. I get where the article is coming from but the article also neglects to point out that despite Fowler's defense, he's still an upgrade over Avi so the defense does improve.

http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/around-th...us-another-bat/ I think that's a hell of a compliment coming from Francona.

http://www.royalsreview.com/2016/2/3/10900...ects-the-royals

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 10:44 AM) Garcia does hit LHP decently, slashing .293/.353/.407 in 2015. Ethier and Garcia could "platoon" in 2016 with Ethier getting the majority of the time. Would be a major upgrade to the lineup and Sox would keep that pick. That could work and it keeps Avi's glove off the field on most days. I had what appeared to be a decent idea until I realized it required a five man bench and with Danks/ Johnson back to back at the back of the rotation the Sox will probably want the extra arm in the pen so that idea went down the s***ter quick. Was thinking Ethier/Sands in RF, Shuck/Avi in LF, Melky DH and LaRoche on the bench. Then again, if LaRoche has a poor showing in ST......

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 10:09 AM) I think this was posted before, if so, forgive me. Going off mlb.com depth charts, the top four starters for all of the Sox division rivals are all RHP. Thats unbelievable. Career splits of Fowler versus RHP, .252/.351/.410. Ethier? .304/.383/.507. This is a great point hitman. I was just looking at their '15 numbers... Fowler vs RHP .228/ .331/ .395. Ethier vs RHP .306/ .383/ .517 If the Sox signed Fowler I wouldn't complain but at this point I would prefer Ethier as long as the trade is reasonable.

Really good write-up by Emma. It's a great reminder of who the Sox DID get instead of who they did not get.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 09:15 AM) The question for me is clear. Is the Eithier reporting an effort to get Fowler to push his price down, or are the Sox serious about trying to get Ethier. I think the Sox are serious about both Ethier and Fowler. Both options have some pros and cons so, to me, its a matter of which option makes itself available to the Sox first and that's what the Sox will go with.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:51 PM) If the Dodgers had a use for him. They already have about 4-5 players they can't give regular at-bats to...and a ton of minor league pitching depth. Agreed. If I were the Dodgers, I'd rather keep Ethier than trade him for LaRoche and Danish. I think a trade that could work for both teams would be Ethier + 6.5M in exchange for a Sox reliever.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/02/02/lev...n-andre-ethier/ Levine with another writeup on Ethier. This should signal the kiss of death to the Ethier rumor.

http://inningseaters.sportsblog.com/posts/...nnati-reds.html I couldn't resist posting this because it made me laugh so hard when I read it. The writer is clearly delusional and forgot to take their meds today.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 06:25 AM) They also had a deep OF of Crawford Pederson Puig Van Slyke and Ethier. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 09:12 AM) He has also been playing on a team that has 4 to 5 starting OF's, which the Sox do not. Going by Hahn's comments, they plan to give Avi (RHB) another chance this year in some capacity. The Sox could also use Sands (RHB) as a potential platoon partner. Ehier doesnt hit well against lefties so I doubt he gets too many at bats against them. Ethier is the best option but he won't cost a pick and won't cost much in a trade, just money for the next two years. There are other outfielders I'd rather have than Ethier but there are plenty of others I'd rather not have too.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 09:54 PM) So hypothetically we were to actually trade for Ethier, how realistic is it for him to get 1,100 AB's in 2 years if we don't let him hit against lefties? That vesting option is scary, it would suck being in a stretch playoff run in '17 and having to worry about that $17.5M option vesting with too many AB's I wouldn't worry about the vesting option at all. Last season Ethier had 445 PA total with 48 of those PA against lefties. If the Sox primarily bat him against RHP like the Dodgers did, there's really no chance he gets the 1100 PA.

http://dodgersway.com/2016/02/01/dodgers-a...trade-interest/ http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/andre-e...ot-stove-020116 I'd be willing to give up a " decent reliever " for Ethier.

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 04:27 PM) Wrong guy. Who'd they trade to NYY? Castro.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 03:53 PM) I hope the Dodgers would pay a bunch of salary, but I don't know why they'd need to. 2.9 WAR outfielder last year. Would that guy get 2 years and $36.5 million with no draft pick compensation? Cespedes remember is making $27.5 million this year. I think with the outfielder salaries escalating this year, the value of Ethier's contract isn't as under water , so to speak, as it was this time last year. The Dodgers should include money but Ethier isn't a straight salary dump etheir. Just this fans humble opinion but I think Ethier is worth around 15M per year seeing as how a player like Melky is averaging 14M for his three year contract and Fowler is suspected to make around the same, possibly a touch more.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Oct 21, 2015 -> 07:27 AM) Cage The Elephant announced that their new album will be out in December Cage announced on Facebook they were doing a Spring Fling tour with Silversun Pickups. Chicago isn't on the tour list yet but I would imagine Chicago will be added at some point. If they do, the little woman and I are there! It's that time of year. Lots of bands announcing spring and summer tours on Facebook. I'm getting the itch!

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/greg...ry-yankees.html Sucks to hear a young player like Bird out for the season already. Yanks better hope Tex can stay healthy to play 1B. Wonder if the Sox could interest them in LaRoche. J/K

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2016/2/1/10878476/article http://www.royalsreview.com/2016/2/1/10882...s-brandon-guyer

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 01:18 PM) Next time I am down that way, I will try to give it another shot. However, the eye candy on the website was not what I saw from the actual staff. Mostly tired looking locals, and the layout was pretty weak. With that said, it is possible they have tweaked and made improvements since then. Well damn, that's not very encouraging. Was the food any good? I don't live anywhere near there so I doubt I ever go out of my way to drive down there and see for myself. Then again, with a lack of eye candy it might not be a bad place for the little woman and I to grab a bite.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 01:18 PM) If there was an award given this offseason for just "looking" at a free agent outfielder, we would have taken home the gold weeks ago. Gold, Silver and Bronze. To me, its no different than any other off season full of rumors. I take em with a grain of salt. I just try to have fun discussing the possibilities.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/whit...ter-fowler.html

For anyone interested. The Angels payroll currently sits at 160.3M for 18 players and that includes all their arbitration players. If they add 6 more league minimum players at 500k each, that adds 3M which brings the total to 163.3M for 24 players. The Angels have plenty of room to add Fowler and have payroll space left over.

If the Sox cannot sign one of Fowler/Jackson or pull off a trade for an OF, then go with Shuck instead of signing any of the outfielders under Fowler/Jackson.

What Rogers says makes sense and has been speculated all off season so he's really not reporting anything new. Until some rumors come out with regards to how much money the Dodgers are willing to eat for Ethier, I'll take this with a grain of salt. As for Crawford, good luck Dodgers, lol.

Yep, the Angels and Orioles are still looking for outfielders that could lead off. Texas would be interested on a one year deal and possibly the Indians could be in the mix although they likely shoot for Jackson. I'd like to see the Sox work something out with Fowler but I'm not counting on it. For some reason I lean towards the Sox making a trade instead.