BlackSox13

https://mobile.twitter.com/jonmorosi/status...831196200341504

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14668027...-tampa-bay-rays

I'm going to guess that Jacob Faria is the ML pitcher going to the Rockies.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_294455...dickerson-tampa

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 03:36 PM) Quentin had a rough time with it as well. Good call, I forgot about Quentin. If the Sox had the DH spot open to rotate the outfielders then it would make more sense for the Sox to take that chance, but they don't. I would imagine this is what the Rays will do with Dickerson.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 03:28 PM) The Sox couldn't beat that offer? Seriously? What the hell is Hahn doing? No, Fathom, I'm not melting down. I'm just genuinely baffled as to why Hahn has done absolutely NOTHING to fix the OF problem the Sox have. Do you remember how difficult of a time Gillaspie had with plantar fasciitis? It's even more risky for an outfielder and likely why the Rockies signed Parra and traded Dickerson.

Using Avi to call season ticket holders sure sounds more like the Sox are trying to sell Avi to the fans instead of selling tickets. My questions to Avi would be " shouldn't you be in Arizona? Why werent you invited to camp with the rest of the kids? Do the other kids pick on you? Are you allergic to extra BP/fielding practice? Does Allegra make an anti-histamine that would allow you to take part in extra BP/fielding? Do you need Kleenex because you sound a bit, nasally? Oh, I'm sorry, I've made you cry haven't I? Well, now you know how I feel when I see you step onto the field don't you? Avi, still there? Aaaaaavi, Aaaaaavi, Aaaaaaavi?. *dial tone*" he gawn... to Arizona I hope!

At first if you don't succeed... try, try and try yet again. What was the definition of insanity?

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 01:31 PM) Ha, LaAvi, also well played The way I see it The Sox should/would rather have Eaton potentially swinging the bat then walking, as the stats show him to be a much better all around hitter than Fowler (both power and contact-wise). I am not against Fowler leading off and Eaton 2nd, but I prefer the other way around, due to Fowler's high K rate. I'd rather Eaton leads off, gets on and gets himself to either 2nd or 3rd during Fowler's at-bat, rather than Eaton coming up with nobody on and 1 away after Fowler K's to lead things off. Either way is fine really, so I guess we should expect Robin to get it wrong more often than not Definitely a case can be made for either way. Imo,can't to wrong those those two as #1 and #2 in the lineup. With Fowler being a switch hitter the Sox could go Eaton, Fowler against RHP and Fowler, Eaton against LHP. I like the versatility Fowler would bring to the first spots in the lineup. The idea of signing Fowler just keeps getting better in my mind. Come on Hahn, make it happen buddy.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 11:04 AM) I agree with this. I think the best options for the Sox are either Fowler + Latos, Desmond + Jackson, or Jackson + Latos. At this point, I think I'd be ok with any of those 3 scenarios. I like the Fowler/Latos idea best but, like you, I'd be fine with any of those three combos.

I can dig em. Just looked at Majestic's website and the ST uniforms aren't available for sale, not yet anyway.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 10:53 AM) Speaking of outfielders, Jermaine Dye and Magglio Ordonez both turn 42 today. If you're older than them, you're old, but if you're younger than them, you're young. That's what I tell my wife. Damn, I'm old!

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 11:19 AM) Why was his velocity so bad last year? Was he injured or something? If he has arm problems that I don't know about, then I'm happy that the Sox passed up on him. Fister had a flexor strain that that is suspected to be the cause of his down season and velo drop. Who knows, maybe he's healthy now but imo, not worth the risk for a team like the Sox.

The Astros can have Fister and his 86mph fasball. No thank you to Fister.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 10:55 AM) I'd keep Eaton leading off due to Fowler's higher K rate, and probably hit LaWhiff 7th. Either way I like this lineup and can see it scoring a lot of runs. I hear ya. My rationale is batting the 6'5" Forwler leadoff and if he gets on ahead of Eaton, the pitcher will be thinking about Fowler potentially stealing second while trying to pitch into Eaton's 5'8" tea cup of a strike zone. As for LaWhiff ( good one, BTW) I was just trying to get a better hitter (Avila/Navarro) to bat behind Lawrie. Problem with that idea is that puts LaRoche and Saladino back to back in the lineup so maybe a 7-8-9 of LaAvi, Avila/Navarro, Saladino would be a better fit.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 10:52 AM) Well summarized; Either can work if Fowler isn't in the Sox plans, but I'd rather be paying Fowler $10 million plus a year than Either. Or less than $10 million a year for Austin Jackson maybe...and we don't have to do anything but give up a pick. Jackson is another name I'm not against although he provides the least offensive upgrade of the three. Jackson does have three things going for him though 1) cheapest salary of the three 2) best defense of the three 3) won't cost prospects or a comp pick to sign. I would be fine with any of those three but as of right now, my order of preference would be Fowler, Ethier, Jackson. I will admit this, my mind can change directions like the wind so that order is subject to change at any given time. I can see good points for all three and that's why I kind of bounce back and forth on those three and even Desmond. Glad I'm not Rick Hahn, lol.

What the Sox would have to give up to get Ethier is more concerning to me than Ethier's age and salary. If acquiring Ethier doesn't cost the Sox much, then I'm all for it and especially if the deal includes Avi going to the Dodgers, which is likely wishful thinking unless the Dodgers see Avi as a platoon partner for Crawford in LF. The way I look at is that Fowler costs a comp pick to sign so if Ethier can be had for the equivalent or less than that comp pick then fine, otherwise I would make a strong push for Fowler.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 09:59 AM) Exactly. This is a big reason why I would prefer Fowler over Desmond if we are losing a pick, I think he makes the biggest impact just by realigning the outfield D. Plus bumps Melky down the order into a more productive spot. Good point with Melky moving down the order. His lefty bat could help split up the right handed. If it were me I would do the lineup vs RHP something like this... Fowler Eaton Abreu Frazier Melky Lawrie Avila/Navarro LaRoche/Avi Saladino

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 07:29 AM) They would almost definitely be trading Hammel to free up money QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) So that means the Cubs would have to make two trades to fit him in. Seems unlikely, especially if someone moves on him soon. Good points guys. One idea could be a three way trade between the Rockies, cubs and and Rays. I know its alot of moving parts but something like the Rockies get Hamels, cubs get Odorizzi, Rays get Soler/Dickerson. Given the cubs payroll situation and the likelihood they would need to move some salary to help with taking on Fowler's salary to leave some payroll space for future moves, I'm really doubting Fowler returning to the cubs. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part but it should be easier for the Sox to take on Fowler's salary than the cubs, at least at this point anyway. With just over three weeks to go I would imagine Fowler will have to make his choice soon.

Back to Fowler. I kind of like the Sox chances and wonder if the cubs rumors are an effort to drive the price up on the Sox. By the time the cubs come to an agreement with Arrieta and fill out their roster with league minimum players, their payroll should end up around 165M+. How much more can they or are they willing to spend? Signing Fowler would put them around 180M which doesn't leave much room for adding future payroll without going over the luxury tax threshold.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 10:50 PM) The draft started out 1-30. The Sox have the 3rd pick in the comp round (33) because it goes by record. 5 teams forfeited 1st rounders (Giants, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Royals, Nationals) giving the White Sox the 28th pick in the draft. The Cubs pick for Fowler would be at the end of the comp round. However, the Cubs signed Lackey and Hayward so they lose their 1st 2 picks (1st rounder, and 2nd rounder if they re-sign Fowler) or (1st rounder and comp round) if Fowler signs elsewhere. Thanks for taking the time to explain that Jimmy. Makes sense to me now.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 08:33 PM) I have no problem either with the Sox signing Fowler. When the so-called Big Three were in play, I was most interested in Gordon because I felt his overall skill set best fit what the Sox needed. Granted, part of the Gordon package was near-elite play in LF and Fowler is at best an adequate OFer (but Avi is currently so bad out there that bringing in anybody that results in less defensive innings for Avi is an overall net gain). But on the offensive side, Fowler brings many of the same offensive gifts that Gordon would have brought -- high OBP, lots of doubles, 13-17 HRs, and left-handedness (when he isn't hitting right-handed). I recognize I'm in the minority, but I have no problem giving away our comp round pick provided we still have our first and second round picks to play prospect lottery. When we kept Samardzija post trade deadline -- knowing we'd give him a QO and wind-up with a comp round pick -- it gave us an asset. Great, one way to use that asset is to use our superior amateur scouting capabilities and turn a top 30 pick into a can't miss stud player. Except wait -- we don't have a superior amateur scouting system, do we? Not by any metric. And what's more, even if we did, once you get past the top 10-12 in any given draft there are many, many more misses than hits on the major league prospects of the selected player. Yeah, it's valuable, but that pick is not THAT valuable. Losing that pick to pick-up a Dexter Fowler brings value too. In this case, certain value because he WILL play in the bigs, and at worst he adds skills we don't already have, and at best he turns into the missing link that ignites a lineup that for the first time in a few years has some actual overall offensive capabilities. And ... we still have the customary full set of draft picks (we just lose that extra overall #28 pick, or whatever the current high 20s number is). By the way, while it makes a good story, the Cubs don't get THE PICK we were given when Samardzija turned down the QO and was signed by the Giants. Nobody gets that pick. If we sign Fowler, we lose that pick, but it just disappears into thin air. The Cubs get A PICK (not OUR pick) when their guy Fowler is signed by anybody. The most we're doing to help the Cubs is you can say that their pick is one pick higher than it otherwise would have been because our pick disappeared. But that would happen if virtually any team signed Fowler -- and somebody will. Sign Fowler. OR, sign Desmond AND Jackson. Lose one pick and one only. We started a plan and have yet to finish it. There are ample ways to still improve in the OF, or just generally on offense. Finish your plan, Rick. Cy, this is one heck of a very well thought out post. Well done sir! At first I didn't like the idea of Fowler but after looking closer at his overall game and taking into consideration some valid points made by SoxTalk members, I'm much more open to the idea and am really beginning to like it. I'd love to see Fowler lead off with Eaton batting second. Can you imagine what would go through the pitchers mind if the 6'5" base stealing threat that is Fowler gets on base ahead of Eaton and has to pitch to Eaton's 5'8" strike zone while worrying about Fowler stealing second? Hmmm, I like the idea of Fowler that much more when I look at it that way. I am a bit confused on the pick. I understand that the Sox lose the (currently) #28 pick if they were to sign Fowler so would the pick the cubs received as compensation be at the tail end of the current list of comp picks? I admit that I'm not really sure how that works. Just curious really, I could care less that the pick would fo to the cubs. As a Sox fan, what matters is that the team improves and not to whom the pick goes to.

I think it's possible a trade could be done before SoxFest but not so sure on signing a FA. FA signings are determined on the players percieved best offer which might not come until after SoxFest. I do believe the Sox will add one more player before ST. Call it blind fandom but there is still time and players available.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 07:09 PM) Completely agree. And what's with Hahn's predisposition for acquiring below average defensive players? Garcia, Cabrera, Gillespie, and now considering Fowler? What is that the Hawk always says, "The first rule in baseball is to catch the baseball"? He's right about that. I don't think what Fowler brings to the game offensively is worth putting yet again another sub-par glove in the outfield. Thing is, the Sox would be taking Avi out of RF. Fowler is a slight defensive upgrade in CF over Eaton, Eaton should be an upgrade over Melky in LF and Melky would be an upgrade over Avi in RF so the overall OF defense would be improved with better range too. You know the OF defense was bad last year when adding Fowler is considered an upgrade.

It would be just a bit ironic if the Sox signed Fowler. Cubs traded Samardzija to Oakland who later trades Samardzija to the Sox. Samardzija turns down the the QO netting the Sox a comp pick, Sox sign Fow!er and that Samardzija comp pick goes to the cubs. Talk about coming full circle. I like the idea of the Sox having 3 picks in the first two rounds but having two speedy players at the top of the lineup with good OBP sounds pretty damn good. I will not complain if the Sox do end up signing Fowler.