BlackSox13

QUOTE (CB2.0 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:44 AM) Nope. OF is more important than SS, especially now. THE MOVE was to buy an OF that kept 3 top 50 picks. So easy - had it right there; OBP, Power, RISP, Defense. BLEW IT. Ian Desmond is a disaster in waiting. ANOTHER GODDAMN NL power only value guy coming here... again. And a pick out the window.. So what youre really saying is you just want to complain. Got it. Nice talking to ya.

QUOTE (CB2.0 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:13 AM) The Sox shouldn't sign BOTH Fowler and Desmond. Quite frankly...I don't see the point of signing Desmond at all. If you're going to give up a pick, get an OBP guy that can hit #2 legit, play CF if needed, and put that "SS $" on an SP flier. There's legit power in the IF now at 3 of the 4 spots. Let Saladino be a defensive/no offense stop gap until Anderson is ready. Live with that. But you HAVE to do something about the OF. Frustrating...Hahn put out a suitcase with $8M to dump LaRoche and STILL nobody wanted it. I agree they shouldn't sign both and I'll just go ahead and say its just a bad idea and not even a realistic one.No chance the Sox give up two picks again this year. I like Saladino and love his defensive potential at SS but I'm not against the idea of signing Desmond depending on the price and contract length. As for the OF. I agree that something needs to be done but I seriously doubt the upgrade comes from the FA market. If it happens it will be through a trade. I've been saying this for a while now because I just didn't think the high cost FA outfielders were a fit for the Sox budget, right or wrong. Just my own speculation but I think Hahn is looking for the OF equivalent of the Lawrie trade where the Sox give up young low minor league level prospects.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 12:50 AM) Along with dealing Soler moving Heyward to right. Fathom and I were talking about this a few nights ago. Im thinking the Shelby Miller Haul was due to the cubs interest in Miller and were offering Soler as the headliner in a package for Miller. That's when AZ had to one up the cubs to be sure they got Miller. Sounds like the Cubs are now offering Soler to the Rays for a SP which would open the door to re-sign Fowler. Cub fans really want Fowler back and Maddon has talked him up as well so at this point I'd be surprised if the cubs didn't sign Fowler.

QUOTE (MuckFinnesota @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 12:56 AM) I've been following this thread from the first page and was glad to read through all of the discussion. Though the Sox didn't get Cespedes, I am glad they didn't for the 27.5 million they would have paid for one year. I just wish their options in right field were better. I would rather bank on Avi having a better year (granted, I only watched most of the season finishing in garbage time in August going forward) and taking my chances next year instead of surrendering a draft pick to get Fowler. Wouldn't we rather keep the draft pick and draft talent instead of getting a free agent and "going for it?" I think they can go in with Garcia and upgrade next year. I also don't see where Desmond is needed considering Saladino could be a shortstop of needed and he won't cost a draft pick. I also don't follow everything as close as you all do but I think getting an outfielder like CarGo is worth it, otherwise the Sox should stand pat for now and build in 2016. Also, do the Sox need to give up two first round picks of Desmond and Fowler sign? The Sox first round pick is protected so if the Sox signed both Fowler and Desmond they would give up the Samardzija comp pick plus their 2nd round pick. It's possible the Sox sign one player with a comp pick attached but very doubtful they sign two. It will be one or the other but not both. Looking like the Cubs may go after Fowler and it sounds like the Sox have interest in Desmond so if the Sox signed Desmond, the Nat's would get the Sox Samardzija comp pick which I believe is currently pick #28.

If the Sox are considering signing Desmond, and I don't doubt it. Am I crazy in thinking that if they are going to give the comp pick, then offer Desmond a multi-year contract and hope like hell he can somewhat get back to his old form? If they give up the comp pick, sign him to a 1 year contract and he tanks then the Sox won't get squat for him next year when he's a FA again. Maybe offering something like 2 years guaranteed with a 3rd year team or mutual option could make giving up the comp pick worthwhile. Then begin praying he can regain some of his old form.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 10:27 PM) No clue how true, but from Wednesday https://mobile.twitter.com/HotStoveCubbies/...045666983182336 Ruh roh! Sounds like our discussions could be in motion. Stay tuned, lol.

I doubt the Mets trade an outfielder but if they did I'd take Nimmo. His high OBP potential would be great at #2 in the lineup and has experience playing CF and RF in the minors. Whether it's Lagares or Nimmo, I'm sure the cost would not be cheap. No clue what to offer up for a trade proposal.

Glad this is finally over. Nevertheless it was fun discussions throughout the thread. In the end, Cespedes held out long enough to get a contract from the team he wanted to stay with. I'm sure Hahn tried but he can't sign a player that really wants to play for another team. Oh well, on to the next twiiter rumor I suppose.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:54 PM) Probably not a threat, but they have the Roc Nation connection Not sure if they came to terms with all of their arbitration players but as of right now they sit at a tick over 135M for 19 roster players. If we assume they came to terms with all arbitration players, that leaves 6 roster spots to be filled with league minimum salary players at just over 500k each which amounts to an additional 3M . Safe to say they currently sit at just over 138M. I agree with you, probably not a threat. What makes me curious is that RN connection and isn't Seattle sitting on like mad amounts of money from their new TV contract? I could be wrong but I think it's Seattle I'm thinking of.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:47 PM) Must not have liked what Mets offered. My guess is the Marlins or Mariners are next rumored team. The Marlins were briefly speculated a few days ago but it died rather quick but Seattle, that would be a new one. I wonder what their finances are looking like? Gonna go investigate that real quick like.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:38 PM) there are more than just the mets and nats in on cespedes. #mystry teams https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/690724259589701632 Gee whiz Jon, f***ing really? Talk about stating the obvious while being vague. Angels, Jays, Rangers, Cards, White Sox, Braves, Marlins, Yankees and even Boston has been written about. I don't know who's worse right now, Heyman or Nightengale. For now I'll go with Nightengale and Heyman a close second. No offense to you WhiyeSoxLifer, youre just passing along what you find and I do appreciate it.

Agree with everyone else, well done Eminor. You provided some very good insight to the potential upgrades as well as downgrades. Overall, I expect a rather noticeable improvement offensively and defensively from the catcher position. With the positive things Navarro and Avila bring to the team, I'll take the potential pitch framing short comings. I think Hahn did very well in addressing the catcher position and doing so early in the off season.

Definitely worth looking into. I have no idea what he's worth in a trade but I'd love to snatch him up if the price is right.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 02:24 PM) His defense and speed would make up for the power...which would be coming from the infield anyways This is my thought process as well. Elite CF defense that would move Eaton to LF where Eaton is better suited. Plus, the idea of Enciarte and Eaton setting the table for Abreu and Frazier is soooo tantalizing.

I am more than willing to trade Anderson for a young OF that under team control for years to come.. Conforto sounds good and I like Inciarte alot as well.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) excellent info.... many thanks for finding that out. as i said this was truly a pipe-dream followed with a 25 yr macallan dreaming of another sox WS..... Don't get me wrong, I've liked the idea of Gardner for a while but if it take the caliper of p!ayer like Andrew Heaney to get Gardner, I don't see the Sox a fit. In all fairness though, keep in mind these were the speculations of East coast writers. If it were me, no f***ing way I would give up Heaney for Gardner unless the Yanks were adding more to Gardner.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:46 AM) i posted this last nite on the other thread. now for the other info that i didn't mention..... while you and probably many who are thinking like you may have a point. i am thinking with what it was said 2 weeks ago on an ny site. the yanks wants to get under the team tax and lower their salary. they want to rid the team with the long salary that they have now. in addition, this person stated that he wouldn't be surprise if the yanks were offer some pitching prospect, they may do the trade in a heart-beat. now this is where i was thinking about 2 - 2nd tier pitchers..... but i was also thinking of the recurring word being used...... may but still, as some may say, flowers..... the sox loose a comp pick however the sox will loose 2 pitchers that are 2nd tier now. for me, i think it is a fair trade. This is possibly but a quick Google search has revealed that writers on the east coast have been writing about the Yanks being a good fit with the Angels in a Brett Gardner for Andrew Heaney swap. Not sure the Sox can afford that price.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:41 AM) I'm sure it's been discussed but what's Gardner's contract situation? I agree with your point but obviously his current deal could change the way the sox fo looks at him vs Fowler. 2016 32 New York Yankees $13,500,000 7.072 2017 33 New York Yankees $12,500,000 2018 34 New York Yankees $11,500,000 2019 35 New York Yankees *$12,500,000 $12.5M Team Option, $2M Buyout Earliest Free Agent: 2019 Career to date (may be incomplete) $25,146,000 Does not include future salaries ($37.5M) http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...shtml#contracts Gardner will cost more than the #28 pick in terms of prospects but Fowler will probably cost more in terms of money. Plus, Fowler could end up back with the Cubs anyway. Fowler is a pretty popular guy with the Cubs FO, players and fans so I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up back on the North side.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:01 AM) Have you seen this?: http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2015/12/09/159247...mp-to-instagram If Lawrie keeps this up, he's likely to spend considerable time on the DL. Sanchez may see more playing time than we think. Look, I'm very impressed, but that kind of workout is very dangerous. He's jumping toward a hard wall, on a very flimsy stack, and from a hard floor. He really should have some spotters close by, at the very least. Too much being made of nothing. Alot of players have intense workouts, just that most of them don't post it up on social media. Weight training has caused more injuries than one could shake a stick at and yet players still weight train. Injuries happen, just ask Chris Sale's foot.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:24 AM) If you're the Yankees, who would you be willing to accept from the Sox for Gardner? Same thing with for Taylor/Nats...Adams and Hawkins? He was the 38th rated prospect in baseball a year ago. Profar in the outfield? There has to be someone. Caulfield. You and I have been discussing alternatives for how long now? I can't even remember all the names we've thrown out there.

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2016/01/y...report_say.html Over a week ago it was rumored the Sox moved on from Cespedes. I think it's time to stop chasing the Cespedes dragon Sox fans. Sounds as though the dragon wants to stay with the team he went to the WS with.

QUOTE (South Sider @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 12:43 AM) There's gotta be the smoke of a rumor for it to not just be a another "we should sign or trade for x player" thread. With our buddy interviewing telling us not to forget that Avi is just a baby... and all the "articles" or "information" attempting to detail Cespedes red flags... yeah I'm feeling like we're not going to land Cespedes. Bravo and well played! As for the Reddick rumor. No problem, a fake twitter account can solve that and make it a legit rumor with the smoke, bells and whistles to go with it. By this time next year we won't even remember WTF an Avi is. Cespedes, f*** him who cares. We need to start driving ourselves crazy for the next FA we won't sign. Cespedes is old news and the new news is Josh Reddick!

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 04:31 PM) Can't believe no one has listed Dan Haggerty AKA Grizzly Adams or Richard Libertini of Fletch and All of Me and countless other fantastic movies. RIP Somehow I missed them. Fletch is one of my favorite comedies. I grew up watching Grizzly Adams. Not sure how I missed the passing of Grizzly and Richard. RIP gentlemen! QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 03:54 AM) What the heck, no mention of Glenn Frey? RIP When I first heard about Glenn I thought " not another musician from my youth, FUUUUUUCK! ". RIP Glen Frey.

I said it before and I'll say it again... It's time to start a "Sign Josh Reddick " thread for the 2016/17 off season. 1k pages or bust!

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 10:18 PM) So nobody has really answered the question. How will this infield defense rank in our own division in terms of first through fifth? Personally isn't it a big question mark? Abreu is not known for his defense; isn't Lawrie basically below average? Saladino is a total question mark and Frazier is average at best?? I'm not flaming, just asking. To me it seems the infield defense is a huge question mark. There's definitely some question marks until we see everyone on the field. Abreu: all we can do is hope he can continue to get better and I think he will. I think having a solid 3B in Frazier will help Abreu's defense. Poor Abreu has had a few bad third baseman to handle throws from. Gillaspie, I'm looking at you! Lawrie: was an above average 3B in Toronto before his injuries. Oakland bounced him around the field so he never had a chance to solidify himself in one position. Watched him make a few nice plays at 2B for Oakland and seems to have enough quickness and range for the position with a much stronger arm than what we've seen from Sanchez. I think he will be fine since he will have a chance to settle in at 2B with the Sox. Saladino: SS is his natural position. Supposed to have good range and we all know he has the arm strength. I honestly believe Saladino will be a defensive upgrade over Alexei. Frazier: great range but for whatever reason his fielding and throwing errors were up last season. Maybe a by-product of playing for a s***ty Reds team that became sellers? Who knows. Still an upgrade over what we've seen from third baseman for the last.... well,too many years. Lol. I think that overall the infield defense will be much better. What really concerns me is the outfield defense. That's what we should really be talking about. Uhg!