BlackSox13

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 09:14 PM) Exactly this, I've been waiting for it to happen. f'ing Cubs When googling Fowler's name a few times, I've come across his twitter and gave it a quick look. Cubs fans really want him back pretty bad from what I've read. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he ended up back with the Cubs. The cubs were in the NLCS and have since, on paper, gotten better so if I was Fowler I'd want to go back to the cubs as well. Not to toot my own horn but I have said a few times that I think the Sox find their OF upgrade via grade, given their budget situation. I still think Hahn is trying to find the OF equivalent of the Lawrie trade where the Sox give a few really young prospects but not top prospects. I have no idea who that outfielder might be though.

Kind of funny that Fowler rumors are coming out on the same day where a Cespedes signing bacame seemingly more immanent. Cespedes is suspected to sign by or on Friday and now on Thursday the Fow!er market picks up. Just spit balling here but imo, teams know Cespedes is about to sign and with whom so they have moved on to Fowler. Again, just spit balling and there's no source behind my insane claims.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:41 PM) why not kemp from San .... if they want to dump salary??? I would be alright with Kemp but the Sox could really use a left handed bat for the middle of the lineup. Kemp might be cheaper to acquire since SD would like to shed his salary. If SD offered some money and asked for a reasonable return, I'd be fine with Kemp. Funny how there really haven't been any rumors about Kemp being shopped. Maybe I missed em?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:39 PM) Ethier is totally someone that could be linked to the Sox A left handed outfield bat with pop would be nice for the middle of the order. When the Frazier trade was first announced I was surprised Ethier wasn't in the trade as well.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:23 PM) I'm thinking a bonkers deal with Tampa that includes Baez and Soler for Odorizzi and McGee. That would be bonkers but who would be the back up IF for the cubs?

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:31 PM) not to be a stickler but i think many baseball org guys think that way. then i don't get Wash deal then???? i am not ashamed to say i am lost now. nice one. The Nat's could sign Cespedes for LF, platoon Ravere/Taylor in CF with Harper in RF and use Werth in a bench role since he's pretty much un-tradable anyway due to his salary, age and poor performance. Werth could still get some playing time against LHP too. They could make it work. Don't forget, were talking about the NL so bench players get used more due to pinch hitting for pitchers. It actually makes sense for the Nat's really.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:14 PM) Now that all the bad stuff is coming out we're sure to sign him! And then trade for Reyes/Puig and call it an off season.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:12 PM) I also think teams are scared to go long term because they might think he's more 2013-2014 vs what may have been a career year in 2015. Cespedes was just a touch over league average as a hitter in 13/14. I think you're right. 13/14 is probably closer to what can be expected from Cespedes going forward. A few days ago I mentioned Cespedes could be the player we've seen have a career year just before FA and regress with his new contract. Cespedes is looking to get paid based on his career year but how many think he will continue to perform at that level for the length of the contract? Not me.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:14 PM) The emoji was the part, going along with Julie Dicaro earlier tweet about Cubs and Tampa possible trade I wonder if this comes back to what we discussed a few nights ago? Cubs trade Soler for pitching, sign Fowler for CF and Heyward plays RF where he belongs.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 08:08 PM) Here's Cespedes in the locker room according to beat writers

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 07:56 PM) Hey, chopped liver here. Oh come on, you've been Cespedes BIGGEST cheerleader! Just kidding. Ptatc, you have been there with fathom every step of the way. To a lesser extent so have I since I never liked Cespedes' 6/150 asking price nor the idea of wrapping up so much money into one player on a team of 25.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 07:53 PM) Wait, what? Yo rips party darts between innings!? That's hilarious if true. Lol, ya its been written about for a while now. I remember Caulfield bringing it up last fall. It's been coming out more and more lately. Have a look... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-l...gn-with-a-team/

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/12...year-offer-nats I think maybe fathom has been right all along in his views on Cespedes. I really hope the Sox have moved on and can find an outfielder elsewhere.

http://www.businessinsider.com/yoenis-cesp...-to-plan-2016-1 Awful lot of stuff written about the uncertainty in signing Cespedes long term. Seems more and more every day. Is there something to the " red flags " that have been written about? The smoking between innings doesn't bother me but the other stuff does to some extent.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 07:03 PM) Ever go through a divorce and child custody case with a woman who turned out to have borderline personality disorder? Let me tell ya... It leads to some f***ing insanity. Believe they're technically called, "fleas". I've got "fleas". Whenever you're feeling low, just page me and I'll call you....

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:49 PM) I don't think Austin Jackson is going to be banking any top prospects for anyone at the deadline. He's a 4th outfielder, don't see a lot of demand for that at the deadline, at least to the degree that you're getting anything good in return. I agree,, its not like Jackson will net a top prospect at the deadline. QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 05:40 PM) Any free agent who is undervalued makes sense for potentially any team. Brewers could sign him, have him succeed and trade him at the deadline for prospects. Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana, Khris Davis, Keon Broxton and Ramon Flores are what the Brewers currently have for the OF with highly regarded prospect Brett Phillips at AAA. The Brewers are loaded with young outfielders with Braun being the exception. Signing Jackson would only take at bats away from one of their young outfielders which would stupid if the team is trying to develop them. They won't develop sitting on the bench watching Jackson. Rebuilding teams give the youth a chance to play. The only way Jackson makes sense is if the Brewers were contenders or short on outfielders and neither apply in this case.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 05:40 PM) The current roster does not include a single outstanding defensive outfielder. Jackson would fill that hole, and not cost a draft pick. Forget about Desmond, who will cost a pick. Saladino should be able to provide plus defense, at a key defensive position. That would still leave a void at the clean up spot. I agree with those who advocate bringing in P. Alvarez to DH, as a platoon, as he could hit between Abreu and Frazier, vs RHP. On those few days, when the Sox face a tough left hander, Alvarez would sit, and one of the bench players could take his place. Our 4TH outfielder, would be a candidate to platoon with Alvarez. I assume that it would be Shuck, as Avi would probably go back to AAA. It seems unlikely that they would keep Garcia on the Major League club, just to face LHP, and making him the 4TH outfielder, is not feasible, because he is not a viable defensive replacement. The biggest problem with this scenario is that there would not be any room on the roster for La Roche, with Alvarez there. Many of us have suggested that the Sox need to just cut their losses, even if it means eating his salary. A bigger issue with cutting La Roche is that with Alvarez, there wouldn't be any defensive back up for Abreu. If there were room on the roster for one more position player, Adam could provide that insurance. Unfortunately, there isn't. If Jose were injured, and La Roche were gone, who could play first? 1- Eaton LF 2- Melky RF 3- Abreu 1B 4- Frazier 3B 5- Alvarez DH 6- Lawrie 2B 7- Avil/Navarro C 8- Jackson CF 9- Saladino SS Bench: Sanchez IF, LaRoche 1B, Avila/Navarro C, Shuck OF and Sands if the Sox go with a five man bench. The Sox either send Avi to AAA or trade him for another teams bat boy but Jackson/Alvarez/LaRoche on the team could work.

Josh Reddick will be a FA after the '16 season. If we start a "Sign Reddick" thread now, we should easily hit 1k pages before seasons end.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/the-yoenis...s-probably-fake Just to show some of the bulls*** that's on social media and how pathetic social media is becoming. Take all rumors with a grain of salt until proven otherwise. Funny read though.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 06:03 PM) Nats fans think its a ploy to get Mets to pay up. I agree with Mets fans. The Nats and Mets are the only teams that will compete in that division since the Phillies and Braves are rebuilding and the Marlins are, well, the Marlins.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 03:52 PM) Dude you gotta stop with the Alvarez thing. He is no better than LaRoche. 2015 numbers say otherwise...

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:44 PM) Actually it does if they can sign him to a 1 year deal for cheap and flip him at the deadline for prospects. That also takes at bats away from one of their younger outfielders they are trying to develop. The Rangers and Angels make sense but the Brewers, nah.

If Cespedes doesn't sign by 12:00AM CT, I will officially declare Cespedes to have NO balls! None I tell you!!!

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 21, 2016 -> 04:39 PM) many thanks for this. what gets me is the Brewers being involve. .... several weeks ago, there was talk of the brewers may.... may look at moving Ryan Braun b/c of his salary and yrs of the contract.... why would they look into getting Jackson??? i was thinking of the brewers as one team i was going to mention if the sox lost out on jackson and cespy.... to look at trading for. Ya, I don't get the Brewers interest. They are rebuilding and have plenty of young talented outfielders. A veteran like Jackson makes no sense for the Brewers.

Just speculating but both the Angels and Rangers had some degree of interest in Cespedes and now that it appears he's close to signing, rumors come about their interest in Jackson. Jackson's market had been dead silent until today. Anyway, I hope the Sox show some interest in Jackson.