BlackSox13

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 06:01 AM) I don't get this logic at all. Why would it make more sense to add another guy who will be a free agent in two years when we already have three in Frazier, Melky, & Lawrie? How in the world do you think we're going to fill all these holes? And if it's with prospects, then kiss the 2018 season goodbye and maybe even 2019, which are Sale's last two years of control. Most of our pitching staff including all our key starters our locked up for the next four years. The only reason our window will be two years is because we'll have no one left on the position player at that point if we keep adding guys with two years of control. One thing to keep in mind is that Frazier and especially Lawrie are young enough to be considered extension candidates to keep them around beyond the next two seasons. Not saying it will happen, just that the possibility exists. I do agree with your points about CarGo and Melky.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:33 PM) Purely speculative, but I think JR could be convinced to bump payroll to $140 million for the "right guy", aka Cespedes or Upton, or a combo of trade (CarGo) and FA (Jackson). That would be a pretty good lineup: Eaton Melky Abreu CarGo Frazier Laroche Avila/Navarro Jackson Saladino I agree and I hope I don't come across as " JR is cheap". I'm just not going to assume JR will raise the payroll is all. No doubt JR has shown in the past that he will spend if the circumstances look like a fit for the Sox. I like the combo idea of trading for one of CarGo/Blackmon and signing Jackson over signing just one of Upton/Cespedes. Just my preference is all. Just want to point out that your lineup has four outfielders plus LaRoche, I think you missed Lawrie. Edit: never mind, I see you corrected it.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 09:19 AM) http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/free-ag...in-upton-011216 Good article by Morosi with a few good points. Things don't look so good for Upton/Cespedes and their quest for the long term big money contract they have been seeking.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:37 PM) I actually really like this idea, but I would LOVE it if you replaced EJ with Adams. Same here. Im just guessing Colorado might prefer EJ since he is MLB ready whereas Adams is still a few years away.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:37 PM) Blackmon would be a good get. I'd actually prefer him to CarGo but I'm figuring the price on Blackmon would be higher and less likely I think CarGo still holds more value due to his LH power bat and there aren't many of those available. I could be wrong though.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:20 PM) That's how it feels to me, like they might revisit with the Rockies and see if they can come to a deal outside of Q or Rodon. Would Danks, Adams and $$ interest them at all? They need pitching, we need to lose Danks Problem is, who replaces Danks in the Sox rotation? I think the Sox need Danks to be honest due to the lack of starting pitching depth. One crazy idea could be something like Avi and EJ for Blackmon. Instead of signing Cespedes, use that money to sign Jackson and a SP. Jackson CF, Eaton LF, Blackmon RF, Melky DH, LaRoche bench bat and Avi- he gawn! I know, its a bit of a stretch.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:12 PM) What if the Sox traded Avi and Adams for Gonzalez and then signed Jackson? If those moves happened, the Sox wouldn't lose any picks, they'd get the lefty power bat they want, and they'd also get a defensive minded outfielder while shipping Avi away. Any thoughts? I love the idea but JR would need to open up his wallet. We're talking about adding CarGo's '16 salary of 17M + Jackson's salary 8/9M ( speculating) to the payroll that already sits at 119M and ending up at about 145M total. Kind of a stretch, IMHO. Edit: we can knock that total down to around 140/141M because I did not take into account trading Avi's speculated arbitration salary. Still seems to be a stretch.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:01 PM) Just sayin, it seems we've heard "last year's payroll is this year's payroll" coming out of the FO, which doesn't jive with the talk of these add ons without the benefit of a trade to clear salary. It seems they'll have to go at least $130-$135 to field a serious contender. I think what you're pointing out is why we heard rumors about LaRoche being shopped. It was Hahn's effort in getting "creative" in order to sign a big FA. Since that effort understably failed, its really up to JR now to expand the budget to allow another acquisition unless the Sox find a sucker for LaRoche or Melky, which I doubt. Looking more and more like the Sox end up going the trade route.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/ian-...als-astros.html "In his daily Insider-only column (subscription required), ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that there’s a belief around the industry that the White Sox are open to outfield upgrades but don’t want to spend at the levels necessary to land Upton or Cespedes. A second-tier option makes more sense, Olney notes, and while he stops short of speculating on specific names, I’ll add that players such as Dexter Fowler and Austin Jackson could be fits for the South Siders. (Gerardo Parra, too, would’ve made sense but agreed to a three-year pact with the Rockies earlier today." I'm really warming up to the idea of Jackson.

With so many LH outfielders, its easy to see how Colorado could have some interest in Avi's RH bat and no doubt they would be interested in Adams. If the rumor about Colorado wanting Q in return for CarGo is true, the question then becomes, does Avi and Adams hold the same trade value as Q? IMHO, no, because I sure as hell would not trade Q for Avi and Adams. So either the Sox would have to sweeten the deal by adding more pieces to Avi/Adams or Colorado has to lower their price.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/12/will-yoenis-c...eal-he-expects/ “I think it is just a matter of time,” one top decision-maker for a National League team said, on the condition of anonymity. “I don’t see any reason. Solid agent. Solid player.” Said another high-ranking front-office member of a second NL club: “He is a very good player. There should be a market for him.”

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 07:02 PM) SO where are we getting the money to sign even a Dexter Fowler? Payroll is basically sitting at $115 right now, even if Reinsdorf approves a $125 million payroll, that's only 10 million extra to utilize. Seems like a big outfielder was a pipe dream dependent on another pipe dream--finding a taker for the awful contracts of either Danks or Laroche. Hope we aren't Avi or bust in RF... And 115M is for players under contract and arbitration players but does not include filling out the roster with league minimum players. As of right now, the payroll is sitting at about 119M if the arbitration projections hold up. Now that I think about it, I made a thread related to the topic of the Sox payroll... http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=97767

Fun read but I think this quote says it all. "The odds are that Davis ends up back with the Orioles, though. In fact, I'd call the odds overwhelming. I'll be shocked if anyone goes above 7-150M for Davis, but I've been shocked before. It'll be fun to see how it plays out." I agree that's its difficult to imagine another team offering more than Baltimore and its likely he ends up back with the O's . I think both Davis and Baltimore are stupid. Davis for turning down that 7/150M offer and Baltimore for making that kind of offer to player with such a tiny market for his services.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 05:50 PM) I know were you're coming from, but I still disagree. We'll agree to disagree

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 05:41 PM) Yes we may think they don't have as much value but it's up to the Rockies who they decide how much value they have. If they are wanting Quintana in return for cargo I'm sure they are wanting a good amount for the other 2. Don't think the Sox will pay that value for any of them so see if another team does. Cespedes I don't believe is a not realistic option. If that's the case then why haven't the Sox moved on and gotten a second tier outfielder then. Seems there isn't a huge market for him and it's playing into the Sox hands. Remember it's been said that Jerry is one of the biggest aggressive people in the Sox front office and he's wants to win. No doubt the Rockies will decide who is the most valuable, in their eyes. IMO, CarGo has the most value followed by Blackmon then Dickerson. I kind of wonder if the Rockies would have interest in EJ. Bare with me for a moment. EJ +Jordon Guerrero for Blackmon. Blackmon becomes the new RF. Instead of spending 20M+ on Cespedes, the Sox sign Austin Jackson to play CF and look at signing Latos or Fister to a one year deal to replace EJ in the rotation. Spread the money out to cover a few more holes, so to speak. IIRC, an idea along these lines was mentioned by a SoxTalk member yesterday or the day before. I have no clue if the Rockies would actually be interested in EJ, just throwing it out there is all. EJ is young and cost controlled so he could be a fit for what the Rockies are looking for.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 05:41 PM) I like Blackmon, but I think he would be the most expensive out of the 3 Colorado OFers because he's so cheap, more years of control, and has produced more than Dickerson. I half agree with ya on this. Due to Dickerson's injury concerns with his plantar fasciitis, he would be the cheapest of the three. But I think CarGo brings in a bigger haul than Blackmon due to his left handed power, despite CarGo's salary. CarGo was healthy in '15 and thanks to Heyward's new salary raising the bar, CarGo has surplus value to go with his LH power.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 05:22 PM) The issues is the sox don't want to give up the talent that the Rockies are wanting for cargo do you honestly think they will for blackmon or dickerson. Those 2 can easily be looking at one of the top sox prespects in return. Sox haven't been reluctant to trade the top prospects up until now can't seem them changing that. Thats why Cespedes looks alot better for them. While Dickerson and Blackmon are valuable, they still don't hold as much value as CarGo so the price should be lower on Dickerson and Blackmon. How much lower is the question and I honestly do not have the answer, none of us do unless a rumor leaks to give us some indication. IMHO, Cespedes 20M+ expected annual salary was never very realistic without the Sox moving salary first. I never did believe JR would raise the payroll from 118M in '15 to 140M+ in '16. Sorry, but Cespedes has been nothing but a pipe dream the whole time and its time for the Sox and fans to turn their attention another direction.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 04:45 PM) Blackmon is actually my new first choice. His defense isnt good. But his offense more than compensates for that deficiency. Plus he doesnt make a whole lot of money. I know we haven't agreed much lately but I am 100% with you on this. According to fangraphs Blackmon grades positively in RF. I know its wishful thinking but I'm hoping the Sox can trade for Blackmon to play RF and sign Jackson to play CF and slide Eaton LF with Melky at DH. Hey, one can dream right?

Wouldn't mind a trade for one of Blackmon/Dickerson and sign Jackson. Eaton in LF, Jackson in CF, Blackmon/Dickerson in RF, Melky at DH, LaRoche as a bench bat and trade Avi for whatever a team is willing to give.

QUOTE (Saufley @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 04:22 PM) Each day that passes I am thinking that any more improvement will have to be done via the trade route. Was so hoping for Cespedes. I have had some hope on Cespedes as well but I kept my expectations rather low. Never did see a long term contract at over 20M per year being a realistic option for the Sox. Hahn said he would have to get creative which is why they shopped LaRoche, to clear space in the budget but LaRoche isn't going anywhere due to his 13M '16 salary. It is what it is and time to move on. I still believe Hahn will get the upgrade(s) to help the outfield.

Sounds as though Cespedes is staying locked in on his demands. I hope the Sox have moved on. There are still free agents and plenty of trade opportunities available.

Great stuff, thanks for posting!

The Marlins will probably do Chen like they did Buehrle and trade him after the first year of his contract is over. This time next year, Chen will be wearing another teams cap and jersey.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 12:44 PM) I don't. They still need pitching The Rockies could still trade one or two of their outfielders for pitching so Davis could make some sense and his power at Coors has the potential to be monstrous. Especially batting in front of or behind Arenado. I think the only hindrance to the Rockies being serious suitors for Davis is Reyes' abscene salary, otherwise the Rockies and Davis would be a hell of a fit.

I AM STUNNED!