BlackSox13

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) Surkamp's minor and major league numbers are both very similar to Axelrod's. With Surkamp its about giving someone other than Axe a try. We already know about Axe.

Got to agree. IMO, only a fool would pay 140M for a guy that's never pitched in the mlb. Its a risk anyway but to offer up 140M is beyond crazy, its just plain stupid. If this happens then we already have our starting pitching/depth in place because this would surely dive up the price on Santana, Garza and Jiminez to the point we would have no interest at all. Oh well, were rebuilding anyway.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 11:30 AM) That's not necessarily true at all. If we go into the season with Paulino on the DL and go with Sale-Quintana-Danks-EJ-Rienzo and Quintana's wife (hypothetical of course) has a baby on the same day Axelrod would start in AAA there's a very good shot Axe gets a one and done start. Anything can happen in a 162 game season and Axelrod is at the least a guy with MLB experience who the organization likes. I think in this scenario I would give Surkamp a start to see what he can do or start someone on short rest. I cringe at the idea of watching another start from Axe. I just think Axe is only good for rotation depth at AAA and that's about it. I'd consider starting Southpaw over Axe.

If the Sox ever have to rely on the likes of Axe/Stewart then things went horribly wrong. Both pitchers are just plain terrible, period.

Oh s***, ya beat me to it Vance.

Thought this was interesting, if the Padres aren't interested in a deal with the yanks, could the yanks come calling for Keppinger? I didn't think the yanks were looking for another infielder. Yankees Have Asked Padres About Trade For Infielder http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/01/yank...-infielder.html

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 10:42 PM) Biggest difference: The Sox don't have 3 albatross contracts and don't have to worry about extending the best player in baseball. Yes, and let me just add... Jerry was there for the discussion so that shows the Sox have money to take on Tanaka as long as the price doesn't go too crazy. Rock said if the annual price goes beyond 20M then they are out but even the Angels cannot go that high. Signing Tanaka would potentially allow the Sox to use a starter such as Rienzo, Johnson or possibly Danks as part of a trade to get a Catcher or even a DH/ LF after the 14 season depending on what we do with Viciedo (dh/lf). If the Sox signed Tanaka they would only have to deal witha tight payroll through the 14 season after which Dunn's salary comes off the books. There's also the possibility of trades involving ADA, Keppinger and Beckham which not only clears a bit more payroll but open up spots for young guys like Semien and Sanchez. Bottom line, the Sox really are in a much better position to afford Tanaka than the Angels. Also, the Sox are nowhere near the luxury tax threshold like the Angels are.

Thanks to Pujols and Hamilton the Halo's are not in on Tanaka, they are already too close to the luxury tax. I'm sticking with Seattle and the DBacks.

If Viciedo can stay healthy and get back to his 2012 numbers he will be a huge bargain. I'm really starting to like the idea of keeping him around one more season. His age and potential fit right in with Hahn's future plans.

Why on earth would we put Abreu up there? He hasn't even faced his first major league pitcher yet. I like Frank, Avi, Sale, Q and Paulie for his fare well season. Abreu needs to show us something first, maybe once Paulie is retired Abreu can take his place provided he's earned it.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:10 PM) Holland is a very weird dude. I wonder if Texas's front office believes this. How many of us here have ever needed surgery after falling in the house? My beautiful grandmother did when she was 76 but other than that it seems to be only athletes. Dude, you gotta read this! Holy s***! http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId...amp;src=desktop "It was Holland's dog, Wrigley, a boxer, who caused the starter to buckle on the stairs of his home and injure his left knee badly enough that he needed arthroscopic surgery Friday morning to repair torn cartilage."

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) Is anyone else tired of the Soxtalk user acting like he's Jose Abreu shtick yet? You mean he really isn't Abreu? Damn! First Santa, then the Easter Bunny and now Abreu? Don't know how much more I can take.

I still don't buy into the Yankees and I don't buy into the Dodgers since they need ALOT of money to re-sign Kershaw and Ramirez. I'd guess the Dodgers are going to try and jack the price up on their NLW competitor Arizona who could be the dodgers biggest competition in 14. If the Mariners do have the money then this looks good for them too. Not sure where this leaves the Sox, aside from being closer to Japan than NY. I can believe Tanaka looking to sign on the west coast since its closest to Japan but saying Tanaka's wife prefers the west coast while saying the yanks are one of the preferred teams is juuuuust a bit conflicting. More media bs is all. I'd have to say AZ and Seattle are looking pretty good about now.

I'll reserve my guess until we get towards the end of ST. The jump from Cuban ball to the mlb is a big one and just too difficult to guess without a look see first.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) Those Japanese tourists will be honored by the number of empty seats we have left for them We just have to clarify to the tourists that those seats are " reserved" for them and not necessarily empty.

s***, thought he was sent to Charlotte. Ahhh well.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 01:30 AM) Although half Mick, shes much more of a dego You cracked me up with that! I'm not familiar with the dego names outside of what I've heard in movies like good fellas and such. I'm Scot/ Irish mix myself so I'm probably no help to ya. Early congrats on your baby boy, may he be as healthy as the Big Hurt himself.

Since you're a Sox fan and the wife is half Irish, what about Frank Cillian B. ? Cillian is a good Irish name. Could flip the first and middle as well.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:33 AM) It didn't fall on deaf ears. No one even knows if that offer was made to Choo. Regardless, as was said in the offer thread, Choo's contract in Texas is more valuable than the rumored contract in NY. I think this quote from Jake in the other thread is spot on. "Easy to say players always go for the money when we hardly, if ever, know what their other offers were" I do agree the tax savings certainly could have been a factor and likely was but Choo did say he wanted to play in Texas too. In the end we really never know if other offers reported were true but we might no know about offers that weren't reported on either. I feel with Tanaka its about more than just the highest bid.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:10 AM) Could be. I'm hearing they think they can afford it, and they could also move salary (I assume Dunn). Their pitch was pretty much all out including Jerry, thats pretty telling. Maybe Danks? Would rebalance the rotation if they suspect Surkamp can beat Rienzo for the 5th spot since they've said they don't expect Paulino to be ready to start. QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:21 AM) I think people are overreacting how much the Yankees are willing to pay for Tanaka. I'm sure they are going to be in it for the 15-20 million annual range, but I don't see them willing to spend over 20 million annually on him. They still have to deal with A-Rod after this year, and if they go over 20 million on Tanaka they are right back to where they were with no breathing room under the luxury tax. I'd be more worried about the Dodgers being the ones to spoil all the fun and offer him something nuts. Dodgers could be in a similar position since they want to extend Ramirez and Kershaw.

Oh damn! How the hell did I forget the Big Hurt? He should definitely be in the mix.

Why not put it to a vote and let the entire board decide? Avi, Abreu, Q and Danks are all good options. If I had to choose just one it would be Avi.

QUOTE (timbo @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 08:14 PM) Money isnt everthing look at choo Thank you, I tried explaining this in the other Tanaka thread and it fell on deaf ears. This is TANAKA'S CHOICE on who to sign with and not the yanks. Good to see someone else is capable of thinking outside the media box.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 06:25 PM) Damn I wondering where Tony Gwynn Jr. went. Apparently he went to the Old Country Buffet!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 05:48 PM) If that happens, they'll probably have room for him after signing Garza, but he's still not better than the options they currently have if everyone stays healthy. Agreed, keppinger is in the same class of options they already have, just having fun is all. I've reluctantly accepted were stuck with keppinger, for now. But I will continue to dream, hope, pray and rub a lucky rabbits foot that we can bail on keppingers contract at some point. Maybe even ask a priest, father, rabbi, bishop, the pope and Richard Gere to perform an exorcism on keppingers contract. I am not without hope.