SoCalSox

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 10:34 PM) He'd be a trade candidate with the Sox too if he decides to test FA or draft pick if Sox offered him a QO upon keeping him the whole year. A rental pitcher isn't a terrible idea since Rodon and others are moving up. Would all depend on who they give up... If a guy like Beck or Danish goes, it doesn't make much sense, IMO. A rotation of: Sale Samardijza Quintana Danks Noesi/Bassit Would look pretty nice this coming year.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 10:25 PM) FWIW, you guys are right. A lot going on. The next week or two will be very active. Rick and Beane have been in talks all week. Dodgers cooled off. Still heavy talks with Reds and Rockies as well. The Sox are? Excuse my ignorance here, not sure who is connected with any team sources here.

QUOTE (JDsDirtySox @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 09:36 PM) I just got a text from someone I trust that says Samardjiza to the Sox is about to happen. Any idea of what they are going to give up? Seems a bit risky w/ a 1 year rental.

I would guess between this and the move for JB Shuck, Danks won't be back.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 08:05 AM) He just turned 30 years old in August. I would definitely give him 4 years/60 million. I've never been a sabermetrics kind of guy but seen a lot of posters throw out numbers suggesting that Melky isn't worth this type of contract but I have to disagree. Very ideal 2 hitter that could easily hit 20-25 HR's in a better park and occasionally fill the role at DH with a lefty on the mound.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 05:58 AM) I like that lineup. Just need to hope there is a little more money for an RHP in the rotation and need to get lucky on bullpen. Just a gut feeling here but I would guess the Sox payroll will be closer to $100M this year. Especially with this LaRoche move, it tells me Hahn wants to contend now vs in a year or two. I'm all for a reclamation project like a Hochevar or a Romo in the pen and a guy like Masterson, McCarthy or Volquez who won't break the bank as a middle of the rotation starter. Should be interesting when the Winter meeting start. I would guess Hahn is going to make a few moves and I wouldn't doubt if one or two of those involve trades that won't eat up the payroll.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) Lol nominated for a good glove. Good joke man, I laughed pretty hard. You might want to check these crazy things called stats. They don't lie and they don't paint a very nice picture for Alexei's D. He was a finalist for an Gold Glove just a few weeks ago... It's not a joke.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 08:10 PM) so does any one really know what the final tally is. is the payroll at 70+ mil as of tonite? As of tonight, including the LaRoche deal, they are sitting at about $63.5M with just 7 players counted on the roster.

It's mind-blowing to me that Kemp, Ethier, and Crawford all count for over $60M vs the Dodgers payroll this year and all have 3 or more years left on their deals.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 07:41 PM) however that is some good NEW info to have. i appreciate it. but is that pouting or being competitive? i also remember he took Puig to task for something. either way, something like that fire is what i was wondering if the sox need now. From what I understand it was more pouting vs being competitive. Who knows, though. I haven't run into many knowledgeable Dodgers fans, quite frankly. I'm also not sure the Sox are a team looking to take on a 8 year/ $160M contract that is going into only it's second year. Dodgers would have to send some serious money the Sox way for it to really make any sense, IMO.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 07:32 PM) kemp I heard a lot of Dodgers fans talking about how vocal he was last year about not playing CF. To a certain extent, I get it but at the same time, he presents himself more as a "me player" than a "team player". Obviously this is all my opinion, though.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 07:29 PM) now that in opinion supported with thoughts, i accept that. what kind of talk has anyone heard that he was a negative person on the team? Are you asking this about Kemp or Scotty?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 06:45 PM) Just in general, if we wind up having a genuine personality conflict where several people are unhappy with their roles, do you have confidence in this manager to hold that team together? I think my answer is pretty apparent. Kemp is a big baby & one that can't keep healthy at that. I'm with certain posters here who would want Van Slyke. Kemp seems like he has a huge ego & I wouldn't want anything to do with that.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 07:15 PM) What about Duke Duke's $4.5M hit is already included in that $51M that Spotrac has. LaRoche isn't "official yet, but would guess they probably split his contract pretty much down the middle so I would guess a $12.5M hit this year is due.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 05:12 PM) The way they're going, they're setting themselves up to "be a contender if everything goes right", which is what I thought they'd be able to do if they set a payroll limit in the $80-90 million range. I'm pretty ok with that. They can fill their holes at that payroll level and say they have a shot at contending if everything goes right but without leaving themselves unable to make major moves in 2016 if things do go wrong. Ultimately, I think this team will be closer to $100M in payroll this year. Just a gut feeling, there. They will need more than Sale & Q plus a below average bullpen to contend, IMO. I wouldn't feel comfortable with Sale/Q/FA/ and Danks/Noesi/Bassit/Johnson/Rienzo unless they pen was above average.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 05:04 PM) I think we are around $80 million when you factor in Keppinger and assume Viciedo is picked up. What I was unclear on was whether or not people were counting $500k for roster spots we assume will be filled via free agency or trade. To my mind, if you assume we'll pick up, for example, a LF a SP a RP and a backup catcher, you shouldn't count the $2 million for those 4 roster spots. Spotrac had us at just a touch under $51M after the "dead money" of Kep, etc w/o LaRoche. Right now, the Sox have 7 roster spots filled as of right now w/ LaRoche & Duke, so that would be 18 left to fill, so let's say they use 3 spaces via FA, that leaves them with 15 spots to fill which if you times that by $.600M (to be safe vs $.500) you have a total of $9M (forgot to fill LaRoche's spot originally). So if they had $51M accounted for, plus $12.5M via LaRoche and $9M of "the rest of the roster minus 3 FA's", that's a total of $72.5M. Give or take a few mill from ARB, they will be sitting at around $75-77M (b/c I don't see them keeping Viciedo).

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 04:32 PM) Ya, I continue to support Danks, but I'd still be open to Eithier for Danks if the Dodgers are open to it. Eaton-Semien-Abreu-LaRoach-Garcia-Eithier-Ramirez-Gillaspie-Flowers looks real nice. Sale-Q-RHSP-Noesi-Bassitt then Sale-Q-RHSP-Rodon-Noesi/Bassitt post ASB or sooner. That rotation is a bit scary, IMO. Would really need to see what kind of bullpen they field before I could feel comfortable about calling this team a "contender".

For what it's worth, I think the Sox's payroll will be closer to $100M this year. It's obvious they are looking to compete (unlike what SI has to say), I think the LaRoche move is a perfect example of that. I also think to compete, you need to make some serious moves and they have 3 big holes to fill (LF, RHSP, and reliever) and that will cost more than $10-15M.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) BP has us on the board for $52.8 million before LaRoache. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensa...am=CHA&pos= Add $12.5 for Adam L., and we are pretty much at $65. That still leaves Viciedo, Flowers, Jones and Noesi as arb guys, and that is about another $10 million. Then you still have to add in $500k for each roster spot until 25 spots to fill out the roster. We are probably sitting closer to $80 million Completely forgot about arb guys, actually. Good call. I still don't think Viciedo stays but I could be wrong.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 04:33 PM) I don't fully understand how you got to the $74 million With Duke, they are already at $51M. Adding in $12.5M for LaRoche this year and 16 players at an average of $.600M (Around $10M), you have a $73.5M figure. I know it seems a bit confusing BUT I think the Sox will sign at least 3 more players at something over $1M to count vs payroll, so that is why I only accounted 16 players at around $.600M.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:56 PM) Yep. This exactly. Yeah, just did some math and it's about $74M after 16 roster spots averaged at about $.600M (3 spots for LF, RHSP and reliever). From what I read the other day, it was projection that Hahn would have a higher payroll than last year ($90M). I would say $95M is a pretty decent guess with how the market goes. If that is the case, they have about $21M or so to spend. I would also be willing to guess that either Alexei or Danks will go to save a bit of space but obviously can't count on that until it happens. $21M or so is still a pretty decent amount of space to fill 3 spots, IMO.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:50 PM) That doesn't count the amount it takes to fill out a roster, when you add in all the $500k guys that fill out a roster it puts them right around $60 million to start the year. $65 if Viciedo is offered arb. I would need to sit down and really calculate it out, I suppose. I always do that for each Bears offseason and have got it down to within about $600K of what it usually projects with Spotrac, etc. Just haven't had the time yet.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:35 PM) I have never seen $45 million in real speculation. $40 is the highest I have seen, and even that is really pushing it IMO. Everything I read was saying $90-95M as their payroll for the year. Last I had checked before all of the moves, they were going into the offseason with around $50M in payroll.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 03:19 PM) If Semien platoons with Gillaspie and shares some time with Sanchez at 2nd, you could get Sanchez and Semien each about 100 starts. Seems like not many are giving Micah Johnson much of a chance to break ST as the starting 2nd baseman. I like the speed element he should add to this team.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) The concern is that the cost of LaRoche will hinder the Sox in their efforts to address the various (and significant) weaknesses that remain on the roster. Who's concern is that? They were rumored to have around $40-45M in space to spend this year. After $4.5M from Duke and presumably $12.5M from LaRoche that totals $17M, leaving anywhere from $23-28M at minimum to spend. $28M is a pretty good amount of money to sign a righty in the pen and LF and a middle of the rotation RHSP.