blackmooncreeping

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:55 AM) How about a two year deal, with an opt out, after the first year? Of course, it doesn't provide a long term solution, but the front office seems much more concerned about avoiding a long term commitment. They have to make up their minds which they prefer, as they aren't going to be able to obtain a long term solution, without a long term commitment. Would he be worth $25 million per year, for 2 years, with that opt out? Drop identical 2 year, $25 million a year deals with opt outs after each year in front of Cespedes and Upton and see if someone bites.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 06:56 AM) good lord, listening to Phil Rogers is painful. He was just on the score and was musing about Upton taking a 1 or 2 year deal, then transitioned to "the white sox hope that Avisail will develop into what Cespedes already is" why do people pay this man for baseball thoughts He might be right on the Upton thing...

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 09:46 AM) Unless it is with the Sox.. If it's with the Sox...YESSS! If it's with the O's, Rangers, Tigers or Cards...then Sox vs. LAA vs. WAS for Cespedes If it's with LAA, we're still standing around waiting for Davis to friggin sign with the O's already

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 08:29 PM) Here's what is currently remaining (per MLBtraderumors) and my subjective ordering of price/demands 1. Chen 2. Gallardo 3. Kennedy 4. Latos 5. Fister Will Carroll (@injuryexpert) on Twitter regarding Cliff Lee Easy to work him out and do a physical. Hear he’s asking for too much base. I’d sure sign him to an incentive deal if [not] pass. 6. Cliff Lee (major questions about the health of his elbow after sitting out 1 1/2 years) 7. Lincecum (Coop can fix 'em!) 8. Masterson (Coop can fix 'em 2!) 9. Blanton (based on his peripherals last year, not bad for the price as an innings eater and part-time starter) 10. Josh Johnson (what a promising career he once had) 11. Mike Minor Bronson Arroyo (39) Chad Billingsley (31) Joe Blanton (35) Mark Buehrle (37) Chris Capuano (37) Wei-Yin Chen (30) Doug Fister (32) Yovani Gallardo (30) Jeremy Guthrie (37) Aaron Harang (38) Josh Johnson (32) Ian Kennedy (31) Mat Latos (28) Cliff Lee (37) Tim Lincecum (32) Kyle Lohse (37) Cory Luebke (31) Shaun Marcum (34) Justin Masterson (31) Mike Minor (28) Wandy Rodriguez (37) Yaisel Sierra (24) Alfredo Simon (35) Eric Stults (36) Randy Wolf (39) Jerome Williams (34) Id be very interested in seeing what lncecum might have left

Great deal for SPAN, his agent really did a job landing $30+ million guaranteed for a 30+ year old coming off injury. Whoever had the idea to post that video of Span in the gym should get a bonus. On the 3 year limit issue, Span's deal it kind of calls the Sox bluff since there's no way Cespedes or Upton sign a 3 year deal, even more so now that Span got 3 years guaranteed. Gotta go 4 years guaranteed imo, and possibly a 5th w/a buyout to beat out other teams. Or offer 3 years frontloaded big time with the 3rd being a player option of lesser AAV.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 05:52 PM) STL doesn't worry me one bit. They are not a team to spend a lot of money in FA and already signed Leake to a big contract (to their standards) and have a lot of young OFs they want to give a chance. well, they offered Heyward more than the Cubs overpay

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:52 PM) Has there been any real reports about that? I've heard he's not real keen on the Sox, but I think I just read that here. Not sure why he'd prefer Baltimore to Chicago. QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:54 PM) He's from Virginia. I believe Camden Yards is one of the top 3 hitter's parks in MLB as well. If either guy is thinking of a shorter term deal they could probably put up better #s in Baltimore and then bank on a bigger payday in a few years.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 04:48 PM) May want to add TEX to that list as well. Cap constricted but could happen. Cards are a lurker imo

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 08:54 AM) Gordon wasn't coming to the Sox. He had his heart set on staying in KC and they eventually ponied up. Sox could have offered 4 years and $80 million (which is the most I would have offered) and I believe he stays in KC still. completely agree, Gordo never wanted to leave

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:31 AM) Right, they're paying almost exactly the same as we pay Melky Cabrera to "patrol" LF for the next two seasons. I would think Upton on a 1 year deal is around $23 million

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:42 PM) People seriously want Markakis? Kemp? Why? For reasons already articulated in this post, Markakis is actually a pretty good fit on paper for the Sox. As a fallback option if they dont land one of the big fish. No thanks on Kemp, agree with you there

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:05 PM) That's exactly how I feel about the Markakis idea. I can't see him costing too much in terms of prospects and is likely cheaper than signing one of Parra, Jackson or Fowler. Markakis has always played RF so that helps too. Imo, the prospects used to get a player like Markakis will be replaced in June's draft. Are you saying you think Austin Jackson is going to make more $$ than Markakis this season?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 09:15 PM) Who would you replace Danks with in the rotation? Turner, likely not. Beck or Carroll? You'd seemingly have to go for Fister, Latos, Gallardo, Chen, Kennedy, etc. Which are going to cost another $10-15 million, so let's just imagine we're adding something like $8-10 million overall to the payroll, putting us around $127-130. That's seemingly doable. I think the biggest issue there is how willing the Braves are to take Danks for one rebuilding season...rather than just giving up a little subsidy/sweetener to rid the Markakis contract but not taking on additional commitments, since they're also partially on the hook for Arroyo as well. All things considered, they might be more motivated to dump Swisher or Bourn first. I could live with either Markakis or Gardner in the OF and hitting in the 2 hole, and agree it could be done without moving any major pieces. I would then also go after one of the 2nd tier OF free agents, and move Melky to DH.

Forgot Gardner from the Yanks as well

I believe the trade route might be reconsidered if the Sox cant land Cespedes or Upton. Who are the players who could be acquired in a deal to come in and take over one of the corner spots in the outfield? There are the aforementioned guys, CarGo and gang in Colorado, Markakis in Atl, Reddick in Oakland. Who would you target in the trade market and what would it take?

QUOTE (shoeless_joe21 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 05:31 PM) He meant running from LaRoche. Well played

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:18 PM) Hell no to 1 year deal for Upton with having to give up draft pick You could recoup it next off-season by offering Upton a QO

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:37 PM) With all the houses you've lost I doubt you wouldn't take the extra 30 million. 4 guaranteed years AND a mutual option 5th year? A) no wonder he signed back in KC and B) they can have him for the guaranteed years involved. This makes a $100 million dollar deal for both Yo and Upton pretty much a given, if it wasn't already...unless someone can convince either guy to take a shorter deal/opt out in order of cashing in for more $$ down the line (a la Heyward)

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:12 PM) I would kick my dog if Upton or Cespedes signed a short "prove it" deal and it wasn't with the Sox. EDIT: I have a really big dog. So he'd be fine. Please don't call PETA If a guy signs a one year "prove it" deal, Camden Yards is a more attractive place to hit and stack up stats than the Cell. Just sayin...

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 03:06 PM) But in those interviewed Hahn said the Sox would have to get creative to make a signing happen which means they would have to move salary to make room for salary which they have yet to do and won't do in the case of LaRoche. While JR has approved of budget raises in the past, I wouldn't assume anything at this point. Especially since the Cell resembled a ghost town in '15 as far as attendance goes. I'm not trying to be a downer, just not allowing myself to get my hopes up to the point that my Sox world comes crashing down if the Sox are unable to get something done. I think they will bring in an outfielder but its very possible he won't be what many have hoped for. I think it's not only possible, but more possible than not that we don't land one of the big guys at this point and end up bringing in 2nd tier guy(s). Hopes and fears would officially come crashing down only if Avi is our starting RF come April. And after seeing that KC gave Gordon not only 4 guaranteed years but also threw in a 5th year mutual option, I feel much better that we didn't end up in the mix to sign him. Too many years for my liking, whether we end up with YC or JU in the long run.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:47 PM) Sorry DA but I disagree. Writers can write whatever they want and the fans can believe whatever they want but nowhere has JR, KW or Hahn said the Sox were raising the payroll budget to afford such a FA signing. It has been rumored that Hahn has the '15 budget with which to work for '16 and the Sox are already there, its probably why Hahn has said they would need to get "creative" to sign a FA. "Creative" in the sense of trading salary (LaRoche rumors) in order to sign a FA. If fans are pissed it should be at their self for believing the media rumors. The line about hoping for an Avi improvement and counting on a Laroche bounce back is horrible. Counting on those 2 things to happen is a stretch, and not what you want to be selling to the fanbase after not only making the prior deals for Frazier and Lawrie, but also intimating in interviews (Hahn!) that you'd definitely be bringing in another OF to platoon/replace/help out Avi. It's Merkin so I still have faith in Hahn to get the deal done, assuming Reinsdorf gives him the green light $$-wise.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 02:05 PM) Fowler does, for what it's worth, or should I say; "for what he's worth". Not much, apparently. True, would hate to give up a pick for Fowler though...

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:46 PM) What about Melky? He's probably the best 2 hole hitter the Sox have. Regardless if the Sox get Cespedes/Upton/Etc, I'd have to imagine that Melky will be hitting 2nd in the lineup ... in the beginning of the season at least. QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:48 PM) As long as Abreu doesn't bat second anymore, I'm good Yes, I agree Melky is the odds on guy to hit in the 2 hole as of today, by default. I think someone with more speed and on-base production would be a better fit, and make Melky more productive as a run producer down the lineup. With Gordon off the board, none of the FA outfielders left really profiles as a number 2 hitter, do they?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:45 PM) Probably Turner. He is going to be turning 25 in a month or so, and was a top of the line prospect not long ago. And I'm guessing he hasn't gone under the knife 2x either...

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 01:41 PM) Agree with this except I think a trade involving B and C level prospects can still be done. Not for outfielders like Colorado put on the market, more along the lines of Markakis who would still be a sizeable upgrade over Avi in RF and slot nicely in the two hole with his OBP/low K-rate. Not the sexy name fans are looking for but possibly a more realistic alternative to signing the likes of Fowler/Jackson/Parra/Span. Another thing for Sox fans to keep in mind is that the idea of the Sox signing a FA hinges on the assumption JR will raise the payroll that currently sits at about 119M. While I would like to see the Sox sign Cespedes or Upton, I keep in mind that it's very possible the Sox do not sign one of them. Still plenty of alternative options out there that would be an upgrade over Avi in RF. I'd much rather sign Austin Jackson or Denard Span than trade anything for a declining Markakis. What sucks about missing on Gordon is he would've slotted perfectly into the 2 hole in front of Jose. Even if we bring in Cespedes or Upton, that still leaves Jose hitting 2nd. He should absolutely be hitting 3rd with a decent OBP guy in front of him and the middle of the order.