blackmooncreeping

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 02:25 PM) My main issue with Gordon is his age. As far as skillset goes, he's exactly what the Sox need but it's hard for me to say he's worth the money he'll get. I'm hoping if they do sign him, it'll be no more than 4 years. 4 years, 78 million. Throw it out there Hahn!

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 01:57 PM) Yeah probably. As of right now with the current roster I have a bench of: Avila/Navarro, Sanchez, Shuck and then I guess Olt or Sands as a platoon option. I don't want Olt anywhere near this team. No one should.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 12:03 PM) That was my problem with them. Which of course is not fair at all. Took me awhile to warm up to Hawk. In the booth, the younger Hawk came across as arrogant to me, he's much more relaxed (ha!) and fluid in the pbp role now. Drysdale was awesome in the 83 season, I have some audio recordings of the game hi-lites that they used to run during the post-game show on the radio..."inside corner, strike 3 called and this game is over! Parrish doesn't like it but the Sox magic number is down to 5!" Ah, something like that...

The extended version of the brawlgame vs the Tigers back in 2000 is good stuff. Tell me it still doesn't make your blood boil seeing he Tigers throw cheapshot after cheapshot, sucker punching Sox players. Go SOX!

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:39 PM) He's probably right up there with swings out of the zone too. He's good in that he wants to drive guys home but that got exploited a bit his 2nd year. He needs to be more patient especially if the lineup gets much stronger around him . Take a lesson from the Big Hurt , make the pitchers come to you . excellent point, I concur

That gif of Avi the dog butchering that pop-up is still top notch.

So do nothing further for 2016/2017? 2018 is light years away

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 10:25 AM) If he meets all three of the requirements the options vests and he plays in 2018 for $13 million. If he doesn't meet the requirements, the Brewers hold a team option for 2018 at $5 million. If they decide not to pick up the option he becomes a free agent. There is no buyout attached to the option so they would owe him nothing for 2018. If he spends 130 days on the DL, the option does not vest and the Brewers then hold a team option at $1 million. Again if they decline he becomes a free agent and they owe him nothing for 2018. Thanks for the numbers crunching on Garza's contract, it doesn't seem as much of an albatross as previously thought. So what scenario would you rather push your chips in on? The possibility of a Laroche bounce back in 2016, or a Garza bounce back in 2016? If the overall money is actually that close on a potential Danks/Laroche for Garza trade, is it worth taking a chance on Garza rebounding to a .500 pitcher with Coop's help in order to opening up the dh role? All predicated on singing one of the big 3 outfielders, of course...

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 23, 2015 -> 08:14 AM) Hahn already tipped his intentions to rid the roster of La Roche. A willingness to eat 3/4 of his remaining contract is a pretty strong indication that they want him gone. It also appears that they are not ready to give up on Avi. If they can clear the DH spot for Melky, then it makes sense that they would acquire Gordon. He would take Melky's place in LF and Avi would stay in RF. It helps the lineup, as Melky is probably the best 2 hole hitter on the roster. But if he hits second, and La Roche is gone, they have no LH bats to break up the 3 through 7 hitters. Gordon provides that, and balances the line up. He also adds the OBP that Cespedes doesn't, and will require fewer years and less money than Upton, or Cespedes. I see the lineup vs. RHP like this: CF Eaton DH Melky 1B Abreu LF Gordon 3B Frazier 2B Lawrie RF Avi C Avila SS Saladino Like it, or not, I think that's what is coming. I think you're better off with Gordon hitting 2nd, in front of Jose. Balance be damned.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 04:02 PM) Good grief, no way I would take Garza. He was pretty bad for the Brewers last in '15 and could be beyond Cooper's help. I'd prefer one more season of Danks/LaRoche over 2-3 more seasons of Garza. Here's what Garza's contract looks like. 2016 32 Milwaukee Brewers $12,500,000 8.149 2017 33 Milwaukee Brewers $12,500,000 2018 34 Milwaukee Brewers *$13,000,000 $13M Vesting Option $5m team option if vesting terms not met Earliest Free Agent: 2018 Thanks for the numbers...I wouldn't touch that either, too many years to start with...

QUOTE (Special K @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 02:58 PM) Exactly - in a down year for Melky. He is as more of a bounce back candidate than LaRoche. He's 30 years old. Put a few more decent hitters in the lineup, he will see better pitches, and now he's getting another run at AL Central pitching, I think he will be fine. Agreed, that's why we need him to rake at the dh spot and quit kicking it around LF. His bat isn't a question imo

Read this bad contract trade proposal on another site: the main pieces would be Danks/Laroche to Milwaukee for Matt Garza. Sox take on some extra $$ and year(s), but clears $$ to go after a big name FA outfielder and give Coop another reclamation project, while opening the dh spot for Melky. Worth a look?

In agreement with the other that have Gordon in the 2 hole, in front of Jose

The longer this goes without signings, the more likely the market comes back to reasonable. I don't feel like Heyward's deal was a market definer, but rather an outlier based heavily on advanced defensive metrics, and I bet there are many GM's around the league that agree. Otherwise you'd think those 3 remaining big fish would've been able to basically pick and choose their deals from those that missed out on Heyward. Of course, if the market does deflate, the list of suitors grows and who knows where these guys might end up.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:25 AM) What teams would potentially take LaRoche though? The only possible fit I see would be maybe the Brewers, because they have no one to play 1B right now, and if we give them enough cash it could be worth it for them because if LaRoche does bounce back they can flip him at the deadline. That's it though, and it seems pretty unlikely. Just spitballing, the Brewers look like a very slim maybe, and they might be your best shot, again, short of an injury that leaves some team scrambling to fill a spot. I'm just obsessing over keeping Melky out of right field if Gordon comes over, and trying to figure out a way to open up that specific roster spot.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:51 AM) If Saladino gave us .250 with 10-12 homers, 20 stolen bases, and solid defense next season, I know that I'd be more than happy. Those numbers would essentially be what Alexei put up last year, but Saladino would be doing it for the minimum. That would be a steady, rather unspectacular but very welcome line if Saladino can post those #'s.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 11:11 AM) I personally am not worried about Laroche I think he bounces back big time this year. If you add Upton or Cespedes his bat continues to slide down in the order and the less we rely on him. I'm okay with Laroche on this team, if we have the money to sign one of these guys, I think the line up is better with one of the big three PLUS Laroache. If Laroche bounces back, we have no issues. I agree, if we can slide him down to 6th or 7th in the lineup the Sox will be in business. But I'm more worried about sliding Melky over to start in right field if Gordon comes in. I'd rather have Laroche gone so Melky can become the main DH, and we'll figure out right field as we go (Melky/Avi/Schuck/4th outfielder yet to be acquired in a platoon based on hitting splits).

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:57 AM) So basically we know who their target is but money is still an issue. Seems someone has to go for the Sox to sign Gordon. I would pay 10 million of Laroche's tag to get him out of here. At this point it's not the money as much as freeing up the lineup spot that is the biggest gain. Some will say it makes more sense to just keep him around as a lefty bat off the bench and late inning glove guy; we already have a guy in JB Schuck that can swing it lefty, and we can surely find someone else to play late inning D at 1st base. Call me crazy but at this point I'd rather pay $10 million to make Laroche go away and open up the roster spot, then pay $13 million to keep him as a pinch hitter/defensive specialist.

I don't think the Royals have the $$. I still think the Cards could be a 12th hour team on Cespedes. Could the Nats or Astros also surprise and jump in the mix? Both would most likely have to swing pre-cursor deals to make it a possibility, but both could be good fits for Cespedes if they make room for him.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) I'm expecting the Cards to land Gordon if they really are preparing to move Holliday to first. Or possibly trade for CarGo now that they have signed Leake

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 22, 2015 -> 08:30 AM) Phil Rogers on MLBN suggesting Sox trade Robertson to fit one of the major OFs. No thanks. You don't go all in by trading the best piece of your bullpen. Sign one of the big 3, bust the budget for this upcoming year and recoup it in 2017.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 12:45 PM) I think it depends on who we get. I'd want Gordon in LF, Cespedes in LF, and Upton in RF. sign me up lol

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 12:50 PM) They are not signing two $10 million plus outfielders Unless they somehow free up some cash from an unexpected player move (maybe?) or they're able to get rid of Laroche (no chance in hell)...

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 12:42 PM) I think you overestimate how much money they would have left. Ok, maybe just leave it at 2 outfielders then...

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 11:43 AM) We'll have to see if it really is over inflated. The glut of OFer's on the market is making many of these guys sweat it out. Fowler maybe should have been one of those guys to accept the QO . He most likely wants 4/5 years but it appears these guys are not going to get what they are asking especially if the Big 3 all sign for less than expected. Fowler's market may end up affordable; I originally expected it to be way high but with the logjam of outfielders and lack of signings maybe it ends up reasonable. He'll probably get 3 years imo, definitely not 4 or 5. But you still lose the draft pick and I'm afraid that while we're waiting around for Fowler's market to take shape, the big 3 will end up signing elsewhere. If we are trying for Gordon on a reduced rate compared to Upton/Cespedes, ok, then you give it a quick attempt. If you get the feeling Gordon is using the Sox for leverage in his talks with the Royals, bail outta there and throw the truck at Upton/Cespedes. I feel like after maneuvering to land Frazier we can't now miss on one of the 3 (Gordon, Upton, Cespedes) or whoever we end up getting will just be a consolation signing and feel like lipstick on a pig.