blackmooncreeping

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 11:00 PM) I think Melky in RF would be so bad defensively (maybe even worse than Garcia) that we'd end up moving him to DH, putting Shuck/somebody else in RF, and benching LaRoche. That'll work

No thanks. Not a significant enough upgrade imo, plus the reasons others have listed above.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 08:17 PM) Exactly, I have no doubt there are few, if any teams willing to go beyond 3 years with Cespedes right now. I think eventually some team will bite the bullet and go four or five, but no way in hell is getting his 6/$130M+ contract he's hoping for. I think our biggest risk right now is Cespedes sticks to his crazy demands up to spring training and I don't see the Sox waiting that long to make an upgrade. I fully expect to see some tweets next week about the Sox offering Fowler a contract to try and force Cespedes' hand, just like we saw with Baltimore & Davis. If that happened, Cespedes and his agent would probably chuckle and say go for it. Cespedes > Fowler, so the Sox would really have no leverage in that situation to try and force Cespedes' hand. He has more suitors than Davis.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 04:46 PM) It is how the Marlins have gotten two long term deals done in the last six months or so. Regardless, Cespedes isn't taking a backloaded deal.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 09:43 PM) So you are saying that basically accepting the Orioles first offer good negotiating. Usually the agents get more out of the team than the first offer. You seem fixated on the lack of significantly gaining more $$ in the deal Davis signed, which is fine in a vacuum. That is not my point. The fact that he got a contract technically bigger the the initial offer, after his market looked to crater, I can't see that as a loss. I doubt Davis and Boras are upset with their deal.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 03:54 PM) The deferrals make a huge difference by keeping the annual salary down over the next 7 years. The money paid during those deferral years will have very little impact on the team's payroll. Much better deferral payments than what the Nat's will be dishing out on Scherzer. I still think Baltimore was stupid for out-bidding themselves but were very smart with the deferrals. Also, I guess Boras/Davis weren't stupid after all. It's a great deal for Davis, period. The deferred money is tax-free in terms of Texas state income tax. Davis lives in Texas. Anyone saying Davis/Boras didn't come out on top is grasping at straws.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 08:52 AM) Not any worse than Leake or Kazmir or Chen.... They only want him for two seasons. The guys you listed are all better and less of a risk than signing Kennedy. I get the 2 yr thing

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 08:51 AM) 1 million dollars per year is technically a bigger deal. But after months of negotiations? He didnt really get anything. The fact that he landed anywhere near the original offer much less eclipsed it, after the Os publicly said we're moving on, offer is off the table, etc is not a win for Baltimore. The fact that it's already being viewed as a bad contract furthers my point. The real point is this bodes well for the Sox. If Hahn can pull it off after this rollercoaster ride he is a ninja!

Detroit is drowning in dead money, I cant see them outbidding the Sox no matter how senile Illitch might be. If Det is the main competition they dont svare me too much. It's the Mets that are intriguing. Despite the overpay to Reed of 5 mill+ And the Cards might be a player if it's not too crazy a market, although I think Upton is a better fit there. Sets up an interesting weekend, seems like it's gonna pop soon.

Holy overpay

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 07:54 AM) It's not a massive win for Boras. He waited on a contract for weeks tried to market him as a OF and got 1 million more AAV. If anything the Orioles let him save face by not dropping the contract. It's a huge win by Boras, landed even bigger deal than initially offered. Master play. He waited for weeks, pissing off everyone in the process and still got more than the initial offer. Has nothing to do with saving face, dude just got PAID

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 12:18 PM) ...and this pretty much means the Sox are out. Damn. It's not like it was unexpected, but it sucks nonetheless. Still time for a team to throw a hail mary and make a last second chance to up the ante. I'm not saying I'm confident it'll happen, but until he either signs with another team or the Sox say that they're completely out and moving on...it ain't over 'til it's over!

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 11:16 AM) From all reports of those close to the team, Minnie's death severely affected Alexei in a way they saw previously with his brother in law. For some, death affects you differently. It's no reason to minimize someone with those stupid pet analogies just because you like a baseball team. good post

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 12:10 PM) Cespedes to orioles today or saturday. If the O's are offering all years guaranteed, then I agree and we'll be hearing an announcement soon. I just hope the Sox get a last chance to swoop in and sweeten their offer.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 11:59 AM) Rumor is Orioles don't believe in opt-outs If that's true and they are offering 5 full years guaranteed, with no out clauses...then I say they can have him as well.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 11:54 AM) If they are willing to offer him 6 years, they can have him. That won't be fun for them. If they provide out clauses for Cespedes along the way it might not be that risky overall. But it does sound like a reach for the Sox.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 10:10 AM) Ya no s***. I just wanted to b**** alittle. I'm rooting for Avi (he's actually one of the rare bad ball players I actually like. Great work ethic, has heart, leaves it all out there, great personality etc.) But I just don't like his odds offensively or defensively as a player. I get it, we're all frustrated with the guy. He's so young that you want to give him another shot, and it's hard to believe last year was his 1st full season in mlb. And I do think he's a hard worker in general, but needs to trim down a little too. But it gets tiring watching him butcher fly balls with horrible routes and lack of speed. For being so athletic he can't run for s*#t in the OF!

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 09:37 AM) The O's are probably just calling the bluff of Davis to get him to come down on his price. If the O's are targeting Cespedes as their number 1 and have moved on from Davis I think the deal would have been done a week ago. But who really knows this off season painstakingly slow moving with everyone trying to manipulate the other. I agree with this; Davis is their 1st choice here. It's time he should take the original deal that is supposedly still on the table for him because it's clear he isn't going to top it at this point.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 08:24 AM) If he gets playing time, Saladino could put up decent numbers. I'd say .255 10 HR 48 RBI 15 SB is a fair estimate. Pretty comparable to 2015 Alexei numbers. I'd say more like .240, 8 HR, 40 rbi, 20 sb and good defense. Just my 2 cents on Saladino. Lexi is more productive with the bat, Saladino better with the glove. He is fine for this team in the short term imo.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 09:49 AM) Nooooooooooooo He's on the roster regardless, it was just a matter of how much $$

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 09:55 PM) I don't think think that deal will get it done. It would be the best offer on the table. Unless someone hits the magic century mark it might get it done, and 95 mill offer gives Sox wiggle room to counter up to 100 mill vs other potential bidders

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 09:36 PM) Only reason to not sign him to a one year deal (bargain) is if he truly is over 40. He does look kinda old in the face lending some doubt. Nobody can deny the team is weaker without Lexi right now. SS took a hit today. I dont see the Sox as being a weaker team without Lexi. The additions of Frazier and Lawrie outweigh the loss of Lexi and it's projected as such.

Drop a 5 yr/ $95 mill offer and close this thing JR/RH

Is the Orioles offer is a ploy to get Davis to s#*t or get off the pot? I think there's something to that for sure, but i dont think it's a low ball bluff either. Id think the Orioles just want to make sure one of the two ends up in their dugout, and they'll be happy with whoever it might end up being.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 09:34 PM) I understand perfectly . The Sox need Cespedes more than they need Fowler . Would it be good to have Fowler and his OBP ? Of course . I'd just like it a lot more if there was someone to drive him in . Fowler with the cost of a draft pick and Cespedes no draft pick and one of only 2 players ( Abreu being the other) to drive in 100 runs 2 straight years. Not fooled by a career year one iota. Not only will he produce way more runs but most likely wil save more runs from scoring also while adding a boost to the Sox in just about every way imaginable when it comes to excitement and being competitive. Does Fowler really seem like that guy to put the Sox over the top and into contention after getting Frazier ? Right now I'd like to know there's a guy besides Abreu who can be counted on in the middle of the lineup. Yes to this