CB2.0

What?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 09:39 AM) So they are a last place team, but if they sign Fowler or Desmond they are a contender? LMAO. To be fair, he doesn't say that....In fact, he says: Anyway, I do disagree with signing both Fowler and Desmond, but the sentiment behind making those moves is dead on right.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 08:30 AM) He announced the thing for wounded warriors after I posted, so you're probably right. Just think it makes him look like a baby and everyone will pile on him w/o him there to try to defend himself.I understand what you're saying, but I don't know if it really makes him look like a baby. He's dominating the group, and he has a point about Kelly - she even invited Michael Moore on her show last night to bash him. MICHAEL MOORE! That's awfully petty. The reality is that Fox needs Trump more than Trump needs Fox - he's done fine in polling even with the obvious attempts to prop up Rubio/Cruz and bash him. I think it's Fox making the bad move here - nobody goes to games to watch the umpires.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 11:23 AM) What? Are you thinking Lincecum is left handed? He's not. LOL! Yes, I was! My bad. Then either Latos or Lincecum but I think maybe still Latos because he's certainly bigger and maybe a little more durable.

Great article! I wish more people would learn to write baseball articles with a clear depiction of the logic and thought process that goes toward the conclusions drawn. Well done.

QUOTE (ChiSoxJon @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 10:50 AM) Absolutely agree, those 3 picks must be kept at this point and while Jackson and Latos (I prefer Lincecum and his willingness to pitch in 'pen) don't solve anything, they add depth and Hahn can show he wasn't done, may as well go after the Cuban OFer Hernandez too, hit on those 3 picks and I'll be happy I would prefer Lincecum as well except that we have 4 lefties in the rotation already and I'm looking at insurance for Johnson. If we were more balanced, than yeah...I'd rather take a flier on Tim.

Jackson and Latos, for me. There's nothing left that I think is worth the Samardzija pick or the $. So, sign some low $ lottery tickets as backup for weak spots, and make those 3 top 50 picks count.

Nope. Me either.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 09:43 AM) I think it's because we disagree on how to determine value. Let's say both pitchers live up to their projections by Steamer next year. Gray at 3.5 WAR certainly beats out Sale at 6 WAR if you look at value as salary/WAR. But by that same logic Erik Johnson at 0.5 WAR would be more valuable than Sale, which is just silly. If instead you look at the surplus value each pitcher provides beyond their contract, then it's easy to see why Sale would be more valuable (6 WAR would be $42-48 million in value, vs. ~$25 million for 3.5 WAR, going by the idea that 1 WAR = $7-8 million). Erik Johnson at a .5 WAR is +$3M value by that logic. Chris Sale at 6 WAR is +$32M value by that logic. So no - it's not silly and Erik Johnson would not be more valuable than Sale or even close to it. Also, Gray would be +$24M (which is less than Sale), but the point is that Sale is still a $9M hit against your payroll when putting a roster together whereas Gray is minimum wage. That is the other big piece of the value point I was trying to make.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 09:24 AM) I was referring to the bolded portion of the post above, not the discussion at large. I should have bolded it before. Gotcha. And Sale is a HUGE value... I'm not saying he's not. In terms of WAR $, he was +$43M last year. That's insane. My point was really about the Cubs swallowing their pride on guys like Schwarber and Soler and Baez.... I'd give em all up for Gray at minimum wage this year, and 4 years of team control. Anyways, back to the topic - I agree with others that I think I'd rather see Hahn explore trade options rather than sign Fowler. His OBP is nice, but the pick and his defense just don't justify the cost for me. If we're willing to continue to be lackluster in defense in the outfield, then I want to see a big power bat.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 24, 2016 -> 01:57 AM) You're completely wrong. Literally every team in baseball would add Sale at ~$10m/year, even if their budget was maxed. If Sale was making $25m or something, then we're talking. Furthermore, when you start to add up the monetary value of the control years, the cash gap shrinks even more. Sale has just over $48m left over four years, $27.5m of which is on two team options. Gray's arb payout (assuming he stays healthy and productive) will probably end up paying him $25-30m (conservatively given continued salary inflation), making the total gap likely ~$5m per year over the lives of the contracts. Where was I "completely wrong?" I asked what is the cost to the A's for Gray "this year". I'm not disagreeing with anything you posted (agree 100% about the value gap shrinking over time), but: 1. Not a point anyone was making 2. If he continues to perform at current levels he's still more "bang for buck" value, particularly since he has virtually no impact on a team's payroll.

QUOTE (SoxSteve @ Jan 25, 2016 -> 04:27 PM) I think we should try to pry Markaikas from Atlanta. I wanted him over Melky last year but he's from Atlanta and wanted to go back home. I think we can get him for Garcia and or some prospects not named, Anderson, Fullmer or Adams. Atlanta is going young and might want to dump the 31 million left on his contract. He has a great on base % and is a upgrade defensively for sure. just a thought. Markakis is owed 3/$33M, negative dWAR in all but one of his 10 years in the bigs, and as mentioned...has 0 power anymore. Pass.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:58 AM) If the Sox are considering signing Desmond, and I don't doubt it. Am I crazy in thinking that if they are going to give the comp pick, then offer Desmond a multi-year contract and hope like hell he can somewhat get back to his old form? If they give up the comp pick, sign him to a 1 year contract and he tanks then the Sox won't get squat for him next year when he's a FA again. Maybe offering something like 2 years guaranteed with a 3rd year team or mutual option could make giving up the comp pick worthwhile. Then begin praying he can regain some of his old form.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 02:52 AM) Let's not get crazy here. Gray's good, but let's see him put up one 4 WAR season first before saying he's "like Sale". The guy's peripherals are solid but far from spectacular. Sale is still easily the more valuable pitcher. What are the A's gonna pay Gray this year? What are the Sox gonna pay Sale? I said VALUE...not better, necessarily. The ole "bang for the buck". Sale '16 - $9.1M Gray - '16 - (Arb process - $512,000 base) Gray is SO MUCH MORE VALUABLE it's not even funny.

No - what I'm saying is: We needed a power bat in the OF. There was a big pool, didn't get any of them. Desmond is a mistake. You don't like that assessment - fine. But that's my opinion. "Nice talking to ya" too.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 02:24 AM) Just my own speculation but I think Hahn is looking for the OF equivalent of the Lawrie trade where the Sox give up young low minor league level prospects. Nope. OF is more important than SS, especially now. THE MOVE was to buy an OF that kept 3 top 50 picks. So easy - had it right there; OBP, Power, RISP, Defense. BLEW IT. Ian Desmond is a disaster in waiting. ANOTHER GODDAMN NL power only value guy coming here... again. And a pick out the window..

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 11:48 PM) Soler or Baez for pitching to TB and then Fowler coming back makes too much sense... Plus Soler upped his value a bit with that flash of potential in the post-season. The Cubs are overrating Soler so much, it's funny. They should include Schwarber (DH) call Billy, and polielty ask him what else do they want for Sonny. Give 'em Baez too. Move like THAT...would make me take them seriously. Gray is like Sale but even cheaper. He is the most VALUABLE pitcher in baseball.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 02:05 AM) The Sox first round pick is protected so if the Sox signed both Fowler and Desmond they would give up the Samardzija comp pick plus their 2nd round pick. It's possible the Sox sign one player with a comp pick attached but very doubtful they sign two. It will be one or the other but not both. Looking like the Cubs may go after Fowler and it sounds like the Sox have interest in Desmond so if the Sox signed Desmond, the Nat's would get the Sox Samardzija comp pick which I believe is currently pick #28. The Sox shouldn't sign BOTH Fowler and Desmond. Quite frankly...I don't see the point of signing Desmond at all. If you're going to give up a pick, get an OBP guy that can hit #2 legit, play CF if needed, and put that "SS $" on an SP flier. There's legit power in the IF now at 3 of the 4 spots. Let Saladino be a defensive/no offense stop gap until Anderson is ready. Live with that. But you HAVE to do something about the OF. Frustrating...Hahn put out a suitcase with $8M to dump LaRoche and STILL nobody wanted it.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:57 AM) No one's really been linked to him. If he wants to take a one year deal I'd offer 1/15.8 (value of the QO). Way too much. How about $8M with incentives up to $12M?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:45 AM) You were responding to a poster who was making a comment about developing hitters and you seemed confused about what "under 21" signings meant. I don't know what Puig, Cespedes and Abreu has to do with under 21 year old signing. Don't know what you mean by "eligible to sign from Cuba" when the amateurs under 21 are also "eligible to sign" contracts (despite having restrictions). I didn't bring up 21 (whether Cuban..or not) at all. Caulfield brought that up for no reason. The only thing even close to that is when I said the Sox like college Grads. They either are, or are close to..21, which was the only point I had for the unnecessary 21 year old point that had nothing to do with anything.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:35 AM) Incorrect. Abreu, Puig and Cespedes were not under 21 amateur signings which is way different. Basically like drafting where you still need to work with them and develop them in your minors like high school/college picks. I said same class. As in ELIGIBLE class (from Cuba) to sign. This 21 thing...that's you're distraction. You invented that strawman and are arguing it for some reason...I'm not even talking about it. Are you drunk?

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:31 AM) He had the second highest OPS on the team in 2013 and highest on the team in 2014. "He" who?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 01:24 AM) The A's and Dodgers got playoff appearances... The A's did because of Cespedes...maybe. The Dodgers because of Puig? No. Come on, man.

..wife faker than him. No Rockies OFers, Rick. Please don't.

Latin signings are a whole different animal. And speaking of: weren't Abreu, Cespedes, and Puig all the SAME class? What MLB team won with their pick and $? You're moving goal posts.