103 mph screwball

Thanks for taking the time do do that. It's nice to have something to reference as we try to figure out KW's next move. MacDougal will be 1.5 mil in 2007 from what I was reading in his new contract thread

Mystery solved. MacDougal gets Freddie's 10 million. That's it. End of offseason. I like MacDougal. I'm happy to hear he's gonna be around a while.

QUOTE(chisox72 @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 09:43 AM) I don't see what the big deal would be in seeing what he has left. For as cheap as he'll be, its worth a shot. Agreed. Seems like a low risk high reward move. KW's pick ups of cast offs can be great moves.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 03:34 AM) How about trying to pound out extensions with Buehrle and Crede? Would that be good or not? (in Crede's case, it might not, but we'll see) Or how about something completely radical and trading for Vernon Wells and then locking him up long-term? Extensions would be very nice. However, nothing that has been said or done in the last few days gives me any hope that that will happen. I we are offering Mark 3 years 45 million and he can get 6 years 90 million on the open market next year, he is gone. That's another problem I have with the Sox. Time to give 4 year deals. Yes, it is risky but you can't expect 3 to get you anything if the other side will settle for nothing less than 5 years. Crede doesn't seem likely for reasons we all know. Maybe Wells would be the way to go. The Sox may be more willing to risk the huge cash on everyday players instead of pitchers. Manny, AROD, or any good player who is already inked to a contract may be better.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 8, 2006 -> 02:17 AM) 2006 White Sox Payroll: $102,875,667 good for 4th in all of baseball behind NYY, BOS and $750,000 behind LAA. I wonder what it is now for next year with Freddie traded. Minus 10 more million if Garland is traded. Keep the payroll at 100 million and infuse the system with young pitching, and I can live with that. I may not agree, but I will trust KW. Go into next year with an 80 mil payroll and it screams salary dump. Now, without the numbers in front of me, assume the Sox have 10-15 million to spend. What are they going to do with it. Maybe some of it would be better spent on additional scouts, a 2nd hitting coach, improved minor league instructors, and bonus money for some overseas talent. I'd imagine 5 million for scouts may have more benefit than a crusty old bullpen guy who is not that much better than the guys you have in the system.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 11:04 PM) Explain why we would get a lot for a one year rental. Whatever team trades for Mark will get him for 30 starts, and then he is off to FA. Unless they believe they can sign him. But again they will have to pay top dollar. Good point. KW had better start planning to dump our players 2-3 years before they make money. That will definately help maintain the proud Chicago All-Prospect team.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 10:40 PM) I'd say his comments about Buerhle don't bode well for his future here. Is Buerhle next to go ? Sounds like Garland is next to go the highest bidder. Buerhle will be after him. JV will get to much in arbitration next off season. Hell, trade Crede, Dye, and Iguchi too. We can't let them be free agents! They will want money! If we are going to water down the team to the point where staying consistantly competitive in the division is the goal instead of a another World Series Championship, let's do it in style man. Let's compete with the Marlins as the "holy crap I can't believe how good they are on such a pitifull payroll race" 2007 Rotation Stud prospect Coop Canfixum Kenny Dreamin WhoDa Helldat and from Tiawan, Wa Da Fuk Sorry. This may have been the most disappointing couple of days that I've ever had as a Sox fan.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 7, 2006 -> 10:19 PM) It would be nice if the leaders of this organization would stop whining in the press about salaries. Nothing infuriates a fan base more than having to hear these type of complaints. Agreed. Shut up already. Jerry, KW, and Ozzie have all hurt the organiztion with their comments. I get it, we are back to small market mentality. Horrible move that will cause a downward spiral in attendance again, which will bring the payroll with it. I think Sox fans would tolerate rebuilding when the time came. Selling the car because the price of gas is higher than you want it to be will not be tolerated. Just say that you plan too keep the payroll high and win championships but you can't hold on to everyone. This cry poor crap made me sad when the Cell was half empty, it pisses me off when there is record attendance and high season ticket renewals.

One more reason this may happen. Per 3 BeWareTheNewSox 5 in another thread, ESPN reported that Detroit is the mystery team in for Bonds. Did Leyland manage Bonds in Pittsburg? The Sox may sign Bonds to block this.

Well, if Sox are going refuse to sign their players to extensions or pay the market value for free agents, they should invest that money in the future. Hire the best scouts away from Florida and set up extensive scouting in the Far East and Latin America. Oh yea, and stop letting KW draft. He's best at plucking away underrated players from other teams, but our draft picks have not worked out.

Small market mentality. The past 24 hours have been great...for tiger, twins, and indian fans. I really wanted to go for it one more time, then I could tolerate an influx of youth and payroll control. This is bad PR.

This could be the most split opinion since... what do we do with Pods? It is possible. The team is clearing cash, could upgrade LF, there are secret teams supposedly involved with the Sox speculated to be one of them, and Bonds does not appear to have teams breaking his door down to sign him. I've vented my opinion in the Garland to Houston rumor thread. Curious to see where Soxtalk stands.

Well, if the Sox trade another starter, they should buy low on Mulder and take a risk. Just in case Coop can't fix Floyd.

What is he going to do with that 10 million?

Rowand AND Floyd wasn't popular here. It would have to be more or I will have to turn my attention to the Bears for a while.

That can't be it right? RIGHT?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 6, 2006 -> 12:04 PM) KW said in a Trib interview that "any rumor you see about us adding a big bat is false." Well I guess that is about as clear as it gets. There was none of the usual ambiguity in that statement. Only thing clear to me is that KW will say anything to disguise, confuse, or enhance his position in any negotiations for anyone. I don't care what anyone says, if KW was talking to Cashman until 2 am it involved AROD. I'm sure there was an agreement to keep those talks confidential so we may never know. In fact his comment about not adding a big bat makes me expect he will add a big bat.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 6, 2006 -> 11:55 AM) I don't worry about the long reliever position too much due to Ozzie's use of our starters. No matter how bad they're doing, our starters will always go 6 innings. Hopefully that is one of Ozzie's changes in attitude this off season along with interest in Pods' OBP and NOT playing Mack in CF. Ozzie's stick with the starter plan worked great in 2005 as it built the starters' confidence and stamina. It was one of his biggest failures of 2006 (there are many documented in other threads). If Javier is about to crap the bed in the 6th inning for the 4 -5 time in a row, it would be great to have rubber arm knuckle baller Haegar come out and pitch 2 or 3 innings and hold onto the lead. Ozzie won a World Series by sticking to his plan. He won't win another one unless he learns from his mistakes and experience. I think Ozzie's BMac remarks were to help reinforce KW's previous remarks that BMac could just go to AAA and the Sox do not have to trade a starter. I think it was a calculated remark to tell other teams that your offers are not good enough and the Sox do not have to trade anybody. Ozzie is helping with the smoke and mirrors. Ozzie's Rowand trade comments might help Philly realize they want too much for a guy on his last year of a contract, who they have a replacement for, and who many think should be a 4th outfielder.

If Anderson is traded, Farnsworth becomes a valuable addition to the Sox to come out of the bullpen and kick the crap out of opposing pitchers throwing at AJ I'd rather move one of our starters to the national league if possible. I'd much rather make Huston or the Mets better than improve the yanks or Angels. Burke intrigues me as a possible replacement for Iguchi if he leaves via free agency. No to traveras unless he is a throw in.

There is no doubt in my mind that Anderson will be packing his bags for somewhere else like Florida or Texas. Maybe he returns to AAA to show he can hit, but if there is a trade that interests KW, he is gone. He would just devalue his attractiveness to other general managers if he stayed on the Sox as a 4th outfielder. Many of us have expressed the opinion that he wasn't given a chance to establish any sort of rhythm this year. He may make another team very happy. The Sox will have a new center fielder in 2007 and I think that is what's best for both the Sox and Anderson.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Dec 5, 2006 -> 11:42 PM) Ozzie can't fool Jordan4life. Mack will be out there unless we trade for another CF. Mack for Miller? No thanks. I've heard good things about Miller and handling a pitching staff. Regardless, Mack is starting to look like an expensive player that could be replaced with Sweeney or a cheaper backup outfielder with better D. He's a grinder and I'd hate to see him go, but exploring a trade makes sense to me.

I like Mackowiak, but I'd look into moving him to the Brewers for Miller to solve our backup catcher hole. I do not know how that would fit, but the salaries are similar.

KW will do his homework before trading for Farnsworth. I do not know from first hand knowledge, but I'm pretty sure I've read things here at Soxtalk that would make me very concerned about bringing him back to Chicago. He allegedly used to party a bit too much. I plead ignorance to Melky. Would he be a nice addition to the Sox?

I do think the Sox want Rowand back, but fortunately KW is not stupid. I'm sure the Phillies with try to use KW's aggressiveness to their advantage. We all know KW will overpay for a guy he really wants, but he values his pitching too much for this to be true. If that is what the Phillies' are asking for Aaron, I'd end the talks.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 5, 2006 -> 10:58 PM) Perhaps it just took 4 years for Ozzie to become a competent manager. No kidding. I do find it encouraging that he may be learning from his mistakes. I'm still angry about his stubborn moves last year that were obvious to Soxtalk. I hope Lovie Smith doesn't let his stubbornness cost the Bears in the post season.