A LH bat for the Sox

[beck72]

The Sox need a LH batter who can get on base vs. mediocre RH starters like Greisinger. This has been a problem for years in the Sox' 'RH heavy, swing for the fences, pop up w/ runners on base' crew.

 

How about a trade for Frank Catalanotto? He's a career .300 hitter, .361 OBP, .466 SLG. He hits well under pressure, .316 w/ RISP [471 ab's], w/ men on and 2 outs [.312, in 247 ab's]. He is versatile plays LF [201 g] RF [59 g] , 1B [92 g], 2B [155 g] and 3B [35 g].

 

He's hit well at the Cell, .377 avg, .406 OBP, and .525 SLG, w/ 23 h in 60 AB's.

 

He doesn't hit LHP very well [.244 avg], he could be platooned w/ Rowand.

He could be used as Jeremy Reed insurance and to give Reed time to develop, and if Maggs doesn't resign. With a 1 yr deal for $2.3 mill, he's affordable and give the Sox some flexibility in getting pitching help. Even though he's 30, he's the type of guy who can play into his late 30's, ala Steve Finley. He's the type of pro the Sox need, the grinder who can get on base for the Sox power guys. The Sox need guys who can pound the Danny Wright's of the world. Catalanotto can do that.

 

Toronto would take Carlos Lee and his 2 yr/ $15 mill deal. With Delgado gone next year, Carlos could play LF or DH and provide a power stick for them to team with VErnon Wells. Toronto might give more than Catalanotto as well

 

Thoughts?

[beck72]

Also, I forgot to mention he can leadoff or in the #2 spot, a career .303 and .309 avg respectively.

 

With Catalanotto at #2, behind Willie, Valentin can drop down in the lineup at say #6. Jose doesn't have the OBP the Sox from the #2 hitter. With Frank on base at a higher rate than the sox other #2 hitters, guys like Maggs, Frank and Pk will get better pitches to hit.

 

With Catalanotto able to hit leadoff, he's good insurance if Willie slumps. The Sox need some of the consistency a guy like this can provide.

[DBAHO]

Toronto won't take on any more payroll, the owners are very stingy towards J.P Riccardi up there. I like the idea of Catalanotto, although we've pretty much got a younger version of him in Jeremy Reed. I think Frank used to play a little second base as well, so his versatility could come in handy.

[beck72]

I like the idea of Catalanotto, although we've pretty much got a younger version of him in Jeremy Reed. I think Frank used to play a little second base as well, so his versatility could come in handy.

It's probably too much pressure to put on Reed and expect him to hit .300 right out of the gate. Catalanotto is a vet who performs well under pressure. With his 1 yr deal, it gives Reed time to get ready w/o a long term commitment.

 

If Carlos is too rich for Tor.'s blood, they might go for prospects. Pick 2 or 3 guys from Rauch, Josh Stewart, David Sanders and Borchard.

 

Lee then could be dealt for pitching.

[DBAHO]

It's probably too much pressure to put on Reed and expect him to hit .300 right out of the gate. Catalanotto is a vet who performs well under pressure. With his 1 yr deal, it gives Reed time to get ready w/o a long term commitment.

 

If Carlos is too rich for Tor.'s blood, they might go for prospects. Pick 2 or 3 guys from Rauch, Josh Stewart, David Sanders and Borchard.

 

Lee then could be dealt for pitching.

How bout this for sum trades. Lee and Konerko for Olerud and Garcia. I think Olerud's contract finishes this season, or he's retirin afta it, and Seattle gets the first baseman and outfielder they need to get sum pop in their lineup. It'll work payroll wise, and then we can get sum1 like Catalanotto to platoon with Reed for the rest of the season.

[beck72]

How bout this for sum trades. Lee and Konerko for Olerud and Garcia. I think Olerud's contract finishes this season, or he's retirin afta it, and Seattle gets the first baseman and outfielder they need to get sum pop in their lineup. It'll work payroll wise, and then we can get sum1 like Catalanotto to platoon with Reed for the rest of the season.

I like the thought of an OBP guy like Olerud at 1b rather than a slugger. Yet I don't know how much he has left this year. Ross Gload might do just as well as Olerud at 1B.

 

Whether the M's are looking to salvage the season or play for next year, who knows. I know they want to get younger, and fans don't want a wholesale rebuilding project like Clev. went through. Proven guys like PK and Lee might help with that, and both would only be signed through 2005.

 

If the trade involved Randy Winn [who is signed for 2005 like Lee and PK] instead of Olerud, I'd like that more. Winn is a switch hitter, who can also play LF and CF. He's also a #2 hitter, with a career avg around .300. With Winn in LF, Reed could play CF. Reed would then bat down in the 8th or 9th hole. Less pressure than having to hit in the #2 spot, and it would put an OBP guy for the top of the order guys to hit in.

 

Right now, the Sox have free swingers from Frank on down. Feast or famine. It's famine now.

[Old Socks]

These teams all know who our best prospects are, and if there is a trade of this magnitude one or more of our stud propects will go. Remember, by July, when most trades happen, guys like Anderson and Sweeney will be trade-eligible.

[CWSGuy406]

I know this was talked about a while back, but what would it take to bring Delgado here? I think I might give them Konerko, Koch (To balance out the salaries), Borchard, Rauch, and Anderson. Then again, I don't know if Toronto would make that deal. If that was presented to me, though, I'd make it, but then again, Im not a GM.

 

Thoughts?

[beck72]

These teams all know who our best prospects are, and if there is a trade of this magnitude one or more of our stud propects will go.  Remember, by July, when most trades happen, guys like Anderson and Sweeney will be trade-eligible.

Teams still want proven major leaguers like Lee and PK. How many, that's the question. The key is matching the teams with the need.

 

Yet trading top unproven talent to land top proven talent isn't the worst thing in the world.

[Old Socks]

Can't trade Anderson. First, he is just too good of a propect. Second, he will no doubt be in the Show in either 2005 or 2006, most likely mid 2005, and that will start 5-6 years of relatively low salary for what should be pretty good numbers. Sox can't afford Delgado-like salary numbers.

[beck72]

I know this was talked about a while back, but what would it take to bring Delgado here?  I think I might give them Konerko, Koch (To balance out the salaries), Borchard, Rauch, and Anderson.  Then again, I don't know if Toronto would make that deal.  If that was presented to me, though, I'd make it, but then again, Im not a GM.

 

Thoughts?

Delgado is another power guy. The Sox need guys to get on base for Maggs and Frank et al. With guys on base ahead of the power guys, the Sox hitters will get better pitches to hit. Give me a .300 hitter, with some speed, and can hit line drives off of medicore RHP over a high strikeout power guy.

 

With $17 mill in salary, a poor glove and a one year rental, I wouldn't trade potentially great prospects like Anderson and Sweeney for Delgado.

[southsider2k5]

Well IMO we have a great option of a LH bat, that could do a lot towards balancing the line up. I would call up Reed and sit Rowand. Move Val down to the 5 hole behind Frank, move Carlos up to the 2 hole. Let Pauly hit 6th, Reed 7th, Crede 8th and the catcher 9th.

[Soxfest]

Sox could get alot better LH hitter for Lee than FC

[Cerbaho-WG]

During last offseason, I mentioned that the Sox would be wise to get Catalanotto. So of course they go get Armando Rios. Catalanotto would be a solid pickup, but I don't see him coming here.

[The Beast]

It's probably too much pressure to put on Reed and expect him to hit .300 right out of the gate. Catalanotto is a vet who performs well under pressure. With his 1 yr deal, it gives Reed time to get ready w/o a long term commitment.

 

If Carlos is too rich for Tor.'s blood, they might go for prospects. Pick 2 or 3 guys from Rauch, Josh Stewart, David Sanders and Borchard.

 

Lee then could be dealt for pitching.

How about we trade them the fringe Joe Borchard? Add in a pitcher and get him.

[witesoxfan]

Sox can't afford Delgado-like salary numbers.

So why do we have people on here wanting to resign Maggs?

[BrandoFan]

So why do we have people on here wanting to resign Maggs?

Because people, myself included, were hoping that Maggs would discover his inner HOF'er at 29-30 years of age ala Sammy Sosa in 1998 -- and you can't put a price tag on that, especially if you're the HOF'er-challenged Sox fighting for local and national attention.

 

Unfortunately, it became apparent in 2003 that Maggs doesn't have the eye/pitch selection OR the steroids to becomes a 1050 OPS hitter. Sigh.

[witesoxfan]

it became apparent in 2003 that Maggs doesn't have the eye/pitch selection OR the steroids to becomes a 1050 OPS hitter.  Sigh.

While Delgado doesn't have steroids(or atleast not that I know of), he does have a good eye at the plate, and has put up some sick numbers in years past.

 

I feel that if we could get our hands on Delgado, and we had the choice of resigning one of him and Maggs, I would resign Delgado, simply because he can flat out rake. Gives you about 35-40 homers a year, has a very good eye at the plate, and is a very good LH power hitter, which is definately something that we need. I'd love to have Delgado.

[BrandoFan]

While Delgado doesn't have steroids(or atleast not that I know of), he does have a good eye at the plate, and has put up some sick numbers in years past.

 

I feel that if we could get our hands on Delgado, and we had the choice of resigning one of him and Maggs, I would resign Delgado, simply because he can flat out rake.  Gives you about 35-40 homers a year, has a very good eye at the plate, and is a very good LH power hitter, which is definately something that we need.  I'd love to have Delgado.

Delgado hurts you defensively (I remember a game in Toronto against Halladay last year where he and Woodward got 1 error each even though they "deserved" at least 3 apiece) and on the basepaths, esp with his f***ed up knee.

 

So 1050 OPS from Delgado, while very good, is not quite

 

Delgado is also 2 years older and doesn't have the connection to Chicago, so if he eventually make it to HOF, it will be as a Blue Jay.

 

After 2002 it looked like Maggs was on the way to Sosa-esque (1998)

late-bloomer ascent. Alas, it appears he doesn't have the talent and/or the mental make-up to become a 1st ballot HOF'er. He doesn't have the luxury of steroids, either.

[beck72]

Well IMO we have a great option of a LH bat, that could do a lot towards balancing the line up.  I would call up Reed and sit Rowand.  Move Val down to the 5 hole behind Frank, move Carlos up to the 2 hole.  Let Pauly hit 6th, Reed 7th, Crede 8th and the catcher 9th.

I wouldn't mind a Reed callup, provided Lee was traded for a stud starting pitcher. With his speed and OBP lower in the lineup, [say at 8] Reed would break up the feast or famine bottom of the lineup. There would also be less pressure to perform. I don't see Reed hitting .300 right away. Yet .280 with a .350 OBP wouldn't be surprising. A guy like that [which Rowand was expected to be] would be on base for the .300 hitters to drive in.

 

My biggest concern was having another .300 hitter at the top of the lineup, preferably a LH hitter. Yet with Harris in CF and Uribe at 2B, there are the two .300 hitters in front of Maggs and Frank. With Valentin at #2, his .270 avg [tops] and low .300 OBP, Maggs and Frank would often come up with no one on base. With the #1 and #2 hitters on, the power guys will see better pitches when they come up.

 

It's probably a short term fix to the problem, having Willie in CF. But the Sox need to ride out the hot hitting of Harris and Uribe. Then make some decisions.