With Polanco accepting Phi's arb offer [which they didn't think he'd accept, and have Chase Utley for 2b this yr] Phi. prob. has to trade him. He'd likely get $5 + mill in arb, as he made $3.95 mill in 2004. The key is Phi. would prob. want to unload his salary, and not take on salary in return. Then they could pay a little of his salary for young cheap talent.

 

I think Polanco would be a FA after this yr, so any team trading for him would go into it seeing him as a 1 yr rental [which means teams won't give a lot for him via trade] If Phi, pays some of his salary--the Sox could offer pitching, maybe a bullpen arm [adkins or Munoz and Borchard], Polanco could be backup for 3b, SS and 2b.

 

Polanco didn't make sense to sign as a FA to a 2, 3 yr deal. The sox are waiting to see if Willie Harris shows more upside in 2005. Yet as a yr rental to provide some stability to the sox young IF, makes sense.

That would work for me.

I expect one of Mike Lieberthal or Polanco to be traded, as Philly does need to get under budget. Their payroll will be lower in 2005 than it was in 2004 I believe.

I expect one of Mike Lieberthal or Polanco to be traded, as Philly does need to get under budget. Their payroll will be lower in 2005 than it was in 2004 I believe.

Lieberthal would be harder to move though. Doesn't he have one more yr at over $7 mill? At least Polanco is younger and more productive. But they can't have him sitting on the bench making $5 mill [not that the sox can have Everett sitting on the bench w/ his $4 mill salary]

I wouldnt want polanco but if we had him how could you bench a guy getting paid 5 million$?

im so sick of hearing from these polanco lovers. Are you kidding me???

5 million bucks for a 2b?? we dont have the budget for that, even though it would give some of you some serious wet dreams

Lieberthal would be harder to move though. Doesn't he have one more yr at over $7 mill? At least Polanco is younger and more productive. But they can't have him sitting on the bench making $5 mill [not that the sox can have Everett sitting on the bench w/ his $4 mill salary]

I suppose it would depend on whether or not there could be takers for Lieberthal and that contract of his as well (Dodgers?). I think he's a 10/5 player as well so he can void any deal.

im so sick of hearing from these polanco lovers.  Are you kidding me???

5 million bucks for a 2b?? we dont have the budget for that, even though it would give some of you some serious wet dreams

Easy wet dream boy. I haven't been a "Polanco lover". Yet he could be had at less than market value, and be a big improvement over Harris at 2b, and be insurance at SS and 3b in case of injury

I wouldnt want polanco but if we had him how could you bench a guy getting paid 5 million$?

Phi would likely add cash to a deal, if the sox added talent.

 

How do you bench Everett making $4 mill?! I don't see him around come ST. But a guy who can play 3 positions well could make less than $4 mill

Get Polanco for Borchard, even if it is a one year stay...

 

He'd raise less than those 5.2 million dollar questions we've been asking lately...

It's worth giving Willie Harris the job and let him develope than to trade away talent and take on Polanco's salary.

Easy wet dream boy. I haven't been a "Polanco lover". Yet he could be had at less than market value, and be a big improvement over Harris at 2b, and be insurance at SS and 3b in case of injury

mmm, nothing like some 5 million dollar insurance. I'd rather have a catcher than another 2b who might not be a huge improvement. I think Valdez could be as good as Polanco, not to mention, we arent going to trade anyone for him. So get over it

Harris is a lot more proven than Valdez .... to say nothing of Polanco. Harris probably has a better upside than Valdez and after 2 weeks of watching Valdez you'd be screaming for his release.

 

You guys think the answeer is always the guy in the minors, and a young player that doesn't come up and hit like Pujols is a piece of s***. It doesn't work that way.

if he's available why arent we talking lieberthal? A good C is much more important than a good or decent 2B... we can survive with Harris/Cora but I would MUCH rather have Lieberthal over ... DAVIS! I mean come on this guy is a veteren backstop with decent numbers. I'd be going for him if I were KW (but maybe thats why I'm not?) I dont know I just think we have our targets on the wrong thing.

if he's available why arent we talking lieberthal?  A good C is much more important than a good or decent 2B...  we can survive with Harris/Cora but I would MUCH rather have Lieberthal over ... DAVIS!  I mean come on this guy is a veteren backstop with decent numbers.  I'd be going for him if I were KW (but maybe thats why I'm not?)  I dont know I just think we have our targets on the wrong thing.

A $7.5 million salary might have a little to do with it.

mmm, nothing like some 5 million dollar insurance.  I'd rather have a catcher than another 2b who might not be a huge improvement.  I think Valdez could be as good as Polanco, not to mention, we arent going to trade anyone for him.  So get over it

Valdez is no where close to being Polanco...

 

I'd definitely make that deal -- Adkins + Borchard for Polanco, provided Philly sends over two million or so. Polanco would be an awesome hitter in that number two spot, and it would allow Rowand to move down in the order to get into more of an RBI position.

Valdez is no where close to being Polanco...

 

I'd definitely make that deal -- Adkins + Borchard for Polanco, provided Philly sends over two million or so.  Polanco would be an awesome hitter in that number two spot, and it would allow Rowand to move down in the order to get into more of an RBI position.

I agree with you, but would Philly really do it? Are they that desperate to get rid of him, especially since they would have to send cash the Sox way.

Would the Phils do a deal involving Everett as the main piece for Lieberthal?

 

If so I'd be all over the idea of that. Lieberthal is a good catcher, both offensively and defensively. And is a hell of an upgrade over Ben Davis. Catcher is the one spot that scares me, along with El Duque's health.

im so sick of hearing from these polanco lovers.  Are you kidding me???

5 million bucks for a 2b?? we dont have the budget for that, even though it would give some of you some serious wet dreams

Polanco would add so much to this team and I really don't think his 5 million dollar salary would be that big of a deal. The reason I say that is because it's only a 1 year and the sox still probably have about 5 million to work with. Get Placido you are right around the set budget and take your team into spring training.

Would the Phils do a deal involving Everett as the main piece for Lieberthal?

 

If so I'd be all over the idea of that.  Lieberthal is a good catcher, both offensively and defensively.  And is a hell of an upgrade over Ben Davis.  Catcher is the one spot that scares me, along with El Duque's health.

Hmm...

 

So am I understand this correctly, that Lieberthal is basically a salary dump for them, that the Phillies want to get rid of him that bad?

 

Because I'd definitely do Everett + Adkins + Borchard for Lieberthal + Polanco + 3 Million.

 

Let me see (trying to do the math here), we lose the 4.75 million (rough estimate) that Borchard/Adkins/Everett make, and we add the 12 million that Lieberthal/Polanco make, minus three million, so we'd be adding a little over four million, maybe closer to five million?

 

That's doable, ain't it?

Hmm...

 

So am I understand this correctly, that Lieberthal is basically a salary dump for them, that the Phillies want to get rid of him that bad?

 

Because I'd definitely do Everett + Adkins + Borchard for Lieberthal + Polanco + 3 Million.

 

Let me see (trying to do the math here), we lose the 4.75 million (rough estimate) that Borchard/Adkins/Everett make, and we add the 12 million that Lieberthal/Polanco make, minus three million, so we'd be adding a little over four million, maybe closer to five million?

 

That's doable, ain't it?

My thoughts exactly. But I have no idea how interested Philly is in cutting Lieberthal without getting much in return. I'm assuming they wouldn't have much use for Everett, but then again, last year they were looking for a power outfield bat and tried to get Walker or Finley.

 

I'm assuming someone like Ben Davis would go to Philly as well(I don't know if he can be dealt now since the Sox non-tendered him and then signed him).

 

However, I don't know if Philly would give up both of them. I think they just need to free up a little bit of cash, but if they did need to free up that much, that deal would definately improve the club and the Sox seem to have the finances to do it, imo.

My thoughts exactly.  But I have no idea how interested Philly is in cutting Lieberthal without getting much in return.  I'm assuming they wouldn't have much use for Everett, but then again, last year they were looking for a power outfield bat and tried to get Walker or Finley. 

 

I'm assuming someone like Ben Davis would go to Philly as well(I don't know if he can be dealt now since the Sox non-tendered him and then signed him). 

 

However, I don't know if Philly would give up both of them.  I think they just need to free up a little bit of cash, but if they did need to free up that much, that deal would definately improve the club and the Sox seem to have the finances to do it, imo.

Now, if you were a GM, and your job was to make your team a better overall team. Would you take that trade??? would you really take Carla and Borchard???? come on people, fair trades are on in this league

mmm, nothing like some 5 million dollar insurance.  I'd rather have a catcher than another 2b who might not be a huge improvement.  I think Valdez could be as good as Polanco, not to mention, we arent going to trade anyone for him.  So get over it

I guess you didn't read everything I wrote. I said that Phi. would probably send cash in a deal [say $1 mill]. The Sox like to trade talent [guys who prob. wouldn't make the sox 25 roster]. If Phi can get talent in return for Polanco, they should include cash in a deal.

 

And $4 mill for a veteran starting 2b, who can hit #2, and play multiple positions, isn't a bad deal. He's insurance at 3b and SS. If Crede or Uribe go down, the sox would pay far more than $4 mill in terms of talent or salary to find a replacement

 

So get over it.

 

BTW-I don't see many C's out there. so it looks like the Sox are staying put. So spending money at 2B is doable. [And I don't see Everett and his $4 mill staying around. His $4 mill is as "insurance". It doesn't seem to fit the sox MO]

 

And Valdez is a SS. He's a guy who has a decent glove and can prob hit .240-.250. He's not better than Polanco. Valdez is a UTL man at best