Look for the Red Sox to finally trade LF Manny Ramirez this offseason. A thin free-agent market for sluggers will intensify the demand for Ramirez, and the Sox likely will be willing to pay some of the $57 million remaining on Ramirez's contract through 2008 and/or take back salary in return. The Mets, Marlins and Rangers are potential suitors for Ramirez. And don't rule out the Nationals under new ownership--especially if Jim Bowden remains general manager. Rafael Furcal's second half surge has solidified his position as the most attractive free-agent shortstop. The Cubs, Marlins, White Sox, Tigers, Diamondbacks and Nationals all could have interest in the Braves' mainstay, who offers a rare package of leadoff skills, basestealing ability and defensive prowess. The Braves likely will replace Furcal with Wilson Betemit while Tony Pena Jr. develops at Class AAA.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=insi...v=tsn&type=lgns

To be honest, I'd be shocked if the sox aren't big time players in the Furcal sweepstakes.

To be honest, I'd be shocked if the sox aren't big time players in the Furcal sweepstakes.

 

He's going to cost a fortune, and I don't see us outbidding the Cubs if the Braves can't sign him.

what kind of fortune are we talking about here?

any projected figures?

what kind of fortune are we talking about here?

any projected figures?

 

4/40

He's better than Uribe no doubt, but do you bat him 2nd and have Iguchi bat 5th? I wouldn't want Iguchi or Furcal batting at the bottom of the order. Iguchi also was a power hitter in Japan. Kind of the Carlos Beltran in Japan. I'd say the 3 slot is still good for him because he still could move runners over and he could hit for more power.

 

I say we trade for Griffey first in the offseason if possible.

Excuse my ignorance.

 

But, two things:

 

1) Does someone wanna tell me where we might get that money.

 

2) What about Kenny's homeboy Mr. Uribe?

Damn, I thought this was a trade rumor that just came out. I'm not thinking about the offseason yet.

Excuse my ignorance. 

 

But, two things:

 

1) Does someone wanna tell me where we might get that money. 

 

2) What about Kenny's homeboy Mr. Uribe?

We're going to have a s***load of money to spend in the offseason and not a whole bunch of holes to fill. Tony, good point about a 3rd baseman but I do think you'll see the sox in on Furcal because he's become a very good shortstop this year(errors are way down) and he can absolutely fly, fits into the whole ozzieball thing. Just a hunch but I think you see the sox go hard after Furcal in the offseason.

We're going to have a s***load of money to spend in the offseason and not a whole bunch of holes to fill.  Tony, good point about a 3rd baseman but I do think you'll see the sox in on Furcal because he's become a very good shortstop this year(errors are way down) and he can absolutely fly, fits into the whole ozzieball thing.  Just a hunch but I think you see the sox go hard after Furcal in the offseason.

 

How do you figure we're going to have a lot of money? Unless we don't resign PK and trade someone like Contreras, I think you're only going to see minor additions to this team. We have a lot of money to be paid to guys like Garland and AJP.

How do you figure we're going to have a lot of money?  Unless we don't resign PK and trade someone like Contreras, I think you're only going to see minor additions to this team.  We have a lot of money to be paid to guys like Garland and AJP.

Payroll is going to go up a crap load that's why. Yes, the Konerko situation determines a lot but with the attendance spike and hopefully a nice long playoff run we'll have plenty of money to spend.

Isnt AJ a UFA? Can someone find me a link to his status??

 

With the $$$ thing, like I have said earlier in threads, NO ONE in Sox management knew they were going to have 20+ sellouts this year. Who knows how many games we will for the playoffs(if we get there )and I would have to expect a little increase in ticket sales.

 

Moreover, if the Sox were to get bumped out in the 1st round pretty easy, which could happen very easily, I am truly confident in Ownership and KW that they would try to put us over the top for 2006 after a very dissipointing 2005 season(if we got knocked out 1st round.)

Aj is arbitration eligible, so he'll be back next year.

Isnt AJ a UFA? Can someone find me a link to his status??

 

With the $$$ thing, like I have said earlier in threads, NO ONE in Sox management knew they were going to have 20+ sellouts this year. Who knows how many games we will for the playoffs(if we get there )and I would have to expect a little increase in ticket sales.

 

Moreover, if the Sox were to get bumped out in the 1st round pretty easy, which could happen very easily, I am truly confident in Ownership and KW that they would try to put us over the top for 2006 after a very dissipointing 2005 season(if we got knocked out 1st round.)

 

We have arbitraton rights to AJP this season. You can bet your ass he'll be back. I still won't believe a major increase in payroll until I see it.

Isnt AJ a UFA? Can someone find me a link to his status??

 

With the $$$ thing, like I have said earlier in threads, NO ONE in Sox management knew they were going to have 20+ sellouts this year. Who knows how many games we will for the playoffs(if we get there )and I would have to expect a little increase in ticket sales.

 

Moreover, if the Sox were to get bumped out in the 1st round pretty easy, which could happen very easily, I am truly confident in Ownership and KW that they would try to put us over the top for 2006 after a very dissipointing 2005 season(if we got knocked out 1st round.)

Arb. on AJ, 99.9% sure

Isnt AJ a UFA? Can someone find me a link to his status??

 

With the $$$ thing, like I have said earlier in threads, NO ONE in Sox management knew they were going to have 20+ sellouts this year. Who knows how many games we will for the playoffs(if we get there )and I would have to expect a little increase in ticket sales.

 

Moreover, if the Sox were to get bumped out in the 1st round pretty easy, which could happen very easily, I am truly confident in Ownership and KW that they would try to put us over the top for 2006 after a very dissipointing 2005 season(if we got knocked out 1st round.)

 

I think all we have to do is offer him arbitration. I know that he's ours no matter what for next year and if the White Sox and AJ don't agree to a new deal, then he'll make like 2 or 3 million next year.

Excuse my ignorance. 

 

But, two things:

 

1) Does someone wanna tell me where we might get that money. 

 

2) What about Kenny's homeboy Mr. Uribe?

My guess is the Sox will have about 15 million to spend on free agents next year (thats if they resign Konerko to a deal around 10-12 million a year). If they let Konerko walk, they'll somewhere in the 20 mill range.

 

Thats between payroll going up between 10 and 15 million and the Sox losing Frank's contract and Everett's contract. They also have to resign Garland for a few million a year more.

BTW, I do think one of Contreras or El Duque is gone after this season. Just a hunch.

From what I hear they will be. McCarthy will be the Sox 5th starter next year.

No one will trade for Duque. I'll be shocked if Contreras is back. Many teams would be willing to take a risk on him with one year left on his deal and hopes he can become their ace.

A team like Texas, Wash, Cinncy, maybe even the team like the Dodgers would be interested in El Duque.

 

With his injury history, you'd have to think they'd be very cautious. And if they did accept him in a trade, we likely wouldn't get much in return. Also, don't forget that Ozzie LOVES Duque, and hasn't always been very happy with Contreras. Contreras is a much more attractive chip on the market...to go along with Marte.

With his injury history, you'd have to think they'd be very cautious.  And if they did accept him in a trade, we likely wouldn't get much in return.  Also, don't forget that Ozzie LOVES Duque, and hasn't always been very happy with Contreras.  Contreras is a much more attractive chip on the market...to go along with Marte.

 

So Duque lying about his injury earlier this season did not effect his relationship with Ozzie whatsoever?

So Duque lying about his injury earlier this season did not effect his relationship with Ozzie whatsoever?

 

Well, a month or so ago, Ozzie was saying how great our 4 pitchers were, and left out Contreras.

Furcal > Konerko. Not sure if it will play out where we get Raffy but you gotta figure its a one or the other situation. Here's a question and I don't even know if he's a free agent and people here seem to hate Darin Erstad but would you rather have Konerko/Uribe or Furcal/Erstad? If we got Furcal and Erstad we will have gone from having no leadoff hitter before this year to having about 4 which is kind of funny.

Furcal > Konerko. Not sure if it will play out where we get Raffy but you gotta figure its a one or the other situation.  Here's a question and I don't even know if he's a free agent and people here seem to hate Darin Erstad but would you rather have Konerko/Uribe or Furcal/Erstad? If we got Furcal and Erstad we will have gone from having no leadoff hitter before this year to having about 4 which is kind of funny.

The only real problem with not having Konerko is then we don't have a true HR threat.

Furcal really worries me as the type of guy who might get real lazy once he gets the big contract.

Exactly. You can only play so much smallball. Furcal WITH Konerko would be a plus, but Erstad with Furcal is a little too much.

If there is someway to work out a way to get Konerko and Furcal next year, that would be great for us. It would give us more speed and a better defensive SS, and we can keep our only HR guy.