February 16, 200620 yr http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...rtswhitesox-hedMeanwhile, in contract news the Sox and agent Joe Bick have held discussions regarding a multiyear contract for reliever Neal Cotts but more likely will settle on a one-year deal, Bick said. Cotts, 25, is one year from salary arbitration. He posted a 1.94 ERA last season and emerged as the Sox's primary left-handed reliever.
February 16, 200620 yr Cotts picked a VERY opportune time to catch his stride. I hope they can come to a deal that's fair for both sides. I think they will. Neal's going to be really important for this year's Sox.
February 16, 200620 yr QUOTE(The Critic @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 02:34 PM) Cotts picked a VERY opportune time to catch his stride. I hope they can come to a deal that's fair for both sides. I think they will. Neal's going to be really important for this year's Sox. Hes not going anywhere.
February 16, 200620 yr Author I dont think Cotts was a fluke at all, but I would question the Sox giving him a really long term deal before the season starts. If he has a 2.00 ERA in June of this year, then lock him up and give him all the money he wants, but until then, wait it out. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Agreed. There's no reason to lock him up after a career year. Give him a one year deal and see what he does. Either way, the Sox will still have the rights to him for awhile and can worry about it later.
February 16, 200620 yr Last year was closer to the real cotts than the 2004 season. No triple a probally hurt him. For some players the jump from double a to the majors is nothing... but then for others you see the results cotts had for us in 2004. I am convinced cotts is our best reliever in the pen. Edited February 16, 200620 yr by q\/\/3r+y
February 16, 200620 yr QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 04:42 PM) Last year was closer to the real cotts than the 2004 season. No triple a probally hurt him. For some players the jump from double a to the majors is nothing... but then for others you see the results cotts had for us in 2004. I am convinced cotts is our best reliever in the pen. agreed....it's a bonus he's a lefty, and has some experience as a starter...so he's able to go more than just a few batters or an inning. He is the key in the bullpen next year for sure
February 16, 200620 yr QUOTE(TheBlackSox8 @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 02:51 PM) agreed....it's a bonus he's a lefty, and has some experience as a starter...so he's able to go more than just a few batters or an inning. He is the key in the bullpen next year for sure Personally I'd say that Jenks is the key if we're picking 1 single key, but Cotts is pretty close in there too.
February 16, 200620 yr QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 05:03 PM) Personally I'd say that Jenks is the key if we're picking 1 single key, but Cotts is pretty close in there too. I'd say the bullpen can survive without Jenks, it did for a while last year. What will the bullpen be like without Cotts.....the only lefty worth pitching in the bullpen.
February 16, 200620 yr QUOTE(q\/\/3r+y @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 02:42 PM) Last year was closer to the real cotts than the 2004 season. No triple a probally hurt him. For some players the jump from double a to the majors is nothing... but then for others you see the results cotts had for us in 2004. I am convinced cotts is our best reliever in the pen. I agree. I think we will consistently see the Cotts of last year. In fact I think on many teams he would already be a closer. I also see him as the backup plan to Jenks. Hopefully the club can ink him for a few years to avoid some arbitration, but even if they can't he won't be going anywhere. He's a huge asset to this club.
February 16, 200620 yr Forget him as a backup plan for Jenks. i want to see Cotts in the pen for this season and then throw him into the rotation. I dont see any reason to keep a front of the line pitcher in the pen when he could be making 30+ starts a year. I like how the sox are starting their young starting pitchers (Mccarthy) in the pen for a few years and the moving them to the pen.
February 16, 200620 yr Relievers are hard to predict but I think Cotts will be solid for awhile. Why the hell do we need a second lefty anyways? Cotts learned to get lefties out and Politte's good at it too. You don't absolutely have to have 2-3 lefties for the hell of it. The Marlins and Angels won titles without a single lefty. Actually I think the Mrlins might have had a guy named Tejera who got pounded by lefties but neither had a specialist. We don't need another KEvin Walker type just because we lost Marte
February 17, 200620 yr QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 03:38 PM) Hes not going anywhere. Agreed. Cotts isn't going anywhere. Why would he leave a world series team? baseball players want 2 things. 1) world series title 2)money
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