The White Sox address some Soxtalk 2007 discussion topics

[Kalapse]

Who would you have liked KW to sign? What percentage of the big name/big money free agents have panned out over the past 3 years? 5%? And what free agents are you looking at for this year? It's an insanely weak class outside of A-Rod and a few big name closers.

[daa84]

Who would you have liked KW to sign? What percentage of the big name/big money free agents have panned out over the past 3 years? 5%? And what free agents are you looking at for this year? It's an insanely weak class outside of A-Rod and a few big name closers.

i agree..i actually trust KW with free agents....its my belief that hes not gonna make a foolish financial decision....he brought in AJ, Iguchi, hermanson, el duque, dye, all on FA deals and all of those deals IMO were very good....for as much as people have been blasting KW lately, building the 05 team with the money he used was truly a great job of general managing

[beck72]

I could see some sort of platoon arrangement at SS that would allow Uribe to shift between 2b, SS and 3b for 2008.

[Balta1701]

I could see some sort of platoon arrangement at SS that would allow Uribe to shift between 2b, SS and 3b for 2008.

That would make some amount of sense...if we were to find a Left Hand hitting SS, esp. a young one. Right now, the only guy who would make sense as a "Platoon" guy would be Richar, who's a lefty and who fits with Uribe in that fashion. Both Crede and Fields are Righties, so as it stands now, either way we have 2 better right handed hitting 3rd basemen. Uribe has played CF before, so he actually isn't the worst idea as being able to back up that spot also if he's in shape (if it's given to Owens, who's also a lefty). I'd probably rather have him than Erstad for that reason.

 

But when it comes right down to it...we already have Pablo, who, depending on recovery, is a decent hitting, RH backup who covers 3rd, SS, 2nd, and a couple OF spots, although he's not particularly good at any of them. Uribe would be better defensively at most of those positions...but the questions are...how many roster spots do you want to give up for RH backup utility guys, and do you want to pay $5 million for one of those?

[southsider2k5]

I am really surpised to see Uribe's name on the list of guys who will be let go. That can't be right. I really don't see Kenny leaving himself dangling in the wind with Gonzalez or Ozuna as their #1 SS on the depth chart. It would really put him over a barrel in any negotiations.

[Balta1701]

I am really surpised to see Uribe's name on the list of guys who will be let go. That can't be right. I really don't see Kenny leaving himself dangling in the wind with Gonzalez or Ozuna as their #1 SS on the depth chart. It would really put him over a barrel in any negotiations.

Unfortunately...what choice does he have? He has 10 days after the end of tonight's game to decide whether or not to pick up Uribe's option, and that option is expensive enough that you don't want to just hold onto him as a backup or trade bait. Either we hamstring ourselves in those negotiations or we waste $5 million, or we make a move within 10 days.

[witesoxfan]

Who was the last US free agent of any consequence that the Sox brought in from another team? Dye?

 

They never get involved in free agency for any big names like the consistantly successful teams do.

 

So do you want him to bring in Gil Meche for $55 mill?

 

To address the first question, 2005. Jermaine Dye, Dustin Hermanson, AJ Pierzynski, Tadahito Iguchi, and Orlando Hernandez; all 5 were pretty substantial free agents and played huge roles in the season.

 

Secondly, name me some consistently successful teams that build their teams through free agency without developing players from within. It's impossible; if you do not have a minor league system, you cannot win. Where are the Red Sox without Pedroia, Youkilis, Ellsbury, Papelbon, and, quite frankly, Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez (who were used to bring in Beckett and Lowell)? Where are the Rockies without essentially their entire roster? You do not build teams through free agency; you finish teams in free agency and build them from developing players from within. Thus, I really don't care if KW is good at bringing or involved in big name free agents, because it's a terrible way to build a team.

[Colorado Sox Fan]

Kenny will have to hurry to sign ARod, so that he doesn't have to make the offer to Uribe.