Lemon_44 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Alot has been speculated about trading Jenks in a deal for Upton. What about dealing Thornton as the main guy for BJ. He likely has more value as he's cheaper, lefthanded, and has no real injury concerns. He hasn't shown the overall, longterm ability to close out games but he did pretty well in his limited chances. Granted he would leave a gaping hole in the Sox pen but you have to give something to get something and Thorton's value may be at it's peak right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I'll be surprised if we don't deal Bobby. Thornton took over the closer's role and had some opportunities as I recall after Bobby was shut down. He looked like he deserves a shot at closer. The question is can we replace him in the 8th? Our other relievers pretty much suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Hates Prospects Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 2 years of Thornton at $5.25M combined is worth a ton. Thornton might be in line for $5M+ per from a major market team even just as a setup man if he was on the FA market right now, so he's very cheap for his production. I'd listen, but he would be a very, very, very difficult guy to move because then we'd have to sign someone like Gonzalez or Wagner if we wanted to try to replace him, and that would cost some good money plus a 2nd round pick (although thankfully because of our finish we wouldn't have to give up a first rounder). If a Thornton deal could get us a couple pieces for an Adrian Gonzalez deal I'd probably do it, but it would have to be a major haul, and the Sox would then have to sign another lefty. I like to see what the Braves would offer, given that they could lose both Soriano and Gonzalez while getting 4 high picks in return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Zelig Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thornton with his contract is one of the better values the on the team, I doubt he gets moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thornton only goes if we get a mega-star in return, because he's the best LH setup man in the game, and has huge trade value with his contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bschmaranz Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 11:33 PM) The question is can we replace him in the 8th? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 01:33 AM) I looked at the picture, and your Avatar seemed to have the perfect reaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Matt Thornton is one of the best left handed relievers in the game of baseball. That alone makes his value astronomically high to every team in baseball, including the White Sox. To acquire him, you would have to be getting a magnificent package in return. Upton is the type of player you look to acquire, but considering the Rays have JP Howell, who is one of the few left handed relievers in baseball I'd rank above Thornton, he doesn't have the value to the Rays that he does to the Sox or quite a few other teams around the league. The Rays do not need to trade for a closer that badly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chetkincaid Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 If we trade Thornton to the Rays then Carl Crawford better be playing full time on the southside next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Wouldn't this be the ultimate definition of "sell high"? With the sporadic nature of relievers, is a better bet that he comes back in form, or that he has an off year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 3, 2009 -> 01:09 AM) Wouldn't this be the ultimate definition of "sell high"? With the sporadic nature of relievers, is a better bet that he comes back in form, or that he has an off year? Usually I'd agree that relievers are so hit and miss from season to season and you can't really trust them But Thornton's basically gotten better each season since he came over from Seattle, and he has that dominant fastball which unless he loses velocity, it's going to remain a major weapon, hence I'd think we'd continue to see very good numbers from him. With Linebrink's inconsistency and Dotel maybe not returning, I don't think we can move Matt ATM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thornton is too valuable to this team. We presently have a dominant LH set up man, who probbaly can close also if needed. Judging by the prices quality relief pitchers may be commanding I am not sure Bobby Jenks will be traded either, but he is more likely to go then Thornton. I hope Jenks is ready to perform in 2010 and we end up having a great 1-2 ending to the game and a win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 So with all the talk about how "horrible" the bullpen was last year, we should trade by far and away our best reliever, and one of the best overall in baseball? No thanks. For a team that's obviously in win-now mode, you don't make a trade to fill one hole while creating another gaping one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 08:09 AM) Wouldn't this be the ultimate definition of "sell high"? With the sporadic nature of relievers, is a better bet that he comes back in form, or that he has an off year? Matt's one of the few relievers in the game who isn't sporadic which makes him so valuable. Trading him is a terrible idea at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 03:30 AM) Matt Thornton is one of the best left handed relievers in the game of baseball. That alone makes his value astronomically high to every team in baseball, including the White Sox. To acquire him, you would have to be getting a magnificent package in return. Upton is the type of player you look to acquire, but considering the Rays have JP Howell, who is one of the few left handed relievers in baseball I'd rank above Thornton, he doesn't have the value to the Rays that he does to the Sox or quite a few other teams around the league. The Rays do not need to trade for a closer that badly. Ranks among lefty relievers with at least 100 IP over the past 2 years: FIP Thornton: #1 2.58 (#4 among all relievers Broxton, Rivera, Papelon are 1,2,3) Howell: #4 3.51 (#30 among all relievers) WHIP: Thornton: #1 1.038 Howell: #5 1.160 WAR Thornton: #1 4.4 Howell: #3 2.6 ERA+ Thornton: #4 170 Howell: #2 179 (Scott Downs is #1 at 185) BAA Thornton: #5 .207 Howell: #1 .195 OPSA Thornton: #1 .573 Howell: #4 .600 HR/9 Thornton: #6 0.64 (Joe Beimel is #1 at 0.43) Howell: #10 0.75 K/BB Thornton: #1 4.21 Howell: #13 2.38 K/9 Thornton: #2 10.57 (Mike Gonzalez is #1 at 11.17) Howell: #4 9.86 BB/9 Thornton: #3 2.51 (Darren Oliver is #1 at 2.36) Howell: #18 4.15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thornton would be a crappy closer, he lacks a true out pitch and fastballs can be hit. He should stay as our set up man and best LHP in the pen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfan Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 03:09 PM) <!--quoteo(post=2051883:date=Dec 2, 2009 -> 03:30 AM:name=witesoxfan)-->QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 03:30 AM) <!--quotec-->Matt Thornton is one of the best left handed relievers in the game of baseball. That alone makes his value astronomically high to every team in baseball, including the White Sox. To acquire him, you would have to be getting a magnificent package in return. Upton is the type of player you look to acquire, but considering the Rays have JP Howell, who is one of the few left handed relievers in baseball I'd rank above Thornton, he doesn't have the value to the Rays that he does to the Sox or quite a few other teams around the league. The Rays do not need to trade for a closer that badly. Ranks among lefty relievers with at least 100 IP over the past 2 years: FIP Thornton: #1 2.58 (#4 among all relievers Broxton, Rivera, Papelon are 1,2,3) Howell: #4 3.51 (#30 among all relievers) WHIP: Thornton: #1 1.038 Howell: #5 1.160 WAR Thornton: #1 4.4 Howell: #3 2.6 ERA+ Thornton: #4 170 Howell: #2 179 (Scott Downs is #1 at 185) BAA Thornton: #5 .207 Howell: #1 .195 OPSA Thornton: #1 .573 Howell: #4 .600 HR/9 Thornton: #6 0.64 (Joe Beimel is #1 at 0.43) Howell: #10 0.75 K/BB Thornton: #1 4.21 Howell: #13 2.38 K/9 Thornton: #2 10.57 (Mike Gonzalez is #1 at 11.17) Howell: #4 9.86 BB/9 Thornton: #3 2.51 (Darren Oliver is #1 at 2.36) Howell: #18 4.15 Well damn, you could make a pretty good case that he's the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Is Darren Oliver a possible to sign as the additional lefty in the pen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 04:15 PM) Kalapse just pwned Wite. Blake hasn't had a good week up to this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 04:17 PM) Blake hasn't had a good week up to this point. And I accidentally deleted the post. So let me say it again.... Kalapse just pwned Wite. Yes, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 To be fair thornton is 33 while on the other hand howell is merely 25. A case could be made for howell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (qwerty @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 04:24 PM) To be fair thornton is 33 while on the other hand howell is merely 25. A case could be made for howell. I don't want to be fair. I like seeing Wite get dusted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I wasn't really looking to 'pwn' Wite, since I paid $30 for a year's subscription to BR P-I I'm going to look to use it as often as possible. This seemed like as good a time as any, can't let cool s*** like this go to waste. Report Created on Baseball-Reference.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (qwerty @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 04:24 PM) To be fair thornton is 33 while on the other hand howell is merely 25. A case could be made for howell. Well Thornton's coming up on his age 33 season and Howell on his age 27. This way it doesn't look quite as drastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 02:33 AM) QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 04:03 AM) I looked at the picture, and your Avatar seemed to have the perfect reaction. LMAO! My thoughts exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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