Hey I know this is unrelated but remember when I told you freddie would sign for 1.5 mill?

 

I am pretty sure I was in your corner on that one too.

Great deal. One of the best talents at one of baseball's most important positions. Great signing.

It will almost undoubtedly be back-loaded but nothing crazy, something like: $6M, $8M, $9M, $9M, $500K buyout. By the 3rd year of Alexei's deal the Sox will only have Rios ($12.5M) and Dunn ($15M) under contract and Alexei's all alone in year 4, Rios has a $13.5M team option that season.

 

Greatstuff, he deserves it. He has been really good the past couple of years.

I would normally be worried about his age considering he's a SS, but his body type typically ages well. He's the rare Cuban that looks younger than he actually is.

I would normally be worried about his age considering he's a SS, but his body type typically ages well. He's the rare Cuban that looks younger than he actually is.

 

Even if he aged like a normal player, he'd still be in his prime for 2 years of the extension.

Good deal for both sides!

Even if he aged like a normal player, he'd still be in his prime for 2 years of the extension.

 

The thing with Alexei is that he doesn't look like the type of player who is going to add a lot of weight simply because his body type won't allow for much, if any, additional weight, and as a result he should keep most of his quickness, barring leg or back injuries.

 

To the poster who said that Alexei will be stolen by the Yankees...if they want him to play SS at the end of this contract, then by all means.

 

I do see that it isn't finalized, but it's probably technical language that needs to be resolved. I don't think that is going to be a big obstacle.

Hope Danks is next. Something like 4 Year 40M extension should do it for 2012-2015 seasons. Something like $8M, $10M, $10M, $12M, with a 500K buyout or $13M option.

Hope Danks is next. Something like 4 Year 40M extension should do it for 2012-2015 seasons. Something like $8M, $10M, $10M, $12M, with a 500K buyout or $13M option.

 

Danks would be selling himself short if he took that contract. Something like 4/$56 or 4/$60 is quite a bit more likely, similar to Buehrle's. Assuming a $15 million open market value (and it could be higher than that) and using the 40/60/80 rule, it'd be like $12, $14, $15, $15. Or perhaps $12, $15, $15, $15 with a $3 million club option with a value of $15-18 mill for the option at the end of the deal.

 

If I am his agent, I would use a $16-18 million opening market value, and go no lower than $15 mill, and I would try to get him signed for 5 years. I think I would probably be happy with 4/$60. If the Sox are using 4/$40 as a starting point, it'd be very easy to see why the two sides are far apart.

 

If John Lackey can get $16.5 mill on the open market, Danks can get that or more as well, considering he has (thus far) proven to be more durable than Lackey, is (arguably) better, and inflationary reasons as well. On top of that, he will be entering his age 28 season when he hits free agency as well, so it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he could get 6 years with an option at the end of it at about $17-18 mill a year. That's getting into $100-$110 million range.

 

Personally, I think that's the high end, but if he signs an extension with the Sox, it's going to be because he really wants to stay with the Sox, because he could make quite a bit more money from someone else on the free agent market.

Danks would be selling himself short if he took that contract. Something like 4/$56 or 4/$60 is quite a bit more likely, similar to Buehrle's. Assuming a $15 million open market value (and it could be higher than that) and using the 40/60/80 rule, it'd be like $12, $14, $15, $15. Or perhaps $12, $15, $15, $15 with a $3 million club option with a value of $15-18 mill for the option at the end of the deal.

 

If I am his agent, I would use a $16-18 million opening market value, and go no lower than $15 mill, and I would try to get him signed for 5 years. I think I would probably be happy with 4/$60. If the Sox are using 4/$40 as a starting point, it'd be very easy to see why the two sides are far apart.

 

If John Lackey can get $16.5 mill on the open market, Danks can get that or more as well, considering he has (thus far) proven to be more durable than Lackey, is (arguably) better, and inflationary reasons as well. On top of that, he will be entering his age 28 season when he hits free agency as well, so it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he could get 6 years with an option at the end of it at about $17-18 mill a year. That's getting into $100-$110 million range.

Personally, I think that's the high end, but if he signs an extension with the Sox, it's going to be because he really wants to stay with the Sox, because he could make quite a bit more money from someone else on the free agent market.

 

I have no doubts that Danks would get a nine figure contract on the open market.

I'll take this deal. Seems like it's pretty good terms for a solid baseball player.

With all of the criticism KW has received for not grooming homegrown prospects, do we consider Alexi to be a homegrown shortstop that is a full product of our system?

With all of the criticism KW has received for not grooming homegrown prospects, do we consider Alexi to be a homegrown shortstop that is a full product of our system?

Personally, I'd say 'no'. He played SS in another league for years before we picked him up. I do think it reflects well on our overseas recruitment efforts, though.

Cubano would be the ultimate reference, but I am pretty sure that Alexei played mostly outfield in Cuba but did play some infield.

 

Regardless, to say that the White Sox have not developed him into the defensive shortstop that he is would be wrong.

Cubano would be the ultimate reference, but I am pretty sure that Alexei played mostly outfield in Cuba but did play some infield.

 

Regardless, to say that the White Sox have not developed him into the defensive shortstop that he is would be wrong.

Well, we got him at like age 26, right? I mean, we partially developed him, but we did so at the major league level almost entirely so there couldn't have been that much work to do. I'm not one of those people that think the White Sox are the worst developers ever, though. I just think we trade more than other teams do. I could go either way with him, I just see the acquisition kind of like a more raw version of Iguchi.

Well, we got him at like age 26, right? I mean, we partially developed him, but we did so at the major league level almost entirely so there couldn't have been that much work to do. I'm not one of those people that think the White Sox are the worst developers ever, though. I just think we trade more than other teams do. I could go either way with him, I just see the acquisition kind of like a more raw version of Iguchi.

 

To clarify, I don't think the Sox have really developed his offensive game at all, because he hasn't really done anything drastic offensively over the 3 years he's been with the Sox.

 

 

There was some polish to his game, but the improvement he has shown defensively over a 3 year period has been outstanding.

To clarify, I don't think the Sox have really developed his offensive game at all, because he hasn't really done anything drastic offensively over the 3 years he's been with the Sox.

 

 

There was some polish to his game, but the improvement he has shown defensively over a 3 year period has been outstanding.

 

Surrounding him with Ozzie and then Omar is genius for Alexei's career arc.

Surrounding him with Ozzie and then Omar is genius for Alexei's career arc.

 

I think they've given a lot of credit to Cora too. But seriously, if there is one area this team has a lot of expertise, it is with regards to infield defense.

I think they've given a lot of credit to Cora too. But seriously, if there is one area this team has a lot of expertise, it is with regards to infield defense.

Then we need to figure out a way for them to get into Teahen's head.

Then we need to figure out a way for them to get into Teahen's head.

 

Gotta have defensive talent to be able to play defense. Teahen has virtually none.

Gotta have defensive talent to be able to play defense. Teahen has virtually none.

 

Which is why I think he was replaced so quickly in the line up.

Which is why I think he was replaced so quickly in the line up.

? He wasn't really replaced until he got hurt. After he got hurt the team started winning, that's how he got replaced.

? He wasn't really replaced until he got hurt. After he got hurt the team started winning, that's how he got replaced.

 

Yea Balta, but I think it was EASIER to do because he was so blatantly unathletic in his limited time. There's nothing Cora, Guillen, Alexei or Vizquel could teach him to make him not look awkward most of the time. He even looks uncomfortable in his own clothes, like they don't fit right. Guess my point is the eye test made the decision easy not to play him.

 

 

? He wasn't really replaced until he got hurt. After he got hurt the team started winning, that's how he got replaced.

 

They never even gave him a chance at his job back. Ozzie never does that.

I don't think we'll be b****ing about this contract for at least 4 or 5 months.

 

This is one of those unspectaular moves that great franchises make.