Frankly, for those who believe the Sox have any chance in hell in competing, Dunn is going to have to be apart of it because they simply don't have the bat necessary to replace him in the lineup.

 

If you don't, and really I don't expect them to but rather to win about 77 games or so, then sure, facilitate a trade. I strongly doubt Dunn wants to be in Chicago anymore too. Don't eat the whole contract though. That's absurd.

While I would easily do Dunn for Castro (what person who wants the Sox to win wouldn't?), most scenarios in which we trade Dunn will result in a huge talent dropoff on the MLB roster. There's nobody with power in their bat like him and nobody worth a s*** from the left side without him (though we might keep ADA if Dunn goes). The "if everything goes right" scenario is much more right if Dunn is here, with the exception of pipe dreams like a Jason Castro acquisition.

I have to ask, why on earth would Houston want Dunn? Even if the Sox paid Dunn's entire salary I still cannot see why Houston would want Dunn. Houston knows they won't compete in that division for a long time so it makes no sense. Secondly, why would Houston want to trade Castro? I mean what could the Sox offer that the Sox do not want to keep for their own future? Both scenarios are just pipe dreams in reality that involves the Sox dumping their garbage on a team that is also looking for young, cheap and controllable players much like the Sox are trying to do. Makes no sense.

 

Bottom line is it would be easier to find a young LF, 2B or SS for the future than a young catcher. Teams just don't seem willing to part with them right now since they aren't as easy to develope as other position players. My guess is Hahn is looking to trade/replace Beckham for a young left/switch hitting 2B such as Nick Franklin. Not necessarily Franklin but a young guy along those lines.

Edited December 22, 201312 yr by StRoostifer

The other side to look at, since we are retooling, is what player do we have that others might want.

I come back to Beckham. Despite the derision he receives, he's not that bad and might have had an uptick last year (a little hard to tell, considering the injuries).

A team like Toronto may want him, we may be willing to trade him, so that sort of deal wouldn't surprise me.

I'd like to see the Sox somehow get Conger from the Angels. They don't seem to be all that high on him, and still have Ianetta under control, so it's one of the few situations that present a clear and realistic upgrade. Maybe Hahn could keep the 3-way magic going. Send ADA and Beckham to TOR, LAA gets Sergio Santos, SOX get Conger as the main pieces (with other smaller pieces involved to smooth out the edges). Something like this would have me feeling pretty good about our lineup and future.

 

The more I read about Conger, the more I see to like. Switch hitter, good pedigree, greatly improved defense, etc. He just hasn't been given much of a fair shot. It looked like he was turning a corner last season too.

Edited December 22, 201312 yr by Pale Sox

This dialogue from "Money Ball" express what the Sox should do with Dunn:

 

Billy Beane: Oh, you're special?

David Justice: You pay me seven million bucks a year, man. So, yeah. Maybe I am a little bit.

Billy Beane: No, man. I ain't paying you seven. Yankee's are paying half your salary. That's what the New York Yankee's think of you. They're paying you three and a half million dollars to play against 'em.

 

Why not tell Dunn the following?: The Sox are in a rebuilding mode and need to give his at bats to one, or more of their young players. He is in a free agent year, and needs to play for a contract. The Sox are willing to release him, if he agrees to take a reduction in salary. Then he will be a free agent, and able to sign with a team of his choosing, and have the opportunity to play regularly, which will help him with his next contract.

 

Instead of the normal transaction of assuming a portion of a contract, as part of a deal with another team, simply release him, in exchange for his "freedom", and less money. How much he would be willing to take for his freedom, is hard to guess. It has been suggested here that he would like to get out of Chicago.

 

Is that allowed by the player's union? I suspect not, but if so, why not try it?

Edited December 22, 201312 yr by Lillian

Which team does Dunn represent when he makes into the Hall of Fame?

I think you would have to seriously overpay to get a Grandal or Castro. Since Hahn seems averse to overpaying in trades (rightly so) Lobaton makes the most sense. The Rays probably want too much for him, which is their M.O. But I can see that trade happening eventually.

 

As an aside, it would be neat to have two switch hitting catchers on the roster, but getting Lobaton would likely mean the end of Nieto.

CBS Sportsline is reporting that the Sox are targeting Yankees' catching prospect J.R. Murphy.

CBS Sportsline is reporting that the Sox are targeting Yankees' catching prospect J.R. Murphy.

 

Bad move IMO

 

He hit worse than Flowers in the majors and a lot worse than Phegley in the minors.

 

Gary Sanchez would surely be a better target.

 

 

Which team does Dunn represent when he makes into the Hall of Fame?

He'll have to have enough to buy his ticket same as us when we go through the turn style.

 

Bad move IMO

 

He hit worse than Flowers in the majors and a lot worse than Phegley in the minors.

 

Gary Sanchez would surely be a better target.

 

I wonder if Yanks are interested in Beckham?

Bad move IMO

He hit worse than Flowers in the majors.

 

When Flowers was 27. When he was Murphy's age, Flowers was in A+ ball.

 

Bad move IMO

He hit a lot worse than Phegley in the minors.

 

When Phegley was 25. When he was 22 like Murphy, he'd only played 18 games at AA.

 

 

Murphy would be an ok get. I have no idea what they'd want for him tho.

Bad move IMO

 

He hit worse than Flowers in the majors and a lot worse than Phegley in the minors.

 

Gary Sanchez would surely be a better target.

Wow. The kid only had 26 AB's last year for the Yanks, hardly worth judging and at only 22 yo I wouldn't judge him too much on his minor league numbers just yet. At 22 Phegley wasn't even at AAA yet. My guess is the Sox are looking at 2015/16 for a kid like this.

Personally, I'm a fan of Murphy. Good defense and nice secondary skills. He'd be superior to anyone we have currently.

 

As far as the cost, maybe Keppinger, Snodgrass, and 4 million?

Here's Sickels' profile of Murphy:

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/9/11/4...ew-york-yankees

Maybe Gillaspie?

Maybe Gillaspie?

 

That would work.

That would work.

 

Gillaspie could be pretty solid in that ballpark and decent replacement for A-Rod's inevitable suspension

Gillaspie could be pretty solid in that ballpark and decent replacement for A-Rod's inevitable suspension

There's a good chance Gillaspie will be released by the end of Spring Training, IMO, with how this team has set its roster. He might have a tiny bit of trade value but very little. He's not going to be the key piece in getting back anyone the Yankees actually value.

Who do they (Yankees) currently have slated to play 3B?

 

Kelly Johnson or Brendan Ryan, maybe?

Gillaspie is not an inspiring choice, no. It would obviously have to be Gills plus a prospect.

 

That said, he does have value, and I would say its pretty unlikely the Sox would release him outright.

Josh Phegley has only had acceptable offense in the minor leagues for half of a season, ever. Let's not act like he has some kind of great MiLB pedigree.

It might take a guy like Nate Jones to grab Murphy, which I'd be fine with.

I still think Beckham might be someone the Yanks would look at, as they were even rumored to be interested in Darwin Barney a few weeks ago.