Don't count out the fact that Hahn is still trying to trade Dunn. This would make Konerko the full time DH and the team can have both Gillespie AND Keppinger on the bench. I'm assuming Davidson is your starting 3b this season.

This would be a solid move right now but again it should be done before the start of ST so that guys have some idea of their roles.

This would be a solid move right now but again it should be done before the start of ST so that guys have some idea of their roles.

 

 

So you're ok with having a bench of Gillaspie/Keppinger/OF/C....But not Konerko/Keppinger/OF/C?(one of the benches you were against)

 

Who plays SS? Thats was a problem you had before.

The guy had a decent year in a hitter's paradise while fanning a lot of times. There is a very real chance he isn't ready for the major leagues, at the very least, defensively. I don't know how it is at the expense of someone's development that they go play and have success in AAA vs. getting buried in the major leagues. It's not like this guy has been in AAA for several years. He's either ready or he's not. It isn't going to be a "logjam" issue. His play will determine where he plays.

 

 

He had a 117 wRC+, which means he outperformed his league in AAA significantly. When he got a shot in the big leagues, he posted a 108 wRC+, which again means he did well. His development will progress in the MLB and nowhere else. Conor and Keppinger are both good/valuable enough that Davidson will not "control his destiny" so to speak unless one or both is off the roster. We won't release them, so there is a logjam. There is pretty much nothing that could happen in ST that would go against the abundant evidence that Davidson should start the year in MLB, at least other than the composition of that current MLB roster.

 

So you're ok with having a bench of Gillaspie/Keppinger/OF/C....But not Konerko/Keppinger/OF/C?(one of the benches you were against)

 

Who plays SS? Thats was a problem you had before.

I've been told to stop asking and pretend that isn't an issue.

If Davidson makes the team and the Sox dump Dunn:

 

C - 2 of Flowers/Nieto/Phegley/Someone else we bring in

1B - Abreu, Gillaspie

DH - Viciedo, Paulie

2B - Beckham, Leury, Keppinger, Semien, Carlos Sanchez/non-roster invitee

SS - Alexei, Leury, Semien, Carlos Sanchez/non-roster invitee

3B - Davidson, Gillaspie, Keppinger, Semien

LF - DeAza, Viciedo, Gillaspie probably, Leury

CF - Eaton, Danks, Leury

RF - Avisail, Danks

 

That's 17 different position players, leaving Hahn with great fluidity here. Some of these guys have options too.

 

I think the first thing you do is dump Dunn - and you eat all the cash if you have to.

 

The second thing you do is try to dump Keppinger - but you *do not* just eat up all the cash, because I really don't think you have to.

 

You do those first 2 moves because they are the easiest to make & provide the least amount of talent/value back in return.

 

From there you shop Alexei, Beckham, DeAza, and Gillaspie, and if you get a good deal for any of those guys you take it. If not, you're looking at a seriously limited bench, losing an extra pitcher, etc. But without Dunn & Kepp you've got the ability to mix pieces; you definitely need a backup SS so Leury is the biggest bench favorite on the team, but if you trade Beckham for example, Semien can he the starter at 2B and the SS backup, meaning Danks can be the OF and Leury goes to AAA. There are lots of options. But Keppinger should be pretty far back on our depth charts so I think we should move him if we can.

If Davidson makes the team and the Sox dump Dunn:

 

C - 2 of Flowers/Nieto/Phegley/Someone else we bring in

1B - Abreu, Gillaspie

DH - Viciedo, Paulie

2B - Beckham, Leury, Keppinger, Semien, Carlos Sanchez/non-roster invitee

SS - Alexei, Leury, Semien, Carlos Sanchez/non-roster invitee

3B - Davidson, Gillaspie, Keppinger, Semien

LF - DeAza, Viciedo, Gillaspie probably, Leury

CF - Eaton, Danks, Leury

RF - Avisail, Danks

 

Does Gillaspie play LF?

From there you shop Alexei, Beckham, DeAza, and Gillaspie, and if you get a good deal for any of those guys you take it. If not, you're looking at a seriously limited bench, losing an extra pitcher, etc.

I think that this board in general undervalues Alexei. I would not want to see him traded unless we get a VERY good return. He hit .275-.285, steals bases, and (excluding 2013) occasionally hits home runs (15 HRPY). Yes, his defense sucked this year, but it's been good in the past and I think it will rebound.

I think that this board in general undervalues Alexei. I would not want to see him traded unless we get a VERY good return. He hit .275-.285, steals bases, and (excluding 2013) occasionally hits home runs (15 HRPY). Yes, his defense sucked this year, but it's been good in the past and I think it will rebound.

His defense didn't "suck" last year. It wasn't his best season but it was still really good at a tough position. People describe Beckham's defense as good and he's never had a single season where he's been as effective on defense as Alexei was last year.

His defense didn't "suck" last year. It wasn't his best season but it was still really good at a tough position. People describe Beckham's defense as good and he's never had a single season where he's been as effective on defense as Alexei was last year.

Maybe it didn't suck, but it wasn't as good as his previous years, and he had 22 errors coming off a season in which he had 12.

Maybe it didn't suck, but it wasn't as good as his previous years, and he had 22 errors coming off a season in which he had 12.

That's all fine, but he was still a very solid, positive player at shortstop for the entire year. Beckham was barely above average, Alexei was really good.

 

I think there's a huge advantage to having him next to Davidson, at least for next year, given that Davidson isn't supposed to be a strong 3b. Having a SS with really good range next to him will make that part of the transition easier on the rook.

Does Gillaspie play LF?

Not yet, but he will if we keep him IMO. If he's a reserve he should be expected to see time there.

Not yet, but he will if we keep him IMO. If he's a reserve he should be expected to see time there.

Probably easier for him to pick up a few AB's as a corner OF than to expect him to pick up SS.

Not yet, but he will if we keep him IMO. If he's a reserve he should be expected to see time there.

 

 

Probably easier for him to pick up a few AB's as a corner OF than to expect him to pick up SS.

 

Played 2 games in LF, in 2011, in AAA. 29 games at 1B between 2011 and 2012, again at AAA. All other games played in minor league career are at 3B.

 

Probably easier for him to pick up a few AB's as a corner OF than to expect him to pick up SS.

We need to clear up some space, though. Konerko and backup catcher already (likely) take up half of our bench spots. It's between Gillaspenger, L. Garcia, Semien, De Aza, and JorDanks.

SOMEONE has got to go soon. Otherwise, there may be some DFA's in ST. I can't see Gillaspie with a long-term role here as the roster currently sits. He'd have to go for not being versatile enough defensively.

I'd be surprised if they add a catcher outside the organization with any significant potential upside. I don't rule out a trade for a catcher, just don't know that they land anyone who makes the fan base feel better about the position.

 

De Aza is probably going to get moved before spring training, but i don't know what sort of value he has - maybe he lands them a catcher of some ability, but outside of that, I think most of their moves have been made - adding some arms for spring training competition, landing some young talent to help immediately in CF, 1B and 3B. I'd love to find another young offensive player who is similar to Davidson (top 100), but doubt that happens this winter.

I'd be surprised if they add a catcher outside the organization with any significant potential upside. I don't rule out a trade for a catcher, just don't know that they land anyone who makes the fan base feel better about the position.

 

De Aza is probably going to get moved before spring training, but i don't know what sort of value he has - maybe he lands them a catcher of some ability, but outside of that, I think most of their moves have been made - adding some arms for spring training competition, landing some young talent to help immediately in CF, 1B and 3B. I'd love to find another young offensive player who is similar to Davidson (top 100), but doubt that happens this winter.

 

 

Who would you trade to get that player?

 

Alexei Ramirez? Rienzo? Nate Jones.

 

DeAza alone probably isn't going to net that type of player.

SOMEONE has got to go soon. Otherwise, there may be some DFA's in ST. I can't see Gillaspie with a long-term role here as the roster currently sits. He'd have to go for not being versatile enough defensively.

 

And again, the Konerko signing gets in the way.

And again, the Konerko signing gets in the way.

 

If the Konerko signing helps us get rid of Gillaspie, good. I am not a fan. Of course I like Gillaspie WAY MORE than Kepp.

I'd be shocked if Gillaspie can't play 2B at least well enough to be a Keppinger-like "anything but SS" utility player with solid platoon splits for that purpose.

Hahn's next move has to be for a C or LF.

Our team is pretty set for a while most places.

 

Davidson at 3B for the next 5 yrs.

Abreu at 1B for the next 6 yrs.

Some combination of Alexei/Bacon/Semien/Sanchez at 2B/SS for the next 7-8 yrs? Anderson and Johnson coming too.

Garcia in RF for the next 4-5 yrs.

Eaton in CF for the next 5 yrs.

 

We all know the catcher "depth".

 

I think if we wanna win next year we should trade Viciedo, De Aza + for a really good left fielder with serious pop, or catcher.

 

I also wouldn't mind just dumping Dunn by whatever means and using DH and LF to rotate Tank, De Aza and Konerko. I think De Aza is a very useful player in a lineup.

Hahn's next move has to be for a C or LF.

Our team is pretty set for a while most places.

 

Davidson at 3B for the next 5 yrs.

Abreu at 1B for the next 6 yrs.

Some combination of Alexei/Bacon/Semien/Sanchez at 2B/SS for the next 7-8 yrs? Anderson and Johnson coming too.

Garcia in RF for the next 4-5 yrs.

Eaton in CF for the next 5 yrs.

 

We all know the catcher "depth".

 

I think if we wanna win next year we should trade Viciedo, De Aza + for a really good left fielder with serious pop, or catcher.

 

I also wouldn't mind just dumping Dunn by whatever means and using DH and LF to rotate Tank, De Aza and Konerko. I think De Aza is a very useful player in a lineup.

 

I actually think Davidson has 6 years left, and Garcia has 5 maybe.

Who would you trade to get that player?

 

Alexei Ramirez? Rienzo? Nate Jones.

 

DeAza alone probably isn't going to net that type of player.

 

I agree, that's why I said it probably isn't going to happen this off-season, they have cashed in their chips to make the moves they have. They can get a piece for De Aza, just don't think it will be some top 100 prospect.

I actually think Davidson has 6 years left, and Garcia has 5 maybe.

Actually Garcia didn't come up until after the Super 2 deadline last year and hasn't accumulated a year's service time yet. Both of them have the full 6 years remaining before free agency if they make the big league roster out of spring training - 2020 free agency for both of them in that case.

I agree, that's why I said it probably isn't going to happen this off-season, they have cashed in their chips to make the moves they have. They can get a piece for De Aza, just don't think it will be some top 100 prospect.

That's fine. But he needs to be off the roster and somewhere else before Feb 20. That's the price you pay for acquiring his replacement first.