Cespedes since he won't cost a pick, followed by Upton and Gordon.

+1

Cespedes since he won't cost a pick, followed by Upton and Gordon.

Just want to say again giving up your second pick should barely be even a footnote when you're handing out 9 figure contracts. Don't risk f***ing up the future roster and payroll flexibility on a stupid draft pick.

Cespedes def my last choice. I think he is very repetitive with Frazier (low OBP, and theoretically, major contribution is his power/run production). Also, very inconsistent year to year. Very good rookie year. Great contract year (albeit spurred by a ridiculous run over short period that is fluky and not representative of his likely true value going forward to whatever team signs him), which clearly seems to be an outlier when compared to his other seasons. But between the rookie year and contract year, lots of meh in between.

 

It really depends on the length of the contract. Gordon is my best bet to be the best player next season, but he's also 4 years older than Upton and 2.5 older than Cespedes. Plus, a large portion of his value is derived from his superb defense which is obviously the first thing that tends to go with advanced age.

 

Upton is consistent season to season and still only 28 years old. There is a very good chance we haven't even seen his prime and he gets even better. Even if he stays the same he's pretty much a know commodity. At very least with Upton we'd probably be looking looking at a nice 4-5 year stretch of OBP between 330-360, OPS somewhere above 800, maybe even toward 900 on a good year and 25-30 HR per season.

Just want to say again giving up your second pick should barely be even a footnote when you're handing out 9 figure contracts. Don't risk f***ing up the future roster and payroll flexibility on a stupid draft pick.

Very true. The picks involved with the QO guys have a dollar value - let's say it's around $10 million just for argument's sake. This is why you see the market suffer for mid-level guys like James Shields or Ervin Santana. $10M is a bigger chunk of their worth. It's negligible when you get to the premier guys.

Gordon makes the most sense from a two year perspective, and he would definitely remain in LF.

 

Cespedes has the AL experience and success there (in our division to boot), the Cuban tie-in with Abreu and possibly Ramirez, the fact that his age makes the new two year window the time we have to go for it a good fit and the lack of draft pick attached (which makes him more expensive than otherwise.)

 

Character-wise, clubhouse leadership, it's Gordon for sure. Cespedes is at best a mixed bag in terms of his past history and problems in Boston and Oakland. He absolutely shouldn't be in CF...

 

The problem is he is asking for 5-6 years and Gordon 4-5 and both are at least one if not two years too long.

I voted for Cespedes. Upton and Cespedes are so close that the value of the lost pick matters when choosing Upton over Cespedes. But don't be surprised if the Sox go for Gerardo Parra, instead. He could be a platoon partner for Avi Garcia, or he could be the every day right fielder. That way the Sox save their money to sign a mid-level RH starting pitcher to a short term deal, somebody like Mike Leake.

I voted for Cespedes. Upton and Cespedes are so close that the value of the lost pick matters when choosing Upton over Cespedes. But don't be surprised if the Sox go for Gerardo Parra, instead. He could be a platoon partner for Avi Garcia, or he could be the every day right fielder. That way the Sox save their money to sign a mid-level RH starting pitcher to a short term deal, somebody like Mike Leake.

 

That offense without the big bat comes up short unless you are sure LaRoche can bounce back.

 

Nobody knows that for sure, not at his age.

 

Offense has to be more of a priority than replacing Erik Johnson at this point. And Parra's defensive metrics have been on the decline recently.

Probably just a coincidence, a few days ago my ticket guy left me a voice mail. Today, not 5 minutes ago, he left me another.

 

Casting lines for STHs in order to pay for one of the big OFs?

Not sure how plugged in Frank is but he thinks the sox are going to grab Upton.

Him and Kenny go way back.....

Ha didn't even think about that ol' thing. Touche sir.

Not sure how plugged in Frank is but he thinks the sox are going to grab Upton.

 

Frank... Thomas?

Not sure how plugged in Frank is but he thinks the sox are going to grab Upton.

He better stay outta White Sox business.

Not sure how plugged in Frank is but he thinks the sox are going to grab Upton.

As in, the Big Hurt?

Frank said he'd pay him 4/100.

 

I'm sitting there thinking Frank... that's not enough...

Frank said he'd pay him 4/100.

 

I'm sitting there thinking Frank... that's not enough...

4/100 gets a deal done with any of the remaining outfielders, imo. The per year on that is enough to entice any of them to sign, imo. I think the more likely deal is a longer deal with an out at year 3 or 4.

As in, the Big Hurt?

Yup, that Frank!

4/100 gets a deal done with any of the remaining outfielders, imo. The per year on that is enough to entice any of them to sign, imo. I think the more likely deal is a longer deal with an out at year 3 or 4.

 

That's true. That is what I was thinking, for the most part. Not enough years.

If 4/100 gets any outfielder on the market, I'd offer both Upton and Cespedes those deals!

That's true. That is what I was thinking, for the most part. Not enough years.

 

I would think a 5 years $110 type deal would get it done, but we'll see. Likely to see a backload of a sizable amount for 2015, too.

4/100 gets a deal done with any of the remaining outfielders, imo. The per year on that is enough to entice any of them to sign, imo. I think the more likely deal is a longer deal with an out at year 3 or 4.

 

Not for Upton.

For me it's Cespedes. We've had interest at the trade deadline and do now. I like his experience in AL and this division even though he's 2 years older. He's better defensively and is a better hitter. He also doesn't cost a pick and has the Cuban connection with Abreu so that would help with Abreu and chemistry (maybe it doesn't matter at all). I just like Cespedes better for this team.

Where and when did Frank say that he thinks we sign Upton?

What about adding span to play CF? I would honestly like span and upton with eaton sliding over. Defense is upgraded and adding two solid OBP to this team would really help

Where and when did Frank say that he thinks we sign Upton?

 

He was on Boers and Bernstein. he also said that all three players they gave up for Frazier were potential superstars. Sounds like he had a few to many