I am warming up to the idea of signing Fowler despite not liking the idea of losing the comp pick. Essentially the Sox turn Samardzija into Fowler which would help both the offense and defense. According to fangraphs, Fowler played better defense than Eaton in 15' so CF D would be upgraded. Fowler in CF pushes Eaton to LF/RF which should be an upgrade over Melky/Avi. Fowler would provide some LH pop and OBP to a lineup that needs it.

 

Looking at that way, Fowler actually sounds like a good idea.

 

In 28.1 innings in RF, Eaton has 2 DRS and a 37.8 uzr/150, let's do it!

Latos would be nice but how will he cost on a 1 year deal?

I'd guess Latos gets around $10-12 million, given how the market for pitching has gone this offseason.

What option would you rather choose?

 

Sign Fowler and Jackson, move Melky to DH, lose comp pick.

Sign Desmond and Jackson, lose comp pick.

 

Say we get Fowler for 3/40-45, and offered Cespedes 3/60, that money could go elsewhere in a starter or another trade for a need.

Excellent point and I agree. Spread the money around to build more depth for the overall team.

What option would you rather choose?

 

Sign Fowler and Jackson, move Melky to DH, lose comp pick.

Sign Desmond and Jackson, lose comp pick.

 

I don't see any possible way they sign two outfielders

 

With that said, option 2 would be the best way to increase our chances to win

In 28.1 innings in RF, Eaton has 2 DRS and a 37.8 uzr/150, let's do it!

 

Either way we cut it, anything is an upgrade over Avi in RF, IMO. I think Fowler is a bigger improvement than most give him credit for because his name is Upton/Cespedes & he costs a pick.

What option would you rather choose?

 

Sign Fowler and Jackson, move Melky to DH, lose comp pick.

Sign Desmond and Jackson, lose comp pick.

Great question. I'd go Fowler/Jackson.

Either way we cut it, anything is an upgrade over Avi in RF, IMO. I think Fowler is a bigger improvement than most give him credit for because his name is Upton/Cespedes & he costs a pick.

I actually like Fowler and think he would be a smart pick up, and it leaves us room to get a RHP as well. Cespedes is nice and I think he would hit 30 HR here every year but he is a borderline .300OBP guy that I think we would all start to hate once his BABIP drops.

What option would you rather choose?

 

Sign Fowler and Jackson, move Melky to DH, lose comp pick.

Sign Desmond and Jackson, lose comp pick.

 

I think better option choices would be: (no offense)

 

A. Sign Cespedes

 

B. Sign Fowler and one of Latos/Lincecum/Fister

 

What makes the team better?

 

Btw, I chose those options because we've been linked to Cespedes and Fowler rather than Jackson and Desmond.

Either way we cut it, anything is an upgrade over Avi in RF, IMO. I think Fowler is a bigger improvement than most give him credit for because his name is Upton/Cespedes & he costs a pick.

That's exactly how I see it as well. raBBit mentioned the other day about how Eaton has had trouble picking up the ball off the bat at the Cell in CF so maybe Eaton switching to one of the corners will help in some way. Worth a try.

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by BlackSox13

I'd rather Eaton play LF with Melky in RF. Reason is simple, with all of our lefty pitchers, seems likely that there would be more balls hit to LF.

I'd rather Eaton play LF with Melky in RF. Reason is simple, with all of our lefty pitchers, seems likely that there would be more balls hit to LF.

Seems legit.

 

Melky throws well too, so the only thing Avi could do won't be lost.

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Knackattack

Thinking a little further down the line, the thought of a 9-1-2 of Anderson-Eaton-Fowler setting the table for Abreu and Frazier is real tasty.

These Fowler in CF thoughts...do people keep glossing over how bad his defense was there?

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Baron

These Fowler in CF thoughts...do people keep glossing over how bad his defense was there?

 

He was rated positively according to fangraphs. I know it's a different position, but Rizzo was a -8.7 on defense and everyone thought he was a GG there.

He was rated positively according to fangraphs. I know it's a different position, but Rizzo was a -8.7 on defense and everyone thought he was a GG there.

 

The 1B ratings seem way off. Nearly every 1B has a horrible rating.

These Fowler in CF thoughts...do people keep glossing over how bad his defense was there?

No but let's not pretend Eaton was any better in CF either. As crazy as it sounds, Fowler is a defensive upgrade over Melky/Avi/Eaton. Yep, that's how bad the Sox OF was last year.

I don't want to hear anymore about building for the future if they make an incremental upgrade in Fowler and lose another $10-12 million in terms of the projected short and long term value of that pick.

 

That means you're actually dedicating $48-62 million to Fowler on a three year contract.

 

Why not just pay the relatively small difference on Cespedes or Upton for one more year?

 

Fowler is another one of those guys who might not necessarily translate in the AL as well...buying high on him makes less sense than buying lower on Jackson and Desmond. Jackson is younger, a better defender and more accustomed to the AL Central.

 

 

I would much prefer desmond when we are already talking about adding a defensive liability

I don't want to hear anymore about building for the future if they make an incremental upgrade in Fowler and lose another $10-12 million in terms of the projected short and long term value of that pick.

 

That means you're actually dedicating $48-62 million to Fowler on a three year contract.

 

Gigantic difference between actual money and projected money with draft pick value included, especially for a team without a huge payroll

I don't want to hear anymore about building for the future if they make an incremental upgrade in Fowler and lose another $10-12 million in terms of the projected short and long term value of that pick.

 

That means you're actually dedicating $48-62 million to Fowler on a three year contract.

 

Why not just pay the relatively small difference on Cespedes or Upton for one more year?

 

Fowler is another one of those guys who might not necessarily translate in the AL as well...buying high on him makes less sense than buying lower on Jackson and Desmond. Jackson is younger, a better defender and more accustomed to the AL Central.

I prefer Jackson but once,again you don't let facts stop your rants. Fowler has played in the AL and did quite well offensively. He was horrible on defense.

Is anyone confident moving both Eaton and Cabrera is going to end up with positive results for both?

 

When is the last time a Sox outfielder improved instead of regressed?

 

The only fairly recent example I can think of...Pods his second time with the Sox.

I prefer Jackson but once,again you don't let facts stop your rants. Fowler has played in the AL and did quite well offensively. He was horrible on defense.

 

For one season with Houston.

 

Compared to Cespedes' track record, it's not even close.

 

 

 

 

Say we get Fowler for 3/40-45, and offered Cespedes 3/60, that money could go elsewhere in a starter or another trade for a need.

I don't see anyway the Sox sign two players. They are stretching their budget from last year. I don't have any idea what their budget is but I don't think it will go up that much for non-super star type players.

For one season with Houston.

 

Compared to Cespedes' track record, it's not even close.

How many big years did Cespedes have in the AL? 2? Fowler played,1,season in the AL and had a career high 124 wRC+. Your claim that he would have a hard time adjusting to the AL is based,on nothing and full of s***.