GreenSox

you can get Austin Jackson without giving up the draft choice for that job.

Parra and Jackson aren't marginal if platooned. At the very least I would bother getting one of them. They won't cost that much. Doesn't seem to be any market for Jackson - he could be one of those 1 year contract guys. The OF could use the defensive help. Can't go into another year with negative WAR in LF and RF. July deals come at a premium for 2 months of production. And with the team set up, the Sox will likely be .500ish and in that "Tweener" position, which is no place to be. I wouldn't waste a draft choice on Desmond or Fowler (yikes!)

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 04:38 PM) If you have a 3 war player, you do not need to upgrade them. If you have three 1.5 WAR players...you have 3 players you'd be looking to upgrade to stars. You would have the worlds most deep 74 win team, though. That's true except that for want of 1 YEAR of a 3 War player they ended up with 0 WAR at multiple positions, when they could have had 1-2 WAR at multiple positions. Frazier deal will be fine IF a)He plays like he's supposed to and b)the Sox firm up LF and RF and DH. But Frazier with 0 WAR in those spots again is counterproductive.

Just because the Sox are in "win now" doesn't mean they can't win later. Other things should be set up in 2 years. keeping that 3rd pick will help that. Now if they do something like chase Cargo instead of signing a FA, then it likely will mean the window isn't flexible. I think there are other ways to get better besides Cespedes. But that will take creativity which I don't think is in the DNA of this FO or field management (but this board seems to disagree, so we'll see).

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 6, 2016 -> 10:18 AM) I really hope today's Gordon signing means things start moving the Sox way re: Cespedes, but in case they don't, can the Sox bring in 2 of 2nd tier OFs? Say they sign both Span and Parra, drop Parra in RF and Span in LF, and move Melky to DH. Figure out the Avi/Laroche thing later. Or do you sign one 2nd tier OF and go after a starting RHP? If they do that, I would include Jackson, who can rip lefties and plays good D. I might try to pick him up anyway. Nor would I be so quick to dispatch Avi. Give him AAA time, but selling low never got anyone anywhere.

Sox need to get this done. I didn't like the Frazier trade in concept or execution. But given that they made the deal for 2 years of Frazier, they've got to top it off with another big hitter to make a real swing at the playoffs.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 01:58 PM) Montas, Thompson and Micah are not assured to exceed that. Each has an elite tool: Montas - fastball, Thompson - defense, Micah - speed. Each has a crippling flaw: Montas - third pitch, Thompson - contact, Micah - defense. I'd love to see all three succeed, as well as Frazier, because it helps the Sox farm system reputation and by all accounts they're pretty great guys. Semien, Phegley and Bassit were almost 5 WAR. So, yes, I'm confident that those 3, who are better prospects, will as well. I realize that 5 war divided by 3 separate players doesn't equal 1 5 WAR player, but for 2 years in a row we cleaned out several of our top 10 prospects. Last year it was for a complete bust (and at best it would have been for a 1 year player) and this year let's hope we get Donaldson like production from Frazier. And before I hear how mediocre Semien et al are, they were all better than many of the scrubs the sox ran out there last year. And, indeed, if 3 WAR/Alexei is what anderson is, I would prefer moving him over what we moved for Frazier.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 01:52 PM) Yeah, it will be BS if Ortiz gets in, and the others don't. I do want to see consistency. PEDs or not, there's little justification for Ortiz in the Hall and E Martinez not, not to mention not being able to garner even 50%.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 02:00 PM) Look at the batted ball section. Got it.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 01:29 PM) Not seeing where this figure is, I still see 31% for his career, and even this year where he only pitched 19 innings his FB% was 40.5%, nowhere close to 52.4%. It says total GB % 47.6%. Where do you see 31% and 40.5% http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...&position=P

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 01:04 PM) Jones' career FB% is 31%, that's not very concerning. 52.4%, however, is. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...&position=P

On the other hand, Cespedes has proven that he can hit in pitchers' parks. What he hasn't shown is that his pitchers' park production will exponentially increase in a hitters' park. But for 2 months in Boston, his home base has been a pitchers park and his home/away splits are remarkably even. Now you would expect a player to hit better at home, all things being equal; but it doesn't look like his production is terribly park specific. I think the Giants are a threat. They want to contend, they need an OF and they have the money to spend on one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 12:41 PM) 8 out of 30. Meaning that a 3 WAR player is clearly one of the best SS's in the game. If we get 3 years of a 3 WAR SS for $1.5 million total (not to mention years 4-6 for a bit more, but still much less than free agent rates), I would be thrilled. Would I love more, of course, but in all reality a cost controlled 3 WAR SS is a gold mine in 2016. Of course Cincy wanted him. They would be stupid not to. That puts him at the bottom of the top 1/4 of SS. That's what an org is looking for out of their top prospect? I'm looking for an all star, frankly. And if 3 WAR is what his is, that's certainly not worth the combined value of Montas, Thompson and Micah who will assuredly exceed that. (they'll likely exceed Frazier's WAR as well).

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 12:42 PM) Johnson is better than Carroll, but the point in Carroll's favor is that strong groundball rate the last two years, while Johnson's 52% FB% last year is very concerning. He got a bit lucky that most of the HR he gave up were just solo HR, so his ERA ended up looking OK. That's a big concern about EJ (everyone's fav Nate Jones too). Probably would have been a good guy to trade (coupled with what I infer is the org's lack of trust in him). Carroll has a great gb%. He may be more effective with this revitalized infield D. (although the D was fine last year after May and he still had a high WHIP). Petricka has the same game, but is more effective. Samardzija had a low gb%, which is another reason why that acquisition was curious.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 11:52 AM) No, but to expect Cespedes to be the 2015 version is a stretch. Over the last 4 years, Gordon has a higher total WAR. A writer pointed out during 2013-2014 Cespedes was a good fielding Mark Trumbo. I think that's basically accurate; but for 2015, Cespedes O is basically Trumbo without the terrible defense. That would help this team a lot. Worth the money? No. But if they are going for it this year, they have to pay some premiums. Gordon has his own attendant risks and the cost of the loss of a high draft pick. He's been the more consistent hitter, no doubt. QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 12:39 PM) This is why I like Cespedes more cause he hasn't fully been in a homerun park. Playing at the Cell could easily see him maintain 30+ homers. Maybe even more. That makes sense; except it never seems to work out that way. That said, the chance that he can explode in the Cell is worth the risk.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 10:39 AM) How many 3 WAR SS's are in the game today? I counted 8 (Fangraphs standard search excludes players like Correa). Gregorious had a 3 war. Is that what we want out of Anderson? Yanks picked him up for a middle reliever. Thompson, Johnson and Montas will deliver more than aggregate 3 WAR, once they get into their major league careers. Brandon Crawford, who had mediocre AA and AAA stats (things which the cw claims are dispositive and players with mediocre minor league can be nothing but bench players) lead the majors in SS WAR. If the price to upgrade from 2 WAR SS to 3 WAR is high, better stick to 2 WAR. You can get a 1 WAR improvement elsewhere for much cheaper.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) Why would the Reds/Dodgers have had any interest in Alexei? ??? I said if Anderson = Alexei, they should have traded him for Frazier. Anderson is who the REds wanted and who we wouldn't give.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 08:34 AM) I have no interest in Fister at all. I would rather give Erik Johnson the chance to prove himself. I certainly would too, but that's all up to Cooper. Cooper gave Noesi a year to prove himself (or not); Johnson went external to get some help to straighten out. Regardless they need another pitcher on the 25 who can start; put him in long relief as insurance. There's really no one in the upper minors if Danks or Johnson fails.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 09:53 AM) Speaking of "dismissive"... In the MLB of the '10's what is wrong with "another Alexei"? Up until 2015, he was one of the better SS's in the game. Without steroids, guys like that don't grow on trees anymore. Nothing wrong with it, I suppose. I'm hoping he's a much better hitter than a .709 career OPS. I'm hoping he's a great player or at least well above average. Ramirez wasn't. And Ramirez is what he is, we should have traded him for Frazier and kept the other 3.

I'll vote or Cespedes. Younger and we can keep our 3 top 50. Big opportunity to get better this year and future.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2016 -> 07:59 AM) Who "assured" you of that? What I've said, and I've seen other FS writers say (if that is what you mean by "scouts on this board), is that he's a 4th OF right now for sure, with a chance for more. How much of a chance is debatable. I should have put "scouts" in quotes, referring to how the board is generally dismissive toward all but the best prospects. I really wasn't referring to you. I appreciate and respect your hard work. Hopefully Anderson can develop some patience. That will be the difference between a great SS and another Alexei.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 4, 2016 -> 02:04 PM) Rival talent evaluators seemed to place stock in Thompson's two-month stretch in the majors We'll see. The scouts on this board assured us he was a 4th OF.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 4, 2016 -> 09:25 AM) Eh, after the top 3, it's pretty mediocre. System has taken a step back since summer, due to graduations, trades, etc. Talent there, especially in the younger ranks, but weakened in the 4 to 15 range. But could take a big step forward this summer, presuming we don't trade a bunch of them.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 03:56 PM) When they say Saladino/Sanchez are going to battle it out for SS in ST, it's not much different than when they were saying "We have Mike Olt at third" prior to the Lawrie/Frazier trades. Except that Saladino makes a lot more sense at SS than Olt did at 3B. i.e. there's a much higher chance that Saladino performs at league average at SS than Olt at 3B. Sanchez should get a fair amount of starts, a good amount of playing time, and the bench and options are light years better than Beckham/Bonifacio.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Jan 2, 2016 -> 12:21 AM) There will be days where Frazier DH's and Lawrie plays the field. Is it obvious to anyone else that the Sox are going to use the DH position to keep guys fresh? Good point. This gives them a bench and some flexibility at a cost of really 2 C prospects.