GreenSox

Jackson can play all 3 outfield spots. he also gives the Sox the ability to hide Laroche from left handed pitching. I guess they want to see what they have with Sands and a couple of others.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 12:23 PM) A potential fit is Coghlan if the Cubs end up bringing back Fowler. And thus another reason why the Cubs aren't bringing back Fowler. They don't need him. Cubs got really fortunate on that Coghlan reclamation project. Sox could use one of those..maybe an internal reclamation from Avi or someone.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 07:21 PM) In both cases, you traded away potential but unproven 2017-2019 guys for more 2016-2017, more likely to succeed help. Not saying I agree with either choice, just that's what I think they were going for. I understand that. There is just no room in the pen for them right now. So they are likely depth, which is helpful. After they made the moves they still signed Albers. I supposed one of the incumbents could be traded, but none are the lock-down type who is likely to net much (outside of Robertson who won't be traded).

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 11:21 AM) The Rays and Astros appear to make the best trade partners for the Sox. Not sure what Houston still needs but the Rays were rumored to be seeking a bullpen arm Like that idea.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 03:22 PM) I'm going to get myself in trouble for this I'm sure, but what starting pitching depth? Outside of the top guys, it's pretty weak in terms of pitching. Most of the pitchers in the top 30 project as relievers IMO. Sox lost some depth in the offseason. They cleared out a 2 pitchers for Lawrie; then they traded Myles Jahe and Almonte for 2 relief pitchers; not sure what the idea behind the Jahe and Almonte trades were, unless they just needed room for fresher prospects. Neither bullpen acquisition figures to make the 25.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 09:29 AM) Over the last two seasons: Player A: .261/.358/.401/.759 Player B: .266/.348/.393/.741 Player A is Dexter Fowler, Player B is Brandon Guyer. Rays have Morrison/Pearce/Pena/Dickerson/Kiermaier/Jennings/Mahtook/Souza Jr./Jennings/Guyer for DH, 1B and the three outfield spots. That's ten guys for five spots. They have to move a few guys. Guyer gives the Sox a pre-arb outfielder who can play good defense at all positions. He's a luxury as a 4th outfielder and a strong insurance option for Avi. He's a grinder too, hah. Guyer looks like an interesting idea. He's yet another late bloomer (didn't do a thing until 28) for throngs who say it rarely happens.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 09:20 AM) BA ranked the Sox farm at #23 and the Arizona farm at #22. The Diamondbacks have developed some good players recently but their farm was definitely not deep enough or strong enough to trade away Swanson and Blair without hurting their future. Again I clearly said that the trade was a woeful overpay. Interesting you mention the comparative farm system rankings. In 2015, Law ranked Arizona 14, and now they are 24. In 2015, Law ranked Sox 12, and now they are 22. (yes, #1 prospect promoted; but Arizona made other stupid movies beyond the Miller trade, like giving away #4 prospect to braves in mid-season)

Neither Cargo nor Ethier help a wretched OF defense and both would be ridiculous in CF, so hopefully that will save the Sox from pursuit of those 2.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 07:43 AM) They gave up the number one overall pick of last years draft. I mean, that in itself is just awful, and absolutely hurts their future. They didnt even have the guy in their system for a season I could only imagine what you would be saying if the Sox did somethign similar with Fulmer and whatever would be the equivalent of Inciarte. You would have blown a blood vessel and named it hero I clearly said that they didn't get anywhere near the value for the prospects they traded. But it could also be true (it has been in the past ) that their farm is a heck of a lot stronger than the Sox farm, which gives them the ability to trade their good prospects without hurting future). The Red Sox also woefully overpaid for relief pitcher. They didnt hurt their future. I long for the day when making such trade wouldn't hurt the Sox future

I will repeat my periodic observation that Melky "professional hitter" Cabrera also had a negative war, and he is paid a substantial contract. He was also not in his first full season of play. They both need to get better. It may be that they keep 2 reserve outfielders; this may be necessary to platoon with Laroche at DH and to get better OF defense in late innings. That will put a lot of pressure on the reserve infielder; and Sanchez play 3rd, or do we have to go the L Garcia route and completely give up any thought of offense from that position. The biggest offensive question on a macro level is who hits second? At some point they can use some of the second-tier prospects to get an outfielder if needed. And that leaves them with those three early pics to invigorate the farm with three pieces of top talent. In the meantime, 2+ war out of melky and 1+ WAR out of Avi and this team contends.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 06:52 PM) My friends that are D-Backs fans talked about how they didn't hurt their future. My response was that they did and even if they didn't think that, the package they gave up for Miller could have netted a lot better pitchers. Arizona's farm is always turned out a lot of talent so it may be true that they didn't hurt their future. But it's also true that they could've improved by a lot more than Shelby Miller, while not hurting it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2016 -> 01:02 PM) The 40 man roster is finally full, which means if they want to bring in another major leaguer, they would have to cut an additional player if they made a claim like this. Plenty of AAAA candidates on the 40 man right now.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 16, 2016 -> 10:52 AM) Leyer at 8th is ridiculous in my view. He's got a very nice fastball, runs mid to upper 90's with some movement and he can locate it. But this supposedly good change-up, according to every report I've seen might maybe flash average or a little better, but is inconsistent at best. His slider is mushy, and the change is just not there. Despite all his innings. I think 20's is even a stretch. Fun fact also - he loves the radar gun. One of the affiliate contacts I work with said he was worried Robin would strain his neck because he always whipped around to see his speed so fast after delivering a pitch. That said, Law seems to always throw in some weird flier on this list. Andrew Mitchell was his guy last year, and he's disappeared entirely. Didn't the Sox leave Leyer unprotected in Rule 5? 10 seems a real stretch. I have always liked him a bit, though.

Signing Desmond is hard to understand considering SS is at least covered defensively (and Desmond may be a downgrade defensively) while the corner OF positions are not covered defensively. Some justification might be a)They think he can play quality OF as well as SS; b)They plan on signing Jackson as well, which would cover 2 positions for price of 1 draft choice; or c)They still think Avisail can hit (and I do think it's at least a year too early to proclaim he can't). d)Desmond is more amenable to a short term deal to fit this (imo contrived and bogus) 2 year window.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 02:09 PM) I thought this was funny: dbet: Could Justin Turner and Ryu get Chris Sale? 12:55 Dave Cameron: Yes. You could have one be the driver and the other be the kidnapper, and combined, they could put him in a van and bring him to Glendale. I think the White Sox would call the police, though. That's a silly trade. But just a comment on Turner - talk about a late bloomer. He's dogmeat for years, gets traded at age 29 and explodes with the Dodgers. Yes, Law likes Hahn.

He said the Angels have easily the worst farm system he's seen in all of his years of ranking systems.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 09:48 AM) Lineup should include Anderson, May, Coats, some combo of Ishikawa/Davidson/Hayes/Delmonico/Olt (all of which should mash in AAA) on the corners, and Smith/Brantly at catcher. That's a lineup that should hit AAA pitching pretty effectively, even though many are not solid prospect-wise. May had a pretty rough round at Birmingham last year. I guess the AA-AAA move isn't as huge as the movement up the lower levels (considering the number of AAAA players in AAA).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 08:34 AM) Which tells me it comes down to scouting, not numbers. It probably does. They got him for nothing so if he can pitch, he can pitch. Another pitcher in the mix for the pen is Tommy Kahnle, for whom they traded 21 year old Almonte who blistered A ball (modest K totals are the only neg I see on Almonte). Kahnle is another one of those high K pitchers, with command and control issues that they like to try to fix. Hope they can. I assume they made the trade thinking he had a good shot for a pen spot. Bullpen is getting crowed. Putnam is pretty much the only reclamation project that has worked out in the last few years. He can be inconsistent, but he gets Ks.

As it stands (and I know these things change) that Charlotte roster looks rough. I guess Anderson is the only real prospect who figures to be there to start the year. I guess they'll figure a way to shove all of the Olts and Ishikawas into Charlotte. The major league roster doesn't room for a corner infielder bench player.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 04:23 PM) 2nd in total pitching WAR to the Dodgers since 2010. 2015 9th 2014 23 2013 16 2012 12 Then 2011 2 2010 1 2 pitchers in their mid 20s, Danks and Floyd, basically at their peak these 2 years. those 2010-11 teams had good starting staffs. Anyway, regarding EJ, check out Floyd's cup of coffee numbers with the Phillies. They were terrible in 3 tries. As for Jacob Turner, he was horrible by any measure in 2013 and 14 (pitched 9 minor league innings in 2015). his GB % is 47% and it's not like he's striking out a lot of guys. Charlotte doesn't seem the answer for EJ.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 06:45 PM) FWIW, if I were a GM of another team, I wouldn't give you one scrap of talent for Erik Johnson. Not until he proves it in the big leagues. I look at his minor league record and major league/2014 implosion and think he's at best a rebuilding project if my organization were to pick him up, and I can just wait until the White Sox let him go when he runs out of options if I want to try my luck at that. What was 2015 Charlotte, if not rebuilding? 1.12 WHIP, BB under 3/9 and over a K per inning? There are questions about whether he can pitch in the majors, but more minor league time won't help that. He dominates AAA.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 04:05 PM) His walk rates are still pretty high for a guy who is under a K/IP pace. His homer rate was also really scary for pitching your home games at USCF. And bottom line, the Sox have had years to evaluate Erik Johnson, both in the majors, and in the minors. If they don't think he can cut it, I am going to trust them. I give the White Sox the benefit of the doubt when it comes to pitching. I guess. But Sox overall pitching has mid mid-pack for years. A couple of really good pitchers surrounded by some dubious sorts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:55 PM) It wouldn't be the first time that writing was on the wall. For all of the starting pitchers they used last year, he was sure in Charlotte an awful long time. Yep. He sure was. And this is an org. that gave Noesi a full year (over 2 seasons). Noesi, of course, was Cooper's guy. As for peripherals, Johnson's strikeout total on the Sox last year was pretty good. If they want to trade him, then trade him...but it would be nice to do so for a similarly situated young hitter.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:50 PM) Look him up. He's the type of guy you would have loved as a starting outfielder on the Sox a year or two ago! LOL I do like to see a bit more than 1 good (not great) AA season.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:28 PM) I see plenty of names on that 40 man you can get rid of Yep Aside from the Olts and Brantlys, there's some guy named Daniel Fields...never heard of him.