GreenSox

QUOTE (South Sider @ Dec 5, 2015 -> 12:24 AM) It's really a shame that the Sox didn't consult you before making this trade. A pitcher who is seemingly on the upswing of his career all of a sudden having the worst year of his career is incredibly difficult to predict. You are owed many kudos for knowing that this was going to happen. Good guess. A 73 win team trading 4 players, 3 of whom would have helped the team (the fourth a prospect) for a 1-year rent, is not well-conceived, even had Samardzija pitched as people thought. I guess the Sox thought they could contend, but that was howling at the moon. Hopefully they are more sensible this off-season.

Good sox can bank that comp pick. 3 top 50s should really help the org. Samardzija went to a team I like. Turnaround wouldn't surprise me. Just not a fit on the southside.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 5, 2015 -> 08:25 AM) I will say that in order to get the corner of the plate calls it probably takes a combination of the pitcher throwing close to the corner in the first place, the catcher needs a steady glove and the pitchers rep for throwing strikes. I think all three of these have an effect how the ump will call the pitch. Agree Anyway, it was time to move on from Flowers. Glad we did. Hopefully we can get competent on the cheap at 3b. And keep on building while keeping the eyes open for deals.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 07:33 AM) I think the new catching duo is something to be excited about. A healthy Avila is is better defensively than Flowers and Navarro is at least on par with Flowers except Navarro has a better arm. The Sox should be throwing out more base runners this year and the platoon bats of Navarro/Avila should put up more offense than Flowers as well. The catching position needed to be upgraded and has been and it did not cost the Sox prospects or much money which leaves plenty of resources to be used to fill a few gaping holes.. I am happy to see these changes. As for defense, I think it depends on how much credence one gives to these framing stats. Per the stats, Flowers is top notch. But I think there are a lot of variables in the stats that haven't been fully vetted. Is it the catcher or is it the pitcher that the catcher catches? And then there is the ump- wide zone v right zone. I remember when Tom Glavine pitched, he would consistently get 4 extra inches on the outside corner. Was they because of him or was he served by the greatest set of framing catchers ever?? Just from my unscientific and not statistically analyzed observations of watching ballgames, I think lefties get more corner calls than righties. Flowers catches a lot of lefties.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 08:07 PM) If the Cubs and Atlanta agree to the speculated Soler/Miller swap, the cubs rotation would be pretty solid on paper with Lackey as their #4. I hope the Dodgers up their offer for Miller. Cubs aren't getting Miller for Soler. Soler had a .1 WAR last year. point one.

Awesome. I love it. Keep running those Dodgers like the Rays, Andrew. For all the grief Stewart got for selling Touki Toussant, he didn't get the credit he deserved for moving Mark Trumbo for actual talent.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 3, 2015 -> 12:25 AM) The question is in the title. Why should they keep him? Why should they not? You know where I lean, but as an economist, that always garners an "it depends." I'm drunk and bored and want to light a fire. I like chaos. But seriously..why not? I've been away. Talk to me goose. Fine with me, if you get a fair return. A fair return for Sale would improve the Sox, imo. The odds of a fair return are slim. Next year may be a better chance at a fair return (no Prices on the market). But hopefully the Sox have made a lot of progress over the next year that would increase trade reluctance.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 04:52 PM) I'm just trying different ideas. I still prefer trading for Lawrie to play 3B and starting Sanchez at 2B. If the Sox cannot find a SS then Saladino can hold the position down until Anderson shows he's ready. Might not be the most optimal plan but he Sox aren't in an optimal position either. 3B I can see for the right price. We have no one acceptable to play 3B. But Sanchez is promising; we aren't winning in 2016. See no reason to bench him for Lawrie who is offensively limited himself.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 04:47 PM) Woulda been right up your alley a short 12 months ago. Maybe, maybe not. Don't recall evaluating a trade with him included. I generally go for ML ready prospects, and as I fully admit, many fail. No past-posting here.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 1, 2015 -> 09:50 AM) I hear ya and agree. I can live with Saladino/Sanchez up the middle for one season to see if their bats come around but my preference would be to get a SS, play Sanchez at 2B and use Saladino as the utility/platoon type. Problem with that is short stops are about as hard to come by as third baseman. One idea could be to sign Freese to play 3B, trade for Lawrie to play 2B, start Saladino at SS and use Sanchez as the utility. I still prefer Saladino as the utility due to his defensive versatility. The have their work cut out for them this off season. I just don't see vanquishing a young promising 2b, who plays excellent defense, for a proven .300 OBP.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 03:52 PM) Long time Sox 3B target for many Soxtalkers. His prospect star has faded, but is still only 24. Played mainly LF last year, so must not be much of a 3B. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox take a gamble. Very quick fall. Maybe too quick.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 12:19 PM) Now that's funny. The guy who even in hindsight said trading Jeremy Reed was a mistake thinks a 22 year old who hit .320 with power in AAA and can play SS and was a top 5 prospect as a 21 year old is not mlb ready and high risk. Do not acquire. Your entire narrative has been destroyed. Wrong again, Dick. I said it was a bad trade on paper - and it was. You look at things retrospectively. Constantly. Always. Further, in this case, the Sox would be trading FOR the prospect and not trading of the prospect. Surely you can see the difference. Now, please tell me the top TEN Major league prospect plus starting catcher that the Cubs will trade for our #3 starter (we don't really have one of those - but if we did). You're 0/2 in your attempts at "gotcha" today, Dick. Keep trolling me and try for a 3rd.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 08:45 AM) If the Sox decided to go the route of trading a prospect or two for him and having the Dodgers eat some cash, he would definitely be an interesting rotational piece with Thompson and LaRoche. Sox just can't trade prospects for 33 year olds when the org is in this shape

QUOTE (Dunt @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 07:55 AM) If the centerpiece of a Q trade is Baez, I will probably stop being a Sox fan Cubs have no ml ready prospects. Baez is high risk. There is no match in a trade with the Cubs. The cubbie media just wants Cubs to get Sox pitchers for their excess junk.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 08:43 AM) Which is about the same as Marcus Semien. I think you wouldn't mind if the Sox still had him. Clever again. Sure I do. I've never suggested trading for him though. Would I take the 4 we traded over the comp pick? In a heartbeat. I'd take Lawrie. Just don't want to trade much talent for Lawrie.

Laroche still plays a capable 1b. Those guys don't. The value of the all or nothing slugger is fading

And let it be know that Danks had a higher War than James Shields and without the help of the fly ball park.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 07:47 AM) Didn't put Micah in because he's always got some nagging injury and has concerns with defense. Yes but As traded for one of those ? Defenders last year and still like him. And with 2 straight seasons of a dismal.300 OBP, there are concerns about Lawries offense.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 08:08 AM) Now that I think of it, John Danks could actually be an ok pitcher in the NL. Danks was 61 in pitcher WAR last year. Fly ball pitcher that could work in bigger parks.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 08:06 AM) This remains the most obvious trade to me, unless the Sox can get an impact bat in a deal involving Montas. You trade bullpen arms for position players all day long. Yes, I know Montas is not a bullpen arm, yet. The value of power bullpen arms is quickly rising, esp considering a mediocre starting staff + 4 power pitching arms just dominated the World Series. Sox have tried to find those guys on the cheap- power with no command and let Coop fix them like he did Thornton a decade ago. But the Cooper magic has faded.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 07:54 AM) I agree about going after McMahon but with first base open for the Rockies they can put McMahon there when he's ready. That said, myself and a few others have been talking since mid summer about trying to trade Montas for McMahon since they are rated so closely together in the top 100 with Montas as #54 and McMahon at #50. In theory its a fit but if the Rockies are high on McMahon then the Sox might be SOL. I like that idea. But I do value Montas, with our pen so devoid of quality power arms. Lawrie just isn't very good. I just have a thing about .300 OBPs. And then there is the Beane factor. Sox love piling on for Billy.

Either + cash for Laroche seems fair. Can't trad young talent for Ethier. Some NL team could use him as back up first baseman. Ethier did have a bounce back season which will inflate price. Should have gotten him for nothing last year instead of Melky.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 3, 2015 -> 04:09 PM) but the idea has always been get a pitcher who can be fix, for the baseball season. so the team does not have to go and spend money or prospects to get a better pitcher. very rarely does the pitcher goes beyond 2 yrs.... some flame after 1 or 2 season, but it save resource in that yr or second yr. I get that. Makes sense. But they are really scraping the bottom for these guys and haven't done much with them over last 2 years. Putnam is their best example ( but it pales in comparison to, say, what Astros did with scrap heap McHugh). Noesi was Coopers handpicked project. Hope likes Korea. And then we see what he did with Samardzija. Q wasn't fixed. He pitched well for Yanks-they just made a bad move and the Sox a savvy move.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 3, 2015 -> 09:10 PM) We're not getting CarGo unless we give up at least a couple good prospects, and we're not getting Arenado unless we trade Sale or Quintana + the entire farm. Which is why we should scout and do due diligence on the 3b arenado is blocking. Arenados War was 4.5 so let's not over hype him. Rockies need a bevy of young pitching. E Johnson should be attractive, esp as he doesn't seem to be a member of Cooper's first team.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 3, 2015 -> 10:12 PM) Trades for Lawrie White Sox get: Brett Lawrie As get: Erik Johnson and Thaddius Lowry Trades for CarGo and DJ LeMahieu White Sox get: CarGo and LeMahieu Rockies get: Frankie Montas, Adam LaRoche, Carlos Sanchez and Avi Garcia Bold trade prediction White Sox trade Jose Quintana to the Dodgers White Sox get: Joc Pederson, Jose DeLeon and Austin Barnes Dodgers get: Jose Quintana Then after Hahn makes a flurry of trades, signs two pitchers: Doug Fister 3 years $36 million Trevor Cahill 1 year $4.5 million plus incentives (Coop'll fix him) Ok let's see how bad I get crucified 1 - trade Micah Johnson instead. 2- awful; 3- very solid 4- ugh