GreenSox

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 05:30 PM) Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 1m1 minute ago Nashville, TN Trayce Thompson will get look in CF during Spring Training, with a chance for that job. White Sox talked to Eaton at end of 2015 season... Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 42s42 seconds ago Nashville, TN ... about moving around the outfield, and Rick Hahn said he was upbeat about the idea Good news

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 09:19 AM) Dunt; I agree with you. Adding a few pieces could easily make this team a Playoff Contender in 2016. Although I was not a fan of Bill Veeck, I agreed with when he said "The future is now, 5 year plans usually lead to new 5 year plans". Would have been nice if he had made the playoffs once. Or more than 1 winning season. Or if he hadn't traded a future hall of fame pitcher plus another for 1 year of Rich Zisk. Following the teachings of Veeck isn't exactly a pathway to baseball success.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 10:59 AM) Eaton should go to LF and Trayce to CF in they could somehow move LaRoche. That would help the team immensely. Then trade AVI for that Colorado 3B prospect. Sign UPton or someone. And the Sox move from the worst OF in baseball to an upper tier OF.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 10:28 AM) Looks like teams have realized that Gambler Kenny is back ready to win a world series and will empty the farm again. It would be nice if he would remember that he didn't have to empty the farm to win the last one. This is what happens when your have a history of over paying and giving up the best prospects- teams expect that sort of treatment. Williams and his theories of declining veterans and career years are obsolete. Let Hahn run the show please.

Millers a 3. But when you are ready to win and have a strong farm, you can make trades like this.

Because there are massive holes on this team and org across the board. The chances of success are small and the chances of setting the org. back several years are high. The Six tried that patch up approach most of the last 8 seasons and it failed miserably. The one year they didn't and acquired young players, they improved 10 games.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 08:52 AM) Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 47m47 minutes ago How exorbitant is the price on Jose Fernandez? Sources say the Marlins have asked the Dodgers for Julio Urias and Corey Seager. Dodgers said no -- can't imagine Seager going anywhere for anyone -- but the sides have continued talking about plenty, including Fernandez. Nothing exorbitant about that price. Q for Arenado would be a dream

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 08:22 AM) Cubs and Tampa discussing deals of Baez for a starting pitcher. To me, seems like Tampa is overvaluing Baez big time. Baez is risky but high ceiling. Depends on starting pitcher. I'd trade EJ for him before I'd trade EJ for, say, Lawrie.

It would make sense for a true contender like the Mets to make a run at him.

Why aren't the Reds "going for it?" They had Cueto, Chapman and Leake. They had the great Bruce (see earlier threads fawning on this guy), Votto and the speedy Hamilton and the elite, the super duper, the best of the best Todd Frazier. They had Marlon Byrd and Brandon Phillips, both of whom outhit Melky. Why did they suck so badly with all of this elite talent? Seems like 1 or 2 pitchers would have put them over the top.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 10:24 PM) I'm not sure why people are so down on Melky. I think he is a piece that we should keep. His offense is better then what Thompson or LaRoche will offer Based on what? His lofty .709 OPS? And Trayce and his .850 OPS and impeccable D is a 4th OF, while the declining Melky and his .709 OPS and clownish defense and play is a keeper. I realize Tracy's OPS isn't sustainable, but I'll take a chance that he can at least equal Melky's .709. I have no doubt that at least 1 of Trayce, Erik J or Micah J get traded for a decliner or for some career year that Williams is fawning over. It wouldn't surprise me if they trade all 3. I'm okay with signing Upton, IF they clear out the riff raff. And if it's an alternative to trading for another Williams rent-a-career-year, I'm all over it.

I'm okay with Upton if they get rid of Melky and trade Eaton. Avi-Trayce-Upton is a much better OF. Much rather sign Upton than trade young players to rent an overrated fraud like Frazier.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 08:25 PM) Yet you want no part of Todd Frazier. Todd Frazier is not a star. Not even close. Look at his stats.

The Sox aren't in a bad position. If they would just give it a year or 2 and acquire talent when it's available. But they refuse to do that. Absolutely refuse. They insist on forcing - sign decliners, trade for rents, don't let young talent develop. The one year they acquired young talent they improved 10 games. Kenny Williams has to have his "proven veterans", put a paper thin team together than needs EVERYTHING to go right to contend, and when one of Williams' decliners predictably declines, they have to start back at ground zero.

Oh boy, let's see who we can trade for a 2 year rent .660 OPS with stilted home/away splits. The Sox will still suck, but we can "Dream" until mid April, when reality will set in. And we'll have a participant on home-run derby!

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 09:21 PM) Exactly. I kinda just want to stay away from this. Yet I don't know what else they should do since I don't think they should rebuild (...yet). Just build. Kenny Williams (and this has Williams written all over it) is ridiculously obsolete. This stuff doesn't work. But the Sox do it year after year after year. Where does Trayce fit into this? They don't even have the patience to find out if 2015 was at least somewhat real? He could decline .100 OPS points and still really help the team.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 09:17 PM) Would Upton, trading for Lawrie, re-signing Alexei be enough? It feels like we would still need to make one more addition to put us over the top. To contend? Not even close Alexei- good lord.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 09:00 PM) Sign Upton Trade Avi + a decent prospect for Lawrie Bring back Alexei last minute Sound about right? Lawrie is not worth a decent prospect.

Stay far away from 2 year rents with .660 2nd half OPS'. Will do nothing but set the Sox back. Enough damage was done last year with clowning like this.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 04:46 PM) I sorted all qualifying MLB'ers by BB/K. Lawrie was 4th worst. I think he is the exact opposite of what this team needs. He's not a good hitter, that's for sure. And Beane likes the guys who take a walk. You just can't give up much for him. QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 04:27 PM) The rotation was full? They knew by the end of the season they'd have room for him both with rosters expanding and with not wanting to push Rodon's innings total? Certainly plausible. I hope that was the reason.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 03:57 PM) All of the mechanical changes Johnson made which led to, not only International League pitcher of the year results, but also the large measurable increase in velocity detailed here. http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/11/24/erik-john...-pitcher-health Very promising. Had a great year. The Sox really waited to bring him up for some reason. Wouldn't surprise me if they trade him, and likely below value.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 02:48 PM) I have no idea what you're trying to say here. Saladino had a 61 wRC+ and Sanchez a 60 wRC+. That is horrible. Yet Saladino was worth 1.3 bWAR and Sanchez was worth 0.7 bWAR because of their defense. Heyward is a pretty good hitter, he has a 118 wRC+ for his career. That along with his elite defense makes him worth an elite contract. Saying that if his defense regresses he won't be good is like saying if Miguel Cabrera's offense regresses then he won't be much of a player. Except that his defense assuredly will regress with age. Plus, just my opinion that that's an over-weight on defensive value, esp. as the Sox are trying to build a groundball staff. Not that OF defense isn't important, but it's nothing that the Sox are really in a position to pay a premium for. They can get competence for far less.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 01:59 PM) I would hope the Sox could get some kind of a prospect with Castro but I wouldn't really complain and I've been very much against the idea of Castro in the past. Castro for Robertson would give the Sox a bit more money to play with while filling the SS void. It's not by any means my first choice but a trade I wouldn't be pissed about either. Not much money; and if he repeats what he did 2 of the last 3 years, Castro fills no void. Robertson had a 1.8 WAR and Castro a .8. Not a good deal.

Excellent posts, Balta. And it wouldn't surprise me if they repeat the foolishness of the winter of 2014.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 6, 2015 -> 11:38 AM) I feel like Hayward is going to have a career like Adrian Beltre. Some great offensive years, some .700 -.720 ops years, but always elite defense. Unsure if that's worth 200 million. Agree and it's not. What would Upton cost?