GreenSox

Bruce- Hi K, HI salary, low OBP, not good defensively, terrible year last year. Pass.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 06:34 AM) I know it's a long shot but I would love for the Sox to get back Dustin Ackley in any deal with Seattle. He could be a good left fielder for the Sox, and he wouldn't break the bank. Imagine this line up: Eaton - CF (L) Ramirez - SS Abreu - DH LaRoche - 1B (L) Garcia - RF Gillapse -3B (L) Ackley - LF (L) Flowers - C Johnson - 2B (L) What do you think? Well, I guess Ackley's about the best they can do for Viciedo. Still, he's never achieved so much as a .700 OPS in a full season of play (Viciedo has). He's pretty awful at the plate. Also, Alexei is a bottom of the order hitter...his OBP is inadequate to hit in front of Abreu.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 08:53 PM) On the MLB roster yes, but don't forget the farm system. If they see an opportunity to acquire an all-star outfielder by trading a top prospect, this seems to be the winter to do it. Fortunately, Hahn has consistently said that he won't hurt the real future in pursuit of the present. No moves like renting Upton, please. The world doesn't end in 2015. Top prospects are rarely moved anymore anyway. Teams stockpile them. The last was probably Russell- may have been the only one from last year. Just an athletic outfielder with some on base skills to hit in front of Abreu would help immensely. don't need bunters or base stealers or sluggers. Just someone who can field the position and get on base.

He and Danks are about our only cards left to play. Not exactly trumps though.

LF is next. See how the young guys play out at 2nd. Or Alexei for Gordon.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) We know that isn't true. Otherwise they wouldn't have been an awful pen last year. Cute the reality is that there were 3 decent pitchers in the pen and they not only had to handle high leverage, but also closer and to take care of the starters 3, 4 and 5 who couldn't get past the 6th inning. 2 of those 3 were extremely inexperienced and one a rookie. There wasn't a lefty of any ability to bring in so often the lefty wasn't brought in.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) Hope Jeff signs long term this summer. Winter

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 03:52 PM) I dunno man. Our cheap window is the next 3-5 years. I think 5 years of Shark is worth those lottery ticket assets. We have a bonafide RH asset at the top of the rotation now. Perhaps trading for a different RH starter would have been better, but I think the story is too good here. And I think it's better to try to win a World Series the next few years than wait on Semien Bassit & Ravelo to contribute while wasting JA & CS's primes. The window has always been now, except to the national baseball media. That's why I'm not really upset. The As really didn't get any lottery tickets, except for Ravelo. No high potential guys in the bunch. They got useful players and ML ready players in Bassit, Semien and perhaps Phegley. I just would have used those useful players for another year and let Hahn make some more sly trades and move Alexei. As for 5 years of Shark, it's certainly possible - the Sox seem to love him and they know he will cost money. So they should be ready to pay. Which is why I don't think we see much more spending this year. I would like a sly Hahn trade for a LF though.

Here's a nice take on the situation. I think it's from a Giants perspective. Highlights some of the good work Hahn has done (such as getting Eaton and Gillaspie). http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/12/9/7358...-josh-donaldson

Robertson is obviously the closer, with and Duke, Petricka, Guerra and Putnam in high leverage situations. Don't need this X is the 7th inning guy, y is the 8th inning guy nonsense. Use them as the situation begs. All can handle high leverage action. I wasn't as down on the pen as most were, and this is a pretty darn strong pen, I must say.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 12:54 PM) Infante apparently is being made available No The Royals can keep him and his 34 year old declining .632 OBP. sorry, ops.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) These guys you're speaking of were practically nobodies in a system that is horrible. That's simply false. Nothing to worry about...just don't think the Sox made the best use of assets for the longer vision (1-5 years) of the team.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 10:36 AM) We still have to significantly upgrade the defense. If we are going to build our team around the strength of pitching, we can't continue to ignore defense. Our team defense is just as bad today as it was when we started the off-season. That has to be addressed. Hanh / Kenny have to make another move and at a minimum we need a quality outfielder. Ideal scenario you get a quality outfielder and 3B and at that point, I say you are even favorites or close to even favorites. However, I doubt we have resources do to that. This They are going after the luxuries before they have the necessities built. And you can't support this staff with another year of clown defense.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) Sanchez (if he's not the starting 2B) or Saladino. Then who is the second baseman?

The Sox didn't give up anything really special; but they shouldn't for 1 year of a player. They also didn't give up a bunch of chumps either. Ravelo is a high OBP guy that will be able to play 1B for some teams (who have power elsewhere). Semien is a nice infielder. Bassit was really improving. I wouldn't have done this deal for 1 year of Shark. But they've certainly done worse trades. The pitcher they got back is the type they've been loading up on - high K, but no control.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 9, 2014 -> 07:49 AM) Yeah, something is telling me we intend on competing. Competing is not dependent on Alexei. It is dependent on better defense and a LF.

What is the plus Don't understand this at all

Perhaps let him develop? Nothing wrong with some depth.

I guess the pursuit of Alexei wasn't all that aggressive

QUOTE (AlSoxfan @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 09:08 AM) I thought Hahn has said he wouldn't be interested in guys like this. He might just be checking things out or maybe just blowing smoke. On the other hand he might be looking to trade a couple guys (Montas???)for someone else an would then be short bp arms. In any case I'd like to have Robertson closing for us. If the Sox wanted to use Montas in the pen, they could use him this year. i.e. don't trade top 100 prospects for bullpen arms.

I guess I missed the announcement that the world will end on NOvember 1, 2015

REally hope this does not happen. With so few good prospects in this organization (and yes it's improved) I just don't see using them for 1 year of Shark. I know it won't be Anderson nor Montas, but it will be 2/3 of our 2nd tier prospects and we're light on those. Maybe Beane will give him to us like he gave the Indians Moss. This will be a good test of the Whitesox brass negotiating ability. Trade Alexei.

We need Semien. We need a 2b and a utility infielder. We aren't solid at3rd anyway. He has upside. They can have Wilkins and that AAA 2b we used last year ( got hurt late)

Got him for a prospect at the end of Indians top 10. Remarkable

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2014 -> 09:06 AM) Was KW thinking about resigning so he could interview for that job, or was he thinking about it because he was upset JR wouldn't let him? JR is a loyal guy, but loyalty is a 2 way street. I wonder if KW's comments damaged that in any way in JR's mind. Good question. Bad timing though. Want everyone in that front office all in for Whitesox longterm. Short-termers have been known to make short-term moves.