GreenSox

Just wait until he becomes a FA. No use dealing a top prospect for 1 year of work. And none of these we'll extend him, Richie Zisk style.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 02:44 PM) Well, the homers are less, but you'll notice that Saunders actually has a higher SLG. Which really just underscores the issue with Viciedo, which is that he doesn't hit enough to take advantage of his power. He clearly HAS more power than Saunders, but it actually PLAYS lower. yea, some of that can be park related too. Cell's not a double's park; Safeco isn't a homer park. Saunders looks like a Gillaspie type hitter honestly, and kind of marginal for a corner position, but certainly useful. That's a reason why I've wondered if Gillaspie could play a decent LF I would think Hahn might ferret out another Gillaspie - decent player blocked - before going for some of those real bottom feeding FAs that Cameron suggests.

12/36 for Rasmus? I just can't fathom that for that player. Bonifacio has had 1 good offensive season in his career. Signing him is like betting to show. Hard to believe that Chris Young hasn't had a single season with an OPS over .800, but he hasn't. He's been falling apart the last few years. Dpn't see the point. K Morales has had some good years, but only 1 when he was anything special and that was 2009. I can see him for stop gap I guess. All the more reason why you need a vibrant farm system.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 07:31 PM) And from that list....Rasmus, Melky Cabrera, Morse, Torii Hunter, Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, good luck choosing from among them. M.Cabrera, Morse, Hunter (even at his age) and Cruz (except for the 2nd half decline) can obviously hit, but then your defense is not taking a step forward. We're building the anti-Royals, a diametrically opposed opposite if we were to trade Alexei. Markakis can sort of hit and sort of field, but not superior by any stretch at either, especially for the price tag. Then you have the Rasmus Enigma. No question, the free agent list for OF is weak this year. Not interested in trading for declining players either. Maybe Hahn find an Eaton-type deal for a young OF.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) Is he a good defender? Never really been a fan of his. yea as flawed as Viciedo is, he has power. Saunders has little; needs to make up for it with D, of which Viciedo has little except for his arm. Speaking of which, how do the outfield metrics measure and account for arm strength?

QUOTE (shysocks @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) Not Chris Young the pitcher, Chris Young the outfielder. There's a lot to dislike about Rasmus, but there's also a lot that's tantalizing. Can't make up my mind on him. If he ended up with the Sox I think I'd just trust that we did our homework. You know RAsmus is a headcase. I just wonder if he keeps it to himself or if he can infect the clubhouse.

Chris YOung is a fly ball pitcher. Not happening. Edit - I guess he's talking about the CF... doubt that as well. He's correct on the sox needs, but man he's got a lot of players who aren't very good. I mean, Bonnificio? Yikes.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) . Adding a #3 like Samardjzia makes the rotation pretty tough. For 1 year on a team that doesn't figure to contend. meanwhile we sent away 2 of the 3 possible 2nd base candidates plus reserve infield candidates. 1 hole filled for 1 year and others created

And one of the most important aspects, pitch calling, is unmeasurable. From what I've read, Flowers is highly favored in that regard.

NO rents, please. Actually, I would trade Alexei (whom the could use) for Shark plus a top 80 prospect. The As woefully overpaid for Shark. They gave up an elite prospect for him. They can't expect that return back. Compare it to Lester - Lester is the better pitcher, they gave up 1.5 years of a good, but flawed, hitter for him. And a hitter for which there can be no QO and for which there will be no compensation. Value for value, the Lester trade was much better for the As.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 08:35 AM) EDIT: Here's a PERFECT example: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wilmer-flor...-shortstop-yet/ Notice his footwork in the third GIF down. I dare you to watch that and not laugh. I took your dare and you won; that last flop got me. I think the Sox should trade Alexei- he's at peak value, and has almost a perfect contract for the trade market for a player of his age. Now I would insist on a premium; but considering the teams in need, they might get one. He's really the only valuable trade chit the Sox have (among the players they are willing to move). As for Gary Sanchez or other Yankees catching prospects, the Yankees had THREE viable prospects this time last year. They still went out and signed McCann to a 4/5 year deal. That told me a lot about those catcher prospects.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 08:20 PM) The question is would Hahn be willing to give up Tim Anderson for Gattis? Or wouldn't it be a better use of resources to find a DH on the free agent market, someone between Adam Lind and Victor Martinez. No. While Gattis wouldn't be cheap it won't cost him either. Gattis is a good hitter, but he's not that great. He's just not what the Sox need anyway. Not good enough for DH; doesn't really man a position with defensive excellence either. It would be sort of like the Swisher trade, which was awful

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) Yes, but I thought that we have been debating how to use the significant payroll flexibility to fill those holes. I hope we can. Unfortunately, we'll get none out of the FA market, other than a starter (and I'm not sure a mid-tier starter is worth giving that draft pick up). A heyward up this year would be tempting. and V Mart is tempting. I would probably not sign him, but have no real objection if they do.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 06:19 PM) We should go after jason heyward to improve our defense. if only he were a FA....we have the money. Sox are in no position to rent, however.

I don't think he'd be that cheap. 20 homers, still pre arb (although getting in his late 20s - late bloomer I guess). Not sure he can catch 130 games. I think the Sox would have to pay for this guy. Anyway, I'd use the bullets for a LF who can hit and field if that exists and is available.

One aspect that should put the Sox in a stronger bargaining position is that several teams that expect to win need a SS.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 04:54 PM) Ha, both are literally the baseball definition of a spare part. Sanchez is (at this point) a decent utility infielder that has maybe a 1/3 shot to turn into an average MLB middle infielder either at SS or 2B. Hawkins is a B- prospect that hasn't yet played above A ball. You trade those guys 10/10 for an established MLB player like Gonzo. Not saying Gonzo would even be a particularly good target (don't know enough about his injury history or his splits outside Coors) but those guys are by every definition "spare parts" that would be used in a trade like this. Not even close to reality. Hawkins is our number 1 outfield prospect, an easy top 10 in our system, with excellent, albeit unrefined tools, who just had a bounceback season. Nothing about him fits the definition of a spare part. The Sox have no second baseman and may be peddling the SS. Those 2 positions will be divided among 3 players, of whom Sanchez is one. Now it's also true I have little interest in a highly paid player with De Aza numbers away from Coors field who is poor defensively and who has big warning signs indicating sharp decline. He may be iconic to the Rockies, but he's extremely flawed in my eye. The Sox need a good fielding LF who can hit -and that will be the hardest need to fill, no doubt.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) He made some wild throws due to poor footwork. His hands and range looked good, if not really good. If that's the case, it's something to build on. some more teaching and reps should improve him. Range and arm are there. Not sure he has a bat for 3B though.

The Angels signed owe Hamilton 89 mill/3 years. They'd have to take back at least 60 of that. They'd be better off keeping him and hope for a rebound. He always looked like a lazy ballplayer to me, even when he was good.

Too much. Hawkins is hardly a spare part. Neither is Sanchez

Red Sox are another team with an excess of declining outfielders

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) So, you don't think that Sale, Quintana, Rodon and whomever else they use for the #3 and #4 starters, comprise even a .500 starting staff, providing the bullpen doesn't throw away quality starts? I know that Rodon may not be able to provide 30 plus starts, nevertheless I just don't have that little confidence in our starters. Hell, even Danks can give you quality starts, in about 60% of his outings. We don't know about Rodon. Noesi, if he repeats, is fine as a #5. They need 2 more 3/4 types. And going into a season with exactly 5 is foolhardy. There will be injuries. It's also another reason not to trade the pitching prospects we do have (esp for declining/mediocre veterans). You need a consistently productive pipeline of young pitching. This roster, with no DH, no LF, uncertainty at 2B, dubious D at 3rd, missing 2 starters and whatever in the pen is not a .500 roster. LF is the real challenge here, in my eyes.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 10:00 AM) I just don't think Brett Anderson should be in the cards for the Sox unless it's as a late flyer in January and only if he's asked to be the 5th starter at the very most. We can talk about Carlos Gonzalez's injury history, but it's nothing compared to Anderson's. Bedard cost the a ton in players, Carlos Gonzalez would cost players, Anderson costs zero players = much less risk.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 07:55 PM) Tempting, but even our best offer of Montas, Danish, Anderson and Hawkins might not be enough to get it done. They would ask for Quintana in addition and that would be the deal breaker IMO. There is no team that will give a package like that. None. And that's why the Rocks should keep him. Nobody will pay the value of what he's done in the past. And of course it would be insane for the Sox to do it.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 5, 2014 -> 07:42 PM) I didn't know that. but let me ask this, b/c I never knew the answer. how did the pro's tell and rate if the catcher was a good game caller. how does one measure that??? Yea, Flowers was 6th in the majors in CS % I agree - how does one measure pitch calling or, for that matter, framing?