GreenSox

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 29, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) But oddly that was not the reason Law undervalued him. He thought he couldn't start because hehad an average breaking ball and wouldn't be able to repeat his delivery. Exactly. He completely missed on Sale's ability, beyond his fear of injury. But none of these prospect guru guys are close to perfect. Law is interesting to read.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 25, 2014 -> 01:15 PM) I could go both ways on that. (Prefacing this: It's obviously still early and many things can and will change.) Unfortunately at this point in time, there is a clear top two tier of Rodon/Hoffman, then a drop off in talent level. There is no clear cut number 3 pick. You could make a feasible argument for MANY players at 3 right now. Kolek, Jackson, Turner, Gatewood, Gettys, Beede, Touissant, Holmes etc. If there is little distinction in who the Sox think the BPA is amongst the players available at 3, grab the cheaper guy and spread the savings on the premium tougher signs later. It helps stock the farm and creates depth for the apparent goal of having a more self sustained organization. The Royals did it last year by grabbing Hunter Dozier at 8, which enabled them the money to sign Sean Manaea later. The Astros did it in 2012, taking Carlos Correa 1st, allowing them to sign McCullers & Rio Ruiz with the savings. It's an interesting option, but if for whatever reason the Marlins don't take Hoffman the Sox better pounce on that. That's just giving away the number 3 pick, if you drop too low. Correa was a top 3 consensus pick....#3 on most boards, but top 3. And the #1 guy didn't get picked til #8 because everyone knew he wouldn't sign...and he didn't. So, yea, if the Sox are going to drop to #5 and do that, it's fine. But if they get a #10 talent, that's just giving away the #3 pick.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Dec 21, 2013 -> 12:35 PM) First order of business in the next CBA should be the trading of draft picks. Only if for other draft picks.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jan 29, 2014 -> 10:43 AM) Isn't it possible that De Aza opens the season as the starting CF? The Sox could get Eaton warmed up in Charlotte while showcasing De Aza for a trade in June. It keeps Eaton's service time down and allows the Sox to market their assets in the outfield. Plus you get your young core of Semien, Eaton, Davidson, and Sanchez playing together everyday. If the Sox wanted to do that, they'd have traded for a CF prospect instead of a ML ready CF.

These players like Keppinger are going to have to be dressed up before they can trade them. If we're going to give him away for organizational minor leaguers, just DFA him and be done with it. So we put DAvidson in AAA and not rush every decent young player for a change. It will also give Gillaspie another year to see what he has going for him. We'll move De Aza, when teams get desperate, likely in July. Until then, have a good OF bench for a change - nice change from DeWayne Wise. If Dunn has good first half, he should be a relatiely easy flip in July, as he has an expiring contract. Keppinger will be more difficult, as we're on the hook for another year with him.

1. Eaton 2. De Aza* 3. A. Garcia 4. Abreu 5. Alexei* 6. Beckham 7. Dunn 8. Gillaspie 9. Nieto If Vic plays, he hits 5th and Alexei 2nd

Utter insanity to pay big money and a draft pick for inconsistent pitchers like Santana or Jiminez. We've made good progress. Keep doing it.

Just have to grow your own, as long as teams lose a high draft choice for signing one of these guys.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 02:21 PM) Garza went for less than expected so the timing makes a ton of sense to grab a guy like Santana right now. We would have to give up a comp pick (2nd round), but either A) you keep him and he makes a reasonable $14M-$15M per year. B) You flip him next year and get back a ton more than the 2nd round pick or C) he flops and Jerry can only go to the Bahamas twice this year . But seriously, with a seemingly down market and SP always held at a premium at the trade deadline I think it makes a ton of sense. Of course I'm realistic and realize there is a very slim chance of this actually happening. Both of the top guys are inconsistent as heck, and have a draft choice attached. Frankly, I can't imagine anyone signing them. And we're trying to get a farm system up to merely average levels, so no way do we give up a draft choice.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 12:51 AM) I'm okay with losing out on Tanaka if it means we then sign Garza, Jimenez, Burnett, or Richard. Then trade Erik Johnson and De Aza for a catcher. Absolutely not. I wouldn't sign any of those nor trade E Johnson. That will put us right back in the cycle we've been in since the WS.

We still have a bottom quartile farm system. We don't need to be trading our young players yet.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 04:18 PM) I really don't think Garcia can hit well enough to even be a bench player at this point. Roll with Elmore. Might take Elmore over an OF, even, and have a normal 4 man bench. I think he can. He's also a prolific base-stealer, so he can put himself in scoring position. Not bad for the 9 hitter (presuming Ventura figures out that that's where he needs to be). He can play IF or OF. But AAA isn't a bad idea for a year either.

I get the feeling, via Elmore another things, that they may want to put L Gracia in AAA and see if he can develop to become a regular ML shortstop, rather than just accepting the role as super utility player.

Start Davidson in AAA. Let Connor and Keppinger platoon, which is not ideal, but we need to try to let Keppinger get his hitting groove back so we can dump him. Unless Connor starts hitting a lot better, he doesn't have much of a place as a back up 3B (need someone who can play middle infield on the bench), but he could still have value, so no use giving him away just yet. I just think Hahn has pieces still to move, we have a minor league system that still needs a lot more talent to give us proper depth, but it takes time. We should be ready to roll in 2015.

QUOTE (Benchwarmerjim @ Dec 2, 2013 -> 07:56 PM) the Twins have roughly 30-40 million dollars waiting to be spent. Even with Mauer's big contract, money is not the issue, especially with the new national TV revenues coming in. And I hope they use every cent of it on players like Pelphrey and Nolasco

I don't like prematurely selling low on these guys with high ceilings. players get better when they are 26, 27 and 28. Look at Donaldson for the As last year. We know what De Aza is and it's not that hard to find.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 01:53 PM) Frankly, with this outfield, no he shouldn't. Which guy under 25 shouldn't be out there every day? Jordan Danks is actually the perfect backup OF for this team. He brings defense at all 3 positions and nothings going to be shaken up if he's on the bench. De Aza is exactly the opposite, he's a tolerable starter on a number of teams in the big leagues. He should get at bats...and this team has none to spare out there. You can use him for pinch hitting, to give each guy a day off ever week, maybe some DH once in a while. He should be used and not just for that Sunday line-up deal. Ideally, we'd move Dunn and that will open more at bats for guys we need to primp and sell-off.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:58 PM) De Aza isn't likely to garner much in July because he's not likely to be playing much. Everyone in the OF needs at bats other than him to try to improve their game, and Robin doesn't have a track record of using his bench much. The only way De Aza looks like anything other than "backup OF" in July is if someone gets hurt and he moves back to being a starter as a consequence. With De Aza, he has the best bench player he's ever had. He should use him. Keppinger should be used against lefties...if he shows he can recover and hit them again, we can move him perhaps. Ventura needs to up his game as well: stop all the mindless intentional walks, and situationally use some of these players.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 11:22 AM) What kind of player do people think De Aza could net? Feels like a reliever to me... and for the most part those can just be purchased on the free agent market currently for roughly the same money you would be paying the player netted in return for Alejandro. Otherwise, I think De Aza brings back the same middling SP prospect that he would net at the deadline. I really prefer holding Alejandro to mix and match with our right handed corner outfielders, at least until the deadline. He could bring back a decent, but blocked, prospect. A lot of people have mentioned these 3rd catchers who are blocked at Atlanta, Tampa and New York...I don't know if any of those teams need De Aza, but he could bring back one of those guys. Now I'm not that excited about one of those 3rd catchers, because I think we got one in Rule 5, although he lacks upper minors experience. We could also deal De Aza for a decent pitching prospect - probably bullpen. Or we could get some players in the low minors, but with more upside....that would be fine with me. Maybe a July deal would be better, although I have hopes for moving Dunn and Keppinger in July.

The main reason I'd trade De Aza is that he could bring something in value back. Also, his clowning on the base paths was not the ethic this team needed. Keppinger won't. Not that I wouldn't try to get rid of him, but he could have a decent year with the bat and we'd be selling really low.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 29, 2013 -> 11:09 AM) He probably can't say "Hahn told me that Nieto will be on the roster and possibly starting" And that would be based on expected performance, which he should be able to talk about.

QUOTE (Pale Sox @ Dec 28, 2013 -> 10:54 PM) Adrian Nieto's agent wrote a piece for Baseball Prospectus recently. In the comments section, someone asked him about Nieto's chances of sticking with the Sox. This is what he had to say: That's interesting. What could possibly be reasons he can't talk about? I'm bullish on Neito, but that's pretty weird.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 27, 2013 -> 10:41 PM) I have one question for you guys who think it's determined the team will stink in 2014 ... why do we have this playoff-ready pitching staff for a team going nowhere? Why didn't we spend some cash like the Yankees to upgrade maybe two more positions go with these dandy trades and win our s*** division right now?? With Leyland gone, the Tigers will be nothing to fear anymore. They lose Leyland, but we still have Ventura. Hahn has to get his man in there before the Sox make a serious move. But the Tigers window is starting to close. Our starting staff will have at least 2 rookies or major reclamation projects (3 if you count Danks). As for Dunn, he production is still productive, although a lot of people say his mere presence is a negative on work ethic and attitude...that production should allow us to move him in June or July. We need to make a real productive trade of De Aza; and then final judgments on Viciedo and Beckham. I can see competing in 15, but not 14.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 24, 2013 -> 01:45 PM) I honestly don't see a realistic option available for catching. I think Castro is going to cost Quintana, Grandal is going to cost Erik Johnson, and Lucroy is going to cost something in between those two. The Sox aren't in a position to be making trades like that. Agree. We need to stockpile young players and those are the kind of moves that put us into this position.

The other side to look at, since we are retooling, is what player do we have that others might want. I come back to Beckham. Despite the derision he receives, he's not that bad and might have had an uptick last year (a little hard to tell, considering the injuries). A team like Toronto may want him, we may be willing to trade him, so that sort of deal wouldn't surprise me.