Soxbadger

When we are officially out of the playoffs. Until then, anything can happen. SB

But we are saving no money and adding no pitching. Not to mention, throwing alot of leather in the outfield is not all that important if your pitchers are giving up hits that are longer than 330 ft. If we want to improve our defense we need to start in the infield, and then address the outfield. Lee is a decent outfielder, Arow and Harris adequate, and Maggs decent. Compared to Valentin and unknown starting 2b, I say if we are trading lets improve some need areas. Not to mention id rather have Reed or Brochard getting Abs if Estrad is going to be out there, atleast theyd get MLB experience. We have outfielders, its everything else we need. SB

Why would we want Erstad and Damon... If we are saying Konerko is better than Erstad.... Wouldnt we rather just have Konerko and Damon? SB

If we can get Garcia and Pavano or a comparable nontendered starter, the White Sox will be a better team than if we had spent $12mil on Colon. We can probably get both Garcia and Pavano for $12 mil, or less, and they will get more wins then Colon, and they will provide more innings. We do not need an ace like some teams, we have an offense that can put up 3-5 runs per night, we just need a pitcher to keep us in games. The goal of the team Williams puts together should be 1 thing; Have a comfortable lead in the AL central, or be very close in the race, so you can trade talent for players and not pay as much. We are not going to outspend Boston or NY, but we can outmanuever them with our farm system. Midseason deadline prospects are as good as money, and the Sox have prospects they dont have money, so we wait until we can make a move. SB

How was he even being mistreated? Its not like we were sending him to Detroit or Tampa Bay, he was going to Boston for an All-Star, to play with one of the best teams in the league. Sure he might leave some friends behind, but in the last year of your contract when you said you wanted to test free agency, would it not be nice to go and play in a World Series, I mean if Boston won the WS with Maggs, and Maggs puts up stunning numbers, which he might in Fenway, he improved his value and got to play in meaningful games. I doubt Maggs has any hard feelings about this, I mean we have shopped Konerko to the point of exhuastion, same with Valentin, yet we will still expect both of them to play next year. Maggs knows this is what the business is like, its not as if we were trying to replace Maggs, we just were going in a different direction. Now Nomar, they Red Sox actually were trying to get a player as an upgrade to him, that will probably sting. SB

I think that the trade will get done, especially since the deadline came without the deal being terminated. I just think both teams have gone to far now, and going back no longer is an option. At this point $10 mil to fix a 6-7 year problem is nothing. SB

What it means is that if this is true, the Sox are keeping Nomar and shipping Valentin for whatever value they could find. SB

According to ESPN Bud Selig can accept the deal and force arbitration. "He might also go against the union and approve the restructuring, likely forcing the matter to arbitration." This is interesting because the clause the Union has been relying on is this: "The basic agreement contains a rule that requires any special covenant to be an actual or potential benefit to the player," Manfred baseballs top lawyer said. "In a situation like the current situation, where there was a restructuring, where the player was getting something and the club was getting something, Gene Orza is not the final arbitrator on whether the restructuring provides an actual or potential benefit to the player. The commissioner currently is considering his legal options in consultation with the two teams." This all leads to a very interesting decision for Selig, and one that can make the owners very happy. If he accepts the deal, the Player's Union suffers a chance at a decision hurting them badly, where as all the owners risk is the status quo. Given the nature of the case, I would say the owners have a good chance at winning the arbitration, because all they will have to prove is that A-Rod by moving to Boston could potentially benefit him more than the money he is giving up. The owners will prove this by saying, 1) he improves his marketability, thus more potential sponorships, 2) he is more likely to win a benefit that can not be priced (what truely is the potential benefit of a championship to a player. Some would easily trade millions for one ring), 3) his desire to be traded and restructure, with A-Rod wanting the move it will be very hard for the arbitrators to rule for the Union considering there is no: duress, or other circumstances that would of unfairly influenced A-Rod's ability to make a contract. If the owners win, then restructuring contracts of players will become a viable option for players. Personally, I hope they take it to arbitration and stick it to the players union for getting greedy. No other sport does not allow a player to restructure their contract, it has no legal basis to disallow a person to contract for themselves, the Union may have made a mistake. SB

Why do the Mariners want Konerko? We will be amazingly lucky to get Garcia for Valentin, and that is only if Mariners planned on nontendering him. Valentin for Guillen is most likely what will go down. As for Konerko, he would join Edgar, Olerud, and Spiezo at the same position. SB

When people make up there minds it truely is amusing. Nomar has said nothing yet, Gammons speculated. Speculation. Personally Ill wait for the trade to happen, then see what I feel. Although right now I would say: Nomar for Maggs is more definite then Manny for A-Rod. If Red Sox dont get A-Rod they still might want and have to deal Nomar. SB

Nomar never even said it. The chance that Nomar personally talked to Gammon's and said: I do not want to go to Chicago, is not what happened. Gammon's was comparing Nomar's feelings of going to LA and Chicago, he has no idea what Nomar really thinks. Let Nomar speak for Nomar. You want to run a guy out of town, who is not even yet on our team, for something he probably never even said. SB

Gammons was purely speculating Nomar's feelings on the situation. His agent and Reinsdorf are friends, who knows what might happen. Also, Gammon's said Maggs was a better player than Manny. SB

I hope the pitcher is Wright, I have a feeling the pitcher is Munoz. Texas is pretty familiar with our talent after the Everett trade, probably some pitcher they wished they had not passed on. SB

Id say unlikely. If we are going to get a cheap outfielder, I think Juan Gone has a better chance then Everett to be in a Sox uniform. SB

Only way Nomar will sign right away is if he is getting offered like 5+ years. After this trade he probably wants his next contract to make sure that he is staying with a team, also will include no trade cluase. I want to keep Nomar, depending on what we can get for Jose, I just think that it is more likely a deal of: Mota, Perez, and Miller wont be pased on. SB

So Gammons confirming what Patrick said. This really in no way hurts the Sox, even if A-Rod for Nomar does not go through, we still have Magg's who LA still wants, and with Nomar off the table they still may pay us for him. Nomar just makes it slightly easier, atleast I think, although the Sox could want to keep him depending on what other moves they want. SB

There are probably 2 offers; Mariners: Winn, Garcia, Soriano LA: Perez, Mota, Miller or Jackson Might be the deal breaker which one of these teams will give up a Nageotte, Mariners, or a Jackson(Hanran or Miller), LA. If Seattle was going to pay Omar $7 mil They can get rid of Garcia ($8mil maybe nontendered), and take on Nomar for cheaper. I think LA did not realize there were other suitors for Nomar. Atleast that is what I expect if there is a Nomar trade, which is purely speculation at this point. SB

If it is done, LA got played. The only way the Sox complete the deal is if they know they can atleast get what they wanted for Maggs. It also means the Sox really can stand pat this year, and keep a $60-5 mil payroll this year, and have a chance at the All-Star break to trade some talent for rental players. SB

I forgot most people only recognize him as Jo5e. Anyways, I expect him to be moved regardless of whether or not we are keeping Nomar, or even getting him. SB

Sun Times is just speculating. Here is what we know or are pretty certain of: 1) Red Sox want Maggs 2) La wants Maggs or Nomar 3) White Sox have Maggs. From most websites the major rumor is, right now the Sox are seeing what deals they can get for their players before they get Nomar. Included in rumors: 1) Valentine to Texas, so that Red Sox do not have to pay as much compensation. 2) Valentine to Mariners, for Guillen and cuts salary. 3) Konerko to LA. Etc, etc. To say the Sox do not have the salary is blind to the fact the Sox may make the trade and see what happens. Would Seattle accept Nomar for Garcia and Soriano? Maybe, and thats what we wanted for Maggs, so why not take Nomar, at worst case scenario we are still in the same position we were with Maggs, and we can still trade at the deadline. But instead of having an OF, we have a power hitting SS. At deadline more teams will want Nomar for the playoffs then Maggs, as he plays a skill position. SB

Cause Valentine will play the role of Cameron in the offense, hit 20+ homeruns. They want power, we want speed. Omar is strange though cause that just seems like a waste of money. SB

Dodgers being front runners for Nomar is the best, alot of talk that Red Sox want to swap Mann-Nomar for A-Rod-Maggs. LA has no talent Red Sox really want for this year, O. Perez would be 4-5 starter at best, Mota would be nice but they are trying to get rid of sullivan, with foulke signing they are probably not looking for more bullpen, so the Dodgers can trade them, prospects, or give them what the White Sox want for Maggs. Maggs is pretty much the best hitter that is actively being shopped besides for Vlad, who for some reason LA does not want or can not get, Boston does not seem interested, again Im not sure why, hed put Manny numbers in Boston, so there are 2 teams that want hitters, and 1 team that has no hitters. Boston has something to offer, nomar. Chicago has something to offer, maggs LA will be forced to trade at high prices, cause Nomar could fetch the Angels, Mariners (if no Vizquel). The reality is Mariners could get Nomar for Garcia and Soriano, cause that is what it takes to get Maggs. I am sorry, but 2 players that could potentially be MVP's any year are much more valuable then what LA has been offering. There trades are laughable, we wont give up Jackson, Miller, but we will give you Hanrahan, Perez, and Cora (because he is Joey Cora's brother so that for some reason makes us think he wont suck like his brother?) Cardianls got about that much for JD Drew. LA is confused, by not dealing directly with the Sox they are going to get it worse in the end. They think since they are taking salary they will get the best of us, but they forget Boston will take that salary hit for us, so its not like a K. Brown salary dump, but Red Sox want talent. The best hope for the Sox is that Epstien and Williams have an agreement for Maggs if A-Rod goes through, and they will see how bad they can deplete the Dodger system. Itd be nice, wouldnt it lol. I know people will say that will never happen, etc, but if it is feasible it is just as likely as any other scenario. You never know what can happen, so you just hope for the best. SB

If Maggs gets dealt it is going to be to to 1 of 2 teams: LA or Boston. The funny part is if the LA really wants Nomar, Williams is going to rip off the Dodgers anyways. LA put themselves in a bad position when they traded Brown for Weaver. Had they kept Brown, they could be offering Brown for Nomar, straight salary swap that allows Boston to have the ultimate pitching staff, and LA gains Nomar at Weaver price. Its becoming more and more apparent that the LA GM could not deal himself out of a bag, Why deal for salary cap relief so fast if you dont use it? Brown was under contract, so was Weaver. There is only 1 Kevin Brown when he is on and uninjured, there are a bunch of Jeff Weavers (is he even better than Freddy Garcia?) LA should of held and they made a quick trade thinking the Sox had to dump salary so were going to move on an O.Perez trade fast. Sox did not dump, LA is stuck having cap relief but only a limited supply of players to use it on, Nomar and Maggs, with little but prospects to trade. If the Red Sox deal goes down, LA will over pay, they need Nomar now. SB

I agree, and for the most part I am just posting theories of what trades the Sox should look for, and agree to. If they are going to trade Maggs now, it has to be an outstanding package, otherwise they can keep him and trade him at the All-Star break. Then when a team needs him, we can offer to pay a portion of the salary (which we already budgeted) and get prospects. Right now what I would like to see is one of the following situations: Koch being moved to get a Pavano. Valentine or Konerko being moved to get Garcia. Same as above for Perez. The only reason we can dream is that it is possible that a few teams really want Maggs, and when Vlad is off the market they will make a strong push for him. My belief is that if the Sox are going to trade Maggs, which I think is doubtful, it will have to be for a package that makes us stronger now, and in the future. Otherwise we can get much better prospects in July. SB

Quickman, Then why dont you give us some scenarios for trades? I really enjoy reading what people think is going to happen because if you rule out the ignorant predictions, many people actually have accurate assesments of players. The GM of the Red Sox is Theo Epstien, the GM of the White Sox is Ken Williams, It is not like we are challanging ourselves against an Einstien, there is a great chance that many of the people that post here are as intelligent or more intelligent then many of the GMs in baseball. I would say most are atleast smart enough to recognize weakness and strengths, who is available and what needs will be met. SB