GreatScott82

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Aug 5, 2013 -> 10:02 PM) What does that do for us though? Dunn is our best hitter by far and at the very least will get us a decent piece at next year's deadline if he keeps hitting like he is. Everyone these days can always use power. They won't risk claiming Dunn and Rios at the same time, but we aren't going to salary dump either anyways. Man.. you know the Sox have reached an all time low when fans consider their DH hitting a whopping .225 the best hitter in the lineup.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 4, 2013 -> 07:09 PM) Outside of Garcia and Jacobs there are no potential hitters among our OF prospects. Last time I checked, Brandon Jacob even has issues with the bat right now. Can he change that? Hopefully... but the only guy we have in the minors who is worthy of a promotion is Garcia. Assuming Rios is dealt this August or during the Hot Stove season during the off season, it will be very interesting to see a spring training OF competition between the likes of Thompson, Jacobs, Walker, Mitchell etc... All of these guys need improvements with the bat. If Viciedo is moved to 1B.... things may get interesting in the OF next year. I am predicting an OF of Thompson-LF, De Aza-CF, Garcia-RF. Rios will be dealt and Viciedo will split time at 1B/DH with Dunn. The best case scenario is Hahn aqcuirering a better option in LF over Thompson in a Rios trade. I still think the OF prospects that I mentioned have alot of work to do before they reach the bigs. Regardless, 2014 will also be a long season!

We need better production from every position. In order to get there, we need to start developing prospects. I think Hahn realizes that. The days of spending big in free agency will be on hold at least until 2015. I expect them to be just as bad in 2014 as well.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 1, 2013 -> 11:38 AM) If is lack of skill and experience is the problem this year, how do you explain last season? Well the Sox had some better players last year (AJ and Youk). Also played MUCH MUCH better defensively. I think every player was simply rejuvenated from the hiring of a new manager last year. I do feel since then, each player has been more complacent. They truly exemplify Robin's laid back managerial style and IMO that has hurt the team quite a bit. Overall, I believe the Sox are where they are is an overall organizational problem. Hahn did make a few minor moves to help out the farm, but he is still long ways away to fix the overall philosophy of this team. I wouldn't mind another rebuilding/ retooling year in 2014 as well. Let Robin finish out his contract, lets acquire another top 5 draft pick for 2015 and hire a new manager for the 2015 season.

If a team is brave enough to do so, adios Johnny. I am a Danks fan, but with the current state of the team, it would be wise to save that money for the future. Meanwhile it also gives a Rienzo or Johnson a chance to prove themselves at the mlb level. Besides, Sale and Quintana are the future lefties of this team. They are both young and effective. We shall never know if Danks will be the same...

Honestly, I want them to continue to save money for one more season. Bring up some more prospects for the 2014 season and watch the contracts of Rios and Dunn mercifully expire. I love it when my Sox win, but would it hurt us to lose 95 + in back to back seasons? We already potentially have a top 3 pick next year. Another top 3 pick in 2015 is exactly what this farm system needs. In 2015, spend as much money as needed to fill in the remaining holes. One thing is for certain, our pitching seems to be in order moving forward at least.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 09:48 AM) Rios could be dumped through a waiver deal. But that's all it would be. How sad would that be? The Blue Jays dump him on us for nothing. The White Sox could potentially do the same. If I'm Pittsburgh, I am not doing that. That is wayyy too much money for their them to take on. If they want him at a much lower cost, they will make a deal with the Sox this afternoon. I'm calling it now, if the Sox don't trade him today, he will be with us the rest of the year and perhaps maybe even next year as well This can get messy as he will block any chance of Garcia being out there.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 09:47 AM) Latest from MLBtR: By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 9:35am CST] White Sox right fielder Alex Rios is guaranteed almost $18MM through next year. The latest trade rumors: The White Sox would like to move Rios today, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark, but it doesn't look promising. The Rangers and Pirates have no more than lukewarm interest, he adds. Rios was watched by a Pirates scout last night, notes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. The White Sox have scouted the Pirates' farm system thoroughly, he says. Rios left the game in the eighth inning after fouling a pitch off his foot, but the bruise appears minor. Nothing new, get a feeling we will have to watch Rios dog it the rest of the year, barring some miracle in August on a waiver claim. Not unless management agrees to pay a good portion of his salary. However, if the demand for Rios is low- that is a terrible sign for us.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 09:43 AM) I sure as s*** would hope that was the plan. That better be the plan. That is the only way this team gets top prospects in return. TheScore says the Sox and Pittsburgh are still discussing trade scenarios involving Rios. Hope something happens today!

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 09:04 AM) Wasn't it reported awhile back in this thread that Pittsburgh said they could absorb a big contract like Rios's if needed? Why not take a chance on claiming him and not losing any of their highly rated propsects? Obviously, a trade could still be worked out but, if I'm Pittsburgh and can take on the money, I absolutely claim him. Hopefully it's a moot point and a trade gets worked out today. Exactly... hopefully Hahn is willing to offer the cash to bring in a guy like Hansen or Polanco. If i'm Pittsburgh and the White Sox offered $10 million and Alex Rios for Alen Hansen and a lower prospect, i'm saying yes. The city of Pittsburgh is desperate for a winner and RF is there blackhole. All they would have to pay is $7 million between the rest of this season AND all of next season.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 08:53 AM) I have to think that was part of the logic in taking a lower return and sending Peavy's entire contract to Boston. Now there are more suitors to bid for Rios since the Sox can eat most of his contract. Yep. Rios is owed $17 million between this year and next. I would be okay if the Sox paid $10 million of that in attempt to get a teams top 5 prospect. The Sox would have still saved $27 million between Peavy and Rios even after such deal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 08:49 AM) No way would the Pirates claim him and risk having to take on that entire contract. The Sox got a ton of money back from that Peavy deal. They can use some of that in a potential deal to send Rios to Pittsburgh.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 08:39 AM) It better be some darn good prospects. That said, I think the Pirates go with Schierholtz to platoon with Tabata. Unfortunately, I fear that you are right here. Pittsburgh just seems a bit conservative to me. They don't seem willing to trade away their top 10 prospects. This may be smart long term, but the last time I checked- they have not made the post season since 1993. If there was a year they would be more aggressive, its 2013. If i was Hahn, I would offer Rios and Ramirez PLUS significant cash to Pittsburgh for Hansen, Holmes and another low level prospect. Efforts must be doubled here!!

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 08:33 AM) I really hope they move Dunn. Something about this team just seems broken since he arrived. I'm sure he is a good guy and may not the cause of the crapification of the Sox. I just don't want to watch him play any more. Many people like tequila. I hate tequila because it has made me very sick to my stomach one too many times. Just the smell of tequila repulses me. Dunn is like tequila to me. I Would be thrilled to see Kendry Morales or a prospect like Adams from St. Louis there next year. You just made me laugh my head off with this post. I couldn't agree more. However, I am pretty sure we are stuck with the big lug for only ONE more season. Since the Sox will endure a rebuilding type season next year, having Dunn contribute those strike outs will only help out the long term cause in acquiring another top 3 pick. Remember, the Sox are soo far behind prospect wise that having seasons like this will actually help them long term. Getting two top 5 picks in '14 and '15 will help boost up the system quite a bit.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 31, 2013 -> 08:20 AM) That looks like a solid rebuilding lineup that should net you another top 3 pick. exactly! Lets face it Dick Allen, we will not compete for the playoffs for a couple years. We are officially in rebuilding mode.

The more I think about it, the less I want Tank at 1B. Either keep him out in LF or make him the permanent DH for this team moving forward. He was horrible at 3b (which I know is the hardest infield position to play), but I have a feeling he will be just as bad as Miguel Cabrera over there. Let him continue to improve out in LF for now. At least we know he has a terrific arm and is very capable of throwing guys out. Here is my hope for today and the future! Do whatever it takes to trade Rios and cash for Hansen (Pittsburgh). Trade Alexei today or this winter for some pitching. Having a team looking like this next year wouldn't be bad: RF- A. Garcia CF- De Aza LF- Viciedo 3B- Gillepsie SS- Hanson 2B- Beckham 1B- Dunn C- Phegley DH- FA Signing

If we get Owings and Middlebrooks or Davidson plus a lower prospect, I will go to bed very happy tonight.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 30, 2013 -> 07:45 PM) Yep, and the more I think about it, I can't imagine Arizona giving up both Davidson and Owings in a deal. I can. If the Sox include $ in the deal, I can very much see us get both.

Im really hoping to strike a deal with AZ. They have so much of what we need down in their farm. Hell I would pay the remaining cost of his 2013 salary to strike a deal.

If we get Owings and Davidson, I will be the biggest Hahn fan ever...

Hahn. You have limited time my friend.... dont screw this up.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 29, 2013 -> 08:06 AM) 55 hours to go. A huge 55 hours that could impact the future of the franchise. No pressure, or anything. Yep... Hahn has a chance to add a few top prospects, shed salary, and get a top 3 pick in draft next summer. I really hope he doesn't squander this opportunity. The last thing I want to hear after the dead line is "we didn't like the packages offered to us for peavy and rios and we feel comfortable with them moving forward to 2014" That will not be acceptable , Rick. This team stinks and we need to move in a different direction.

I am starting to wonder about Hahn. Whats the hold up? I understand wanting to wait for the best possible deal for guys like Peavy and Rios until Wednesday. However, we should have shipped off guys like Alexei, Lindstrom and Keppinger by now. So far the "Hahn sitting on his hands theory" is looking more and more true.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jul 24, 2013 -> 10:13 AM) Heyman is reporting that the Sox did NOT turn down this trade. Apparently Martinez was not offered. Yikes. This makes Gonzalez look like a tool box!

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 24, 2013 -> 09:59 AM) No but there is a debate as to whether a lot of the contenders can pay those future salaries. Peavy at $14.5 next year is below market value but it's still not a price that Arizona, Colorado, Baltimore, and some teams want to pay. Luckily, it sounds like Boston and St. Louis are involved. As far as Rios goes, while $12.5 million for him next year is market value, a team like Pittsburgh may have trouble taking that one. If the Sox are going to eat $$ then they need better players in return. I think that's what makes this so difficult. I do think we see action soon though. Hahn is not an idiot. Hahn has a golden opportunity here! I hope he doesn't squander this chance to rejuvenate our farm system. This team is bad, very bad! Regardless if this was his or KW's fault, he has a wonderful chance to start righting the ship. I understand that he does not want to be fleeced for the veterans on this roster. However, I do fear he may be overvaluing guys like Ramirez and Rios.