Kalapse

QUOTE (beck72 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 04:18 PM) IIRC, it was the sox option. But I could be wrong. Either case, if the sox decline, he's no longer a member of the team to offer him arb. The sox could strike a deal with him then, but the sox wouldn't be eligible for comp. picks if a team signs him It's a mutual option. Where have you heard this?

QUOTE (beck72 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 04:11 PM) If the sox decline Dye's option, he automatically becomes a free agent, and no longer a member of the WS. You got a link? It's a mutual option, Dye makes the decision first on whether he'd like to return if he says yes then the Sox make their decision. If both sides say no then the Sox can still offer arbitration, it's been done in the past and unless something has changed in recent years that's how things work today.

QUOTE (forrestg @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 03:58 PM) arb would give Jermain no less thatn 9.75 million . That is his salary plus the maximum 25% off his 2009 salary. Jermaine is great but is that number doable for both the sox and Jermaine? what would it take to keep Jermaine? Good luck convincing an arbitrator to lower the salary of a good baseball player, that just does not happen. Even bad players coming off bad years usually get slight raises.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 03:56 PM) Dye's option won't be picked up so the sox cannot offer him arb. He'll be a free agent if the sox decline which they should do. I do agree that if the sox get Rios, thome is more likely to be on the sox. Dye deserves his "payday"--the most cash and the most years from another team. He won't get that with the sox. He should be able to get a 2 year deal worth $17, 18 mill. Too rich for the sox blood. Thome, OTOH, would prob. do a year to year, and could get a $6 mill, 1 yr deal. You can offer a player arbitration even after declining an option. I doubt the Sox would risk it anyway given the amount of money Dye would net in arb and what he's looking at in the free agent market in terms of annual value (significantly less than the $13M+ he'd get in arb).

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 01:12 PM) I look forward to the inevitable Scott Podsednik backlash that’s bound to occur if this move is made. I love Scotty Pods, but ultimately his defense in CF is bad enough to warrant him being replaced, by the superior all-around player that is Alexis Rios. Even if the Sox did acquire Rios, Podsednik wouldn't have to sit all that often. You'd spend the final 50 or so games rotating Podsednik, Quentin, Rios, Dye and Thome between 4 positions getting everyone some much needed rest.

QUOTE (SockMe @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 12:08 PM) if he still has that speed, yes. Because of all those mid-30 year old speed guys in the game today? Ichiro. Now name another. (and not Abreu he's not fast, just a great basestealer, something Figgins is not. This isn't the NFL where you can just cut a guy when he loses his legs at age 34 and not worry about the financial ramifications, all contracts are guaranteed in the game of baseball so you have to project what a player will be capable of in the final few years of a long term deal. That's why the Linebrink deal looked so bad at the time and a 4 year contract for Chone Figgins looks like a pretty poor investment now.

Figgins is 32 years old and will likely be looking for a 4 year deal worth around what Juan Pierre got in '07. Do you really want to pay a 34 or 35 year old Chone Figgins $8M-$10M annually?

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:45 AM) And that's going to be a big issue. If Rios could put up a .800 OPS for the next 5 seasons and give you fairly good defense in CF, and you don't give up much for him, would you make the deal? In a heart beat.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:41 AM) Well there's differing opinions on his ability out there. Obviously the Jays have Wells out there so he hasn't been given a huge run out there. Some people (Blue Jay fans) do think he is a natural CF though. His defensive #'s when he has played in CF are well average to above average I would probably say. You have to look at whether he could play center field for the next 5 seasons or not. If the Sox scouts and brass think he can, well then I'll give them the benefit of the doubt if they make the move. BTW, some Bluejay fans thoughts here; http://www.drunkjaysfans.com/2009/08/break...on-waivers.html His UZR numbers in CF last year were elite. Aside from idle speculation all we have to go on are his UZR numbers in '08, his athletic ability and elite numbers in RF.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:30 AM) That's something to certainly consider also. But my thoughts on all of this. I have to say that looking at all of the numbers and the contract involved, I'm probably not in favor of this deal going ahead, for these reasons. 1 - Rios's OPS has declined from .852 in 07, to .798 in 08 and .734 in 09. That's a worrying trend. 2 - This season, Rios has a .859 OPS at the Rogers Center, and a .617 OPS away from it. For his career, he is a .735 OPS hitter away from the Rogers Center. 3 - Long - term I don't think he's good enough to be a center fielder defensively. If you'd acquire him, I'd say it's to replace Jermaine Dye in RF, as Dye moves to DH and Thome goes. Again, you have to weigh up the numbers and wonder if that's a good decision. 4 - Rios' GPA this season is .241. For comparisons sake, .265 is the average mark for an offensive player. And of course with the contract, paying $60M over 6 years to someone who has declined offensively over the past few seasons is a BIG risk. But Rios could certainly rebound at the Cell and become the player he was back in 2007 with a few adjustments. I just think ATM, the risk outweighs the reward, and that the Sox should look at better options in FA if there are any. And why do you say this?

QUOTE (beck72 @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) If the sox are indeed interested in Rios, it just goes to show how difficult [and yes risky] it is to remake a pro baseball team without completely breaking it apart and go through a losing string of a few years. In Rios, he could [plausibly] be one of the final peices of the retooling of the sox-with his big and long term contract, as it would mark the end of either Thome of Dye in a Sox uni. Since losing in 2007, the sox have gotten to this point in decent shape going forward, and should be able to contend for the AL Central in the future each year, by 1] making trades --Floyd, Danks, Quentin, Swisher #1 trade, the Vazquez and Swisher #2 trades, Pena, now Peavy; 2] signing a few free agents: Linebrink, Dotel, Alexei, Viciedo; 3] improving via the draft: Beckham, Mitchell, Hudson, Danks #2; and re-signing key vets: Buerhle, AJ, Dye, Thornton. Rios is a risk for not playing up to his contract. But even if that proves to be the case, Rios shouldn't be Swisher reincarnated. At worst, he's a plus defender with power, who may not hit for a high avg. and get on base in a premium position, CF. Though, Rios would be a decent bet to give the sox production in CF they haven't had since 2005. The fact that both players can no longer play passable defense at this point in their careers should spell the end for one of them in a Sox uniform, acquiring Rios shouldn't be the determining factor there. Only 2 outfielders have more doubles than Alex Rios over the past 3 calendar years; Nick Markakis and Matt Holliday. He's also 5th in triples over that span.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:11 AM) Wouldn't he just have to get past the four AL teams who have worse records than Toronto? Yep but there's also no good reason for the Orioles, Indians, Royals or Athletics to pass on Fields, especially the Orioles who have shown interest in him in the past.

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Aug 8, 2009 -> 11:02 AM) He already could have for all we know. The league doesn't release that information and how has already cleared and such. But yes, any non 40 man player must clear waivers first. You probably just slipped up but to clarify; players who are NOT on the 40 man roster do not have to clear waivers and any player on the 40 man roster would have to.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 7, 2009 -> 07:36 PM) The Giants would be the best destination for Rios. I'm hearing they're not interested though. Bit weird when they're running Velez out their every night. It wouldn't matter even if they were interested, Rios was claimed by an AL ballclub.

QUOTE (SHIPPS @ Aug 7, 2009 -> 07:30 PM) Damn Kal I thought for sure you would agree with me on this one. Eh, you're going to be in the minority here I'm guessing. It's real hard to argue with stuff like this.

Well that's exciting. For the record: I'd be all for it.

QUOTE (CryptviLL @ Aug 7, 2009 -> 06:59 PM) To the team who won the claim, is there anything else (other teams) blocking them from getting Rios? Id assume theyd have to pass players through waivers to make a trade, so teams could block that. But also i assume that if the jays would not accept any players and instead just let him and his contract go to the other team, then there is nothing any other team can do about it sorry for my ignorance / if it has been posted already The team that won the original claim has exclusive trade rights through Tuesday, the Jays can only deal with this team and no other team can block the trade. If the Jays pull Rios off waivers he then could not be traded until the offseason.

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Aug 7, 2009 -> 06:40 PM) The fact that the report came out tells me it not the White Sox. Wagner actually got hurt in June and pitched injuried and blew a ton of games in July. Living in the Philly area, you saw ever Met highlight nightly. Wagner logged 13 IP in 12 July outings last year. He allowed a grand total of 7 baserunners in those 12 outings and 4 runners crossed the plate. All 4 runs were scored in a 2 game span and the Mets won both games. In all the Mets went 11-1 in games in which Wagner pitched in July. Of the 9 saves he had that month 8 of them were completed without allowing a baserunner, this includes a perfect 2 inning save.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 09:33 PM) There was no debate. Pretty much everyone acknowledges that Thome is Homerun/walk/strikeout for the most part. This season Thome has as many doubles as Alexei Ramirez in far fewer PA. Jim Thome does everything but hit singles.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 07:04 PM) why? They're s***. That's not the point. He appears to have turned a corner in his very, very young career. Could be a blip but probably not, probably a sign of things to come. You're basing this off a 3 game sample size, this is a very bad idea.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 06:11 PM) Looks like somebody finally found the pitch value charts on fangraphs. Is it just me or has fangraphs exploded in media popularity over the past few months?

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 01:25 PM) Does anyone know what's Jered Weaver's status is like with the Angels? I've always wondered if he'd be a good trade target, hmmmm. He's one of Boras's favorite clients and he's headed into his first year of arbitration. What do you think?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 3, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) That's because he's having trouble catching up to most fastballs. Like in 1996 when he hit 15+ homeruns the other way?

Keep in mind: Mike Caruso hit .306 in his rookie year with 22 SB (far more than Gordon will swipe this year) and how'd that work out? Lets simmer down with the Beckman love people.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 05:55 AM) Hey Kalapse, Can we get an updated version of your payroll spreadsheet? Thank you! I will. I've been having some computer problems or I would have already but you'll be seeing an updated resource sometime soon.