spiderman

I'm not sure if this is a good move or not, but I like finding alternatives to paying decent players $15M a season. I have a bad feeling if we take that route, we're going to be stuck with players not worth their contracts and little/no flexibility.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2014 -> 12:13 PM) Now that we have Zach Duke signed as a LHRP, what do you think Carlos Rodon should do next season? I feel like he would benefit from a reliever role like Sale did, but I know that some of you would want him to start or stay in the minors. What do you think? He may not be brought up until June (if that means his free agency clock is pushed out for another season), but whenever he is on the roster, I expect that he'll start off as a #4 or #5 starter.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 19, 2014 -> 07:42 AM) If Zach Duke is fixed by throwing side arm and changing his pitches, why can't Danks do the same? I'm guessing that not every pitcher is as easily fixed as Duke was. Old habits are hard to break. To be honest, if Danks can pitch close to 200 IP again, as a #5 starter, how does he rank compared to others around the AL? Granted, he was signed to be a #2 or #3 starter, but this is what we have.

Don't like it based on my simple rule of no multi year deals for middle relievers. As good as he was last year, he was awful in 2013, and we know that's pretty common of middle relievers. I just don't have any confidence as to what version of Duke we will get.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 01:41 PM) At least 3, probably 4. Knowing they have at least $40 million to spend this off-season, I'm resigned that they are going to overpay whether it's on middle relievers or veterans past their peak years.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) I don't like giving any reliever more than 2 years. How many years is Miller likely to get? I'd prefer 1 year deals, but I know that excludes guys like Miller.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 11:20 AM) let me asked this, of the mlb teams needing a upgrade at SS and who may trade for that upgrade. who are they. NYM, MYY, Dodgers, OAK who else?? the way I am looking at this, does any of those teams have a sense of urgency to get this deal done? who will offer the better package? can the sox use this to fill those holes that they have?? does the sox really need to make this trade? well the sox really don't need to make this trade, however the sox can play all who are interested against each other. Dodgers and the Yanks seems to have the most that the sox need. the Mets has some key players that will help the sox now, and Oak, well I am not a big fan of them. Who are the veteran SS options on the market that a team might prefer over trading for Ramirez?

I'm a bit wary of giving multi-year deals to middle relievers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 01:25 PM) I have never gotten the impression that Kenny and Rick aren't of the same mind set when it comes to the direction of the club, so I am not even sure if a "veto" exists, if it would be all of that important anyway. I would assume that Kenny needs to sign off the direction of the team (Does Hahn want to tear it down? Rebuild? Etc) but Hahn handles the day to day activities. I'd be interested in knowing if any/all trades have to be reviewed with Williams or if they have a natural collaboration where Hahn does the leg work and they meet internally before making a final call. The White Sox give the impression that Hahn is responsible and makes the final decisions so that would mean Williams may be dealing with bigger picture items, not who is playing for the White Sox on the field necessarily.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 09:04 AM) That depends on what the plan is for 2015. If the Sox are really trying to contend then there's no way I would trade Alexei but if 2015 is another step towards building a contender, I trade Alexei while he still holds value and can bring back a good return, provided the Sox get a good offer in the first place. I have been in agreement with you that it's tough to compete for a division if you're trading your starting SS away, especially with as holes this offense currently has. Saying that, now would be the time to move him, given his age/contractual status, and if there's any truth to some of these rumors about getting a top pitching prospect from the Mets. If they can add a young piece like that, I think you have to trust that the Sox can fill that SS position from within or with a veteran on a 1 year deal until Anderson is ready.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 09:22 AM) Rock said that the Sox were never going to 4 years with VMart. If accurate, that gives me hope. No reason to handicap yourself 2 years from now when Martinez is likely to have a big fall off in production.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 04:23 PM) Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 12m12 minutes ago Rick Hahn: "While we do have some flexibility ... the bigger and perhaps more important part of that plan is to spend it wisely." #WhiteSox I'm waiting for the day when a GM says the plan is to spend foolishly. We'll see what his definition of wise is once the White Sox show their cards.

If he's not willing to sign an extension, it's hard to give up anything significant for him, especially considering that the A's will probably want quality minor league talent back.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 9, 2014 -> 08:57 AM) Found this hilarious little nugget at mlbtr.. "Cafardo says he got “a minute of straight laughter” when he asked if the White Sox might trade Chris Sale." That's a lot of laughter. Sorry BoSox fans, guess you won't be trading for Sale after all. You'd have to get a top ranked farm system to bite, and get their top 4 or 5 prospect's; even that, the answer is probably no. It does suck that the Sox have so much work to do, at both the minor/major league level to not waste the best years of Chris Sale.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 7, 2014 -> 11:19 PM) I disagree. Rodon (yes, as a PTNL), Anderson, Montas, Johnson and Danish are all prospects the Braves would be very interested in for Heyward. Hell, they might even do it straight up for Rodon or two of the latter. The problem is Heyward is a FA after the year and the Sox won't be willing to pay the price for him and rightfully so. They probably have enough to trade for a MLB star, but a significant trade probably sets back their farm system back down the ranks again.

If the White Sox think they are going to compete in the AL Central next season, how do you trade your starting SS? I think he's more valuable to the White Sox IF they are serious about competing next season. If they decide that they should continue down the road of finding MLB ready talent (Adam Eaton, etc.) like they focused on last season, even knowing that could delay competing for the division in the short-term, then it does make more sense to move him. I just question a team that's telling me they are on the path to competing, having as many holes as they do.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:33 PM) What happens with John Danks and his contract? Also, Noesi put up better numbers than Masterson so why replace Noesi? Not trying to nitpick, just asking a few questions is all. This plan means the White Sox add $45M - $50M to the payroll. How realistic is that?

Is this guy going to get a job or what? I get it's tough, but he's been on the short list now for about 3 years. Let's go Joe!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2014 -> 07:16 PM) Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 1h Rick Hahn, Kenny Williams and Robin Ventura think #WhiteSox can contend in '15. Should be an interesting offseason. http://bit.ly/ZjokkO Let's see. Rodon could help the staff next season, but they need a dependable right hander in the middle of that rotation. If they can slide Rodon into the #4 slot during the season, that's a rotation with a lot of upside. Offensively, still too many outs. They need at least one power bat, probably two, upgrades at least 2 or 3 positions, and they have to get better defensively.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2014 -> 02:48 PM) I do want to say, in the last week, Josh Phegley's swing has gotten really short and quick. If he can keep that going, he can hit at the major league level. Would he be a complement to Flowers? Can he be?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) A different take on an offseason thread that I hope will invite some thoughtful responses. The rules: First name three moves the Sox absolutely need to MAKE this offseason, then name three moves the Sox absolutely need to AVOID this offseason. To wit: Three YEPS: 1. Sign Russell Martin at anything up to 4yr/$60m -- He will NOT ever be as good at the plate as he was this year, but that's okay because he was a MONSTER this year and doesn't need to be to make the deal worth it. He has a career high 145 wRC+ this season, but all we need from him is about 100, and his career line is 106. THat would make him an elite defender with a league average bat who also happens to bring Veteran Leadership™ to the table. Even if his bat begins to decline immediately, game-calling and pitch-framing tend to improve with experience, and having that kind of glove back there witha bat that doesn't kill you is worth its weight in blood diamonds. Admittedly, this was a much more attractive option when I first started clamoring for it midseason before the national media caught the scent, and he's going . How old is Russell Martin? This seems like a horrible idea to me. The White Sox finally have payroll flexibility after having 7 or 8 players taking close to $90M or so several seasons. No Rios, Dunn, Konerko, Peavy, and Danks is probably their last big/bad deal. They made a commitment last off-season of adding MLB ready younger players. I don't mind spending on free agency, I just prefer not to make rash moves. I'd be much happier with a quiet(er) off-season where Hahn makes moves that will help now ,and for the future, even if there is a gamble involved (see Matt Davidson for one that probably isn't going to work).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2014 -> 07:48 PM) Kemp is owed $107 million for the next 5 years, Danks is owed $28.5 million the next 2 years. Would you take Kemp straight up for $79 million over 5 years? Basically $16 million a year? I don't believe I would. In other words, we'd have to have the Dodgers send in a bunch of money to go along with that, and so far they haven't done so yet. You'd have to be crazy to take a deal like that.

It's too early to guess payroll, but if they have $46M committed next season, what will that be after arbitration? Do they have enough payroll flexibility to add a proven run producer, an innings eater veteran starter for a #3 slot in the rotation and 1-2 bullpen arms, possibly a closer? That seems like a lot to do and eats into the payroll flexibility that the White Sox created. Not what I want them to do, but it does appear possible that they may be more active in free agency.

What free agent options are there besides Victor Martinez if they are looking to add a veteran?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 9, 2014 -> 03:12 AM) http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/hahn-wil...this-offseason/ Thus far, for the most part, I like what Hahn has done. He moved payroll and has put the White Sox in position to have flexibility to make moves via free agency now that guys like Rios, Peavy, and Dunn are off the books, and he made moves for major ready talent (Davidson, Eaton), and made a splash for Abreu. I hope that Hahn sticks to a plan similar to his previous off-season. I'm not sure if they will look for another 3B or see if they can fix Davidson and stay with Gillespie for another season or if they can find a younger power hitter elsewhere. If they do a move in free agency, I hope they avoid a Victor Martinez type. I love him, but he'd help a team on the verge of winning, and is probably too much risk for a team looking to get back into the playoff mix. I fear most of his contract will be one we are hoping we didn't have. I think Flowers has done enough to earn next season as the starting catcher, and 2B is going to be an in-house option. That leaves DH, and one OF spot if you ignore 3B for obvious area's of upgrade. Pitching, again, hope to see them avoid giving out bad 2 or 3 year deals to middle relievers, but they do need to add a veteran right hander into the #3 spot in the rotation who can give us 200 IP, and a solid outing.