WCSox

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:44 AM) What? Yes to guarantee $22 million for one season 4 years from now is crazy. The $56 million or whatever is left on his contract is a pretty nice committment. This is a guy who has had elbow issues. I'd be more worried about the elbow issues than the $22 million option. You can always trade a healthy pitcher, even if it involves eating a portion of that contract.

QUOTE (watchtower41 @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) Holy crap, $35 for admission to a zoo?? Do they let you ride a gorilla? No, that's just overpriced San Diego for you. I paid $8 for 10 OTC allergy pills at a convenience store there last year.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:33 AM) And what in the last 2 decade of Sox baseball has made you think our players from the minors will be close to above average in their first 2-3 years? I love Slayer more than anyone, but there will be a learning curve for these guys I'm sure. I just worry about our offense the next couple of years, and would rather we use more of the money to get a leadoff hitter, etc. Quality starting pitching is way more important than a leadoff hitter. And it's not like there are that many Torii Hunter-type leadoff hitters who can also drive in runs on the FA market anyway. I'd rather go with somebody like Wily Taveras and pay for a halfway decent replacement for Dye.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:32 AM) I respectfully disagree. The San Diego zoo has the cute chick with the parrot that talks to AC Slater on "Pet Star." It's overpriced ($35 per day), but not at all overrated.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:29 AM) If this deal falls through because the Sox aren't willing to guarantee the final year... ugh. As a fan, I say get this deal done, no matter the cost, and move on from there. It's not every day you have the opportunity to bring in a solid ace to anchor your rotation around for the next 3-4 years. Peavy would be a huge boost to our team, and our fan base. Do it, Kenny. Just do it. Unless Peavy insists on a full NTC through the remainder of his deal, I agree. Salary-wise, the Sox would be basically giving Peavy a little less than what Thome and Dye are currently making. And as much as I like Thome and Dye, a legitimate shut-down ace is more valuable.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:27 AM) That's fine. He won't get a full NTC, but this is all bargaining now. That's what I'm thinking. If Levine's information is accurate, I think that they come to terms soon.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:24 AM) Levine just stated on ESPNNews that Peavy wants the limited no trade clause extended through the contract in addition to guaranteeing the final year (and possibly turned into a full no trade clause). I don't see the full NTC panning out, but I could definitely see Kenny extending the limited NTC and guaranteeing the final year.

Colon isn't helping Kenny's side of the negotiation today.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:12 AM) He'll be making 17 million guaranteed no matter what in 3 years anyway. It's a lot of money, but if you want a true ace, that's the price you have to pay now a days. Considering that Dye, Konerko, Thome, Contreras, A.J., Linebrink, and Dotel will be off the books towards the end of Peavy's contract, it's not a question of whether or not the Sox can afford his contract with the option year. It's a question of whether or not Kenny wants to commit that kind of money to a guy with 1300 innings on his arm. I'd be more worried about his long-term duability than the money. You can always trade a healthy pitcher.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:12 AM) He'll be making 17 million guaranteed no matter what in 3 years anyway. It's a lot of money, but if you want a true ace, that's the price you have to pay now a days. Considering that Dye, Konerko, Thome, Contreras, A.J., Linebrink, and Dotel will be off the books towards the end of Peavy's contract, it's not a question of whether or not the Sox can afford his contract with the option year. It's a question of whether or not Kenny wants to commit that kind of money to a guy with 1300 innings on his arm. I'd be more worried about his long-term duability than the money. You can always trade a healthy pitcher.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 21, 2009 -> 11:04 AM) $22 million would cripple this franchise Not really. It would mean that the Sox wouldn't be able to re-sign Buehrle, but this isn't the $100 million that the Rockies gave Hampton or anything. I'm not sure if I would do this, but it's financially-doable.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 10:13 AM) I don't think this was all for show, but since the Sox have been really struggling it shows they are willing to pay the price in players and money to make things better. I don't think they will spend any money if Peavy doesn't happen and they will say it really was never there, but in no way does this hurt them in a PR sense if Peavy says no. It will turn some of the people who can't understand why they paid so much to watch Lillibridge lead off into thinking they are trying to get better, and this pitcher is too afraid to pitch for the White Sox. So basically the Sox front office is being disingenuous to appeal to the lowest common denominator of the fan base. That wouldn't surprise me.

QUOTE (Frankensteiner @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) Oh really? Please name at least one other player with Peavy's track record and stuff who the Sox could acquire for less money? I am not seeing anyone. I agree. And moreover, the Sox have something like $60 million coming off the books this winter. I don't see Peavy's contract being a problem.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:40 AM) I disagree. In fact, the guys on the Score thought from the beginning this whole thing was a White Sox publicity stunt. I don't agree with them, but supposedly agreeing to acquire the biggest name pitcher available is not going to hurt them. I don't understand how the Sox posting the biggest in-season trade since the Freddy Garcia deal on their web site, getting the fan base all riled up, and then dropping the truth on them like a load of bricks is going to sell tickets and merchandise. If anything, it makes Kenny and the Sox front office look disingenuous and low-class. Not to mention desperate for attention.

QUOTE (rangercal @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:30 AM) Padres site too. The official team sites have to hold more weight than a SD paper, right? I'm not sure how much control the Sox have over the content of their web site (MLB seems to have some sort of totalitarian grasp on format), but this would be a major PR disaster if the deal doesn't get done now.

QUOTE (tommy @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:23 AM) This is all over ESPN, MLB.COM etc saying the deal is done, I'm sorry but I dont believe there is no deal. The fact that the Sox have it up on their own web site and Linebrink is on the phone selling the Sox to Peavy suggests that you're right. I have no idea why the media outlet in SD is backtracking on this. Unless somebody's trying to protect their source in the Padres organization.

Damn. Stupid media.

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:11 AM) Also said Peavy has no fear of pitching in the American League. Scott sounded like he thinks Peavy is coming IMO. The ESPN article from this morning had Linebrink putting Peavy at 50/50. So either Peavy is (apparently) warming up to the deal or Scott is telling the hometown radio network what it wants to hear.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:10 AM) Do we know anything more about the package or is still Poreda and Richard + 2 PTBNL? Dunno, but I'm shocked that Kenny could reportedly get them to agree to terms and still hold onto Beckham.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:08 AM) I'm not sure on his relationship status or his morals, but I've been all around this country, and to me, San Diego has the most attrative women Yeah, So Cal women are top-tier. Along with Texas and Georgia.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:06 AM) The only thing bad about Chicago is the winter. Well, that and the traffic, general congestion, lack of natural beauty, lack of good hiking and skiing, etc. Agreed. Peavy to the Sox would be a game-changer on many levels.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:04 AM) With that weather who could blame him? If you're wealthy, San Diego is arguably the nicest place in the country to live.

QUOTE (rangercal @ May 21, 2009 -> 09:02 AM) On the contrary, what would it do to our reputation? Maddux and Griffey both rejected trades to the Yankees. And that didn't exactly turn the Yankees into a second-tier organization.

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was stupid advertising BS at first. Wow, you go, Kenny!

This sounds more like speculation than inside information. Given what Ozzie said a few weeks ago, I think it's more likely that the Sox promote Beckham AFTER the firesale that they may have in July.