Lillian

With the several promising infielders and the likely signing of Trea Turner, perhaps a short term solution at third would be reasonable. Between Gillaspie, Semien, Tim Anderson, Trea Turner Carlos Sanchez and Micah Johnson they might not need to spend on a long term solution at third. One or two years might be just perfect, and require less of a price in both money and players.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 23, 2013 -> 06:34 AM) Yet you made a line up recently with Grady Sizemore batting clean up. Headley could be the left handed power bat with a high OBP you are looking for. He plays in a pitchers park and was hurt most of last year. If Headley could duplicate his 2012 production, I agree. If his performance last year was adversely affected by injuries, perhaps he could be the guy. The more we all grapple with this question, the more you can appreciate my wishful thinking regarding a Sizemore return to stardom, in a Sox uniform. I know it was a desperate suggestion. I just don't see many options that would be affordable, and available. If we are stuck with Dunn in the clean up spot, it is not only going to be difficult to compete, but it will likely not do much to help Abreu and Garcia, who could both use some effective protection in the lineup.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 23, 2013 -> 05:56 AM) Any suggestions? That is the question we should all be addressing. You can be pretty certain that is what Hahn is contemplating. I don't have the answer, but I'm pretty convinced that it's the right question. What do you think?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 23, 2013 -> 05:56 AM) Any suggestions? That is the question we should all be addressing. You can be pretty certain that is what Hahn is contemplating. I don't have the answer, but I'm pretty convinced that it's the right question. What do you think?

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Oct 22, 2013 -> 10:12 PM) It's not like our DH from last year is left handed and batted fourth. I'm sorry, but I don't understand your point. To clarify mine; Adam Dunn may still be on the team, but our offense is not going to be competitive with him putting up last year's numbers, in the clean up spot. As many of you have argued, he needs to bat further down in the order. The number one priority now should be to find a decent left handed, clean up hitter, to replace him.

I don't think he is capable of hitting clean up. The Sox are probably targeting a left handed clean up hitter. If they acquired Headley, that still leaves a hole at that spot in the lineup.

QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 20, 2013 -> 11:12 AM) At what level do you place Cuba ball? MLB? AAA+? AAA? AA? A? That will determine how confident someone should be about the likelihood of his success. That is the big question. However, while we don't know exactly what level to compare to Cuban baseball, we do know that Abreu was clearly the best hitter there. Since we know that there are other Cuban players, who have performed pretty well, that should provide a good indication that he will be productive. It will be interesting and fun, to discover just how productive. I can't wait!!!

Abreu was the best hitter in Cuba He will be in his prime during the entire 6 year deal, at age 27 through 32. He won't be blocking anybody on the farm. Konerko's contract is over, and Dunn's will be, at the end of the year. They didn't have to give up a draft pick: "this is the only mega deal the White Sox could strike (at least for a position player) that wouldn't cost them: 1) a chunk of their international budget, or 2) a draft pick. Abreu is older than 23 and has logged more than three years of Serie Nacional play, so he's exempt from the pool rules." Look, I don't care where he played, A ball, college, Japan, Cuba, or anywhere else. When you hit a home run every other game, and put up average and OBP numbers so far above the rest of the league, you have exceptional talent. At $11.3 million per year, he doesn't have to be Miguel Cabrera. If he hits close to .300 with an OBP above .360, with 30 or more homers, he'll be worth every penny, and likely our best hitter. Whether he lives up to his hype, or not, it is a gamble Hahn had to take.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 08:31 AM) I think you did just fine and you're right -- since you didn't suggest Grady Sizemore Hey, not that I wasn't tempted!!! Man, I would've really taken flack for that.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 06:57 AM) Must you state this in every post you make like we havent read it in every other post you have made? Good god Yes, it's worth reiterating, when many of you continue to suggest acquiring more right handed hitters. If Hahn spends big money on another right handed hitter, I'll be shocked. Forget names such as Corey Hart, John Buck, Marlon Byrd etc. Moreover, there was more to my post, which only mentioned the need for the left handed hitter as the context in which I was speculating about the rest of the roster, and the lineup. What is your suggestion, beyond that I not belabor the need for a left handed hitter?

It should be pretty obvious that the single biggest need is still a left handed, middle of the order hitter to sandwich between Abreu and Garcia. They simply cannot use Dunn to fill that role. If Dunn is still on the team, he must bat lower down in the order. Moreover, he'll be gone after the season, and there are no left handed impact bats in the system, anywhere near ready to contribute. I'm pretty sure that is why there has been so much talk about Granderson. McCann makes sense, as he is not only capable of filling that role, but he also plays a position of need. Except for 2012, he has been very good vs. RHP. If they signed McCann, they could let de Aza play CF again next year, unless they can find a lead off hitter, with a higher OBP, to play there. De Aza appears to have suffered the consequences of trying to hit more home runs. If he could return to the player he was in 2011 and 2012, he would be fine at lead-off. There is still the question of his defense in CF, but he does have the tools to play there. His problem seems more mental than physical. With no other changes, the lineup could look like this, vs. RHP: CF A. de Aza 2B Beckham 1B Abreu C McCann RF Garcia DH Dunn LF Viciedo 3B Gillaspie SS Ramirez Semien could platoon with Gillaspie

Thank you, gentlemen. For a long time, I have been asserting the importance of having more left handed hitters, especially in our division. The idea was largely dismissed as "unimportant". The response was simply; "It doesn't matter from which side of the plate they hit, as long as they are good hitters". I'm glad some agree that the Sox need a couple of good LH hitters. It might even be feasible to get a couple of guys who don't have very impressive overall stats, but who really dominate RHP. If they can be platooned vs the occasional LHP, that would work, and such players might be much more affordable.

Are these suggestions that Sizemore's knees are shot, based upon anything that has been reported, or is this just speculation? Look, if you guys are correct, and he can't play because he is permanently impaired, then of course it would make no sense. I'm sure that he will be well examined by any team that considers signing him. What I had read is that he was taking his time to be sure that he was completely healthy. I have not seen any reports saying that he will not be able to run well, much less, play center. Who else is out there who could be a stop gap center fielder? I mean someone who can provide solid defense. The best in house guy is probably Jordan Danks. I would hope that longer term, Thompson, or Hawkins will be able to fill that need.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 12:08 PM) There's a difference between something that's possible and something that you gamble millions of dollars on. One example of something working out against the odds does not serve as a practical reason to expect things to continue to happen against the odds. It would only be a reasonable gamble if he signs a cheap one year contract, with the intention of re-establishing his value. That was my assumption. I agree that it wouldn't be worth gambling a lot of money on his comeback. It makes sense to me because of the following: 1) He plays a position at which the Sox have no prospects, whom he would be blocking. 2) He is a left handed bat, with pop 3) He will require only a one year contract 4) He would be cheap 5) He could be a trade candidate for prospects at the deadline, if the Sox were not in contention. If Viciedo, Garcia and a hoped for acquisition, Abreu were to all have good years Sizemore could at least provide enough of a left handed presence to balance the lineup, and keep Dunn out of the middle of the order. Moreover, all of the other suggestions would just be too expensive, considering this team is probably not yet ready to contend. I'd rather wait a year and see where the holes are, which need to be filled, after 2014.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 10:08 AM) Dealing with drug and alcohol abuse is not the same as dealing with a recurring injury issue with your knees. Plus, their ages were not the same. Yes, however the point is that a player can be away from the game and come back, providing he is healthy.

Josh Hamilton missed 3 consecutive seasons, while dealing with alcohol and drug abuse, and then only played half of his first season back, and he tore up the League, when he did. Isn't is feasible for a guy to come back after missing extensive playing time, if he is healthy and in good shape? I read where Sizemore will likely sign a minor league contract. What is the risk?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 09:39 AM) I hate when people talk in absolutes. The Sox PROBABLY won't contend next year. Can we seriously qualify these statements? With what the Red Sox and Indians did this year, and the Tigers, Rays, Orioles, Pirates, DBacks, Padres, Giants, A's, and WHITE SOX have done in recent years (just to name a few), it's completely stupid to say "they will not compete." That's total BS. You are "absolutely" right. I'll rephrase it; the Sox are unlikely to contend in 2014.

If Sizemore was a PED user, I wouldn't want him either. However, if he was not, then we will all just have to wait and see if he can still play at age 31. It just seems like a decent gamble for one year, on a cheap contract. If you don't sign him, then the Sox will have to find a center fielder and a left handed, middle of the order hitter. I suspect that would be two expensive signings. Granderson is not the solution, and will cost too much money. If he can be signed cheaply, and plays well, he could be traded at the deadline for prospects. If he flops, he'd likely cost very little. The Sox are not going to contend next year, and it just doesn't make sense to spend all that payroll flexibility on people like, Ellsbury, Choo, or Granderson.

After reading all of your comments, and thinking more about what Hahn should do, I think this "retool" should be a two year project. I would trade Alexei and de Aza, for prospects, if there is any market for them. I would retain all of the young pitching, including Santiago. Abreu is still my unquestionable #1 target. Gamble on a cheap, one year deal for Sizemore, who will be looking to re-establish his value: Here is my lineup: SS Semien 2B Beckham RF Garcia CF Sizemore 1B Abreu DH Dunn LF Viciedo 3B Gillaspie/platooned with a rh hitter C Phegley/Flowers competition That gets them to 2015, when they can evaluate the development of the young core of Semien, Garcia, Abreu, Viciedo, Gillaspie and whoever catches. Then, with plenty of payroll flexibility still left, they can decide if they have any other holes to fill besides Sizemore and Dunn, whose contracts would be finished. They would have a better idea of how to evaluate the pitching staff, after a year of the young starters, Santiago, Johnson, as well as a better idea of well Danks has recovered. It also gives them one more year to gauge the potential of some of the very young talent like Hawkins, T. Anderson, Micah Johnson and whoever is selected #3 in this years draft. With continued payroll flexibility, and a few youngsters emerging as solid players, the Sox should be able to fill the remaining holes and put a very competitive team on the field in 2015.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 9, 2013 -> 09:14 AM) Just so it's said again...putting Dayan Viciedo at 1b negates what is by far his strongest skill in the field, his throwing arm. And yes, he is certainly coming off a bad season in the field in 2013, but that also followed the pattern of the rest of the team in doing a much worse job out there than the same players did in 2012 (which I continue to attribute to lack of preparation for the season). I'd like to see Viciedo get one full season at third, to see if he could become a decent defender. He has that strong arm, and he seems reasonably sure handed. His physical skill set is really suited better for 3B than LF. That would solve the offensive problem at third, and open LF up for another good hitter. I don't remember, was he that bad when he had a little playing time at the hot corner?

A. Garcia is not a center fielder. With his arm, he could become a very good right fielder. This is the time to let him hone his defensive skills in RF. I wouldn't even mind letting Jordan Danks play a year in CF. He's a very good defensive outfielder, and could be at least a stop gap. If they can land Abreu, and sign a big left handed bat to hit in the middle of the order, the Sox might not need much offense out of their center fielder. If they replace A. D. A. with that big LH bat in left, and they can get by with Semien leading off, the offense could be respectable. Could de Aza, Ramirez and Santiago net a middle of the order left handed bat, who could play LF? I know many of you would like to pursue McCann, but I'm not nearly as enthused about that option. I prefer the emphasis on defense behind the plate. Pitch calling is going to continue to be very important for our young pitching staff. Why not look for offense, at the typical offensive positions? RF, 1B, DH, LF, and 3B are the spots where they can try to create the heart of the order. Garcia, Abreu, Dunn and whoever plays LF and 3B might accomplish that. Any suggestions for LF and third base? I would have said Chase Headley as a free agent, after next season, but he kind of fizzled.

I think it will be a bigger contract that most on this board think. I'm guessing: Red Sox 6 years $90 million

I wish we had a pool on the years and amount of the winning bid. That would be fun. Were teams allowed to submit a combination of choices, such as: 3 years $45 Million, or 6 years $70 million?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 8, 2013 -> 06:49 AM) I am going to guess that his contract looks more like Cespedes with a larger amount of money in a shorter amount of years, with the agreement that he can become a free agent in less than six years, if he wants. Yes, that might be more appealing to Abreu and his agent. At his age, and with the kind of money that is being awarded free agents, if they have confidence in his ability to be a star in the Big Leagues, he could have an enormous pay day, after having proven his value. If I'm management, I'd rather gamble and lock him up.

I won't be surprised if someone bid 7 years at $12 million per year. This is an opportunity to acquire a player in his prime. He will be 27 to 33 over that 7 year contract, and with the kind of money that free agents are getting, $12 million is not exorbitant. The only issue should be how they assess Abreu's ability to perform as a Major League hitter. If he is clearly the best hitter in Cuba, and maybe the best hitter in Cuba's history, then there is a reasonable expectation that he will be a pretty good Big League hitter. "Pretty good" hitters routinely get $12 million a year, even if they are not in their primes. A guy who hits around .300 with an OBP north of .350 and a slugging percentage near .500 is considered a bargain at $12 million. Hunter Pence just got $18 million for the next 5 years, when he will be ages 31 to 35. Last year he averaged very close to his career numbers of .285/.339/.476. Abreu will have a better chance of producing numbers like that, at his age, than Pence will have, when he is 34, 35. Moreover, Abreu's upside is much higher. He could be a monster, which can not be said of Pence. If some team did not bid at least $84 million, I'll be shocked, and it shouldn't be surprising if he gets $100 million or more.