CWSpalehoseCWS

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed the Sox had to flat out release him and couldn't get something from him, but it is what it is. I doubt you'll ever be much more than a platoon player, but good luck Tank.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 27, 2015 -> 07:34 AM) Hahn made it seem like it will be Soto if he's fully healthy. Which makes you wonder who gets cut then? Sox aren't going to carry more than 3 catchers on the 40-man. I guess Smith? He's got the least amount going for him.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 27, 2015 -> 03:41 PM) i been wanting and waiting for the right time. i am also not here to talk about the monetary ability of the owners of the sox team to add majorly to the team's payroll and budget. i am not for signing any of the remaining FA's b/c that will really put this team and screw up the ability to maneuver with in the realm of adding necessary pieces in the future b/c the team may be burden with contracts that can not be easily dispose of. the only recourse, if any further additions are needed is to get a short term contract for a pitcher, no more than 2 yrs in duration. this farm system is ready to start producing important pieces, hopefully to help the team, if all projections develop as hoped. this team can lead the fans of chicago back to the winner circle of the world series, i believe the sox now have the right person at the helm. the system has some really good prospect at the top and may have promising prospect in the 3 rd tier developing. so the precious salary budget, cannot be stretch to anything more than 2 yrs. now lets look at Philly, Dodgers, Bos and etc... they had salary problems b/c they invested and invested for yrs, not allowing players to be replace thru attrition. if they had a nucleus, it needed to be able to correct itself to continue to maintain. look at the dodgers last yr, with 4 outfielders. they had to buy and pay other teams to take those cumbersome contracts that i am talking about..... one more, lets look at Wash, 4-5 fa next yr and not having the ability to sign them all. that is a huge turn around of establish players. that is why i am and have been lecturing on short term players. money not with standing for this post. peace. I'd be shocked if the Sox signed anyone left out in free agency other than one or two additional minor league guys or a waiver claim. IMO, the only "big" move would be them moving Viciedo, and that's looking less and less likely the closer to ST we get. All the moves the Sox made this offseason doesn't really wreck the future or overburden the organization in terms of contracts. I think Hahn has done an amazing job in plugging up holes and still keeping a solid plan for the next few years as the top prospects develop. Personally, I think a lot depends on guys like Anderson and Rodon coming on strong and fast. If both of them hit their potentials within the next few years, than the Sox are going to be in good shape. This organization really needs to start developing some bats or these short term deals won't really matter much.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 27, 2015 -> 03:32 PM) Righties 1. Robertson 2. Petricka 3. Putnam 4. Webb 5. Guerra --------------- Jones - ASB return Crain - should be healthy for ST Cleto - sucks Ynoa - too far off but on the 40 Montas - if they're being silly Lefties 1. Duke 2. Jennings ---------------- Eric Surkamp Onelki Garcia I think they need a 4th outfielder. That doesn't seem to be talked about though. Looks good on paper, but I still wouldn't mind an extra arm or two to stash in Charlotte. I agree with a lot of people on here that IF healthy, then the Sox are in a good position for the pen. But Jones and Crain are huge question marks. I love that the Sox brought in a guy like Crain, but realistically he's 33 and battling shoulder injuries. Who knows if either of them will even be able to be counted on this year. That leaves the Sox with a whole bunch of unproven/*meh* guys in Ynoa, Surkamp, Garica, and Cleto to fill in if someone gets hurt, or if Petricka and Putnam drop off from last year. The Knights still have a few guys in Doran and Kussmaul that could be cut for someone with potentially higher upside.

For me, Soto just barely wins out over Kottaras. Only because I think it might benefit if he was used as Samardjiza's personal catcher.

I think out of all the NRI's announced, I'm most excited about Soto. The Sox signing him makes me feel like the organization is really looking to challenge the catcher position. I think it also all but guarantees that Nieto starts in the minors. Flowers, Brantly, Kottaras, Soto, and Nieto. Thats A LOT of guys competing for the backup catcher position (not including Flowers). Any single one of them could be serviceable IMO. Not great... but serviceable. It's nice to see Crain given another shot too.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 13, 2015 -> 09:04 AM) They will announce an extension to kick off Soxfest and it was agreed to before the trade. Pure speculation. That would be really cool, but I don't think it's going to happen.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 02:31 PM) Let's get grindy... right guys? MLB Transactionist ‏@MLBTransactions 10m10 minutes ago Chicago, IL OAKLAND ATHLETICS: Released infielder Nick Punto. http://j.mp/1zG3Nnc Please no... 37 years old and a batting average barely above the Mendoza line, he's done. I'd rather let L. Garcia play than him.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 10:09 AM) Smith maybe a 4th outfielder option for the Sox? I thought about this too, but I don't think he's a very good fit. Lefty and can't play center. Great bat for the bench IMO, but not for the Sox who really need that righty bat instead to spell Gillaspie and LaRoche.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 02:42 PM) The problem is that we already have offensive holes at C an 3B. You can't expect to be contenders with huge gaps at a third of your positions. Batting Gillespie further down in the order this upcoming season will help. I'll gladly take a .280 average from my #7 hitter. Sox should be fine so long as they go out and get a solid bench bat that can spell him against LHP.

Depth move that was greatly needed. I'm not real convinced Smith has what it takes. Seems odd to me that he wasn't at least promoted to Charlotte at the end of the season.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 17, 2014 -> 12:21 PM) There is this one guy named Rodon. I heard he is OK. Rodon should not be brought up until he proves to the Sox he belongs. He needs to start in the minors, and once called up, he needs to stay up.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 09:33 PM) Why would KWs method of cutting payroll involve getting rid of Q or Sale? They're both cheap. Package one of them with Danks? That would be drastic and free payroll up.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 09:26 PM) https://twitter.com/drob30/status/545033162959880192 Seeing this tweet from Robertson is awesome. He also seems genuinely happy to be here. I think he's the most I'm excited for, love how he said in the presser that he looks forward to being able to help guys out if he sees something. He seems like he's going to be a real leader in the bullpen, something the Sox did not have last year by the looks of it.

No issue with this move. Looking at the state Charlotte is in, a few more of these moves need to be made. There really isn't anything promising for even a spot-start down there IMO.

That screams they have to move Viciedo.

I'd offer him a minor league deal with invite to ST in a heartbeat. I liked him when he was on the Sox.

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) Royals just released Moises Sierra. Gillespie wants his hug-buddy to come back!

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 10:27 AM) No, but he consults with the minor league coaches and his philosophy is present throughout the system. Don't listen to him when he says he isn't involved with them. What he really means is that he doesn't have "hands-on" work with them. Wouldn't Cooper have "hands on" work with him since he's on the 40-Man this upcoming ST?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 04:54 PM) You know? with what we've added to the lineup and the rotation, there's room for this team to be competitive even if he struggles. Of course they can still be competitive, but if Avi puts it all together, think of how much better the Sox lineup becomes. You'd have to expect slight regressions from a few players and he makes the most sense to be the guy to balance that out.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 04:44 PM) Avisail becomes a legitimately good hitter. The top 3 in the rotation stay healthy. The bullpen is at least league average. I was just going to say Avi has to have a great year. I think you got the three most important right there.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) Maybe I'm being ignorant here but why tender Viciedo if they no intent on keeping him. Now there is talk about settling for a comp pick? Just seems dumb to me, I suppose. I would have rather had Ichiro vs another year of Viciedo. At the time, if the Sox did not tender Viciedo, Danks or Shuck would be your starting LF. That is just too risky to even think about. Plus there's no guarantee that a player like Ichiro would want to come to the Sox.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) There's also that corresponding roster move that Rock hinted at last night. But that has to be Viciedo. Any additional moves would be for depth or the bench IMO.

Before anyone condemns this years team for a PED user being on it, Pablo Ozuna was suspended for PED's back in '09. He helped win a WS for us, and I don't see anyone throwing that team under the bus for having a PED user on it.

Absolutely. They are a far better team than they were at the end of last season. Only area you could argue was ignored would be catcher, but there really isn't many option out there for a significant upgrade. Hahn has done an amazing job so far.