ChiSox59

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 01:26 PM) Shuck could match Avi's offensive #'s I bet. And I do mean offensive... Perhaps. I'd be fine giving Avi another chance, just in a limited role unless he earns more or in case of an injury. Think about...under current roster construction, after Avi and Shuck...next man up is Scott Hairston or Jason Coats. Avi needs to be retained, but I'd be fine with him starting in AAA.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 01:20 PM) Who would be the main DH if Laroche is on the team and it's NOT him? Also, if you can get Gordon on slightly cheaper dollars than expected maybe JR can be convinced to get that 2nd outfielder. I'm still split on whether a 2nd outfielder or a righty starting pitcher would be the way to go if they bump the budget up. Melky. LaRoche can DH on days when a bad RHP is on the hill, sending Melky to the bench or spelling of the OF.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 01:15 PM) It's a tough pill to swallow no doubt, but I wouldn't say it's pointless. It would at least facilitate an opening at DH that Melky could fill; lineup becomes better, as does the defense. If Laroche is on the team come April, he's starting at DH no matter how you slice it right? Yuck to that. A quick fix is to bring in 2 outfielders, one major and one mid-tier, and the roster problem is solved imo. Still need a starting pitcher though, not sure if JR would extend that far after last year's face plant, or if Hahn & Co. can get that creative deal-wise... 1st Bold: I don't agree with. He'll be on the roster, but I hope its not as a everyday DH. Unlikely, but its possible. 2nd Bold: I totally agree, and have been piping it for awhile now. One of the big three, plus Parra to platoon with Avi in RF. Also unlikely, but it makes the most sense, but would also require a significant increase in payroll from last year. vs. RHP Eaton - CF Melky - DH Abreu - 1B Frazier - 3B Upton/Cespedes/Gordon - LF Parra - RF Lawrie - 2B Avila - C Saladino - SS BN: Sanchez, Avi, LaRoche, Navarro vs. LHP Eaton - CF Melky - DH Abreu - 1B Frazier - 3B Upton/Cespedes/Gordon - LF Avi - RF Lawrie - 2B Navarro - C Saladino - SS BN: Sanchez, Avi, LaRoche, Avila Another cheaper, more realistic option is to just replace Shuck with Parra (but obviously move him down the lineup a bit), but not sure I want Shuck getting 350 ABs.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) Melky in LF can be stomached but Avi in RF absolutely cannot be. He has to go. It's 1 more year of Melk chugging around like a fool in LF, then he is DH for a season. I'd prefer neither of them in the OF but a couple games a week. Upton/Gordon/Cespedes plus Parra. Pipe dream, I know, but it makes the White Sox much better.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Give them another call, phone stalk them, throw in another 2 million. Do whatever it takes to open up the DH spot for Melky and bring in 2 outfielders. Cmon Hahn! Eating $10M of LaRoches contract is pointless. May as well keep him as injury insurance, PH and and late inning defensive replacement at that juncture. I actually think he may have a decent year, but I still think they need to go into the season with Melky as the primary DH / occasional OFer.

QUOTE (bruni @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:36 AM) Now we wait for the other shoe to drop: the trade of Robertson. Trading Robertson shed's $36 million in future commitments and gives Hahn an extra $10.1 million this year alone (Robertson $11M - Jones $.9M) from his closer role. Take the $10.1 and use it to put on a down payment for the 1st year of a stud OF like Upton or Cespedes and then back load the contract with the extra $27.5 M saved from the expiring contracts of Danks and LaRoche. Better yet, if you can trade Robertson for a young cost controlled OF w upside (think Soler type) and remove the financial burden and then take the money saved for another FA OF then you solve for both corners and move Cabrera to DH and dump LaRoche on anyone that will have him while even paying 80% or so of his remaining $13M. Make it happen Rick! Trading Robertson greatly weakens the bullpen. I'd keep him unless someone bowls you over.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:32 AM) One thing I do question is that 900k+1.9M+3.95 does not add up to 8M. It does when you add in the $1.25M buyout. So it is really three years at $6.75M total ($2.25M AAV) with a $1.25M buyout on the 2019 and 2020 club options.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:14 AM) How much would he have earned in Arb? Looks like more sentimentality

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:14 AM) How much would he have earned in Arb? Looks like more sentimentality

QUOTE (flavum @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:07 AM) Jones will earn $900,000 in 2016, $1.9 million in 2017 and $3.95 million in 2018. The White Sox hold club options for 2019 ($4.65 million) and 2020 ($5.15 million) with a mutual for 2021 ($6 million). If either club option is declined, Jones would receive a $1.25-million buyout. Don't love the buyout, but other than that, this is a great contract. Like I said before, if Jones has a big year in 2016, he could have very well could have made $4-$5M or more in 2017 through the arbitration process. Plus we buy out a FA year. This is a good deal.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) I don't like this signing. Hahahahaha, how could you possibly not like locking up a guy who can be an elite reliever when healthy to a 3 year deal (that buys out one FA year) at an AAV of $2.67M, with additional options years??? He very well may have beat those totals in arbitration next year if he is healthy this season. GREAT, SMART MOVE. Good work, Rick.

QUOTE (BigFinn @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:37 PM) Sign Gerardo Parra to platoon with Avi Garcia: Parra vs RHP: .303/.336/.473 Garcia vs LHP: .293/.353/.407 Parra is a decent defender and could spell Garcia late in close ballgames. I love the idea of signing Parra, along with Gordon/Cespedes/Upton. Realize that is extremely unlikely, but I think it makes the Sox a real contender.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:45 PM) No Anderson. Fulmer in there instead if anything If you can get Sonny Gray, you give up Anderson and Fulmer, and just about every other prospect of note in our system. But it is never going to happen and not even worth discussing.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:24 PM) Crazy thought here: Trade SP Erik Johnson, SS Tim Anderson, SP Spencer Adams and OF Adam Engel to the A's for SP Sonny Gray Yeah, it is crazy. Sonny Gray is about the closest comp value wise to Sale. He may be more valuable. Ask yourself, would you be happy with that return for Sale? Hell no! This doesn't even get you remotely close to acquiring Sonny Gray.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:17 PM) Then we are talking about $2 million anymore. We are talking about more at risk. I said its $2M more you can throw at a guy like that.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:13 PM) You can't really sign a pitcher to "back up" EJ/Danks. Any starter that is going to sign is going to expect to start, at which point you're committing to either releasing Danks or sending EJ to AAA. You could always park Danks or said flyer in the bullpen, or release said flyer. Its not like its a new idea. Perhaps someone coming off an injury that may be out a month or two would make more sense. The Sox don't have a ton of depth that is ML ready at the moment, besides for maybe Beck.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:10 PM) They already brought that guy in with Jake Turner getting $1.5 million. If they see another guy that fits that bill, I have no doubt they would spend it as well. I'd personally prefer someone with a little more of a track record that may be willing to sign on the cheap with some incentives. Someone in the Arroyo, Beachy, Billingsly, Latos, Marcum, Simon, Fister mold. Admittedly, those guys won't all be signing super cheap deals, but most of them will.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:05 PM) Realistically, if you are going to bring him back, the difference between 3 million and 5 million today is nothing. If you want him back as an organization, get him. If not, move on. $2M more you can spent on getting a bounceback SP to back up EJ/Danks. Generally, I agree. But $2M is still $2M more they can spend elsewhere, but in the scheme of things, it's chump change.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:00 PM) Agreed. And he may. But $3M with a $3.5M club option with no buyout would be about as far as I'd go. Anything more and I'd rather have Saladino. That said, I thing there is something to be said for just turning the page from Alexei.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 02:20 PM) If Alexei wants to sign a cheap friendly 1 year deal with an option for 2017 I am all for it but if it is going to be a lot more then he is worth I would rather just stick with Saladino/Sanchez and if we are in it at the trade deadline and both are horrible we can trade for one Agreed. And he may. But $3M with a $3.5M club option with no buyout would be about as far as I'd go. Anything more and I'd rather have Saladino.

I am fine with Saladino as the bridge to Anderson. Use the $ for an OF and a bounceback veteran RHP as insurance for Danks/EJ.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:27 AM) Let's hope the solution isn't Nick Markakis, either. This is not where you split the difference and go for second tier guys making $12-16 million like Melky, Fowler, Span, etc. You either go huge or you come up with that creative value platoon of a Raburn/Parra. Definitely not sexy, but possibly quite effective. Avi could platoon with LaRoche...although that gives you five outfielders, Sanchez and a catcher as the bench. I'm pretty sure Raburn can still play a few of the infield positions...not SS obviously. Markakis wouldn't be that bad if ATL picked up half the tab, which won't happen.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 12:16 PM) 5 years $90 million or 4 years $85million I'd be fine with that in the end, but if the Royals at really offering 4/$52M, they may not need to go that high. EDIT: I'd prefer to go 4 year than 5 with Gordon, but wouldn't be upset if they had to go 5 to get him. Upton and Cespedes I'd be more comfortable with 5 years.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 12:19 PM) I don't think he's the best fit because he plays LF, we need someone to play RF. I happen to think Melky should be the DH most of the time, so LF is open. RF can be a LH FA (Parra or Span) or Shuck / Avi platoon. Melky sucks defensively and needs to play as little OF as possible.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 12:16 PM) If they got one more hitter in the middle of that lineup, I think they could be close. Right now, I see Abreu in the #3 hole, Lawrie in the #6 and Frazier probably in the #5 spot. They could slide Melky Cabrera or Adam La Roche into the middle of the lineup at times, but one run producer is needed. I think that has been established.