ChiSox59

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 2, 2014 -> 09:34 AM) My thoughts exactly. With a huge year and being a free agent at 28, he will get a 6-8 year deal about 25 mill a season Upton would be great, but the price to acquire him would far outweigh the one year he would wear a SOX uni. Not worth it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 1, 2014 -> 04:25 PM) I would be content moving our corner OF spots from terrible to tolerable next year. Let Jose, Chris, and Jose carry the team, just don't drag them down with a black hole in the corner OF. I don't disagree with you. I would be content with Saunders in LF as well. Just think Rick & Co. have their minds on a bigger prize..

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 1, 2014 -> 01:37 PM) Stab in the dark prediction: Viciedo + Beck to SEA for Saunders I would like this trade, but the worst part about acquiring Saunders is that it would most likely take us out of the running for a real impact LF. I think that is what this team needs most. That said, I would take Saunders and a top tier RHP over, say, Ethier and some scrapheap RHP or just rolling with Bassit in the 5 spot. All depends on which way Ricky goes, but I'd be surprised to see him acquire a mid-tier LF without seeing what he can get his hands on at the winter meetings next week.

Perfect addition to go along with Melky or a LF via trade. Add another couple arms to the pen and that's is a team I'd go to war with.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 02:49 PM) Seriously? We aren't trading Sale. Why is this always brought up? Because all 29 teams besides the SOX would absolutely love to have him.

The Red Sox probably have the bullets to get Chris Sale. Problem is, it would take every single one of them. Boegaerts Owens Bradley Cecchini Betts Raunado Vazquez Safe to say "it ain't happenin'".

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 12:10 PM) Always sucks that finals week in school is during the same week as the Winter Meetings...so hard to focus with so many rumors going on. At least all my finals fall on Monday morning and Tuesday. Hana yep been there. Haven't missed that part of school.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 11:33 AM) Anyone think it could be for Justin Upton? Seeing as though he is available and would be a great addition to the middle of the lineup. What do you guys think it would take? Hawkins, one of Danish and Montas and a second baseman to replace La Stella (who was penciled in to start there but was traded)? For one year of upton?? PASS!

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 21, 2014 -> 02:20 PM) upgrade would be marginal. Sub .700 OPS the last 2 years. Flowers was a warrior out there last year; barely had a day off. LF, SP, DH and some defense in LF are much greater needs. How about some young players with upside? I'd take him, but I wouldn't give up much. You can a lot worse than a Flowers / Montero platoon.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 21, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) I have to image it would be quintana plus just for bruce. Bruce has 3 yrs on his contract. The Cardinals paid for 1 yr of Heyward and 2 yrs of Walden with 4 yrs of miller and 6 yrs of jenkins. Can't imagine what the red would want for bruce. Tho I can't believe the reds have latos, leake, cueto and Simon all going into free agency next yr. That's sucks to lose 4 starting pitchers all at once. Quintana is a far more valuable asset. It really isn't even close.

I would mind. Could certainly do worse. Edit: so long as at least one other major bat is added such as Melky or Sandoval.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 08:21 PM) Early. Revisiting talks. Might take Q + Aaaand that's when Hahn says call me when you're ready to talk.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Nov 18, 2014 -> 12:42 PM) Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Hah, touche.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Nov 18, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) That'd be a great deal. Thinking something like 16 over three is more likely. Hope it is closer to 11.5 though. Love the deal. First of many moves I am sure. Damn I was close.

I wouldn't hate to see Alex Guerrero involved in any Alexei/Danks and dodgers deal. The guy can really rake, just wish he had a better glove at SS.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Nov 18, 2014 -> 11:58 AM) There's been a lot of people on Soxtalk over the years who have promised to eat a hat, haven't seen it done yet... Well done!!!

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 18, 2014 -> 11:46 AM) Let's make some guesses... 3 yrs/ 11.5. Too low? That'd be a great deal. Thinking something like 16 over three is more likely. Hope it is closer to 11.5 though. Love the deal. First of many moves I am sure.

Me likey.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 02:51 PM) Oh boy oh oh boy. Come on Hahn, please for the love of god get this done somehow without crippling us. I like Castro, but he is a FA after 2016. I'd only be interested in the price was something like Sanchez + lottery ticket, and that seems like unlikely.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) If what I've bread is true, one of the biggest concerns the Mets have with Alexei is his age and how his range is declining. With Alexei coming off of a very good year, now is the time to decide his future role with the team. At some point his range will suffer enough to where the Sox move him second, third if he still has the arm strength or trade him to another team. Alexei's range may have diminished from when he was 25, but it is still well above league average. Alexei still gets to balls that most SS couldn't dream of getting to. It's all posturing on the Mets end. I would agree that at some point Alexei is going to start aging, and at 33, that time may be rather soon, but I don't anticipate the SOX having to move Alexei away from SS over the course of the remaining two seasons on his contract (15 and 16 option).

Depending how cheap it wouldn't be a bad guy to take a flier on as a part of a dh/Rf platoon. Maybe as Tanks platoon mate but that better be plan F.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 03:43 PM) Refresh my memory on Semiens D at SS...passable? Wasn't pretty at 3B.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 6, 2014 -> 01:35 PM) Yeah, I imagine that Danks/Ethier has already crossed Friedman's mind, but that it's probably plan C or D. My guess is that Plan A is to trade Kemp for some real value. But, I'm in support of the swap if it goes that far. That said, I also expect Friedman to be aggressively lowering payroll when each of these OFs move, so if we're eating the difference, we better not be sending any talent back. Ugh, Friedman. Ok, now I'm just afraid of Friedman and his dark leprechaun trading ways. I don't want him to fleece Hahn. Kemp would look pretty neat in black and white pinstripes.

I think it is pretty obvious that Hahn is not going to solve this puzzle exclusively by way of free agency. I definitely see the SOX adding a bat (one of: Markakis, Cruz, VMart or Rasmus), hopefully a mid/back rotation RHP and at least a few bullpen pieces. But I think the SOX biggest splash will be picking up a big contract via trade. Carlos Gonzalez has been mentioned. I like the idea, but as others have mentioned, the Rox probably value him more than the remaining dollars on his contract ($53/3 years), and I don't see the SOX giving up much in the way of talent if they foot the whole bill, which leaves a trade rather far-fetched. Another, probably more realistic option, would be Carl Crawford - who obviously is a guy the SOX have targeted in the past. Crawford clearly isn't the player he once was, but he still fills a need for this ballclub, that is - left handed bat that you can slot anywhere in the lineup, still play decent OF. With three years and $62.25M left on his contract, the Dodgers would have to send back a nice chunk of change to even get the conversation going. Other names that have been thrown around these parts: Miguel Montero - 3 years and $40M left on his contract. Has regressed since his prime, but is definitely an upgrade over Flowers. Jason Castro - I really wanted him last offseason, but 2014 was a flop. Maybe the price has dropped significantly, and with the Astros having just acquired Hank Conger, maybe the door is open. Josh Hamilton - Is Hamilton done? Probably not. Is he worth the $89M he is due over the next three years? Definitely not. Which means he can probably be had. Look, the SOX have a ton of money to spend, and Hamilton may be worth kicking the tires on. The Halos need to kick is some major $$$. Any other realistic or off-the-wall ideas as we all patiently wait for the first real SOX domino to fall?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 3, 2014 -> 07:07 AM) You're all going to love this: Why not consider Grady "you know who" for LF? He would be cheap, and probably settle for a one year contract, in order to have another chance to prove he can still play. If you take into account the 3 years away from baseball, he actually started to produce pretty well, when he got regular playing time, in the second half. In 121 at bats in July and August, he hit .305 with a .354 OBP and a .463 slugging %. He only got one plate appearance per game in half of the 20 games, in which he played in September. That limited playing time couldn't have helped him much, in trying to regain his form. All in all, his first season back, after such a long absence from the game, was somewhat encouraging. I think he'd be a reasonable gamble, on a one year deal. If they signed that big LH bat to DH, the Sox could get by inexpensively with Sizemore on a one year deal, to fill the other outfield spot. That would leave the rest of the money to obtain a RH starter and bullpen help. Don't discount the motivational factor. This is a guy with something to prove, and he would be playing for a contract. The way he trained to get back on the field demonstrates his desire and determination. Those qualities just might get him back to being a productive player. What the hell? It would just be a one year deal. I love stories like this. It's refreshing in this age of prima donna, exorbitantly paid athletes. This is too good.