BlackSox13

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 08:16 PM) I'm very intrigued to see what Hahn does and how creative he can be. Same here. I trust in Hahn's creativity but not Kenny's. Hopefully the Sox turn Hahn loose to see what he can do.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 07:30 PM) a voice of reason, but i wouldn't know if that is the order thats needs to be address. for me, i really see a major need in everyday players who position is needed for hitting, like 3b, dh, and the team can deal with a weak hitting catcher if needed, but it the opportunity is there. then yes address the catching position after getting another sp. so in order 3b dh, sp and sp. Hahn has said the Sox are looking for a 3B and they are rumored to be on the lookout for a catcher too. DH is a void no doubt but I've begrudgingly accepted LaRoche will be with the Sox in '16 so I leave that void out since there's literally no chance the Sox just cut him. Just gotta ride it out for one more season and hope LaRoche can give the Sox more than he did this past season. The Sox can definitely use another arm for more depth at SP but not sure if that's a good place to spend money with all the positional needs. 3B, C, SS, 2B and RF all under-performed in '15 so any kind of upgrade in any of those areas would be welcome. Hopefully Hahn will get creative and solve a few of the problems so we all can have a better outlook on the '16 season.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 05:59 PM) FWIW---Olney said today that Cespedes prolonged hitting slump since September and his miscues in the outfield is costing him major FA dollars. Regardless of what Olney says, Cespedes will get a big contract and the Sox still have more important needs. Signing or trading for another outfielder does nothing to help the voids at 3B and C. If the Sox were to somehow trade Melky or Avi it would make a bit more sense.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 01:54 PM) You are probably right. I'm just trying to figure out how the Sox are the only team that get hometown discounts. Paulie and Mark Buehlre before the Sox made it clear (foolishly) they didn't want Mark any more. If ever a hometown discount made sense it would be Alex Gordon and the Royals. He's one of those guys who are the face of a franchise like Minoso/Banks/Ripken/Tulo (oh wait Tulo got shipped out). As far as Gordon, two comments. 1.) If he does leave for the highest offer, good for him. He better keep producing cause in KC he'd be a George Brett/Len Dawson figure forever. He'd be shown so much love the next 40 years of his life it'd make his head spin (provided KC wraps up the series). The Royals obviously will not be able to match 25-30 million a year. I bet they'd go as high as 18 million. So I guess you are right. He'd be leaving about 28 million dollars total on the table over four years to sign with KC at 18 versus somebody else for 25. 2.) He's just not that good, folks, not in terms of PROJECTING the future. He'll hit you .260 and get the good on base percentage, but ... he's aging and whoever signs him will definitely regret it if they go 5 years on Gordon. 3.) This is worrying me. Sox are not going to be able to compete for "good" ballplayers in the future because they just make too much money. It's going to be very tough for the Sox to compete considering good young players all are going to be going for 25-30 mill a year for 5 years once they hit free agency. I surprisingly agree with alot of what you say here Greg. I'm not in the least bit interested in Gordon, let someone else write that paycheck. Gordon has a nice bat and great defense but since he's going to be 32 he will, at some point, regress during his next contract. The team that signs Gordon will be paying him for what he has accomplished in a Royals uni and not necessarily for what he will do for his new team over the next 3-5 years. I think your numbers are a bit exaggerated though, no chance Gordon gets 25-30M per year. Cespedes and Heyward might come close but no way Gordon gets that kind of money.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 10:49 AM) Even past the team passing out its first hundred million dollar contract, for a position that isn't even the teams biggest weakness, it wouldn't help the team nearly enough to justify that investment. But, but, they would be a .500 club! I absolutely agree. If the Sox were and 85+ win team in '15, Cespedes would make much more sense but the Sox need much more than another outfielder. 3B and C are the biggest needs

QUOTE (Ballz-n-Strikes @ Oct 31, 2015 -> 11:18 PM) Yankee fans love winners. If Alex hits lots of home runs, he'll be liked. But he's not homegrown/farm (like Jeter). So....you don't know what you're talking about (again). NY would probably "love" him like they "love" their catcher...Brian McCann that "everyone loves" If you walked around the city and asked people who the catcher of the Yankees is, 1/2 will tell you "Derek Jeter" and the other half will tell you they don't know or Jorge Pasada. Juuuuuuust a bit of irony in the bolded. Yankees fans know their lineup and their team's history. To say otherwise is foolish.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 1, 2015 -> 10:43 AM) Your plan has about as much of a chance of happening as you becoming a Disney Princess. Oh, I don't know. That plan would make the Sox legit contenders to be a .500 ball club. So there's that.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Oct 31, 2015 -> 05:44 PM) I know right? Plus they were a playoff team Correction, I should have said NLCS. The cubs make a whole lot of sense since they are going to lose Jackson and Fowler from the OF. Plus its been rumored they might try to deal Montero in order to give Schwarber a shot at C. The cubs will have a hole or two to fill in the OF so them going after Gordon wouldn't surprise me in the least. If I had to guess, it would be the cubs.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 31, 2015 -> 02:37 PM) Royals are going to try to sign him. You would think the Royals would be able to come close to those other teams. Alex Gordon would be dumb to take 25 million from the Cubs if the Royals are giving him 20 over 4 years. How much money can you spend?? At some point you have to give the Konerko discount when you are old, like Gordon. If KC wraps up this WS title, Gordon will have Brett/Len Dawson status in this town. That means about 35 years of being an icon and making money off your name once you retire. If he leaves KC he's a fool. ... Now if KC blows this Series it's a different story. Fans will be pissed at the whole team and he should take every red cent the Cubs offer. Seriously? Would it really be dumb to take that kind of money from a young team that made it to the NLDS this year? Come on Greg...

If the price is not too steep I'm all for Wieters. If the Sox could milk him through the '16 season at catcher without major injury, they would be in the clear with LaRoche gone at seasons end. After '16 Wieters can split time with Abreu at 1B/DH in an effort to keep Wieters healthy.

Just speculating but it sounds like AA has something else lined up. To me, its surprising he turned down a five year extension after positioning Toronto to be legit contenders.

If we really think about it, the Sox do not have enough SP depth and could use any potential help. As of now the Sox are looking at a '15 rotation of Sale, Q, Rodon, Johnson and Danks. After Danks the Sox have Beck and Drabek as their next best starting options, yikes! Montas and Fulmer need more time in the minors and the rest of the Sox pitching depth is at AA and below. Turner gives the Sox another option at starter in case of injury or if Johnson struggles.

I see no reason to complain and sounds like possible ST competition for Johnson. I found this blurb written about Turner from 2013. "Turner is a 6-5, 210 pound right-handed hitter and thrower, born May 21, 1991. Turner can hit 95 MPH but usually works at 90-93, using a two-seamer to generate sinking action and ground balls rather than pure velocity. He mixes in a curveball and changeup, both rated highly-positively by scouts, and he's added a cutter this spring. With a four-pitch arsenal and a good feel for his craft, he has the upside of a number two starter. His velocity has returned to normal over the last six weeks and the Tigers are pleased with the progress of his secondary pitches." Turner could be an interesting pickup if he stays healthy.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Oct 24, 2015 -> 08:49 PM) But does that trade really make the Sox any better? Thompson is far from a sure thing and his hot bat in September was polar opposite of what he's done in the minors. Offensively, not sure but definitely better defensively. I'd rather have Thompson over Eaton in CF and Eaton over Melky in LF. It's a risk I'd being willing to take.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Oct 24, 2015 -> 07:07 PM) @scotgregor: This came up during NLCS-if #Cubs go with Schwarber at catcher, should #WhiteSox pursue Montero in trade? 2/$28 mil left on deal Seen this just now on Twitter. My initial thought was " f*** that!". However, a straight up trade of Melky for Montero could be doable with Montero owed 28M and Melky 29MM through '17. The Sox could shift Eaton to LF and put Thompson in CF with Avi/Shuck/FA in RF.

Just to entertain the Sox/cubs trade idea. I wonder if something like Erik Johnson for Villanueva/Castro would be close? Sox could decline Alexei's option and go after a FA pitcher like Latos or preferably Iwakuma. I'm not really a fan of Castro but his contract is relatively cheap and he is only 25 so there's still hope for his bat and him developing into a decent SS or 2BB. Not sure the cubs would be interested in EJ though.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 24, 2015 -> 12:44 PM) I was watching something yesterday where they said there are people with the Cubs that think Baez is a better SS than Russell. The Cubs aren't going to trade him in a trade where Eric Johnson is the headliner. They probably wouldn't even trade him for Q I guess the cubs are still pretty high on Baez and that's understable given his youth and talent potential. Pretty much confirms the cubs would prefer to move Castro to make room for Baez. Would free up money for a FA pitcher signing or even sign a guy like Cespedes whom, iirc, have been rumored to be interested in. In the end I seriously doubt a Sox/cubs trade would actually happen. Unless the Sox FO has interest in Castro?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Oct 24, 2015 -> 11:51 AM) I'd rather the team signed a lower tier FA SP in an abundant market than try to find a new position player in FA. I'm not against the idea but it depends on the Sox pitcher that's traded and the pitcher the Sox sign. The pitcher traded would almost have to be Johnson. If one of Sale, Q or Rodon were traded that lower tier FA pitcher would be a significant downgrade to those three and Danks is likely going nowhere ( contract/performance) which leaves EJ. Since Baez name was mentioned I'll roll with that despite my reservations with his defense. Let's say the cubs were interested in EJ, what else do the Sox include with EJ to get Baez in return? Would Johnson and Johnson pry Baez and say, Vogelbach away from the cubs? Just a guess but I'd bet the cubs would rather trade Castro to keep Baez and play him at 2nd. I still doubt the Sox and cubs would actually make a trade but it has happened in the past, albeit years ago.

The problem trading anyone from the rotation of Sale, Q, Rodon, Johnson, Danks creates a new hole. Montas and Fulmer need more time in the minors and I'm not sold on Beck as a replacement. This means the Sox would have to look to FA for an arm which takes money away from trying to improve the lineup. IMHO, trading a starting pitcher creates an even bigger problem than the current problem the SOX have, hitters.

My predictions went to hell rather quickly. Both the Royals and Mets have some hot hitting so in the end I think it comes down to pitching and I believe the Mets to have the advantage. I'll say Mets in 6 and hope that's not a curse.

Mets.

Meh, to all the cubs BS. The baseball season is over in Chicago and both teams have work to do. I could care less what the cubs do and am focused on what the Sox can or might do. All of us Sox fans would be better off if we didn't waste time reading the thoughts of cub fans, especially with the season us Sox fans just endured. We have alot of work to fellow Sox fans.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 22, 2015 -> 08:19 PM) McMahon is no closer to the majors as Trey Michalczewski is. I think that's debatable to be honest. Looking at their numbers, McMahon is definitely ready to move up to AA whereas Trey looks like he should start '16 in A+ and go from there. Not knocking Trey but McMahon clearly has an advantage in BA, HR and OBP when comparing their '15 numbers.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 22, 2015 -> 07:57 PM) Unless you mean $200m for Heyward, you're going to be committing a ton of money to yet another bad defender with a declining bat. Gardner is a plus defender with young-player skills that's already shown he can develop more power as his approach evolves. Those guys tend to age really well. Right on. As Gardner ages he reminds me a bit of Johnny Damon but with a bit less pop and more K's. Would slot into the two hole nicely ahead of Abreu. I also think Gardner's contract is much more reasonable for a team like the Sox than the expensive free agents available. I wonder if the Yanks would swap Robertson for Gardner? Tex reportedly gave the Yanks the OK to trade him to the Halos so maybe the Sox can include LaRoche somehow as a backup to Bird in NY? I know, wishful thinking on my part.