BlackSox13

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 01:23 PM) Was anybody seriously thinking about playing Hanely at SS though? If the Panda rumors are true, Hanley will be playing SS for Boston with Panda playing beside him at third. That's if the rumors are true and considering its Boston I would not be surprised. They have the money.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 01:23 PM) Alexei is getting paid less than half of that for the next two years. Crazy isn't it! QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 01:23 PM) Yeah, that could increase Alexei's trade value. I'm not saying the Sox should trade Alexei, just noting that Hanley just raised the pay scale for short stops. A increased pay scale and the best FA SS coming off the market should indeed raise Alexei's trade value, tho I understand it does not mean the Sox will or should trade Alexei.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 12:25 PM) Lol 22 million a year for Hanley. Yeah, that could increase Alexei's trade value. I'm not saying the Sox should trade Alexei, just noting that Hanley just raised the pay scale for short stops. A increased pay scale and the best FA SS coming off the market should indeed raise Alexei's trade value, tho I understand it does not mean the Sox will or should trade Alexei.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 12:12 PM) Haha, yup that's me. There is a guy in this feed that thinks they can sign Sale....what?!?! If Boston doesn't mind waiting until after the 2019 season when the Sox have finished exercising Sale's 18/19 options, then maybe they can.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 12:51 PM) It isn't actually a proposed trade, just Red Sox fans bulls***ting. Cespedes makes no sense for the White Sox other than the fact that he's from Cuba. Its a trade proposal by the fans and I agree that Cespedes makes no sense at all.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 12:30 PM) I don't think the Sox will end up trading him. I guess we will find out between now and ST. I know the Sox want depth up the middle but how much depth do they need? Semien, Saladino, Sanchez, Diaz, Johnson, Jirschele and L.Garcia are the middle infielders between Charlotte and the Sox not including Alexei. Then there's the Anderson freight train coming at Birmingham. It sure as hell looks like something is brewing. We shall see...

QUOTE (Baron @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) I'll raise you a Hell No. Uh, yeah! The Sox could do much better. I can literally hear Hahn and KW laughing at that trade proposal.

With Hanley off the market there's one less option available for the Yanks, Mets, Dodgers, Seattle etc. As time goes on I become more and more curious as to who might make the offer for Alexei that Hahn cannot resist. Don't change that channel Sox fans!

Hanley signs for 4/88 with an option for a fifth season at 22M

QUOTE (Butter Parque @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 11:44 AM) Yes he is, but he doesn't play a lot and he doesn't walk much. Hard to count on him. Gotcha. Yeah, at this time of year I think the Sox can find another alternative. Would be a different story if it was Feb.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) Steer clear of twitter for a little while. Seems like every Boston fan in sight is talking about a Bogaerts and Cespedes for Sale and trying to pass it off as reasonable. Talk about delusional! Even cub fans have more sense than that and they have no sense at all! I'm still laughing!

QUOTE (bruni @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) I'd be most interested in Middlebrooks on the cheap to solve 3B. Potential delayed with injury and mismanagement but (to me anyway) far more potential and nice power to solve 3B for the long term. Or give up more and try to snag Bogaerts if you can, but Middlebrooks should cost far less and fills a need. No thank. Middlebrooks was horrible last year and the reason why Boston turned their attention to Panda in the first place. Just my opinion but I'll gladly take Gillaspie over Middlebrooks. I'm with ya on Boegarts and wouldnt mind Bradley Jr if the price is right. I admit I don't know what they are worth or what the Sox would be willing to give up. Oh, one more thing, f*** Cespedes.

Can't go wrong with Moss or Reddick but I've always liked Reddick. Isn't Reddick a pretty good RF?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 08:20 PM) While we're all having fun with this discussion, it would be so much more helpful and interesting, if people would substantiate their arguments with some sort of evidence. It's one thing to read and quote a scouting report, or to site actual statistics. It's quite another to just reject, out of hand, a player simply because you've never read or heard, much less seen, anything about his actual performance capabilities. Case in point is this Diaz acquisition. I'm trying to ascertain how good, or bad, Diaz is defensively, and some people offer nothing more than snide comments about what a Joke, or disaster it would be if he were to actually be given playing time on the parent club. To label him a AAAA player, or an organizational fill in is nothing more than an off hand opinion, with nothing to support it. How do any of us know what the front office's motive is in acquiring a guy like Diaz? What is even more off putting than the lack of information to substantiate an opinion, is the condescending way that some people express those opinions. I don't mean to offend anyone, and there hasn't been anything really antagonistic in this thread, but it often does degenerate into personal insults and worse. I think most readers here know that it is not my style to try to belittle, or insult anyone. I understand that this is a common practice on the Internet. Let's hope that this stimulating discussion doesn't dissolve into that kind of discourse. In the meantime, if anyone really has any insight into the defensive prowess, or lack thereof, regarding Juan Diaz, please share it with us. This is a most impressive post Lillian and very well said.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 07:59 PM) I'm just curious. Have you read the all of the recent posts in this thread? Sanchez is far better suited for 2ND, and the Sox will likely need him there, as Micah Johnson is not a Major League defensive second baseman. Semien is not an acceptable MLB defensive SS. I don't think he did read the posts to be honest. Agreed on Semien and it should be obvious the Sox feel the same way. Johnson confuses me. Last I knew his defense at second was rated below average ( changed?) and as others have pointed out to me in the past, due to his arm ( past injury) he's not really a fit for LF despite his speed so I'm really curious as to where he ends up. Maybe more time at Charlotte will help his defense at second.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 07:39 PM) I'll take Anderson Yep, this right here. I take a healthy Micah Johnson over Semien as well. QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 07:52 PM) Saladino vs. Diaz for the starting SS job?? Dude, it's not shaping up that way at all. Diaz was added for AAA depth, nothing more. Saladino projects as a useful utility guy once healthy. I seriously doubt Hahn considers either guy a starting caliber player. And I'd be completely shocked if Hahn preferred either guy as a temporary SS fill-in over Semien or Sanchez. In fact, if he's willing to deal Alexei after signing LaRoche, then I'm guessing he's confident one of Semien & Sanchez can handle the SS job. He's not going to give a AAAA player or a fringe prospect 600 plate appearances if they're trying to compete. And what track record are you referring to when you mention Semien's minor league SS defense? Google is your friend, look Semien up sometime. Outside of that, I've said all I have to say without repeating so I'll just leave it at that.

I'm glad the Sox went with LaRoche over Davis. Even Davis splits against right handed pitchers is unimpressive and still didn't hit .250 against them last year. Good job Hahn!

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 05:36 PM) While it probably is best for someone to take at bats here and there against lefties from LaRoche and Gillaspie, I hate to use a guy who has a potential. Semien may not fit here at short (if he loses the battle at second) but another team may want him for his potential bat and to start more often at second. I think I'd rather see him included in some sort of deal, but in the end if he doesn't go anywhere then it is what it is I guess. I like Semien's bat potential but there's plenty left to prove yet. He had 10 errors in 33 games at third and 4 errors in 26 games at second for the Sox last year and as I said in an earlier post, Semien's track record as a SS in the minors show he's no SS either which explains why the Sox have tried to convert him to a second or third baseman. Semien is tolerable at second and I'm sure he would improve but if he cannot win the starting second baseman job in ST, the only options are to be a super sub for the Sox or go back to Charlotte. IMO, I think Semien ends up the odd man out and is traded before ST. Just a guess but second base comes down to a Sanchez/Johnson duel and short stop Saladino/ Diaz and likely Leury gets a look as well since he's so versatile defensively. I know this is not what Semien fans want to hear ( myself included) but this is how its starting to take shape. Semien is becoming a bat without a home on the field and if the Sox are going to be legit contenders they must improve defensively.

QUOTE (venom4789 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 05:12 PM) Are people staying awake at night thinking semien is actually a starting shortstop QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 05:15 PM) Dude has "utility player" written all over him. Yup and that's pretty obvious with the way Sox have used Semien so far. Balta's idea of using Semien as a platoon partner for LaRoche makes a ton of sense as well as platoon with Gillaspie at third and Johnson/Sanchez at second. There will be plenty of atbats for Semien this year. I kinda hate to say this but Semien could very well be used the way Maddon used Keppinger in Tampa.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 04:24 PM) Your 2015 SS: Juan Diaz. C'mon, Rogers. I get that he's not saying Diaz will start, but Diaz is MiLB filler. Is SoxTalk the only place talking about Alexei being traded? Nope. But LDF and I have wondered recently if things discussed here at SoxTalk end up being written about. In other words, sometimes it really seems like writers read SoxTalk related proposals/ideas here and then write about it. Writers like Levine, Heyman and Merkin come to mind, especially Levine. I've seen Levine write up articles on Sox needs and trade possibilities after other writers have already written about them, guy is a hack. Before this gets too anal, I'm not saying all writers and I'm not saying that is what's happening. Just a funny observation is all and possibly a credit to the Sox community here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 04:08 PM) IMO, if the org thought there was any chance of him taking over the SS position they'd have played him there for a few games before Saladino got hurt. Instead, Saladino played there almost every day until he got hurt. They didn't seem like they had confidence in him there. Its understandable why the Sox played Saladino at SS over Semien since Saladino is the better SS. Looking at Semien's minor league career at SS, he was just not very good. Its probably one reason why the Sox used Semien at 2B and 3B. Also, when the Sox called up a minor leaguer half way through the season to fill in for Alexei, who did they call? Sanchez and not Semien. The writings on the wall, Semien is not a SS.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 02:54 PM) I had seen somewhere else too that Laroche was supposed to take his physical on monday when he signs. means a move of some sort has to be done in the next 24 hours to clear a roster spot. Good point. Can't help but think a trade is announced in the next 30 hours or so.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 02:49 PM) @philgrogers: White Sox likely to finalize Adam LaRoche deal Monday. Stockpiling SS depth, with AAA regular Juan Diaz the latest. Alexei Ramirez in play. I swear Rogers has been reading SoxTalk again.lol. What he says makes sense though and it really looks like the Sox are going to trade Alexei. I kinda get the feeling like the Sox already have something in place.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 02:29 PM) Yeah I'd personally rather see Van Slyke as a throw-in kind guy but I don't think that would happen. If Dodgers deal Kemp, they still have a good OF: LF: Crawford/Van Slyke CF: Pederson RF: Puig Also, I think they will try to use Guerrero in the outfield and they also have Ethier still so they would still have depth I would love to get both Van Slyke and Schebler somehow but I seriously doubt the Dodgers part with both since they are looking to deal at least one of Crawford, Ethier, Kemp. Maybe the Dodgers find another team(s) to deal one or more of those guys to? I admit that I'm tantalized by the idea of Kemp hitting in the cell with Abreu and LaRoche but would prefer more cost effective alternatives so money can be spend elsewhere to fill other holes and form a more complete team.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 02:15 PM) Is this an actual published rumor or just speculation? Anyway I'd prefer Van Slyke and an extra prospect than a big contractual and perhaps personality liability. Van Slyke would be a heck of a platoon partner with LaRoche. Last year Van Slyke tore up left handers something fierce but was rather blah against right handers.