BlackSox13

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:58 PM) I really heard 15+ and that is why he will not accept less in yrs. Same here. I'm going to nose around and see if I can figure out how the hell I came up with that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:49 PM) Local and national news suggested the Yanks interest in Headley is serious and they're probably either expecting Aroid to be terrible or pushed to DH. Damn, that kinda sucks. Funny thing is, when the idea of Headley was brought up in late September early October I was against it. Now I'm on board and the possibility doesn't look so good. I doubt the Sox are interested in getting into a bidding war with the Yanks. VMart- while his projected annual salary is not as bad as I thought, I'm still not sold on the idea. I still prefer the idea of rotating four starting OF through the DH.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:35 PM) I think this number is what I heard as well I'm trying to figure out where I pulled that number from. Maybe me arse? Lol

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:33 PM) I'd expect Martinez to push for something in the range of 4/$60 (maybe not getting it?) and Headley to push 5/$75, maybe more. The Yankees are supposed to be in on Headley, so it's going to cost a fortune to "outbid" for his services. OK, so the annual salary will be pretty close. Between the two, I'd still go with Headley since he upgrades 3B as well, plus the Sox do not give up draft compensation to a division rival. Not sure why I was thinking VMart would cost in the 18-20M per year range. The Yanks have ARod coming back so I'm not sure about the level of interest the Yanks have.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:21 PM) Although I don't like the Martinez option...I'd very much prefer Martinez to Headley (and I think Headley is going to get a lot more than Martinez). I thought VMart was speculated to get 18-20M annually and Headley 12-15M annually? Or has that changed?

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 04:17 PM) sounds as if you are trading for D. Viciedo. at least DV didn't K as much. Well, Bruce is a better outfielder and does have very good numbers prior to the 2014 season ( despite striking out alot) but I'm just not willing to wager Montas on Bruce turning it around and regaining his old form. Bruce very well could have just had a down year, I'm just not willing to take the chance at the expense of Montas.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 03:57 PM) So when do you contend ? How do you fill holes by doing nothing or spending on even riskier FA's or trading for the same types. They all have their baggage whether its, inuries or coming off bad seasons , or age. Get VMart , see if you can pry Michael Saunders from Seattle sign a starter and a closer put Bassitt in the pen or let him and Rodon start . VMart, fixed bullpen and a cheap Saunders seems doable . If you smkimp anywhere let it be the starting pitching and look to build value with Danks, Noesi and Bassitt. Victor alone does not make the Sox a contender and that's my point. Victor's annual salary could buy the Sox three good bullpen arms that, IMO, will do more for the Sox in 2015 than one aging Victor Martinez. Another way to look at it is Victor's salary could buy the Sox Chase Headley and one good arm for a bullpen that desperately needs attention. Now the Sox have upgraded the lineup, the defense and the bullpen. I'd much prefer to fill the holes with overall good quality than fill one hole with perceived great quality and skimp on the other holes. Besides. I like the idea of 4 rotating outfielders through the DH position to keep legs fresh and a 36 year old VMart does not fit the mold. I also doubt very seriously that VMart would perform up to the value of his contract. A 36 year old is going to get paid based on his past performance and not his future performance. Just my two cents and opinion is all.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 03:35 PM) Flowers is handling the position defensively. Montero would be an incremental upgrade, and we'd still be lousy offensively at catcher. And of course, I 'm sure people want to send a top prospect along for this marginal upgrade. Why the love of high priced declining veterans? Because they are obtainable? Of course they are obtainable. Danks is one of those - he's obtainable. But would you want your team trading for John Danks? Well said GreenSox. Flowers' overall game made big strides in 2014, is just going on 29 and much cheaper than Montero. Besides, Montero does not have magic glasses!

For reasons already stated, no thank you. There are much bigger holes to fill than catcher.

No thanks to Victor. If the Sox were a bat short of contention, then yes but they have too many holes to fill.

QUOTE (woods of ypres @ Nov 2, 2014 -> 12:00 AM) Just say no to Vmart. I echo this sentiment.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 10:02 PM) Some twitter reports that Montas hit 101 tonight Damn I hope the Sox continue to teach him control, Mercy! He's raw but he's got some serious potential with a slider and change in progress. QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 10:15 PM) Ya, he'll probably get a few innings Monday anyway. I'm pretty geeked about Bassitt. I cant decide if I like him in the starting rotation or the pen. Wouldn't mind starting the season with Sale,Q,Bassitt,Danks and Noesi. Should one of them faulter, Rodon comes up and take his place. Bassitt has the stuff to be a starter

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 10:00 PM) Unless there's a huge 2 out rally there will be no Bassitt =( I just looked at the AFL site and noticed that. Oh well, nothing wrong with Bassitt getting some rest since he's been striking batters out left and right anyway.

Alright, I'll play along. Sox sign Headley and trade for Carl Crawford + cash. Now, I'm off to Vegas to lose my house...

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 08:59 PM) Lind can't be a full time DH because he's a platoon hitter. So with him, we'd have a partial DH. Yea, Roost, that's a big improvement offensively and defensively at a reasonable cost. Gillaspie could play some first, OF?, DH. Maybe another guy from the right side of some sort. Gillaspie could serve as backup to 3B and 1B as well as DH too. Michael Morse would supply a rather good RH bat to fit into the mix. I don't know how plausible any of this is but its fun to think about.

Montas finishes with 2IP, H, 2BB, 2K. Stay tuned for Bassitt...

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 08:23 PM) He's a platoon hitter at a position at which the Sox have a 130 game starter. Not a great fit. Interesting scenario, Roost. I like the idea of Headley. As for Crawford, I would have thought he was north of 35, but he's only 32. Thank you sir. I was thinking the same about Crawford until I looked him up, I was surprised as well. I think Crawford is a guy LA would like to trade so they have room for Perderson. If LA were willing to kick in roughly 15-18M for the remaining 3 years of Crawford's contract, it would knock his salary down to around 15M per year which is much more reasonable. Tank would have to be traded or let go but I doubt many fans would cry about that, lol. So the Sox would have Abreu at 1B, Headley at 3B and Crawford in LF. Another guy that could factor into the rotating DH with Gillaspie and Crawford could be Michael Morse who can also play LF and wouldn't cost a pick or too much in annual salary. Crawford, Headley and Morse should cost in the area of 35M and leave the Sox room for at least one good reliever possibly another depending on the arbitration cases and how aggressive the Sox want to be. Add two relievers and I seriously think the Sox could take the division in 2015.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 07:03 PM) I see what you're saying, but I don't think that's the most likely conclusion to draw. You might be right that they don't intend to target Martinez, or are not willing to pay the price it will ultimately cost to get him. I don't think you can infer that from the Lind trade. To me, the fact that the Sox weren't willing to beat Estrada in a trade offer implies either: 1) They're going after a potentially better target. On the FA market I'd say that includes, I'd say, VMart, Cruz, LaRoche (he and Lind comparable but he costs nothing in trade). or 2) The years don't line up. Sox intend to target someone that'll provide value for more than 2 years or 3) They intend to utilize some strategy other than a mainly full time DH. Some mix and match combo of outfielder(s) from free agency/trade and internal options like Gillaspie, Garcia, Abreu, and (perhaps) Viciedo. We also don't know the intensity of their interest in Lind, and whether or not they had some other plan or various potential plans, and then Lind became available and at such a reasonable cost that they simply had to explore it. More than one way to skin a cat. Its quite possible the Sox were simply kicking the tires on Lind since he was being shopped. IMO, there was genuine interest from the Sox but the Jays wanted someone (Noesi) the Sox were unwilling to part with. Just a stab in the dark on my part. I think your option #3 is likely what we see next year. It would allow more flexibility for lineups and help keep the outfielders legs a little more fresh. I can't believe I'm going to say this but a guy like Carl Crawford could fit into the #3 scenario. Lefty bat that hits for average, a little pop, still an effective base stealer and plays a good LF. Crawford would benefit from the rotating OF/DH and hopefully stay healthy. LA is looking to shed payroll, the Sox have plenty of room and need for a LF, so as long as LA was willing to send money it could be a fit. Then maybe try to sign Headley to play 3B and either use Conor in the role LaRoche would be used or trade him. There would still be room to sign a few relievers. In this example the Sox do not give up draft pick compensation by signing Headley, and do not trade away any key minor leaguers by acquiring a guy like Crawford while still having money to spend elsewhere to fill another hole or two. Just an attempt to think outside the box.

Anyone going to follow along with the AFL AS game? I see Archie Bradley is starting tonight. How the f*** did he make the AS team with his numbers?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) Excluding his dismal postseason(s), Shields is still not an "ace" and has had only 1 season where he pitched like one (and that was only sort-of). He tops out as a 2. Sure some teams will/have used him as an ace, but that's not what he his. Yes, with the Sox, he would fit nicely as a #3. But he wants #1 money and while I don't think he'll get it, he'll get solid #2 money (15-20 mill per). We can probably get the same with McCarthy at 60% of the price, although without the durability. On the other hand, Shields is 32 and that wear from heavy use may be showing. Signing pitchers is always risky - who knows? Well, there's little doubt that when the playoffs came, Shields sure as hell pitched liked #2.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 05:14 PM) Huh? Not trading for Lind shows the Sox don't want to spend money on Martinez? The Sox having interest and attempting to trade for Lind,IMO, shows they may not have as good of a chance in signing VMart as writers and fans may think. Like I said, VMart is almost 36, speculated to be looking for a 3-4 year deal at around or close to 20M annually and draft compensation going to a division rival. Realistically, VMart does not make much sense at all. I doubt very seriously the Sox sign him and in fact d be shocked if they did. Again, don't get your hopes up Sox fans. I must admit, the sadistic side of me is looking forward to all the JR is cheap comments after VMart signs elsewhere. Too many fans believe everything they read in the papers and on the net.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 04:46 PM) Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 5m5 minutes ago Sources: #WhiteSox were other team on Lind, but weren’t willing to give up much. #BlueJays’ best offer was from #Brewers. 0 replies 44 retweets 20 favorites Reply Retweet44 Favorite20 Sox did want Lind. Wouldn't give up anything apparently. I think this shows the Sox realize VMart isn't much of an option for them given his age, expected annual salary, possible contract length and draft pick compensation going to the Tigers. Don't get those hopes up Sox fans. I think this also that taking the best offer for Lind this early in the off season shows how hard Toronto wants to get an extension done with Melky.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 04:13 PM) We could also use young righthanded pitchers who throw 100. Bruce's season wasn't simply his worst - it was a horrible season by any measure. His acquisition should be at a deep discount. I'm with ya. If I'm trading Montas it sure as hell won't be for a player that batted .217, 18HR and 149K's. I don't care what the players track record is.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 01:42 PM) That Milwaukee line up could be very dangerous, especially if Aramis stays. Gennett Gomez Braun Lind Lucroy Ramirez Davis Segura Pitcher That's a very good line up. Yes it is. QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) A little frustrating to see him go for that little and not end up in our line up honestly. He would have been damn near perfect for the middle of our lineup. QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) Me too. I guess the good thing about Estrada is he's cheap. Trying to figure out who the comparable Sox player would be, and I suppose Noesi. They had similar numbers last year, though Estrada has more of a track record. Interesting that Toronto wants to bring to the Rogers Centre the guy who lead the league in giving up homers. I agree guys. The only thing I can think of is maybe Toronto wanted a player the Sox were not willing to give up. I look at Estrada's numbers and think, really?

I'll take Gregerson for the pen but I'll pass on Martinez and Rasmus. I think Hahn will do better...