steveno89

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 08:38 AM) SP or RP? I think the Sox absolutely should give him the chance to start in A ball

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 02:40 PM) Sosa, Coronado, Feliz, Perez, and Mercedes from LatAm signings, and Yurchak, McClure, Tyler Johnson, Alex Destino, Matt Foster, Curbelo, Burr and Hamilton from the draft are all interesting guys to follow. Quite confident a few of them will break in Top 30 or 20 by end of next season. Kade McClure is a guy I'm keeping tabs on. Hiuge frame at 6'7", 230 lbs. Very small sample size, but dominated in 11 innings last year after being drafted, only allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, while striking out 19

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 02:50 PM) So we know he can hit 75 MPH fastballs right down the middle. It's batting practice. And depending how these guys have spent their winters, some will be ahead of others even in BP at this point. I don't want to take away from him as a prospect, and don't want to sound skeptical, because I am not. But this is batting practice. When Dylan Covey gets lit up, he is called batting practice. Where's Allen Iverson when you need him? I think there is optimism because EL said Robert is the most impressive player he saw at the camp so far. These are much better reports than him being out of shape or merely average.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 02:29 PM) Very interested in seeing how he responds to high A ball pitching at Winston Salem. a 31% K rate in low A is concerning, but I hope he can make adjustments.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 02:17 PM) https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/whit...LbyPQhsGS7Kh.97 Hype machine hits 11 (free article) Nice to read: "A thicker Adam Jones" is a quality player. It's very tough to say what Robert can become, but I like hearing positive reports. I just hope he proves himself in A ball

QUOTE (zisk @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 12:30 PM) Which guys not in the top 30 who will be soon. Seby Zavala ? Justin Yurchak ? Luis Gonzalez ? Lets hear some names and the reasons why. Ryan Burr is a guy who I could see flying under the radar, but actually ending up becoming a solid bullpen piece for the Sox.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 10:30 AM) Remember, the athletic is a pay to play content provider and the entire media industry has been upheaved, with many writers losing their jobs, etc. Stuff behind a paywall can't be shared. People are welcome to post general summaries, but if you want to read the full article, you should subscribe. By all accounts the content on the athletic is absolutely fantastic. JR Fegan's coverage of the White Sox is very regular and detailed. I was on the fence for awhile, but am very glad I subscribed. They had a black friday discount in November which really brought the cost down. I'd highly recommend all Soxtalk posters subscribe, as the small cost per month is worth the quality Sox news and analysis.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Jan 15, 2018 -> 02:38 PM) This is an awful trade for the Pirates. It's like you're playing as the Astros in OOTP and you force the Pirates to accept a s*** trade but in real life Quintana obviously had 3 1/2 seasons of inexpensive control remaining, but Sox really did well considering what the Pirates just accepted. Musgrove might be a reliever, Moran might be a AAAA player, Feliz could be a solid pen arm, and Martin was a guy the Astros were comfortable losing in the rule five draft last month

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Jan 15, 2018 -> 09:23 AM) As I think all us baseball fans who frequent a message board in January know, this has been an extremely slow offseason with almost no activity out there. This is the kind of offseason I hope next year is like when we are step closer to competing, because at this point one can probably pick up some really nice pieces that can contribute. I know it's unlikely the Sox will add for two reasons. A) they want to know what they have and let their own guys like a Tilson or Cordell play it out. See what Yolmer can do again in 2018, Leury, etc. Plus we are full on our 40 man. b) why add payroll to a team that is very likely not to make the playoffs? However below are some names I've compiled that I'd be interested in kicking the tires on for either the reason to flip them. Or, possibly on a 2-3 year deal to where they might be able to help us make a run in 2019 or 2020. Eduardo Nunez - I think you can nab a guy like this on a 2-3 year deal. He can play 3B, spell Anderson, Moncada, play in the OF. Basically all over the place. He also can steal bases and hit for average. You say Leury, I say Eduardo. Davidson is not the 3B of the future. Yolmer is fine and well as a utility guy. I'd pickup Nunez and slot him in at 3B. You can rotate him as necessary to get looks for the guys you want. He's a nice insurance plan if a Machado or other big name doesn't sign with us at 3B. He is also insurance in the OF and at SS in case of a trade or injury. If we do end up signing a Machado he slots in a super UTIL. I see very little downside. Jonathan Lucroy - This really isn't on my list NOW. However, and this is just my opinion, I'd rather have signed him than Castillo. Who knows how that will play out. I just think Lucroy has a better chance of being something special again. Jon Jay - If nothing else he's a good filler. I want to see Tilson and Cordell along with the others too. Jon Jay isn't exciting. If nothing else a small one year deal and flip him for some low end prospect to a contender in June/July. Melky - Poor mans Jon Jay. Not sure he really serves a role anymore. Hes probably stealing AB's from Tilson, Cordell and Nicky. So not a huge advocate here. But in the right role and at the right cost? Who knows. You could probably pick him up for $2-3mm Tillman - Can never have enough fliers at pitcher. I don't care about Shields. He's as much dead weight as was Johnny Danks. Bucholz - in the same light.. why not? Lastly, I would CONSIDER, not advocate for looking into Alex Cobb, Lynn or JD Martinez. I get it's pissing away money this year. But if you can get them at a HIGHLY discounted price? You saw it with the Astros and Cubs among other teams over the past few years.. it doesn't take a whole bunch to go from a young team to a WC contender. In a perfect world Eloy and Kopech come up this year and progress to real contributors ala Judge or Severino (just used those comps cause both were on the same team). If Moncada takes steps forward? You upgraded Catcher. You have Abreu still. Throw in a healthy Rodon and Hansen, etc, etc. Giolito, Lopez... It's not out of the question that we take a big step forward in 2019. So if you can get a JD for 5 years... or if the Lynn and Cobb market is not what it should be? You throw away a bit of money this year.. but you never know. Just for s***s and giggles.. lets say JD.. Going into 2019. DH - JD RF - Eloy CF - Leury/Tilson/Cordell/Engel/FA Signing LF - Avi 1B - Abreu 2B - Moncada SS - Anderson 3B - Nunez C - Castillo UTIL - Leury/Yolmer/Nicky Pitching - Rodon, Kopech, Giolito, Hansen, Lopez. So although you'd piss away a year of JD? Again, not advocating for it, just kind of pointing out that we are an Eloy, Kopech, and Hansen + 1 year from really being a player away from competing seriously. So although this may seem like a dumb time to be involved in FA, with how its progressing, it may actually be a great time. I'll hang up and listen. Meh, Nunez doesn't do anything for me. I'd rather let our young guys play and learn than signing mediocre guys.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 14, 2018 -> 01:30 PM) Only were willing to do one of Frazier and Adams. Everyone else you can think was off the table (Torres, Andujar, Sheffield, Florial). Cole is a solid pitcher, but clearly everyone was over estimating what his market was for the Pirates to accept that offer. With only two seasons of control remaining he was not going to warrant a huge haul. Cole is essentially a #3 starter in my eyes. Yankees would reportedly offer Frazier or Adams, not both, and most of their other top guys were off limits. This deal is great from the Astros perspective since they do not deal anything they will not miss. Musgrove has potential but is blocked in the rotation, and Moran is also blocked behind Bregman. Lets see how this shakes out before criticizing the Pirates too much.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 10:38 AM) No, death is not an option. Shields sadly probably gets the nod, although I could see another pitcher getting it with a great spring training

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 11:54 PM) Ding ding ding - winner winner, chicken dinner. There's no reason Avi can't add some power to his game and be a 20+ home run hitter

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 08:29 AM) If you believe Canseco, and well that involves believing Canseco, his first book says that he introduced Palmeiro, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez to steroids in 1992 when he arrived in TX. The next year Palmeiro's HR jumped from 22 as a 27 year old to 37 as a 28 year old. It's just Canseco's word and a circumstantial case, but then Palmeiro pointed at Congress, lied to them, and tested positive 3 months later. Canseco also said that one of the reasons Palmeiro was a fan of Stanozolol, the steroid he tested positive for, was that it helped you strengthen without exploding you a-la Barry Bonds, so that Palmeiro never lost the kind of smooth motion his swing had. Casey Mize is a name to certainly watch, as I think he could easily end up in the top 5 selections if he is able to repeat what he did in to the SEC in 2017 I know everyone wants the Sox to go with a position player, but I would not be against selecting a quality arm.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 12:52 AM) I think the real 2018 goal in High-A, but I'm sure they will start him off in Low-A Kanny to *hopefully* let him feast for a month or so, then spend the rest of the year in W-S. Then maybe do the same thing in 2019, but obviously up a level. Then maybe make the majors by sometime in 2020 when he's 23. Very good chance he starts the season in Kannapolis and then they evaluate from there. If he is as talented as we hope he is, a promotion to Winston Salem will be forced sooner or later.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 14, 2017 -> 10:46 PM) $25-30 million per year for a relatively one-dimensional offensive player (corner OF/DH) is crazy in this day and age...especially with all of those contract years in the 30's. (And yet the Tigers were happy to throw that money at Justin Upton.) I think the slowness of the market is largely due to this year's free agent crop being pretty mediocre overall compared to how good next offseason's will be.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 11:10 AM) Covey's ability to be either a bad starting pitcher or bad reliever makes him valuable unfortunately. Totally fleeced the rangers getting both Forbes AND miguel for life. Haha I hope this is sarcasm^ I don't see how Covey justifies a 40 man roster spot when we have many better options internally

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 11:03 AM) I am somewhat, somewhat surprised he got an MLB deal not gonna lie. Only complaining due to 40 man. Somewhat surprised he is getting a major league deal as well, but hard to be that upset when we need veteran stability in the rotation. Does Covey get cut?

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 11:00 AM) $4.75 million. Not terrible. I feel mildly better about the 5th spot. Not a bad move. We need somebody to go out there and eat 150 innings in 2018, could do worse than Gonzalez.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 10, 2018 -> 11:16 AM) Better him going to the Astros rather than the Yankees. Astros rotation is stacked: Keuchel, Verlander, Cole, McCullers, Morton plus solid depth behind that

QUOTE (KnightsOnMintSt @ Jan 10, 2018 -> 10:53 AM) According to Jon Morosi on Twitter. Should be interesting to see what they give up. I highly doubt Tucker or Whitley is included in a package Fisher will be in the deal, along with at least one arm I would imagine?

QUOTE (KnightsOnMintSt @ Jan 10, 2018 -> 09:40 AM) I have been non-stop thinking of trade proposals for Yelich. Thoughts on any of these: 1. Hansen, Dunning, Collins, Low Level Prospect. 2. Hansen, Cease, Rutherford, Collins. 3. Dunning, Cease, Rutherford, Adams, Low Level Prospect. 4. Giolito, Fulmer, Collins, Low Level Prospect. 5. Lopez, Cease, Fulmer, Rutherford. Obviously I could go all day with this. 1. Which of these would White Sox accept? 2. Which of these would the Marlins accept? 1 and 2 hard pass, Hansen is close to being considered an untouchable prospect for the White Sox. 2 is fireable in my opinion, how is Zack Collins a fourth piece in a trade? I would not feel great about any of these deals

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2018 -> 09:38 AM) Heck, I was thinking that'd be a very weird package for the Marlins to accept and you thought it'd be terrible for the White Sox. Every one of those guys seems to have their stock kinda low right now - who knows if Giolito can take his talent and turn it into production, Anderson had an awful year, Cease has great talent but has to prove he can stay healthy, Rutherford had a down year, Collins barely hit over .200 and had a strikeout and swing issues. The Marlins would be getting back 4 "you fix them" kinda guys. I'd have been furious with that return for Sale or Quintana. It's the quantity that bothers me most. We are still in the relatively early stages of our rebuild, and shipping out 4 of our top 15 prospects in one deal just is not smart at this stage. Giolito appears capable of becoming a solid #3 starter, with the floor of a #4, Cease has had health issues, but still has a good arm, Rutherford's stock is down but I still feel this would be selling him very low, same goes for Collins A year from now is the soonest we should be thinking about trading our prospects for mlb talent once we have a better idea of what we have. This is a deal that could totally blow up in our faces if made

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 10, 2018 -> 09:29 AM) listening to the Garfein podcast, Phil Rogers is ready to unload the farm for Yelich. Some things never change "The final package could look like this: Giolito (or Anderson), Cease, Rutherford and Collins." - Rogers That package would be fireable offense for a GM to commit at this stage in the rebuild. Even if none of those players pan out it would be a terrible use of our farm assets. We don't have another viable SS prospect in the system, so Anderson is not going anywhere. Offering Giolito + Cease + Rutherford + Collins would be more than enough to land Chris Archer, let alone Christian Yelich.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 11:28 AM) Problem is we may have 3 years where his talent is wasted but if I were to put a true deal together for Yelich it would start with Robert. I think the Sox view Moncada, Jimenez, Kopech, Robert and Hansen as untouchable parts of the rebuild right now. If the Marlins are interested in a package built around Rutherford/Collins plus Dunning/Cease then I think a deal might be workable, but likely that would not be enough.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 04:28 PM) It was a calculated risk and Verlander performed beyond even what my most homer Tigers fans from Michigan predicted. So in that sense they got lucky. If he was just mediocre for them or blew a couple playoff starts the risk look worse. My position is that this is why GMs get paid well and don't sleep much. It's hard to say WHEN exactly you need to start taking risks like this and when it's time to simply do nothing. I think the clubhouse reacting how it did to the lack of movement at the deadline spurred them somewhat to action. How amazingly well that action played out certainly had an element of luck. lol. Tragically we have the 2010-2016 Sox to remind us of our own domboing -- or perhaps Williamsing. When a team is a clear contender you can make those risks of dealing top prospects to try and win in the short term. We just are not close enough to contention to even be thinking about dealing from our farm though. We still need another full season or two of rebuilding before we can start getting aggressive.