Southwest Sider

Probably just a coincidence, a few days ago my ticket guy left me a voice mail. Today, not 5 minutes ago, he left me another. Casting lines for STHs in order to pay for one of the big OFs?

I think that a lot of people share their initial reactions before allowing some time to think about it and let other posts influence how they feel. I learned about the trade about an hour after it happened, and as I read the initial posts my feeling was that "I hope we didn't just trade all 3 of those guys for just Frazier..." As a fan, I was excited to see if TT could stick in our outfield, and to see if Montas could help the back end of our bullpen. Micah Johnson I wasn't excited about. Losing those "exciting" things hurts, initially. And then, add the idea that worries me along with several other posters, that Frazier will struggle in the AL, and right away it seems like we paid too much. I was about ready to post as such. But I kept reading the thread and thoughts others have shared. The fact that we didn't have to trade Anderson or Fulmer. The significant detractors of the 3 prospects we traded. Frazier is a power hitter that this lineup desperately needs while also being above average defensively. Initially, I was kind of upset, but with most trades that happen, after the initial feelings a general contentedness settles in and I feel better. However, I absolutely agree that if you want to contend, you need to upgrade RF or LF, or both. Avi carries considerable risk as a starting OF for us. Our team is going to be much better off with Avi in AAA being a depth piece for us should one of our starting OFs get injured.

That was quick.

At this point, I'd rather keep Laroche. Like others have said, he is the perfect bounce back candidate, and if he does in fact bounce back, will be much more attractive to teams during the season. I just hope the Sox plans this offseason aren't contingent on moving Laroche. That would be terrible.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 04:57 AM) i have one flaw in your post, a major flaw. if the sox haven't been able to trade the bolded, what make you think they can do it after the asg??? I meant to say the trade deadline, dunno what I was thinking there. Of course, it is contingent on the fact that they are actually playing decently. And, if that's happening, there's a good chance the Sox are winning games. So it is very unlikely those guys get dealt, but still possible under the right circumstance.

I can definitely see the idea of the Sox being big-time sellers if they don't have a good year. Could be as early as the all star break (Danks and Laroche) Next offseason, you would have Melky, Duke and Lawrie available with only 1 year left, and Robertson with a 2 year contract. Besides a Robertson who continues being great, none would command a haul. But all of them would together would inject a sizable sum of talent into the system. And then you have the weak free agent starting pitching class to try and exploit with Quintana and/or Sale. Not the worst position to be in should your team flop in 2016.

This is a fantastic deal, I'm really surprised that there wan't a better offer out there! The A's must really have wanted to unload him, unfortunately for them with only 1 (maybe 2?) suitors. I'll enjoy a modest 3B upgrade with the potential for it to be an insane 3B upgrade. I'm now rooting for Lawrie to really break out. He seems to have a passion for the game, so that is a good start.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 11:12 AM) Robin was also on MLB network the other day and said Olt may get a shot at third. What is said in the media really means very little. While it is inconceivable on the surface to even fathom Olt getting a shot at 3rd, if a trade like this doesn't go down, then that's what we are looking at. All things being equal, Trayce getting a shot at CF is far likelier to happen then Olt getting a shot at 3rd base.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 11:08 AM) I think the sox may keep trayce, but that sounds like classic use of media to try and hype up a player for trade. I was considering that angle as well, but it just doesn't seem to make much sense in relation to this trade. Maybe others. Going out there and telling the media that Trayce is going to compete for CF just doesn't seem like a way to increase his value. His value is already as high as it has ever been, in my opinion. Teams have tape on him, they probably all have some kind of scouting report on him. Other teams are too smart to let what the White Sox say dictate the value that they originally placed on a player such as Trayce.

To anyone worried about losing Trayce: Not 24 hours ago articles came out saying he was going to be given a shot at CF in ST. Obviously, this doesn't completely preclude the Sox from dealing him. Nonetheless, I doubt that the Sox would deal him after not being too far removed from comments like that. I'm pretty happy about that, too. I'd like our organization to be the first to see if Trayce can make the adjustments required to be a good major leaguer. I'm not ready to trade him, at this point.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 10:33 AM) I see this impediment more as a sign the follow up moves to this are either falling through or not as progressing as fast as they anticipated when this leaked late last night. I think we see a few moves quickly. And I still think this is part of the plan Sox just don't want to announce it yet. And we aren't giving up Trayce for him either Agreed, this sounds like the Sox are still lining up another domino or two.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 11:58 PM) He is 26 and better then any other option we currently have, right? Trading for a 3rd basemen from the A's was a really good idea, last year. This year it is still a good idea, but Brett Lawrie isn't that great. He has the potential, no doubt, but he isn't great. That should be a significant detractor to his value. His youth, however, and relatively healthy season still gives him value. I just don't think I'd agree with sending any of our top prospects OR Erik Johnson for him... But if the Sox are dealing from a position of 'desperation' or 'we need this guy', then they are probably going to lose this trade. If they are acting out of a position of acknowledging his value, but aren't terribly motivated to make a deal, then they could win this trade or at worst, have it be a lateral move. This trade, if it goes down, will tell me a lot about who is really running this team.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 11:50 PM) How would people feel about an Avi-Lawrie swap? I assume good I really hope this is the case.

At this point, I just cannot get excited about Frazier. He seems like he could be a solid offensive piece and contribute to a potential playoff team, but he also seems like he could be yet another player who falls on his face in the AL. Maybe I'm just used to that. There is no possible way I'd consider trading any of our best prospects for someone like that. Best case scenario is he adds a few wins. Worst case scenario is that he doesn't do much extra hitting then Laroche did this past season.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 5, 2015 -> 06:23 PM) How so? Anyone can take a guess as to what might happen and end up looking brilliant in the future if they were correct. It would seem, though, that if it was really true that it was inherently obvious that Jeff Samardzija would have a terrible year, then one is left wondering what is wrong with the people who run this team? Are they so stupid as to miss this obvious mistake? I fully realize that this organization is not the most competent one out there, but I am not a believer that they are so incompetent that they would miss the most obvious things in the baseball world. Making a trade, giving up a few prospects and quasi-big league players, for a guy who is, in the very least, a workhorse pitcher makes complete sense to me. The idea was that we would sign him to a contract extension should things work out. Our rotation would be further bolstered for years by a good Samardzija. There was even seemingly some mutual interest early in his tenure in Chicago. Then things derailed. The fact of the matter is, it didn't work out. People who were nay saying were correct. But it made sense. I'd do the trade again, in a heart beat, to potentially acquire another piece of the rotation puzzle. However, from the comments I have read about how really obvious it was to some that this wouldn't work out, then I must be just as ignorant as our front office. I guess we're all just a bunch of damned fools. Shucks... If I were JR, I'd sign onto this website and private message everyone here who knows better then his team. Get that advice on big time decisions instead of listening to someone who graduated from Harvard and a bunch of people who have been around baseball their entire lives who are paid to make these decisions. Big time decisions can be tough to make, this was one of them, it didn't work out, and at the end of the day to anyone who ended up correct, I still say to them... Good guess.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 4, 2015 -> 05:04 PM) Seemed like basically everyone had the parameters of a Samardzija deal down last year early enough for me to spend a couple days saying how terrible of an idea that deal was before it happened. It's really a shame that the Sox didn't consult you before making this trade. A pitcher who is seemingly on the upswing of his career all of a sudden having the worst year of his career is incredibly difficult to predict. You are owed many kudos for knowing that this was going to happen. Good guess. Besides that nonsense, there are times I feel that the Sox play close to the vest, and other times I don't. I was pretty surprised news leaked of Avi Garcia being available. That seems like something that wouldn't be leaked. KW's old mantra was "flying under the radar". There's a bit less of that now, I feel like we hear more then we used to despite the lack of interest from the local and national media. There's most likely a good balance between flying under the radar, and having public information, and since Rick Hahn has become our GM, I feel like he's making an effort to find that balance.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 3, 2015 -> 11:35 PM) Doc has to be the most likable man in sports. http://www.nbcsports.com/video/hbo-real-sp...k-hockey-legend Thank you for sharing that.

The more I think about it, the more I like this series of moves. Avila can hit righties, Navarro can hit lefites. However, knowing that the majority of pitchers are right-handed, having a switch-hitting Navarro makes sense so that Avila doesn't play most of the games. This move makes sense, and I hope it works out for the Sox. Another plus is that this is now out of the way before the winter meetings start, as I am certain there will some large fish to fry there.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 3, 2015 -> 07:42 AM) Beckham, Flowers, Alexei...next year Danks and LaRoche. Avi supposedly on the block. They are running out of punching bags. Thank goodness. The Sox have needed to trim some of the fat off of this roster for awhile now. These guys just aren't winners, and that's what we're all looking for. And frankly, even though I kind of liked Alexei, he just didn't seem to have the mentality of a winning baseball player.

It would be nice for this to be out of the way before the Winter Meetings begin. Judging from the quotes, it sure sounds like it will be. That would be one less thing for the front office to worry about during the flurry of deals that are going to happen next week. Here's hoping it's a potentially impactful catcher!

I'll take 8/12 points on the circus trip.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Nov 26, 2015 -> 09:08 AM) Just ordered a Teravainen Stadium Series jersey (only like 4 left in L). That look has grown on me, but I miss the original '09 Winter Classic jerseys. That's a pretty sweet sweater, I must admit. I like it better then last years Winter Classic sweater.

Hopefully this is the start of a big Hawks upswing. Kero and Dano had nice games, and Daley is looking more and more comfortable in a Hawks sweater. By and large, I feel that the Hawks youthful talent and replacement players prior to this Stanley Cup far outweighs that of the 2011 team. These are still some young guys, but I'm genuinely excited to see what the future holds for some of these players.

Actually, given the market, this is probably the best thing the Sox could have done. I know, we all want a catcher like Salvador Perez, but there are very few like him on the planet. I don't know what the "average" catcher is like, but Flowers feels pretty darn close to it, and Avila is in that area too. What should we do? Trade all of our best prospects for some better, but not great version of our current duo? Trade Quintana for one? The idea just doesn't set right with me. The catchers don't need to be the best offensive players on the team, and it behooves the Sox to improve their offense in another, less costly, way. As far as Avila goes, I am happy that that the Sox signed him. It should give Robin more flexibility to match up against pitchers, and hopefully platooning or being Flowers backup will help keep Avila healthy (and as a likely result, productive in his time here). This is now taken care of and the Sox can focus on more important matters. This move is also by no means and indication that the Sox would pass up the opportunity to acquire a good catcher, provided that the deal is at a reasonable cost. Right now, I'd bet a lot that any deal the Sox have talked about for catchers has been pretty much unreasonable from a trade stand-point.

Thanks for this thread. It comes at a time when I am making an enormous life-decision, and part of my decision is made because I will have the ability to get an ACA plan with a low-income tax credit. Basically, I'm going back to school in January and do not wish to continue working 4-5 days a week to maintain my companies health plan. In order to keep company benefits. I'd need to work at least 4 days a week. Not so bad, but there is literally zero wiggle room for a 1 week vacation or if I were to miss 1-2 weeks to sickness. If that happens at all, I then need to work 5 days a week while doing full-time school. Admittedly, I'm ignorant to how feasible this is because I haven't gone to school in such a long time, but the way I'm thinking is the less work the better, so I have the time I need to study, do homework, and at the same time have my hobbies and have my general life. Now, I'm good on my companies insurance plan for the next 6 months or so, but after that I need to sign up for an ACA plan. I definitely noticed that all the BCBS plans are "in-network", which does worry me if that network is rather small. I'm not sure of that, though. What I did find out is if I qualify for a tax credit, I can acquire a plan similar to my current one. A Blue Cross "Silver" plan for approximately $51/month (after credit) with a $500 deductible. I noticed all the other plans are $5,000 or more deductibles, which is a bit scarier. I don't make doctors visits often, or hospital visits ever, but in the event that a freak accident happens, I'd rather not have to pay $6,000 before my insurance kicks in, so the $500 deductible is enticing. If anyone knows better then I regarding any of this, I am all ears (or eyes, in this case). For the past 5 years (my early-mid 20s) I've been rolling with my companies insurance plan, rarely using it, and never bothering to read the fine print. I've read every post in this thread, but if I'm missing something in regards to my plan, please let me know. On the surface, that Silver plan seems very comparable to my companies aside from being an in-network plan. BUt is there something I could be missing? Thanks!