ChiSoxFanMike

I want Cespedes on the Sox so badly!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 03:39 PM) He is 29, you are acting like he is in his mid 30s. The guy has thrown an easy high 90s since he has been on the organization, just took a very team friendly contract, and you don't like it because he -might- fall off because of an unproven(by your own admission) fall off age. That is just strange If he's still hitting the high 90's and dominating when he's 32 at the end of this new extension, I won't be afraid to eat my words. I just don't see it happening, especially because he's had TJ surgery recently.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 03:28 PM) I don't really understand your reasoning though, I never really read anything that indicates power pitchers fall off at age 29 It's not scientifically proven or anything like that, but isn't it fair to say that a pitchers velocity "falls off" as they age? Jones' main asset is his ability to light up the radar gun and I just don't know how effective he'll be in a few years when he's only hitting 93 or 94 instead of 98 and 99 like he is now.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 03:03 PM) My favorite kinds of posts. Disliking a deal with no sort of explanation why. I explained why I disliked it. I guess $8 million or so over 3 years isn't too bad, but I'd rather have seen that money go towards an outfielder.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 11:02 AM) Hahahahaha, how could you possibly not like locking up a guy who can be an elite reliever when healthy to a 3 year deal (that buys out one FA year) at an AAV of $2.67M, with additional options years??? He very well may have beat those totals in arbitration next year if he is healthy this season. GREAT, SMART MOVE. Good work, Rick. He's already 29. It seems like power relievers like him decline around that age, or at least lose some of their velocity/pure stuff. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see Jones being as good as he was during the duration of this contract.

I don't like this signing.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 09:06 PM) Gotta hit Abreu 3rd. He figures to hit at least 30 pts higher than Frazier, he should get the extra ab's. Frazier is the perfect 5 hole bat imo Assuming the Sox don't get another power bat, I like the idea of having Abreu protect Frazier because then Frazier would get better pitches to hit as opposed to if he was hitting in front of LaRoche/Avi/Melky/Etc.

Am I the only one that thinks it would be a better idea to have Frazier hit 3rd in the order in front of Abreu?

I wonder if Chris Johnson could be a possibility as a platoon partner with LaRoche at DH, as well as the backup 3rd baseman and 1st baseman.

QUOTE (DashFan @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) Right. I forgot to even mention the $ saved that could be better used elsewhere. The Sox still have some decent middle-infield depth. I agree - we have to use that to our advantage and spend more upgrading the OF. Agreed. I think Saladino can put up numbers similar to Alexei's career averages if he's given a full season to work with. Not to mention that he'd make the minimum salary and is much younger too.

I'd rather keep Saladino and use the money that would've been spent on Alexei on an outfielder.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 10:34 AM) It sounds like it's pretty much a given that we'll get one of the free agent outfielders. Hahn laughed it off, but he couldn't hide it. I'm telling you, I wouldn't be shocked if we got TWO of the free agents. Either that, or sign one and trade for another. Do you know if he was referring to referring to the Cespedes/Upton/Gordon group or the tier below them? Either way, I'm happy that he plans to do something.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 08:52 PM) No doubt about that. Atlanta is looking to move Markakis so I wonder if the Sox and Braves work something along the lines of Inciarte/Markakis for Anderson/Avi ++. I'm just doing some thinking out loud and major spit-balling. Im not getting hopes up that's for sure. I am curious about the price of Blackmon. I would not be happy if that deal happened. Yeah, Inciarte is good, but why give up your best prospect in Anderson for him when you can sign Cespedes/Upton/Gordon? All those guys are more "elite" in my mind than Inciarte anyway. I like your proposals 99.9% of the time, but I would be very disappointed if that trade went through.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 08:18 PM) They can't keep trading the farm at this point. I have no issue with what they did these first two trades but I would rather them sacrifice a pick & sign an FA at this point. This.

Imagine the hoopla and chaos that would ensue if the Sox signed both Upton AND Cespedes

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 05:04 PM) Dodgers fans seem to think is the start of a bigger deal. Makes sense. Would love to get involved in a 3 way again with them and grab Puig. Haven't the Sox already used their best trade chip sans Fulmer and Anderson? I don't know how getting Puig is realistic if Anderson and/or Fulmer aren't involved.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 04:59 PM) Span's defense is subpar, but I wouldn't hate signing him to a reasonable contract. He hits for average, has decent speed, gets on base and wouldn't require anywhere near the huge investment Gordon, Cespedes or Upton qould require. We have to remember that it's important to have payroll flexibility moving forward so the Sox can add other pieces and improve the roster in the future. Maxing out our payroll on an expensive free agent limits what we can do to improve down the road Wouldn't signing Span require giving up a draft pick or am I going crazy?

If 4/100 gets any outfielder on the market, I'd offer both Upton and Cespedes those deals!

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 04:23 PM) Is it bad that I'm already anxiously/impatiently awaiting the Sox next move for hopefully an OF bat? I've been waiting for something to happen ever since the Frazier deal was announced. I'd have to think that there will be a corresponding move at some point in the not so distant future.

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 04:20 PM) I rather us get a bullpen arm than SS. There aren't any good investments in the market currently and Sanchez/Saladino are viable stop gaps until Anderson in 2017. If we get an upgrade at OF, with SS being the only glaring hole in the offense, I think most are fine with. With bullpen arms, we lost the next two guys up in Montas and Wendleken, and I don't think Albers is coming back, it's definitely a more glaring hole ATM. This is a good point. A bullpen of Jones, Kahnle, Putnam, Petricka, Duke, Jennings, and Robertson is decent, but I'd like one more solid acquisition to solidify the back end to get to Robertson.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 03:55 PM) Okay...and none of the guys the Cubs get would help them in the near turn. Beck is a fringe starter while Danish and Adams are still a ways away. If the cubs are dangling Baez it is in a larger package for Fernandez or some other good young cost controlled major league arm. I wouldn't be surprised if Danish and Adams contribute at the MLB level by 2017 or 2018 at the latest, but I see your point.

I'd only want Baez as a SS though. I feel like moving him to the outfield would hamper his value a bit.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 03:52 PM) Why would Cubs want to move Baez for guys who don't help their short-term world series aspirations? Because there's no room for Baez to start the way their roster is currently constructed and they need pitching badly.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 03:50 PM) I think it will be one position player and one pitcher. Any predictions as to the specific players the Sox will get? If Hahn doesn't get any of the big guns, I'm predicting the Sox will get Denard Span and Doug Fister.

Am I the only one that would like to see Javy Baez on the South Side? I'm intrigued by his potential. I bet Adams/Danish/Beck and someone else would get him.