Jarrod Washburn

[Chisoxfn]

If in fact the Angels are looking to dump Washburn then I think the Sox would make a good match. He isn't like Buerhle in the sense that his focal point is a fastball. He would be a 2nd lefty in the rotation and at 29 still has room to grow. He threw over 200 innings last year and it was his worse season as a starter with a 4.43 ERA, but the yaer before that he had a 3.15 ERA and the only real stat that changed was he gave up 34 homers compared to 19 the year before.

 

Remember, Anaheim is one of the 3 or 4 best hitters parks in the majors, especially when it comes to the long balls. Over the past few seasons a ton of homers have been hit there. His price tag will likely be 4.5 mill or so in arbitration and I think thats very affordable with what he can do. Two years ago he was an 18 game winner and was the Angels ace.

 

Screw the talk about getting Ortiz, he's a bum if your talking about getting him for Carlos Lee. Now if were talking Ortiz for Konerko, then I'd say thats a fair deal. Odalis Perez is better then Ramon Ortiz.

 

While it would cost the Sox Carlos Lee, lets remember Lee will likely make 6-8 mill this year. Now I'd prefer to just move Magglio and Konerko, but it may not be possible to move Paulie. While it would suck seeing Carlos go somewhere there are going to be some guys out there that are valid replacements like Juan Encarnacion (Going to be Non Tendered by the Fish), Jay Payton (Likely non tender) and Juan Gonzalez. All of these guys would put up similar numbers to Carlos. While it would suck, you could spend roughly the same amount on Washburn and one of these guys as you would simply on Carlos Lee.

 

Now if the Sox instead wanted to part with Ordonez, then I could see a Washburn and Erstad or Percival deal plus Adam Kennedy, but I don't really think thats as good as simply moving Lee for Washburn because I don't see how getting stuck with Erstad's contract will help the Sox.

 

If there is truth to this rumor, then I wouldn't have any problem with the Sox getting Washburn for Carlos Lee. Pitching is more valuable then hitting and Washburn is a frontline pitcher and the Sox would be asking him to be a #3 and while Bud Black is good, I think Coop is better, plus he will be moving to a better pitchers park (Simply because its cold in the Cell for the first few months while Anaheim is warm year round ..and if anyone thinks Washburn isn't used to the cold, he came from Wisconsin or Michigan and is an avid hunter during the winter and loves the cold). To go with that, on the road last year opponents hit .234 compared to .278 at home. And the year before that he had a 2.65 ERA on the road and went 13-3. I also remember him pitching pretty good against the White Sox.

 

Over the past 3 years against the Sox he is:

8 Starts

3-3

3.91 ERA

50.2 INN

.220 OPP AVG

21 K

14 BB

 

In short, I think this would be a good trade and it would be a fair trade.

[southsider2k5]

Washburn sounds like a key piece of the key Nomar trade, if the ARod trade happens.

[Chisoxfn]

Washburn sounds like a key piece of the key Nomar trade, if the ARod trade happens.

Supposedly the Angels aren't the frontrunners in getting Nomar. They don't want their payroll over 100 mill, although it could simply be their angle to get better value for Nomar. I think the Dodgers in the end will make a huge huge push for Nomar.

 

I wouldn't even look past him coming to the Southside if the Red Sox were willing to take on one or two of the Sox contracts (Doubt they would be willing).

[Molto]

Washburn for Lee would be a reasonable deal in my opinion, although I'd like to see Valentin or Konerko be involved in the deal, along with another one of their guys.

 

the main thing here is, the Sox really aren't in a position to win the WS next year. I mean, they can because the past few years have proven anything can happen, but realistically, they are a few guys and a lot of money away from putting together a contending team at this point. I'm not talking about offensively, because I really wouldn't mind seeing an offense with guys like Harris, Gload and Rowand. I think if we stack up on pitching we could make thing interesting, but that is unlikely.

 

With that in mind, it may be better for the Sox to stand pat as depressing as it sounds. If anything, trade Konerko (which I don't even think matters at this point) and add a couple relievers. They likely won't win anything, but after 2004, a lot of money will be cleared, which could in turn be used to building a club Guillen can work with.

[Chisoxfn]

Well if the Angels were forced to take on Jose Valentin, then the Sox could ask for Kennedy in return, but then the Sox would be in tough position having to depend on Uribe as their shortstop. At the same time, they would have freed up a lot of money, but if the Angels were willing to take on this type of salary then they would just go after Nomar or Tejada, imo.

[Chisoxfn]

Washburn for Lee would be a reasonable deal in my opinion, although I'd like to see Valentin or Konerko be involved in the deal, along with another one of their guys.

 

the main thing here is, the Sox really aren't in a position to win the WS next year.  I mean, they can because the past few years have proven anything can happen, but realistically, they are a few guys and a lot of money away from putting together a contending team at this point.  I'm not talking about offensively, because I really wouldn't mind seeing an offense with guys like Harris, Gload and Rowand.  I think if we stack up on pitching we could make thing interesting, but that is unlikely.

 

With that in mind, it may be better for the Sox to stand pat as depressing as it sounds.  If anything, trade Konerko (which I don't even think matters at this point) and add a couple relievers.  They likely won't win anything, but after 2004, a lot of money will be cleared, which could in turn be used to building a club Guillen can work with.

Mario, for me standing pat isn't an option. The Sox should either push to make the playoffs and once you get in there anything can happen. Plus if the team is playing and looks like they are making the playoffs, you have the deadline to fill some of your holes to better ensure you get to the playoffs as well as ensure how far you go once in the playoffs.

 

If they don't want to do that, then get rid of Konerko's contract so Gload can play, dump Maggs for young players that have bright futures, and you could even argue to move Lee for prospects. If this is the case they should also move Loiaza.

 

Basically get as much good near ready talent as you can get and put it out there and cut all your salary and then let those guys develop and piece together free agents the following year or two.

 

I am not a big proponent of option 2 because I strongly feel the Sox can compete with their current salary.

[Molto]

I think a $60 million payroll is enough to work with, but not with our current situation.

 

Once again, I think with a few moves the Sox can be competitive enough to win the division, and as you said, once you get there you don't know what is going to happen.

 

But right now, Paul Konerko and Magglio Ordonez aren't worth much. Konerko because of last season and Ordonez because of his salary.

 

I wouldn't mind trading both guys and getting two pitchers in return to round our rotation, then throwing the rest of the saved money at relievers, but Ordonez and Konerko may get you a lot more in a trade during the season. Konerko, I believe, will have better numbers this year and Ordonez would be a HUGE addition and difference maker to a lot of contending teams down the stretch.

 

The way I see it, with Colon on the Angels and no other dominant pitcher out there, we will have to acquire two starting pitchers. And because of our bullpen, we'll need two more relievers. I don't want to see the Sox get desperate and try to squeeze a contender out of our situation and find ourselves in the same place next year.

 

I'm not far behind your idea. I think we should add some guys to make us competitive, play the season and see how things go. But guys like Ordonez, Konerko, Koch and Valentin may be able to get you more in July then right now.

[DBAHO]

I was always in favor of gettin Washburn if we could. He had a mad 2002 season, and he's got a good 2 seam and 4 seam fastball in his arsenal. Some guys around here say he's too much like Buerhle, but then again if he is, he must be alrite then. Dunno how much he's gonna be earnin in 2004, and I wouldn't trade Lee for him, but a Maggs and Jose deal for Kennedy, Percival and Washburn deal could get done IF we ship out Koch to the Mets.