Maggs new contract in 2005

[DBAHO]

From the Sun - Times,

 

Then Williams dropped the bomb in Detroit, suggesting that Ordonez, who was a tight squeeze in the budget when he was healthy, is certainly too much of a gamble for a 2005 team that will be built around starting pitching.

 

Ordonez, 30, has no hope of landing the five-year, $70 million contract he was seeking in April. But the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants remain interested, even if there are lingering concerns about his left knee.

 

Ordonez might have to settle for a one-year, incentive-heavy contract in the range of $8 million to $10 million. But he will get a decent offer somewhere. He just won't get that offer from the Sox, who have pitching dominating their thoughts.

 

The Sox still covet Randy Johnson, but the Arizona Diamondbacks ace likely won't approve any deal that wouldn't send him to a legitimate contender in 2005. Judging by the holes that exist now, you can't call the Sox legitimate contenders for next season.

 

First base: Paul Konerko will return for the final year of his contract if the Sox don't dump his salary in the offseason.

 

Second base: Willie Harris should return, but he needs to put together a consistent major-league season.

 

Shortstop: Jose Valentin, eligible for free agency after this season, doesn't figure to return. Wilson Valdez, 26, acquired from the Florida Marlins in the Billy Koch dumping, likely will join the Sox next week when rosters expand. He will get the first shot at the job, with Juan Uribe available to back him up.

 

Third base: Joe Crede must use 2005 to show he deserved all the hype that followed him through the minors. Crede, 26, has been a huge disappointment offensively and has been inconsistent defensively.

 

Left field: Carlos Lee returns and will anchor the lineup with Konerko.

 

Center field: Aaron Rowand has eased concerns at this position but must get off to a fast start.

 

Right field: This is a black hole created by the Ordonez situation.

 

Before Garcia was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in July, Jeremy Reed figured to be the Sox' right fielder of the future. But Garcia's acquisition cost the Sox their most promising outfield prospect.

 

Reed, 23, has hit .304 with four home runs, 32 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 49 games for Class AAA Tacoma since the Garcia deal. He will join the Mariners next week.

 

Joe Borchard has yet to prove he can be an every-day player in the majors -- especially for a team with postseason aspirations. He is getting his most solid stretch to prove himself, yet Borchard, 25, is hitting .174 with 15 hits and 27 strikeouts in 86 at-bats.

 

Next in the chain is Class AA outfielder Brian Anderson, 22. He has been rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in the organization, but putting a player who started this season at Class A in right field for the Sox next season is a major stretch.

 

Then there is designated hitter. Thomas, who missed most of this season, will return. The last time Thomas missed most of a season -- in 2001, when a torn right triceps knocked him out April 27 -- he was awful in the first half of the next season, hitting .239 before the All-Star break.

 

Thomas always is fighting to keep his timing on, and he figures to face an uphill climb until the 2005 All-Star break.

[winninguglyin83]

Unless we sign Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, that lineup -- Valdez, Harris, Borchard, Crede, Davis -- won't win 70 games.

[He_Gawn]

Wow, didnt realize we are still interested in Johnson.

[TheBlackSox8]

Unless we sign Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, that lineup -- Valdez, Harris, Borchard, Crede, Davis -- won't win 70 games.

i hope at MOST two of those guys are starters next year....if all are, we're f***ed for the year. KW must realize that pitching needs support from its offense. If we have nobodies in front of Thomas, Lee, Konerko, and Rowand(2004 SOX MVP IMO)....there's not much of a threat offensively for our team to opposing pitchers.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

Unless we sign Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, that lineup -- Valdez, Harris, Borchard, Crede, Davis -- won't win 70 games.

While we're at it lets pick up Nolan Ryan and Denny McLain for long relief.

[southsider2k5]

And the least the Sox can offer Maggs is $11.2 million in salary. I seriously doubt that will happen.

[DBAHO]

I still believe he'll be a Giant, the Giants will try to front load the contract and make it hard for us to sign him, they'll hav one last go for the world series with Barry and Maggs.

[LosMediasBlancas]

I agree that we need another arm, but save some cash and get a legit #4 then drop Garland to #5. There is NO WAY that pitching is a priority over offense. If Maggs and Frank had stayed healthy and the rest of this team had played up to it's potential most of the time, the pitching we had would have been adequate.

[DBAHO]

I agree that we need another arm, but save some cash and get a legit #4 then drop Garland to #5.    There is NO WAY that pitching is a priority over offense.  If Maggs and Frank had stayed healthy and the rest of this team had played up to it's potential most of the time, the pitching we had would have been adequate.

How can you say that pitching is NOT a priority over offense? I agree that with Maggs and Frank not being injured we'd still be in this thing, but we've used the same formula over the past few years and it hasn't worked. We don't need a #4 starter, we need a #1 or #2 starter.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

We actually need a few things.

We need to get a power hitting RF. I think their are a few of those we can get.

After that we need a #2 quality starter

That would bump Contreas to #4 and Garland to #5.

That is a sick rotation there.

[SoxFan562004]

basically this article is saying the Sox are going to drop at least $19 million in contracts (with Maggs and Jose) and do zero to improve the offense???? I think it is FAR to early to speculate on what the Sox are going to look like next year. With the new TV contract and increased attendance (at least when the team was winning) I think the Sox will end up landing a major free agent pitcher and 2 good bats

[T R U]

basically this article is saying the Sox are going to drop at least $19 million in contracts (with Maggs and Jose) and do zero to improve the offense????  I think it is FAR to early to speculate on what the Sox are going to look like next year.  With the new TV contract and increased attendance (at least when the team was winning) I think the Sox will end up landing a major free agent pitcher and 2 good bats

I gotta agree with you there... I think that is a very possibly scenario to happen..

 

And I cant say I wouldnt mind it, I think that would be best for the club if we get a RF definatley and im not sure what else bat wise, and a top notch pitcher would be a good thing to have.. I could see our line-up like this..

 

2B Harris or FA

CF Rowand

DH Thomas

LF Lee

1B Konerko

RF Everett or FA

3B Crede or FA

SS Uribe or FA

C Davis

 

Thats what I would like to see, and of coarse thats not exactly how the lineup has to be or who is playing but I gotta leave it open to where I think we will add a FA, I just put them in a possible order

 

Pitching Staff

 

1. Buehrle

2. Garcia

3. Contreras

4. Garland

5. ?

 

and again I have to leave the question mark at 5 because I dont know who we will be adding and what they are going to be talent wise

[Reddy]

just imagine a Johnson, Buehrle, Garcia, Contrares, Garland rotation... thats sick...even if its not johnson, if we can add a #1 or 2 pitcher we'll be in great shape pitching wise... hitting... ugh...

[LosMediasBlancas]

Ideally, yes it would be nice to go out and get an ace bump everyone else down. How much money do you think would be left to fix the offense? Maggs is gone. I hate to tell you this, but even with 5 good arms, I see a lot of 3-2 and 4-3 losses. We'd look a lot like like the *gulp* 2003 Cubs. You cannot expect your arms to carry you in every game, for the whole year, it's just too much pressure on the staff. Get a #4 arm and improve the offense.

[WilliamTell]

The article didn't mention anything about Everett, I'm kinda surprised. I guess it's time to let go of Maggs sadly. I want him back next year but it just doesn't seem possible.

[Reddy]

LosMedias, you're totally right, im not entirely serious about a johnson scenario, but we're dumping serious salary next year, if he plays his cards right williams COULD come up with some great deals that improve not only pitching but offense... cuz at this rate next year will be a minor league team of starters

[AngelasDaddy0427]

Just to throw a possible scenario out there for you guys...

Do you think that the Cards might deal us Reggie Sanders in the offseason now that Larry Walker is with their team?

I think that Reggie would be a good fit for us, he's got some power, hits for reasonably good average, and is a solid defense player. Plus from whatever i've heard about him he's a class act and a great clubhouse guy. He might come cheaper because they already have Walker.

[LosMediasBlancas]

LosMedias, you're totally right, im not entirely serious about a johnson scenario, but we're dumping serious salary next year, if he plays his cards right williams COULD come up with some great deals that improve not only pitching but offense...  cuz at this rate next year will be a minor league team of starters

Yep, he needs to use the Magg's money wisely, not all on one ace. When you look at our losses this year, do you blame most of them on our starters performance or on our lack of offensive execution? I've written this before on this board, if we trot Uribe, Harris, Valentin, Crede and Borchard out there for 1 more year, it won't matter who is on the hill for us, that team will not win. I'm not a believer of the 'all you need is good starting pitching' theory. It may work, but it's not ideal, a balance is the goal.

[supernuke]

Three guys I would love to see with the Sox next year are Odalis Perez, Orlando Cabrera and Lance Berkman. The first two are possible but unfortunatly I think houston will do every thing they can to keep Berkman.

[SoxAce]

Well, were going to make a run at Johnson, Perez, Cabrera, etc.. and some bullpen arms but who knows if they want to play here or if we are aggresive with them.

[CWSGuy406]

While acquiring Johnson would be nice, we NEED a more consistent offense. I'm sick of this, eight runs the one night, shutout the next night. I'd love if this team could consistently put up four, five runs per game.

 

I also want to see a solid bullpen arm added here. Actually, two. Why do the Twins win? Solid bullpen and a consistent offense (Radke and Santana help a bit, too.).

 

Like Jeremy mentioned in another thread, a platoon of Harris/Hairston at second would be excellent. Get a new thirdbaseman, as well as a lefty to stick out in right field (Catalanatto, Drew) - and then I think we can live with Uribe at short. I'll take a .240-.260 average from Juan as long as he can provide his usual GG-caliber defense.

[jeremyb]

I'm not a believer of the 'all you need is good starting pitching' theory. It may work, but it's not ideal, a balance is the goal.

 

 

Absolutely, balance is key. It ain't 1960s anymore.

 

JD Drew would be awesome in RF, but unfortunately he'll be out of the Sox price range come off-season. Ditto Berkman. I have no problem with 2003 Everett in right, but 2004 Everett scares the crap out of me. Randy Johnson is 41, too expensive at 17M, health risk. Pavano and Mota tickle my fancy a bit more.

 

I guess it all comes down to what the 2005 budget is. If it's 80 M, a lot of things can be accomplished that were previously thought of as pipe dreams. If it's only 60M, then the season is going to once again ride on the progress of Crede, Borchard, Garland, Cotts and Uribe.

[CubsSuck1]

basically this article is saying the Sox are going to drop at least $19 million in contracts (with Maggs and Jose) and do zero to improve the offense????  I think it is FAR to early to speculate on what the Sox are going to look like next year.  With the new TV contract and increased attendance (at least when the team was winning) I think the Sox will end up landing a major free agent pitcher and 2 good bats

I gotta agree with you there... I think that is a very possibly scenario to happen..

 

And I cant say I wouldnt mind it, I think that would be best for the club if we get a RF definatley and im not sure what else bat wise, and a top notch pitcher would be a good thing to have.. I could see our line-up like this..

 

2B Harris or FA

CF Rowand

DH Thomas

LF Lee

1B Konerko

RF Everett or FA

3B Crede or FA

SS Uribe or FA

C Davis

 

Thats what I would like to see, and of coarse thats not exactly how the lineup has to be or who is playing but I gotta leave it open to where I think we will add a FA, I just put them in a possible order

 

Pitching Staff

 

1. Buehrle

2. Garcia

3. Contreras

4. Garland

5. ?

 

and again I have to leave the question mark at 5 because I dont know who we will be adding and what they are going to be talent wise

Realisticly, if Davis's good play is not just a hot streak, he is better than a 9 hitter. I think the guy has potential to be one of the better catchers in the AL.

 

Also Uribe and Willie really need to work in the offseason w/ Walker so they can get their stuff together.

 

And I bet Maggs is kicking himself for not biting on our $70M offer or whatever we actually did offer him. Looks like Karma got the best of him.