Free Agents

[qwerty]

I am surprised that none of you guys list Morris. I think he could really be a sleeper. He is a guy whos value has decreased because of a so-so year going into FA. If you compare this year to previous years, than it becomes obvious that this year was the fluke(never posted a 3.76 ERA or higher before this year). His peripherals were very similar to past years(increase in HR is the only major difference). I know that people are scared of the 35 HR's, but that is a fluke. Morris is one of the top groundball pitchers in the game with a groundball to flyball ratio of 1.59(in 2004) and a career ratio of 1.69. Furthermore, he had never given up more than 20 HR in a season before this year. Not to mention that Busch and Commisky are similar when it comes to hitters parks. He might not be an ace anymore, but I think he would look pretty solid in the middle of the Sox rotation, especially since his asking price has taken a hit with his performance this year. These are the type of values that the Sox will probably have to look for.

 

I

Hasn't he lost several miles of velocity? I am 100% positive he did. Because if he didn't he would be considered the second or third best starter out there. Now he is 5th,6th,7th best option in most peoples minds.

[whitesox61382]

I love what pauly brings to this team, but I see a viable cheaper replacement behind him, who plays a better defensive first base... There would be money saved in dealing Konerko, or at the very least quality players in return. 

 

The infield Defense of Crede-Uribe-Harris-Gload would be great, and would make Lowe that much better.  That is not a potent offensive infield, but I would expect to have a dominant SP staff, and a great offensive outfield if Pauly was gone.

An offensive infield of Crede/Uribe/Harris/Gload would make me cringe. As much as I like pitching and defense, the Sox would struggle with that infield no matter what starters they through out there. The only way an infield like that would survive is if the Sox signed Beltran, Radke, and an improvement at catcher(Zaun/Miller) to help make up for a lack of offense in the infield.

[Gene Honda Civic]

An offensive infield of Crede/Uribe/Harris/Gload would make me cringe. As much as I like pitching and defense, the Sox would struggle with that infield no matter what starters they through out there. The only way an infield like that would survive is if the Sox signed Beltran, Radke, and an improvement at catcher(Zaun/Miller) to help make up for a lack of offense in the infield.

I didn't mention it, but I had thought the same thing, Catcher has to be an offensive spot then.

 

Pittsburgh is shopping Kendall again..

[AddisonStSox]

I'd kill for Kendall!

 

But...

 

2004 Salary: $8,571,429

 

 

If only we spent mone...wait a minute...oh, not this feeling again

 

:puke

[Punch and Judy Garland]

A trade with Pitt would hav eus pay about half of that Kendall money. Morris is an enigma. He has gotten some of that velocity back, but his homers are way up this year. that said, he's a #1 when his shoulder is healthy, a 20 game winner, and a guy you'd love to throw in game 7 of a playoff series.

[qwerty]

A trade with Pitt would hav eus pay about half of that Kendall money. Morris is an enigma. He has gotten some of that velocity back, but his homers are way up this year. that said, he's a #1 when his shoulder is healthy, a 20 game winner, and a guy you'd love to throw in game 7 of a playoff series.

I would glady pay kendall 4,5, hell even 6 million a year. He is one of the best pure hitters in the game right now. Can really help our lead-off problem that we have right now because rowand really isn't a lead-off type hitter.

[AddisonStSox]

I would glady pay kendall 4,5, hell even 6 million a year. He is one of the best pure hitters in the game right now. Can really help our lead-off problem that we have right now because rowand really isn't a lead-off type hitter.

Exactly. Your getting a top-notch defensive catcher that knows the game, and a leadoff hitter. KW should be drouling at the possibilty of getting him on the Southside. I previously suggested some sort of Crede and pitching (or some other) prospect deal for Kendall and Mackowiak (I know Pitt is still big on this guy, but he is a Oak Lawn native and grew up rooting for the Sox, not to mention he is a solid utility player that can start if necessary.)

[Gene Honda Civic]

I'm with you guys on the Kendall train...

 

The Dodgers are really pushing hard for him.

[qwerty]

Exactly.  Your getting a top-notch defensive catcher that knows the game.

Kendall is actually a pretty bad defensive catcher, average at best.

[AddisonStSox]

Kendall is actually a pretty bad defensie catcher, average at best.

I was referring to his intangibles. The guy knows how to play his position: call a game, and take a shot in the mouth.

[qwerty]

Morris just scares me to much. He is getting up there in age, and the HR scares me. 61382 made some good points, but it still wories me. Morris at the Cell could gey U.G.L.Y.

 

Lowe is someone I would like, becuase like Cheat said, we would have a good IF defense, and Lowe doesnt give up the fly ball much.

Chances that he gives up that many homeruns again is not too good no matter where he goes. He is basically the best ground ball pitcher on free agency next to lowe. Also morris just turned 30 in august so i don't think that is too old.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Whoever we get, we need a guy not afraid of the ball in a big game (i.e. a big game in that horrid dome). I think Radke and Morris are thosee guys. I think Lowe and Pavano may in fact be that way too with varying degrees of certainty. Pavano pitched well in the playoffs a year ago and Lowe showed in Game 4 this week that he's not a total headcase. I'd like any of those guys. Watch, Matt Morris is in for a big bounceback. Also, he hates the Cubs and has thrown more big games in the past 4 years than our entire staff combined and then some.

[Rowand44]

Also, he hates the Cubs

LOL, what's that have to do with anything??

[qwerty]

LOL, what's that have to do with anything??

Just another reason to like the guy.

[CWSGuy406]

I think Morris could really be a good pickup.

 

Then again - maybe he won't be, but what I'm trying to say is - I really think he'll be pursued.

 

Why?

 

Kenny likes to find those, sort of, bargain players; i.e., Schoeney last season, Loaiza two years ago. While those guys don't quit compare to Morris, Morris has just come off of one of his worst seasons - he'll likely be the fifth or sixth best candidate on the list, so he'll probably get paid in a range from four to seven million.

 

He's very capable, that's for sure. I'm interested on more people's thoughts on Morris, as I am to engulfed in this ALCS game to find out how Morris is GB/FB wise, WHIP wise, ERA wise - stuff like that.

 

For anyone who wants to research it - I'm interested to know, do you think he'd be a good fit, pitching at US Cellular?

[Gene Honda Civic]

I didn't include anybody on the Cards or Braves... Those teams have great pitching coaches. We have Coop.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I think that if you look at his hr numbers then he's not a fit, but I think a healtheir Matt Morris next year will make those stats less meanignful. If we look at his struggles with the longball this year, just don't discount what it means to have a guy who won 22 games in 2001. I think that's not to be discounted. Which pitcher of ours would you feel good about throwing in a game 7 in NY/Boston right now? Morris is that type of guy who is capable of being dominant. On his game, he's a top 5-10 pitcher in this league-but we would need to get a good look at his shoulder before anything serious.

[qwerty]

I think Morris could really be a good pickup.

 

Then again - maybe he won't be, but what I'm trying to say is - I really think he'll be pursued.

 

Why?

 

Kenny likes to find those, sort of, bargain players; i.e., Schoeney last season, Loaiza two years ago.  While those guys don't quit compare to Morris, Morris has just come off of one of his worst seasons - he'll likely be the fifth or sixth best candidate on the list, so he'll probably get paid in a range from four to seven million.

 

He's very capable, that's for sure.  I'm interested on more people's thoughts on Morris, as I am to engulfed in this ALCS game to find out how Morris is GB/FB wise, WHIP wise, ERA wise - stuff like that.

 

For anyone who wants to research it - I'm interested to know, do you think he'd be a good fit, pitching at US Cellular?

G/F this year 1.59

G/F in career 1.69

Whip this tear 1.29

Whip in career 1.27

Era this year 4.72

Era in career 3.53

Batting average against this year .266

Batting average against in career .259

K/9 this year 5.84

K/9 in career 6.60

K/BB this year 3.08

K/BB in career 2.34

 

I think he will bounce back regain his velocity and limit the home run total to under 25 and post a sub 4 era.

[CWSGuy406]

G/F this year 1.59

G/F in career 1.69

Whip this tear 1.29

Whip in career 1.27

Era this year 4.72

Era in career 3.53

Batting average against this year .266

Batting average against in career .259

K/9 this year 5.84

K/9 in career 6.60

K/BB this year 3.08

K/BB in career 2.34

 

I think he will bounce back regain his velocity and limit the home run total to under 25 and post a sub 4 era.

If he pitches at the Cell, I doubt he keeps that ERA under four.

 

But that doesn't mean he'd be a bad pickup. Hell, even an ERA a tad bit over four will get the job done here. As long as he pitches well on the road, too, that'll help a lot.

 

What are most of you expecting Morris to get on the market? Or will that be set by what Pavano & Pedro get, and then the rest will fall a little behind what they get? What I'm trying to spit out here - will what Pavano get set the 'precident' for FA pitchers this offseason? That's how it usually is, am I correct in saying that?

[qwerty]

If he pitches at the Cell, I doubt he keeps that ERA under four.

 

 

 

What are most of you expecting Morris to get on the market?  Or will that be set by what Pavano & Pedro get, and then the rest will fall a little behind what they get?  What I'm trying to spit out here - will what Pavano get set the 'precident' for FA pitchers this offseason?  That's how it usually is, am I correct in saying that?

Why would you say that buehrle does it and morris is probally a slightly better pitcher. Though he does lack the amount of innings pitched that buehrle pitches.

 

I feel he will be one of the higher paid pitchers because of what he has done in the past. Been a 20 game winnerand never an era above 3.72 before this season. Teams will look at it like it was a fluke season because they know what he is capable of.

[CWSGuy406]

Why would you say that buehrle does it and morris is probally a slightly better pitcher. Though he does lack the amount of innings pitched that buehrle pitches.

 

I feel he will be one of the higher paid pitchers because of what he has done in the past. Been a 20 game winnerand never an era above 3.72 before this season. Teams will look at it like it was a fluke season because they know what he is capable of.

I'm just saying, pitching at a place like this inflates one's ERA so damn much. Case in point, with Buehrle - something like a 2.55 ERA on the road, and a real high ERA at home. It's not something I get mad about, I'm just saying - only a really, really dominant pitcher would be able to hold a sub-four ERA throughout the course of one season pitching here (like the dominant year Loaiza had - except now, it's even harder with the top part of the roof cut off).

[3E8]

1. Pavano

2. Pedro

3. Lowe

4. Wright

5. Carpenter

[YASNY]

Nice thread. Some of my thoughts:

 

Wells: Bronx bound, I believe

Morris: Less risk and more upside than Lowe. Go for it.

Radke: Added to Morris would make Garland expendable. Something to think about.

Pavano: Called a "sure thing". No player is ever a sure thing. Especially pitchers. Cash wise, Morris and Radke would probably be in the Pavano area. I'd rather add the two veterans.

Todd Walker - Eric Young: One key word the Sox are looking for is "defense". These two play with plywood gloves. Pass.

Steve Finley: If I was KW I'd really get agressive on this guy. He can still play CF well, and move Rowand to RF. When Anderson is ready, Finley can step into the DH slot and be a 4th outfielder. Thomas's contract will be up after this year and offers the Sox that option. Chicago is the closest AL team to Finley's hometown and he could finish his career as the Sox DH. This one should be doable if Kenny can sell all these points.

JD Drew: Plan B if Finley won't bite. Finley would be cheaper.

Signing Finley or Drew and moving PK would make the GG infield doable. On e of those left bats would replace most, if not all of PK's production.

[AddisonStSox]

Nice thread. Some of my thoughts:

 

Wells:  Bronx bound, I believe

Morris:  Less risk and more upside than Lowe.  Go for it.

Radke:  Added to Morris would make Garland expendable.  Something to think about.

Pavano:  Called a "sure thing".  No player is ever a sure thing.  Especially pitchers.  Cash wise, Morris and Radke would probably be in the Pavano area.  I'd rather add the two veterans.

Todd Walker - Eric Young:  One key word the Sox are looking for is "defense".  These two play with plywood gloves.  Pass.

Steve Finley:  If I was KW I'd really get agressive on this guy.  He can still play CF well, and move Rowand to RF.  When Anderson is ready, Finley can step into the DH slot and be a 4th outfielder.  Thomas's contract will be up after this year and offers the Sox that option.  Chicago is the closest AL team to Finley's hometown and he could finish his career as the Sox DH.  This one should be doable if Kenny can sell all these points. 

JD Drew: Plan B if Finley won't bite.  Finley would be cheaper.

Signing Finley or Drew and moving PK would make the GG infield doable.  On e of those left bats would replace most, if not all of PK's production.

Don't get your hopes up on Finely, he has stated many times he wants to remain on the west coast with his family. His family lives in San Diego, he may go back to the Padres.

 

He's a Saluki though...has to be their most successful graduate ever.

[whitesox61382]

Don't get your hopes up on Finely, he has stated many times he wants to remain on the west coast with his family.  His family lives in San Diego, he may go back to the Padres.

 

He's a Saluki though...has to be their most successful graduate ever. 

Finley would be a great replacement(mentioned that the Sox should have traded for him at the deadline this past year), but I think you are right when you say he plans on staying on the west coast. If the Sox are looking for a cheap replacement in RF(and using their money to improve other areas of the team), than I think they should look at Hollandsworth for 2-3M. I think he could be a nice stopgap, and allow the Sox to spend money on pitching and a leadoff hitting/middle infielder.