Deja Vu?

[whitesox61382]

Cheat - On what issue would Cashman disagree with me on?

 

Cheat - Let me get this straight. The Sox shouldn't give proven players 5-6M/yr over 3-4 years. Instead they should continue to morgage the future for 1 year rentals. That plan has gotten the Sox nowhere over the past couple of years(except a bleak future and depleted minor league system). If you think critically about the issue, than you will realize that the Sox wouldn't have to continue to sign FA if they had good prospects to fill some of the holes at a cheap price, but by trading them for one year rentals they don't have that luxery. With the Sox limited financial spending ability they can't fill other holes when they take on big contracts of 1 year rentals, so it gets the Sox nowhere and continues an endless cycle. Something to think about. Besides, a FA pitcher signed for 5-6M/yr will probably be easier to move than Johnson and his 16M/yr contract(assuming that production is realitively similar) if the Sox are out of contension.

 

CWSOX45 - Would you be willing to trade Garland, Rowand, and a top 10 prospect for Johnson(and maybe 4-5M)? The thing that most of your guys are forgetting is that he has a 16M/yr contract. Arizona might eat a little of that contract or take a big contract like Konerko/Lee, but they also have the options called the NYY. I am sure that GS would eat all of Johnson's contract, so Arizona has choices if it doesn't want to eat that much of the contract. Also, can we please get this straight, Arizona isn't moving Johnson as a salary dump, so please quit saying that. The point is that a trade like above(with Johnson adding roughly 9-10M to the current payroll) creates two more holes, not to mention the other exsisting holes(5th starter, setup reliever, leadoff hitter, RF) with no money to spend to address them. If the Sox were an ace pitcher away from winning the WS, than I could justify this trade, but the reality is that the Sox are a .500 team with multiple holes to address and a limited budget. Adding Johnson and neglecting the other needs(as well as creating more needs) would make the Sox a .500 team at best. Why is this so hard to understand?

 

Santo=dorf - Your example proves my point whether you realize it or not. There are literally a dozen teams that would be interested in Vazquez despite his contract if the Yankees are serious about moving him(including the Sox). This helps shows that big contracts can be moved.

 

CWSguy - Sure a top 3 of Johnson, Garcia, and Buehrle would be great in the playoffs. The problem is that there is no way the Sox would make the playoffs if they add Johnson(and his huge contract) while neglecting other holes(and creating new hole by adding Johnson).

 

Beck - You keep suggesting that the Sox HAVE to spend 8M+/yr on a #3 starter, but the amazing depth of quality middle of the rotation starter will dulute the pay that they receive(classic supply/demand). I guarantee that the Sox can get a quality middle of the rotation starter on the FA market for under 6M/yr. Is 6M/yr that bad for a quality middle of the rotation starter?

 

witesoxfan - Replacing Garland with Loaiza is a pretty significant downgrade based on the way that Loaiza pitched this year(and in his career). Who are the Sox going to trade to get Guillen? Will it not create other holes? Are you suggesting that the Sox have an unlimited payroll? You do realize that if a trade of Johnson for Lee, Garland, and a prospect occured, that they would already have a 70M+ payroll? Do you honestly think the Sox would go after a another big FA? I doubt that either the Angels or Baltimore would do those deals. The Sox offense would also be dreadful.

[CWSGuy406]

CWSguy - Sure a top 3 of Johnson, Garcia, and Buehrle would be great in the playoffs. The problem is that there is no way the Sox would make the playoffs if they add Johnson(and his huge contract) while neglecting other holes(and creating new hole by adding Johnson).

On the trade of which I proposed - something along the lines of Konerko, Adkins/Cotts, Diaz/Munoz, prospect - which holes are created? The long relief duty would take a hit, sure -- and Konerko's *home* power numbers would be missed. But I don't see that as a hit that this team couldn't overcome...

 

Gload would be able to fill in nicely, and he'd actually help us win more on the road than Konerko did (IMHO). And, while losing an Adkins/Diaz would take a hit to our long relief, I think that Cotts would be able to fill in nicely, and we can go out and get a Glendon Rusch type - emergency starter & long reliever...

[whitesox61382]

On the trade of which I proposed - something along the lines of Konerko, Adkins/Cotts, Diaz/Munoz, prospect - which holes are created?  The long relief duty would take a hit, sure -- and Konerko's *home* power numbers would be missed.  But I don't see that as a hit that this team couldn't overcome...

 

Gload would be able to fill in nicely, and he'd actually help us win more on the road than Konerko did (IMHO).  And, while losing an Adkins/Diaz would take a hit to our long relief, I think that Cotts would be able to fill in nicely, and we can go out and get a Glendon Rusch type - emergency starter & long reliever...

I think it would take a little more than your above package. Most teams would rather have 2-3 difference makers instead of a bunch(4-5) of so-so prospects/young players like you suggest. Furthermore, I am a big Gload fan, but thinking that he will put up anything close to what Konerko put up is just foolish(even on the road). Any way that you slice it, Gload is a significant downgrade from Konerko. You make an already weak pen into an extremely weak pen, and haven't you been the one preaching about how a strong pen is a key element to a sucessful team? The current pen doesn't have many proven players, but there are a decent amount of options to fill the back end of the pen(Cotts, Adkins, Diaz, Grilli, Munoz) which allows them to pick the 2-3 that are performing the best. If you trade 2 of those guys, than the Sox have almost no options if the 2-3 remaining guys struggle, thus significantly weaking the Sox pen and creating another hole.

[witesoxfan]

witesoxfan - Replacing Garland with Loaiza is a pretty significant downgrade based on the way that Loaiza pitched this year(and in his career). Who are the Sox going to trade to get Guillen? Will it not create other holes? Are you suggesting that the Sox have an unlimited payroll? You do realize that if a trade of Johnson for Lee, Garland, and a prospect occured, that they would already have a 70M+ payroll? Do you honestly think the Sox would go after a another big FA? I doubt that either the Angels or Baltimore would do those deals. The Sox offense would also be dreadful.

If the trade I proposed is made, someone has to replace Garland's production in the rotation...you think it's gonna be Jason Grilli?

 

Why not sign Esteban to a $2 mill deal? I'm sure come January, seeing how there are no other options out there, he'll accept the deal. And he's being asked to be our #5 starter...nothing more, nothing less. He will get atleast double digit wins, and maybe up to 15 as a #5(and that would be asking a ton, but it's possible). All you really need Esteban to do is to give you 5 innings a game or so. Keeping him fresh is the main idea.

 

I mentioned before that they'd trade Borchard and Diaz to Anaheim for Guillen...I don't think KC can top the offer, nor do I think they would. And I do think Anaheim would love that offer, even seeing what Borchard did this season. If they can turn him around and shorten his swing any, they rape us in that deal...but it's almost a move you have to make.

 

I do realize that a trade of Lee, Garland, and a couple others for RJ would put the Sox over $70 mill...I see no reason why the payroll should not be at around $75 mill this year, and the roster I proposed is right around $75 mill. Attendance figures remained roughly the same from last year, and that's including a raise in ticket prices. You also have to factor in a new TV deal and potential revenue sharing that the Sox will get along with JR's supposed willingness to open the checkbook a little more, and there is no reason the payroll shouldn't be at $75 mill.

 

I do not think the Sox would go after another big FA if they got RJ, and I think it would be foolish if they did. Getting 1 big name could probably be too much for this team to overcome...only time will tell.

 

As I said before...the deals with Anaheim and Baltimore are just the general trades. They could be tweaked a little, and there's nothing wrong with that. I do think Anaheim accepts Borchard and Diaz for Guillen though. They were the ones that dug themselves a hole in saying that they will trade Guillen.

 

And I will disagree about the offense being dreadful...it wouldn't be as good as offenses the Sox have had in year's past, but it wouldn't be terrible. In fact, I don't see how it differs much from Minnesota's offense. Crede is probably the worst offensive player on the team, and I really do not think there's much stopping KW from upgrading at either 2B or 3B at the deadline or even in the offseason and having Uribe play the vacant spot. The most notable thing about the offense is that every player 1-7 hit .280 or above last year(though Hairston and Gload's were in limited playing time) with the exception of Frank, who hit .271 and had an OPS of .997.

[JoshPR]

I'll ask Again.. Why Hairston.. Why??? :huh

[SoxAce]

there is no way the Sox would make the playoffs if they add Johnson

BWHAHAHA

[witesoxfan]

I'll ask Again.. Why Hairston.. Why??? :huh

Cuz he's cheap, and if he can stay healthy, he's a good player

 

Gotta take risks sometimes. If he doesn't work out, you have to make sure you have a good backup ready...and Willie Harris might be good enough.

[whitesox61382]

If the trade I proposed is made, someone has to replace Garland's production in the rotation...you think it's gonna be Jason Grilli?

 

Why not sign Esteban to a $2 mill deal?  I'm sure come January, seeing how there are no other options out there, he'll accept the deal.  And he's being asked to be our #5 starter...nothing more, nothing less.  He will get atleast double digit wins, and maybe up to 15 as a #5(and that would be asking a ton, but it's possible).  All you really need Esteban to do is to give you 5 innings a game or so.  Keeping him fresh is the main idea.

 

I mentioned before that they'd trade Borchard and Diaz to Anaheim for Guillen...I don't think KC can top the offer, nor do I think they would.  And I do think Anaheim would love that offer, even seeing what Borchard did this season.  If they can turn him around and shorten his swing any, they rape us in that deal...but it's almost a move you have to make.

 

I do realize that a trade of Lee, Garland, and a couple others for RJ would put the Sox over $70 mill...I see no reason why the payroll should not be at around $75 mill this year, and the roster I proposed is right around $75 mill.  Attendance figures remained roughly the same from last year, and that's including a raise in ticket prices.  You also have to factor in a new TV deal and potential revenue sharing that the Sox will get along with JR's supposed willingness to open the checkbook a little more, and there is no reason the payroll shouldn't be at $75 mill.

 

I do not think the Sox would go after another big FA if they got RJ, and I think it would be foolish if they did.  Getting 1 big name could probably be too much for this team to overcome...only time will tell.

 

As I said before...the deals with Anaheim and Baltimore are just the general trades.  They could be tweaked a little, and there's nothing wrong with that.  I do think Anaheim accepts Borchard and Diaz for Guillen though.  They were the ones that dug themselves a hole in saying that they will trade Guillen. 

 

And I will disagree about the offense being dreadful...it wouldn't be as good as offenses the Sox have had in year's past, but it wouldn't be terrible.  In fact, I don't see how it differs much from Minnesota's offense.  Crede is probably the worst offensive player on the team, and I really do not think there's much stopping KW from upgrading at either 2B or 3B at the deadline or even in the offseason and having Uribe play the vacant spot.  The most notable thing about the offense is that every player 1-7 hit .280 or above last year(though Hairston and Gload's were in limited playing time) with the exception of Frank, who hit .271 and had an OPS of .997.

That is my entire point. The Sox would have almost no money to address the 5th starter need(not to mention the other needs), and will probably have to stick someone like Grilli or Diaz in that roll because they have few other options.

 

You are being foolish if you think that Loaiza would get close to 15 wins as a 5th starter. There are 4 reasons why. 1) Loaiza is back to his 5.00 ERA career averages(maybe even worse). 2) Have you looked at the offense that the Sox have in your suggestion? It would be one of the worst in the AL, so Loaiza would probably get some of the worst run support in the majors(not good for a starter with an ERA around 5.00) 3) If you only want Loaiza to go 5 innings, than he won't figure in most starts. 4) The 5th starter gets 5+ fewer starts than the 1-4 guys. Loaiza would be LUCKY to have 10 wins given those 4 above reasons(welcome to a team that has other weaknesses thanks to the addition of Johnson). These are issues that you need to look at critically.

 

Please stop overhyping Sox prospects. I would venture that the Angels would prefer a bag of balls over Borchard. The guy has absolutely no trade value. A 25 year old outfielder that has gotten progressively worse in the minors and who looks absolutely lost in the majors(can't even hit his weight) simple won't get you anything but a jock strap, so please don't pretend that the Angels would be GRATEFUL to receive a player like Borchard. Diaz has some value, but got beat up pretty bad in the majors and his stuff looked average at best. Sure the Angels are really looking to move Guillen, but they will get much better offers than garbage like Borchard and Diaz. Lets not forget that Guillen is signed to a reasonable deal, which means half a dozen small market teams would be interested in a realitive bargain like Guillen(increasing his cost in return).

 

If the JR is willing to spend 75M, which is a big if, than I think the Sox could put a better team on the field than the one you suggest.

 

That .280+ BA thing is so misleading that you really should be able to use it. Hairston has put together one full season in his career(hit .233 in that season). That means the offensive juggernaut know as Willie Harris will probably be getting significant PT. This past season was the 1st time in 4 years that Vizquel posted a BA over .280(including 2 seasons with a sub .255 average). Thomas is a big health concern who hasn't posted a BA above .280 since 2000. Guillen is a good player, but not a 4th hitter on a good team. Gload hasn't shown that he can consisnant start in the majors(very small sample size). We will have to see if Rowand's season was a fluke. The power wasn't a surprise, but the high BA raised many eyebrows. Uribe(see Rowand above). Crede is Crede(enough said). Davis is a below average offensive player. It is worth noting that the below lineup has terrible plate disipline. There is a good chance that Thomas would be the only player with more than 60 walks. The power would also take a significant hit. A decrease in OBP(which was already below average) and a significant lose in power would have devasting affects on the offense(Beane would certainly frown on that offense).

[AddisonStSox]

I'll ask Again.. Why Hairston.. Why??? :huh

Cause he's better than Willie f***ing Harris that's why!

 

Oh yeah, he's a Chicagoland native as well.

 

Great sig dorf!!!

[santo=dorf]

Would Arizona take both Garland AND Konerko? I know they got burned on the Schilling trade with the prospects, but I don't think they want to get two guys who are going to free agents after 2005.

 

BTW, check out the new sig. B)

[whitesox61382]

I mentioned that the Sox could spend the 75M in a better way. For comparison sake, here would be an example.

 

Diaz and Borchard for Guillen - This isn't a fair deal for Anaheim, but since you use it in your comparison it is only fair that I can do the same.

 

Sign OPerez for about 7M/yr

 

Sign Vizquel for about 3M/yr

 

The lineup is as followed:

 

Vizquel SS

Rowand CF

Thomas DH

Lee LF

Konerko 1B

Guillen RF

Uribe 2B

Crede 3B

Davis C

 

Too many righties, but 10x better than the lineup you suggest.

 

Garcia

Buehrle

Perez

Garland

Contreras

 

The difference between your rotation(with Johnson and Loaiza) versus my rotation(with Perez and Garland) is only an ERA of 3.93(Johnson and Loaiza combined) versus 4.12(Perez and Garland combined). So our rotations are about even.

 

Your bullpen is a little better since you added Julio. However, my bench would probably be better with guys like Gload, ect. So which roster do you think it better for 75M? This only further proves my point that the Sox would be better off going after a starter on the FA market.

[santo=dorf]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...6p-210447c.html

 

As for Javy Vazquez, the other half of Torre's Game 7 suicide tag team, it appears the Yankees are resigned to trading him rather than attempting to resurrect him next spring. They'll undoubtedly try to re-visit the Randy Johnson talks with Arizona, but as exciting as the prospect of the Big Unit in pinstripes may be, trading young for old with nothing coming in the barren farm system is a recipe for long-term disaster. Again, the failures of the Yankees' player development department over the last eight years has severely handicapped their ability to make necessary improvements and, as such, this team could get old in a hurry.

 

Can anyone tell me the last time a team traded a player one year after he signed a multi-year deal?

[JoshPR]

Cuz he's cheap, and if he can stay healthy, he's a good player

 

Gotta take risks sometimes.  If he doesn't work out, you have to make sure you have a good backup ready...and Willie Harris might be good enough.

IF !

 

Key word. SOMETHING he hasn't done.

[witesoxfan]

That is my entire point. The Sox would have almost no money to address the 5th starter need(not to mention the other needs), and will probably have to stick someone like Grilli or Diaz in that roll because they have few other options.

 

You are being foolish if you think that Loaiza would get close to 15 wins as a 5th starter. There are 4 reasons why. 1) Loaiza is back to his 5.00 ERA career averages(maybe even worse). 2) Have you looked at the offense that the Sox have in your suggestion? It would be one of the worst in the AL, so Loaiza would probably get some of the worst run support in the majors(not good for a starter with an ERA around 5.00) 3) If you only want Loaiza to go 5 innings, than he won't figure in most starts. 4) The 5th starter gets 5+ fewer starts than the 1-4 guys. Loaiza would be LUCKY to have 10 wins given those 4 above reasons(welcome to a team that has other weaknesses thanks to the addition of Johnson). These are issues that you need to look at critically.

 

Please stop overhyping Sox prospects. I would venture that the Angels would prefer a bag of balls over Borchard. The guy has absolutely no trade value. A 25 year old outfielder that has gotten progressively worse in the minors and who looks absolutely lost in the majors(can't even hit his weight) simple won't get you anything but a jock strap, so please don't pretend that the Angels would be GRATEFUL to receive a player like Borchard. Diaz has some value, but got beat up pretty bad in the majors and his stuff looked average at best. Sure the Angels are really looking to move Guillen, but they will get much better offers than garbage like Borchard and Diaz. Lets not forget that Guillen is signed to a reasonable deal, which means half a dozen small market teams would be interested in a realitive bargain like Guillen(increasing his cost in return).

 

If the JR is willing to spend 75M, which is a big if, than I think the Sox could put a better team on the field than the one you suggest.

 

That .280+ BA thing is so misleading that you really should be able to use it. Hairston has put together one full season in his career(hit .233 in that season). That means the offensive juggernaut know as Willie Harris will probably be getting significant PT. This past season was the 1st time in 4 years that Vizquel posted a BA over .280(including 2 seasons with a sub .255 average). Thomas is a big health concern who hasn't posted a BA above .280 since 2000. Guillen is a good player, but not a 4th hitter on a good team. Gload hasn't shown that he can consisnant start in the majors(very small sample size). We will have to see if Rowand's season was a fluke. The power wasn't a surprise, but the high BA raised many eyebrows. Uribe(see Rowand above). Crede is Crede(enough said). Davis is a below average offensive player. It is worth noting that the below lineup has terrible plate disipline. There is a good chance that Thomas would be the only player with more than 60 walks. The power would also take a significant hit. A decrease in OBP(which was already below average) and a significant lose in power would have devasting affects on the offense(Beane would certainly frown on that offense).

15 wins is pushing it...that would be more or less if he pitched similarly to his 2003 form. But I would say that double digit wins is not out of the question and that's more then we have gotten the past 2 seasons from our #5 starter, and for $2 mill more, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

 

I'm not really overhyping the Sox prospects at all...but I'm just not sure how many teams will have interest in Jose Guillen. That's basically all. I'm not suggesting Borchard is a good prospect at all, just that I'm not sure what other offers Anaheim will get for Jose Guillen. Borchard and Diaz wouldn't have to be the final offer...I did say that I was just throwing some names out there.

 

I do think Diaz would be part of the package though.

 

Another person I just thought of that could become available is Kenny Lofton, and while I know he was an asshole on the Sox, and he was part of the late 90s Indians too, he is still a very solid player, and is cheap and would be a hell of an option to lead off for us. Not sure where he'd play in the field(I'd put him in LF personally with Rowand in CF and Guillen in RF, assuming we got him), and I'd end up just trading Konerko elsewhere for value, with a good reliever being apart of the package.

 

I do realize there is the potential to have better teams with $75 mill, but a rotation of RJ-Garcia-Buehrle is quite possibly the best in the majors, and if we got to the postseason, be it Wild Card or a division win, that team is probably the favorite to win it all just because of that trio.

 

.280 may be overrated...but how about how Hairston and Vizquel would both probably have OBP's of .350 or better, 3-7 would all probably put up OPS's of .800 or better, and that Crede and Davis would put up OPS of around .700-.750? Another thing that would indicate that this is an Ozzie type of offense is how often they put the ball in play...in half a season, Jerry Hairston struck out roughly once every 10 ABs(29 K's, 287 ABs), and had as many walks as strike outs. The most Vizquel has ever struck out in a season is 72 times, so you know he wouldn't strike out a lot. Guillen has only struck out 100 times one time in his career, though has struck out 90 times twice(so I wouldn't say he doesn't strike out a lot). Gload struck out about once every 6.5 ABs or so, so he doesn't strike out an incredible amount either. I'm not a big believer in having to have guys that put the ball in play...but it is there to see.

 

I just proposed this idea anyways. Not like I'm the GM. I personally do think this offense would be better then you give it credit for, but it probably wouldn't be as good as I think it would be.

[witesoxfan]

I mentioned that the Sox could spend the 75M in a better way. For comparison sake, here would be an example.

 

Diaz and Borchard for Guillen - This isn't a fair deal for Anaheim, but since you use it in your comparison it is only fair that I can do the same.

 

Sign OPerez for about 7M/yr

 

Sign Vizquel for about 3M/yr

 

The lineup is as followed:

 

Vizquel SS

Rowand CF

Thomas DH

Lee LF

Konerko 1B

Guillen RF

Uribe 2B

Crede 3B

Davis C

 

Too many righties, but 10x better than the lineup you suggest.

 

Garcia

Buehrle

Perez

Garland

Contreras

 

The difference between your rotation(with Johnson and Loaiza) versus my rotation(with Perez and Garland) is only an ERA of 3.93(Johnson and Loaiza combined) versus 4.12(Perez and Garland combined). So our rotations are about even.

 

Your bullpen is a little better since you added Julio. However, my bench would probably be better with guys like Gload, ect. So which roster do you think it better for 75M? This only further proves my point that the Sox would be better off going after a starter on the FA market.

Plain and simply, I'd like either team a lot. I think your team gets us to the postseason a lot easier then my team does, but I think my team wins in the postseason more then your team does.

 

Head to head in a series of games, my team is better...but over the long haul, yours probably wins more games then mine, just do to an offense that would be very inconsistent.

 

But an idea that has not yet been visited it doing what you do...signing Perez and Vizquel and whoever else...and using your team. Then, come trading deadline time, you put together a package for RJ, assuming he is still with Arizona, for half the cost with more talent on the team.

 

I would assume that a starter from the rotation would go along with a good package of prospects(and one of the downers about trading for RJ during the season is that you probably have to give up one of Anderson, Sweeney, and McCarthy). Let's hypothetically say it is Garland that is dealt as part of the package. Can you imagine how good a rotation of RJ-Garcia-Buehrle-Perez-Contreras would be?

[beck72]

Beck - You keep suggesting that the Sox HAVE to spend 8M+/yr on a #3 starter, but the amazing depth of quality middle of the rotation starter will dulute the pay that they receive(classic supply/demand). I guarantee that the Sox can get a quality middle of the rotation starter on the FA market for under 6M/yr. Is 6M/yr that bad for a quality middle of the rotation starter?

Guys who would be an upgrade over at least contreras and Garland--Perez, Clement, Radke, Ortiz---should all get $8 mill, a yr, for no less than 3 yrs. I'm not sure who you think will get for $6 mill who would at least be the sox 3rd starter.

[beck72]

Going into this offseason, I thought signing an Odalis Perez or Matt Clement made the most sense to help the Sox SP. Yet the article got me thinking, why target RJ first?

 

The key is the Sox would be taking a huge risk having 4 SP's signed to guaranteed long term contracts if they went after a FA--Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia. One or more are bound to get hurt and then the Sox are stuck eating salary. Many teams like Minn. had to eat salaries like Milton's in 2003 and Joe Mays which kept them from getting other players during the yr. Yet a 1 yr guy like Johnson, is less of a risk. He pitched well in 2004, and his contract is off the books the next yr.

 

The Sox have had success signing/ acquiring guys to 1 yr deals w/ options for a 2nd--Loiaza, Shingo, Politte, Bartolo Colon [the sox got 2 draft picks for him and acquired him for Jeff Lieber and Osuna]. As long as the price in terms of talent isn't too steep to get RJ [which it prob. won't] it's very possible he could be on the south side if he OK's it.

[witesoxfan]

As long as the price in terms of talent isn't too steep to get RJ [which it prob. won't] it's very possible he could be on the south side if he OK's it.

It depends on what you mean by steep.

 

He will cost a lot...period. Arizona does not have to trade him. They will have to get a pretty good offer for him to trade him.

[beck72]

It depends on what you mean by steep.

 

He will cost a lot...period.  Arizona does not have to trade him.  They will have to get a pretty good offer for him to trade him.

Steep in my book is giving away the top prospects. If a trade could be made that involved one of the Sox top ten prospects, like a Chris Young who the Sox have depth at his position and he's a few years away, and others then i'd do it.

 

I don't know what Ariz's plan is. If they want to get competitive quickly, then they'd want starters. If not, then prospects. Who knows which direction they'll take. But Johnson seems to have a say in whether he wants to play for Ariz or not. If they won't be competitive, then he can demand a trade.

[Jake]

I dont want to trade any of our rotation. If you do that, sure you have an great starter but you're falling down the bottomless pit of fifth starters again! Dump Lee, I think Konerko might be a bit more of a clubhouse presence and I am personally not a huge fan of Lee's. If we could keep both that would be great too.

[witesoxfan]

Steep in my book is giving away the top prospects. If a trade could be made that involved one of the Sox top ten prospects, like a Chris Young who the Sox have depth at his position and he's a few years away, and others then i'd do it.

 

I don't know what Ariz's plan is. If they want to get competitive quickly, then they'd want starters. If not, then prospects. Who knows which direction they'll take. But Johnson seems to have a say in whether he wants to play for Ariz or not. If they won't be competitive, then he can demand a trade.

OK, I agree completely with that.

 

In the offseason, any deal involving Sweeney, Anderson, and McCarthy is too expensive to make, unless you are getting a hell of a deal.

 

They've said before they are thinking about retooling, but I see no point to do that...they have no core of players whatsoever, and are probably atleast 2 or 3 years away without spending a ton of money on players again.

[YASNY]

Trading those top prospects should not be an option at this point. The Sox need to restock the farm system and let some of these guys develop. The second tier guys are ok to move, but Sweeney, Anderson, BMAc and Baj should not go anywhere.