Sox inquire about Joey Gathright & Aubrey Huff

[SSH2005]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/24/Rays/Mil...Friedman_.shtml

The hottest commodity is believed to be centerfielder Joey Gathright with nine teams showing interest including the Dodgers, who seem the most ardent, the Cubs and the White Sox.

The Rangers, Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox and Orioles have apparently inquired about rightfielder/DH Aubrey Huff.

[qwerty]

That's fairly disappointing.

[Chisoxfn]

I'd assume that with Thome here Huff is now an aftermality. Although if Paulie isn't resigned that could be Konerko's backup plan.

 

Huff had a down year but I still think he's a good hitter.

[SSH2005]

That's fairly disappointing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, it is. Gathright has a ton of speed and can bunt but he has no power to speak of. He's basically a cheap version of Juan Pierre. Huff seems to be declining (steroids?).

[Chisoxfn]

Also, I don't get why the Drays would trade a cheap, talented young outfielder. If they did you'd bet they'd get Sweeney and a prospect or Anderson straight up.

 

I wouldn't do that for Gathright. Gathright is fast as hell and I think he's pretty solid defensively (although I haven't seen enough of him) but he has yet to develop into a top of the order hitter (ie drawing walks and all that stuff).

 

That said if I were going to tab a guy as being a good leadoff hitter 2-3 years from now it would definately be Gaithright. He has killer speed and I dont know about his arm. I saw him make some fabulous defensive plays in Anaheim (but that doesn't mean he's great defensively).

[TLAK]

I'd assume that with Thome here Huff is now an aftermality. Although if Paulie isn't resigned that could be Konerko's backup plan. 

 

Huff had a down year but I still think he's a good hitter.

Must be early in CA.

 

What is an aftermality? Do they do the D-Ray deal because of the Thome trade, or drop the deal because of the trade?

[Chisoxfn]

Must be early in CA.

 

What is an aftermality?  Do they do the D-Ray deal because of the Thome trade, or drop the deal because of the trade?

Who knows, LOL, but in my dictionary a Huff deal is off unless Konerko doesn't resign. I don't see that happening so I don't see Huff on the SouthSide.

 

I could see Gaithright, but I don't like what he'd cost (in terms of what we gave up).

[AngelasDaddy0427]

I could see Huff as our 1B next year... That being said his price will be too high... The DRAY's are famous for wanting way too much for their guys...

[Chisoxfn]

I could see Huff as our 1B next year... That being said his price will be too high... The DRAY's are famous for wanting way too much for their guys...

They have a new GM though.

[CWSGuy406]

Also, I don't get why the Drays would trade a cheap, talented young outfielder.  If they did you'd bet they'd get Sweeney and a prospect or Anderson straight up. 

 

I wouldn't do that for Gathright.  Gathright is fast as hell and I think he's pretty solid defensively (although I haven't seen enough of him) but he has yet to develop into a top of the order hitter (ie drawing walks and all that stuff). 

 

IIRC, people have said that he's sort of Scott Podsednik like in the OF -- all the speed in the world, but doesn't get very good jumps.

 

I believe the D-Rays have a glut of OF'ers 30 or under. Gomes, Huff, Gathright, Baldelli, Crawford, Young. Young is an obvious keeper, and it seems the same way with Crawford. They just signed Rocco to a (somewhat) big deal this offseason, too. Huff is obviously on the block. I dunno about Gomes -- he's a cheap option who provides good power, Tampa should realize that.

 

If I were the Tampa GM, the one I'd be trading is Gathright, followed by Huff.

[TheHawkaroo]

I'd take Gathright, he has a lot of potential. Stole 20 SB last year in only about a third of a season. OBP is definetly a concern, but I wouldn't mind seeing him in a platoon role with Anderson.

[nitetrain8601]

I'd definately take Gathright. He doesn't need power. He just needs to know how to bunt and use his speed.

[Guest JimH]

I'd definately take Gathright. He doesn't need power. He just needs to know how to bunt and use his speed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Agree totally, and he made strides in that regard in '05. I'm not surprised at all the White Sox are asking about him, he is Guillen's type of player and exactly what they want in the #2 hole, speed to burn. He would thrive here.

[Chisoxfn]

Agree totally, and he made strides in that regard in '05.  I'm not surprised at all the White Sox are asking about him, he is Guillen's type of player and exactly what they want in the #2 hole, speed to burn.  He would thrive here.

I'd say this. He's about as fast a guy in the minors, seems to handle the bat well for a 23 year old and the only thing the Sox would have to see is him develop some more patience (which could come). If he has a good work ethic and can play defense (I know he has range cause I've seen him make some amazing plays) he'd definately be a good fit.

 

We have Pods for another year or two and he can be grooming his replacement and potential 2 hole hitter in Gathright (or you could have Gathright in the 9 spot which almost gives you a 2nd leadoff hitter).

 

Plus if you turn the lineup over than all of a sudden Guchi (hitting 2nd) is almost like Guchi hitting 3rd and in a run producing spot (well not quite, but more so than last year).

 

Gathright could steal himself 60 bases eventually. I liked the fact that he was caught stealing just 4 or 5 times (20 sucesses) and that was in a short season.

 

The Drays would probably want pitching (although I just said they'd want some outfield prospects). I just don't know how much more pitching the Sox could give up. Could they (The DRays) have interest in Willie Harris (I don't really follow them much so I don't know there needs) and a pitching prospect (it would have to be a good one though...Gaithright is pretty well thought of, IIRC).

 

Here's one...would they do a Josh Fields for Gathright swap? Looking at his stats closely he's had somewhat of a regression in terms of drawing walks, but he doesn't strike out a ridiculous amount of times. The odd thing is he has so few doubles and triples (that could be due to the parks, but once again I'm not all that familiar with the Drays organization as a whole).

[qwerty]

I would prefer for our two hole hitter to have some power. I am talking a guy with good gap power and has the ability to hit 10-12 homers... in other words, a guy that is not afraid of knocking in a run. I just do not see gathright being that anytime soon.

 

But imo as it stands gomes is their best outfielder until proven otherwise.

[nitetrain8601]

I would prefer for our two hole hitter to have some power. I am talking a guy with good gap power and has the ability to hit 10-12 homers... in other words, a guy that is not afraid of knocking in a run. I just do not see gathright being that anytime soon.

 

But imo as it stands gomes is their best outfielder until proven otherwise.

 

Pierre doesn't have any power. Screw power. It's the two hole. I want someone who could move the runner over and leave the bopping to the heart of the order.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I would prefer for our two hole hitter to have some power. I am talking a guy with good gap power and has the ability to hit 10-12 homers... in other words, a guy that is not afraid of knocking in a run. I just do not see gathright being that anytime soon.

 

But imo as it stands gomes is their best outfielder until proven otherwise.

 

With Hopefully Konerko, Thome, Dye, Gooch, AJ, Crede and Uribe, I don't think power is gonna be much of a problem.

[maggsmaggs]

Gathright is fast, but that is it offensively. He won't hit above .300 in the majors, no power, poor plate discipline (39 K, 10 BB in 203 at bats.) Jerry Owens is a gonna be a better player b/c of his plate discpline. We don't need guys with speed just for the sake of having speed.

[3E8]

Pierre doesn't have any power. Screw power. It's the two hole. I want someone who could move the runner over and leave the bopping to the heart of the order.

Productive outs rule!

[SoxAce]

Gathright is fast, but that is it offensively.  He won't hit above .300 in the majors, no power, poor plate discipline (39 K, 10 BB in 203 at bats.)  Jerry Owens is a gonna be a better player b/c of his plate discpline.  We don't need guys with speed just for the sake of having speed.

 

I agree with you to some extent. I do believe Gathright will hit .300. I'm not saying .320+ but .305 or so is not out of the question. (hell he hit .276 which isn't bad in 200+ abs) I know he hit .300+ in the minors which doesn't mean he'll do the same in the majors but he does not strikeout much or walk so you know he'll put the ball in play. I still like Gooch in the 2 hole. I don't know why people here are riding him off tryin to move him down. I would put Gathright down maybe 8th or 9th in the line-up kinda like they were doing to Willie this past season. They can us his speed more to distract the pitchers down in the line-up more like Pods was doin so he can set-up the top of the order. (gives Pods, Gooch, Thome more RBI chances) I'm alittle lost right now cause I just found out yesterday comming home from work about the Rowand trade and how I think it's f*** up they announce this before thanksgiving.. but that's just me.

[YASNY]

I agree with you to some extent. I do believe Gathright will hit .300. I'm not saying .320+ but .305 or so is not out of the question. (hell he hit .276 which isn't bad in 200+ abs) I know he hit .300+ in the minors which doesn't mean he'll do the same in the majors but he does not strikeout much or walk so you know he'll put the ball in play. I still like Gooch in the 2 hole. I don't know why people here are riding him off tryin to move him down. I would put Gathright down maybe 8th or 9th in the line-up kinda like they were doing to Willie this past season. They can us his speed more to distract the pitchers down in the line-up more like Pods was doin so he can set-up the top of the order. (gives Pods, Gooch, Thome more RBI chances)  I'm alittle lost right now cause I just found out yesterday comming home from work about the Rowand trade and how I think it's f*** up they announce this before thanksgiving.. but that's just me.

 

The announcement came out of Philly ... prematurely.

[beck72]

Agree totally, and he made strides in that regard in '05.  I'm not surprised at all the White Sox are asking about him, he is Guillen's type of player and exactly what they want in the #2 hole, speed to burn.  He would thrive here.

If the sox got him, they probably wouldn't need him to hit in the #2 hole right away [though he could very likely put up similar numbers as Iguchi]. Yet if he had the skills to take over the #2 spot by say late may or June, it could be a decent option

 

I could see some type of platoon situation with Anderson. Anderson could also move to LF and give Pods a day off. That's not the worst way to bring up rookies [i still think Gathright would be considered a rookie IIRC], playing them each against favorable matchups

[beck72]

The Drays would probably want pitching (although I just said they'd want some outfield prospects).  I just don't know how much more pitching the Sox could give up.  Could they (The DRays) have interest in Willie Harris (I don't really follow them much so I don't know there needs) and a pitching prospect (it would have to be a good one though...Gaithright is pretty well thought of, IIRC).

 

Here's one...would they do a Josh Fields for Gathright swap?  Looking at his stats closely he's had somewhat of a regression in terms of drawing walks, but he doesn't strike out a ridiculous amount of times.  The odd thing is he has so few doubles and triples (that could be due to the parks, but once again I'm not all that familiar with the Drays organization as a whole).

I could live with a Fields and a guy like Baj and Adkins. Give them arms but expendable arms

[DBAHO]

Gathright's an interesting option, but I think he's going to be very similar to Jerry Owens anyway, and Anderson really deserves the 1st shot anyway.

 

Although, if we were trading for a D-Rays OF, I'd like it to be Jonny Gomes, but we were too late on that, after he was stuck in AAA.

[SSH2005]

Gathright is fast, but that is it offensively.  He won't hit above .300 in the majors, no power, poor plate discipline (39 K, 10 BB in 203 at bats.)  Jerry Owens is a gonna be a better player b/c of his plate discpline.  We don't need guys with speed just for the sake of having speed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly. The problem with Gathright is that he strikes out too much and doesn't walk enough. He wouldn't be a very good #2 hitter other than his speed and bunting ability. Like DBAH0 said, you may as well try Jerry Owens then.

Edited November 25, 2005 by SSH2005