KW says Sox in "Buyer's Mode"

[klaus kinski]

Right now-good momemtum for NEXT year is what is in order-get a few additions-infuse a little youth & speed & a contact hitter or two into the line-up around Thome Konerko & AJ and let them play together now-

 

I'm more into a Spring Training starts now mode-

[AirScott]

He might not have received as much valuable as possible in that deal, but he certainly didn't lose it.

I don't know how much more KW could have gotten for Freddy. I'm sure his drop in velocity was no secret around baseball.

 

I also saw came across this story again and found it funny, particularly the first few paragraphs:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2689303

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- In the first big trade at baseball's winter meetings, the Chicago White Sox sent starting pitcher Freddy Garcia to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night for right-hander Gavin Floyd and a player to be named.

 

Then, Chicago general manager Kenny Williams mistakenly named that player.

 

Williams let slip during the announcement that the other player in the deal is pitcher Gio Gonzalez -- traded by the White Sox to Philadelphia a year ago in the Jim Thome deal.

 

"It's 11 o'clock at night, what do you want?" Williams said.

[Rowand44]

I don't know how much more KW could have gotten for Freddy. I'm sure his drop in velocity was no secret around baseball.

 

I also saw came across this story again and found it funny, particularly the first few paragraphs:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2689303

You could certainly be right. I just think most of us here had our expectations a little too high when it came to what we could receive for Freddy, I know I did.

[spiderman]

You could certainly be right. I just think most of us here had our expectations a little too high when it came to what we could receive for Freddy, I know I did.

 

Maybe, but according to Kenny, Gio Gonzalez is the best left handed prospect around. I think they were expecting Floyd to win the 5th job though.

[kwolf68]

Kenny Williams should run for political office.

[NorthSideSox72]

Kenny Williams should run for political office.

No way he'd ever get support from either party. He actually accomplishes things.

[Chisoxfn]

Kenny saying "buyer's mode" is different than a GM like Omar Minaya saying the Mets are in "buyers mode". I'm taking this to mean that if (or, more appropriatey, when) Kenny trades Dye, Iguchi and/or Contreras, he's looking for young players who can step in and play within the next year. I think he feels that he's built up a strong enough rotation to where the Sox won't have to go through a total "rebuilding" mode, so he wants guys like Richar who, at the very least, will be competing for a spot in 2008.

 

I don't take this to mean the Sox will be offering Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney for Ken Griffey in an effort to save 2007.

That is what I am hoping. I also think Kenny will be using this quote to give him more leverage. It could, however, mean the club also uses prospects it doesn't like as much to buy other young players that could step in and fill holes for the Sox this year and the next few years.

 

So as long as we aren't trading for veterans, rather we are acquiring younger players (that aren't due for FA soon) than I would be a fan of buying (in a sense our selling of Dye or whomever could really be the club buying other players that Kenny likes).

 

However, if we buy a bunch of vets I will be so damn pissed.

 

since when?

 

i would have sworn that he lost on the freddy for floyd trade.

Whether he could have gotten more than Floyd/Gio is definitely a possibility but a true loss would have been the Sox holding onto Freddy and getting nothing for him. They have Gio who is developing into one of the better LHP prospects in the game (although i won't regard him in the same class as guys like Kershaw).

 

Gio needs to still work on some things but he has good velocity to his fastball, an improving change, and a very good curve and could find his way into a big league rotation for a number of years. Floyd still has that potential as well (albeit I would write him off if he didn't have some success this season with the major league club; I should note that I want Floyd to start the rest of the season with the club with Contreras being gone).

[LosMediasBlancas]

P.R. B. S.

Edited July 9, 2007 by LosMediasBlancas

[Steff]

P.R. B. S.

 

 

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap...

 

[hi8is]

wow, there's more than one Winston Smith aboard soxtalk these days.... sweet!

[kwolf68]

No way he'd ever get support from either party. He actually accomplishes things.

 

 

Yea I hear you. What I really meant was Kenny often says one thing, but is plotting another course of action. The two (public office and being the GM for a baseball team) can't really be juxtaposed, because there is a certain amount of 'deceit' in baseball and we all understand that reality.

 

In politics. Nevermind.

[WCSox]

No way he'd ever get support from either party. He actually accomplishes things.

 

+1

 

This indeed is P.R. B.S., but it's coming on the heels of the Buehrle extension, a couple of stellar outings from Javy, and some overall improved play. It's probably not just to generate excitement/ticket sales, but to also keep momentum going their way on the diamond. In the unlikely event that many, many things go their way from here on out, they DO have the talent to nab a Wild Card berth.

[The Ginger Kid]

one glance at the upcoming schedule in July and August, I have to laugh. I'll be happy if they don't lose any more ground, much less make up ground.

[witesoxfan]

You could certainly be right. I just think most of us here had our expectations a little too high when it came to what we could receive for Freddy, I know I did.

 

Not sure how much I agree with this, honestly. I really do think KW could have gotten Milledge or Pelfrey or some other top prospects for Garcia, but KW pretty much knew there was something wrong with Freddy physically, and he wanted to take the best offer he could get without having to give Garcia a physical. Getting two guys with great stuff for a guy that could very easily pitch like garbage this year (and has pitched like garbage) was all he needed. Or, the possibility remains that he could have gotten Gio, Gavin, and Rowand for him too, but again, the physical would have needed to take place. If Garcia takes the physical and fails, you are going to be lucky to get Gavin Floyd alone for him.

[maggliopipe]

KW pretty much knew there was something wrong with Freddy physically, and he wanted to take the best offer he could get without having to give Garcia a physical.....

Or, the possibility remains that he could have gotten Gio, Gavin, and Rowand for him too, but again, the physical would have needed to take place.

 

Does stuff like this really go on at the bargaining table? It's hard to imagine that Gillick would be like "Yo I'll give you these two pieces for Garcia, but if you let me give him a physical and he passes then I'll give you this additional piece." Gillick saying 'yo' isn't the only reason I find this hard to believe. If I'm Gillick and I'm trading for somebody, how do I NOT make it a condition of the trade that I get to administer physicals on the guys coming my way? Why would he want to potentially dick himself like that and lay his neck under the guillotine? Clearly I'm just not hip to MLB trade negotiations (since Garcia wasn't inspected) but it's shocking to say the least that administration of physicals isn't the rule in trades.

[WCSox]

If I'm Gillick and I'm trading for somebody, how do I NOT make it a condition of the trade that I get to administer physicals on the guys coming my way? Why would he want to potentially dick himself like that and lay his neck under the guillotine? Clearly I'm just not hip to MLB trade negotiations (since Garcia wasn't inspected) but it's shocking to say the least that administration of physicals isn't the rule in trades.

 

DING, DING, DING!

[Dick Allen]

Not sure how much I agree with this, honestly. I really do think KW could have gotten Milledge or Pelfrey or some other top prospects for Garcia, but KW pretty much knew there was something wrong with Freddy physically, and he wanted to take the best offer he could get without having to give Garcia a physical. Getting two guys with great stuff for a guy that could very easily pitch like garbage this year (and has pitched like garbage) was all he needed. Or, the possibility remains that he could have gotten Gio, Gavin, and Rowand for him too, but again, the physical would have needed to take place. If Garcia takes the physical and fails, you are going to be lucky to get Gavin Floyd alone for him.

There is no way KW traded with Philadelphia and said they couldn't perform a physical. For some reason Gillick chose not to. Garcia did have his arm checked at the end of spring training and they found nothing, so it probably was a moot point anyway.

[elrockinMT]

Does anyone think KW was going to come out and say "hey, fire sale here! Get your veteran talent here - all for the low low price of your best 2008+ projected prospects!"???

 

That would be stupid not just among the GM's, but also in broadcasting to the fan base something akin to "we give up on 2007".

 

He is looking at 2008 and 2009. If it helps 2007, hey, great, bonus.

 

 

He wouldn't, but I am not ready to throw in the towel yet either. I sure was tempted when the Twinkies beat us 20-14 and 12-0 on Friday, but we bounced back Sat and Sun. Anyway I just bet we have a trade or two, but not a fire sale and this team can still compete. It could be a fun ride this second half if they come together.

Edited July 12, 2007 by elrockinMT

[GreatScott82]

He wouldn't, but I am not ready to throw in the towel yet either. I sure was tempted when the Twinkies beat us 20-14 and 12-0 on Friday, but we bounced back Sat and Sun. Anyway I just bet we have a trade or two, but not a fire sale and this team can still compete. It could be a fun ride this second half if they come together.

They are finally starting to hit the ball however this team will not get back into any race w/ this bullpen. So unless Dewon Day can surprise the team by getting outs and Thorton/MacDougal can some how turn it around, its very unlikely. I do expect Dye and Contreras to be dealt to unload some salary and possibly get a couple of decent prospects in return. This team will finish around 80-82 IMO. When was the last time we finished under .500? I'm pretty sure it was in 1999 during the "Kids can play" campagn.