Crede and Free Agency

[Frankensteiner]

I would never, ever give Joe Crede a long-term contract extension. Not with his back, injury history, and inconsistency. If he continues to have a great year, then great. Thank the baseball gods everyday. Hopefully it get us to the playoffs and we can be happy. But he's not the type of guy you would ever give a 5yr/$75M contract. That's just crazy.

[Princess Dye]

I would never, ever give Joe Crede a long-term contract extension. Not with his back, injury history, and inconsistency. If he continues to have a great year, then great. Thank the baseball gods everyday. Hopefully it get us to the playoffs and we can be happy. But he's not the type of guy you would ever give a 5yr/$75M contract. That's just crazy.

 

isnt it pretty much one big injury in his past and now he's over it?

[Balta1701]

isnt it pretty much one big injury in his past and now he's over it?

You're never really over a back injury.

[BearSox]

isnt it pretty much one big injury in his past and now he's over it?

back problems are something that generally sticks with a person for most of their life.

Edited April 24, 2008 by BearSox

[max power]

OK, they are open to talks with every team in baseball except maybe one.

I think its illegal for him to talk with any other teams but that one until the contract is up.

[max power]

You're never really over a back injury.

No kidding. I pinched a nerve in my back when I was 16 and it is still not the same. I am 26 now.

 

Joe is older so he won't heal as well and he had a much worse injury. I wouldn't think about signing him to a long term deal. Some team will though, and it might work out for them.

[lostfan]

Yeah there are some injuries where you can get hurt and you will be out a while but come back 100% and it will never come back. A broken leg, a badly sprained ankle for example. Then there's others there is a good chance you'll come back the same player but there's a chance you don't. Torn ACL, Tommy John surgery, shoulder surgery for a pitcher, etc. Then there are ones like Crede's injury that are pretty much question marks forever.

[Steve9347]

Joe Crede will re-sign with the Chicago White Sox.

 

I think it's clear that Kenny is planning for next season regarding this issue, and will move one of Konerko or Dye to DH, and have Fields play 1B or LF (with Quentin switching to RF).

 

This would seem to make the most sense. Joe is obviously fully healthy and playing at an extremely high level, but I think the Sox will get an extension done last-second like they did with Buehrle.

 

It would make a lot of sense to hold onto Joe and use Fields in another capacity... the Thome hole will be a HUGE one to fill next year, and Fields can help with that.

 

Just my $.02.

[SoxFan562004]

the one thing I can think of that the Sox would have working for them is that the Cubs, Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets, many of the traditional big money teams, are secure at 3b. Since much of Crede's value is in his glove, likely a team wouldn't give him a huge contract to move him to the OF for his bat. There's still teams like the Dodgers who have a high payroll out there, but 3b is a secure position for many of the other high payroll teams.

 

on another note, what realistically, could the Sox expect for Fields in a trade if they sign Crede today?

[Rowand44]

Joe Crede will re-sign with the Chicago White Sox.

Not happening.

 

Can you imagine if Joe puts up similar numbers to what he did in 06? Boras' asking price will be insane.

Edited April 25, 2008 by Rowand44

[ptatc]

back problems are something that generally sticks with a person for most of their life.

 

With the type of surgery he had and if he really follows the rehab, which by all indications he does, he probably has 4-6 good years with the back while playing baseball. He will have problems and will need some time off for inflammation but I wouldn't chance a 5 year deal with him, but I'm biased and don't think very many long term deals are a good idea.

 

Edit: The next contract will not be with the White Sox.

Edited April 25, 2008 by ptatc

[Steve9347]

Not happening.

People said that about Buehrle.

[rangercal]

People said that about Buehrle.

 

and Lance Briggs

[max power]

There is an extremely small possibility we sign him when he explores free agency. I wouldn't get my hopes up though.

[WCSox]

I think if the following things happen:

 

1. Crede stays healthy

2. Crede has a good year

3. The Sox make him an offer that is within spitting distance of those likely in free agency

 

Then Crede may well stay with the club. Also, if someone makes a huge offer for Fields, that makes it probable. But, I don't think the Sox will make an offer, in years or money, that will be competitive. I wouldn't dismiss the possibility entirely though.

 

I pretty much agree with that. I could easily see Kenny offering Joe $55-60 million over 4 years with an option for a 5th. But I imagine that somebody else will offer him 5/70 or something.

 

Joe hired and stayed with Boras for a reason: To get paid as much as possible. And given his age and back problems, this may be his one and only opportunity to get a big contract. And as much as it would suck to lose him, I wouldn't fault him at all for signing elsewhere. Joe's done a lot for this franchise and I want him to get paid, one way or the other.

 

[Kalapse]

People said that about Buehrle.

Not really.

[NorthSideSox72]

Something for folks to consider, which is sometimes forgotten in these discussions about keeping or getting rid of players... KW's job is actually not to put the best team on the field. His job is to put the team on the field that puts the most butts in the seats. Now, it happens to be that putting the best players on the field generally leads to the most wins, and most wins generally leads to butts in the seats. But having the "best" players at each position is not in itself the entire story of his job.

 

Why is this important? Two reasons. One, sometimes, the right player for the team isn't necessarily the best player individually. And two, certain players are particularly loved or loathed by the fan base, beyond what their play on the field may indicate. Joe Crede is a HUGE fan favorite, and I guarantee you that will come into play in considerations of future contracts.

 

[Steve9347]

Not really.

Wow, I seem to remember half a season spent chanting "re-sign Buehrle" and it being almost inevitable that he was going to be dealt. Must have been another Mark Buehrle who played for the Chicago White Sox.

[Steve9347]

Something for folks to consider, which is sometimes forgotten in these discussions about keeping or getting rid of players... KW's job is actually not to put the best team on the field. His job is to put the team on the field that puts the most butts in the seats. Now, it happens to be that putting the best players on the field generally leads to the most wins, and most wins generally leads to butts in the seats. But having the "best" players at each position is not in itself the entire story of his job.

 

Why is this important? Two reasons. One, sometimes, the right player for the team isn't necessarily the best player individually. And two, certain players are particularly loved or loathed by the fan base, beyond what their play on the field may indicate. Joe Crede is a HUGE fan favorite, and I guarantee you that will come into play in considerations of future contracts.

I don't think you could be more wrong. His job is to put together the best team on the field. It's marketings job to use this team to get the butts in the seats.

 

Better team = more butts, and if it were advantageous to the current team to move Crede, he would. That in itself is a hard sell though.

Edited April 25, 2008 by Steve9347

[witesoxfan]

Joe Crede will re-sign with the Chicago White Sox.

 

I think it's clear that Kenny is planning for next season regarding this issue, and will move one of Konerko or Dye to DH, and have Fields play 1B or LF (with Quentin switching to RF).

 

This would seem to make the most sense. Joe is obviously fully healthy and playing at an extremely high level, but I think the Sox will get an extension done last-second like they did with Buehrle.

 

It would make a lot of sense to hold onto Joe and use Fields in another capacity... the Thome hole will be a HUGE one to fill next year, and Fields can help with that.

 

Just my $.02.

 

Jim Thome will fill the Thome hole next year.

[Controlled Chaos]

Something for folks to consider, which is sometimes forgotten in these discussions about keeping or getting rid of players... KW's job is actually not to put the best team on the field. His job is to put the team on the field that puts the most butts in the seats. Now, it happens to be that putting the best players on the field generally leads to the most wins, and most wins generally leads to butts in the seats. But having the "best" players at each position is not in itself the entire story of his job.

 

Why is this important? Two reasons. One, sometimes, the right player for the team isn't necessarily the best player individually. And two, certain players are particularly loved or loathed by the fan base, beyond what their play on the field may indicate. Joe Crede is a HUGE fan favorite, and I guarantee you that will come into play in considerations of future contracts.

Yeah have to disagree....Aaron Rowand is your perfect example. IMO, Kenny's job is to put the best team on the field. Of course, you want good character guys, but I don't think you sacrifice talent for that.

[NorthSideSox72]

I don't think you could be more wrong. His job is to put together the best team on the field. It's marketings job to use this team to get the butts in the seats.

 

Better team = more butts, and if it were advantageous to the current team to move Crede, he would. That in itself is a hard sell though.

 

As to your first line, that is 90% true, as I alluded to. In your second line, you make my point for me.

 

Yeah have to disagree....Aaron Rowand is your perfect example. IMO, Kenny's job is to put the best team on the field. Of course, you want good character guys, but I don't think you sacrifice talent for that.

 

I wasn't talking about character. Someone may be an awful person but loved by the fan base. I was talking about what draws fans. Its part of the reality. Getting the best individual players is 90% of the battle, but its not 100%. That other 10% takes into account the effect on the fan base for other factors. Its part of the reality.

 

[iamshack]

It's really a combination of both.

 

I think most Sox fans are intelligent enough (or perhaps heartless enough) to understand it's all about putting the best team on the field as possible, and a major function in doing so is making solid business decisions.

 

I think no matter which players are on the field, if the team is winning, our fans will show up.

 

That's not to say the South Side doesn't have it's favorites though, and you can hear that simply by going to a game and listening when the players take the field.

[lostfan]

Wow, I seem to remember half a season spent chanting "re-sign Buehrle" and it being almost inevitable that he was going to be dealt. Must have been another Mark Buehrle who played for the Chicago White Sox.

They only started chanting re-sign Buehrle after it was found out they had negotiations going on for a reasonable contract and that the Barry Zito signing actually didn't ruin Buehrle's chances of staying with the Sox. And the hand-wringing, panic, and conspiracy theories coming from the fanbase at the time were both hilarious and pathetic, but in the end, Buehrle stayed with the team because he wanted to, and they found a way to make it happen. He sacrificed some of his market value but it was a win-win situation all around.

 

Besides, these situations are not at all comparable.

-As good as Crede is sometimes he's got nowhere the level of established consistency Buehrle's had for most of his career

-Buehrle doesn't have lingering back problems.

-The Sox did not have a potential-packed prospect immediately ready to replace Buehrle and adjust rapidly to the MLB level, with MLB time to boot (Gio notwithstanding).

Edited April 25, 2008 by lostfan

[NorthSideSox72]

It's really a combination of both.

 

I think most Sox fans are intelligent enough (or perhaps heartless enough) to understand it's all about putting the best team on the field as possible, and a major function in doing so is making solid business decisions.

 

I think no matter which players are on the field, if the team is winning, our fans will show up.

 

That's not to say the South Side doesn't have it's favorites though, and you can hear that simply by going to a game and listening when the players take the field.

That's pretty much what I am saying - winning is the biggest key. The two caveats I was placing were the occasional fan favorite like Joe (which is a small but still present part of the equation), and the fact that winning is also not always 100% aligned with the best INDIVIDUAL players in a vacuum.