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What should be the Sox focus in the offseason?


harfman77

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Likely back next year: Konerko, Dunn, Beckham, Ramirez, Morel, Viciedo, Rios, DeAza, Flowers, Lilli

Likely traded: Quentin

50/50: AJ

Gone: Pierre, Castro, Vizquel

 

Likely back next year: Peavy, Stewart, Humber, Santos, Sale, Crain, Ohman, Buerhle

Likely traded:

50/50: Danks, Floyd, Thornton, Frasor

Gone: Pena

 

Likely opening day roster:

 

LF De Aza

SS Ramirez

1B Konerko

DH Dunn

CF Rios

C Flowers/AJP

RF Viciedo

2B Beckham

3B Morel

 

BE Flowers/Lucy

BE Milledge

BE Lillibridge

BE Escobar

 

SP Peavy

SP Humber

SP Stewart

SP Buerhle

SP Floyd/Danks/Sale

 

CP Santos

SU Crain

MR Sale/Santiago

MR Frasor/Reed

MR Thornton/Kinney/Lindsay

MR Ohman

RP Infante/Axelrod

 

The lineup is pretty RH heavy, especially if AJ is moved. The question for the offseason is how can KW (or a new GM) trade pieces to augment what is already in place for 2012? If KW is still making the decisions traditionally we have acquired players that are major league ready for our major league players, except in the case of salary dumps.

 

The roster is looking pretty rough next year and I think that they should look at bringing in some buy low candidates (Stewart from COL) and building up the farm for the long term.

 

 

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The White Sox should focus on bringing Dave Martinez in as the manager. The DEVIL Rays are within 3-1/2 games of the Boston Red Cubs - with a 41 million dollar payroll. I don't know how much direct effect Martinez has on that but I wanna taste of that winning.

 

Other than that - you know what? I'm comfortable with that the team has. Dunn isn't going anywhere soon, and Rios isn't either. I don't think there is a difference maker out there that the Sox can acquire, so next year they will have to make due with the talent that is already here. And I do believe if everyone plays up to their true potential, this team will be scary good.

Edited by Chet Kincaid
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I agree. The main focus has to be the coaching staff and/or the GM. If we go into next season with the same two guys (KW and Ozzie), it's going to be a lot of the samw crap, regardless of the sunshine and flowers BS they'll throw out there about them getting along just fine.

 

Other than that, I'd say freeing up some money has to be a focus point. Players that I think have the best chance to be traded are CQ, Danks, and Floyd. Thornton may go, too. That being said, I still don't see a big difference in the lineup or starting pitching staff.

 

The OF should be De Aza, Rios, Viciedo. Infield would most likely be Konerko, Beckham, Morel, Ramirez. AJ will be the starting catcher with Flowers hopefully getting some decent playing time.

 

The pitching staff might see the bigger changes. Buehrle and Peavy are locks, in my opinion. If Danks AND Floyd get traded, the SPs should be Buehrle, Peavy, Humber, Stewart, and Sale. But if Danks stays, does Sale remain in the bullpen? And if Floyd stays, is Humber or Stewart the odd man out?

 

I'm hoping for an interesting off season. But, if KW and Ozzie are both back next season, I'm not going to have a good feeling about 2012.

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100% agree that the very first thing that needs to be addressed is the coaching staff and manager (and possibly the GM).

 

One other thing: when talking about the OF next year, I see most people saying De Aza in LF, Rios in CF and Viciedo in RF. I would switch it around a bit:

 

Viciedo - LF

De Aza - CF

Rios - RF

 

That's the best defensive outfield. If the Sox bring in a new coaching/management team that objectively evaluates talent vs. just going with what is already entrenched by veterans, they'll do this.

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Sox should figure out the market value for Danks. I can think of a couple of teams who think they can contend in 2012 with a solid lefty, and they would give up some very good position player prospects. Then, since DeAza and Viciedo have looked so good, we should see what kind of pitching prospects we can get for CQ. If someone in charge can figure out what to do with Dunn, we should be at least as good next year as this year and be a lot closer to being a solid team in 2013-14. Otherwise, we will be a 24 man roster team.

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There's not much they can do except suck again next year with many of the same characters.

 

Since they potentially have an outfield of Tank, DeAza and Rios (ugh, but we can't get rid of him), I guess we could trade CQ but I think that really cripples an already anemic lineup.

 

I wouldn't be against trading Beckham, Crain and AJP. Flowers and Castro would be good enough at catcher. You can always find a second baseman.

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QUOTE (oldsox @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 02:17 PM)
Sox should figure out the market value for Danks. I can think of a couple of teams who think they can contend in 2012 with a solid lefty, and they would give up some very good position player prospects. Then, since DeAza and Viciedo have looked so good, we should see what kind of pitching prospects we can get for CQ. If someone in charge can figure out what to do with Dunn, we should be at least as good next year as this year and be a lot closer to being a solid team in 2013-14. Otherwise, we will be a 24 man roster team.

 

It has to be about extending him. If he won't sign an extension, he needs to be dealt to the highest bidder.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 03:42 PM)
If it was, they would have been gone at the deadline, Q especially.

IF both had had really good, and healthy years, the Yankees might have given you 1 catcher for the 2 of them. Neithetr Danks or Quentin has done what was needed to really improve their value this year.

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QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 04:40 PM)
Who is going to take AJ and his 6M salary next year?

 

 

Just because a team is taking AJ doesn't mean they are taking all $6M. The Sox can eat some of that money in order to get something of value in return. The Rangers and Marlins are two teams that could use a veteran catcher off the top of my head. Its time to either play Flowers or cut him loose, another year in AAA does him no good and neither does sitting on the bench. Something has to give, and I think the Sox will be looking past next year and see Flowers is the long term option.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 02:38 PM)
Highly unlikely. They wouldn't trade them for Greinke last year.

 

They offered Montero for Soria though. It depends on which C prospect you are talking about, Romine could probably be had in the right deal with Cervelli set there for a while, Sanchez could probably as well but he is a ways off.

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The original post in this thread suggested that Quentin, Danks, Floyd, Thornton and Frasor would be traded.

However, no players were added to the roster. The obvious question is who could the Sox acquire for those players in trades?

Edited by Lillian
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QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 11:33 AM)
Yes, probably replacing management to some extent, but also identifying what can be done about addressing/fixing Dunn and Rios' issues.

 

I think both will be better. This is really the first time Rios has ever taken a lot of major criticism. I think he may benefit even more from a new hitting coach.

 

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QUOTE (Lillian @ Sep 12, 2011 -> 07:09 PM)
The original post in this thread suggested that Quentin, Danks, Floyd, Thornton and Frasor would be traded.

However, no players were added to the roster. The obvious question is who could the Sox acquire for those players in trades?

 

 

The other part of the question is where would any acquisitions fit on the 25/40 man roster next season. The bullpen could use some shoring up if Thornton and Frasor are gone, Reed could take one of those spots but you would probably need another LRP, especially if the Sox are going to move Sale to the rotation.

 

Frasor could just not have his option picked up. What Danks, Floyd, and Quentin would bring back would depend on who the GM is and what vision they are able to sell to JR. If KW is GM, they will be traded for near major league talent like Flowers and Danks when they were acquired. If KW is gone the new GM may take a longer term view and go after some higher ceiling guys that are further away from contributing. But there is not a lot of space for offensive players or starting pitching on the 25 man roster without making some significant and unpopular moves. So as it stands the team starting next season will very closely resemble the one running out there now.

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I really don't think a pure platoon is that bad of an option with AJ and Flowers for 2012, especially if they sprinkle in the occasional PH/DH appearances. They could easily each wind up with 275-300 PAs apiece.

 

AJ also potentially has much more trade value at the deadline next season.

Edited by Greg Hibbard
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