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So what type of 3rd baseman do we need?


balfanman

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QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 25, 2012 -> 02:47 AM)
Also, the Rockies have soured a bit on top 3B prospect Arenado for production drop and for some attitude issues. (Nothing major, he's known to be pretty aloof in the field and that's not a fit for them.)

When he's motivated, dude can hit. He projects to be a decent MLB 3B and is much better than anything the Sox have internally for that position, IMO. He could likely be had for Floyd.

 

 

Hey! I would push Grabe, lol! He is good for better than .245 and an OPS of .718! By the time Youk is done, he will be ready! Resign Youk and push Grabe as far as he will go. He thrives in adversity and rises to the competition.

 

I belive the organization likes what they have seen so far, and he will be better by ST. He is a bit short (5'11" and 195) but is very strong and has played the position his entire life other than opportunities at Shortstop and a very limited time at 2B. He probably has played less than 30 games his entire life at 2B. Mostly 3B and Short. Funny he was drafted as a 2B! But he projects there as well.

 

He should show significantly more power next season, and maybe eventually find his way to Birmingham. Crossing my fingers on that one. :D

 

 

Heck! We all have our favorite players here we want to push, my favorite just happens to be my son! LOL!

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QUOTE (floridafan @ Nov 28, 2012 -> 05:27 PM)
Hey! I would push Grabe, lol! He is good for better than .245 and an OPS of .718! By the time Youk is done, he will be ready! Resign Youk and push Grabe as far as he will go. He thrives in adversity and rises to the competition.

 

I belive the organization likes what they have seen so far, and he will be better by ST. He is a bit short (5'11" and 195) but is very strong and has played the position his entire life other than opportunities at Shortstop and a very limited time at 2B. He probably has played less than 30 games his entire life at 2B. Mostly 3B and Short. Funny he was drafted as a 2B! But he projects there as well.

 

He should show significantly more power next season, and maybe eventually find his way to Birmingham. Crossing my fingers on that one. :P

 

 

Heck! We all have our favorite players here we want to push, my favorite just happens to be my son! LOL!

 

He keeps on hitting, he'll be here soon enough.

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QUOTE (floridafan @ Nov 28, 2012 -> 05:27 PM)
Hey! I would push Grabe, lol! He is good for better than .245 and an OPS of .718! By the time Youk is done, he will be ready! Resign Youk and push Grabe as far as he will go. He thrives in adversity and rises to the competition.

 

I belive the organization likes what they have seen so far, and he will be better by ST. He is a bit short (5'11" and 195) but is very strong and has played the position his entire life other than opportunities at Shortstop and a very limited time at 2B. He probably has played less than 30 games his entire life at 2B. Mostly 3B and Short. Funny he was drafted as a 2B! But he projects there as well.

 

He should show significantly more power next season, and maybe eventually find his way to Birmingham. Crossing my fingers on that one. :D

 

 

Heck! We all have our favorite players here we want to push, my favorite just happens to be my son! LOL!

 

I'm with you on this one. I hope your son keeps on rising through the system and is ready in 2014.

 

Sign Youkilis to a somewhat reasonable multiyear deal without a no trade clause (or at least a very limited one), hope that he performs well and then trade him when Grabe is ready.

 

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QUOTE (balfanman @ Nov 29, 2012 -> 08:48 AM)
I'm with you on this one. I hope your son keeps on rising through the system and is ready in 2014.

 

Sign Youkilis to a somewhat reasonable multiyear deal without a no trade clause (or at least a very limited one), hope that he performs well and then trade him when Grabe is ready.

The problem with signing Youkilis to a 2 year deal is that the team still has a big money DH for the next 2 years, and thus Youk can't be moved there if he gets beaten up at 3rd...and if he does get beaten up, trading him basically = buying out whatever contract he has left.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 29, 2012 -> 08:07 AM)
The problem with signing Youkilis to a 2 year deal is that the team still has a big money DH for the next 2 years, and thus Youk can't be moved there if he gets beaten up at 3rd...and if he does get beaten up, trading him basically = buying out whatever contract he has left.

 

I do realize that Youkilis is a risk, but unless Hahn comes up with a better idea what else can we do?

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QUOTE (balfanman @ Nov 29, 2012 -> 09:48 AM)
I do realize that Youkilis is a risk, but unless Hahn comes up with a better idea what else can we do?

At this point, it's the GM's job to figure out what a better idea would be...because that's a pretty poor "Best idea" and one I'd have very little confidence in.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 29, 2012 -> 08:07 AM)
The problem with signing Youkilis to a 2 year deal is that the team still has a big money DH for the next 2 years, and thus Youk can't be moved there if he gets beaten up at 3rd...and if he does get beaten up, trading him basically = buying out whatever contract he has left.

One of them could play first if Paulie isn't brought back.

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QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 30, 2012 -> 11:18 AM)
Read into his last tweet, or just a guy looking for a job?

 

https://twitter.com/HannahanDaily

 

That tweet links to a Mark Gonzales Tribune article that has this paragraph:

If the Sox opt to employ a platoon system at third base, they could look to sign a left-handed hitting third baseman from the non-tender list. Two potential non-tender candidates are Jack Hannahan of Cleveland and Ian Stewart of the Cubs. Although both players are coming off underwhelming 2012 seasons, employing them in platoon roles could maximize their talents.

 

 

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Well, you'd obviously not like to have two guys who can set the single season strikeout record in the same lineup...but Mark Reynolds got non-tendered.

 

His defense sucks and he's the right handed version of Adam Dunn...but he's better than anything we have right now. With how scarce 3B are on the FA market, Reynolds may be a viable option if we can't bring back Youk.

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QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 1, 2012 -> 02:54 PM)
Well, you'd obviously not like to have two guys who can set the single season strikeout record in the same lineup...but Mark Reynolds got non-tendered.

 

His defense sucks and he's the right handed version of Adam Dunn...but he's better than anything we have right now. With how scarce 3B are on the FA market, Reynolds may be a viable option if we can't bring back Youk.

He made $7 million last year so he'd have been up for a raise if they'd offered arbitration. He's another 3b option. $9-15 million player in fWAR value with the D-Backs, but only a ~0.5-1 WAR/$1-2 million player with the Orioles. He's probably out there for a similar cost to Youk, honestly...a couple million dollars.

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http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago...mp;feedID=10338

 

White Sox want Youkilis, but they're not the only one

December 2, 2012, 11:08 am

DAN HAYES

 

One baseball source identified the White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies as the two most aggressive teams this offseason in pursuit of a third baseman.

 

Both are on hot on the trail of Kevin Youkilis, who is without question the class of a thin crop of free agents available at the hot corner.

 

General manager Rick Hahn made it clear early last month: he wants Youkilis back and has pursued him accordingly.

 

Meanwhile, other potential suitors -- a group that includes the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A’s and Baltimore Orioles -- all seem to have solved their vacancies internally, the source said.

 

But at what cost are the White Sox willing to bring Youkilis back?

 

Even though Youkilis had a lion’s share of magical moments on the South Side after a June 24 trade brought him over from Boston, the White Sox sound as if they are prepared for his possible departure. Hahn has noted that once a player hits free agency it lessens the chance of a return. What if the Los Angeles Dodgers were to get involved and a bidding war ensued?

 

With the team already near its projected 2013 payroll, Hahn would likely need to move another high salary to be able to afford to sign Youkilis. Though Youkilis is their top target, the White Sox have identified a number of potential options, both internal and external, in case Youkilis moves on.

 

“There’s a lot of speculation about what we’re going to do at third base,” Hahn said. “We’ve got some options lined up. We’ve got a list prioritized and we have had some good conversations along different avenues. But there may well come a point where we decide, ultimately, the options that we have internally are superior to what’s out there in the market via free agency or trade. While figuring out what we’re going to do at third base is a priority, it’s not necessarily one that’s going to mandate an acquisition from outside the organization.”

 

The White Sox have discussed a number of internal options. They seem to have no interest in moving Gordon Beckham to third from second base, or moving Dayan Viciedo back from the outfield, though both ideas were considered.

 

A middle infielder by trade, prospect Carlos Sanchez’s name has come up, but the White Sox would prefer to keep him at second base or shortstop. They also would like to give Sanchez, who began last season in Single-A, more time in the minors.

 

Then there’s Brent Morel, a wild card because the team isn’t certain a bad back that bothered him for all of 2012 is healthy. As if that weren’t enough, assistant GM Buddy Bell said Morel will have to unlearn some of the bad habits he developed at the plate last season in order to play through his back pain.

 

Externally, one team source said he didn’t see many everyday options aside from Youkilis in free agency.

 

But one potential option who could be high on the team’s wish list is free agent Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger --- who earlier this week broke his fibula --- is a career .288 hitter. Last season, Keppinger had a .325/.369/.439 slash line with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 115 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. The infielder has a good reputation and several sources believe Keppinger’s injury shouldn’t keep him from being ready by spring training.

 

Power-hitter Mark Reynolds, who has hit 181 homers in six seasons, was added to the potential pool on Friday night when the Baltimore Orioles didn’t offer him a contract. But Reynolds has 114 errors in 655 games at third base and the Orioles moved him to first base last season.

 

The White Sox also think there are several other part-time options available that they could mix and match.

 

One such option might be left-handed hitting third baseman Eric Chavez, though a source said he has drawn significant interest in free agency. Chavez would be a good fit for the White Sox, who would be in need of another left-handed bat if A.J. Pierzynski departs via free agency.

 

“I think there are some everyday options out there and there are some platoon opportunities out there as well,” Hahn said. “We might have to be creative if you wind up going down one of the more platoon routes, but sometimes that’s not such a great obstacle and the sum is greater than the individual pieces when you piece them together correctly.”

 

As for how Youkilis’ market will play out, Hahn surmises it still is coming together. Youkilis’ ability to play first base could lead to further interest in him. Hahn believes the next week will bring further clarity on Youkilis’ situation.

 

“There’s no certainty as to exactly what the economic market or the package available to Kevin is going to be ultimately,” Hahn said. “We continue to monitor that and will check until it gets flushed out thoroughly.”

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The only way I would even think about him is if they were to move Dunn. You can't have both of those guys in your lineup.

 

Even as much as I defend the high BB/high K approach of Dunn as being a good one for him, I don't think it's a good idea to have two of them. You need to balance out Dunn with some level of contact, though I think the swing-at-anything-leaving-the-pitcher's-hand mentality of Ramirez and AJ goes way too far the other way.

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