Sox acquire Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa

[Dick Allen]

I don't know if it is improved today, but one thing I read lead to a lot of minor league errors was the infields aren't or at least weren't as highly manicured as they are in the major leagues.

[Lillian]

Have any of you seen Anderson play? All we have are scouting reports.

 

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I don't know if it is improved today, but one thing I read lead to a lot of minor league errors was the infields aren't or at least weren't as highly manicured as they are in the major leagues.

I would think that is true. They probably don't keep up with the fields as much as a MLB team. I'll be curious though to see how he does regardless if he's with us or Oakland.

[witesoxfan]

Have any of you seen Anderson play? All we have are scouting reports.

 

I've seen a bit of video and he looks quick at SS. Also, those scouting reports indicate he should make it or, at the very least, needs to stick at shortstop for the time being.

 

Have you seen him play? What makes you so leery of him? Scouting reports? Here's Kiley McDaniel from FanGraphs:

 

2. Tim Anderson, SS

Current Level/Age: AA/21.4, 6’1/180, R/R

Drafted: 17th overall (1st round) in 2013 out of Mississippi JC by CHW for $2.164 million bonus

Hit: 30/50+, Raw Power: 50/50, Game Power: 20/45+, Run: 65/65, Field: 50/55, Throw: 60/60

 

Scouting Report: Anderson was almost completely unknown entering his draft year, as he went undrafted in 2012 at the same junior college. He came out late in spring 2012 after basketball season ended to play baseball and was often hidden in left field, so it wasn’t easy for scouts to pick up on the raw tools at a rural junior college game with their pref lists mostly set. Anderson had a big summer in the lower-tier Jayhawk League, stood out in a fall JC showcase, then had first round hype by March 2013. Scouts are still baffled how they all missed on this kid out of high school and his freshman year of junior college, with basketball and limited reps an obvious excuse, but Anderson went to high school miles from the University of Alabama and the Tide completely missed on him as well.

 

Anderson is the loose athlete every scout is looking for, with 65-70 speed, a plus arm and, despite some issues he’s working on (fundamentals/footwork), he has all the tools to stick at shortstop. He has plus bat speed, above average bat control and surprising pop, flashing average raw power. Anderson’s feel to hit can sometimes get in his way: he isn’t as patient at the plate as he should be, with his ability to square up most pitches holding him back. That said, he’s still hasn’t played much high level baseball, he’s already in Double-A at age 21 and he has above average tools across the board; working on some plate discipline/contact issues and finer points of defensive consistency is a shockingly short list of problems at this stage.

 

Summation: Anderson should head to Double-A Birmingham next year for his age 21/22 season and if he can make the necessary adjustments, should be on track for a big league debut in 2016.

 

Upside: .280/.330/.450, 15-18 homers, solid average defense, plus baserunning value

FV/Risk: 60, High (4 on a 1-5 scale)

Projected Path: 2015: AA, 2016: AAA/MLB, 2017: MLB

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-...cago-white-sox/

 

This was a much more recent scouting report and basically says that the reason he was making mistakes and errors in the field was because of how raw he was as a baseball player.

[southsider2k5]

MLB Daily Dish ‏@mlbdailydish 59m59 minutes ago

 

Jeff Samardzija trade still a possibility, Red Sox and White Sox reportedly top contenders http://sbnation.com/e/7083540

[Whisox05]

MLB Daily Dish ‏@mlbdailydish 59m59 minutes ago

 

Jeff Samardzija trade still a possibility, Red Sox and White Sox reportedly top contenders http://sbnation.com/e/7083540

 

If Boston is truly in on samardzija then they probably won't do anything until lester signs. Honestly samardzija might not be moved until lester signs. The Boston thing can play into the hands of the white sox unless some other team comes in heavy for him. If lester goes back to Boston then I would think they might go after someone like Hamels who is signed through 2018 with a 2019 option. They will be trying to win for awhile and most likely the one yr of Samardzija might not be enticing enough for them IMO. Boston could also go for one of the reds pitcher with a good chance of trying to lock them up. If Boston gets lester and they go a different route for trading for a pitcher then that could maybe leave the white sox as a top spot for Samardjiza.

Edited December 2, 2014 by WhiteSoxLifer

[Southwest Sider]

I'd kill to know how far apart Beane and Hahn are.

 

And what kind of deal Boston is offering. They may not even have one on the table yet. Boston might be waiting for Lester to decide where he's signing before making a real offer for Shark. That makes it tougher for Hahn, because he may be offering a nice deal for Shark, one that Beane might even consider taking, but Beane also knows that if Lester signs with anyone other then Boston, he could potentially get a better deal from them.

 

Even though I can't stand the Red Sox, it is undeniable that they can spend a lot of money. I guess I'm hoping that they do sign Lester, so that the other major bidder for Shark is now out of the bidding.

[GreenSox]

It'd be an overpay though. The deal would still be Anderson for 1 year of Samardzija regardless of what he does when he gets here.

Exactly

This idea that the Sox should overpay because they may extend him is inane.

That rarely happens.

Money talks.

 

Sox are in no position to do rents anyway, including renting the most elite 2/3 starter imaginable, the Shark.

[MDWhiteSoxFan]

I'd kill to know how far apart Beane and Hahn are.

 

And what kind of deal Boston is offering. They may not even have one on the table yet. Boston might be waiting for Lester to decide where he's signing before making a real offer for Shark. That makes it tougher for Hahn, because he may be offering a nice deal for Shark, one that Beane might even consider taking, but Beane also knows that if Lester signs with anyone other then Boston, he could potentially get a better deal from them.

 

Even though I can't stand the Red Sox, it is undeniable that they can spend a lot of money. I guess I'm hoping that they do sign Lester, so that the other major bidder for Shark is now out of the bidding.

 

 

What in your mind does Hahn give up for Shark that would be in lines with the future plans?

 

[Chisoxfn]

I predict that if Shark ends up in Boston, Sox will be part of the deal in a 3 way capacity.

[witesoxfan]

I'd kill to know how far apart Beane and Hahn are.

 

And what kind of deal Boston is offering. They may not even have one on the table yet. Boston might be waiting for Lester to decide where he's signing before making a real offer for Shark. That makes it tougher for Hahn, because he may be offering a nice deal for Shark, one that Beane might even consider taking, but Beane also knows that if Lester signs with anyone other then Boston, he could potentially get a better deal from them.

 

Even though I can't stand the Red Sox, it is undeniable that they can spend a lot of money. I guess I'm hoping that they do sign Lester, so that the other major bidder for Shark is now out of the bidding.

 

I think they could easily acquire both Lester and Samardzija. Frankly, they need to as their rotation is incredibly thin.

 

Frankly, the more I think about this, the more I think Beane is using the White Sox as leverage against the Red Sox. The Red Sox are in a much better position to trade for Samardzija both regarding their minor league depth, their major league team, and their ability to spend. I just don't think the White Sox can afford to trade quite a few of their guys right now.

[bmags]

I think they could easily acquire both Lester and Samardzija. Frankly, they need to as their rotation is incredibly thin.

 

Frankly, the more I think about this, the more I think Beane is using the White Sox as leverage against the Red Sox. The Red Sox are in a much better position to trade for Samardzija both regarding their minor league depth, their major league team, and their ability to spend. I just don't think the White Sox can afford to trade quite a few of their guys right now.

 

That's fine actually, I'm okay being leverage in this situation.

[Whisox05]

I think they could easily acquire both Lester and Samardzija. Frankly, they need to as their rotation is incredibly thin.

 

Frankly, the more I think about this, the more I think Beane is using the White Sox as leverage against the Red Sox. The Red Sox are in a much better position to trade for Samardzija both regarding their minor league depth, their major league team, and their ability to spend. I just don't think the White Sox can afford to trade quite a few of their guys right now.

 

I do believe Boston can get both easily but if samardzija and his agent are keen on going to free agency and not talking extension then if your Boston wouldn't you rather acquire a pitcher to have control over like Cole hamels or a leake, latos, cueto they you might be better of a chance to lock up.

Edited December 2, 2014 by WhiteSoxLifer

[Harry Chappas]

I do believe Boston can get both easily but if samardzija and his agent are keen on going to free agency and not talking extension then if your Boston wouldn't you rather acquire a pitcher to have control over like Cole hamels or a leake, latos, cueto they you might be better of a chance to lock up.

 

Boston has the money to lock anyone up if they choose.

 

Losing Samardzija will net a high draft pick if he leaves so that is also a chip for Beane.

[Whisox05]

Boston has the money to lock anyone up if they choose.

 

Losing Samardzija will net a high draft pick if he leaves so that is also a chip for Beane.

 

Boston could try to lock him up but he may not want to be there and just leave for free agency. Yes the high draft pick compensation for Beane is enticing but that means they have to keep him on the roster the whole year and pay him about 10 million. If they traded Donaldson cause he will get expensive do you really think they want to spend an extra 10 million on samardzija.

Edited December 2, 2014 by WhiteSoxLifer

[Southwest Sider]

What in your mind does Hahn give up for Shark that would be in lines with the future plans?

 

I'm not too knowledgeable about White Sox prospects, so ultimately whatever deal I put out there is probably either not good enough, or too good. I'm also biased, because I like Semien and think he can become a quality major league player. Personally, I like to pencil him in as the 2B of the future, which leaves him out of this deal. Obviously, everyone loves Anderson and many are penciling him as the SS of the future. He's not in my deal. It also seems like the Sox are not interested in punting 2015, which means that we need Alexei Ramirez and he cannot be traded.

 

I'd try to sell Beane on a 3 or 4 player deal. I would throw out an offer of Montas, Sanchez, Davidson and maybe one of our players who could be deemed as a "lottery ticket". Not really sure who fits that profile.

 

For us, yes it would stink to lose Montas, but we've already got what I perceive to be our RF of the future out of the Peavy deal, and if we can use one of the pieces of that deal to bring in another SP, I'm all for it. He is a promising player and you know, you have to give up something to get something.

 

Sanchez is another player I like what I saw from in limited ML action, and hopefully Beane did too. This will give him another MIF prospect to work with and he will have a nice surplus should he be interested in trading any of them in the future.

 

Finally, it seems that Billy Beane likes "buy low" candidates, and Davidson could be a real target for him (or he could not). He had a bad year but he's still a younger guy and hopefully learning. I don't think Davidson is "done" by any stretch of the imagination, and he could end up being better for it. Time will tell.

 

For me, I like that deal for the Sox because we give up the 2nd best player from the Peavy deal, our acquisition from the Reed deal, and one or two of our homegrown types for a legit #2/3 pitcher, with that idea that the Sox will aggressively pursue a semi-longterm deal. I know there has been debate in this thread about if we should even bother giving Shark an extension, but I think it would make a lot of sense to do that for a couple of reasons.

 

1) He seems to be durable, with a delivery that doesn't seem to be too susceptible to injury.

2) He really is a good pitcher, and you can never have enough really good pitchers.

3) It is conceivable that he could take a slight discount, especially if the Sox give him an offer competitive with what the market bears for Lester and Shields. It sucks to think about sinking $20 million into one player, but you will never be lucky enough to have a complete rotation with Sale/Quintana type players for the kind of money they are making. One of these days, as much as the Reinsdorf may not like it, the Sox are going to have to be players in the actual starting pitching market. Shark seems like as good a bet as any. I like him better then Shields. He should cost less then Lester. He will cost less then Scherzer.

 

If, for some reason, you can't agree to a deal with Shark, then you get to extend a qualifying offer, and move on to a pretty decent class of free agents. You absolutely pursue one of Cueto, Price, Latos, Zimmermann, Porcello and of course, Shark with the idea that you will sign one of them. It's plain and simple, the Sox need another great starting pitcher, and they're going to want one that they can pencil into the rotation for a few seasons. You're not going to sign Shields, Lester or Scherzer, but you still at least want one for the rotation for 2015. Trade for Shark, do everything you can to resign him. If all else fails, sign a free agent next offseason. Either way, you're going to have to pay them the big bucks.

 

It all depends on if Beane is asking us to mortgage our future. Any deal involving Anderson and Semien I am not cool with unless the deal is expanded to include more players coming from Oakland.

Edited December 2, 2014 by South Sider

[witesoxfan]

That's fine actually, I'm okay being leverage in this situation.

 

I am in full agreement.

 

I do believe Boston can get both easily but if samardzija and his agent are keen on going to free agency and not talking extension then if your Boston wouldn't you rather acquire a pitcher to have control over like Cole hamels or a leake, latos, cueto they you might be better of a chance to lock up.

 

They can also exclusively negotiate with Samardzija at that point and they may view the cost-value of Samardzija to be less prohibitive than that of Hamels, Latos, or Cueto. Who knows for sure. Also, Leake strikes me as a 3/4 starter in the AL, not nearly as good as Hamels, Latos, Cueto, or Samardzija. Not saying they wouldn't or shouldn't have interest, but it doesn't strike me as the guy they'd want.

 

Boston could try to lock him up but he may not want to be there and just leave for free agency. Yes the high draft pick compensation for Beane is enticing but that means they have to keep him on the roster the whole year and pay him about 10 million. If they traded Donaldson cause he will get expensive do you really think they want to spend an extra 10 million on samardzija.

 

Ultimately, Samardzija is going to want money. There is virtually no where in the United States (or Toronto) that these guys wouldn't play if you paid them enough.

 

I also don't think the A's traded Donaldson because he was getting expensive considering they just signed Billy Butler to a 3/$30 deal. This is not about Samardzija making too much. This is about extracting more future value out of Samardzija then he will currently give them. $20 million per year over 5 years is too expensive for the A's though.

[Southwest Sider]

I think they could easily acquire both Lester and Samardzija. Frankly, they need to as their rotation is incredibly thin.

 

Frankly, the more I think about this, the more I think Beane is using the White Sox as leverage against the Red Sox. The Red Sox are in a much better position to trade for Samardzija both regarding their minor league depth, their major league team, and their ability to spend. I just don't think the White Sox can afford to trade quite a few of their guys right now.

 

Good point... sigh. I can only hope that Boston doesn't blow Beane away with an offer. If given the choice between two packages of similar values between White and Red Sox, I would have to think he would choose the White Sox offer if only to not bolster an opponent that he may see as more of a present-time threat to his World Series chances.

[witesoxfan]

Good point... sigh. I can only hope that Boston doesn't blow Beane away with an offer. If given the choice between two packages of similar values between White and Red Sox, I would have to think he would choose the White Sox offer if only to not bolster an opponent that he may see as more of a present-time threat to his World Series chances.

 

I don't think we want to see the White Sox trade for Samardzija. I really don't. Beane typically asks for and gets the moon for his players.

[Southwest Sider]

I don't think we want to see the White Sox trade for Samardzija. I really don't. Beane typically asks for and gets the moon for his players.

 

I've read a lot of your posts here before creating an account, and you seem like a very knowledgeable poster. A post of mine detailing an offer I'd make for Shark is in the last page. Do you have any thoughts on it? Would you do that deal? Would the Sox do that deal? Would Beane die of laughter?

 

It's clear the Red Sox can surpass that deal, but if they don't....

[witesoxfan]

I've read a lot of your posts here before creating an account, and you seem like a very knowledgeable poster. A post of mine detailing an offer I'd make for Shark is in the last page. Do you have any thoughts on it? Would you do that deal? Would the Sox do that deal? Would Beane die of laughter?

 

It's clear the Red Sox can surpass that deal, but if they don't....

 

Montas, Sanchez, Davidson, and (presumably a lower level prospect) probably gets you in the door but ultimately doesn't get it done. You argue that it's a top of the rotation arm, a starting 2B, a starting 3B, and a live arm who can improve and be a great bullpen piece for you. Beane counters that by saying Montas is probably a reliever, Sanchez is probably a utility player, Davidson is probably a bust, and the arms usually amount to nothing while you're getting a year and a 1st or high 2nd at minimum for Samardzija.

 

The Red Sox absolutely do not want to trade away Xander Bogaerts, but if they offer him up at all, the A's have already made up their mind. They have about 15 other pieces they can deal too due to their depth.

 

Frankly, I'm very skeptical about the Sox trading for him and really hope he doesn't come to Chicago.

[bmags]

I would not send that to Oakland for 1 year of Samardjiza. I would hate that deal. I'd hate that deal not because i love those players, but because that basically means we are done with trades because that is all of our talent I wouldn't identify as core prospects.

[royoung]

I don't think we want to see the White Sox trade for Samardzija. I really don't. Beane typically asks for and gets the moon for his players.

 

He certainly didn't get haul for Josh Donaldson. But I agree with you, after thinking about what the cost would be in players and their years of control combined with Shark's impending contract status, I think the Sox would be smarter to look elsewhere.

[Balta1701]

He certainly didn't get haul for Josh Donaldson. But I agree with you, after thinking about what the cost would be in players and their years of control combined with Shark's impending contract status, I think the Sox would be smarter to look elsewhere.

IMO, if we're willing to spend what it takes to extend him, go sign Shields, keep the player we'd trade, and sacrifice a 2nd round pick that is much less likely to be a contributor. Yeah you get a guy who is older, but you keep the high minor league player and frankly Shields has for much of his career been a better pitcher than Samardzija.

[witesoxfan]

I would not send that to Oakland for 1 year of Samardjiza. I would hate that deal. I'd hate that deal not because i love those players, but because that basically means we are done with trades because that is all of our talent I wouldn't identify as core prospects.

 

There's more than that. The only two prospects who are close to untouchable should be Rodon and Anderson. I'd personally add Semien in there too, but I'm not the GM and it seems he is a guy people view as tradeable.

 

I would do that trade in a millisecond.