Andrew Miller signs with Yankees

[witesoxfan]

I really feel like the end of the bullpen is in place. We have guys to be long relievers, middle relievers, and maybe even set up men. The problem in 2013 was that they were all asked to do jobs above their paygrade by a level or two.

 

If we find good guys for the back end of the pen, guys like Petricka, Putnam, and company all slide back an inning or two, and will be in much better shape.

 

That's similar to how I feel. The two moves of significance I want to see the Sox make are bringing in a closer and a lefty. I'm not sure who those guys are at this point. From there, bring in a bunch of minor league free agents to throw in the pen and see if anything rises to the surface. At this point, I'm perfectly content going with [closer], [lefty], Petricka, Putnam, Guerra, Webb, and Surkamp.

[caulfield12]

That's similar to how I feel. The two moves of significance I want to see the Sox make are bringing in a closer and a lefty. I'm not sure who those guys are at this point. From there, bring in a bunch of minor league free agents to throw in the pen and see if anything rises to the surface. At this point, I'm perfectly content going with [closer], [lefty], Petricka, Putnam, Guerra, Webb, and Surkamp.

 

In an ideal world, Webb would get some more seasoning.

 

He was shaky at best in the 2nd half.

 

 

[witesoxfan]

In an ideal world, Webb would get some more seasoning.

 

He was shaky at best in the 2nd half.

 

There's no need for Webb to start in AAA. He needs to throw strikes and command the strike zone, and working on that at the MLB level would be in his best interest.

 

I don't think you are going to suggest that Avisail Garcia start in AAA, but he struggled once he got back to the majors too.

[southsider2k5]

Last year I think you mean.

 

yeah, 2014, not 2013.

[southsider2k5]

In an ideal world, Webb would get some more seasoning.

 

He was shaky at best in the 2nd half.

 

Webb is a guy who just needs to start in a less intense role. Give him the 5th/6th maybe 7th inning work. Let him get his reps and earn a move up to the later innings. No reason to rush him.

[Balta1701]

Webb is a guy who just needs to start in a less intense role. Give him the 5th/6th maybe 7th inning work. Let him get his reps and earn a move up to the later innings. No reason to rush him.

I could actually see Webb benefiting from some extra time at AAA (and I note that Carroll isn't on your list of relievers and I do think there's a role for him out there)

[Dick Allen]

Webb is a guy who just needs to start in a less intense role. Give him the 5th/6th maybe 7th inning work. Let him get his reps and earn a move up to the later innings. No reason to rush him.

According to Soxtalk, it was just the opposite. The idiot manager didn't realize he had an 8th inning pitcher on his roster.

[southsider2k5]

I could actually see Webb benefiting from some extra time at AAA (and I note that Carroll isn't on your list of relievers and I do think there's a role for him out there)

 

I think Carroll did a great role as a middle and long reliever, and wouldn't mind him doing that job next year.

[southsider2k5]

I could actually see Webb benefiting from some extra time at AAA (and I note that Carroll isn't on your list of relievers and I do think there's a role for him out there)

 

Depending on the numbers squeeze, who has options, who we sign, I wouldn't be heartbroken to see him open up at the AAA closer, but with his ceiling, I would rather see him getting on the job work in middle relief.

[LDF]

Depending on the numbers squeeze, who has options, who we sign, I wouldn't be heartbroken to see him open up at the AAA closer, but with his ceiling, I would rather see him getting on the job work in middle relief.

 

I am prob crazy to open this can, but I am still saying the sox may have a 1 or 2

surprises in there systems as relievers.

 

there and that is all.

[bigruss]

I am prob crazy to open this can, but I am still saying the sox may have a 1 or 2

surprises in there systems as relievers.

 

there and that is all.

Saying they may have them is fine, but who are you thinking will be those surprises?

[caulfield12]

Saying they may have them is fine, but who are you thinking will be those surprises?

 

 

Montas (as a reliever, which is 50/50), Bassit, Snodgress, Beck...those are probably the best bets for now.

[Whisox05]

I think we will have to see what Webb does in spring training. Remember Webb lost his mom last spring training so I'm sure it was on his mind all the time. Carroll did have a 1.99 era in 7 games as a reliever. Montas probably won't change over to a reliever till he fails as a starter. If he can harness his control his roof as a starter could be really high. Snodgress needs more work in the minors. He had a 8.53 era in the afl as a reliever. Bassitt probably has a good shot as a reliever. He had 6 appearances in 13 innings with a .69 era as a reliever in the afl. Also had 22 strikeouts and a .92 whip

[Y2Jimmy0]

Levine on The Score this morning mentioned that Sox are still talking to Andrew Miller's agent. Expects whatever deal he gets to be in 4 year $35-$40 million range. He also mentioned Montas as a late season bullpen option.

[caulfield12]

Forgot Sanburn from the Dunn trade...he's going to get a long look in spring as well if his stuff is close to as electric as some of the scouting reports. (Of course, how many times have we heard that about relievers we've acquired, only to be disappointed?)

[cabiness42]

Forgot Sanburn from the Dunn trade...he's going to get a long look in spring as well if his stuff is close to as electric as some of the scouting reports. (Of course, how many times have we heard that about relievers we've acquired, only to be disappointed?)

 

Sanburn can't possibly have any value. We were told 1000 times last year that it would have been better to cut Dunn and eat his salary than try to trade him. There is no chance that Sanburn will amount to anything.

[Dick Allen]

Sanburn can't possibly have any value. We were told 1000 times last year that it would have been better to cut Dunn and eat his salary than try to trade him. There is no chance that Sanburn will amount to anything.

He has about as much value as a Mega Ball ticket. It's possible he is worth a lot, even more possible he is worth a little, but highly likely, worthless.

[caulfield12]

He has about as much value as a Mega Ball ticket. It's possible he is worth a lot, even more possible he is worth a little, but highly likely, worthless.

 

I'll say he has just as good a shot as Bassit. If Bassit's a "mega ball" ticket, I think we're more likely to hit on one of these two guys than Micker Adolfo.

 

 

Nolan Sanburn, rhp

Age: 22

 

An Athletics second-round pick in 2012, Sanburn had the potential to be one of the organization’s best pitching prospects, but he wasn’t healthy enough to show much since turning pro. He moved back to the bullpen this season after working as a starter in 2012 and part of 2013. A reliever at Arkansas, Sanburn signed as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2012 and has pitched just 120 in three seasons. When healthy, he has an electric fastball at 93-94 mph and can touch 96 with riding life. His curveball also shows impressive depth while coming in hard in the high 70s.

 

www.baseballamerica.com

[witesoxfan]

I'll say he has just as good a shot as Bassit. If Bassit's a "mega ball" ticket, I think we're more likely to hit on one of these two guys than Micker Adolfo.

 

 

Nolan Sanburn, rhp

Age: 22

 

An Athletics second-round pick in 2012, Sanburn had the potential to be one of the organization’s best pitching prospects, but he wasn’t healthy enough to show much since turning pro. He moved back to the bullpen this season after working as a starter in 2012 and part of 2013. A reliever at Arkansas, Sanburn signed as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2012 and has pitched just 120 in three seasons. When healthy, he has an electric fastball at 93-94 mph and can touch 96 with riding life. His curveball also shows impressive depth while coming in hard in the high 70s.

 

www.baseballamerica.com

 

Well I think that's ridiculous, but I will let you believe what you want to believe. Nolan Sanburn has yet to pitch in AA while Chris Bassitt has pitched in the majors with some success and pitched extremely well in the AFL. Considering that, you really still believe that Nolan Sanburn has as good a shot as Chris Bassitt?

[caulfield12]

Well I think that's ridiculous, but I will let you believe what you want to believe. Nolan Sanburn has yet to pitch in AA while Chris Bassitt has pitched in the majors with some success and pitched extremely well in the AFL. Considering that, you really still believe that Nolan Sanburn has as good a shot as Chris Bassitt?

 

 

1st and 2nd round draft picks have a much higher likelihood of making the majors. Obviously the White Sox liked something about him.

 

Before this season, Bassit wasn't even on a Top 10 list for one of the bottom five ranked minor league organizations. He's made a LOT of progress in the 2nd half of this year, but I'd still consider him being a significant long-term contributor to the Sox a sort of winning lottery ticket in the same way Hector Santiago, Quintana, Humber and Noesi have been.

 

I'll put it this way. We've done fairly well when acquiring minor league arms from other teams, much better than most. That means something.

[witesoxfan]

1st and 2nd round draft picks have a much higher likelihood of making the majors. Obviously the White Sox liked something about him.

 

Yes, the White Sox liked that he wore a baseball uniform and the A's were willing to trade him for Adam Dunn.

 

I get that he's an intriguing prospect, but only like 50% of first round picks make it to the majors and 2nd rounders are less likely than that. The fact that the A's were so willing to give him up throws up some red flags for me.

[caulfield12]

Yes, the White Sox liked that he wore a baseball uniform and the A's were willing to trade him for Adam Dunn.

 

I get that he's an intriguing prospect, but only like 50% of first round picks make it to the majors and 2nd rounders are less likely than that. The fact that the A's were so willing to give him up throws up some red flags for me.

 

 

They did give up on Neal Cotts. That worked out pretty well.

[Dick Allen]

They did give up on Neal Cotts. That worked out pretty well.

I have no idea why that would be relevant, but this is a guy the A's gave up for one month of Adam Dunn. The odds are overwhelming that he never plays for the White Sox. To say he is anywhere near Bassitt who has pitched for the White Sox is laughable at this point.

[caulfield12]

I have no idea why that would be relevant, but this is a guy the A's gave up for one month of Adam Dunn. The odds are overwhelming that he never plays for the White Sox. To say he is anywhere near Bassitt who has pitched for the White Sox is laughable at this point.

 

 

Well, Montas hasn't pitched for the White Sox either, and every GM in baseball would take him over Bassit.

 

He was essentially just a "lottery ticket" at the time of the Peavy trade, along with Rondon and Wendelken. To say that ANYONE expected him to be knocking on the door of the Top 100 MLB prospects a year ago would be laughable as well.

 

 

[witesoxfan]

They did give up on Neal Cotts. That worked out pretty well.

 

They didn't "give up" on him. Neal Cotts was a prospect the A's included in the Koch/Foulke deal. Without looking it up, I couldn't even tell you the 3rd player the Sox got.