Dunt Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I think the FO will be quiet this offseason in comparison to last season, but I see two moves really helping this team be competitive next season: 1.) Go somewhat big with an offer to Ben Zobrist. I get it, he's old and people dont want to sign old FAs anymore, but Zobrist is a great solution to the Sox immediate problems. They need a solid third baseball that can provide both offense and defense and Zobrist fits both categories. In addition, he is a lifelong AL player, so he is already acclimated to the style of the league. This allows you to slide Saladino over to SS where his bat plays better. If Anderson is tearing up AAA, maybe he can be a late season call up in a playoff push. 2.) Trade for a catcher, preferably Austin Barnes. Tyler Flowers should not be a starting catcher next season. This position needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed quickly. Lineup: CF Eaton 3B Zobrist DH Abreu 1B LaRoche LF Melky RF Thompson C Barnes SS Saladino 2B Sanchez BE A. Garcia BE L. Garcia BE M. Johnson BE Flowers? SP Sale SP Quintana SP Johnson SP Rodon SP Montas/Danks CL Robertson SU Montas (if not starting) SU Jones RP Duke RP Petricka RP Jennings RP Albers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I honestly have no clue. We have one star on offense and then a whole bunch of average to below average. Yet the outfield is crowded with crap and hard to change due to organizational committments and money. The infield...well, good luck. Everyone wants a 3b. We have 3 second basemen that each possess one great skill the others lack, and none are likely starters. We need legit star talent. Plugging below average with average isn't enough. I have no idea how you fix this. I look at the rotation and think we coul dbe the mets, but we aren't. Our pitching underachieves, our team tail spins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 09:55 PM) I think the FO will be quiet this offseason in comparison to last season, but I see two moves really helping this team be competitive next season: 1.) Go somewhat big with an offer to Ben Zobrist. I get it, he's old and people dont want to sign old FAs anymore, but Zobrist is a great solution to the Sox immediate problems. They need a solid third baseball that can provide both offense and defense and Zobrist fits both categories. In addition, he is a lifelong AL player, so he is already acclimated to the style of the league. This allows you to slide Saladino over to SS where his bat plays better. If Anderson is tearing up AAA, maybe he can be a late season call up in a playoff push. 2.) Trade for a catcher, preferably Austin Barnes. Tyler Flowers should not be a starting catcher next season. This position needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed quickly. Lineup: CF Eaton 3B Zobrist DH Abreu 1B LaRoche LF Melky RF Thompson C Barnes SS Saladino 2B Sanchez BE A. Garcia BE L. Garcia BE M. Johnson BE Flowers? SP Sale SP Quintana SP Johnson SP Rodon SP Montas/Danks CL Robertson SU Montas (if not starting) SU Jones RP Duke RP Petricka RP Jennings RP Albers That's actually a reasonable plan. If Sox aren't going to do much spending, that's actually a good plan. Zobrist would be good for the reasons you mentioned and catcher must be addressed. Might have to overpay for Zobrist. How much is the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunt Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 04:06 PM) I honestly have no clue. We have one star on offense and then a whole bunch of average to below average. Yet the outfield is crowded with crap and hard to change due to organizational committments and money. The infield...well, good luck. Everyone wants a 3b. We have 3 second basemen that each possess one great skill the others lack, and none are likely starters. We need legit star talent. Plugging below average with average isn't enough. I have no idea how you fix this. I look at the rotation and think we coul dbe the mets, but we aren't. Our pitching underachieves, our team tail spins. Personally, I find Sanchez's second half incredibly encouraging. He has a .281/.324/.438 line and has played plus defense all season. If his bat can stay at a low to mid .700 OPS range, he's a 3-3.5 WAR player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmarComing25 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Zobrist scares me a little because of our recent bad luck with old veterans on the free agent market, but if the price is relatively reasonable I wouldn't mind giving him a 2-year deal (probably have to go 3 though). How much would he cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 04:16 PM) Personally, I find Sanchez's second half incredibly encouraging. He has a .281/.324/.438 line and has played plus defense all season. If his bat can stay at a low to mid .700 OPS range, he's a 3-3.5 WAR player. I hope that is the case, and I hope he just is a slow starter after promotion. But what if he is a player that has a 1.5 -2 month slump of complete futility, and then those numbers? Overall, I think we will be fine at 2b/C, 2b we should see if we can keep a cheap player on their rookie deal, C I think will be too expensive and not provide the offensive boost needed (even if a relative improvement). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Have no idea what they'll be able to do. Free agent list isn't impressive in the areas they need. They'll probably have less money to work with given season tickets holders, many, won't be back. Still far to many black holes in the lineup. Starting pitching may be an issue as well if they trade Q. Yet they'll try to sell the fans on the notion of "contending" next year. Maybe the best thing they can do, maybe the only thing is to bring in an experienced manager who has won in the past and let him bring in his own coaching staff. Maybe they can get more out of what the Sox already have. That and removing Kenny completely from interfering. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I would recommend if we do go in lightly, and cannot improve offense, any addition needs to improve defense. Not maximizing the pitching staff would be poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Zobrist doesn't strike me as a guy who would sign with a team so far away from the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 06:11 PM) Zobrist doesn't strike me as a guy who would sign with a team so far away from the playoffs. He's kind of old and this is his first time hitting the free agent market. He'll take the most money he can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panerista Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 05:11 PM) Zobrist doesn't strike me as a guy who would sign with a team so far away from the playoffs. Agreed. This feels like a Kenny Williams move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmarComing25 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 05:11 PM) Zobrist doesn't strike me as a guy who would sign with a team so far away from the playoffs. Players go where the money is. I can't remember the last time a guy signed a contract because "he wanted to win." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 10:44 PM) Have no idea what they'll be able to do. Free agent list isn't impressive in the areas they need. They'll probably have less money to work with given season tickets holders, many, won't be back. Still far to many black holes in the lineup. Starting pitching may be an issue as well if they trade Q. Yet they'll try to sell the fans on the notion of "contending" next year. Maybe the best thing they can do, maybe the only thing is to bring in an experienced manager who has won in the past and let him bring in his own coaching staff. Maybe they can get more out of what the Sox already have. That and removing Kenny completely from interfering. Mark scandalous, he single handily got the sox the WS companionship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlSoxfan Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Zobrist is not a bad idea. He won't cost a draft pick. I have no idea how much he'll cost but I'd bet more than a few teams will be wanting him. I do think however the Sox will find a 3rd baseman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boopa1219 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I would go after either Doug Fist amd signier, Bud Norris, Ian Kennedy and see if I can get them on short term (1 or 2 years) deals with the intention of flipping them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmarComing25 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 07:26 PM) I would go after either Doug Fist amd signier, Bud Norris, Ian Kennedy and see if I can get them on short term (1 or 2 years) deals with the intention of flipping them. I'd only do this if we trade one of our SP. It doesn't make much sense otherwise because you'd be blocking EJ and we need to find out what he is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatScott82 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 No more "retooling" crap. Acquire as many prospects as possible via trades and draft picks. This team has wayyyy too many holes to fix this offseason. Can they actually think long term for once? As long as KW is in charge, expect another 'retooling' crapfest of an offseason. I have lost all faith in this team to make the right decisions under KW's "guidance". The right moves: Fire KW and Robin and undergo a three year rebuild plan under a new regime (New President and Manager) The most likely outcome after the season: Robin gets an extension. KW sticks around. Signs some overpaid veterans who will contribute very little in 2016. Get in line for season tickets, next year will be different under Robin and KW. Whats the old saying, 5th year together is a charm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panerista Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 06:27 PM) Players go where the money is. I can't remember the last time a guy signed a contract because "he wanted to win" and meant it. Fixed. But your point stands. People follow the money, period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitekrazy Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 04:44 PM) Have no idea what they'll be able to do. Free agent list isn't impressive in the areas they need. They'll probably have less money to work with given season tickets holders, many, won't be back. Still far to many black holes in the lineup. Starting pitching may be an issue as well if they trade Q. Yet they'll try to sell the fans on the notion of "contending" next year. Maybe the best thing they can do, maybe the only thing is to bring in an experienced manager who has won in the past and let him bring in his own coaching staff. Maybe they can get more out of what the Sox already have. That and removing Kenny completely from interfering. Mark Trading Q and signing Smarj = 4 steps back. I don't trust this organization with prospects unless they are ready to play. I still don't trust them with that. Maybe fans would have someone else to hate other than Javi. I'd rather build around Sale, Q, Rodon. Danks will be coming off the books eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boopa1219 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 07:29 PM) I'd only do this if we trade one of our SP. It doesn't make much sense otherwise because you'd be blocking EJ and we need to find out what he is. I will make another post going into me detail later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Ben Zobrist is a bad idea all around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Abreu Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 10:17 PM) Ben Zobrist is a bad idea all around. Thank you. I agree. I really hope we don't sign him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlSoxfan Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 10:17 PM) Ben Zobrist is a bad idea all around. How so? and I will say I don't see us signing him at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownsportsfan Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Don't sign anyone expensive. Take a couple lotto ticket flyers. Commit to building from within and give it a 3 year window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmarComing25 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 11:41 PM) Don't sign anyone expensive. Take a couple lotto ticket flyers. Commit to building from within and give it a 3 year window. Example of someone who's a lotto ticket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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