Adam Eaton Trade Speculation

[Flash Tizzle]

We still aren't sure Thompson can hit on a full time basis yet. He could be like Brian Anderson or Jordan Danks... nice in the outfield but can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag.

True, but it's an accepted risk (for me atleast) because if Eaton brings back a SS, suddenly we're not having to pay Ramirez and someone such as Zobrist can be signed. So you've effectively filled two positions by trading Eaton, and anything positive/negative from Thompson is just what we'll have to deal with.

[GGajewski18]

True, but it's an accepted risk (for me atleast) because if Eaton brings back a SS, suddenly we're not having to pay Ramirez and someone such as Zobrist can be signed. So you've effectively filled two positions by trading Eaton, and anything positive/negative from Thompson is just what we'll have to deal with.

 

What about Anderson?

 

Trading Eaton would be a huge mistake.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I think you'd get more in separate deals. Why don't people understand how much Quintana is actually worth?

 

Ya I agree unless it was something crazy like Q and Eaton for Puig, Urias, Seager and prospect.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

True, but it's an accepted risk (for me atleast) because if Eaton brings back a SS, suddenly we're not having to pay Ramirez and someone such as Zobrist can be signed. So you've effectively filled two positions by trading Eaton, and anything positive/negative from Thompson is just what we'll have to deal with.

We could always sign a guy like Asdrubal Cabrera for like 2 years. Stop gap to Anderson.

[Dick Allen]

What about Anderson?

 

Trading Eaton would be a huge mistake.

It would depend on what came back for it to be a mistake, but dangling him and trading him for prospects seems pretty silly considering he's a really good player now, and basically not going to break the bank for a long time.

 

The problem with trading Q and guys like Eaton is twofold. Not only do you have to get at least as much talent and productivity back, you also are going to have to get it with reasonable contracts. If suddenly Trace Thompson isn't a major league regular, you can't get a decent CF for what the Sox will have to pay Eaton the next 4 or 5 years. Same with Q.

 

It is mentioned on this board occasionally that the Sox have no financial flexibility. I disagree, but trading cost controlled good players can change that in a hurry.

 

Everyone knows what it costs teams to sign an ace. The Sox have one getting paid like Javy Vazquez. Q is a solid #2 starter even though he is not a sexy one. Replacement cost in dollars would be astronomical. Eaton is in that boat as well. That would be an unbelievable leap of faith in a guy who hit .260 with barely a .300 OBP in AAA to dump your cost controlled catalyst of the offense.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I am already pretty sure he can't. Nothing in his minor league career screamed at me good major league hitter. Heck even his time here was inflated by a really hot start.

I agree. Never say never but it seems like a long shot. Replace him with anyone it's Avi.

[GGajewski18]

It would depend on what came back for it to be a mistake, but dangling him and trading him for prospects seems pretty silly considering he's a really good player now, and basically not going to break the bank for a long time.

 

The problem with trading Q and guys like Eaton is twofold. Not only do you have to get at least as much talent and productivity back, you also are going to have to get it with reasonable contracts. If suddenly Trace Thompson isn't a major league regular, you can't get a decent CF for what the Sox will have to pay Eaton the next 4 or 5 years. Same with Q.

 

It is mentioned on this board occasionally that the Sox have no financial flexibility. I disagree, but trading cost controlled good players can change that in a hurry.

 

Everyone knows what it costs teams to sign an ace. The Sox have one getting paid like Javy Vazquez. Q is a solid #2 starter even though he is not a sexy one. Replacement cost in dollars would be astronomical. Eaton is in that boat as well. That would be an unbelievable leap of faith in a guy who hit .260 with barely a .300 OBP in AAA to dump your cost controlled catalyst of the offense.

 

Couldn't of said it any better.

[GGajewski18]

I agree. Never say never but it seems like a long shot. Replace him with anyone it's Avi.

 

Agreed.

[OmarComing25]

Couldn't of said it any better.

Only thing I would change is that by any metric you want to go by, Quintana is clearly better than a solid #2.

[Flash Tizzle]

We could always sign a guy like Asdrubal Cabrera for like 2 years. Stop gap to Anderson.

I'd understand Cabrera instead of Ramirez, but that's one slight upgrade at SS.

 

What about 2B, 3B, C, RF? Even say we sign Freese for 3B and stand pat otherwise, how much better is this team? We're still peppering the Sox with replacement level production when we know damn well what we need is several power hitting, on base players aside from Abreu

Edited October 23, 2015 by Flash Tizzle

[OmarComing25]

I'm not sure Asdrubal Cabrera would be an upgrade over Alexei. Alexei had a completely dreadful first half, but actually put up a 105 wRC+ in the second half.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

I'd understand Cabrera instead of Ramirez, but that's one slight upgrade at SS.

 

What about 2B, 3B, C, RF? Even say we sign Freese for 3B and stand pat otherwise, how much better is this team? We're still peppering the Sox with replacement level production when we know damn well what we need is several power hitting, on base players aside from Abreu

Those two alone are not enough. We need to add at least one impact bat. 2B: I'm fine with Sanchez. C: I want Wieters.

[GGajewski18]

Those two alone are not enough. We need to add at least one impact bat. 2B: I'm fine with Sanchez. C: I want Wieters.

 

If Wieters doesn't cost us a draft pick, I'll be fine with it. A 3-4 year deal would probably work for him. If a draft pick is attached to him, then no.

 

Even though we'd have to give up assets, Derek Norris is the catcher I want. Plus defense, durable, and won't be a hole in the lineup.

[Flash Tizzle]

Those two alone are not enough. We need to add at least one impact bat. 2B: I'm fine with Sanchez. C: I want Wieters.

It's absolutely not enough, but they're not going to sign all three.

 

I think realistically they'll sign two players for IF spots and maintain the rest of the roster.

[GGajewski18]

It's absolutely not enough, but they're not going to sign all three.

 

I think realistically they'll sign two players for IF spots and maintain the rest of the roster.

 

If they do that, then they will be worse than last year.

 

You mentioned Freese and Asdrubal Cabrera, I'd rather have Saladino/Olt and Alexei than them.

 

 

[Flash Tizzle]

If they do that, then they will be worse than last year.

 

You mentioned Freese and Asdrubal Cabrera, I'd rather have Saladino/Olt and Alexei than them.

I assume you're signing Zobrist or Wieters in this scenario then, right?

 

It's not going to matter how they patch up next season anyway. The legitimate FA options are out of our price range, and even those below cannot all be signed with our limited payroll flexibility. Anything short of an incredibly lopsided, franchise changing trade immediately benefitting us, a career resurgence from nearly the entire lineup, AND our pitching staff staying healthy, we're not going to compete in 2016. Yes it could happen and this offseason could be Hahn's miracle that goes down in lore as the period we began our resurgence; but the White Sox haven't earned that optimism from me. I'll expect failure until proven otherwise

Edited October 23, 2015 by Flash Tizzle

[RaySox]

It's not such a bad thing to hope and dream a little bit. Fan optimism never killed anyone. I think the front office needs to be smart this offseason but also be willing to take risks. If they want to compete they may need to add big guns. I believe most Sox fans are tired of playing the offseason like a small market team. Small patches won't fill the seats nor make this team compete. With this pitching staff and Sale/Abreu in their good years, now is the time to do this.

[OmarComing25]

I assume you're signing Zobrist or Wieters in this scenario then, right?

 

It's not going to matter how they patch up next season anyway. The legitimate FA options are out of our price range, and even those below cannot all be signed with our limited payroll flexibility. Anything short of an incredibly lopsided, franchise changing trade immediately benefitting us, a career resurgence from nearly the entire lineup, AND our pitching staff staying healthy, we're not going to compete in 2016. Yes it could happen and this offseason could be Hahn's miracle that goes down in lore as the period we began our resurgence; but the White Sox haven't earned that optimism from me. I'll expect failure until proven otherwise

If LaRoche had finished the season with what his slash line was at the beginning of June and Samardzija hadn't gone into the toilet at the beginning of August there's a decent shot we could have won the second wildcard (and at the very least we would have been "competing"). It's not looking likely that we'll compete next year at the moment but we don't necessarily need a miracle either. You catch a couple breaks and you can easily make a 10-game jump, tons of teams do it every year. After 2007 things looked pretty grim too. That doesn't mean we should make more risky moves and bank on those breaks happening, but it's not like we just had the season the Phillies or Brewers had.

[greg775]

If LaRoche had finished the season with what his slash line was at the beginning of June and Samardzija hadn't gone into the toilet at the beginning of August there's a decent shot we could have won the second wildcard (and at the very least we would have been "competing"). It's not looking likely that we'll compete next year at the moment but we don't necessarily need a miracle either. You catch a couple breaks and you can easily make a 10-game jump, tons of teams do it every year. After 2007 things looked pretty grim too. That doesn't mean we should make more risky moves and bank on those breaks happening, but it's not like we just had the season the Phillies or Brewers had.

All true. Good post.

But ... like one poster said in a thread the smart money says next season at best will be a carbon copy of this season. Our lineup has too many bad hitters. As much as I stand up for Flowers, he's not ever going to hit. LaRoche can't hit, pure and simple. 2B looks like a hitters black hole; Lexi isn't much of a hitter anymore sad to say; Avi can't hit; Eaton is good; Melky is average but nothing of note and Abreu is fantastic. Our bench reeks hitting wise. 3B is also hopeless hitting wise.

 

I'd say start at 9 under .500 like this year as the high water mark and if you are pessimist add another five losses to that for 14 under barring an amazing roster overhaul that doesn't touch the starting pitching staff.

[cabiness42]

All true. Good post.

But ... like one poster said in a thread the smart money says next season at best will be a carbon copy of this season. Our lineup has too many bad hitters. As much as I stand up for Flowers, he's not ever going to hit. LaRoche can't hit, pure and simple. 2B looks like a hitters black hole; Lexi isn't much of a hitter anymore sad to say; Avi can't hit; Eaton is good; Melky is average but nothing of note and Abreu is fantastic. Our bench reeks hitting wise. 3B is also hopeless hitting wise.

 

I'd say start at 9 under .500 like this year as the high water mark and if you are pessimist add another five losses to that for 14 under barring an amazing roster overhaul that doesn't touch the starting pitching staff.

 

Very few teams get much hitting out of the C and SS positions. Sox need to upgrade at least two out of 2B, 3B, DH and RF.

[greg775]

Very few teams get much hitting out of the C and SS positions. Sox need to upgrade at least two out of 2B, 3B, DH and RF.

That is true. Catchers don't hit much. Even the standard, the great Salvy Perez hit .260 (.280 OBP) with 21 homers and 70 ribbies. That's great and all but again, he's the best and only hitting .260; .280. Flowers coincidentally in a lot fewer at bats hit .239 with nine homers, 39 ribbies and .295 OPB; Soto hit .219, 9 hrs, 21 ribbies and .301 OBP. So combined the Sox catching hit 18 homers to Perez's 21 and had 60 ribbies to Perez's 70. And Flowers arguably is a decent defender, though he's no Salvy.

 

Interesting that catcher did suck but like HH said catcher was no huge problem compared to most teams. He's right. We need to upgrade two of those spots. I'd say if we could upgrade 3B and RF (no way we can dump LaRoche on anybody) that would be a start because arguably Micah/Sanchez would be 'OK' and Trayce 'OK' in right. We can't go with Avi anymore as a regular. He's that bad.

[Eminor3rd]

That is true. Catchers don't hit much. Even the standard, the great Salvy Perez hit .260 (.280 OBP) with 21 homers and 70 ribbies. That's great and all but again, he's the best and only hitting .260; .280. Flowers coincidentally in a lot fewer at bats hit .239 with nine homers, 39 ribbies and .295 OPB; Soto hit .219, 9 hrs, 21 ribbies and .301 OBP. So combined the Sox catching hit 18 homers to Perez's 21 and had 60 ribbies to Perez's 70. And Flowers arguably is a decent defender, though he's no Salvy.

 

Interesting that catcher did suck but like HH said catcher was no huge problem compared to most teams. He's right. We need to upgrade two of those spots. I'd say if we could upgrade 3B and RF (no way we can dump LaRoche on anybody) that would be a start because arguably Micah/Sanchez would be 'OK' and Trayce 'OK' in right. We can't go with Avi anymore as a regular. He's that bad.

 

If you think Salvador Perez is the gold standard for catcher offense, I'm not sure we're watching the same sport.

[greg775]

If you think Salvador Perez is the gold standard for catcher offense, I'm not sure we're watching the same sport.

He's the standard for an excellent all around catcher. Who is regarded as better than him?

[shysocks]

He's the standard for an excellent all around catcher. Who is regarded as better than him?

Who told you this? Buster Posey is the best in the game right now.

[greg775]

Who told you this? Buster Posey is the best in the game right now.

You are right. Posey beats out Salvy on production with .318, 19, 95. Amazing stats. .379 OBP. Who's better than Perez in the AL?