Chicago White Sox 2007-2008 Offseason Thread

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by Go Tribe

hey don't rip KW - at least he didn't give up much to get Pods...

Hey, hey, that was for Pods, Luis Vizcaino AND Travis "Out Of Baseball, Apparently" Hinton!

All kidding aside, that move was partially a financial move - the $6 million saved from that basically paid for Iguchi (or Pierzynski, who made about the same in 2005) and Dye, which wound up filling a number of holes.

That's not to say I wouldn't like to have Carlos Lee now, but if I had to choose between keeping Carlos Lee and winning a World Series, well...

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

According to this article, Aaron Rowand was KW's first target for the centerfield job, but talks never progressed beyond the number of years

Make up your minds, people!

Originally Posted by Rowand

Yeah, I would never count [White Sox general manager] Kenny [Williams] out of anything. So, yeah, I mean, it's still a chance that it happens. I would be open to going back there and I don't think the door has been shut on that at all. They haven't even started the Winter Meetings yet.

Of course, he also refers to Greg Walker as "the best hitting coach in baseball," even though he regressed under him, and put together his best season with the bat after getting away from him. Go figure.

[Unoriginal Name]

Originally Posted by Goodsox

I really thought KW would have addressed the outfield problems by now. I am starting to worry that we will end up seeing an outfield of JD, Owens, and Sweeney/Anderson It would be nice to get at least one more proven outfielder to go along with JD and let the youngsters compete for the 3rd spot.

Ditto here. I liked what he did with shortstop and here is to hoping he can get rid of Uribe, we shouldn't be paying $4 million dollars to a utility infielder, but I am still very scared of the outfield and the pitching. Is Linebrink really an upgrade over what we already have?

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by Unoriginal Name

Is Linebrink really an upgrade over what we already have?

...did you see how bad the bullpen was last year? It was astonishing:

Player              Ag   G    ERA   W   L  SV  GS  GF  CG SHO   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO   BFP  WP HBP BK IBB ERA+ 
Boone Logan         22  68   4.97   2   1  0   0  13   0   0   50.7   59   30   28   7   20   35  226   2   0  0   3  95
Matt Thornton       30  68   4.79   4   4  2   0  13   0   0   56.3   59   31   30   4   26   55  249   3   2  0   6  99
Mike MacDougal      30  54   6.80   2   5  0   0   8   0   0   42.3   50   37   32   3   33   39  208   8   2  0   3  70
Ryan Bukvich        29  45   5.05   1   0  0   0   7   0   0   35.7   36   23   20   5   24   18  170   3   3  0   1  94
Nick Masset         25  27   7.09   2   3  0   1   4   0   0   39.3   52   33   31   2   26   21  193   4   2  0   5  67
David Aardsma       25  25   6.40   2   1  0   0   7   0   0   32.3   39   24   23   4   17   36  151   2   1  0   3  74
Ehren Wassermann    26  33   2.74   1   1  0   0   6   0   0   23.0   20    9    7   0    7   14   94   1   2  0   4 173
Andrew Sisco        24  19   8.36   0   1  0   0   6   0   0   14.0   19   13   13   2   11   13   74   3   1  0   0  57
Mike Myers          38  17  11.20   1   0  0   0   3   0   0   13.7   21   19   17   3    7    6   70   0   1  0   2  42
Dewon Day           26  13  11.25   0   1  0   0   6   0   0   12.0   19   15   15   1    9    7   65   1   2  0   0  42
Charlie Haeger      23   8   7.15   0   1  0   0   5   0   0   11.3   17   11    9   3    8    1   59   0   1  0   2  66
Bret Prinz          30   4   8.10   0   0  0   0   1   0   0    3.3    4    3    3   1    2    1   16   0   0  0   1  59

I left Jenks off of there, because he was pretty much rock-solid all year. Note that the only pitcher on there with an ERA+ over 100 is Ehren Wasserman.

So, yeah, I'd say Linebrink is an upgrade. Probably won't work out, but...

[Unoriginal Name]

Man those numbers are pretty sick. Can't get much worse than that....can it?

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by Unoriginal Name

Man those numbers are pretty sick. Can't get much worse than that....can it?

I wouldn't imagine so. When only two relievers post ERAs below 4.79, it's pretty awful.

...also, MLB.com is reporting the Sox have traded minor league 1B Chris Carter to Arizona for outfielder Carlos Quentin.

edit: It's official:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...tnered=rss_cws

[MogulChamp]

Saw mention on SI.com that the Sox are speaking with Miguel Cabrera. Just what we need. A third 3rd baseman to go with our two shortstops. And one of the lightest hitting outfields in the majors to with it!

I wasted $150+ last year on mlb extra innings, if they dont make some moves that make sense, I may just watch the local teams. Orioles, Nationals, Phillies and Pirates.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by MogulChamp

Saw mention on SI.com that the Sox are speaking with Miguel Cabrera. Just what we need. A third 3rd baseman to go with our two shortstops. And one of the lightest hitting outfields in the majors to with it!

I wasted $150+ last year on mlb extra innings, if they dont make some moves that make sense, I may just watch the local teams. Orioles, Nationals, Phillies and Pirates.

Now that he's been traded to the Tigers it's a moot point, however, if the Sox were to get him, I would imagine it would be to play LF, not 3B.

[eriqjaffe]

This is all the result of the Sox having a ridiculously weak farm system right now. The Sox can't trade prospects because they have very, very few worth anything. Here's a list of Sox prospects with any legitimate trade value:

1) Gio Gonzalez

Ultimately, I don't think the Sox "lost out" on Cabrera, since he only popped up on the radar a day or so ago. They lost out on Torii Hunter because the Angels came out of nowhere with a borderline insane offer.

As to the Sox having a weak-hitting outfield...that partially depends on what happens with Crede. If he's healthy, expect to see Josh Fields have the inside track on the left field spot. If he had played a full season, he would've put up 36 homers and driven in 104 runs - both of which would have led the team. Assuming (and I know what happens when you assume) that he improves in his second full year, he and Dye could form a fairly potent combo. Granted, that may be expecting too much, but I have to have some hope.

Carlos Quentin can also hit for power (21 homers in AAA in 2005), and his walk totals are pretty darn good. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him make the team this year, too. His chances are even better if Crede's status means Fields plays third base more.

The real problem here is the fact that the team's core is aging, and they have nobody really ready to step up from the minors to make a splash. Anderson? Sweeney? Mediocrity!

The Sox'll have to be exceedingly lucky to finish higher than fourth place, unless KW has some sort of miracle Plan 1R or something.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

This is all the result of the Sox having a ridiculously weak farm system right now. The Sox can't trade prospects because they have very, very few worth anything. Here's a list of Sox prospects with any legitimate trade value:

1) Gio Gonzalez

Ultimately, I don't think the Sox "lost out" on Cabrera, since he only popped up on the radar a day or so ago. They lost out on Torii Hunter because the Angels came out of nowhere with a borderline insane offer.

As to the Sox having a weak-hitting outfield...that partially depends on what happens with Crede. If he's healthy, expect to see Josh Fields have the inside track on the left field spot. If he had played a full season, he would've put up 36 homers and driven in 104 runs - both of which would have led the team. Assuming (and I know what happens when you assume) that he improves in his second full year, he and Dye could form a fairly potent combo. Granted, that may be expecting too much, but I have to have some hope.

Carlos Quentin can also hit for power (21 homers in AAA in 2005), and his walk totals are pretty darn good. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him make the team this year, too. His chances are even better if Crede's status means Fields plays third base more.

The real problem here is the fact that the team's core is aging, and they have nobody really ready to step up from the minors to make a splash. Anderson? Sweeney? Mediocrity!

The Sox'll have to be exceedingly lucky to finish higher than fourth place, unless KW has some sort of miracle Plan 1R or something.

Well, Kenny has said that if Fields is on the Major League roster, it's as a 3B, not LF. Quentin is coming off Shoulder surgery. And the Sox will get Rowand, 4 years, 13 per.

[Dauis]

Originally Posted by Mike D

Well, Kenny has said that if Fields is on the Major League roster, it's as a 3B, not LF. Quentin is coming off Shoulder surgery. And the Sox will get Rowand, 4 years, 13 per.

I wouldn't be so sure about Rowand. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have him, but I thought he was looking for something along the lines of 5/75. I hope I'm wrong, but I have to put the chances of Aaron returning to the Sox at very slim to none.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by Dauis

I wouldn't be so sure about Rowand. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have him, but I thought he was looking for something along the lines of 5/75. I hope I'm wrong, but I have to put the chances of Aaron returning to the Sox at very slim to none.

Oh he can look for something like 5/75, doesn't mean he's going to get it.

[baseball_chick]

Hopefully our Sox do well. I was kind of happy hearing that Jones signed with the Dodgers; really didn't want him in a White Sox uniform.

I honestly have to say, though, that the only players I hate more than Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds, are Jose Contreras and Juan Uribe. Why on earth are these two so bad? Contreras, well, he's a couple of good seasons. But Uribe, he just sucks! I've never seen someone swing at pitches in the dirt as much as he does. I loved Jon Garland a buttload, but I sure am glad we have Orlando Cabrera now. Now I don't have to deal with Uribe.

I really want Kenny to sign Rowand, though I know he's asking for a lot of money and too many years. I don't really have a problem with Jerry Owens, though. He's a pretty talented guy, and of course, you have to love his speed.

The Joe Crede situation is the only thing I'm "worried" about. The surgery he's getting is one of those surgeries that could either fix him and help him become a better player, or it could totally mess him up. There's absolutely no "in-between". I don't want to see Josh Fields go, and I don't know how good of a leftfielder he is.

All in all, I think the players we got this off-season made the team better, and I'm very excited to see players like Danny Richar, Gavin Floyd and Lance Broadway play next season. I do think that there'll be a "big move", but knowing Kenny, we won't know anything about it until it's completely final.


P.S: Lance Broadway really is hot!

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by baseball_chick

I sure am glad we have Orlando Cabrera now. Now I don't have to deal with Uribe.

Ah, but Uribe's still here!

Originally Posted by baseball_chick

The Joe Crede situation is the only thing I'm "worried" about. The surgery he's getting is one of those surgeries that could either fix him and help him become a better player, or it could totally mess him up. There's absolutely no "in-between". I don't want to see Josh Fields go, and I don't know how good of a leftfielder he is.

He's a bad left fielder, but that's got more to do with the fact that he's almost never played there before last year. Crede, given his health, contract situation and choice of agents, will almost certainly be gone before Josh Fields is. Unless the Sox are, by some miracle, contending, Crede will probalby be dealt if he can prove himself healthy and capable.

[baseball_chick]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Ah, but Uribe's still here!

He's a bad left fielder, but that's got more to do with the fact that he's almost never played there before last year. Crede, given his health, contract situation and choice of agents, will almost certainly be gone before Josh Fields is. Unless the Sox are, by some miracle, contending, Crede will probalby be dealt if he can prove himself healthy and capable.

Let me re-phrase: Now I don't have to deal with Uribe every single game.

Well, yes, it's pretty much a sure thing that Joe won't be playing for us in 2009, or maybe even the last couple of months of the 2008 season. Really want to know what we'll get for him, though. He could be traded before April, which would mean Josh would be our main man. Or he could be the starter (if he's healthy) and he'll get traded right before the deadline, which would also mean Josh would get traded during/before the 2008 season. I guess in some way this is a good problem to have; to me, they're both reliable thirdbasemen, and although Josh doesn't have the the fielding ability Joe has (even though he made some tremendous plays this past season) he's younger and cheaper.

Seriously, though, someone should kidnap Contreras.

[eriqjaffe]

The Brewers have DFA'd Kevin Mench.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...2007&fext=.jsp

...not saying I'd love to see him as our starting left fielder, but he would certainly be a nice backup. At least it's better than using all the utility infielders as backup outfielders.

[eriqjaffe]

Suddenly, Kevin Mench seems like a better idea.

The Sox non-tendered Andy Gonzalez (don't let the door hit you...) and Heath Phillips.

They are "expected" to tender a contract to Joe Crede, but I'm not quite sure when the deadline is.

[eriqjaffe]

Hmm. I'm surprised I didn't find out about this until now, but the Sox did, indeed, tender a contract to Joe Crede:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....esox-headlines

It's kinda buried at the bottom of the first section of the article.

Also, on the former Sox radar, Rob Mackowiak and Willie Harris both signed 1-year deals with the Nationals. Rob will, sadly, always be best remembered as that guy that Ozzie played out of position for much of 2006 instead of the guy who was the team's leading hitter when he was dealt to San Diego last year. Harris, of course, is the guy who pinch-singled and then came around to score the only run of Game 4.

[eriqjaffe]

Finally some good news!

Steve Stone to call Friday home games. So it'll be Stone, Farmer & Singleton...

[eriqjaffe]