Overall assessment of team needs

[moonslav59]

The Guardians and Cubs of 2016 and the Royals of 2015 all had one thing in common, powerful arms at the back of the pen. The Cubs are the only team of the three to have a stable of guys in the rotation capable of going deep into the game. Kimbrel will get it right, he is an elite arm. But losing Koji and Tazawa basically rids you of your bridge and youre going to need one if you plan on winning a title. DD has to be in on Chapman

 

While I certainly see the needed pen value added, I'm not sure we need to go that bold.

 

Copying the last winners is not always the way to win.

[raider_35_24]

I will go along with DEWY....

 

Sox need to focus on run prevention. It would be nice to get an ace but I'm not willing to give up any prospects. We should be building the team not risk taking a step backward.

 

I'm changing my mind about our bullpen. If we're going to upgrade it, then we should go big. I vote for Chapman and call it a day. Our offense will take a step back. We will need to protect leads. No more 15-4 games. We need to win 5-3 games. Chapman is your answer. Add Kopech in September. Kimbrel, Kelly, Barnes, Chapman and Kopech....now that's some heat.

 

i would love to get chapman or jansen..this is were the money should be spent...and i wound trade some prospects for sale...he is under contract for 3 or 4 more years? and it's not a big contract....cheap.

[Nick]

i would love to get chapman or jansen..this is were the money should be spent...and i wound trade some prospects for sale...he is under contract for 3 or 4 more years? and it's not a big contract....cheap.

 

he would be expensive in terms of giving up players....I'd hate to give up on Moncada, Kopech, Bradley Jr, etc...

[raider_35_24]

and we could live with signing a DH like...

brandon moss

matt holiday

pedro alvarez...don't have to go big there.

[raider_35_24]

he would be expensive in terms of giving up players....I'd hate to give up on Moncada, Kopech, Bradley Jr, etc...

 

it's just me...but i think i would...these are guys that would push us to the top...

[raider_35_24]

he would be expensive in terms of giving up players....I'd hate to give up on Moncada, Kopech, Bradley Jr, etc...

 

1. sale

2. price

3. porcello

4. pom

5. wright

 

add one of chapman or jansen...man that would kill!

[raider_35_24]

i think a lot of teams are going to be asking us about sam travis in trades....

[Nick]

1. sale

2. price

3. porcello

4. pom

5. wright

 

add one of chapman or jansen...man that would kill!

 

I'd want to keep E Rod. No way I trade Kopech with his high upside.

 

I'm not sure if they'd go for Moncada, Devers, Swihart and couple of other secondary players. That will decimate our farm.

[Nick]

i think a lot of teams are going to be asking us about sam travis in trades....

 

I'm not too hyped up about Sam Travis. Corner infielder with limited pop.

[moonslav59]

1. sale

2. price

3. porcello

4. pom

5. wright

 

add one of chapman or jansen...man that would kill!

 

That's a nice thought. Why not go one more and sign Beltran and Turner too?

 

Trade JBJ, Moncada, Swihart, Pom (can flip to another team), Shaw & Hembree/Owens for Sale & Robertson

 

Sale, Porcello, Price, Erod, Wright, Buch

Jansen, Kimbrel, Robertson, Smith, Kelly, Ross, Barnes

 

1) Beni CF

2) Pedey 2B

3) Betts RF

4) Beltran LF

5) HanRam 1B

6) Turner 3B

7) Bogey SS

8) Pablo-Young DH

9) Leon-Vaz

Utility: Holt & Hernandez

 

[raider_35_24]

I'd want to keep E Rod. No way I trade Kopech with his high upside.

 

I'm not sure if they'd go for Moncada, Devers, Swihart and couple of other secondary players. That will decimate our farm.

 

that's why i don't have E Rod in the rotation...i think we would have to give him up.

[raider_35_24]

That's a nice thought. Why not go one more and sign Beltran and Turner too?

 

Trade JBJ, Moncada, Swihart, Pom (can flip to another team), Shaw & Hembree/Owens for Sale & Robertson

 

Sale, Porcello, Price, Erod, Wright, Buch

Jansen, Kimbrel, Robertson, Smith, Kelly, Ross, Barnes

 

1) Beni CF

2) Pedey 2B

3) Betts RF

4) Beltran LF

5) HanRam 1B

6) Turner 3B

7) Bogey SS

8) Pablo-Young DH

9) Leon-Vaz

Utility: Holt & Hernandez

 

 

i don't think we would have that kind of money after signing one of chapman or jansen?

[raider_35_24]

That's a nice thought. Why not go one more and sign Beltran and Turner too?

 

Trade JBJ, Moncada, Swihart, Pom (can flip to another team), Shaw & Hembree/Owens for Sale & Robertson

 

Sale, Porcello, Price, Erod, Wright, Buch

Jansen, Kimbrel, Robertson, Smith, Kelly, Ross, Barnes

 

1) Beni CF

2) Pedey 2B

3) Betts RF

4) Beltran LF

5) HanRam 1B

6) Turner 3B

7) Bogey SS

8) Pablo-Young DH

9) Leon-Vaz

Utility: Holt & Hernandez

 

 

if we could do this...we wouldn't have to make moves for 3 off-seasons...LOL

[notin]

i think a lot of teams are going to be asking us about sam travis in trades....

 

I'd be surprised if anyone asked about him...

[notin]

1. sale

2. price

3. porcello

4. pom

5. wright

 

add one of chapman or jansen...man that would kill!

 

While I hope bullpen is on Dombrowski's list, I have my doubts about that closer is. Especially one season after giving up a lot for Kimbrel, who isn't cheap. I really, really doubt the Sox commit $30mill to the pitching in the eighth and ninth innings only.

[notin]

Trade JBJ, Moncada, Swihart, Pom (can flip to another team), Shaw & Hembree/Owens for Sale & Robertson

 

 

 

While I don't know what Rick Hahn has in mind as an asking price for Sale, I do believe that Pomeranz. Shaw, Hembree and Owens add nothingto this trade, let alone justify acquiring Robertson as well.

 

One thing to keep in mind with Sale. I agree he is terrific, but why is he really available? The White Sox have an excellent young core of talented players including Sale, Quintana, Abreu, Eaton, Rodon, etc. Why blow it up? Is it because Sale revealed himself to be a super-whiny prima donna the team found simply too insufferable? Think about his season - blowing up at management publicly over the Adam LaRoche situation, destroying throwback jerseys, etc. The entire fire sale might be based on this guy being a huge headache.

[raider_35_24]

I'd be surprised if anyone asked about him...

 

why? because he missed this season? this guy has talent and i'm sure teams know who is.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

\

One thing to keep in mind with Sale. I agree he is terrific, but why is he really available? The White Sox have an excellent young core of talented players including Sale, Quintana, Abreu, Eaton, Rodon, etc. Why blow it up? Is it because Sale revealed himself to be a super-whiny prima donna the team found simply too insufferable? Think about his season - blowing up at management publicly over the Adam LaRoche situation, destroying throwback jerseys, etc. The entire fire sale might be based on this guy being a huge headache.

 

A decline in velocity might also explain why the White Sox are interested in moving Sale. Trade him now while his trade value is sky high. In one or two years, his trade value might be half of what it is today.

[S5Dewey]

The more I think about Sale the less I like that idea. He used to look to me like a high risk - high reward player. Now he looks more to me like a high-risk, moderate reward player.

 

I don't know what to think about the clubhouse influence any more. Is it worth it, or is it just a figment of the fan's imagination? On the one hand we have the incident with Iggy (and no, I'm not trying to start another Iggy debate) where he got into a pushy-pushy on national tv in his own dugout and was eviscerated for it. OTOH we have Josh Donaldson who has been trouble on two teams now but still seems to be desirable. So is Sale with his two incidents in the past year someone we'd want? That's the risk. You decide.

 

The flip side of that coin is his reduction in velocity, and that's the tipping point for me. I see a very real possibility that we could give up several of our best prospects along with a GG CF'er and end up with another #3, .500 pitcher. Sure, he'd be cheap on a year-to-year basis but the initial cost would be the killer.

 

I love pitching and defense. I do. But IMO the Sox with their current staff aren't in a position where they have to take on that risk in the hope that it'll pan out. I recognize that there are probably GM's who are desperate enough to take on that risk and pay dearly for it but if the CWS get the sun, moon, and all outdoors for him I'll be glad we passed.

[Bellhorn04]

OTOH we have Josh Donaldson who has been trouble on two teams now but still seems to be desirable.

 

I'm not sure what actual issues Donaldson has caused. We know he did and said something that pissed Billy Beane off so much that he stupidly traded him. But I watch a lot of Jays games and all I've seen Donaldson do is play hard and play great.

[southpaw777]

Well written OP

 

I agree that the MLB rotation is fine as is going into 2017. We will always do our signing of possible depth arms for the rotation and the bullpen and store them in AAA.

Bullpens around MLb are interesting. After aeeing how quickly starters were getting the hook and just how the league is really leaning on 5-6 IP from starters now, I have a feeling salaries for late inning arms and especially closers are going to through the roof...Kimbrel may seem like a bargain as a closer in his final year here. I say we NEED to add another proven late inning hard throwing reliever. Out of some names Ive heard, Jansen and Holland seem like good fits. Chapman, although the best one, is going to cost waaaay too much and he will want to close, as will Kimbrel. Seems like they would be creating some drama. I heard Kopechs name and I dont think hes realistic in 2017. Not impossible, just improbable. He has a lot of control issues to work through and needs to command the 100+ MPh fb better first. Hes also just starting AA this year. Id pump the brakes on MK for now. Think 2018, with anything in 2017 being a complete bonus.

As far as the starting position players go, I agree with most here. We have to see what Sandoval gives us before a move at 3b should be made. Unless we can move Sandy and have the $$ to replace him, Id pencil him in along with Shaw @3b.

I like the idea of Beltran on a 1-2 year deal, but nothing more. If joey bats would do 2 years at a decent salary Im all about that as well...EE is not an option IMHO. If there isnt a profile that fits these guys for a DH/1b/corner OF on a short term deal then I guess we start rotating guys like Young, Sandy, Hanley, etc., @ DH throughout the year. Id rather replace Papi with one guy who will do the bulk of the DHing though.

I think as it stamds now we are set at catcher. vaz and Leon make up one of the best defensive catching tandums in the league. The both are not offensive powers, but bith have good plate discipline and make good contact. Id rather a stud defender than a guy whos going to cost runs, but has a decent stick. Speaking of which, I still see Swihart as trade bait come july. He should be in AAA all year working on his D as a catcher so his value can increase some. He will never be as good as the other two defensively IMO and is still a valuable trade chip for us.

I have no issue Trading one of Moncada or Devers, but not both. I would protect Kopech and Groome for now since they are our only power RHP prospects worth mentioning right now. Obviously that depends on who were being offered for them, but barring a BIg name they go nowhere with me. Some guys like Sam Travis who were hurt last year will be back at full health looking to pick up where they left off...

All in all I like what we have going into 2017. Basiclaly a couple bullpen moves, some roster manipulation, and maybe another bat for DH....

Edited November 25, 2016 by southpaw777

[S5Dewey]

I'm not sure what actual issues Donaldson has caused. We know he did and said something that pissed Billy Beane off so much that he stupidly traded him. But I watch a lot of Jays games and all I've seen Donaldson do is play hard and play great.

 

I would never call into question his ability to play well and play hard. He's also gotten into it with Gibbons at least once in the dugout and I've heard rumblings of clubhouse issues with management. Earlier in the year he also got into an obscene shouting match with another team. It's basic immaturity, like too many players have.

[notin]

why? because he missed this season? this guy has talent and i'm sure teams know who is.

 

He's nowhere near the top of the list for players in the Sox system other teams will want, and his missing a year means the only teams interested will be looking to buy low and therefore give up nothing. ...

[moonslav59]

The more I think about Sale the less I like that idea. He used to look to me like a high risk - high reward player. Now he looks more to me like a high-risk, moderate reward player.

 

I've said all along, I prefer Quintana to Sale. Plus, he has an extra year of team control.

 

Let the Braves or Dodgers pry Sale fro the CWS, and once the rebuild has begun, swoop in and nab Quintana & Robertson...maybe Frazier too.

[Dojji]

The more likely the Chisox are to deal Sale, the less likely they are to deal Quintana. It's one thing to trade one of your two aces when you're not competitive, it's quite another thing to have nothing left to build your rotation around. Edited November 25, 2016 by Dojji

[moonslav59]

The more likely the Chisox are to deal Sale, the less likely they are to deal Quintana. It's one thing to trade one of your two aces when you're not competitive, it's quite another thing to have nothing left to build your rotation around.

 

Depends. If they trade Sale for ML players or very near ML ready prospects, then you may be right. However, if they tade him for farther away prospects, then why stop there?

 

When they are really farther away than it seems before the trade, losing Sale makes them serious noncontenders.

 

Don't be fooled by the very nice core of players they have right now. Beyond the top 7-10 players, there are glaring weaknesses.

 

Their budget looks good, but they have shown no willingness to boost spending enough to close so many gaps.

[cp176]

i think a lot of teams are going to be asking us about sam travis in trades....

 

If he is healthy and fully recovered, Sam Travis could surprise a lot of people - just not the ones who have seen him hit. He is a sleeper for sure but people shouldn't be confused because he doesn't come with all of the glamour and can't miss status. He is a flat out hitter.

[raider_35_24]

If he is healthy and fully recovered, Sam Travis could surprise a lot of people - just not the ones who have seen him hit. He is a sleeper for sure but people shouldn't be confused because he doesn't come with all of the glamour and can't miss status. He is a flat out hitter.

 

Exactly!

[moonslav59]

I like Travis, but he's still largely an unknown.

 

I'm hoping for the best, but I'm not expecting him to win a FT position with the Sox... ever.

[OH FOY]

I do, Drafted in 14, Out of Indiana U, made it to AAA already, and started hitting for a little more Power. But, I don't worry about power too much at this point. He makes contact, doesn't K much. This kid been a hitter everywhere he's been, including College.