lpneck
06-18-2007, 12:09 PM
Can someone please explain to me why it seems the majority of people here seem to think that it is the White Sox's best interest to trade Tadahito Iguchi at the deadline?
I think that extending Iguchi may be one of the most important things the Sox need to get done this year. He is one of the 10 best 2nd basemen in MLB, plays solid defense up the middle, and fills the role as #2 hitter nicely when the Sox have an effective lead-off hitter (where he can see more fastballs.) He also is looking at a contract in the $5-$6 M per year area, so he is very affordable. Considering the uncertainty facing this team at shortstop for next year (and I think that is the MOST IMPORTANT DECISION KW HAS), I think you absolutely have to bring Iguchi back.
Dye absolutely needs to be shipped at the trading deadline, and I think that the Sox should include Contreras in any deal that involves Dye, essentially as a salary dump. The biggest hole that needs to be filled through the trade deadline is the bullpen.
I can be convinced either way on Buehrle, I think a lot of it depends on what Mark wants. If he won't take $15 M for 4 years, though, I think you have to let him go. I also think there is a chance that ARod plays a role in what happens here. If he opts out of his contract with the Yankees, perhaps the Sox use this money to fill the HUGE hole they currently have at shortstop. If ARod stays with the Yankees, then use the money on Mark.
Crede is probably done here, although a slight possibility remains of signing him to an incentive laden contract.
I think it would be prudent to either resign Podsednik to for $3 M/1 year, or exercise Erstad's option to have some depth in the outfield.
Do not resign any of the following, and if you can get anything for them in a trade at the deadline, great: Uribe, Mackowiack, Cintron.
I would pursue Ichiro and Aaron Rowand through free agency, and get Sweeney and Anderson in the lineup just about every day for the rest of this year so you can make a decision as to which of those two is ready for next year.
Next year's possible lineup: (Trade Mark, sign ARod)
RF Ichiro $14 M
2B Iguchi $5 M
SS ARod $27 M
DH Thome $14 M
1B Konerko $12 M
CF Rowand $8 M
C Pierzynski $5.5 M
LF Sweeney $<1M (This could be Pods/Erstad/Anderson: switch 8/9 spots)
3B Fields $<1M
Bench:
OF- Podsednik or Erstad $3 M
OF- Terrero $<1 M
IF- Ozuna $1 M
IF- A. Gonzalez? $<1 M
C- Hall $1.75 M
Rotation:
SP- Garland $12 M (and he needs to be extended if Buehrle is gone)
SP- Vazquez $11 M
SP- Jennings $7.5 M (sign as free agent)
SP- Danks $<1 M
SP- Floyd $<1 M (or G. Gonzalez)
Bullpen:
RP- Jenks $<1 M
RP- MacDougal $2 M (he's probably not tradeable at this point)
RP- Thornton $1M
RP- Logan $<1M
RP- Affeldt $2M (sign as free agent)
RP- Player aquired in trade for Dye/Contreras? $2M
RP- Trade/Free Agent? $2M (This is an extra player, but I think it is very likely that either MacDougal of Thornton will need to be DFA.
That would bring the payroll up to a whopping $134 M, up from $108 M this year. However, the entire increase would essentially be ARod's contract. Would KW and JR break the bank to bring him here if he opts out?
Now, what about if ARod doesn't opt out and we resign Mark?
RF- Ichiro
2B- Iguchi
DH- Thome
1B- Konerko
CF- Rowand
C- Pierzynski
LF- Sweeney
3B- Fields
SS- ????? Who are we going to get to play shortstop? Paying $5 M to Uribe and his .260 OBP should NOT be an option!
Same bench as above
Starters- Buehrle, Garland, Vazquez, Danks, Floyd or G. Gonzalez
Same bullpen as above
Total salary: about $115 M - NOT counting a shortstop.
I think that extending Iguchi may be one of the most important things the Sox need to get done this year. He is one of the 10 best 2nd basemen in MLB, plays solid defense up the middle, and fills the role as #2 hitter nicely when the Sox have an effective lead-off hitter (where he can see more fastballs.) He also is looking at a contract in the $5-$6 M per year area, so he is very affordable. Considering the uncertainty facing this team at shortstop for next year (and I think that is the MOST IMPORTANT DECISION KW HAS), I think you absolutely have to bring Iguchi back.
Dye absolutely needs to be shipped at the trading deadline, and I think that the Sox should include Contreras in any deal that involves Dye, essentially as a salary dump. The biggest hole that needs to be filled through the trade deadline is the bullpen.
I can be convinced either way on Buehrle, I think a lot of it depends on what Mark wants. If he won't take $15 M for 4 years, though, I think you have to let him go. I also think there is a chance that ARod plays a role in what happens here. If he opts out of his contract with the Yankees, perhaps the Sox use this money to fill the HUGE hole they currently have at shortstop. If ARod stays with the Yankees, then use the money on Mark.
Crede is probably done here, although a slight possibility remains of signing him to an incentive laden contract.
I think it would be prudent to either resign Podsednik to for $3 M/1 year, or exercise Erstad's option to have some depth in the outfield.
Do not resign any of the following, and if you can get anything for them in a trade at the deadline, great: Uribe, Mackowiack, Cintron.
I would pursue Ichiro and Aaron Rowand through free agency, and get Sweeney and Anderson in the lineup just about every day for the rest of this year so you can make a decision as to which of those two is ready for next year.
Next year's possible lineup: (Trade Mark, sign ARod)
RF Ichiro $14 M
2B Iguchi $5 M
SS ARod $27 M
DH Thome $14 M
1B Konerko $12 M
CF Rowand $8 M
C Pierzynski $5.5 M
LF Sweeney $<1M (This could be Pods/Erstad/Anderson: switch 8/9 spots)
3B Fields $<1M
Bench:
OF- Podsednik or Erstad $3 M
OF- Terrero $<1 M
IF- Ozuna $1 M
IF- A. Gonzalez? $<1 M
C- Hall $1.75 M
Rotation:
SP- Garland $12 M (and he needs to be extended if Buehrle is gone)
SP- Vazquez $11 M
SP- Jennings $7.5 M (sign as free agent)
SP- Danks $<1 M
SP- Floyd $<1 M (or G. Gonzalez)
Bullpen:
RP- Jenks $<1 M
RP- MacDougal $2 M (he's probably not tradeable at this point)
RP- Thornton $1M
RP- Logan $<1M
RP- Affeldt $2M (sign as free agent)
RP- Player aquired in trade for Dye/Contreras? $2M
RP- Trade/Free Agent? $2M (This is an extra player, but I think it is very likely that either MacDougal of Thornton will need to be DFA.
That would bring the payroll up to a whopping $134 M, up from $108 M this year. However, the entire increase would essentially be ARod's contract. Would KW and JR break the bank to bring him here if he opts out?
Now, what about if ARod doesn't opt out and we resign Mark?
RF- Ichiro
2B- Iguchi
DH- Thome
1B- Konerko
CF- Rowand
C- Pierzynski
LF- Sweeney
3B- Fields
SS- ????? Who are we going to get to play shortstop? Paying $5 M to Uribe and his .260 OBP should NOT be an option!
Same bench as above
Starters- Buehrle, Garland, Vazquez, Danks, Floyd or G. Gonzalez
Same bullpen as above
Total salary: about $115 M - NOT counting a shortstop.