FREE AGENT Signings

[brett05]

Yes and no on Jackson. The contract swap would be on the hope of both clubs that a change of scenery would jump start underperforming players. Jackson's contract isn't too terrible to swallow and if he came even close to his career numbers and ate some innings that could serve a purpose for a contending club and it helps that he's a good clubhouse guy. I still think Cleveland will one back to the Bourn swap when they realize no one wants Swisher.

Most guys are clubhouse guys. Ejax could only hope to get up to zero value. He has negative value and his only value is to move money.

 

[CSF77]

Michael Bourn: 2015: 13.5 Mil, 2016: 14 Mil, 2017: 12 mil vesting. Based off of 550 PA in 2016.
So 32 next year. OBA: .314 last year. Career: .333. AL he went down to those levels. NL was better. Not sure if this is a age issue or what is the deal.

SB: dropped into the 20's. from 40+ avg in the NL. Again most likely an age issue.

It is a fair trade but the question is does he hold more value than Alcantara or Coghland next year?

 

[CSF77]

To be fair Swisher is also on the table. The Cubs have already shot down the EJax for Swish deal. This I believe has more to do with $$$. 2015 15 mil, 2016 16 mil, 2014 14 mil vesting option again based off of 550 PA in 2016.Numbers are close.

2014: OPS+: 74. Way below his 115 avh. .608 OPS. Just bad for a corner guy. He has gotten worse in Cle. .837 in NY then .763 his first year in Cle then .608.


(What is wrong with that club anyways? Guys are having career worst seasons at the same time?)

As far as what "Fits" for the Cubs? Swisher in LF makes more sense than Bourn in CF.

Right now they could run: (With Swisher)
CF: Alcantara
SS: Castro
1B: Rizzo
3B: Bryant (going with the season theme vs opening day)
RF: Soler
LF: Swisher (SH to split up RH hitters)
2B: Baez
C: Castillo

The Cubs will be RH heavy very soon. They have a glaring need for a 2nd LH stick with some HR power lower in the line up.

 

[JZsportsfan]

For what it's worth, I think adding a guy like Swisher to the clubhouse would really help some of the young guys. Would be a much better fit than Bourn in that regard. Neither would be an everyday OF, so I don't think the on the field difference would be really significant. Swisher was a 3.8 WAR guy just a year ago, I'd rather take on that risk personally

Looking at Spotrac both Swisher and Bourn's deals end in 2017, while Jackson's ends in 2016 so I could see the disparity there

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Most guys are clubhouse guys. Ejax could only hope to get up to zero value. He has negative value and his only value is to move money.

Personally I agree with you but I've read and heard several so called "experts" say that there are GM's that think he can't get worse. I certainly am not going to argue their position. One said there were 15 teams that would be interested, all in trade for another underperforming contract of course.

 

[brett05]

Personally I agree with you but I've read and heard several so called "experts" say that there are GM's that think he can't get worse. I certainly am not going to argue their position. One said there were 15 teams that would be interested, all in trade for another underperforming contract of course.

Right because that is where his value comes in...For an even worse contract. Ejax get better? Sure. Better than what any team has now? I would say most would doubt it.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Right because that is where his value comes in...For an even worse contract. Ejax get better? Sure. Better than what any team has now? I would say most would doubt it.

Well for instance Cleveland is said to want him. Supposedly the Cubs said sure for Michael Bourn and it looked like they might go for that and then Cleveland held fast to Nick Swisher and the Cubs said no thank you. Now the talk is the Bourn deal might get done. I don't think that deal is worse than Jackson myself, especially if Bourn is healthy. I guess the proof is in the pudding and if that deal doesn't happen that's the answer. Again I'm not invested enough to care. I'd cut him and eat the deal.

 

[brett05]

Well for instance Cleveland is said to want him. Supposedly the Cubs said sure for Michael Bourn and it looked like they might go for that and then Cleveland held fast to Nick Swisher and the Cubs said no thank you. Now the talk is the Bourn deal might get done. I don't think that deal is worse than Jackson myself, especially if Bourn is healthy. I guess the proof is in the pudding and if that deal doesn't happen that's the answer. Again I'm not invested enough to care. I'd cut him and eat the deal.

I'd cut him and eat the deal too

 

[CSF77]

They ate 20 mil on Z and 18 mil on Sori. 22 mil on Jackson is par.

 

[TL1961]

For what it's worth, I think adding a guy like Swisher to the clubhouse would really help some of the young guys. Would be a much better fit than Bourn in that regard. Neither would be an everyday OF, so I don't think the on the field difference would be really significant. Swisher was a 3.8 WAR guy just a year ago, I'd rather take on that risk personally

Looking at Spotrac both Swisher and Bourn's deals end in 2017, while Jackson's ends in 2016 so I could see the disparity there

I don't think Swisher brings anything to the table. And the cost is 5 times what it should be.

 

[TL1961]

I'd cut him and eat the deal too

Who is running things in Cleveland? They have Swisher and Bourn under huge contracts? Poor Francona has to try to manage around that? Yeesh.

 

[brett05]

White Sox land Laroche two years $25 mil total

 

[chibears55]

White Sox land Laroche two years $25 mil total

Wrong room [emoji6]

 

[brett05]

Wrong room [emoji6]

The thread is....FREE AGENT Signings right?

 

[chibears55]

The thread is....FREE AGENT Signings right?

Lol.. just messn with you..
I saw it was just you n dews on the sox board talking about it
Pretty sad. . [emoji20]

 

[brett05]

Lol.. just messn with you..
I saw it was just you n dews on the sox board talking about it
Pretty sad. . [emoji20]

Hey that's a record on attendance for us [emoji2]

 

[Parade_Rain]

White Sox land Laroche two years $25 mil total

World Series bound!

 

[chibears55]

@mlbtraderumors: Per @nickcafardo, #RedSox have offered Pablo Sandoval five years, $95MM. Keep track of the latest on Sandoval here: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/pablo-sandoval-rumors-friday.html

Makes me wonder if Boston drops almost 20 per on Sandoval, if they would also drop around 22 on Lester or pull out and look into someone else for less

 

[TL1961]

White Sox land Laroche two years $25 mil total

I think the Sox have made two good signings so far, and I think they're far from finished.

 

[TL1961]

@mlbtraderumors: Per @nickcafardo, #RedSox have offered Pablo Sandoval five years, $95MM. Keep track of the latest on Sandoval here: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/pablo-sandoval-rumors-friday.html

Makes me wonder if Boston drops almost 20 per on Sandoval, if they would also drop around 22 on Lester or pull out and look into someone else for less

Offering nearly 20 for Panda and less than 20 for Lester? Makes NO sense to me.

Oh, I realize they're not at their top dollar yet for Lester. But I don't get that kind of money for Sandoval. It is a yearly lesson that is missed by so many GM's. A guy on the top team gets hot and is a FA and parlays it into a huge payday, when other guys are worth similar, and are paid far less.

Panda's numbers have declined the last two years, and he hasn't reached 30 yet. They're supposed to be getting better. What happens when an already fat guy gets fatter and richer? gets in better shape and plays harder? Guess again.

Lester is worth twice what panda gets.