Shark is now a White Sox.

[Boobaby1]

Welcome back to Chicago. Bryant says he looks forward to launching your stuff onto Waveland. :buttrock:

 

[beckdawg]

Seeing the names involved contrasted with what the cubs got in the july trade is kind of crazy. Not to put down Marcus Semien or any other sox prospect but he's not even in the same tier as what Russell supposedly is. It's an interesting pick up for the Sox though. With Shark, Sale, and Quintana plus Rodon in the farm sets them up for a strong rotation over the next several years.

 

[JZsportsfan]

That's what MLBN is saying.

Beane went all-in and essentially lost it all. Russell is a top 5 prospects, none of these guys are close. However, Samardzija is going to hit the open market so that alters his current value.

 

[JosMin]

I'll basically regurgitate what I posted in the Sox forum --

This haul is an absolute disaster for the A's. Everyone toots Beane's horn like he's some kind of miracle worker, but none of the risks he's made over the last five seasons have panned out into deep playoff runs. He traded a top 10 prospect (Russell), an outfielder with a potential plus hit tool (McKinney) and a young pitcher who doesn't become a free agent until the 2020 season and a PTBNL for three months of Samardzija and Hammel. Now, he's trying to salvage that train wreck and landed two mid-tier guys who don't have ceilings even close to any of the guys they gave up, and a PTBNL. That situation gets an F-, and if you could give a lower grade, I would. At the end of it, Oakland traded Addison Russell, Billy McKinney, Dan Straily and a PTBNL for Semien, Bassitt and a PTBNL. Yikes, what a train wreck. Not much different than what happened with the Marlins during their huge 2012 sell-off.

For the Sox, it's a relatively low-risk, high-reward deal. They can get at least one year of Samardzija with the opportunity to extend him or let him walk and get a compensatory pick. And if they have injury problems, start slow or decide that he wasn't as-advertised, they can always deal him again at the deadline and recoup something during the season. From their perspective, it was a great trade.

 

[TL1961]

I'll basically regurgitate what I posted in the Sox forum --

This haul is an absolute disaster for the A's. Everyone toots Beane's horn like he's some kind of miracle worker, but none of the risks he's made over the last five seasons have panned out into deep playoff runs. He traded a top 10 prospect (Russell), an outfielder with a potential plus hit tool (McKinney) and a young pitcher who doesn't become a free agent until the 2020 season and a PTBNL for three months of Samardzija and Hammel. Now, he's trying to salvage that train wreck and landed two mid-tier guys who don't have ceilings even close to any of the guys they gave up, and a PTBNL. That situation gets an F-, and if you could give a lower grade, I would. At the end of it, Oakland traded Addison Russell, Billy McKinney, Dan Straily and a PTBNL for Semien, Bassitt and a PTBNL. Yikes, what a train wreck. Not much different than what happened with the Marlins during their huge 2012 sell-off.

For the Sox, it's a relatively low-risk, high-reward deal. They can get at least one year of Samardzija with the opportunity to extend him or let him walk and get a compensatory pick. And if they have injury problems, start slow or decide that he wasn't as-advertised, they can always deal him again at the deadline and recoup something during the season. From their perspective, it was a great trade.

In the end it certainly did not work out at all for Oakland.

But to say they traded Russell, et al for Semien is to discount the fact that they saw a window and took a gamble. It didn't work out. It doesn't always work out for teams.

Plenty of teams trade for a FA to be, in hopes that he is the piece that gets them a WS.

A year from now, the White Sox may very well have traded Semien and the others for one year of Shark in a year they missed the playoffs. But they are gambling that Shark will get them TO the playoffs. So, is it a good trade today? Or a bad trade a year from now?

It definitely worked out badly for Oakland. But at the time, I at least thought it was worth a gamble for a team that kept losing in the opening rounds.

But there's the rub: Is it OK to make bold, short-sighted moves based on previous years' failures?

That seemed to be what the majority of Cub fans were asking for in recent years when Theo and Jed were being patient and not gutting the system for a quick fix.

 

[TL1961]

I like the Sox bold moves. LaRoche is a little expensive, they spent a lot of money on a reliever, and Shark may be a one year rental, so they may be looking back regretting spending this money, and trying to dump big salaries they committed to this offseason.

But I think they've done a good job addressing needs and shooting for the playoffs when they see Detroit is vulnerable. Their division, with two playoff teams, including the pennant winner, is still wide open. So they went for it.

Ironically, DewsSox says the Cubs offering money to Lester in 2015 is a waste of money because the prospects won't yet be ready to contend. yet the Sox committed money to their guys beyond 2015, when Shark will be gone. He'd be full on critical if the Cubs made these moves.

 

[JosMin]

I like the Sox bold moves. LaRoche is a little expensive, they spent a lot of money on a reliever, and Shark may be a one year rental, so they may be looking back regretting spending this money, and trying to dump big salaries they committed to this offseason.

But I think they've done a good job addressing needs and shooting for the playoffs when they see Detroit is vulnerable. Their division, with two playoff teams, including the pennant winner, is still wide open. So they went for it.

Ironically, DewsSox says the Cubs offering money to Lester in 2015 is a waste of money because the prospects won't yet be ready to contend. yet the Sox committed money to their guys beyond 2015, when Shark will be gone. He'd be full on critical if the Cubs made these moves.

He has to be critical of something, since nobody patrols the Sox forums

Still, I agree it's wise for the Sox to push on the gas a bit with the Tigers in flux. You have to figure they'll entertain extending Samardzija, especially if his performance is on par with what he's done over the last two seasons.

 

[JosMin]

In the end it certainly did not work out at all for Oakland.

But to say they traded Russell, et al for Semien is to discount the fact that they saw a window and took a gamble. It didn't work out. It doesn't always work out for teams.

Plenty of teams trade for a FA to be, in hopes that he is the piece that gets them a WS.

A year from now, the White Sox may very well have traded Semien and the others for one year of Shark in a year they missed the playoffs. But they are gambling that Shark will get them TO the playoffs. So, is it a good trade today? Or a bad trade a year from now?

It definitely worked out badly for Oakland. But at the time, I at least thought it was worth a gamble for a team that kept losing in the opening rounds.

But there's the rub: Is it OK to make bold, short-sighted moves based on previous years' failures?

That seemed to be what the majority of Cub fans were asking for in recent years when Theo and Jed were being patient and not gutting the system for a quick fix.

These gambles always look worse for smaller market squads because these are their equivalent of the "big free agent signing" -- they unload their top farm hands for a chance to push the envelope. When they work, GMs look like geniuses. When they don't work, it stings even more because they have to wait another calender year for another draft/international signing period.

 

[ZAN]

I think that was an unnecessary gamble by Billy Beane. He set his organization back years at the position he could readily replace (Russell was an nearly-immediate...1 year tops...replacement for Jed Lowrie IF the A's wanted to)....and gave away Billy McKinney -- their #2 prospect; which indicated a fairly weak system already. Billy is currently the Cubs #7. If the A's had a farm loaded like we do, it would be more acceptable...but now they lost Moss, Lowrie, etc...and have to rebuild their pipeline.

Are we sure Reggie McKenzie didn't take over the A's for the last 6 months? Because this looks like a Raider move to me...

 

[Parade_Rain]

And Brett and Dews are nowhere near this White Sux thread in the Cubs forum. Whodathunkit?

 

[brett05]

im all over including working

 

[brett05]

Honestly, this could be one of the best couple of days for both Chicago Teams in the history of the two franchises. Both have had better days individually but collectively this has to be a contender.

 

[TL1961]

He has to be critical of something, since nobody patrols the Sox forums

Still, I agree it's wise for the Sox to push on the gas a bit with the Tigers in flux. You have to figure they'll entertain extending Samardzija, especially if his performance is on par with what he's done over the last two seasons.

They certainly could try to extend Shark, but he seems adamant about trying the FA market.

Then again, he grew up a Sox fan. But most players grow out of that and don't let it affect their pro career. Shark apparently didn't, as he refused to win games for the Cubs.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Great signing and trade for the White Sox. They're going for it in a division where nobody is convincing me they are the clear cut winner. They're arguing over who's going to be the #2 and #3 in the rotation......

Meanwhile the cubs still selling hope.

 

[brett05]

Great signing and trade for the White Sox. They're going for it in a division where nobody is convincing me they are the clear cut winner. They're arguing over who's going to be the #2 and #3 in the rotation......

Meanwhile the cubs still selling hope.

Shark or Q for Bryant. Deal?

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

Great signing and trade for the White Sox. They're going for it in a division where nobody is convincing me they are the clear cut winner. They're arguing over who's going to be the #2 and #3 in the rotation......

Meanwhile the cubs still selling hope.

LOL, Theo and Jed haven't sold anything. They've been about as transparent as we could ever ask a GM to be. They've been unwilling to commit to a time line. They've spent years methodically deconstructing an entire organization top to bottom and re-building it. They are operating under the theory that wave after wave of prospects will lead to a sustained period of contending.

I'm not sure what people have wanted them to do?

 

[JosMin]

LOL, Theo and Jed haven't sold anything. They've been about as transparent as we could ever ask a GM to be. They've been unwilling to commit to a time line. They've spent years methodically deconstructing an entire organization top to bottom and re-building it. They are operating under the theory that wave after wave of prospects will lead to a sustained period of contending.

I'm not sure what people have wanted them to do?

SPEND ALL THE MONEY AND LAUNCH DEM' DOLLARZ, BREH!!!!!

 

[SilenceS]

I think the David Robertson move was dumb. After seeing Marmol, I would never put that much into a closer. The Shark move was a good move. The Sox have a vicious rotation now that could stack up against anybody. I still dont like yall's hitting, but that starting pitching should keep yall in every game. Should be an exciting season for yall.

 

[Boobaby1]

I think the David Robertson move was dumb. After seeing Marmol, I would never put that much into a closer. The Shark move was a good move. The Sox have a vicious rotation now that could stack up against anybody. I still dont like yall's hitting, but that starting pitching should keep yall in every game. Should be an exciting season for yall.

Yall? You're Norwegian aren't you?

 

[brett05]

I think the David Robertson move was dumb. After seeing Marmol, I would never put that much into a closer. The Shark move was a good move. The Sox have a vicious rotation now that could stack up against anybody. I still dont like yall's hitting, but that starting pitching should keep yall in every game. Should be an exciting season for yall.

I'm with you though I think the hitting improves signficantly with Lacroche and a full season of Garcia versus what we had with Sierra/Dunn/Konerko. No player had a career year with the stick (Need to see more from Abreu to know what he will be), and I'd say most had average to below average play. Eaton should be better, Catcher can't get worse (they stink), but if they can get two relievers out of the pile they had last year I think they are fine with the offense they bring. (Eaton, Ramirez, Abreu, Laroche, Garcia, Gillaspie, Viciedo, Flowers, 2b (Garcia, Johnson, Sanchez))