Jermaine Dye Signs Contract Extension

Good thing he didn't get traded for those pieces of crap Epstein was offering. Anyway, it's not a high commitment and beats out deals like the Juan Pierre one. I have to like the power he'll likely bring now that he's healthy and he holds a spot in the heart of every ChiSox fan's heart.

Just over 92 mil? I thought it was worse than that. Expect it to drop if we can shed at least one of Garland and Contreras(who was working in the low-mid-nineties and hit 97 MPH in his start last night despite hanging his forker, still very reassuring) and he can use the money in other areas. Maybe they can go for Eckstein to bat behind Owens(yes, Owens-it WILL happen, like it or not) if nothing can be done to obtain Greene(BTW, where did his OBP go? He was drafted on the base of his ability to get on base). I would love for that Garland/Anderson for Greene/reliever deal to go through, but I don't think Towers would bite. We'll see.

On the books for 2008:

Buehrle $14M
Garland $12M
Vazquez $11.5M
Contreras $10M
MacDougal $1.95M
Thornton $0.875M

Konerko $12M
Dye $9.5M
Thome $8.5M
Pierzynski $6M
Hall $1.75M
Ozuna $1.05M

That's $89.125M for 12 players. Suppose Crede is retained for $4.5M and Contreras is traded with the Sox eating $3M of his salary. That's now $90.675M for 12 players. Add in 11 players making near the minimum and you're up to about $96M. A free agent CF and some SS coming over in a trade push that up to about $115M.

That's an interesting look at things Andrew, but I don't think Williams is going to sign a centerfielder off the market, and he won't go for a highly priced shortstop, as evidenced by him backing out of the Renteria trade.

I really don't know anything about the Sox, but does anyone think KW maybe just extended Dye as trade bait for the future? Signed reasonably and arguable more than a rental at next years deadline, if he's healthy I don't see why it wouldn't at least be considered.

Maybe an imbecile like Ned Coletti will bite, or perhaps a ground ball enthusiast like Towers will(though his rates are down). And Vasquez and Garland are two completely different situations; Garland is signed through next year, Vasquez through 2010. Also, Vasquez is having a better season and has crisp peripherals. I'd much rather trade Garland at this point, if not for a much lower return. They need to find a way to cram Gio into the rotation anyway, and maybe Sheurholz(sp), who's probably retiring after 08, will be willing to part with Lillibridge or Escobar.

They're both dead weight on the payroll as far as I'm concerned. I hope both of them get traded for better or for worse.

I would have guessed the top prospect to have been Harrison, but that's a moot point now. Anyway, it shows that JS has interest(and a need for a SP) and KW needs a SS, so maybe they can hook up on a deal this offseason. That, or maybe if Contreras rebounds(again, he hit 97 last night after being at 88-90 all year) he can nab the SS to be, although that's best case scenario for the Sox. I think Williams backed out cause he didn't want to be on Renteria's contract through 08, and while he has every intention to try and win next season, he's not in any position to go for a for a Renterial. tehe

I dont like this deal if they intend on keeping him for those 2 years. I dont see the white sox being good for awhile with their payroll constraint and and voids that need to be filled. It is a very affordable contract so maybe the sox could fetch more in return for him if they flip him. KW either needs to make the payroll much higher, or shop Dye. Anything else is impractical.

Kill joy.

Why don't they re-sign Bradley for CF and move Kouz to left, bring up Headley for third base? They have enough players that they can instill some platoons somewhere. At any rate, Peavy, Young, Maddux, then what? You have Germano, Ledezma and Hensley for the last three options, hardly inspiring. How about this; Drop Giles, bring in Loretta for 2B. Use Mackowiack and Ensberg in a platoon at third base, and bring up Headley when he's ready. That's not so bad. Use Bard and LaForest at catcher, and the rest falls in place.

RF Giles
2B Loretta
CF Bradley
1B Gonzalez
LF Kouzmanoff
SS Greene
3B Mackowiack/Ensberg/Headley
C Bard Laforest
P

The bench would consist of Hairston, who would get time at second base and OF, LaForest, the backup catcher, Mackowiack who can play all corners or Ensberg who can get the infield corners and both can hit off the bench. Geoff Blum is the utility infielder. This plan doesn't allow them a *whole* lot of power, but it leaves them money for one more starter. Say they do get that starter, and then Germano, Ledezma, and Hensley can fight over fifth. That better?

Here's a good trade offer. Josh Bard for Carlos Gomez. Gomez fills up center for the Pads and the Mets get a younger catcher to replace LoDuca.