Coco Crisp Traded To Royals

I've always liked Coco's game back to when he was with the Indians. Glad to see him go to a place where he will get some PT. He's the kind of player that will never be "great" but might make the all-star team one day. He's a solid guy. I guess the Suxks were just comitted to Elsbury who I think can at minimum put up the same numbers as Coco with maybe not as much pop.

I'm not too worried about the 4th outfielder. They have a ton of options: bring back Kotsay or Kapler, get Baldelli, bring up Bailey or Carter. Backup outfielders are the easiest commodity in baseball.

If they move Masterson to the rotation, they need to replace him in the pen. Ramirez will be a nice (and needed) upgrade over Timlin, but without Masterson, there's a gaping hole again. Maybe Smith would be ready to fill that hole. Maybe Lugo for Willis, and try to convert Willis to a setup guy. Whatever the case, someone has to fill that hole.

"Backup outfielders are the easiest commodity in baseball."

True but supplanting some of the versatility Crisp gave you with some RH pop would be nice. It's easy to fill that position but important the Sox do so with a good player...which of course seems obvious.

Basically I'm saying Baldelli > any of those other options.

grandmasterb: "New Theo can concentrate on obtaining a starter for the hole vacated by Byrd (I'm pulling for Tazawa)"

Ain't gonna happen. Tazawa hasn't even pitched in the Japan major leagues yet. He's 22 years old. Think college draft. If the Sox get him at all, he will start no higher than Portland.

Yeah MPM, Hill sucks. He only struck out 183 batters in 2007 and had an ERA under 4. He's completely washed up. I bet he never pitches in the Big Leagues again. How many young Cubs arms have they screwed up now?

I like that too, but would the Cubs give that up for Teahen? Seems like a lot for a consistently average player regardless of his ability to play multiple positions.

Yeah, I would be fine with letting German go. I wonder if there are any other suitors for Teahen (outside of our division)?

At this point I would like to see us get Furcal and some arms. The one thing Dayton Moore continues to show he can do is get bullpen arms.

Now that we have our CF, we need to get a 2B or SS. I think Aviles can play short, but he would improve the defense on the right side if he were moved to 2nd. Furcal just seems to make too much sense. I wonder if they are going to have a chance to get him?

"Furcal just seems to make too much sense."

He's also going to cost too much money.

Definetly a good move for both teams. Coco wil flourish in Kansas and adding Ramirez will possibly free up Masterson to make the move back to the rotation. Leaving Ramirez, Okajima, and Delcarmen to set the table for Pap. Then the rotation would be Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Masterson, and Wakefield. And either Bucholz or Bowden as a fill in for injuries, with the other going to Texas for a catcher. Leaving the only two holes of Texiera, which became even easier to do with tihs payroll dump of Coco's contract, and a fourth outfielder. Kotsay would definetly be welcomed back but I think he moves on looking for a starting job somewhere. I think the more likely possibility is either Rocco Baldelli whom the sox have been reportedly talking to recently, or a familiar face and fan favorite..Gabe Kapler who is also a free agent. Either way look for the Sox to go after Tex hard, and then a catcher. The fourth outfielder is a seondary problem. No matter what happens, I think this trade made sense fo both sides and to Coco- A genuine thanks for everything brother and good luck to you I know given te chance in Kansas you will find your ull potential.

good trade for the Sox. I dont get this one for the royals. their bullpen has really decreased sice the lost Leo and Ramon. Ramon got a 4.50 ERA against the Yankees this year so I guess it aint that bad.