White Sox Trade On The Horizon?

WHOA WHOA WHOA.

Juan Pierre to Chicago to play CF? Why not use that money to pursue pitching next offseason or in a trade midseason or something? The Sox need SP MUCH MORE than they need a "lead-off" hitter. Leadoff hitters are overrated IMHO.

I would MUCH RATHER see Brent Lillibridge in CF than Juan Pierre. Sorry, Pierre makes zero sense for the Palehose. So I hopehopehope this isn't true.

Those crafty White Sox, always got something up there sleeve!

I wanna do a Dukes of Hazzard joke, but I'd look bad spending that much time on a reply to a trade rumor.

Still?

I live with Anderson/Owens/Lillibridge (why not? He's a plus defensive 2B/SS and he has the agility to play) in CF. He'll probably be just as good as Pierre GDit. Sign Ray Durham to play 2B if many people flame out.

Juan Pierre won't improve that team. And the Sox will be paying him more than the league minimum, so the deal is laaaaaame.

venn177,

What?

I wonder who they will trade for. I mean, it could be someone as bad as Juan Pierre or someone like a David Dejesus, who knows? Whoever it is will more than likely be a big key to the Sox this year.

chris denorfia

"chris denorfia"

I could so see that happening. He's out of options and the A's have an OF logjam.

The A's CF situation is difficult. Cunningham will probably end up starting the season in AAA because A's brass likes Ryan Sweeney. However, Sweeney is an absolute liability against LHP. So, a platoon of Sweeney and Denorfia in CF would be ideal, BUT then they would have to get rid of Davis, who is the pinch runner/defensive sub. And no way in h3ll the A's go into the season carrying 11 pitchers, NOT happening.

"Wasn't Pierre the leadoff hitter for Florida when they won the World Series?"

Pierre was a MUCH better player during his Florida days as well. .361 OBP and .731 OPS in 2003 as opposed to a .327 OBP and .655 OPS in 2008. And declining BA as well.

2008 shell of Pierre = automatic out and malcontent. If Swisher and Vazquez were gotten rid of because they were in Ozzie's doghouse/malcontents, I don't get why Kenny would want to import another malcontent who was whining about playing time last year.

thank u rex. good call.

astral, pierre hasn't hit 300 since '04. gimme a doubles hitter rather than a glorified base-stealer that can't take a walk...

Not saying I'd have him start every game but an Anderson/Pierre platoon would be more than alright with me.

"I'm pretty sure Gregor is just late on the happenings of the day. There is likely no trade."

This.

The trade may be a rumor, but one thing is official: Juan Pierre is the most under-appreciated player in the game today. He can hit near .300, steal 60 bases, rarely strikes out, is never injured -- but all we will ever hear about is his throwing arm. And a .330 OBP is "terrible?" For a leadoff hitter you could do a lot worse, and many teams do.

as a sox fan, i wouldn't want to see damon either. we have enough viable options on our own, i don't understand this at all...(not damon, but the leadoff hitter quest).

Personally if I were the Sox...I would actually put Ramirez in CF. He played plenty of it in Cuba and that actually was their plan at one point last year and then they drafted a ss (Beckham) in the first round in June. Now maybe the sox thought Ramirez couldn't play CF and moved him to ss. Anyways knowing the sox won't spend any money, and knowing Pierre does suck. I would move Ramirez to CF and see if I could get either Maicier Izturis or Brandon Wood from Anaheim. One of them is not going to make the team. Wood has more upside, and while Izturis wouldn't be flashy a combo of him at ss and Ramirez in CF (assuming he can play it) would be better then anything they have now

"A trade for Damon make sense?"
Not for the Yankees
If Matsui gets hurt and Damon gets traded, they're in trouble. With all the pressure on them to make playoffs, I don't see it happening.

Posted by: melonis rex | March 22, 2009 at 05:11 PM

Right on Rex. Even if it did make sense for the Yankees I can't see the Sox trading for a guy like Damon. Their big thing this offseason was trying to get younger or slashing payroll depending on how you see it and replenish the farm system, which I think they did a decent job of doing. Trading for Damon basically would counter what they did this winter, as it would require at least one good prospect I would guess. Also I think Damon is only signed through this year so he'd basically be a one year rental. The Sox may or may not say it themselves, but I think they are pretty committed to this being a rebuilding year. Wouldn't surprise me one bit that by August. Dye, Konerko (if he approves it) Thome, Contreras if he's healthy and I hate to say it cause he's one of my fav guys but maybe even Jenks all could be dealt. They discussed trading Jenks in the winter, and it's clear the last couple years his velocity and k/9 rate has dropped. He also won't sign a long term deal and I believe will be an FA after next year.. I'll give KW credit that for the most part, he's been pretty good about getting rid of guys when their value is at their peak and identifying the right guys to get back.. Freddy Garcia for Gavin Floyd, Brandon McCarthy for John Danks, Joe Borchard for Matt Thornton, Estaban Loaiza for Jose Contreras... just a couple

Pierre was a MUCH better player during his Florida days as well. .361 OBP and .731 OPS in 2003 as opposed to a .327 OBP and .655 OPS in 2008. And declining BA as well.'

Of course he's declining, most speed players decline quickly(at only mid-30s). also, Pierre, for the first time ever in his career, had to come off the bench. for a slap hitter coming off the bench can be difficult because his game requires him to hit the ball perfectly to get it through the holes in the infield. when he doesnt play and therefore his timing is off, then he struggles. his 08 numbers will probably be the worse of his career if he stays a bench player. however, starting, he could still be OK at least.

So, this is going to sound ridiculous, but Owens has a .350 OBP so far in spring training, despite only hitting .208. He's taken 11 walks this spring. That's good for 4th in the majors this spring. He's obviously changed his approach this spring, and is making an adjustment. If his bat comes around and he keeps the patient approach, he could be an OBP machine. I'm not saying that it will happen, but it certainly seems within the realm of possibility that he could come around to hit .270ish (as he did in 2007), and if the patience he's shown this spring holds up, he could put up .350 - .375 OBP no problem. We'll see what happens.

Later,
Aaron

Later,
Aaron

White Sox Fans:

You don't want Pierre, that guy sucks. How 'bout going for a veteran who is consistently solid in Randy Winn to play CF and bat leadoff. Winn has more power than Pierre, is better at getting on base (.363 last year compared to .327), and is actually GOOD at stealing bases not just trying a bunch (25 of 27 last year while Pierre consistently gets thrown out a TON).

Aaron, man, seriously, this whole Jerry Owen love fest you got is kind of scary. He's produced one spring training of being able to take a walk. I don't think it's going to stay there. Yes the guy can run like, well probably no one in baseball. But I really don't see Ozzie wanting to keep him seeing as his defense is still weak. I'm not saying it's horrible as someone else did in another post, but it's weak. And to make up for other OFs who are average or below average, you need an above average CF. BA plays solid defense, and now that some of the positions we have been pretty much settled, we'll really start to see things come together all around.

Now I'm not saying that BA should be the everyday CF. I think a platoon would be most beneficial for everyone. And a there's oddly a few guys that wouldn't cost the Sox much to get. As YaSquare just said, Randy Winn would be a nice pick up.

My point through all of this is that we don't need your typical leadoff hitter. And I believe I read somewhere that Ozzie said that. Now that we have Getz landing the 2B job, well that might be who we're looking at for the leadoff spot. I also think that Lillibridge will be great to play 2B/SS/CF. I truthfully don't think we need to make a trade unless we're getting something cheap that works in a platoon type situation. Can't forget, Jordan Danks will probably be around soon. And we don't need someone stopping him from coming up.

Well, atleast we finally agree on something. I don't like the leadoff spot a ton until we can get something together. There are some rumors though that Pods might be available. Might come cheap (again what the Sox are looking for) and might be a good platoon situation for Anderson.

I do think Getz would be a solid leadoff hitter... and Ozzie has said that he'll try him there now. I think he could potentially end up with a little bet OBP then what other people think.

And your protypical leadoff hitter is one that steals bases and takes pitches. Usually come with a high OBP (but that wasn't a huge focus until Billy Beane and his ideas of how to run a team).

We'll just have to wait and see. Oh... and I'm not totally sure there's anyone I would really want for CF, seeing as it may block Jordan Danks from coming up in 2010/2011. I think someone mentioned playing Ramirez there and having Beckham play SS... not a bad idea in the interm. But I don't see Beckham being a leadoff hitter either.

The problem with pods is that he can't play center. I don't see us going after him. I doubt Ramirez gets moved. Guillen likes him at short. We're going to have a logjam when he's ready. I think when Thome goes, either konerko or Dye gets moved as well, leaving the other as a DH. When that happens I think viciedo moves to first, quentin moves to right, leaving us a need for a speedy left fielder with a little power (maybe shelby), and a need for someone in center (danks) and a need to move either gtez or Ramirez for Beckham.

Later,
Aaron