The White Sox lead the AL Central with a 49-39 record, and they are considering at least one high-profile midseason reinforcement. The White Sox have Zack Greinke on their radar, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today. Here are the latest AL Central rumors, starting in Chicago…
- The White Sox agreed to sign Dominican prospect Luis Castillo for $450K, the Dominican Prospect League announced. The league release describes Castillo as a "man child" who hits the ball hard and runs well for his size.
- The Tigers and White Sox are both prioritizing starting pitching in trade talks, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports.
- The Twins haven't made Josh Willingham off-limits to other teams, but they aren't shopping him, Phil Mackey and Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com report. Willingham, who's in the first year of a three-year, $21MM contract, is "definitely" Minnesota's most valuable trade chip, 1500ESPN.com reports. However, the Twins are enjoying Willingham's production and would prefer not to trade a player so early in a multiyear contract.
- The Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays and Braves are believed to have some interest in Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano, Heyman reports.
Is it common to describe someone as a “man child” in the Dominican?
He’s 6’3 200 so ya he’s a big dude
I don’t get what possible interest the Red Sox could have in Liriano. If he were under control for a few more years (or even one more year) I could somewhat understand taking a chance on him (because the price will likely be pretty cheap), but he’s not an upgrade over the current rotation and you don’t get compensation when he leaves at the end of the year.
I was thinking the same thing. Liriano is damaged goods. Sox have enough of those and honestly, any SP that they have right now has a higher ceiling than Liriano does this current day.
I wouldn’t want the Sox to get him unless they were basically handing him to us for free.
Like I said, I could see them taking a chance on him if he had more team control left (if they thought there was a chance they could fix him), but like you said, he’s damaged goods at this point, and there’s really no reason to trade for him without having ample time to fix him and get something for production out of him.
Yep.. We agree too much here some times.. 3 lefties in the rotation, 1 (Doubrant) was even warming up in the BP yesterday and all 3 have at least as much upside (to me) for 2012.
here is a “brainstorm”.. Send them Matsuzaka.. Both are damaged goods anyway…
um are you sure about that? your current rotation isnt looking all that great right now….
Yeah, I’m sure. Liriano is, at best, a 4th-5th starter (he gives up way too many walks to be anything more than that at this point) and they’ve already got a bunch of those. He’s not replacing any of Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Doubront, or Morales (and he’d be an even swap with either of Dice-K or Cook if Morales doesn’t stick in the rotation).
I would prefer Liriano over doubront morales and even buckholz at this point. no way dice k or cook are at the same level. my guess is pitching for a team with a winning chance spurs him into more consistency. dont get me wrong, i hope sox dont get him either but i am also not a rsox fan.
You’re guessing that pitching for a team with a chance to win will make his control better? And you’re going to use that guess to assume that he’ll be better than those three guys?
Buchholz (since his obvious turning point on 5/16):
3.52 ERA, 7.71 K/9, 2.18 BB/9, 3.42 FIP
Doubront: 4.41 ERA, 9.09 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, 4.29 FIP
Morales (since he started going multiple innings):
2.57 ERA, 10.29 K/9, 2.06 BB/9, 3.09 FIP
(if you remove his one bad outing against the Yankees he’s: 1.14 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 1.71 BB/9, 1.37 FIP)
Liriano: 4.93 ERA, 9.56 K/9, 5.03 BB/9, 3.88 FIP
The only one of those guys you could even start to make a case for him replacing is Doubront, but with the difference in the number of walks each gives up I think it would be a pretty hard case to make (and Doubront plays a much bigger role in the team’s future, so even if it’s close I don’t think Liriano replaces him).
I find it pretty amusing that you’re using arbitrary end points for discussing Buccholz & Morales, but using the entire season for Liriano. Liriano has been lights out since he returned to the rotation. As a Twins fan, I’d only trade him if it was a coup. Honestly, I hope they’re trying to re-sign him right now.
Fair enough, I don’t follow the Twins like I do the Red Sox, so I didn’t know that he had been that much better since returning to the rotation (his ~4 BB/9 is still concerning, but his ~2.8 ERA and FIP are really good, and his 10.5 K/9 is outstanding). With the concern about walks I still don’t think the amount he would upgrade the rotation would be worth the cost in prospects though (unless he comes cheaper than I think he will).
Plus, even at his improved numbers, the only guy they would realistically take out of the rotation for him is Doubront, and I think Doubront is too big a part of their future to be taken out of the rotation for anyone who isn’t a much more considerable upgrade than Liriano would be.
The people performing poorly in the Sox rotation are people that should and probably will do better in the second half. Liriano is not going to be an improvement on Beckett, Lester, or Buchholz (and I’d even say that when Liriano was somewhat good pre-TJ surgery.
Maybe they want to see how he deals with the pressure of pitching in Boston? Or maybe they think he’s a better option than what they have and want to make the 5th wild card spot.
me thinks those prospects we got for Quintin will be packaged for a major league pitcher.
Twins will trade Liriano and then resign him
The Twins will never resign Liriano, he’s a LARGE reason we’ve had two rough years, he’s a mental case and thank God has brought it together the last 6 or 7 starts to be worth a little trade value…Twins can’t wait to get rid of him. Rsox fans, I could see liriano sliding into a bullpen spot rather than in the rotation
The ssox don’t have much considering their impact prospects, most
Of them are in the bigs, but I could see. Castro or Molina maybe both, Escobar, Mitchell and the AA short stop who was just in the futures game, I always forget his name, maybe add in Kuhn too. For zack. That’s huge I would say 3 of those guys maybe more if he agrees to an extension.
With what little the Sox have I wouldn’t even consider going after Greinke unless you are serious about getting him extended. If Kenny is able to pull of this trade and the Sox don’t make it to the World Series, and then Greinke walks, this team is pretty well boned.
Who knows what happens with Peavy, he could sign somewhere else and Greinke would fill that void. Would the Sox get draft compensation if Peavy leaves, or does the new rule apply to any free agents, not just mid-season acquisitions?
Any free agent that has been with his team the whole season has to be given a qualifying offer (~$12.5 million), if he declines the team gets 2 draft picks, if he accepts, the team has him for another year, the question is, would the White Sox give Peavy the $12.5 million offer in hopes that he declines it?
TBH I wouldn’t actually mind if they offered him that and he accepted it.
The question is how does his $22M option play in? If the Sox offer him a qualifying offer as opposed to picking up his option he would more than likely decline (then again maybe not). CAN they make a qualifying offer if there is an option on his contract for more money? Or would they be required to buy out his option first? And another question is would he be open to renogiating a new deal? I am very interested in seeing how all this plays out with Peavy.
The White Sox don’t have a single prospect of legitimate value right now, and please don’t make that petty argument that they are “all in the big leagues,” because obviously they no longer qualify as prospects.
Castro, Molina, and Mitchell would have to be parted with to acquire a player that can help the White Sox contend. Starting pitchers are not what the White Sox need. The bullpen is going to cave in soon and the only guys set in stone are Thornton, Crain, and Reed. Other guys like Jones and Santiago are very erratic and have been caving after their hot starts. The White Sox need to acquire one (preferably 2) very good reliever. If K-Rod can accept a setup role, he would fit perfectly with the White Sox. K-Rod is obviously unlikely, so guys like Mark Lowe, Wade Davis, Brandon League, Brett Myers and Grant Balfour would be very great additions to the bullpen.
I wouldn’t mind Liriano for a couple of low end prospects but not much. I’d also expect AA to make another move as this would be more of a replacement for the injuries instead of an actual improvement for the future.
The Tigers are not looking for pitching as much as they are looking for a 2b/bat for the 5 or 6 spot. They have been linked to everyone. I am not sure who starts these rumors but they are just that; rumors….
Yeah and you would know right if they were rumors?
I understand that the market is thin for position players and that pitching can always stand to be upgraded, but the Tigers have much more pressing needs at 2B, RF, and DH. Dirks will be starting a rehab assignment soon, but he’s no sure thing and would only serve to fill one of the three holes.
Besides, who would they replace in the rotation? It’s not that they are pitching poorly, it’s that the Tigers’ defense is the worst in the majors.
2nd base yes but disagree with the rest that you are saying!!!!They would replace Smyly with a more experienced Pitcher! since this team is in a win now mode!!!!!!!!
Bosch has been playing well for over a month. Young is playing well lately too.
2b (Raburn should be DFA’d) and a 2nd/3rd starter are needed, but hopefully not at a large price
The Tigers should also check the trade market for a new Manager and coaching staff.
Kenny Williams doesn’t have enough to land Greinke, unless Melvin thinks Brent Morel has value or he is willing to take some low level prospects. I do think a combo of K-Rod and Greinke would be the perfect haul for the White Sox, but they’d essetially have to give up most of their system
Sox don’t need krod. I could see the sox also throwing in either Jordan danks or dyan vicedio. Vicedio would Hurt the most as a sox fan but it might what is needed to it allows the sox to possible get a true right handed ace to pair with sale. Greinke-sale-peavy-Quintana- Floyd until danks comes back It give the brew crew a young power hitter to put at 1st who is under control for a long time. Maybe Floyd, vicedio, castro/Molina and Mitchell for greinke with an extension could make sense for both teams. Jordan danks can step into the left field picture full time.
@jwsox that whole “Floyd, vicedio, castro/Molina and Mitchell for greinke with an extension” thing…. made me laugh. 🙂
i think that liriano could be a decent fit for the mets (if harvey isnt called up to replace gee..i would prefer someone like this) ….what prospects would you think it would cost them? anybody want to offer up a few possible proposals?
How bout you guys give us Santana back? With a new stadium we can afford him now.
Nice, Yankees get rid of one head case in Burnett and look into possibly picking up another in Liriano. Well played.