Sox, Hunter getting closer

by The Cheat on Nov 19, 2007 7:27 PM CST

Sources both in the Sox organization and the camp of free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter have told the Sun-Times that the two sides could be signing a contract within the week.
[La Velle E. Neal] The indications I received last week were that the Texas Rangers were falling behind in their pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter.

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Ughhh...

I would much rather have Andruw Jones but I guess I can't complain either way. The Sox are spending the big bucks for the fans and to try to win.

Not that it matters much but who is Ozzie going to lead off if we sign Hunter? Richar?

2B Richar
SS Cabrera
DH Thome
1B Konerko
CF Hunter
RF Dye
LF Fields
3B Crede (assuming he isn't traded)
C Pierzynski

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 7:42 PM CST reply actions

I agree

But with Hunter signed, I foresee Owens playing LF and batting lead off. I hope this isn't the case, but if so, I would predict:

LF Owens
SS Cabrera
DH Thome
1B Konerko
CF Hunter
RF Dye
C Pierzynski
3B Fields
2B Richar

Which still isn't a lineup to laugh at, but a lot of runs will be wasted with Owens at the top. Maybe Crede stays though, in that case Richar bats lead off. Tough to call.

by HulkSmash on Nov 19, 2007 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

Jeebus, talk about ruining a good looking lineup..

with one stupidly horrible move. Owens is freaking trash.

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 7:54 PM CST up reply actions

whats so bad

about owens? hes the only speed we have and hit .284 after his second callup.

by Jbasic89 on Nov 19, 2007 8:08 PM CST up reply actions

i agree

i agree i like owens! just because he doesn't get any extra base hits he does get on base... kw likes the spark he brings to the team. if you guys are willing to give BA chance after chance then you can't give up on owens.

If you die with your eyes open you deserved it.

by Soulja Boy on Nov 19, 2007 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

Owens will have to put up a .360 OBP...

to be worthwhile. I don't really expect him to do that.

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 9:15 PM CST up reply actions

Anybody have 2008 Hunter projections?

<eom>

by southsideirish on Nov 19, 2007 8:10 PM CST up reply actions

.274/.329/.482

per bill james.

by larry on Nov 19, 2007 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

here

ZiPS: .276/.329/.462

BiJa: .274/.329/.482

by The Wizard on Nov 19, 2007 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

Jones is nice

but remember that he started playing pro ball when he was 18 so he has a lot wear and tear on his treads too.

If you die with your eyes open you deserved it.

by Soulja Boy on Nov 19, 2007 8:14 PM CST up reply actions

Andruw Jones...

is younger and much better offensively than Torii Hunter. If Jones signs for the same contract that Andruw Jones ends up signing for, our Hunter signing will look pretty bad.

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

Basically, I am not worried about Jones'...

wear and tear. His career numbers put Torii Hunter's to shame.

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't mind

either of them playing on the south side. I think Hunter makes more sense for this team. He is much more of a vocal leader and ambassador of the game than andruw. It makes more sense for the sox to want Hunter regardless of their career numbers. The average fan will be more familiar with Hunter's name, therefore putting more asses in the seats.

If you die with your eyes open you deserved it.

by Soulja Boy on Nov 20, 2007 2:45 AM CST up reply actions

If the average fan doesn't know who...

Andruw Jones is, they should give up baseball.

Andruw Jones' career line: ( .263 AVG / .342 OBP / .497 SLG / .839 OPS )
Torii Hunter's career line: ( .271 AVG / .324 OBP / .469 SLG / .793 OPS )

A .046 point difference in OPS makes it an easy decision for me, plus the fact that Jones is two years younger than Hunter. The idea of giving a huge contract to a 32 year old CF'er with a career .793 OPS doesn't really sit to well with me.

by SSH2005 on Nov 20, 2007 8:15 AM CST up reply actions

I would rather have

Andruw Jones over Hunter any day of the week but the sox front office may think it's a better business decision to sign someone that sox fans are real familiar with. I also don't like the fact that Hunter has been playing on turf his whole career. Steve Stone on the score today said that he and Ken Williams spoke about Hunter a "couple weeks ago" and the fact that he believes playing on turf his whole career is a "red light". Steve also stated that Boras expects the bidding for Jones to start at 8 years 160 million. So 5 for 75 or 8 at 160? SS also liked the Garland trade.

If you die with your eyes open you deserved it.

by Soulja Boy on Nov 20, 2007 4:40 PM CST up reply actions

Soulja ¢¾ SS

What if your enemy is three inches in front of you, what do you do then? Curl into a ball? Or do you put your fist through him?

by Toonderstrook on Nov 20, 2007 4:48 PM CST up reply actions

With the Cabrera trade,

it seems that the Sox going full speed for Hunter (and 2008 WS run) is all but assured. I'm not saying I'm crazy about that, like most here I'd like to see some more youth and less age, but this seems to be the scenario.

by HulkSmash on Nov 19, 2007 7:43 PM CST reply actions

Remember

the white sox have stated that fields wont play the outfield anymore.

by Jbasic89 on Nov 19, 2007 7:51 PM CST reply actions

Well

with all signs pointing to the Sox finishing this deal with Hunter, I guess I'd rather they go full-boar with this. What's another 30 something year old going to hurt?

Since the Sox want to go this way, my suggestions (after they sign Hunter) are...

Please, please PLEASE don't relegate LF as a spot where a "leadoff" hitter is needed. Just don't. You have a guy who can hit leadoff in Cabrera. Against righties you can hit Richar at the top of the order and against lefties you can use Hunter. My suggestions for LF would be Luke Scott, Rocco Baldelli or even Brad Wilkerson on a short contract.
Don't trade away ANY of the top prospects unless the guy you're getting in return is named Crawford or Cabrera. The Sox can continue to usher in new guys slowly but surely. No Chris Carter for Coco Crisp deals is what I'm saying...
Load up that bullpen. Make sure you land Yubata (sp?) in the coming weeks and with Contreras - Danks - Gio/Floyd/Egbert as your back three, you better be sure your bullpen is good. And since bullpen's are far from guarantees, my only solution would be grabbing someone from the East and hoping the rest takes care of itself in-house.

by CWSKeith on Nov 19, 2007 8:36 PM CST reply actions

I agree with you on Luke Scott...

but Baldelli will be too expensive in prospects and Brad Wilkerson is slow so Ozzie won't want him. Plus, Wilkerson is a Boras client.

by SSH2005 on Nov 19, 2007 9:14 PM CST up reply actions

How much is Baldelli actually worth?

He hasn't been completely healthy since 2004, and he was terrible in the time he played last year anyways. His value is at an all time low.

Perhaps this is undershooting his value, but with the outfielders the Rays have, and the need for shortstop and relievers, is Uribe and Aardsma/MacDougal really that far off? They traded Ty Wigginton, who could play a below average 2B but 2B nonetheless, for Dan Wheeler who had an ERA of 5 at the time of the deal. I honestly think the DRays would have to strongly consider that, but maybe that's just my crazy thinking.

by wite on Nov 21, 2007 2:39 AM CST up reply actions

Hunter refutes Sun-Times report

"Free-agent outfielder says impending signing 'not true'"

by SSH2005 on Nov 20, 2007 12:59 AM CST reply actions

Bad sign

because I think this almost assures Hunter of signing with the Sox. Despite the Sox trading for Cabrera, whom I hope Kenny isn't going to sign long term, I hope that management is fielding an somewhat competitive team and really building for the future.

I can see AJones being part of that future, in terms of his ability to stick around as a CF, but not Hunter. Hunter has corner fielder 2010 written all over him which puts the Sox in the position of just delaying the inevitable with respect to CF, and, as has been posted ad nauseum on this site, his approach to hitting (ie his OBP) is not what I think the Sox need.

Of course, I would be more than happy if the Sox find a way to land a young, slick fielding and good OPS CF via trade, but I think that idea is out the window.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Nov 20, 2007 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

I still ddon't get the love affair

with Andruw. He was in his contract year and could've put himself head and shoulders above his competition with a decent, just decent, year. Instead he whiffs literally and figuratively. Yeah, the F. Bible loves him, but what of the bat? Isn't Turner field called The Launching Pad for a reason? There's a reason Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are fighting over Lake Lanier's water - we're in a severe drought down yonder in the southeast quadrant, and the ball travels well.

Plus, after watching him most of the summer, he looked lazy (maybe not fat - he may be bulking up for power reasons) and disinterested. In his contract year!

I'll pass on AJ for a long-term contract. MAYBE I'm in for an incentive-laden, one-year deal if he's still interested in playing at a high level and wants his last big contract before sailing off to the islands.

2010 - the waiting is the hardest part.

by winningugly on Nov 20, 2007 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

I can understand the weight concerns...

even though I didn't see Andruw Jones enough last season to know whether or not he looks fat. But, like Cheat has already said...

Why would you rather buy into Jones' 2007 stats instead of his previous 10 years of putting up really good numbers?

Obviously, this is probably a waste of time to discuss because I don't see Kenny dealing with Jones' agent.

by SSH2005 on Nov 20, 2007 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

But I thought that was the purpose

of blogs - to have meaningless discussions. I mean, we're not influencing KW or OG, are we?

;)

2010 - the waiting is the hardest part.

by winningugly on Nov 20, 2007 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

No love affair here

I'm just rolling with the "looking to sign a big fish" comments KW made.

I think if they should sign anyone, it should be Fukodome because he would be cheaper, albeit far more of a risk, or Cameron, because of the performance enhancing discount. If Fukodome pans out, the Sox have a CF for a while (~4 years?) and Cameron would be a cheaper alternative to Hunter or Jones in the "delaying the inevitable" corner.

I'm in the "blow this up and get some prospects that will help us compete in 2010" camp. This crap about trying to win a championship in 2008, IMHO, is only going to blow up in KW's face, providing the Sox with a huge mess for the subsequent 5 years. I suppose we will find out soon enough.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Nov 20, 2007 1:25 PM CST up reply actions