Swisher CF
OCab SS
Thome DH
Konerko 1B
Dye RF
AJ  C
Fields 3B
Quentin LF
Richar/Uribe 2B

and the usual energy and hard-nosedness from KW:

Nick is a quality switch hitter who consistently gets on base, hits for power and drives in runs," Sox GM Ken Williams said in a statement. "He gives Ozzie Guillen offensive flexibility with his ability to hit in a number of spots up and down the batting order, and his athleticism allows him to play any outfield position or first base.

"Nick brings to the ballpark a mix of hard-nosed play, energy and a commitment to winning, and he brings it each and every day. He's a great addition to our team and clubhouse."

An OF of CQ, Swisher & Dye would be worth watching.  Everyone is prospect obsessed right now, but it's really a coin flip whether or Gio and DLS pan out.

Swisher is a very good young hitter who has been playing in a pitcher's park and is just entering his prime. Offensively, he is likely to be  superior to Hunter, Rowand, and Jones both now and for the forseeable future. I wouldn't be surprised if he posted a .900 OPS in the cell and he projects at .875 or so.

But da#% that is a really high price to pay. Can't say I like it.

This team will be complete horseshit for the next 5 years because of this goof.   Other GMs must get excited when they deal with Kenny.  Kenny is on the phone, lets get whats left of the farm system.  

Aaron Rowand (Born 8/29/77)
5 years/$60M (2008-12)
Lifetime .286  .343  .462  OPS+ 106

Is the difference big enough to make it worth gutting your farm system?  IMO they should have signed Rowand.  We've got cash, what we don't have is minor league talent.  What a horrible offseason.

I just don't like the cost of it.  I'll say that I'm lukewarm on the deal -- the "Highway Robbery" comment in the post isn't mine, I'd guess that's wiz'.  If you take the TINSTAAPP point of view, I'd say the Sox are looking pretty good here.  Hell, if you trust the talking-head over at Soxtalk (Bureau), the Sox seem to make out pretty well in this -- Gio is nothing more than a backend starter and DLS is a great reliever.  He'd probably say the guy the Sox will regret giving up the most is Sweeney, who is looking at a make-or-break season in 2008.

This is consistent with KW's previous moves, right?  Always use your prospects to get major league talent.  At least it shows he's still in there swinging.  I think most of us thought the large deals were done - at least I did, and I never thought he'd deal all 3 in the same trade (Gio, once traded before, has always been expendable).  Can't question the fire, just the wisdom of the strategy.  (Did JR just get diagnosed with cancer or something?  Burning the farm down for 2008 seems imprudent unless we are going out in a mushroom cloud, on our shield, one way or the other.)

So we'll be entertaining in 2008, with spit and baling wire holding our ML roster together, with the likes of Broadway/Egbert/Wasserman ready to step up in a heartbeat.  (And who will fill in at at a position if necessary?  Can anyone hit?) That surely fills me with confidence.

Swisher is a good YOUNG ball player signed to a reasonable contract. Beane wasnt going to give him away for free. Most people think the Sox have no chance of competing next year. That is the real issue. KW (for better or most think worst) doesnt.

The trade itself most definitely adds wins to the Sox total. It doesnt put them into a bad financial situation. Maybe hes not done yet. If Sox were to get to 87-88 wins and "compete" that does probably accomplish some of the outward apperance concerns and fill the park. If people continue to come maybe that gives them an opportunity to open the wallet next year.

Im not saying its the best plan, but it is a plan. Carlos and Nick are a decent starting point for the future OF.

As previously mentioned by everyone above:

a) The already sparse farm system is now completely barren, and our major league level depth is pretty low.  Counting a lot on Danks & Floyd...and who the hell is first in line in case of injury?  Haeger?

b) While it makes us a better club in '08, we're still unlikely to really compete in the AL Central.  It would probably take even more luck than we got in 2005...

Additional factors that don't help the trade:

c) Our hitting coach.  Yeah, nothing like Greg Walker to help out the young hitters.  I don't have the stats, but from my fantasy ownership of him I recall Swisher having some very rough months in 2007, and you know Walker isn't going to help when he falls into a slump.

d) Ozzie's love of speed/leadoff guys.  I'm having a very hard time picturing Owens not eating into Quentin's playing time.  Unfortunately, Ozzie is going to want speed somewhere, & Quentin really hasn't proven much in the majors, so he'll be the first in line to the bench.

He's actually a much better hitter against LHP, which you don't see much from lefties.. He doesn't hit for power from that side, but makes much more consistent contact and walks at a higher rate. OPSed about 900 vs. LHP each of the last two years.


Player    GP   E    FP   RFg   RF9
Owens     88   2   .991  2.43  2.67  
Swisher   59   2   .986  2.37  2.62


Point is, can he play CF?  Clearly.  Is he good?  Not particularly.  I can't find any info on Baseball Reference's stats (like the differences between RFg and RF9), but from the league leader pages, good CF's have a RF around 3.  We could be looking at having a few more triples allowed with him in CF.

He can outhit Owens, tho, and he likes hitting in The Cell.  He had a 148 tOPS+ at our yard last  year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=swishni01

Wow.

Wow.

I mean...

really?

I'd be able to accept him as a corner outfielder if we hadn't acquired CQ.

I don't know...

At first I was furious.  I've since calmed down quite a bit, and I think I'll just wait and see what more comes of this.

If he can play an average CF with an .880-.920 OPS for the next 5 years (or heck even the first 3 years, followed by excellent corner OF defense the last 2 years) then I think this is a win for KW. If not he's gonna have to blowup into a .950+ guy for it to be a win.

But make no mistake, this guy is really good. He's somewhat underrated because of his home park, similar to Buerhle in the cell.

On the other hand, Billy Beane has accepted rebuilding and says: