I’m baaaaaaaaack. Oh stop..ok keep it up. It’s been quite a while since I have written one word, but that’ll end tonight, July 4th.
I’m not gonna touch on what has gone wrong with the Sox since May 5th, ’cause we all know the bottom has dropped out on this season.
I noticed that the Sox have recalled catching prospect Josh Phegley at the expense of Hector Gimenez. I for one do not think the Sox have given up on Tyler Flowers. I do think they think Phegley will push Flowers more than the DFA’d Gimenez. Phegley is the pride of IU and if my memory serves a former Mister baseball–or something like that.
Phegley could very well supplant Flowers, but I for one think he’s a bit undersized. Having stood next to and interviewed Phegs, he is a catcher horizontally, but vertically, I’m not sold. I’m not gonna quote his minor league stats ’cause for the most part they mean nothing, but I do know they are quite respectable.
Defensively, I also know he can hold his own. I think he’ll get off to a blistering start, and cool down as time goes on.
To finish this rant, the Sox promoted him ’cause they have to see what they have. Giminez was never the future for the Sox, but Phegley may be.
Having overcome a blood disease they could have killed him, I want him to do well.
So everyone but Sale and Konerko is available for trade–supposedly.
I predicted Konerko would finish with 25 home runs. He has 7 and he’s injured, I would say that’s a pipe dream now, but weirder things could happen.
Oh yeah, the trade guys. There should be a market for Adam Dunn. I have to believe his average problem has to be the A.L. pitching. What other reason is there? The man can still hit it out of anywhere. 23 home runs and 53 RBI to date puts him on pace for over 40 and close to 100. With the right team, he can still do some damage. Furthermore he is a great, and I mean great, clubhouse guy. Nobody is liked more than Adam Dunn.
Another big trade chip could be Gordon Beckham. I think that would be short-sighted as Beckham’s finally seems to have figured things out. It would be egg on the Sox’ faces for years to come if he goes on to hit close to .300 while winning Gold Gloves for another team. Compound that by 1000 if somehow he ends up on the Cubs.
John Danks could be had, but that contract with over 35-million left on it could be a issue. Take out that rotten outing versus the Twins a few weeks back and he has a 2.56 ERA in his last 28.1 innings. They have no one to offer but he would fit nicely in the Angels rotation. The Dodgers and Yankees would be another landing spot. As a matter of fact, there should be at least 10 teams vying for his services. He is another great clubhouse guy, and I’d hate to see him leave.
I love Jake Peavy and Alex Rios, but if the Sox can get a package of players for those guys, so be it. I’ll also throw Alexei Ramirez in to that equation.
Me, personally, I’d leave the pen alone. In today’s day and age, the bullpen is the difference between a contender and a bottom feeder. Yes, I know Jesse Crain is a free agent, and injured, but I would try to keep him at a reasonable cost. I think Matt Thornton is gone at the end of next season, so might as well work him as much as they can.
Does anyone out there think there is a huge market for Alejandro De Aza, Hector Santiago, Jose Quintana, Conor Gillaspie or Dayan Viciedo. If teams are trading on potential, great, but most wants results now. And what would the Sox get for any of those guys other than the same type of guys.
Barring a late pre-all star break miracle, the Sox will make moves I just hope it’s not a complete house cleaning.
I’ll have more opinions some other time.
November 20th, 2013 
Bill Mahoney 
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