Going after High Priced Players

[jimmycarter05]

look, i'm tired of all this aj burnett as being the best pitcher out there and konkero being the best hitter out there...there are plenty more LOW PRICE-HIGH UPSIDE guys that wouldn't cost a whole lot of money...with the money we save, we could sign more players and resign certain ones..here are some of them and if you disagree with me just post why:

 

pitchers:

 

john lackey: 12-5, 3.30 ERA, 180Ks, making 440k this year

esteban loazia: 11-10, 3.79 ERA, making 2.9 million this year

matt morris: 14-8, 4.10 ERA, making 2.5 million this year

 

bullpen guys

 

bob wickman(personal favorite): 2.73 ERA, 41 saves, making 2.7 million this year

kyle farnsworth: 2.03 ERA, 13 saves, making 1.9 million this year

al reyes: 2.38 ERA, 3-2, 3 save, making 440k this year

julian tavarez: 3.15 ERA, 2-3, 4 saves, making 2.6 million this year

 

batters:

 

dmitri young: .270 BA, 21 HRs, 70 RBIs, making 8 million

 

these are the guys i like to sign, and there's only one sort of pricey guy..most of these guy's "big bucks" are 3-6 million..much better than 1 guy thats 10 million

 

these are some players i would like to get in a trade..maybe one of good prospects or someone on the roster for next year;

 

adam harang: Reds, 3.54 ERA, can throw high 90s, making 440K, 27 years old- good pitching prospect

 

chad tracey: D-backs(with troy glaus and tony clark getting 1B and 3B, i'm sure he'll want some more playing time) .292 BA...1B/3B/OF...21 HRs...54 RBIs, making 335K, 25 years old- good hitting prospect

 

 

come on fellow sox fans..see the light and save some money :thumbsup:

[ORS]

Lackey: not listed as a free-agent anywhere that I look

Loaiza: has already been horrible in the AL east when he was with the Yankees

Morris: I'd make an offer

 

Wickman: is rumored to be considering retirement

Farnsworth, Reyes, and Tavares: they could help

 

Dmitri Young: please, we already have a DH (and Manny will start seeing time there)

[jimmycarter05]

Lackey: not listed as a free-agent anywhere that I look

Loaiza: has already been horrible in the AL east when he was with the Yankees

Morris: I'd make an offer

 

 

Wickman: is rumored to be considering retirement

Farnsworth, Reyes, and Tavares: they could help

 

Dmitri Young: please, we already have a DH (and Manny will start seeing time there)

 

 

my bad about lackey...it was jarrod washburn :thumbdown sorry

 

 

jeff suppan is a good alternative(3.54 ERA, 15-10)...with a dh he won't have to worry about his baserunning

 

i like dmitri as our 1B

 

and what about harang and tracy? would you trade for them?

[ORS]

my bad about lackey...it was jarrod washburn :thumbdown sorry

 

 

jeff suppan is a good alternative(3.54 ERA, 15-10)...with a dh he won't have to worry about his baserunning

 

i like dmitri as our 1B

 

and what about harang and tracy? would you trade for them?

We don't need another buffalo in the field, and that is what Young is IMO. I like a platoon of Youk and Olerud at 1B next year, with a possible stretch run call-up for Abreu out of Cuba if he's as good as advertised.

 

Suppan would get hit hard in the AL East. Millwood is in his walk year. He'll command some money, but he'd be a better fit in our division. Honestly, I don't know that we need to land another starter. If the projections for Curt's return are correct, he'll be back to 100% next spring. Boomer is signed for another year, but is considering retirement. Clement and Wake will be back, and I think the plan is to put Papelbon in the rotation. I think Wells decision to return or not will force our hand in the offseason. If he goes, I'd like to get a lefty to replace him, which means we'd need to go after Washburn.

 

Harang and Tracy are appealing because of their youth and talent, but guys that are young and performing on the cheap are tough to get in a trade. I think we'd have to give up too much to get them.

[riverside sluggers]

Suppan was with the Red Sox from 95 - 97. In 1997 he started 22 games with a 7-3 record but with a high 5.69 ERA. Then came back in 2003 and appeared in 11 games, going 3-4 still with a high 5.57 ERA. He didnt get "lights out" until he went to the National League.

 

yes Dimitri Young is a great hitter. but still Id like a Paul Konerko or Aubrey Huff, not just because of their hitting but their solid D they would bring, why do you think Young is used 80% of the time as a DH

[Cityofchampions33]

All we really need this offseason is bullpen help, not starting pitching. We got Lester making a possible September appearance,a nd Papelbon all set for next year. I would love Konerko at 1st, though hed be expensive, good solid all-around player who would combine for a deadly 3-4-5 along w/ Ramirez and Papi. Also wouldn't Hansen be ready next season? Same with Foulke also. So far it'd project as this: Foulke, Timlin, Myers, Bradford, Hansen, and a long reliever. That looks pretty solid to me, but i think we'd need some insurance in case Hansen is for some reason not ready.

[RedSoxRooter]

Yeah, I don't think the Sox will have to focus on starting pitching for next year. We also have Wade Miller hopefully coming back fully recovered.

 

So the starters we will have next year to choose from are.

 

Schilling

Wells

Wake

Arroyo

Miller

Papelbon

Lester (maybe)

Clement

 

In the pen set for next year (barring a trade)

Hansen

Foulke

Delcarmen (probably)

 

Guys who may not be here

Timlin

Bradford

Myers

Gonzo

 

As for the everyday players, the only ones I see as going are..

 

Millar

Manny to the Mets

 

Guys who I think the Sox will try to resign

Damon

 

On the bubble.

Mueller

Tony G

Olerude

 

Guys who will be back for sure

Tek

Belli

Renteria

Nixon

Ortiz

 

So in other words, I think the Sox have the starters set for next year. The bullpen will be rebuilt. First base and second base will probably be addressed with new players. I think they'll try and sign Damon, try to move Manny and try to keep Timlin. As usual, the bench will be restocked. If they can upgrade at 3b, I think they will - but it may not be a high priority if Mueller wants to stay.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten a player or two.

[RedSoxRooter]

Oh, and Theo will be resigned.

[riverside sluggers]

remember that Wells is still mulling retirement and it is not set in stone entirely that Sox will take up the option on Wade Miller for 06

[RedSoxRooter]

Wells will not retire if he stays healthy. He makes too much money to retire - and he's a greedy guy.

 

The Sox would be wise to pick up the Miller option IMO if it's not crazy money. I can't find my link to dugoutdollars.com anymore so I don't know how much it is.

 

I also don't know the situation with Matt Mantei.

[Cityofchampions33]

I think it was only 1 million for Miller, forget Mantei, even if he was healthy next season, i think Hansen would replace him.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I think it was only 1 million for Miller, forget Mantei, even if he was healthy next season, i think Hansen would replace him.

 

Wade Miller deffinitly needs to stick around cause we haven't truely seen him yet. After this offseason he will be 100% ready to go and could dominate as a bottom of the rotation guy. With all our starters we do need to move someone or trade someone. I don't like any of those free agent pitchers listed because they don't really improve our team. Maybe they are cheap but they are no better than what we have. I think Burnett could be an upgrade but its hard to tell. If the Sox want to go after a pitcher they need to go after a stud otherwise just sit with whats available cause there are more guys coming up through the system anyways.

 

If the Sox end of trading Manny (which I'm not that excited about) they would free up money to keep Mueller, Graffanino, and Damon. If the Sox can add Beltran (the rumored name with Manny)I would move Damon over to the monster. So looking at that the Sox still haven't made there "BIG" free agent signing yet. I would suggest openning the wallet on a top everyday 1B hitter to protect David Ortiz such as Konerko. Leaving a batting lineup such as:

 

1. Damon

2. Renteria

3. Beltran

4. Ortiz

5. Konerko

6. Nixon

7. Varitek

8. Mueller

9. Graffanino

 

a rotation of (with Wells retired):

 

1. Schilling

2. Wakefield

3. Arroyo

4. Clement

5. Miller

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I forgot to mention the bullpen which I would stock with young arms looking to prove themselves. I would stick with Foulke as the closer next season and if he faulters then let Hansen move into the spot. If Hansen isn't performing then I would let Papelbon be the closer (he's done it before).

[Cityofchampions33]

Arroyo is too inconsistent for me, I'd let Papy start out in the rotation and have Arroyo be a middle relief guy. I think he'd be very effective if he has good control when he comes out. Adding him and Hansen would prove to be a very good bullpen, especially if Foulke gets back to his 2004 self. Then again I dought Timlin will have this kind of year again, but he should still be solid.

 

1) Schilling

2) Wakefield

3) Clement

4) Miller

5) Papelbon

 

1) Arroyo

2) Hansen

3) Myers

4) Bradford

5) Timlin

6) Foulke/Harville?

 

Adding Beltran and Konerko wouldn't bother me at all, even if we did lose Manny, essentially we're gaining the more power with both players combined, we get Damon and Mueller back, gaining defense at 1st in Konerko, Beltran is also a plus from Ramirez no dought. That would make a very solid 1-5.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

Despite the inconsistent effort from the rotation this year, aside from a blockbuster trade, I'm not excited about adding a FA. Money better spent would be bringing back Damon (trust me, you don't want him going to either NY, or LAA), upgrading bullpen, and provide some protection for Ortiz and Manny (if he sticks around).

 

Going to my share of Angel games, I wouldn't touch Washburn. (Plus he has already said publicly he prefers to stay w/the angels). Konerko would fit perfect but I think he'll be too expensive unless winning a ring is more important to him than commanding max $$.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

I like Dunn, but there is no way Cinci will let him go w/out raping someone of their best young talent. Which is why he wasn't moved this season despite whatever they say about changing their mind and keeping him.

[Cityofchampions33]

What do you think Konerko would go for? like 15 mill? under/over?

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

well the only way he'd go less than 15 mil. is if he was giving a discount for a chance on a legitimate contender (including home discount w/chi-sox).

[jimmycarter05]

konkero this konkero that <_>

 

i don't like him...he'll cost too much money and he's usally a homer or K guy...i say we trade two of our really good propsects or, maybe one great prospect for a mlb ready, young firstbaseman in chad tracey(.299, 24 HRs, 54 RBIs) whoses making 335K this year :thumbsup:

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

konkero this konkero that <_>

 

i don't like him...he'll cost too much money and he's usally a homer or K guy...i say we trade two of our really good propsects or, maybe one great prospect for a mlb ready, young firstbaseman in chad tracey(.299, 24 HRs, 54 RBIs) whoses making 335K this year :thumbsup:

 

lol yeah that'll happen

 

i mentioned Konerko as an example...i also mentioned Dunn as well (not like either will happen)...just cause you don't like him doesn't mean he's not a viable option. there are posters on this forum that despise both renteria and millar. both have contributed in one way or another to keeping this team rolling. if you have the option to bring in a proven player of his caliber you have to at least take a look at it.

[riverside sluggers]

another option for 1st base, who the Sox's front office really like and tried to acquire him in July is Tampa Bay's Aubrey Huff, who wont come as expensive as Konerko will

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

another option for 1st base, who the Sox's front office really like and tried to acquire him in July is Tampa Bay's Aubrey Huff, who wont come as expensive as Konerko will

 

I really like Huff but I think the Sox want a power righty. something they really lack other than Manny. Personnally I don't care what side you swing from as long as you can hit.