offseason moves

[riverside sluggers]

a drawback of having soriano, he averages just 30/35 walks a season

[jimmycarter05]

Please, please, please STOP with the Soriano batting 4th thing. It was nice at first, but its just craziness. Nobody cares how many stolen bases he has if he's batting 4th, but OBP and OPS are much more important. Finally, if Soriano came to Boston you would have to realize that his days of stolen bases are OVER. The sox don't believe in SB's, they aren't about to start believing in them. Soriano is the exact kind of player the front office DO NOT WANT. He has inflated power numbers, very, very, very, very (howmany times do I have to say this) poor plate discipline and is not a very good fielder. POSSIBLY as a leadoff hitter, but not ever, NEVER as a 4 hitter. Please stop.

 

 

i don't care where he bats as long as he's in there....oh yeah about those stolen bases, johnny damon has had 19 and 18 SBs in his last 2 seasons and lemme think here....DOES DAVE ROBERTS STEALING RING A BELL!!!!!!!!!! :harhar:

[Mannys Tokin Buddy]

I'd like to see Konerko come here as well as Morris. Im pretty sure the Mets said that they wouldn't trade Beltran and he's not worth Manny Ramirez anyways he doesn't come close to Manny with the bat which is what we need.

 

What Beltran lacks in home runs and BA, he makes up for in defense. He is a superior defensive center fielder when healthy. If we trade Manny for Beltran, we could then find a LF replacement (possibly Adam Dunn??) to make up the offensive slack that would be lost by Manny's departure. Beltran's arm and range are amazing and would vastly improve our defense up the middle.

 

In terms of Konerko, there is no chance of him coming here. He is most likely resigning with the PaleHose. He said somewhere that he was willing to give them the hometown discount (sorry for not having a link for this....I think it was in the Chicago SunTimes.)

 

Morris, that is an interesting pitcher. I think he is going to be under the radar because of the AJB sweepstakes. He has had a history of injuries, including this year missing time in September. But he has pretty solid stuff. I wouldn't mind Morris or even a Milwood for the right price.

[jimmycarter05]

What Beltran lacks in home runs and BA, he makes up for in defense. He is a superior defensive center fielder when healthy. If we trade Manny for Beltran, we could then find a LF replacement (possibly Adam Dunn??) to make up the offensive slack that would be lost by Manny's departure. Beltran's arm and range are amazing and would vastly improve our defense up the middle.

 

In terms of Konerko, there is no chance of him coming here. He is most likely resigning with the PaleHose. He said somewhere that he was willing to give them the hometown discount (sorry for not having a link for this....I think it was in the Chicago SunTimes.)

 

Morris, that is an interesting pitcher. I think he is going to be under the radar because of the AJB sweepstakes. He has had a history of injuries, including this year missing time in September. But he has pretty solid stuff. I wouldn't mind Morris or even a Milwood for the right price.

 

 

beltran? yes he can run and play great defense, but what did he bat this year? .270 or something with a monster 17 homers? he's not that good for what his price tag is....adam dunn, adam dunn...all he is a way bigger bellhorn...except homers more, a lot more....but i don't like dunn because of his strike out percentage and what it would cost to get him

[ksushi]

Why would they get a second basemen if they have a 2nd base prospect coming up who looks so promising?

[yankeessuck013]

regarding the CF position, I know he is not the most promising player and gives fans a lot of headaches but what about trying to aquire milton bradley via trade as a 1 ir 2 year stop gap for ellsbury.

 

he is a nice defensive/offensive CF also.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

regarding the CF position, I know he is not the most promising player and gives fans a lot of headaches but what about trying to aquire milton bradley via trade as a 1 ir 2 year stop gap for ellsbury.

 

he is a nice defensive/offensive CF also.

 

I would be nice if you had a heart, or got one.

[riverside sluggers]

Milwaukee's 1st baseman Lyle Overbay is also being targeted by the Sox in a possible trade deal.

 

The Red Sox signaled they could be a suitor if right fielder Brian Giles enters free agency next month.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I really wouldn't mind seeing Olerud as the everyday firstbaseman next year. I also read somewhere that Dustin Pedrioa will be the 2nd baseman next year, and possibly youkilis being 3b. I'd love that. Not alot of power, but good on base ablity. They should keep manny and damon, maybe keep trot unless they can trade him for huff.

 

Damon

Pedrioa

Ortiz

Manny

Trot/Huff

Varitek

Olerud

Renteria

 

 

That would move Renteria out of 2nd, because he hit only .250 against righties and never should of been in 2nd.

[Boogie]

If the you guys get Brian Giles that doesn't bode well for us.

 

He's a 35 homerun hitter in a ballpark not named Petco, who will come on the cheap side.

[yankeessuck013]

If the you guys get Brian Giles that doesn't bode well for us.

 

He's a 35 homerun hitter in a ballpark not named Petco, who will come on the cheap side.

 

indeed

 

The Red Sox signaled they could be a suitor if right fielder Brian Giles enters free agency next month. Persons close to Giles expect to hear from the Cardinals, who might lose right fielder Larry Walker to retirement. The A's pursued Giles when he was in Pittsburgh and employ one of Giles' closest friends, catcher Jason Kendell

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051010/news_1s10padnotes.html

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Giles would be a great addition if we moved Manny. I believe Giles is a lefty? We would still need another strong righty bat to go with Ortiz and say Giles. A middle lineup of Ortiz, Giles, and Konerko sounds pretty nasty.....I still think our money needs to go to pitching though. Or if Manny was traded he should be traded for pitching

[jimmycarter05]

Giles would be a great addition if we moved Manny. I believe Giles is a lefty? We would still need another strong righty bat to go with Ortiz and say Giles. A middle lineup of Ortiz, Giles, and Konerko sounds pretty nasty.....I still think our money needs to go to pitching though. Or if Manny was traded he should be traded for pitching

 

SORIANO IS YOUR STRONG RIGHTY!!!!...and face it, konkero isn't coming, i repeat, ISN'T COMING!

[ORS]

SORIANO IS YOUR STRONG RIGHTY!!!!...and face it, konkero isn't coming, i repeat, ISN'T COMING!

Drop the jar of vaseline and Soriano poster; he's not coming here either.

[riverside sluggers]

The Sox will easily hand the starting nod to Triple A Dustin Pedroia over Soriano any day. Do you realize how much texas would demand in return for Soriano???

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Soriano is wothless. Mark bellhorn with 30 home runs.

[26 to 6]

I'm not a St Louis fan, but that town is over-the-top for the redbirds. I've seen it first-hand. Never been to Boston, so I have no way to compare.

I agree, though I have never been to St. Louis I believe STL is a better baseball town. Baseball is thie biggest thing there (as opposed to Boston, and even NY, where Hockey, Football, and Basketball are up there in popularity. Though I do think baseball is at the top of the list for both cities) and it just seems to be this magical baseball town. Fans are all pleasant (it seems, not like here in NY and Boston where we hate everybody), most of them are knowledgeable, not as many frontrunners filling the park (though there are still some). St. Louis just seems like a great place to go and I would have loved to be there earlier this season to see a game at Busch like I had planned (my medical state enabled me to go).

 

You think there's been any chatter about a Manny for Pedro swap???

um.....how about NO! We need pitching over in Queens way more than you guys do, Pedro has become a face of the franchise (yea, already), and Pedro is the one that was pushing big for Manny in July, how screwed up would it be if Pedro got his request granted in getting Manny on the Mets, but having him traded in return.

[26 to 6]

Why would they get a second basemen if they have a 2nd base prospect coming up who looks so promising?

greaqt question. Thats why I think Graffanino fits perfect, could play next year while Pedroia develops some more, or if Dustin is ready in say May, Tony can just play the bench/platoon thing.

[26 to 6]

Back Ups

matt lecory-1b

lenny harris-3b(replace millar as the cheerleader)

jeff conie-OF

cora/hanley-2b/SS-if cora is too much, let him go, otherwise develop hanley

Thats a pretty versatile bench. And if you know me, you know that I LOVE versatile players. I would very much like to have a bench like that (minus maybe LeCroy, but replace him with someone else who can play the corners and catch, I think having a 3rd person who can emergency catch is pretty important, but most teams dont do it. That is why I like a B.J. Surhoff, Todd Zeile, Biggio, etc..)

[youkilis rules]

Two thoughts...

 

One I hate to say it, but the more I think about I see the 06 team being a worse version of this year. Our rotation WILL be the same. Our bullpen -- while it couldn't get much worse -- I just don't see improving. A bullpen of Timlin (if he resigns), Foulkie (who isn't good anymore), Papelbon, Myers etc has its potential but has = potential to be like this year. Our hitting should be the same, except with three noticable downgrades, Mueller-->Youks, Johnny-->?? (even if we resign him we're not upgrading) and Bellhorn/Graffy-->Pedroia/??. Whatever upgrade we get from 1B doesn't recoup all the lost offense. Ultimately I can't see this team being ANY better than what we got this year and probably a lot worse.

 

My other thought... can we just make Millar our bench coach?

[User Name]

Two thoughts...

 

One I hate to say it, but the more I think about I see the 06 team being a worse version of this year. Our rotation WILL be the same. Our bullpen -- while it couldn't get much worse -- I just don't see improving. A bullpen of Timlin (if he resigns), Foulkie (who isn't good anymore), Papelbon, Myers etc has its potential but has = potential to be like this year. Our hitting should be the same, except with three noticable downgrades, Mueller-->Youks, Johnny-->?? (even if we resign him we're not upgrading) and Bellhorn/Graffy-->Pedroia/??. Whatever upgrade we get from 1B doesn't recoup all the lost offense. Ultimately I can't see this team being ANY better than what we got this year and probably a lot worse.

My other thought... can we just make Millar our bench coach?

 

I think that you're just thinking too negatively. Saying that we won't get anyone to help our starting pitching is rediculous. We pretty much have to, but if we don't (Which I think there is about a .001% chance we wouldn't) get anybody, then you're right.

 

Offensively, the same thing. We are going to have to get someone that is a good offensive player.

[yankeessuck013]

There are indications that talks between the Red Sox and Mike Timlin have already taken place and an agreement could be reached soon.

 

Timlin will turn 40 next season, but he set the team's single-season appearance record with 81 and his 2.24 ERA was his lowest in a decade.

[jimmycarter05]

Soriano is wothless. Mark bellhorn with 30 home runs.

 

 

and 30 stolen bases,with a season of 51 doubles while batting .300

[riverside sluggers]

youkilis rules: Two thoughts...

 

One I hate to say it, but the more I think about I see the 06 team being a worse version of this year. Our rotation WILL be the same. Our bullpen -- while it couldn't get much worse -- I just don't see improving. A bullpen of Timlin (if he resigns), Foulkie (who isn't good anymore), Papelbon, Myers etc has its potential but has = potential to be like this year. Our hitting should be the same, except with three noticable downgrades, Mueller-->Youks, Johnny-->?? (even if we resign him we're not upgrading) and Bellhorn/Graffy-->Pedroia/??. Whatever upgrade we get from 1B doesn't recoup all the lost offense. Ultimately I can't see this team being ANY better than what we got this year and probably a lot worse.

 

My other thought... can we just make Millar our bench coach?

 

(1) Millar will sign to another team this offseason (2) Papelbon will join the rotation next season

 

Jimmycarter05: and 30 stolen bases,with a season of 51 doubles while batting .300

 

get back to me with his stats with RISP

[youkilis rules]

Why are you guys so sure our starting pitching will improve? I see some of you are positive Papelbon is rotation bound... Then I ask you, whos spot does he or a new SP take?

 

Clement -- a rotation definite.

 

Wakefield -- ditto.

 

Arroyo -- barring something VERY unlikely, he'll be back. He led us in quality starts as well so would Papelbon really be an upgrade anyway?

 

Schill -- c'mon now people, he's gonna start.

 

Wells -- he is under contract and should be in the rotation next year. If he does opt for retirement that might be a spot to plug in Papelbon, but personally I see Papelbon as a downgrade from Wells, our only good SP down the stretch...

 

You can't just say "we need better SP, we just gotta improve it!" It doesn't work like that; it won't work like that.

 

In regards to Timlin likely resigning... there's nobody happier than me about that, BUT, we had Timlin all of this year and had a s***** bullpen so I don't feel the need to do backflips about our pen.

[ORS]

I would expect one of Arroyo or Clement to not be wearing red stockings next year; that is where Papelbon's rotation spot comes from. Both are about league average pitchers, nothing more, and neither has anywhere near the potential Papelbon does. It would be a mistake to slow his growth so that we can continue to get league average pitching.

 

Arroyo will fetch more in the trade market because he is relatively cheap for his production and Clement has the "bust" albatross around his neck right now.

[example1]

Yeah, we need to start making room for our younger guys. I've heard Wells wants to leave and that we're looking at trade possibilities out West. Our rotation couldn't be WORSE and where we got hurt this year was our starting and our bullpen. If even once or twice we win (say, that horrible 9/21 loss to TB where we gave up 5 in the eigth, or 8/24 when we lost to KC in the 9th) then we may have a different season. Personally I think that if we don't mess with the offense then we're in good shape because our pitching can't be worse than it was this year. Unfortunately it really, really, really looks like Manny will do anything he can to get out of here. It is very difficult to make up for his production and Ortiz will be less protected.

 

I don't think there's reason to be pessimistic at this point. We know that a) the sox aren't afraid to spend lots of money, MANY teams have won with less power than Manny/Ortiz and c) our pitching has to get better... it just has to. Even an average team has better pitching than we did this year (with regard to ERA). Boston was 20th in WHIP, 24th in BAA, and 25th in OPS. Even mid 90's sox teams did better than that and we're bound to get better again. We shouldn't have to deal with injuries to Schilling, Foulke, Mantai, Miller, and horrible pitching from guys like Embree.

[riverside sluggers]

Timlin contract on the horizon

By Tony Massarotti/ Red Sox Notebook

Friday, October 14, 2005 - Updated: 06:20 AM EST

 

The Red Sox have an array of offseason issues to address, beginning with their general manager, but there have been recent indications reliever Mike Timlin could be among the first free agents to return to the club. The Sox and Timlin are not believed to have resumed contract negotiations since the team was eliminated from the playoffs, but the sides were progressing toward a deal during the season, sources said. Talks subsequently were tabled until the offseason, suggesting a deal could be consummated before the free agent season officially begins next month.

 

The free agency filing period does not begin until the day after the final game of the World Series, and teams and players are not allowed to discuss financial terms until the full 15-day filing period is complete. Timlin, who will turn 40 in March, was 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 13 saves in a club-record 81 appearances this season. He was by far the most reliable reliever in manager Terry Francona's bullpen the entire season, serving both as a setup man and a closer. In his three seasons with the Red Sox, Timlin is 18-11 and 16 Saves with a 3.30 ERA in a stunning 229 appearances, the most in the American League in that span. No other right-handed reliever in baseball has appeared in more games in the past three years.

 

Timlin earned a base salary of $2.75 million this year and likely will command a number closer to $3 million for 2006. The deal almost certainly would be a one-year contract that could include an option for 2007.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Even if our starting rotation is the exact same.....you can almost guarantee Curt Schilling and Wade Miller will be more prepared. Both had injuries that were not going to be 100% in the course of last season. Those injuries would not be fully healthy until after this winter. Once that happens these two will be much better than last season. Next Jonathan Papelbon doens't need to wait for someone to move on in the rotation....he will take someones spot. If Papelbon has more velocity and a better arsenal of pitches than others he will start. The best pitchers take the starting jobs cause you want your best pitchers to log the most innings. Its like asking....do you want Schilling closing and logging 80 innings or starting and logging 200 innings....get it??

 

Here is something else to keep in mind....if we had a healthy Curt Schilling this year and he won say 15 games.....we just won the AL East, probably had homefield advantage and he would have started game #1 as opposed to not making an appearance in this years playoffs.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

greaqt question. Thats why I think Graffanino fits perfect, could play next year while Pedroia develops some more, or if Dustin is ready in say May, Tony can just play the bench/platoon thing.

 

Cora did an excellent job and is signed for this year. Most believe Pedroia is ready now. If we lose Damon then Pedroia seems like a good candidate to be our leadoff man. Tough to jump right in and play 2B while leading off for the Boston Red Sox....but you gotta learn sometime and why not do it at the beginning of the season. If we are going with Youkilis then I would go with Pedroia as well and let these young guys take over. If would be fun to see them develop as the season progresses and possibly showing signs like the Guardians did.