Best CF Option?

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Possibly but if we could get away with Meredith I'd much rather that

Agree with that. Unfortunately, who really is pulling the strings for the Sox ? I'm not a big fan of committee for anything ( as in closer ). There's only one captain on a ship.

[a700hitter]

The twin GM's at last night's BB Writers Dinner gave the impression that the CF and SS holes would be filled eventually, but not imminently. I am not expecting any major transactions before spring training.

[Redguitar985]

I like payton for the short term and I want ellsbury for the long term

 

That wouldn't be bad either although I do like Reed more. As long as Ellsbury gets a good few years in the minors.

[Redguitar985]

Agree with that. Unfortunately, who really is pulling the strings for the Sox ? I'm not a big fan of committee for anything ( as in closer ). There's only one captain on a ship.

 

I definitely agree.

[guapo34]

In Gammons new column he says the Red Sox top choice is Coco Crisp.

 

"The Red Sox are still trying to work major deals. Coco Crisp has been their priority in center field"

 

"Hoyer and Cleveland's Chris Antonetti are now over the 70 mark in telephone calls in the last month."

[KeepTheFaith1229]

In Gammons new column he says the Red Sox top choice is Coco Crisp.

 

"The Red Sox are still trying to work major deals. Coco Crisp has been their priority in center field"

 

"Hoyer and Cleveland's Chris Antonetti are now over the 70 mark in telephone calls in the last month."

 

 

Woah. 70. Are they asking for anyone like Marte, Hansen, Papelbon or Lester?

They better not be.

[schillingouttheks]

For Crisp? Yeah, Cleveland's been asking for our elite prospects in a deal for Crisp. Which is why I'm all for Jeremy Reed, who would come cheaper (meaning, we send out not as much talent for him in return as we would Crisp).

[guapo34]

I think we're gonna end up with crisp, and its gonna cost us mota and prospects we can get for arroyo or Wells. Just a prediction though and I'd be really happy if thats what happend.

[riverside sluggers]

For Crisp? Yeah, Cleveland's been asking for our elite prospects in a deal for Crisp. Which is why I'm all for Jeremy Reed, who would come cheaper (meaning, we send out not as much talent for him in return as we would Crisp).

 

Didnt the latest report suraface that Seattle stepped up their demands of asking for Lester or Papelbon in return for Reed?

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Didnt the latest report suraface that Seattle stepped up their demands of asking for Lester or Papelbon in return for Reed?

 

I don't know, but he's not worth that. If that was the case I'd rather trade for a guy like Roberts or Payton.

[schillingouttheks]

Didnt the latest report suraface that Seattle stepped up their demands of asking for Lester or Papelbon in return for Reed?

Um, not that I know of. Maybe though.

[riverside sluggers]

I did some back-checking, from the Seattle Times

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002709354_mari29.html

[schillingouttheks]

Ugh. This is going to be really hard to fill those holes in CF and SS. People know we're hurting an need one, so they'll get as much from us as they can. This position sucks.

[krazeebrainz]

I think that Delcarmen for Meredith seems reasonable, but I liked what I saw from Delcarmen last season. The kid throws smoke and has pretty good stuff. Now that he has some major league experience and has put those rookie jitters behind him, I think that we're going to see a much more poised pitcher this upcoming season.

 

The guy that I'm not totally sold on is Hansen. For starters, his delivery is one that just invites arm problems. The kid is 6'6" and probably has an arm that is about 35" long. With the way that he short-arms the ball, he shortens his arm at least 3" as compared to others of similar proportions. He was also supposed to have an incredible slider...I don't know about you guys, but I sure as heck didn't see it when he was pitching.

 

I know that he was side-lined because of "dead arm" syndrome and we may not have seen everything that this kid is capable of. On the other hand, perhaps his "dead arm" problems were the direct result of poor pitching mechanics...What do you all think?

 

-krazeebrainz

[example1]

I think that Delcarmen for Meredith seems reasonable, but I liked what I saw from Delcarmen last season. The kid throws smoke and has pretty good stuff. Now that he has some major league experience and has put those rookie jitters behind him, I think that we're going to see a much more poised pitcher this upcoming season.

 

The guy that I'm not totally sold on is Hansen. For starters, his delivery is one that just invites arm problems. The kid is 6'6" and probably has an arm that is about 35" long. With the way that he short-arms the ball, he shortens his arm at least 3" as compared to others of similar proportions. He was also supposed to have an incredible slider...I don't know about you guys, but I sure as heck didn't see it when he was pitching.

 

I know that he was side-lined because of "dead arm" syndrome and we may not have seen everything that this kid is capable of. On the other hand, perhaps his "dead arm" problems were the direct result of poor pitching mechanics...What do you all think?

 

-krazeebrainz

 

I think Craig Hansen is a 6'5, 22-year old who pitched an entire college season as his team's best reliever, was drafted and pitched in a few games before being thrown into a pennant race in the AL East. I think he throws a 96-97 mph heater and is said to have one of the best breaking balls in the entire minor leagues (a slider in this case). He will be good.

 

I remember at some point last season hearing that Hansen had to tell Tek that he also had a slider and that his slider was actually his strike out pitch. Varitek didn't know that his slider was anything special, and Hansen only threw a few of them (3-4 tops I bet).

 

The ones he threw were pretty flat and not sharp. I don't think they were strikes. That seems pretty understandable given that he hadn't thrown one in a game for a long time.

 

In any case, I'm not sold on Hansen as the next Mariano Rivera, but I AM sold on someone with his stuff and his size wearing a Sox uniform. If he gets the right mentality (which he could very well have already) he could be a lights out closer.

 

EDIT: 1) this post is pretty off topic, sorry folks. 2) There is a good 5 min interview with Craig Hansen from the rookie conference last week on redsox.com --> rosters ---> Craig Hansen

[ORS]

About Hansen's mechanics, I would tend to be more concerned if he were to be used as a starter. Mechanics help your arm/shoulder/elbow hold up when you become fatigued, and pitcher's get more fatigued as starters. He won't be pitching much more than 100 innings, most of them in 1-2 inning stints, as a reliever, so his strange delivery probably won't be a problem.

 

About CF, here's some news about Michaels from Rotoworld.com

Phillies agreed to terms with outfielder Jason Michaels on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

Michaels made $825,000 last year in his first season of arbitration eligibility. Another team might still be able to pry him away from the Phillies in return for a quality setup man. If he remains in Philadelphia, he'll be a fourth outfielder. Jan. 17 - 4:47 am et

I'd consider sending Mota for him.

[Plumpamania]

Before I even saw your last line I thought of Mota. If they do that, I'll be delighted.

[Beckett95]

id much rather trade mota for michaels than mota, arroyo and a prospect for reed.

 

Red Sox agreed to terms with RHP Guillermo Mota on a one-year, $3 million contract.

Mota, who made $2.6 million last season, is entering his final year before free agency. The Red Sox couldn't settle with Bronson Arroyo ($4.9 million requested, $3.75 million proposed) or Josh Beckett ($4.2 million requested, $2.95 million proposed) before arbitration figures were exchanged today. Jan. 17 - 6:53 pm et

 

how is bronson possibly going to make more money than beckett?

[KeepTheFaith1229]

id much rather trade mota for michaels than mota, arroyo and a prospect for reed.

 

 

 

how is bronson possibly going to make more money than beckett?

 

 

Wow. That doesn't make sense at all. Maybe it's because Beckett has had trouble keeping healthy recently so the price is lowered. But still...

[Beckett95]

i actually think rotowrold was wrong. MLB.COM says that

 

Arroyo is asking for $4.2 million in 2006, and the Red Sox have countered with $2.95 million.

 

the Red Sox have offered Beckett $3.75 million. He is asking for $4.9 million.

[yankeessuck013]

I'm not sold on Michaels, he's a free swinger and strikes out too much for my liking. (80 times in 299 at-bats last season), I'd much rather prefer Reed.

[jsinger121]

Michaels also doesn't have the best range in center as well. Reed is a much better player. Everyone forgets that Reed was a BA top 40 prospect last year but since he had a down year his value has dropped. If I had a choice between Reed and Michaels, it would be Reed and it wouldn't even be close.

[ksushi]

New center field option that people haven't come up with yet - David Dejesus. I don't know much about his availability other than that the Royals seem to be trying to make an inexpensive push by acquiring some veteran talent, I wouldn't be surprised to see them jump at a chance to acquire a vet who is on the young side with nerves of steel like Arroyo. Depending on how eager the Royals are to hang onto Dejesus, I think he might be a better option in centerfield than any of the other names mentioned. As much as I like Reed, Dejesus seems to be a much more palatable immediate option - and is only 1 year older than Reed.

Have a gander.

 

I don't think this guy is the type who would bring Lester into trade talks, but if thats the case I would say forget it. A team like the Royals, however, would seem to be in the sort of position where they are teeming with young talent, and can easily acquire more via the draft, but veterans seem to avoid that place like it was prison. I do think that the sox could definetly put together a reasonable package to bring back Dejesus if the Royals would at all move him. I think it would probably make sense for them to move him for the right deal. He doesn't blow anyone away, but is certainly a solid player to say the least.

 

Arroyo and Mota, or Clement and Cora or something along those lines I think would be something to consider. Cash would have to go along as well. Just a thought.

[jsinger121]

I would seriously doubt the Royals would trade DeJesus who makes next to nothing unless they were getting one of our Big 3 of Lester, Papelbon, or Marte. The Royals farm system is already thin and they would not give up DeJesus unless they can help stockpile it.

[ksushi]

The royals system is thin? Not being much the royals buff, I wouldn't know but they don't seem like the type of team that would be thin in the farm. Weird. I know he makes next to nothing, but that doesn't mean its a automatic no-go, but yeah that team is leaps and bounds away from contention. It would be interesting to see if something could happen that wouldn't include a top prospect. We might be looking at a Jason Michaels type at this point.

[guapo34]

From reading Rob Neyer, who is a Royal fan, sadly their farm system is very thin. They have 1 really good positional prospect, one pretty good one, and no one else that could make much of an impact.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I would seriously doubt the Royals would trade DeJesus who makes next to nothing unless they were getting one of our Big 3 of Lester, Papelbon, or Marte. The Royals farm system is already thin and they would not give up DeJesus unless they can help stockpile it.

 

How come every trade we consider...Papelbon, Marte, or Lester gets brought up. We traded one of the best SS in the league for Andy Marte....how could the Royals even consider asking for him in exchange for DeJesus.

 

As for Papelbon and Lester....you are talking about the same thing....Papelbon just had a 2.65 ERA in his first Red Sox action followed by 4 innings of shut out baseball in the playoffs.

 

Jon Lester is supposed to be better and is younger than Papelbon. So what are we talking about when it comes to these three players? The Red Sox will not be forced into a trade based on current needs.

[jsinger121]

The Royals have been thin on the farm for a while. They have Alex Gordon who is a stud. Billy Butler is a good hitter without a position and now they hold the #1 pick in the draft in which they should select UNC lefthander Andrew Miller who is by far the best pitcher in the draft.

[riverside sluggers]

From Chris Snow of the Boston Globe on center field options

 

There are ongoing talks between Cleveland and Boston of a Marte for Crisp swap. This could also be a larger deal of multiple players switching sides.

 

He quickly shot down a David Wells to San Francisco trade in return for 40 year old Steve Finley. Thank God.

 

He also shot down the rumored trade that wouldve seen Griffey come to Boston.

 

Multiple sources along with Snow are reporting the Sox are having interest in free agent Jeff DaVanon.

[a700hitter]

DaVannon? Yuk!