Off-season Hot Stove Thread

[example1]

I started the warm-stove thread, so let's move into the actual off-season with another thread:

 

The Sox won the bid for Mr. Matsuzaka. They have apparently released Trot Nixon, Gabe Kaplar, Keith Foulke, and have re-signed Mike Timlin.

 

SS?

RF?

RP?

CP?

 

Go!

[example1]

I'll start:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/11/gonzalez_in_dem.html

 

Apparently some team has offered Alex Gonzalez a 3 year, 15 million dollar deal. I'm not sure if he accepted, but he certainly won't be in red socks next year if this rumor is true.

 

Lugo anyone?

[Beckett95]

1. Lugo

2. Uribe (if the White Sox are the team who are after Gonzo)

 

there really isnt to much out there for SS.

 

Unless they trade for someone

[Cocos Disciples]

Please say no to Uribe. The guy has nothing, his OBP was below .300 last year. Thats just awful.

[example1]

Please say no to Uribe. The guy has nothing' date=' his OBP was below .300 last year. Thats just awful.[/quote']

 

 

That's pretty bad. In all honesty, would people mind a Manny trade that netted us, among others, Orlando Cabrera (or Wood, or Aybar)?

 

I liked Cabrera when he was here (who didn't?) and although I think he's overpaid, he does offer the nice combination of above average (SS) offense and defense.

 

I imagine Cabrera is much more available than those young guys are.

[Beckett95]

Id like a Manny trade that could net us M Young/Tejada

 

Only if they could sign Lee/Soriano though

[Fried Neckbones]

Astros reportedly made offers to both Lee and Soriano. If true, I'd expect one of them to be gone in a couple of days.

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4340964.html

[example1]

Hmmm. Interesting. I definitely see Lee going there. I have a hard time imagining Soriano helping them win, but at the same time he's Beltran like in his multitaskability (I made that word up!).

 

I'm not quite sure where I can see Soriano ending up. I would be surprised and disappointed if the Angels didn't go after him. They have Vlad who is one of the best hitters over the past 15 years, and a good pitching staff. They should definitely be in "win now" mode and I've been amazed at their lack of a big move the past few years.

 

The Phillies are another possibility as, no offense to Philly fans, it seems like that's where players go to die. Not "die" as in have their career end or go in the crapper. It is a place where players to go not make the playoffs. With Howard, Utley, Burrell, Myers and Hamels they should have a nice nucleus. Adding Soriano could possibly put them over the top.

[Fried Neckbones]

Hmmm. Interesting. I definitely see Lee going there. I have a hard time imagining Soriano helping them win, but at the same time he's Beltran like in his multitaskability (I made that word up!).

 

I'm not quite sure where I can see Soriano ending up. I would be surprised and disappointed if the Angels didn't go after him. They have Vlad who is one of the best hitters over the past 15 years, and a good pitching staff. They should definitely be in "win now" mode and I've been amazed at their lack of a big move the past few years.

 

The Phillies are another possibility as, no offense to Philly fans, it seems like that's where players go to die. Not "die" as in have their career end or go in the crapper. It is a place where players to go not make the playoffs. With Howard, Utley, Burrell, Myers and Hamels they should have a nice nucleus. Adding Soriano could possibly put them over the top.

 

It's like you're some sort of savant, example. From SI.com:

 

Angels owner Arte Moreno promised a "major'' move this winter, and sources indicate the Halos are ready to dive into the Soriano sweepstakes with a bold five-year offer. The Angels are a great organization but occasionally have had trouble selling stars on coming there, and it could happen again since there are some folks who believe Soriano would not only prefer the National League but also the East Coast.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/11/16/thursday.scoop/index.html

 

Also includes a nice tidbit about how the Sox may make a serious push to trade Manny after Lee and Soriano sign.

 

Hmmm...

[example1]

Manny on the market after they sign would certainly lead to a better return for the Sox. I just can't imagine who they could get to replace that offense. If they get Drew and trade Manny does Drew bat 3rd with Ortiz 4th, or vice versa? I don't see that as being a very good scenario. I would think it would take Drew PLUS another drew-like player to even come close to reproducing Manny's offense.

 

As for the savantistry, I don't make claims about anything that isn't pretty apparent. The Angels would have to be one of the interested teams.

[jacksonianmarch]

for once, ESPN is right. If Manny is dealt, Ortiz will take Epstein hostage and be placed on round the clock suicide watch. Manny is quietly the monster who helped create the monster known as Big Papi.

[BSN07]

100% agree

[mar_022]

i still think the sox could pull off a three way deal with manny for andruw jones and still receive someone else, especially if the Angels miss out on Lee and Soriano (the latter more likely). They'll be desperate for a big bat, and we could send manny there for Santana and prospects, send the prospects to the braves for Jones. Then we could sign drew and the contracts of Drew plus Jones wouldnt be much higher than Manny's (i'd imagine, i dont know the numbers). Papi Jones Drew would be ok with me for 3,4,5, plus it would allow Coco to play Left, a position hes much more comfortable in. AND, Rotation:

 

Schilling

Beckett

Matsuzaka

Papelbon

Santana

 

Wake out of pen/Occasional 6th starter (Gammons said sox may go with 6 man rotation sometimes to allow Matsuzaka to get acclimated with pitching more than once a week)

[elsrbueno]

The Sox have to be really careful trading Manny Ramirez for obvious reasons.

#1. it would suck to have to FACE him

#2 he's hard to replace

#3 his departure would impact the lineup significantly.

 

In my mind if you trade Manny Ramirez BEFORE any free agents are signed you can get some value because teams feel like they're striking early and getting a good deal based on what they THINK the market is for guys like Soriano and Lee. If you trade him afterward, the price will be higher (in theory) because all the teams that lost out on adding the big bat will then be left with no options. However, if you wait and trade him after all the big names are signed, you have to worry about his replacement.

 

If it's me, and I'm trading Manny Ramirez, I need some serious value in return. Yes, he's a headache, but he's one of the most productive hitters EVER. Trading him to Anaheim is nice in theory,and I'm a HUGE Cabrera fan, but who protects Ortiz? The last thing we need is this guy taking MORE intentional walks.

 

If it's me I try to corner the market on power hitters by adding one early. Soriano isn't the Red Sox' type, but Drew and Carlos Lee are more like it. If you sign, say JD Drew, losing Manny has less of an impact because you've got another power bat. If the rumors are true, the Sox are offering 2 years, $30 million.

 

If it's my choice I push hard to trade Manny and receive Miguel Tejada in return. I know the Orioles would hate to see him on another team within the division, but he's an excellent offensive player (could hit in between Ortiz and Drew) and a good defensive player. Plus, he fits a NEED (shortstop). Michael Young would be a distant second choice. Also, losing Manny would hurt Ortiz but replacing him with Tejada (a fellow Dominican and a FRIEND OF DAVID's) would lessen the blow.

 

I haven't worked out the particulars in my head yet, but a deal (maybe 3-way) where we get Tejada + for Manny and cash makes a lot of sense to me.

[castigs850]

i still think the sox could pull off a three way deal with manny for andruw jones and still receive someone else, especially if the Angels miss out on Lee and Soriano (the latter more likely). They'll be desperate for a big bat, and we could send manny there for Santana and prospects, send the prospects to the braves for Jones. Then we could sign drew and the contracts of Drew plus Jones wouldnt be much higher than Manny's (i'd imagine, i dont know the numbers). Papi Jones Drew would be ok with me for 3,4,5, plus it would allow Coco to play Left, a position hes much more comfortable in. AND, Rotation:

 

Schilling

Beckett

Matsuzaka

Papelbon

Santana

 

Wake out of pen/Occasional 6th starter (Gammons said sox may go with 6 man rotation sometimes to allow Matsuzaka to get acclimated with pitching more than once a week)

 

that sounds good to me but realistically how many prospects do you think you can get plus santana for just manny, and then after that how many realistacally do you think it would take to get jones

[Bosoxwest]

I'm beginning to think more and more that trading Manny is predicated on signing Drew. Drew, if he actually stays on the field, would provide Papi some protection. He is easily capable of putting up a .900-1.000 OPS. I'm not really very pro-Drew, but I suspect this is the thinking.

[Cocos Disciples]

I doubt it. Drew would be a perfect #5 hitter, and not that great of a #4. If we were dealing Manny I'd pay the extra 2-3 mil per year to get a stud like Carlos Lee or maybe Sori.

[redsoxrules]

ok why does almost everyone want manny gone? do you guys realize the offense will go down quite a bit if we get rid of him , and it dosent matter who replaces him . we have the the BEST 3,4 combo in the league. why would you want to screw that up ? KEEP MANNY HERE

[Cocos Disciples]

Ideally just keep him. And they will, this discussion happens every year sometimes twice. But if we were to deal him, deal him to the Mets for Heilman and Milledge and some cash, then sign someone like Lee.

[mar_022]

I doubt it. Drew would be a perfect #5 hitter' date=' and not that great of a #4. If we were dealing Manny I'd pay the extra 2-3 mil per year to get a stud like Carlos Lee or maybe Sori.[/quote']

 

Plus drew is lefty...teams would bring in their specialist for Papi and Drew

[jacksonianmarch]

they are saying 2yrs 30mil for Drew. That is a lot of cash for an injury prone guy.

[Beckett95]

atleast its only 2 years

 

id like to see 3 yrs 35 million

[Gom]

ok why does almost everyone want manny gone? do you guys realize the offense will go down quite a bit if we get rid of him ' date=' and it dosent matter who replaces him . we have the the BEST 3,4 combo in the league. why would you want to screw that up ? KEEP MANNY HERE[/quote']

 

Please trade Manny if you get Drew. Get rid of his contract, get rid of his attitude, he is nothing but a headache. I'm tired of "Manny being Manny". Get rid of him.

 

I may be biased, though. I am a Yankee fan. :thumbsup:

[Beckett95]

1. Lugo--SS

2. Youk--1B

3. Ortiz--DH

4. Manny--LF

5. Drew--CF

6. Willy Mo--RF

7. Lowell--3B

8. Varitek--C

9. Pedroia--2B

 

Outfield defense is below average, but the lineup is stacked

 

trade Crisp to SD for Linebrink??

[TheKilo]

atleast its only 2 years

 

id like to see 3 yrs 35 million

 

This doesn't make much sense...if "it's only two years", then why do you want three?

[Beckett95]

i dont wont to sign him for anything more than 4 years. He's 31 and has some injury problems. 2-3 years is what id look for. If they went 3 years they probably wouldnt have to pay him 15 a year, like what they are talking about for 2

[TheKilo]

i dont wont to sign him for anything more than 4 years. He's 31 and has some injury problems. 2-3 years is what id look for. If they went 3 years they probably wouldnt have to pay him 15 a yaer though like they would for 2

 

 

 

$4 million is not that big of a difference?

[jacksonianmarch]

$4 million is not that big of a difference?

 

Looks like the sox fans have adapted the mindset of the ownership. JD Drew at 15 mil a yr is a flat out mistake.

[redsoxrules]

Please trade Manny if you get Drew. Get rid of his contract, get rid of his attitude, he is nothing but a headache. I'm tired of "Manny being Manny". Get rid of him.

 

I may be biased, though. I am a Yankee fan. :thumbsup:

 

nothing but a headache? yeah im getting tired of seing his offensive production get rid of his contract >? for what paying drew 15 mil a year wich is only 3 mil less a year than manny yeah smart move

[a700hitter]

nothing but a headache? yeah im getting tired of seing his offensive production get rid of his contract >? for what paying drew 15 mil a year wich is only 3 mil less a year than manny yeah smart move

Of course Yankee fans are sick of him. They have been saying novenas for the past 3 off-seasons that he gets traded.