Official 07 offseason thread

[CrespoBlows]

George Kottaras

.316 OBP, .408 SLG, .724 OPS, .241 BA, 9 HR, 39 RBI

 

Those first three numbers are respectable, looks like he can hit pretty okay. Any info if he'll be at Red Sox spring training?

 

Those are very below average for a "prospect" in AAA ball.

[jacksonianmarch]

Those numbers arent very good for AAA for an offense first player.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wake won 17 games this yr and has a renewable 4 mil option. Even though Wake is showing signs of breaking down, he still has the knuckler which will keep him as a streaky, off and on kind of pitcher capable of giving innings. Having him as your 5 is certainly not a detriment.To be honest with you, he is a safer bet than Schilling. And if you think he will continue to be this crafty, dominating pitcher as his mph drops, take a look over to NYC for an example of THAT. Mussina's stuff had declined since 03, but he adjusted from 04-06 putting up pretty good numbers and dazzling postseason numbers. But this yr, his fastball finally dipped to sitting around 86-87 and he couldnt get anybody out. His location didnt change. His curve and changeup were still good. But there is only so much you can take off your offspeed stuff before it loses its effectiveness. And if you dont slow down your offspeed stuff, then curve, change and fastball will all be the same speeds.

 

I am telling you, Wake has a pitch that is a great equalizer that he wont lose. Schill on the other hand, is ready to fall off the slope. You just have to wonder if he'll do it next yr or the yr after. But its coming.

[riverside sluggers]

If Schilling is resigned, it will be for only one year

 

Anyone hear about the newest trade rumor from Sean MacAdams (Providence Journal)?

 

Boston- Johan Santana

Minnesota- Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Coco Crisp

[CrespoBlows]

2008 Red Sox

 

C: Varitek, $10,000,000

1B: Ortiz, $12,500,000

2B: Pedroia, $400,000

SS: Lugo, $8,000,000

3B: Rodriguez, $31,000,000

LF: Ramirez, $20,000,000

CF: Ellsbury, $400,000

RF: Drew, $14,000,000

DH: Bonds, $8,000,000

 

C: Cash, $400,000

1B: Mientkiewicz, $2,000,000

INF: Cora, $2,000,000

INF: Moss, $400,000

OF: Stewart, $4,000,000

 

Lineup

 

1. Ellsbury, CF

2. Pedroia, 2B

3. Bonds, DH

4. Rodriguez, 3B

5. Ortiz, 1B

6. Ramirez, LF

7. Drew, RF

8. Varitek, C

9. Lugo, SS

 

Pitching Staff

 

SP: Beckett, $10,000,000

SP: Haren, $4,000,000

SP: Matsuzaka, $8,000,000

SP: Buchholz, $400,000

SP: Lester, $400,000

SP: Wakefield, $4,000,000

 

 

CL: Papelbon, $400,000

SU: Okajima, $1,000,000

MR: Delcarmen, $400,000

MR: Hansen, $400,000

MR: Julio, $1,000,000

MR: Timlin, $2,000,000

MR: Mahay, $2,000,000

MR: Corey, $400,000

MR: Snyder, $400,000

 

Salaries - $147,900,000 ($155,000,000)

 

Trades:

 

Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson for Dan Haren

[jacksonianmarch]

If Schilling is resigned, it will be for only one year

 

Anyone hear about the newest trade rumor from Sean MacAdams (Providence Journal)?

 

Boston- Johan Santana

Minnesota- Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Coco Crisp

 

I think we can trump that if we wanted to.

[jacksonianmarch]

2008 Red Sox

 

C: Varitek, $10,000,000

1B: Ortiz, $12,500,000

2B: Pedroia, $400,000

SS: Lugo, $8,000,000

3B: Rodriguez, $31,000,000

LF: Ramirez, $20,000,000

CF: Ellsbury, $400,000

RF: Drew, $14,000,000

DH: Bonds, $8,000,000

 

C: Cash, $400,000

1B: Mientkiewicz, $2,000,000

INF: Cora, $2,000,000

INF: Moss, $400,000

OF: Stewart, $4,000,000

 

Lineup

 

1. Ellsbury, CF

2. Pedroia, 2B

3. Bonds, DH

4. Rodriguez, 3B

5. Ortiz, 1B

6. Ramirez, LF

7. Drew, RF

8. Varitek, C

9. Lugo, SS

 

Pitching Staff

 

SP: Beckett, $10,000,000

SP: Haren, $4,000,000

SP: Matsuzaka, $8,000,000

SP: Buchholz, $400,000

SP: Lester, $400,000

SP: Wakefield, $4,000,000

 

 

CL: Papelbon, $400,000

SU: Okajima, $1,000,000

MR: Delcarmen, $400,000

MR: Hansen, $400,000

MR: Julio, $1,000,000

MR: Timlin, $2,000,000

MR: Mahay, $2,000,000

MR: Corey, $400,000

MR: Snyder, $400,000

 

Salaries - $147,900,000 ($155,000,000)

 

Trades:

 

Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson for Dan Haren

 

Haren is under contract for a few more yrs. He has a contract that takes him through 09 with a team option of 6.7mil for '10. The A's wont move him unless they are absolutely and totally blown away.

[CrespoBlows]

I think we can trump that if we wanted to.

 

Chamberlain, Kennedy, and Cabrera?

 

Too much, IMO. Even the Red Sox offer is bit excessive.

[CrespoBlows]

Haren is under contract for a few more yrs. He has a contract that takes him through 09 with a team option of 6.7mil for '10. The A's wont move him unless they are absolutely and totally blown away.

 

I read he was a free agent after the 2009 season.

 

Little bit of a lowball, but Youkilis would become the A's 1B, which they need. Crisp would be a pretty good fit in CF (move Swisher to LF.) Lowrie can probably push Crosby out of the way, and Masterson (or Bowden) would be a decent #3 starter.

 

Youkilis and Crisp both WARP'd around 8, which would represent upgrades over in Oakland.

[ORS]

I don't think the A's need a 1B. Barton was up at the end of the year and he performed. He'll start next year.

[CrespoBlows]

I don't think the A's need a 1B. Barton was up at the end of the year and he performed. He'll start next year.

 

Bah. I forgot about that.

 

Scratch that deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

also, saying Masterson will be a starter is a stretch as well. He has setup man written all over him.

[CrespoBlows]

I don't think the A's need a 1B. Barton was up at the end of the year and he performed. He'll start next year.

 

How about for Ben Sheets?

 

Crisp can slide into CF, Youkilis can go to 3B (Braun to LF), and the Brewers could add another quality arm in Masterson.

[inkman]

Am I the only one who wouldn't mind seeing basically the same team back?

 

1) Ask Crisp if he wants to be 4th outfielder, if not (which I'm guessing) trade him for whatever you can get. All this talk about packaging him for a starter is close to obsurd.

2) Give Shill a one year deal and pick up Wake's option. You can never have enough pitching.

3) Re-sign Lowell to a 3 year deal, whatever the market dictates.

[ORS]

How about for Ben Sheets?

 

Crisp can slide into CF, Youkilis can go to 3B (Braun to LF), and the Brewers could add another quality arm in Masterson.

Anything is possible. They could then use Hall for what he really is, a super-utility guy that can play just about anywhere.

 

I think Gwynn Jr can bring what Crisp does for less money though.

[Soxfan1]

nvm gotta fix it up

[TheKilo]

Offer Lowell 3 year, $41 mil. Make this signing a priority and do all you can to get him to accept. If he accepts cool, if not then wish him goodbye.

 

If he walks pick up Adam Dunn to play first and move Youk to third.

 

Trade Julio Lugo, and cash to the Cubs for Jason Marquis.

 

Offer Schilling 1 year $10 mil with an incentive saying he can get 2 mil in incentives if he starts 12 games or gets 8 wins. Whichever comes first. If not, bye.

 

Sign Troy Percival.

Sign Octavio Dotel/Scott Linebring (cheaper)

resign Mike Timlin

resign eric hinske

 

Defense:

C Jason Varitek

1B Youk/Adam Dunn

2B Dustin Pedroia

3B Mike Lowell/Youk

SS Jed Lowrie

LF Manny Ramirez

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

RF JD Drew

DH David Ortiz

 

Bench:

C George Kottaras

IF/OF Eric Hinske

SS/2B Alex Cora

LF Reed Johnson

CF Brandon Moss

 

Rotation:

1. Josh Beckett

2. DiceK

3. Curt Schilling

4. Jon Lester

5. Tim Wakefield

 

If Schill doesn't sign then move everyone up a spot and throw Jason Marquis there

 

Bullpen:

CL Jon Papelbon

SU Dotel/Linebrink

SR Kyle Snyder

SR Troy Percival

MR Mike Timlin

MR Manny Delcarmen

LR Jason Marquis/Tavarez

 

Is this serious? Where's Okajima?

[das11209]

Offer Lowell 3 year, $41 mil. Make this signing a priority and do all you can to get him to accept. If he accepts cool, if not then wish him goodbye.

 

If he walks pick up Adam Dunn to play first and move Youk to third.

 

Trade Julio Lugo, and cash to the Cubs for Jason Marquis.

 

Offer Schilling 1 year $10 mil with an incentive saying he can get 2 mil in incentives if he starts 12 games or gets 8 wins. Whichever comes first. If not, bye.

 

Sign Troy Percival.

Sign Octavio Dotel/Scott Linebring (cheaper)

resign Mike Timlin

resign eric hinske

 

Defense:

C Jason Varitek

1B Youk/Adam Dunn

2B Dustin Pedroia

3B Mike Lowell/Youk

SS Jed Lowrie

LF Manny Ramirez

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

RF JD Drew

DH David Ortiz

 

Bench:

C George Kottaras

IF/OF Eric Hinske

SS/2B Alex Cora

LF Reed Johnson

CF Brandon Moss

 

Rotation:

1. Josh Beckett

2. DiceK

3. Curt Schilling

4. Jon Lester

5. Tim Wakefield

 

If Schill doesn't sign then move everyone up a spot and throw Jason Marquis there

 

Bullpen:

CL Jon Papelbon

SU Dotel/Linebrink

SR Kyle Snyder

SR Troy Percival

MR Mike Timlin

MR Manny Delcarmen

LR Jason Marquis/Tavarez

 

I am sorry - but I could only read till 'resign Eric Hinske'.

[Soxfan1]

Yeah, I made that for 5 minutes for a quick post on another baseball site. Should have spent more time on it.

[ORS]

Is this serious? Where's Okajima?

Pawtuckett, along with another one of those players because there are 26 there.

[riverside sluggers]

Give Jed Lowrie the starting position before he hasnt even sniffed the majors yet?

[TedWilliams101]

2008 Red Sox

 

C: Varitek, $10,000,000

1B: Ortiz, $12,500,000

2B: Pedroia, $400,000

SS: Lugo, $8,000,000

3B: Rodriguez, $31,000,000

LF: Ramirez, $20,000,000

CF: Ellsbury, $400,000

RF: Drew, $14,000,000

DH: Bonds, $8,000,000

 

C: Cash, $400,000

1B: Mientkiewicz, $2,000,000

INF: Cora, $2,000,000

INF: Moss, $400,000

OF: Stewart, $4,000,000

 

Lineup

 

1. Ellsbury, CF

2. Pedroia, 2B

3. Bonds, DH

4. Rodriguez, 3B

5. Ortiz, 1B

6. Ramirez, LF

7. Drew, RF

8. Varitek, C

9. Lugo, SS

 

Pitching Staff

 

SP: Beckett, $10,000,000

SP: Haren, $4,000,000

SP: Matsuzaka, $8,000,000

SP: Buchholz, $400,000

SP: Lester, $400,000

SP: Wakefield, $4,000,000

 

 

CL: Papelbon, $400,000

SU: Okajima, $1,000,000

MR: Delcarmen, $400,000

MR: Hansen, $400,000

MR: Julio, $1,000,000

MR: Timlin, $2,000,000

MR: Mahay, $2,000,000

MR: Corey, $400,000

MR: Snyder, $400,000

 

Salaries - $147,900,000 ($155,000,000)

 

Trades:

 

Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson for Dan Haren

 

Absolutely, positively, HELL NO.

 

Papi at first? f*** off, keep him as the DH.

 

Arod at 3rd? f*** off, resign Lowell. We don't need a $30 million cancer.

 

Bonds DH, f*** off. I hate bonds, he is way too old, and way to selfish. Can you imagine both Bonds and Arod on this team? Any magic or good chemistry this team has would be gone by spring training.

 

Haren? As many have said he is not available.

[redsoxrules]

Absolutely, positively, HELL NO.

 

Papi at first? f*** off, keep him as the DH.

 

Arod at 3rd? f*** off, resign Lowell. We don't need a $30 million cancer.

 

Bonds DH, f*** off. I hate bonds, he is way too old, and way to selfish. Can you imagine both Bonds and Arod on this team? Any magic or good chemistry this team has would be gone by spring training.

 

Haren? As many have said he is not available.

 

we would win the WS again with that roster

[riverside sluggers]

Catcher- Jason Varitek

Backup-- Kevin Cash if Wakefield comes back, which is very likely in the cards

 

1st Base- Kevin Youkilis

Backup-- Chris Carter (If Sox want to go veteran route, pick up Sean Casey)

 

Designated Hitter- David Ortiz

 

2nd Base- Dustin Pedroia

 

Shortstop- Julio Lugo

 

3rd Base- Mike Lowell (Resign to 3 year deal worth $36-42 million, possibly add option for 4th year to sweeten the deal)

Utility Infielder-- Alex Cora

 

Left Field- Manny Ramirez

 

Center Field- Jacoby Ellsbury

 

Right Field- J.D. Drew

Backup-- Bobby Kielty

 

Lineup:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF

Dustin Pedroia 2B

David Ortiz DH

Manny Ramirez LF

Mike Lowell 3B

J.D. Drew RF

Jason Varitek C

Kevin Youkilis 1B (Youk would provide a solid presence in the 8 hole as Bill Mueller did in his time)

Julio Lugo SS

 

Starting Rotation:

Josh Beckett

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Curt Schilling (Resign to 1 year deal with incentives that could reach $10-13 million. Buchholz down in Pawtucket for more grooming and gives good insurance in case a Sox starter goes down)

Jon Lester

Tim Wakefield

 

Bullpen:

Long Innings- Kyle Snyder

Lefty Specialist- Try out Craig Breslow or sign Ron Mahay to a 2 year deal

Middle Relief- Bryan Corey

Craig Hansen

Set Up- Manny Delcarmen

Hideki Okajima

Closer- Jonathan Papelbon

[das11209]

This might sound crazy - but has anyone considered Matt Clement in a 'try and buy' one year ala Kevin Milwood? Just wondering - he should be ready barring any more injuries.

 

Edit - I read that post and it sounds weirder than 'bring back Hinske'.

[redsoxrules]

This might sound crazy - but has anyone considered Matt Clement in a 'try and buy' one year ala Kevin Milwood? Just wondering - he should be ready barring any more injuries.

 

Edit - I read that post and it sounds weirder than 'bring back Hinske'.

 

clement? f*** no

[mar_022]

How about for Ben Sheets?

 

Crisp can slide into CF, Youkilis can go to 3B (Braun to LF), and the Brewers could add another quality arm in Masterson.

 

nah i dont like it. i live in milwaukee, and sheets isnt as desirable as many think he is. i could be wrong on this, but i believe many of his peripherals went down, as well as strikeouts (i know this for sure). Plus, he would have a first AL east shellfest a la Josh Beckett because he is basically a 2 pitch pitcher, and with stuff that isnt as good as becketts (not even close with the fastball). o and not to mention the annual 5 trips to the DL...sorry if i sound bitter, sheets kind of screwed the crew this year

 

edit: one more thing, only signed for one more year, as is santana i guess

[Soxfan1]

I think Hinske should be bought back for his ability to play so many positions. I haven't watched as many games this year, why everyone hate him?

[redsoxrules]

I think Hinske should be bought back for his ability to play so many positions. I haven't watched as many games this year' date=' why everyone hate him?[/quote']

 

I actually like hinske , I still remember that game VS the tigers were made that amazing catch and hit the HR later on to win that game for us . plus he loves boston , we could get him for a cheap price

[TedWilliams101]

we would win the WS again with that roster

 

We won the WS without Bonds and Arod. We don't need them to win a championship.

 

I don't like Arod personally, he is a great player, but I don't want $30 million locked up in him. And I think Lowell is the better fit for this team. He has shown us that he can hit and he is still gold glove defense.

 

And as to Bonds, why the hell would you have Ortiz at first? He is a DH, leave that alone. Youk is a gold glove first baseman and is a good hitter. He works the count and gets on base. And he had an amazing October. Why "fix" it if it ain't broken?...