How will Red Sox finish the offseason?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Well golly-gee shuckers.. I guess I am lucky I don't count on obtaining "friendships" and approval on an anonymous message board.. Obviously you do you f***ing hump.

 

What a cheap retort... 'I don't need friends!!'. Friends isn't the object here, f***o. Its about being knowledgable.

 

 

If you know full well that you sound like a retard anyway... I'm sure there are better ways to make use of your time, buddy.

 

 

Way to ignore the rest of my post where I blew you out of the water.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Is it too early for either of these two to be drunk?

 

I'm actually having a fine day. I might get drunk later though.

[Mr Crunchy]

Anyway JimEd, welcome aboard...

I am Sean...

Jake,i dont post here too much cause I get booted at work quite a bit but again,

I am Sean and its good to know you.

i dont mind abrasiveness as long as you know the game a little bit.

Im not a referee and quite frankly the 2 of you have amused me all day so i congratulate you both for making my miserable job a bit more palatable this afternoon.

JimEd try and play nice from time to time and you will get along fine, the Jake has been here for a while now and seems to have a place amongst us heathens...

I have been called a thief a ********** and a liar on this board within the same hour but Ive managed to maintain a place here.

I do appreciate good back and forth as well as scathing rebuttal so hang in there

[Dipre]

The back and forth was quite amusing.

 

But i feel kinda down no one noticed my extremely witty comment about his lack of sexual activity.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Anyway JimEd, welcome aboard...

I am Sean...

Jake,i dont post here too much cause I get booted at work quite a bit but again,

I am Sean and its good to know you.

i dont mind abrasiveness as long as you know the game a little bit.

Im not a referee and quite frankly the 2 of you have amused me all day so i congratulate you both for making my miserable job a bit more palatable this afternoon.

JimEd try and play nice from time to time and you will get along fine, the Jake has been here for a while now and seems to have a place amongst us heathens...

I have been called a thief a ********** and a liar on this board within the same hour but Ive managed to maintain a place here.

I do appreciate good back and forth as well as scathing rebuttal so hang in there

 

LOL glad I could entertain you.

 

 

Unfortunately I think I'm done with this guy. He might be on the verge of a ban, I don't want to go down with him.

 

 

The back and forth was quite amusing.

 

But i feel kinda down no one noticed my extremely witty comment about his lack of sexual activity.

 

Haha that wasn't bad at all.

[riverside sluggers]

http://soxprospects.blogspot.com/

 

The Sox have signed to minor league deals, pitcher Fernando Cabrera and infielder Angel Sanchez.

[Dojji]

Cabrera = Aardsma redux. He'll get his strikeouts and a lot of them but he doesn't know where the ball is going.

 

Perez is your classic Shortstop McNoodlebat.

[BoSox21]

There's no room for Cabrera anyway unless a trade is brewing

[Dojji]

There's no room for Cabrera even if a trade is brewing. He's AAA fodder.

[BSN07]

7:38pm: The AP has the details: Kotsay makes a base salary of $1.5MM, but he gets $200K if he makes 300 plate appearances and an additional $200K for every 50 times up after that, up to 500 plate appearances. He could make up to $1MM on top of his base salary.

 

3:59pm: According to Art Martone of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox announced the Mark Kotsay signing today. He gets a one-year deal. The Sox also designated reliever David Aardsma for assignment

[italstallianion]

Now we just need to solve our catching problem and we'll be in business. At least we've done a good job with the back end of the rotation and the bullpen as a whole, now let's zero in on our catching quandary.

[a700hitter]

I really don't see the need for Kotsay after signing Baldelli. If Baldelli's mystery illness acts up, the Sox could reach into the minors for Van Every, Carter, and Bailey.

[a700hitter]

One month before pitcher and backup catchers and minor league catchers report.

[italstallianion]

I really don't see the need for Kotsay after signing Baldelli. If Baldelli's mystery illness acts up' date=' the Sox could reach into the minors for Van Every, Carter, and Bailey.[/quote']

 

 

I totally agree. Kotsay was the only signing that I wasn't a particular fan of, and I think some of the signing had to do with not wanting to lose Luis Sumoza for absolutely nothing. With that said, although I'm not particularly excited about the Kotsay signing or that we had to lose a player in order to retain him, I had always wanted to get rid of Aardsma, so I'm happy that it at least brought that.

 

I would probably rather have the minor depth than Kotsay, but again it's relatively for peanuts as the base salary is low and I doubt he gets much of a raise via the likely amount of plate appearances anyway.

[JimEdHOF2009]

I really don't see the need for Kotsay after signing Baldelli. If Baldelli's mystery illness acts up' date=' the Sox could reach into the minors for Van Every, Carter, and Bailey.[/quote']

 

 

Speaking of Baldelli... A friend of mine who had lime disease looked into Baldelli's symptoms and many of the symptoms were similar... the muscle fatigue being the primary. My buddy is the son of a former major leaguer and was headed towards being drafted when he was hit with this affliction. He contacted a member of Baldelli's family and sent over some info.. This was acouple of months ago and he heard back from the Baldelli's friend who said Rocco was considering all treatments. My friend got rid of the disease within 2 years with no lingering affects with proper dieting and some IV treatments.

 

I am not saying they are the same afflictions, but there is a decent chance Baldelli can fully recover. What a coup it would be for the Sox if he could regain his health and realize at least some of his enormous potential.

[riverside sluggers]

Red Sox signed RHP Fernando Cabrera, C Carlos Maldonado, INF Angel Chavez, INF Ivan Ochoa and OF Chip Ambres to minor league contracts and invited him to spring training.

Cabrera is still far too wild, but he has fanned 185 batters in 168 2/3 innings as a major leaguer. His upside makes him a very nice pitcher to have stashed away in Triple-A. Chavez and Ochoa will join Nick Green as veteran infield insurance at Pawtucket. Ambres is joining the Boston organization for a second time. He'll be an option as an outfield reserve if J.D. Drew or Rocco Baldelli lands on the DL.

 

EDIT: Chip Ambres was the player traded to KC for Tony Graffanino back in 2005

 

I didnt finish my post last night, ready to crash on my bed at that point

[schillingouttheks]

the what?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think a pertinent question for sox fans is whether you are content with this offseason. Especially since the prices are down and the players on the market are the best you are gonna see in about a decade.

[Keeper]

I'm getting a slightly obnoxious gloating feeling from this question...

 

I'd be content. This is a team that was 1 game away from getting to the World Series. It really only needed some minor tweaking whereas the Yankees needed a complete overhaul. There are some holes in the squad, to be sure, but make no mistake about it: the 2009 Red Sox will give other teams a run for their money. The core of this team has shown that it has resiliency in spades. Can the same be said of your beloved Yankees?

[example1]

I think a pertinent question for sox fans is whether you are content with this offseason. Especially since the prices are down and the players on the market are the best you are gonna see in about a decade.

 

Why isn't the pertinent question for sox fans whether they are content with this team? Should fans be disappointed that the Sox didn't put Dunn on this team as a 1B who doesn't play 1B? Not sign K-Rod when they have a fine bullpen?

 

I'm pretty damn content with this ballclub. They have a young, dynamic team and a great farm system with players who can produce at the MLB level over the next few years, including power arms like Buchholz and Bowden, and arguibly the best 1B--possibly the best batter--in the minors, in Lars Anderson. I'm not sure if they'll win this year, but they have won recently and there's reason to believe they can win again in the next few years. What's not to be happy about? :dunno:

[italstallianion]

Yeah, even if the Sox don't win the title every year, they have what it takes to compete year in and year out for a long time. Barring catastrophic injuries though...

[TheKilo]

I think a pertinent question for sox fans is whether you are content with this offseason. Especially since the prices are down and the players on the market are the best you are gonna see in about a decade.

 

Well, if the economic situation continues on the path it is currently on, you will see a lot of quality players hit FA that could be available for a discounted rate (at least compared to other offseasons), including:

 

Josh Beckett

Brandon Webb

Erik Bedard

Rich Harden

John Lackey

Cliff Lee

Jason Bay

Carl Crawford

Matt Holliday

 

And there's no telling who could be available via trade.

 

The Sox are going to contend this season and put themselves in good shape for the next few years with these low-commitment deals...if one of Smoltz, Penny, Baldelli, or Saito pan out it makes the investment in all of them worth it.

 

Not getting Teixeira sucked, but it wasn't going to happen anyways and I can't find much fault in the FO's actions with any other player.

[BoSox21]

The Sox are going to contend this season and put themselves in good shape for the next few years with these low-commitment deals...if one of Smoltz, Penny, Baldelli, or Saito pan out it makes the investment in all of them worth it.

 

Not getting Teixeira sucked, but it wasn't going to happen anyways and I can't find much fault in the FO's actions with any other player.

 

You've really changed your tune from a month ago

[Dojji]

Not to mention, again, with the economic downturn a lot of noncontending teams will be looking to shed salary so if we do have a hole in catcher for instance we might be able to pick a guy up.

 

Say Johjima has the rebound year I predicted he would and the Mariners decide they're a few years out and want to put Clement behind the dish to see if he can develop into a catcher. If our options are unsatisfactory I'm sure the Mariners, who love power relievers, would be happy to take Dan Bard off our hands for an aging catcher who probably will be gone or ineffective by the time they're relevant again -- but might turn in a couple championship caliber years for us. Or even better, let's say the Guardians decide to run with Shoppach and VMart is on the block for the right price. Considering the state of the Guardians pen, Bard is also a good piece for them.

[Dojji]

You've really changed your tune from a month ago

 

It's what one might charitably call the ARod Effect. We didn't get him therefore we never really wanted him, and any policy that allows success despite not getting the guy we didn't want anyway is thus praised as a semantic ally.

[TheKilo]

You've really changed your tune from a month ago

 

How exactly has my tone changed? I've said all along that missing Teixeira was a failure on the part of the FO (it was, he was their #1 target and they failed to land him - that is a failure) but they still had time to improve the team this offseason in January and February.

 

The signings of Smoltz, Saito, Penny, and Baldelli individually are not that impressive, but as a collective whole demonstrate the strategy that the FO is incorporating. These moves, in this economic climate, have the potential to bring very high rewards (especially in the cases of Baldelli and Saito) for low risk.

 

Their dealings with Teixeira were pitiful (namely the JWH email sent out after the meeting with Texas) and even with these financially shrewd business moves they were still willing to commit around $180 million guaranteed for Teixeira - which tells me that these moves weren't their strategy all along.

 

When you include the signings of Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis to very team-friendly extensions, I find it difficult to knock the FO for their interactions with any player named Mark Teixeira.

 

In that aspect, I don't see how my tone has changed at all.

[TheKilo]

It's what one might charitably call the ARod Effect. We didn't get him therefore we never really wanted him' date=' and any policy that allows success despite not getting the guy we didn't want anyway is thus praised as a semantic ally.[/quote']

 

Oh no I really wanted Teixeira on this team, and I still think those who don't need to have their heads examined because he's exactly the type of player you spend big FA money on.

 

I can give credit where credit is due - their offseason post-Tex has been fantastic. Still doesn't mean they didn't botch the situation with Teixeira.

[example1]

How exactly has my tone changed? I've said all along that missing Teixeira was a failure on the part of the FO (it was, he was their #1 target and they failed to land him - that is a failure) but they still had time to improve the team this offseason in January and February.

 

The signings of Smoltz, Saito, Penny, and Baldelli individually are not that impressive, but as a collective whole demonstrate the strategy that the FO is incorporating. These moves, in this economic climate, have the potential to bring very high rewards (especially in the cases of Baldelli and Saito) for low risk.

 

Their dealings with Teixeira were pitiful (namely the JWH email sent out after the meeting with Texas) and even with these financially shrewd business moves they were still willing to commit around $180 million guaranteed for Teixeira - which tells me that these moves weren't their strategy all along.

 

When you include the signings of Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis to very team-friendly extensions, I find it difficult to knock the FO for their interactions with any player named Mark Teixeira.

 

In that aspect, I don't see how my tone has changed at all.

 

I feel like your tone has changed, but what you're saying hasn't. You wanted a Plan B, they seemed to have one and have executed it, and here we are. Also, resigning Youk and Pedroia assured this team of continued competitiveness for the next few years.

 

Given the way the market has turned the Yankees may have paid close to twice Burnett's value, and maybe 5m too much for Sabathia (20%). Those certainly weren't 'market prices'.

[BoSox21]

You just generally seem more optimistic about this season as opposed to the few days where every one of your posts was "3rd place"

[soxfan17881]

As of right now, it's 12 days, 18 hours, and about 18 minutes until pitchers and catchers report.

 

Is anyone else stoked?:wetodd: