Official 2009-2010 Hot Stove season thread

[Dipre]

For Pap it was a bad year.

 

Objectively, based on a reasonable view of what you'd expect from the closer spot, it was a fine year.

 

This makes no sense.

 

If objectively it was a good year, then it was a good year period.

[Dojji]

This makes no sense.

 

If objectively it was a good year, then it was a good year period.

 

I'm trying to point out how much Papelbon's insane performances in 2006 and 2007 spoiled us.

 

Seriously, if anyone has a bad word to say about Papelbon's performance this year I don't know what to say.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd be on the sign Holliday/Bay and Lackey bandwagon.

 

*Hops on* Woohoo!

 

And I was critical of Papelbon at times during the year, but if a 1.85 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 is a bad year, then...you're wrong because it's not a bad year.

[Cocos Disciples]

in comparison to others. killing the fans with loading the bases all the time. he was down on 1-2-3 innings costing him time and needing more off days. he has turned into a FB pitcher when he needs to bring back the splitter.

 

On costing games and needing more off days: He pitched in 66 games, second highest in his career to 67 in 2008. So, no.

[Dojji]

I'd be on the sign Holliday/Bay and Lackey bandwagon.

 

I could definitely live with that. Bay or Holliday and a top of the rotation pitcher would set us up amazingly well, especially if we could also complement the roster with a solid defensive C and a shortstop that can play well on both sides of the ball.

 

Having the left field question settled would allow us to take a chance on someone like JJ Hardy, who even in the worst case is a more than competent defender, in the hopes that he gets his power stroke back and really turns the lineup into a force to be reckoned with.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have a feeling we wont be in on the Lackey train. I have a feeling we resign Pettitte and then re-sign Gaudin as insurance. If NYY arent in on Lackey, then your biggest financial competition will come from Flushing or Arlington, TX

[CoachC.]

What's Lackey looking for, as far as a contract? 4/65?

[TheKilo]

I think everyone pining for a blockbuster AG/Fielder trade should take a second to think about who the GM is and just how often he makes those deals in the offseason.

[bostonule25]

Get HamRam! don’t need Lackey, just get a quality #4 starter. Maybe trade Paps for Gamel Parra and another top prospect, and trade Gamel top prospect, Lars, Reddick, Pimental. Bowden and fillers for Hamram

[Dojji]

The Rangers are having financial problems. I think they're out, and in fact, if someone wanted Michael Young, I think the Rangers wouldn't be able to turn them down.

[bostonule25]

I think everyone pining for a blockbuster AG/Fielder trade should take a second to think about who the GM is and just how often he makes those deals in the offseason.

weve never been so desperate offensivley before

[TheKilo]

Get HamRam! don’t need Lackey' date=' just get a quality #4 starter. Maybe trade Paps for Gamel Parra and another top prospect, and trade Gamel top prospect, Lars, Reddick, Pimental. Bowden and fillers for Hamram[/quote']

 

HamRam?

 

Start posting better.

[Dipre]

I think everyone pining for a blockbuster AG/Fielder trade should take a second to think about who the GM is and just how often he makes those deals in the offseason.

 

Every rule has its exception.

 

And remember AG is a player Theo covets and has tried to acquire twice in the past.

 

The major question, to me, is whether SD actually wants to trade him.

[Cocos Disciples]

Get HamRam! don’t need Lackey' date=' just get a quality #4 starter. Maybe trade Paps for Gamel Parra and another top prospect, and trade Gamel top prospect, Lars, Reddick, Pimental. Bowden and fillers for Hamram[/quote']

 

What quality #4 starter? Does Bard close?

[jacksonianmarch]

Fantasy land is swiftly taking effect. Good night folks.

[bostonule25]

HamRam?

 

Start posting better.

thats what marlins fans call him

[Dipre]

thats what marlins fans call him

 

You wrote HaM-Ram instead of HaN-Ram.

[example1]

That someone is not Alex Gonzalez. Just for the record. He's a competent professional defensive shortstop with a good head and good hands, and that's useful, but this is not Ozzie Smith we're talking about.

 

It'd be intriguing if that Cuban feller they got -- Iglesias was it? -- put himself in the mix. But that doesn't really sound like something in character for this team.

 

Iglesias would be very, very young to start for the Sox. They did sign him to only a 4 year deal though, so I bet his timeline is faster than most.

 

I agree that Gonzalez won't be the best option.

[Dojji]

Dojji's Minimalist Offseason.

 

This is the offseason you absolutely have to equal or exceed if you want to make the playoffs next year.

 

Sign Jarrod Washburn to be our inning-burning, league average 5th starter.

 

Trade Delcarmen for JJ Hardy, solidifying SS

 

Release Varitek (treat his $3M player option as a golden handshake and wish him well), and play one of Kottaras or Brown (preference: Brown) behind Victor Martinez at catcher.

 

Re-sign Jason Bay (5/80)

 

Sign 2 relievers from the surprisingly rich bullpen selection this offseason. (Fernando Rodney and Justin Duchscerher are both Type B's that could be effective for us)

 

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia 2B

Martinez C

Bay LF

Drew RF

Youkilis 1B

Ortiz DH

Lowell 3B

Hardy SS

 

Brown, C

Kotchman, 1B

Lowrie, OF

Baldelli/FA bench OF

 

Beckett

Lester

Buchholz

Daisuke

Washburn

 

Papelbon

Oki

Bard

Rodney

Ramirez

Duchscherer

Wakefield/Jones/Bowden

[bostonule25]

So pretty much we add Hardy and a couple arms and we're WS contenders?

[example1]

Dojji's Minimalist Offseason.

 

This is the offseason you absolutely have to equal or exceed if you want to make the playoffs next year.

 

Sign Jarrod Washburn to be our inning-burning, league average 5th starter.

 

I made a very, very long post above spouting my version of the same thing. I wasn't in the mood to respond.. However, no. No to Jarrod Washburn in any capacity.

 

Trade Delcarmen for JJ Hardy, solidifying SS

 

Fine. Maybe. Hardy was bad for much of the season, so I don't know how having him on the team is in any way an answer for the SS position. I could see us being in the same place next year as we are now.

 

Release Varitek (treat his $3M player option as a golden handshake and wish him well), and play one of Kottaras or Brown (preference: Brown) behind Victor Martinez at catcher.

 

If one of them is good enough defensively. otherwise, always keep eyes open for a catcher.

 

Re-sign Jason Bay (5/80)

 

In the long post, again, above I advocate for going after Matt Holliday instead. I wasn't saying that yesterday (when I was worried about the risk of going after him over Bay) but if the Sox truly want a marquee batter in his prime, Holliday is probably the better option and they're a good enough team to get those guys if they truly want them. It's riskier but over the longterm it is the smarter baseball move IMO.

 

Sign 2 relievers from the surprisingly rich bullpen selection this offseason. (Fernando Rodney and Justin Duchscerher are both Type B's that could be effective for us)

 

Add Valverde to that list. He's at type A but has been a good reliever.

[bostonule25]

What quality #4 starter? Does Bard close?

Harden

 

Get Wagner back to close

[bostonule25]

imo we should sign Rafeal Soriano as a set up man. 2.24 tRA is NASTY

[Cocos Disciples]

Harden

 

Get Wagner back to close

 

I absolutely hate the idea of going into 2010 with Wagner closing. He's going to be 38, and has major health problems.

[bostonule25]

he was good for us this year. Saito could help out as could Soriano

[Dojji]

None of the guys you mentioned are as reliable as Papelbon. Don't let a long overdue correction mask that fact.

[bostonule25]

Papelbon is reliable? lol he led the AL in unclean innings for closer. paps is defitantly better, but id rather take a great lineup and a good pen than a good lineup and a great pen

[Dojji]

Papelbon is reliable? lol

 

LOL right back at you.

 

I now know how seriously to take you.

 

Jonathan Papelbon may no longer be invincible, but he's still a fine closer. I think we all knew it'd wind up like that as his career went forward and more people saw him in action.

[CoachC.]

So pretty much we add Hardy and a couple arms and we're WS contenders?

 

if you read the first paragraph of his post, thats AT LEAST what we have to do to just MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

[Jasonbay44]

Dojji's Minimalist Offseason.

 

This is the offseason you absolutely have to equal or exceed if you want to make the playoffs next year.

 

Sign Jarrod Washburn to be our inning-burning, league average 5th starter.

 

Trade Delcarmen for JJ Hardy, solidifying SS

 

Release Varitek (treat his $3M player option as a golden handshake and wish him well), and play one of Kottaras or Brown (preference: Brown) behind Victor Martinez at catcher.

 

Re-sign Jason Bay (5/80)

 

Sign 2 relievers from the surprisingly rich bullpen selection this offseason. (Fernando Rodney and Justin Duchscerher are both Type B's that could be effective for us)

 

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia 2B

Martinez C

Bay LF

Drew RF

Youkilis 1B

Ortiz DH

Lowell 3B

Hardy SS

 

Brown, C

Kotchman, 1B

Lowrie, OF

Baldelli/FA bench OF

 

Beckett

Lester

Buchholz

Daisuke

Washburn

 

Papelbon

Oki

Bard

Rodney

Ramirez

Duchscherer

Wakefield/Jones/Bowden

 

Duchscerher is an interesting name. He's had elbow troubles and is dealing with depression issues, not someone I would target. But he could be the this years offseason "project". Sign him, have him pitch in minors or whatever is needed till he gets over his depression then call him up when bullpen dpeth is needed or when there is an injury in the rotation.