The "Unofficial Pre- Hot Stove (2010)" thread.

[Yaz Sideburn]

This franchise has never been in a better position to trade for Hanley Ramirez.

 

Just saying. He's never been more expensive for the Marlins, he's never had a worse year, and we've got a lot of guys who are in the "almost but not quite MLB ready" position that FLA likes.

 

I'd like to do it without parting with Kalish, and I think that can be done if we can headline the trade with someone like Iglesias plus Ryan Lavarnway. It'd take more pieces than that of course, but you have to start with those two at least.

 

And then, with Hanley in tow, sign another bat or reinvest in Beltre and we're good.

 

i'd rather see what lowrie and iglesias are capable of and go after a free agent to fill a position where i don't think we have as much promise in our minor league system

[Dojji]

Lowrie and Iglesias are not Hanley Ramirez.

 

We need a big bat. He's a way to get one. If you need to, convert him to third base in order to justify it and play Lowrie or Iglesias at short..

[a700hitter]

Lowrie and Iglesias are not Hanley Ramirez.

 

We need a big bat. He's a way to get one. If you need to, convert him to third base in order to justify it and play Lowrie or Iglesias at short..

My recollection is that Hanley also played CF in the Red Sox system.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Lowrie and Iglesias are not Hanley Ramirez.

 

We need a big bat. He's a way to get one. If you need to, convert him to third base in order to justify it and play Lowrie or Iglesias at short..

 

jed lowrie is not hanley ramirez? you're blowing my mind

[Dojji]

Sometimes it's time to play the prospects, but any time you can squeeze another big bat into the lineup instead is not that time.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Sometimes it's time to play the prospects' date=' but any time you can squeeze another big bat into the lineup instead is not that time.[/quote']

 

wouldn't it be more prudent to acquire a .900 ops guy via free agent rather than trading away our entire farm for one?

[Yaz Sideburn]

i think we should sign manny as our dh. the white sox are 4-0 since they acquired him

[Dojji]

wouldn't it be more prudent to acquire a .900 ops guy via free agent rather than trading away our entire farm for one?

 

You make it sound like the concepts are mutually exclusive.

 

having them there as fodder for good trades that put you in a better position to win is one of the reasons you develop prospects.

[TheKilo]

The Rays are about to replace Crawford with Crawford-II in Jennings. I think they sign Soriano, to be honest with you, since he really is the only irreplaceable guy they would be losing. And they will address Pena leaving via trade. They have incredible depth at the SP position with McGee, Moore, and Hellickson coming down the pipe. My guess is that Garza or Shields gets moved for a big bopper. Regardless, if you think the Rays are falling off the map, you have another thing coming.

 

And the Rays might be the only franchise that could deal with completely bombing on the #1 overall pick (Beckham has been horrid) and still have an incredible farm system

 

 

And there's no way the Sox go through the rash of injuries they have this year for the second year in a row.

 

I mean, seriously, this team would have had a shot at 100 wins with a completely healthy team...as it is I thik they threaten 95. I'd be perfectly comfortable making another run with this same team next year.

[a700hitter]

And there's no way the Sox go through the rash of injuries they have this year for the second year in a row.

The Mets said the same thing after last season. This year all of their big guns have been injured again.

[Dipre]

My recollection is that Hanley also played CF in the Red Sox system.

 

He also played 2nd, 3rd and RF in the DWL.

[Dipre]

And there's no way the Sox go through the rash of injuries they have this year for the second year in a row.

 

I mean, seriously, this team would have had a shot at 100 wins with a completely healthy team...as it is I thik they threaten 95. I'd be perfectly comfortable making another run with this same team next year.

 

Sir, you've been spot on with every post you've made since coming back. Keep up the good work.

[Dojji]

And there's no way the Sox go through the rash of injuries they have this year for the second year in a row.

 

I wouldn't rule it out actually. Not too many of the guys who got injuries this year are low risk to repeat those injuries. Youk, Ells and Pedroia are really the only injury cases that are completely out of left field. Cameron's, Beckett's, Daisuke's and Scutaro's health issues in particular come as no real surprise nor for that matter does Varitek's (or any catcher who gets hurt, those guys really put their bodies on the line at times). Frankly I'm amazed Drew hasn't gone down for an extended period as well. Also, the depth responded about as well as you could possibly expect to getting its own playing time, especially Lowrie and McDonald, so I'm not sure the bounceback just from health would be as drastic as you might think.

[ORS]

"No interference from NYY" doesn't mean "no interference." The Cubs are going to be after a 1B and you know there'll be a team or two that do what it take to MAKE room for a guy like Pujols in particular.

 

Put another way, when was the last time THIS front office really went out and spent the money it needed to bring in the best bats in free agency?

 

if the answer is "never" (and it is) then what makes you think that'll change next year?

Does position count? They signed the best RF available when they needed one. They signed the best 3B available, twice (Lowell and Beltre - unless you buy into the farce that Alex Rodriguez didn't want to go back to the Yankees), when they needed one. They signed the best SS available, thrice (Renterria, Lugo, Scutaro), when they needed one. I think you need to "put it another way" again with some backchecking for accuracy.

[BSN07]

Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa confirmed that center fielder Colby Rasmus has requested a trade, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, La Russa declined to delve deeper into the matter with reporters.

 

Interest level?

[Spudboy]

NO.

[Dojji]

Absolutely. This kid's young, cost controlled and very talented. Even if you don't have a position for him here (and IMHO with a kid like this you MAKE one) this is still a guy you go after, if only to keep him out of NYY. I would eat Cameron's contract if the chance to obtain Colby Rasmus for a reasonable price came along, I absolutely would. It's also one of the few trades where I wouldn't make a fuss if Theo sent Jacoby the other way since a very talented replacement is coming back in the deal.

[BSN07]

NO.

 

Really? Why not?

[SCM33]

My recollection is that Hanley also played CF in the Red Sox system.

 

Not according to baseballcube.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Hanley-Ramirez.shtml

 

I think at one point they were thinking of converting him, but were afraid that would hurt his trade value.

[a700hitter]

Not according to baseballcube.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Hanley-Ramirez.shtml

 

I think at one point they were thinking of converting him, but were afraid that would hurt his trade value.

Oh, I remember discussion about him playing CF, but I thought he actually played some CF in Spring Training for the Sox.

[jacksonianmarch]

Just some food for thought here, Jayson Werth just signed with Scott Boras

[NativeBostonian]

I've noticed that many people have ideas about what may or may not happen this off season.

 

I have my wish list. Although, it's not well thought out!

 

I'd like to see Carl Crawford here. And Kurt Suzuki.

 

Please note that I said "wish". Crawford is available. Suzuki may not be.

 

I have a question. Why is it that the Yankees snagging Crawford and Lee is a forgone conclusion?

 

Feel free to discuss any and all transactions and moves that may happen between now and spring training.

 

I would like to see Carl Crawford as well. I think he would be a great addition to this team .

[Station 13]

Just some food for thought here' date=' Jayson Werth just signed with Scott Boras[/quote']

 

What type A hasn't already?

[Yaz Sideburn]

the red sox are clearly showcasing their prospects. they just called up reddick and anderson, navarro, kalish and nava are all in the lineup tonight

[BSN07]

the red sox are clearly showcasing their prospects. they just called up reddick and anderson' date=' navarro, kalish and nava are all in the lineup tonight[/quote']

 

Good move IMO.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Good move IMO.

 

i agree, i previously said i was hoping they would let the kids play

[a700hitter]

the red sox are clearly showcasing their prospects. they just called up reddick and anderson' date=' navarro, kalish and nava are all in the lineup tonight[/quote']

If the kids bomb, they will hurt their market value. Sometimes bringing them up exposes their weaknesses.

[Divinity]

I think Werth would be a better route for the Sox to go over Crawford.

 

Crawford is 28 and Werth is 31. But Crawford has been playing on turf for nine years and has attempted 460 stolen bases. You have to wonder about how his body will hold up from all that abuse. He also is a fairly low OBP guy (.336) over his career.

 

Werth is 31 but has better power and a career .363 OPB. He also could command a little less money than Crawford will. He's a right fielder and J.D. Drew is signed through the end of 2011, but has played 201 games in left in his career.

 

Assuming the Sox retain Jacoby Ellsbury, I'd take Werth. It's hard to see the Sox having an offense with two stolen-base threats playing prominent roles. While the game is changing to a more athletic one, stolen bases remain a weapon that sabermetrically inclined teams will use cautiously because of the risk involved.

[a700hitter]

I think Werth would be a better route for the Sox to go over Crawford.

 

Crawford is 28 and Werth is 31. But Crawford has been playing on turf for nine years and has attempted 460 stolen bases. You have to wonder about how his body will hold up from all that abuse. He also is a fairly low OBP guy (.336) over his career.

 

Werth is 31 but has better power and a career .363 OPB. He also could command a little less money than Crawford will. He's a right fielder and J.D. Drew is signed through the end of 2011, but has played 201 games in left in his career.

 

Assuming the Sox retain Jacoby Ellsbury, I'd take Werth. It's hard to see the Sox having an offense with two stolen-base threats playing prominent roles. While the game is changing to a more athletic one, stolen bases remain a weapon that sabermetrically inclined teams will use cautiously because of the risk involved.

Crawford is a game-changing star. The two negatives that he has for the Sox are that he is left-handed and we don't have enough potent Righty bats. Also, if he wants six years, what will the speed part of his game be like by the end of 6 years. Speed and stolen bases is a huge part of his game. How long will he be the speed weapon that he currently is?

[Dojji]

He's 28, in 6 years he'll be 34, it's entirely possible that he'll still have all the speed he needs to be effective. SOme speedsters excel into their mid 30's some don't, it'll come down to his ability to get on base IMHO -- which is the big issue with Crawford.