The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[BSN07]

But Epstein said that he discussed the situation with Ortiz.

 

"He told me directly that he was cool with it," Epstein said.

 

He seems ok. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5764146

[a700hitter]

$12.5 is a sweet deal for Ortiz. If he has another year like 2010, he'll end up way ahead financially than if he went FA and signed a 2 year deal. If he regresses, he'll still get $5 mil from someone for 2012. It's a no lose situation for him unless he falls off a cliff.

 

Now, I'd be happy if they get a Beltran deal done quickly so they can concentrate on pursuing Crawford and retooling the pen.

[BSN07]

$12.5 is a sweet deal for Ortiz. If he has another year like 2010, he'll end up way ahead financially than if he went FA and signed a 2 year deal. If he regresses, he'll still get $5 mil from someone for 2012. It's a no lose situation for him unless he falls off a cliff.

 

Now, I'd be happy if they get a Beltran deal done quickly so they can concentrate on pursuing Crawford and retooling the pen.

 

Beltran or Beltre? If it's Beltran, Crawford won't be coming to Boston then. Beltran is plan B if they don't get Crawford(Werth wants too much money, the Sox aren't going to go that high for him).

 

And if you meant Beltre, he is gone IMO. They are not resigning him unless he get's absolutely no play on the open market. And if you need proof he's gone, it was reported a couple days ago Youk is already training for 3B. Not sure why he would do that if the team planned on bringing Beltre back. Expect a one year stop gap at 1B and Youk playing 3B on opening day

[a700hitter]

Beltran or Beltre? If it's Beltran, Crawford won't be coming to Boston then. Beltran is plan B if they don't get Crawford(Werth wants too much money, the Sox aren't going to go that high for him).

 

And if you meant Beltre, he is gone IMO. They are not resigning him unless he get's absolutely no play on the open market. And if you need proof he's gone, it was reported a couple days ago Youk is already training for 3B. Not sure why he would do that if the team planned on bringing Beltre back. Expect a one year stop gap at 1B and Youk playing 3B on opening day

I'd like to see Beltran come to play LF in return for Dice K, Crawford to play CF, and trade Ellsbury for Greinke.

[BSN07]

I'd like to see Beltran come to play LF in return for Dice K' date=' Crawford to play CF, and trade Ellsbury for Greinke.[/quote']

 

Won't be for Dice-K IMO. If he waives his NTC it will be for a west coast team. KC may like Ellsbury. But he is heading into arbitration soon and has Boras for an agent. No chance at a long term deal. KC will have more interest in Kalish. If Ellsbury is in a deal for Grienke he would mot likely be going to a 3rd team involved IMO.

[Will617]

The Jays acquired Olivo and declined his option, probably to offer him arbitration. He may accept, but they already have two catchers set for 2011 (Arencibia and Jose Molina) and another that they may offer arbitration to (John Buck).

If the Sox can't get Martinez back for 3 years, I think they've made the right move.

[Palodios]

After VMart, Buck and Olivo are the best available catchers. So they either get extra draft picks or some solid trade value. Smart move I think.

[jacksonianmarch]

Seen a few predictions with Werth ending up in Boston and the sox not retaining Beltre or VMart. Losing those two and bringing in Werth would give the sox 5 picks in the first 2 rounds

[Palodios]

Between Beltre, VMart, and Felipe Lopez(Don't forget him now), the Sox get 5 early picks right there. So, they'll still be restocking the farm in case they want other type A free agents. Crawford/Werth, Konerko and a reliever would be worth their first three picks if they already have five more. Its also worthwhile to note that Adam Dunn is only a Type B free agent. And maybe this list is really really wrong, but apparently Mike Lowell has type B status.

[jacksonianmarch]

I doubt they offer Lopez arbitration, IMO.

[Palodios]

Wasn't that the whole point of getting him and declining the option?

[Station 13]

I doubt they offer Lopez arbitration' date=' IMO.[/quote']

 

Why?

 

Even if he accepts it's only around 1 million.

 

Get them picks, Theo.

[jacksonianmarch]

If he declines arbitration, he's looking at a MiLB deal. By accepting arb, he guarantees himself a 7 figure salary and probably a spot on the opening day roster

[ORS]

I'd offer him arb. If he accepts, I see what he has in camp, and cut him if he can't make the team. It's not a lot of money, so no harm in the risk. And, if he looks good in camp, which could happen, his career is a roller coaster of performance, I'd probably shop Lowrie as part of a package deal and make him the utility guy.

[Republican4life38]

I want the catcher that can control the running game. So I guess Olivo?

[BSN07]

Seen a few predictions with Werth ending up in Boston and the sox not retaining Beltre or VMart. Losing those two and bringing in Werth would give the sox 5 picks in the first 2 rounds

Beltre is gone IMO for sure. V-Mart has a very good shot a leaving because someone is going to over spend on years. `Which the Red Sox don't like doing. If he will take 3 years with possibly a vesting option, he has a chance to be back in Boston. All the sports writers for the most part have Werth going to Boston, so that right there tells me he will be elsewhere(). It does seem like a fit, but we've read the Werth turned down 4/66M to stay in Philly. That's already up near the limit I see the Sox wanting to go for him IMO. I think there may be a better chance of Beltran being in LF next season. The Sox probably can't absorb his whole 17M salary. So they will have to kick in a decent prospect to get it down around the 10M range for it to work.

I doubt they offer Lopez arbitration' date=' IMO.[/quote']

Sure they will. He was only making like 1M this season. If he wins arbitration he will get a couple 100K increase in salary, big whoop.

I'd offer him arb. If he accepts' date=' I see what he has in camp, and cut him if he can't make the team. It's not a lot of money, so no harm in the risk. And, if he looks good in camp, which could happen, his career is a roller coaster of performance, I'd probably shop Lowrie as part of a package deal and make him the utility guy.[/quote']

 

I wanted him last season when Lowrie was a big ?.So I'd be ok if he was the teams utility guy next season.

 

Lowrie did well this season and I wouldn't mind him continuing to be the utility guy either. But he also rebuilt his trade stock. And if someone wants to pay the price for him to be one of their starting IF then it might be good to sell high on him. Depends on the return. Minimum I would want is a young late inning RP. I could see him being a very nice add on in a package in a trade for premiere talent as well. By no means should they just give him away though. If nothing comes up thats worth it, hold on to him and see how Lopez does in the Spring.

[SCM33]

I want the catcher that can control the running game. So I guess Olivo?

 

Start with pitchers who slide step to the plate. A practice that has been ignored in Boston since the late 90's now (Kerrigan). Also teach them how to hold a runner on, another aspect that has been ignored in Boston for quite some time. Between Beckett, Dice-K, Wakefield, Bucholz and Lackey.....NO catcher has a shot in hell (Lester is maybe the ONLY pitcher who can hold a runner, being LH helps him with that).

 

Varitek was always a good throwing catcher, the numbers do not show that because he had zero help from his pitchers.

[BSN07]

I read Russel Martin might be non tendered. If V-Mart heads elsewhere would a Martin/Salty rotation be good enough something to consider?

[jacksonianmarch]

Russell Martin is coming off hip surgery and has shown a massive offensive regression. He is not a guy I would rely on behind the dish until he can prove he can move around. We saw what hip surgery did to Lowell and we saw how long it took ARod to finally move again at 3b after his surgery. Imagine what that would be like for a catcher.

[BSN07]

Yesterday it was Jayson Werth; today the Red Sox have expressed interest in free agent righty Justin Duchscherer according to WEEI's Rob Bradford.

 

They must be considering him for some role in the BP I would imagine. Does he still want to start?

[Cocos Disciples]

I wouldn't count on Duchscherer for a spot coming out of Spring Training (injuries), but I wouldn't mind getting him if the cost is right.

[BSN07]

I wouldn't count on Duchscherer for a spot coming out of Spring Training (injuries)' date=' but I wouldn't mind getting him if the cost is right.[/quote']

 

He only made 1.75M last season. Can't imagine him getting much more.

[Dojji]

I'd look at him for the bullpen, I wouldn't ask him to start.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's okay depth, but his injury history and a hip injury at that is very concerning.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Red Sox seem firmly convinced that Jared Saltalamacchia can be their regular catcher. His throws averaged 1.95 seconds to second base in Pawtucket, and they love his enthusiasm. Bringing Jason Varitek back to hit against left-handed pitchers, work Josh Beckett and John Lackey and provide Salty with a mentor seems to make a lot of sense if Martinez is going to move on.

 

That's quite a gamble, IMO. Put a guy out there who has shown fragility and nothing offensively or defensively in the bigs to warrant a starting job. Then back him up with a guy who has proven he can no longer handle a full time catching load if Salty flops. That would be the mother of all good scenarios for the AL East and a big risk for the sox. If Salty somehow finally lives up to his billing, it could be a good move, but I think this is not the high probability move

[Cocos Disciples]

Well I'm glad he's enthusiastic, but that doesn't exactly qualify him to start.

[Dojji]

How's about bringing in Brian Schnieder to support Salty and let Tek go? I could stand him as a fulltime catcher if it came to that -- not a worldbeater, but respectable and with a sterling defensive reputation. Sort of a poor man's Yadier Molina.

[Dipre]

How's about bringing in Brian Schnieder to support Salty? I could stand him as a fulltime catcher if it came to that -- not a worldbeater' date=' but respectable and with a sterling defensive reputation. Sort of a poor man's Yadier Molina.[/quote']

 

There are many options better than Brian Schneider. He's not that good defensively, and unlike Yadi, he couldn't hit to save his life.

 

Buck and Olivo (both FA's) are much much better options if you want to go with Salty as a half-time C.

[Dojji]

I didn't see Buck among the list of FA's or I might have suggested him. Olivo benefitted too much from the altitude at Coors for me to be happy about trying to bring him in.

 

As for "can't hit to safe his life" that's a bit of an oversell, the guy maintains a half decent OBP for a catcher, the only reason he looks bad is because we've been spoiled by a healthy Tek and V-Mart for so many years.

 

Looking at the list of available options at catcher Schneider actually stands up fairly well. He isn't outstanding but he'd only be there as a stopgap starter in case Salty spit the bit, you're not going to sign a superstar catcher to play that role.

[Dipre]

Career .324 OBP, .698 OPS.

 

The only two years in which Schneider's had an OBP above .330 as a "regular" he had either 125 AB's (injury) or a year in which SLG% was a pathetic .367. Guy sucks at the plate. No way to spin it.