The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[italstallianion]

Atchison. He's our savior!

 

@ Ital:

 

Define "like flies":

 

Out of around 16-17 decent options on the reliever market, six(Takahashi, Downs, Guerrier, Crane, Putz, Benoit) have signed.

 

More than enough options, more than enough time. When and if they really start dropping like flies, then we can all engage in a collective scream of panic.

 

 

 

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit early to panic, but if relievers keep signing, we'll be progressively screwed and this isn't a good trend. And I'm not **blind** enough to think that our bullpen is good and that we don't need AT LEAST 1 good reliever to make our bullpen decent.

 

**I'm not saying that you, or anyone here specifically is blind to that fact, I'm just saying that I for sure am not that blind.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Two words: Bobby Jenks.

 

Get it done!

 

They can't it done without be aggressive in terms of money/years. I'm sure he has multiple suitors and maybe even a chance to close again.

[italstallianion]

According to Gammons, the Sox aren't pursuing Brian Fuentes.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

According to Gammons' date=' the Sox aren't pursuing Brian Fuentes.[/quote']

 

Ghey:thumbdown

[italstallianion]

Right? See, I'm not the only one that's pissed off, so why is everyone going after me? Is it because I'm black?

[Dipre]

They can't it done without be aggressive in terms of money/years. I'm sure he has multiple suitors and maybe even a chance to close again.

 

And how do we know exactly what they're doing?

 

That's basically my point. What if they trade for someone then overpay for another guy? What if they're targeting two people we don't know off and are convinced those guys are good enough for the "going rates"?

 

Gotta wait and see.

[WhiskeyBreath]

And how do we know exactly what they're doing?

 

That's basically my point. What if they trade for someone then overpay for another guy? What if they're targeting two people we don't know off and are convinced those guys are good enough for the "going rates"?

 

Gotta wait and see.

 

Obviously

[italstallianion]

I agree, WE have to "wait and see", but I have a feeling that the Front Office seems to be following the "wait and see" method too.

[Cocos Disciples]

As we have learned this off-season, if it's not rumored or projected to happen, it won't happen.

 

Good luck to Crawford with the Angels and Lee with the Yankees.

[Palodios]

Relax. They just spent 300 million on two position players. They're not going to skimp on 15-30 million dollars worth of relief pitching.

[Dipre]

As we have learned this off-season, if it's not rumored or projected to happen, it won't happen.

 

Good luck to Crawford with the Angels and Lee with the Yankees.

 

Or Weth with the Red Sox, or Adam Dunn with Detroit, or V-Mart returning to the Sox, or Adrian Gonzales staying put with the Padres, etc etc etc.

 

You speak the truth.

[Palodios]

In that case-- perhaps we can narrow down our discussions to pitchers have the Sox not been connected to?

[italstallianion]

It looks like Kerry Wood is going to sign with the Cubs.

[BSN07]

If I was wearing my GM cap I would try the following:

 

Fuentes- 2/10M

Wheeler- 2/6M

Oki- 1/1.5M

MDC- Minor league deal, offer to ST, 500K base salary, up to 1M total with incentives.

 

That would be a solid start. Cameron and or Scutaro could be moved at the deadline to free up $ if another BP piece is needed.

[Station 13]

Relievers dwindling down to Soriano (unlikely) and Ballfour.

 

Please stay the f*** away from Fuentes. He's garbage.

[jacksonianmarch]

Fuentes has retained his ability to dominate lefties. If his sole purpose is as a lefty specialist, then he is a good get. If you are getting him for anything more, then you better hope he turns back the clock

[SoxSport]

What's happening is the best FA relievers are getting three years. Guerrier and Crain, yesterday.

You can say teams are foolish giving three years to those guys and probably be right. But that's the market, and Theo is going to get crap for less. Just as soon bring back Oki and take a chance on Miller.

 

I say pitch your starters another inning or so--go to 120 pitches in a quality start. That saves the BP for when you really need them. Doesn't make much sense to limit your expensive starters to 100 pitches, and then throw a bunch of junk out there mid innings. That's how games are lost. Further, when a reliever has good stuff, keep him in two innings instead of shuffling in another pitcher after one inning who may crap the bed.

 

Ideally, you want your starter to reach your setup guy(s) and closer. The mid relief guys are there only when your starter doesn't have his stuff and craps the bed early.

[SoxSport]

I don't think that Soriano was an option for the Sox. I just meant that he's another good reliever available. The reliever market is thinning around us and we haven't appeared to do anything.

 

 

Did the Red Sox really make an offer to Rivera? If so, they should make an offer to Soriano, who was better than Rivera last year and is younger. He can be assured of being the main closer after next year.

 

Don't be shocked if the Yankees make a run at Soriano. They don't care about years.

[BSN07]

The Mariners are trying to trade David Aardsma, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. As Rosenthal points out, the reliever will earn a raise from his 2010 salary of $2.75MM when he and the Mariners determine his upcoming salary through the arbitration process.

 

He probably makes what 3.5-4M in arb this year? I'd be ok with that on a one year deal. Depends on who is going the other way though.

[jacksonianmarch]

Did the Red Sox really make an offer to Rivera? If so, they should make an offer to Soriano, who was better than Rivera last year and is younger. He can be assured of being the main closer after next year.

 

Don't be shocked if the Yankees make a run at Soriano. They don't care about years.

 

I think the Yanks are lying in the weeds on Soriano and may be offering him a 3-4 yr deal with the promise of closing when Mo retires after 2012. That would be a pretty good idea and an absolute lock down back end of the pen

[jacksonianmarch]

What's happening is the best FA relievers are getting three years. Guerrier and Crain, yesterday.

You can say teams are foolish giving three years to those guys and probably be right. But that's the market, and Theo is going to get crap for less. Just as soon bring back Oki and take a chance on Miller.

 

I say pitch your starters another inning or so--go to 120 pitches in a quality start. That saves the BP for when you really need them. Doesn't make much sense to limit your expensive starters to 100 pitches, and then throw a bunch of junk out there mid innings. That's how games are lost. Further, when a reliever has good stuff, keep him in two innings instead of shuffling in another pitcher after one inning who may crap the bed.

 

Ideally, you want your starter to reach your setup guy(s) and closer. The mid relief guys are there only when your starter doesn't have his stuff and craps the bed early.

 

That's a risky proposition though. You say to just pitch your starters an extra inning. Well, Tito seems to wait too long to pull his pitchers anyways, so you want him to wait extra long? A fresh reliever is typically better than a tiring pitcher. There arent too many pitchers with ERA's and WHIP's in innings 7-9 that are up to par or better than innings 1-6. In today's game with patience being preached and lefty-righty matchups, a good pen is essential. Theo has to make some moves, which I expect him to do soon

[Rdsxmbnt]

Have people learned NOTHING this offseason? First everyone starts bitching that Martinez was let go and how we still needed a big bat (on like Dec 1st no less...). Then Theo goes and gets Agon. In that press conference Theo says theyll also be looking into acquiring an OF and bullpen help. They then sign Crawford. During Crawford's press conference Theo AGAIN announces they will be focusing on the bullpen.

 

Now after signing Agon and Crawford do you think Theo is going to skimp on the bullpen after saying multiple times they are working to fix it?

[Dojji]

Scrimp no. think outside the box, perhaps. Have it blow up in his face, sure but the big contract is a good bet to do that too because relievers on the whole are pitchers who don't have the talent to start.

[a700hitter]

I could live with Aardsma and Jenks.

 

Sox may be waiting to see what happens with Soriano. I am sure that they would try to block him from going to the Yankees.

[Ravenous916]

how hard can the bullpen really be to fix? Theo is just not trying to get carried away like most other clubs with their 3 year deals for a guy that might have peaked already. The best set up men are already closers now, or are seeking to be them somewhere else. That leaves someone with talent fresh off the farm. Dubront comes to mind.

[Dojji]

I could live with Aardsma and Jenks..

 

Uggh, I couldn't. I'd rather see what the Royals want for Robinson Tejeda, at least he's reasonably young and the price in talent and/or money won't be exaggerated by several years of closing. Aardsma and Jenks scream inconsistency, and that's not good alchemy with an AL East schedule. And as former closers both are likely to be overpaid. I could stand one or the other plus a solid setup lefty, but not both.

 

If there's any way you could get Tejeda out of the Royals for a prospect like Che-Hsuan Lin or Yamaico Navarro, guys that are blocked here but fill a need where they're going, I'd rather go that route. I love Tejeda's stuff and hes just entering his prime, that's worth paying a little more for. That, or I try to find a way to steal Hong-Chi Kuo from the Dodgers -- not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

[a700hitter]

Uggh, I couldn't. I'd rather see what the Royals want for Robinson Tejeda, at least he's reasonably young and the price in talent and/or money won't be exaggerated by several years of closing. Aardsma and Jenks scream inconsistency, and that's not good alchemy with an AL East schedule. And as former closers both are likely to be overpaid. I could stand one or the other plus a solid setup lefty, but not both.

 

If there's any way you could get Tejeda out of the Royals for a prospect like Che-Hsuan Lin or Yamaico Navarro, guys that are blocked here but fill a need where they're going, I'd rather go that route. I love Tejeda's stuff and hes just entering his prime, that's worth paying a little more for.

There's room for Tejeda too. Right now, we have a pen with Bard. Papelbon, Atchinson and Dubront. Hopefully, Wakefield will get cut.

[Ravenous916]

The Sox have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Lenny DiNardo on a minor-league contract, according to WEEI.com.

 

Whats the matter, Rich Garces wasn't available?

[CoachC.]

I think the Yanks are lying in the weeds on Soriano and may be offering him a 3-4 yr deal with the promise of closing when Mo retires after 2012. That would be a pretty good idea and an absolute lock down back end of the pen

 

What prevents the Red Sox from doing this but promising him the job a year earlier?

[italstallianion]

To a700's point, while I'm not a huge fan of Aardsma or Jenks, I could live with them over what we have now. It isn't the optimal solution, but it's better than nothing.