The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Appreciated. You're a Giants fan?

 

Yup. Since I was a kid. Was a Giants fan before I was a sox fan.

[yankees228]

Yup. Since I was a kid. Was a Giants fan before I was a sox fan.

 

Excellent. Things are starting to look up in recent weeks. I don't talk all that much about the Giants (except I did today briefly) in the catch-all NFL Thread because there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest, but I also didn't know there were other Giants fans on the site lol.

[italstallianion]

Yup. Since I was a kid. Was a Giants fan before I was a sox fan.

 

 

I didn't think that it was possible to be a Giants/Red Sox fan (or a Yankees/Patriots fan) and NOT be from Connecticut. I figured that CT was the only area where you'd see that and not assume that the sports fan was confused.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Excellent. Things are starting to look up in recent weeks. I don't talk all that much about the Giants (except I did today briefly) in the catch-all NFL Thread because there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest' date=' but I also didn't know there were other Giants fans on the site lol.[/quote']

 

Yeah things are looking up. Hopefully the Eagles start to die down a bit.

 

I didn't think that it was possible to be a Giants/Red Sox fan (or a Yankees/Patriots fan) and NOT be from Connecticut. I figured that CT was the only area where you'd see that and not assume that the sports fan was confused.

 

lol I live in western massachusetts, a few miles from the CT border. My entire family grew up Giants fans because back in the day the Patriots were still new and the only football games televised were Giants games. There are a LOT of Giants fans around here.

[italstallianion]

Yeah things are looking up. Hopefully the Eagles start to die down a bit.

 

 

 

lol I live in western massachusetts, a few miles from the CT border. My entire family grew up Giants fans because back in the day the Patriots were still new and the only football games televised were Giants games. There are a LOT of Giants fans around here.

 

 

 

I bet you have a sick pseudo NY accent too. I have a friend from Pittsfield who sounds like he belongs on Jersey Shore.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I wish I did. I have a plain accent. I can easily fake a new york or a boston one though.

[italstallianion]

In other news, Cliff Lee will reveal his decision on December 24th 11:59pm in an attempt to upstage Christmas.

[yankees228]

In other news' date=' Cliff Lee will reveal his decision on December 24th 11:59pm in an attempt to upstage Christmas.[/quote']

 

A-Rod style.

[SoxSport]

Latest buzz is Red Sox are interested in Crawford to play LF. Beltran no. Two teams offering Lee 7 years? One of them has to be the Yankees.

[yankees228]

Latest buzz is Red Sox are interested in Crawford to play LF. Beltran no. Two teams offering Lee 7 years? One of them has to be the Yankees.

 

Cashman has reiterated numerous times (and every source concurs) that he has not offered Lee a contract, but he is anxious to do so.

[VA Sox Fan]

Cashman has reiterated numerous times (and every source concurs) that he has not offered Lee a contract' date=' but he is anxious to do so.[/quote']

 

I'll be shocked if the Yanks don't sign him.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Cashman has reiterated numerous times (and every source concurs) that he has not offered Lee a contract' date=' but he is anxious to do so.[/quote']

 

well, from mlb trade rumors:

The Yankees are on the verge of making Lee a lucrative offer and are awaiting the go-ahead from Braunecker, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. GM Brian Cashman says he's ready to get serious.

[Dipre]

I'll be shocked if the Yanks don't sign him.

 

I'll host a keg party with strippers and a local band if they don't sign him. I'll add a foam machine if Petitte retires.

[SoxSport]

Could be the Nationals offering Lee 7 years. The Yankees are playing a waiting game to top all offers.

 

The Red Sox could make a serious run at Crawford, who brings a lot more than HRs to the table. May depend on how competitive the bidding is. They are saving a ton on AdGon's 2011 contract. They could make those RF bullpens even bigger.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I'll host a keg party with strippers and a local band if they don't sign him. I'll add a foam machine if Petitte retires.

 

Am I invited?

[Dipre]

Am I invited?

 

Everyone's invited, and hell, i'll pay air fare for one lucky TS member.

[VA Sox Fan]

I'll host a keg party with strippers and a local band if they don't sign him. I'll add a foam machine if Petitte retires.

 

And I'll send a donation for the expenses.

[SoxSport]

I doubt anybody will give Crawford 8 years. Speed is one of his strengths, and that does not hold up with age.

[Meh]

Cashman has reiterated numerous times (and every source concurs) that he has not offered Lee a contract' date=' but he is anxious to do so.[/quote']

 

If they are two teams, it's got to be one of Nats, Red Sox and Tigers.

[The Celtbot]

I doubt anybody will give Crawford 8 years. Speed is one of his strengths' date=' and that does not hold up with age.[/quote']

 

Ricky Henderson, lol

 

J/K.

[The Celtbot]

Twitter

jcrasnick:

The Angels jumped into the Cliff Lee race Tuesday, when the team reached out to Lee's representatives. Uncertain if they've made an offer.

 

jcrasnick:

Also, a baseball source described the chances of Lee signing a contract before the winter meetings end Thursday as "doubtful.''

[VA Sox Fan]

The (long) list of relievers

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff December 7, 2010 09:28 PM

 

After chatting with agents, league and team sources and the like, here is a working list of relievers the Red Sox have at least some interest in:

 

LHP Scott Downs

LHP Pedro Feliciano

LHP Brian Fuentes

LHP Arthur Rhodes

RHP Kevin Gregg

RHP Matt Guerrier

 

The Red Sox also are at least pondering bringing back LHP Hideki Okajima, LHP Andrew Miller and RHP Taylor Buchholz.

 

You can make cases for and against each of these guys. Downs is the best of the bunch but would cost the most, including a first-round draft pick.

 

For now, the bullpen is set-up this way:

 

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon

Primary set-up man: Daniel Bard

All-purpose lefty: Felix Doubront

Long reliever: Tim Wakefield

 

That leaves three spots open, assuming the Sox go with a 12-man staff again. Look for two of the spots to be filled by trade or free agency and the final to be a battle among assorted journeymen and in-house candidates like Scott Atchison, Michael Bowden, Robert Coello, Matt Fox and Rich Hill.

[The Celtbot]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Red Sox and the agent for Russell Martin had plans to speak again about the club's interest in the free agent catcher, who was nontendered last week by the Dodgers.

 

As ESPN's Buster Olney reported on Monday and was confirmed by a baseball source Tuesday, the Red Sox have the medical reports on Martin, who tore the labrum in his hip early in August and missed the rest of the season. The Dodgers were willing to re-sign Martin but had enough reservations about his health that they did not meet the $5 million guarantee Martin was seeking. Hours before the nontender deadline, the Dodgers engaged the Yankees in trade talks for Martin while simultaneously trying to sign him, but both efforts fell through.

 

The Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek as their catchers, though they have yet to officially announce the Varitek signing to a one-year, $2 million deal (with $300,000 in incentives). Signing Martin, a two-time All-Star and Gold Glover coming off two subpar seasons offensively, would suggest that the Sox aren't quite as confident about their catching tandem as they are insisting publicly.

 

http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/7321/sox-continue-talks-with-martin

[MNSoxChief102]

I'll be shocked if the Yanks don't sign him.

 

I'd be surprised if they don't end up with him in the end, but I'm not counting out the Rangers and the Angels from making a legit run at him. From all accounts, Lee enjoyed his time in Texas immensely and playing within a few hours of his home in Arkansas was a major bonus as well. If the Rangers give him a 7 year deal he's in the bag... a 6 year deal with bigger numbers would probably do it as well. At the very least I suspect he'll let the Rangers have a chance to match whatever the Yanks throw at him.

 

The Angels are intriguing as well. Add him to the top of their rotation, and they're looking really good with Haren and Santana behind him. Their offense would lack the firepower the Rangers have, but a healthy Morales and a few role players could solve that. Plus that kind of staff would have the ability to shut down opponents enough that it wouldn't matter.

 

That said, I'd be ecstatic if the Sox went all in and got him. Our rotation would be beyond belief.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd like Martin. I doubt he would cost much, and at least he has proven he can be good, which Salty has not.

 

Question: If a player is Type A but wasn't offered arbitration, the team that signs him doesn't lose any picks, correct? If so, I'd go after Guerrier.

[italstallianion]

2010 WAR for selected FA relievers:

 

2.6 Soriano

2.4 Benoit (signed for 3/16.5)

1.8 Downs

1.5 Putz (signed for 2/10)

1.4 Balfour

1.4 Guerrier

1.3 Gregg

1.2 Crain

1.2 Fuentes

1.2 Uehara

0.8 Feliciano

0.3 Mahay

 

By way of comparison, here are the 2010 WARs for the Red Sox relievers with 25+ IP:

 

3.3 Bard

0.4 Papelbon (3.9 and 2.0 in 2009 and 2008, respectively)

0.2 Ramirez

0.1 Delcarmen

0.1 Okajima

-0.1 Doubront

-0.3 Atchison (1 start)

-0.7 Wakefield (starter/reliever) (1.9 in 2009)

[The Celtbot]

Thought it was interesting the little bit about Varitek not officially being signed yet. Could you imagine if they signed Martin and basically told Varitek his services wouldn't be needed anymore after supposedly agreeing to a deal for the next year? Doubt it would happen, but don't see why we would have 3 catchers on the roster either.

[Dojji]

I'd like Martin. I doubt he would cost much, and at least he has proven he can be good, which Salty has not.

 

Question: If a player is Type A but wasn't offered arbitration, the team that signs him doesn't lose any picks, correct? If so, I'd go after Guerrier.

 

Guessing here but I'd say that if we sign Martin, it will be at the expense of Varitek, not Salty.

[Cocos Disciples]

Guessing here but I'd say that if we sign Martin' date=' it will be at the expense of Varitek, not Salty.[/quote']

Possibly, but I just meant that Martin would be the starter instead of Salty.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Thought it was interesting the little bit about Varitek not officially being signed yet. Could you imagine if they signed Martin and basically told Varitek his services wouldn't be needed anymore after supposedly agreeing to a deal for the next year? Doubt it would happen' date=' but don't see why we would have 3 catchers on the roster either.[/quote']

 

What?