The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Yanks payroll is right around $178 million, if reports are accurate with estimates of it being around $195 by opening day with Pettitte plus some pen help in the fold

[a700hitter]

In the past 8 years, the Yankees have paid a luxury tax of $190 million total, compared to around $20 million for the Red Sox. Check the Sam Horn chatgroup for the numbers.

 

The Yankees are in a class by themselves when it comes to spending. Consistently above $200 mil yearly. The Red Sox are in the $140-150 mil range almost yearly. AdGon's salary is only $6mil this year, which made Crawford affordable.

 

The Red Sox will be below the luxury tax this year, as is their policy, while the Yankees will continue to be safely above, as is their policy.

 

Anybody who says the Red sox spend as much as the Yankees is either nuts or has an agenda. Nobody spends like the Yankees.

The Red Sox have been spending a shitload of money for years. They have been using some fancy bookkeeping to keep certain items from payroll to stay under the Luxury Tax threshold, e.g. The AGon extension. Let's not forget the Dice K $52 million posting fee. They are spending plenty of money. It doesn't matter whether it is hitting payroll. They are in a very very small universe of baseball franchises that can spend like this- maybe just them and the Yanks. Using Yankee $ as an excuse for getting beat by them hasn't been legitimate for years. I embrace the FO using it's financial strength by getting top star talent. If it embarrasses some people at Son of Sam Horn, so be it. The FO is putting together a kick ass team for 2011 and beyond. There was no "bridge" to home grown prospects this season or next season. The core of the team is set for about 3-4 years minimum. They will just need to fill in needs here and there- pocket change compared to the big expenses that they have incurred. The Jenks $ is irrelevant in the scheme of things. Two years ago they wasted $10 million on two dented garbage pails- Smoltz and Penny. They have spent 30-fold on two players this year, but they are game changing superstars in their prime. I will rub this in the faces of Yankee fans. I will ask every Yankee fan whether their team is having financial difficulty. Then I'll say "but why would they sign Mark Prior.". Enjoy the dumpster dive Yankee fans! There are plenty of low risk high reward type players in that stinking pile of garbage. Enjoy!

[a700hitter]

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2010/12/jenks_only_adds_to_an_embarras.html

 

Tony Maz is a complete jackass. Who is supposed to be embarrassed by the Red Sox having an "Uber" team? The cheering fans? The FO that spent the money to get the "Uber" team? This is why I hate the press. I hope they get Fuentes too then we can have an "Uber-plus" team and we can all feel humiliated. I'm embarrassed for the the Boston Globe that they have such an obnoxious no-talent little twerp on their senior sports reporting staff. He steals most of his ideas from message boards- the no-talent hack.

[Ravenous916]

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2010/12/jenks_only_adds_to_an_embarras.html

 

Tony Maz is a complete jackass. Who is supposed to be embarrassed by the Red Sox having an "Uber" team? The cheering fans? The FO that spent the money to get the "Uber" team? This is why I hate the press. I hope they get Fuentes too then we can have an "Uber-plus" team and we can all feel humiliated. I'm embarrassed for the the Boston Globe that they have such an obnoxious no-talent little twerp on their senior sports reporting staff. He steals most of his ideas from message boards- the no-talent hack.

 

it seemed like the article was complimentary. "embarassment of riches" doens't necessarily mean embarassment.

[a700hitter]

it seemed like the article was complimentary. "embarassment of riches" doens't necessarily mean embarassment.

Tony Maz is a weasel. This is typical of his left-handed compliments. He puts an antagonistic word in the title, but then doesn't even mention it in the article. it's just so typical of this weasel. He used the word for a reason, but he was too much of a weasel to explain it in the column. I can't stand the guy. I think he is a terrible sportswriter, except of course, when he agrees with me 100%- then I cite him as authority.

[Ravenous916]

you may be right. I'm still getting used to the sox hating. I mean they won it all twice in the last 7 years, its not like they are the yanks! I live in Tampa, its like the Rays are the new team to hate what they don't have.

[Palodios]

Embarassment? Bah. It is difficult not to get giddy over this team.

[TheKilo]

This is the same Tony Mazz who on his radio show continues to beat the "we shoulda kept Jason Bay" drum and ripped the ownership every chance he got for being cheap on the Teixera deal.

 

Now that they've done what he bitched about he's finding new ways to whine. A troll of the highest order. NOte to Mazz - the CHB business model doesn't work anymore

[BSN07]

This is the same Tony Mazz who on his radio show continues to beat the "we shoulda kept Jason Bay" drum and ripped the ownership every chance he got for being cheap on the Teixera deal.

 

Now that they've done what he bitched about he's finding new ways to whine. A troll of the highest order. NOte to Mazz - the CHB business model doesn't work anymore

 

Tony Mazz is a douche of epic proportions.

[yeszir]

Are you guys serious? He used an expression in his title and that article speaks to how happy he is with the team. Nowhere in there does he once hint that sox fans should be embarrassed or ashamed. An uberteam is a good thing.

 

You're fabricating conflict out of thin air.

[Dojji]

That's what these guys do best. Do I know only too well.

[Ravenous916]

This is the same Tony Mazz who on his radio show continues to beat the "we shoulda kept Jason Bay" drum and ripped the ownership every chance he got for being cheap on the Teixera deal.

 

Now that they've done what he bitched about he's finding new ways to whine. A troll of the highest order. NOte to Mazz - the CHB business model doesn't work anymore

 

Is it possible that Theo went to his level on Tex and figured, "if he doesn't take it, Gonzales is out there"

 

same thing with Jason Bay? but with crawford?

 

Nobody gets it right all the time, everyone has a Lugo, or a Gagne. And maybe if the fans didnt jump all over his ass all the time, he would make less mistakes like that.

 

Who would you rather have? Theo or the GM of the Mets, which despite who it is, is always same dumbass

[Ravenous916]

and one more thing, who cares how much they spent, if they never say cost kept them from doing something? spend 500M if its gets them the WS! Am I supposed to say, gee John Henry, save 25M, spend it on liverpool..

[Dipre]

That's what these guys do best. Do I know only too well.

 

Don't worry, people will stop "fabricating conflicts out of thin air" with you as soon as Lars Anderson, George Kottaras, Daniel Nava, Hunter Jones, Jed Lowrie, Tug Hullett nad Yamaico Navarro all make their 10th consecutive All-Star appearance. We will then all admit you were right and give you the respect you (think) you deserve!

[BSN07]

Are you guys serious? He used an expression in his title and that article speaks to how happy he is with the team. Nowhere in there does he once hint that sox fans should be embarrassed or ashamed. An uberteam is a good thing.

 

You're fabricating conflict out of thin air.

 

I was just speaking to my general overall outlook on Mazz

[lasitter]

So after the most recent signings, it looks like everything is good except for anxiety about catching?

 

I think I could be happy about someone only batting .225 but that had a great arm and that could keep errant pitches in front of him.

 

Anyone left after Martin?

[BSN07]

So after the most recent signings, it looks like everything is good except for anxiety about catching?

 

I think I could be happy about someone only batting .225 but that had a great arm and that could keep errant pitches in front of him.

 

Anyone left after Martin?

 

Their fine with a Salty/Tek platoon right now. They can look to add a Catcher later in the year if necessary. Now if a nice deal comes along for a decent catcher, I wouldn't be opposed to them making a move and have Salty in AAA.

[italstallianion]

Orlando Hudson gets 2/11.5 from the Padres pending a physical. I'm glad that he gets a multiyear deal. He deserves it.

[italstallianion]

Just a quick question, does anyone here know when was the last time the Red Sox were over the luxury tax cutoff, and how often they've been over it?

 

Also, for fun's sake, does anyone know the last time the Yankees were under the luxury tax cutoff?

[Divinity]

Last time would be this year I believe

 

According to a major league source, the Red Sox found out today that they they have indeed gone over the luxury tax threshold for 2010, which also will affect their payroll for 2011.

 

The source also indicated the Red Sox likely went over the threshold when they signed Adrian Beltre last winter.

 

By exceeding the limit they’ll be taxed at a 22.5 percent rate for every dollar over that amount. Because they’ve gone over this year’s threshold, their tax rate increases to 30 percent rate if their payroll tops $178 million in 2011.

[example1]

Just a quick question, does anyone here know when was the last time the Red Sox were over the luxury tax cutoff, and how often they've been over it?

 

Also, for fun's sake, does anyone know the last time the Yankees were under the luxury tax cutoff?

 

They have been over it a few times the past few years. If I had to guess I think they had gone over it 3 times in the Theo era. Could be more.

[italstallianion]

Hmm wow, I didn't think it would have been that recent. The main reason I asked (other than an argument with a Yankee fan friend of mine) is because I wanted to see if Theo was really that much against being in the luxury tax bracket, and whether or not such a "cap" would prevent us from signing someone like Dan Wheeler or Brian Fuentes and the RH bat we could use off the bench.

[Dipre]

Hmm wow' date=' I didn't think it would have been that recent. The main reason I asked (other than an argument with a Yankee fan friend of mine) is because I wanted to see if Theo was really that much against being in the luxury tax bracket, and whether or not such a "cap" would prevent us from signing someone like Dan Wheeler or Brian Fuentes and the RH bat we could use off the bench.[/quote']

 

Why do the Red Sox need another RH bat off the bench?

 

If you go with a bench of:

 

Varitek

Lowrie

Cameron

McDonald

 

You have four guys that can hit lefties well. What more do you want?

[italstallianion]

Why do the Red Sox need another RH bat off the bench?

 

If you go with a bench of:

 

Varitek

Lowrie

Cameron

McDonald

 

You have four guys that can hit lefties well. What more do you want?

 

 

 

First of all, I don't think we have McDonald on our roster yet. He was who I was looking for as a RH bat off the bench when I said it.

 

And to answer your question "what more do I want" how about a 5th righty that can hit lefties well.

[Dipre]

First of all, I don't think we have McDonald on our roster yet. He was who I was looking for as a RH bat off the bench when I said it.

 

And to answer your question "what more do I want" how about a 5th righty that can hit lefties well.

 

That would make the Red Sox the first team to have a 26-man roster since the institution of the 25-man roster rule, since they're going with a twelve-man pitching staff.

[italstallianion]

That would make the Red Sox the first team to have a 26-man roster since the institution of the 25-man roster rule' date=' since they're going with a twelve-man pitching staff.[/quote']

 

 

I don't think you'd know that yet, since it's not like they set their 25 man roster in stone. To my point, I don't think we signed Darnell McDonald yet, so he was who I was looking for when I said that we should get another RH bat off the bench. Other than him, and a lefty reliever, I think our offseason is set. Granted, I'd rather have Dan Wheeler than Atchison or Wakefield, but at this point I'm happy enough with what we have.

[Palodios]

I just want a consistently healthy 4th bat from the bench. I'm a little concerned that a strong breeze may come into the club house and strike one of those guys the wrong way.

[Dipre]

I don't think you'd know that yet' date=' since it's not like they set their 25 man roster in stone. To my point, I don't think we signed Darnell McDonald yet, so he was who I was looking for when I said that we should get another RH bat off the bench. Other than him, and a lefty reliever, I think our offseason is set. Granted, I'd rather have Dan Wheeler than Atchison or Wakefield, but at this point I'm happy enough with what we have.[/quote']

 

McDonald is on the 40-man roster. He's under team control, because he doesn't have enough MLB playing time to become a free agent.

 

As for the 25-man, i'll bet you a one-month "I choose your signature or you choose mine" that the Sox open the season with a four-man bench and twelve-man pitching staff.

[italstallianion]

McDonald is on the 40-man roster. He's under team control, because he doesn't have enough MLB playing time to become a free agent.

 

As for the 25-man, i'll bet you a one-month "I choose your signature or you choose mine" that the Sox open the season with a four-man bench and twelve-man pitching staff.

 

 

No dice. I wouldn't take that bet. I never thought or said that the Red Sox would do otherwise.

[Palodios]

6 relievers when one of them is Wakefield? Ew.