The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[Dojji]

Not only that' date=' but despite how good Beltre was last year, Youk is a good bet to better that. So while it is true they lose two good bats and only replace it with one, the one figures to be better than Youk was at 1B (given the new park) and the 3B figures to be better (more complete hitter). Those additions plus a healthy outfield should more than make up for what is lost from Martinez to whoever catches.[/quote']

 

Not to mention that Salty isn't a bad bet to pleasantly surprise. He's talented.

[a700hitter]

Manny ain't coming back. I'd love to have him . He'd be happy to return. I'd pick him up from the airport and roll out a red carpet for him. The FO will never do it. The odds are better that the sign Crawford. I would place the betting odds as follows:

 

Sox sign Crawford 10:1

Sox sign Manny 100:1

 

I'll take bets of $10 for anyone that wants Manny action, but you have to book an identical bet of mine on Crawford. Anyone with balls step forward.

[a700hitter]

Not to mention that Salty isn't a bad bet to pleasantly surprise. He's talented.

He can't catch. He's a disaster behind the plate.

[BSN07]

Josh Willingham is not a bad option. He had a bit of a down season for him. Why would the National's look to move a value piece like him after making such a huge investment in Werth?

 

Playing at Fenway and in Bostons lineup he could probably hit .275/.370/.500 with 20+ HR and play a decent OF.

[a700hitter]

Playing at Fenway and in Bostons lineup he could probably hit .275/.370/.500 with 20+ HR and play a decent OF.

I don't see the Nationals moving him at this point.

[BSN07]

Manny ain't coming back. I'd love to have him . He'd be happy to return. I'd pick him up from the airport and roll out a red carpet for him. The FO will never do it. The odds are better that the sign Crawford. I would place the betting odds as follows:

 

Sox sign Crawford 1,000,000:1

Sox sign Manny 100:1

 

I'll take bets of $10 for anyone that wants Manny action, but you have to book an identical bet of mine on Crawford. Anyone with balls step forward.

 

Fixed

 

There is 200M reasons not to sign Crawford

[BSN07]

I don't see the Nationals moving him at this point.

 

MLB.com's Bill Ladson hears that Josh Willingham will "most likely" be traded by the Nationals sometime this offseason. The 31-year-old isn't the only National on the trade block either

 

There saying Werth and Zimmerman are the only untouchables on the ML roster.

[BSN07]

The Red Sox are interested in lefty reliever Brian Fuentes, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald

 

Good LH option. Won't cost a 1st round pick.

[a700hitter]

Fixed

 

There is 200M reasons not to sign Crawford

I like your odds even better. Do you have the balls to take my bet?

[Palodios]

There saying Werth and Zimmerman are the only untouchables on the ML roster.

 

This can't be true. Strasburg?!

[bsox0407]

This can't be true. Strasburg?!

 

What about Bryce Harper.

[BSN07]

This can't be true. Strasburg?!

On DL

What about Bryce Harper.

 

In the minors, I Said ML roster. Which around these parts is known as Major League roster

[BSN07]

I like your odds even better. Do you have the balls to take my bet?

 

I will easily take a bet that states Crawford won't be in a Red Sox uniform. Me being in another country might prove tough for financial bets, but I'm willing to make a gentleman's bet with you. We can ask the board what the winner get's

[a700hitter]

I will easily take a bet that states Crawford won't be in a Red Sox uniform. Me being in another country might prove tough for financial bets' date=' but I'm willing to make a gentleman's bet with you. We can ask the board what the winner get's [/quote']You can pay me by Paypal. I'll take your $10 bet on Manny at 100 to 1. I doubt you have the funds to make good on my $10 bet on Crawford at your odds of $1,000,000 to 1, so I'll agree to drop the odds to the same 100 to 1 that I am offering on Manny. If Manny comes to Boston, I owe you $1,000 and Crawford comes to Boston you owe me $1,000. If neither comes to Boston, were even. If anyone loses a bet and skips out on the bet, they leave TalkSox.

[bsox0407]

In the minors' date=' I Said ML roster. Which around these parts is known as Major League roster [/quote']

 

Sorry I missed that. I wasn't exactly paying total attention

[a700hitter]

You can pay me by Paypal. I'll take your $10 bet on Manny at 100 to 1. I doubt you have the funds to make good on my $10 bet on Crawford at your odds of $1' date='000,000 to 1, so I'll agree to drop the odds to the same 100 to 1 that I am offering on Manny. If Manny comes to Boston, I owe you $1,000 and Crawford comes to Boston you owe me $1,000. If neither comes to Boston, were even. If anyone loses a bet and skips out on the bet, they leave TalkSox.[/quote']Are you willing to step up and take the bet BSN07 at much more favorable odds than those set by you?

[redsoxrules]

now why would you want to give a 200M contract to someone with a lifetime 781 OPS ?

 

and speed is how he gets that , imagine in 4-5 years when he starts to lose a step in his legs , then everything goes down the toilet

 

Crawford is overated and is not worth anything more than 12 MIL a year

[a700hitter]

now why would you want to give a 200M contract to someone with a lifetime 781 OPS ?

 

and speed is how he gets that , imagine in 4-5 years when he starts to lose a step in his legs , then everything goes down the toilet

 

Crawford is overated and is not worth anything more than 12 MIL a year

I want him to play for the Red Sox. I haven't offered an opinion on what he should be paid.

[BSN07]

Are you willing to step up and take the bet BSN07 at much more favorable odds than those set by you?

 

If Crawford signs a 8-10 year deal for 180-200M, I will walk away from Talksox. And if Manny comes to the Sox you can send me $1000

[a700hitter]

If Crawford signs a 8-10 year deal for 180-200M' date=' I will walk away from Talksox. And if Manny comes to the Sox you can send me $1000 [/quote']You are changing the terms of the bet. I said that there is a better chance of Crawford coming to the Sox than Manny coming to the Sox. This is not contingent on salaries. You are the one who is certain about Crawford's cost, not me. Since you are a dead beat, the bet will be, I give you $1,000 if Manny signs with Boston and you leave TalkSox if Crawford signs with the Sox. No salary parameters. No balls.

[SoxSport]

I think they'll add a RHd power hitter--mainly for DH against LHP. Papi against LHP makes no sense.With the Yankees possibly having 3 LHd starters next year, they will have to make up for the "loss" of Werth.

Possibilities include Willingham, Ordonez, D.Lee. Somebody mentioned Manny. Ha. To keep him from NY, yes. But how much money does he want? That would be key. Plus what the players think. After all, this is a guy who quit for money.

[SoxSport]

now why would you want to give a 200M contract to someone with a lifetime 781 OPS ?

 

and speed is how he gets that , imagine in 4-5 years when he starts to lose a step in his legs , then everything goes down the toilet

 

Crawford is overated and is not worth anything more than 12 MIL a year

 

I don't think they ever considered Crawford. That was a screen. They wanted AdGon--and Werth. They got blindsided by Rizzo on Werth while they were negotiating AdGon's contract.

Boras pulled the string quickly--never giving the Red Sox a chance.

 

Crawford isn't a good fit because they have Ellsbury and Kalish--similar players. And Ellsbury will be up for contract in a few years. So its him or Crawford. And Ellsbury is still cheap for awhile.

 

I think Ellsbury, Drew, Cameron and Kalish will share the OF duties next year, possibly with McDonald.

[a700hitter]

I don't think they ever considered Crawford. That was a screen. They wanted AdGon--and Werth. They got blindsided by Rizzo on Werth while they were negotiating AdGon's contract.

Boras pulled the string quickly--never giving the Red Sox a chance.

 

Crawford isn't a good fit because they have Ellsbury and Kalish--similar players. And Ellsbury will be up for contract in a few years. So its him or Crawford. And Ellsbury is still cheap for awhile.

 

I think Ellsbury, Drew, Cameron and Kalish will share the OF duties next year, possibly with McDonald.

Would you like to take the bet?

[redsoxrules]

Fenway would also kill the limited power crawford had even with the fence moving in 9 feet

[Will617]

I wonder if Colby Rasmus is still available. He'd cost a lot less in prospects than Upton, and he's not a bad player either. Sox system is a bit depleted, though. And it wouldn't make a lot of sense for the Cardinals to drop him given their poor OF depth, regardless of what Tony La Russa thinks about Rasmus' "toughness" and "scrapiness".

[bsox0407]

Red Sox Interested In Fuentes, Mahay

By Tim Dierkes [December 6 at 12:12pm CST]

 

The Red Sox are interested in lefty relievers Brian Fuentes and Ron Mahay, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. The Sox clearly have a need for southpaw relief, and unlike Scott Downs, Fuentes and Mahay will not cost a draft pick.

 

I wonder if Fuentes will first try to find a closing job. The Orioles are known to have contacted Fuentes' agent and can pitch a ninth inning opening. Though they seek a closer, the Diamondbacks are not in on Fuentes according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.

 

Check out my free agent stock watch piece on Fuentes here. My one-year, $4MM idea from October now seems light.

[Dojji]

Mahay? Plznoplznonoplz.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I wonder if Colby Rasmus is still available. He'd cost a lot less in prospects than Upton' date=' and he's not a bad player either. Sox system is a bit depleted, though. And it wouldn't make a lot of sense for the Cardinals to drop him given their poor OF depth, regardless of what Tony La Russa thinks about Rasmus' "toughness" and "scrapiness".[/quote']

 

I'd be interested to know if he's an option still also. Theo mentioned in the Gonzalez press conference that they'd be looking at getting bullpen help and adding another RH bat to bolster the lineup. He also mentioned they wouldn't be upset with the current OF core, but at least they'll look into it. I'd imagine Either, Rasmus, Upton all get talked about in the coming weeks.

[Will617]

I'd be interested to know if he's an option still also. Theo mentioned in the Gonzalez press conference that they'd be looking at getting bullpen help and adding another RH bat to bolster the lineup. He also mentioned they wouldn't be upset with the current OF core' date=' but at least they'll look into it. I'd imagine Either, Rasmus, Upton all get talked about in the coming weeks.[/quote']

 

I forgot about the handedness issue. Maybe Matt Kemp? Though he runs into the same problems as Rasmus (in terms of prying him from the Dodgers).

[Dipre]

I'd be interested to know if he's an option still also. Theo mentioned in the Gonzalez press conference that they'd be looking at getting bullpen help and adding another RH bat to bolster the lineup. He also mentioned they wouldn't be upset with the current OF core' date=' but at least they'll look into it. I'd imagine Either, Rasmus, Upton all get talked about in the coming weeks.[/quote']

 

There is such a thing as the need for balance in roster construction.

 

I've mentioned this many times, but here it goes again:

 

For his career, Carl Crawford boasts a .697 OPS vs. lefties, and last year, his contract year, and best year to date, he posted a .696 OPS vs lefties. So if you sign him (quite possibly at 22 per for eight years by the way), you have him and David Ortiz' atrocious .596 OPS vs lefties in the same lineup.

 

So you're telling me that the Sox should give up on addressing other needs so they can acquire the shiny new toy (who's pretty close to a platoon player) to a contract that will be an albatross half-way through? Thanks, but no thanks.

 

See, here's my real issue with the "now, now, now" mentality, and it's that the people who sport said mentality are the first to turn around and say "well that was a stupid contract" once the player regresses.

 

Get a RHH OF (Ordonez, Willingham) on a short term deal and then find a more suitable option long term.