Sox sign Crawford

[example1]

Anyone in the media going to talk s*** about Theo's "bridge year" comment now?

[bsox0407]

2010 I guess was the Bridge year?? I thought we had a damn good team last year.

[Jasonbay44]

2010 I guess was the Bridge year?? I thought we had a damn good team last year.

 

What killed us last year was injuries, assuming everybody (Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury) comes back healthy and as effective as they were before injuries, with the new acquisitions, this team should be a legit world series contender.

[SCM33]

What killed us last year was injuries' date=' assuming everybody (Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury) comes back healthy and as effective as they were before injuries, with the new acquisitions, this team should be a legit world series contender.[/quote']

 

Assuming they target the bullpen as their next need for improvement!!!

[example1]

Right, it was a bridge to adding Crawford and Gonzalez to an already really strong core. In the process they will still have some draft picks and a strong and deep minor league system.

 

With their recent drafts they aren't far from being able to trade for another significant player or two over the next few seasons too.

[Jasonbay44]

Assuming they target the bullpen as their next need for improvement!!!

 

That too, I'm definitely not confident in the bullpen they currently have AT ALL. I could also go for Russell Martin at catcher.

[bsox0407]

What killed us last year was injuries' date=' assuming everybody (Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury) comes back healthy and as effective as they were before injuries, with the new acquisitions, this team should be a legit world series contender.[/quote']

 

It matters what happens in the Bullpen and catcher. I think Papelbon will come back from his personal Hell Last Year. You know Pedey already wants to be on the Field. Youk i bet is chomping at the bit. and Ells i dont know i hope he plays like he can. But He needs to get his s*** together and Play some f***ing Baseball.

 

Bullpen could use some arms though

[bsox0407]

Right, it was a bridge to adding Crawford and Gonzalez to an already really strong core. In the process they will still have some draft picks and a strong and deep minor league system.

 

With their recent drafts they aren't far from being able to trade for another significant player or two over the next few seasons too.

 

As of this second we have the 19th. We still have to wait to see what happens to Beltre.

[example1]

Assuming they target the bullpen as their next need for improvement!!!

 

Don't get nervous. The bullpen will get a few arms, a few we will like, others we will be skeptical of. It is all about adding bullpen depth and versatility and hoping one of the better guys is able to be a shutdown reliever like Oki was when he first arrived. One of those guys added to Papelbon and Bard would make this a very good pen. They should have SP that can make it deeper into games, if all goes well with the pitching staff.

 

Adding Scott Downs for a 2nd round pick would be a fine move. Continue to harvest the better players from our division rivals. :thumbsup:

[Youker20]

I dont know whats better, that sox have crawford or the fact we never have to play against this guy ever again. he was probably the guy i hated the most on any other team (in a good way, not like i wanna kill you way) because he also KILLED us.. Thank God hes on our side now

[jacksonianmarch]

Right, it was a bridge to adding Crawford and Gonzalez to an already really strong core. In the process they will still have some draft picks and a strong and deep minor league system.

 

With their recent drafts they aren't far from being able to trade for another significant player or two over the next few seasons too.

 

Example, while I agree totally that their drafts have been very good over the past 2 seasons, I would hesitate to call your farm deep at this point. Deep to me entails talent at all levels, and after the AdGon deal, your talent above A ball is really lacking.

 

In terms of the Crawford deal, it's a bit puzzling. It makes the sox pretty left handed. It's also strange that this management decided to go 7 yrs on a speedster who isn't far from his 30th bday and relies on his speed for almost his entire game. I think you can probably kiss Ellsbury goodbye after 2011, since they are similar and theyd probably not go long term with him. This definitely shores up OF defense and adds another athletic dimension to the team, but in Fenway, his pull power will be diminished by the dimensions. I also wonder where e fits in the order. Do they lead him off and moves Ells back to 9, or do they bat him lower in the order and minimize his scoring oops.

[Mikon]

Example, while I agree totally that their drafts have been very good over the past 2 seasons, I would hesitate to call your farm deep at this point. Deep to me entails talent at all levels, and after the AdGon deal, your talent above A ball is really lacking.

 

In terms of the Crawford deal, it's a bit puzzling. It makes the sox pretty left handed. It's also strange that this management decided to go 7 yrs on a speedster who isn't far from his 30th bday and relies on his speed for almost his entire game. I think you can probably kiss Ellsbury goodbye after 2011, since they are similar and theyd probably not go long term with him. This definitely shores up OF defense and adds another athletic dimension to the team, but in Fenway, his pull power will be diminished by the dimensions. I also wonder where e fits in the order. Do they lead him off and moves Ells back to 9, or do they bat him lower in the order and minimize his scoring oops.

 

May I add a possibility?

Trading Ellsbury, this year or the next one, for a righty?

About Crawford, isn't he the kind of player like Ichiro? The late one is old but still have a lot of speed. Being as athletic as Crawford is, it would not be a surprise to see him still "fast enough" in his last years.

[Emmz]

the speed doesn't diminish, the ability to drive the ball does.

[diony]

20 million for Kenny Lofton with less OBP

[Emmz]

17 million for Jeter, with less everything.

[BSN07]

On the bright side' date=' this leaves a700 with [b']absolutely nothing to bitch about for the following season[/b] which makes me extremely happy.

 

^ This

 

I said NWIH it would happen if it was going to take the 8-180M that was being rumored. This is a lot less, but still a ton of money and I don't like this deal past year 4. I'm hoping Crawford ages better then i think he's going to.

[mvp 78]

Russell Martin has sucked the past two years and there's no sign of him turning it around. If you want a .250 hitter with no pop, at least make sure he's good defensively. The advanced stats don't look any better. Everyone, please put your RuMart boners away.

[BSN07]

I threw it together quickly. I don't really love him leadoff because of the OBP.

 

And Crawford hates lead off. I'm guessing he hit's 3rd or 5th.

[BSN07]

I've always said that on the whole the FO does an excellent job. I also said after the miserable end of last season that I expected bold things from the FO this off season. AGon was great, and that was enough for many, but I felt that there was another shoe to drop. I preferred Crawford over Lee, but if they wanted to close the gap on the Yanks, one of those moves had to be made. If the Yanks landed them both we'd be playing for second place. It will be fun to watch Crawford and Ellsbury run down balls in the gap and play running bases with old man Posada. It should be a lot of fun.

 

And let this be a reminder to all of you:

 

A700 is almost always right.

 

(except in certain rare circumstances)

 

:lol::lol:

 

Yes you where right. It wasn't for the years and $ we where debating, but in the end Crawford is in a Red Sox uniform. I still think the back half of the deal is risky, but I won't say I'm not looking forward to seeing what he can do in the 1st half of it.

 

Also(not directed at you), this pretty much cancels any "the FO is cheap" talk for the next few years. The Red Sox will have 2 players making 20M+ AAV. Something they have never had before.

 

 

I'm still catching up in the thread so this may have been mentioned and I haven't gotten to it yet. But this may make Ellsbury more expendable. Anyone see him and a couple prospects going to LA for Kemp or AZ for Upton? Just a thought.

[BSN07]

E1, why are you hating on Theo?

 

Sorry, but I deserve to have some fun after almost everyone told me that I was insane for thinking this deal was a possibility.

 

Not too much fun I think most of us where saying how the Tex sized deal that was being rumored was insane. This deal isn't insane, it's probably an overpay, but it's nothing compared to if he really got a Tex deal.

 

Ex1 has done a good job of selling me on the financial aspects of the deal. I still have my worries, but realistically what long term deals don't have risk :dunno:.

[a700hitter]

Yes you where right. It wasn't for the years and $ we where debating' date=' but in the end Crawford is in a Red Sox uniform. I still think the back half of the deal is risky, but I won't say I'm not looking forward to seeing what he can do in the 1st half of it.[/quote']I never once debated the size of the contract. I have no idea what the basis was for the $180-200 million figure that you and others were throwing around.

[Dojji]

To me, this means a couple players days in Boston are numbered.

 

I think Lowrie, Ellsbury and Kalish all have the chance to be part of a deal for Beltran now.

 

Doesn't follow. Scutaro, Drew and Cameron are all coming off the books at the end of the year, the players you name are on hand to replace them.

[BSN07]

Sorry if this has been posted, but it made m laugh

 

Alex Speier of WEEI.com passes along another executive's first impression on the deal: "Holy (expletive). Think about that lineup.

[BSN07]

I never once debated the size of the contract. I have no idea what the basis was for the $180-200 million figure that you and others were throwing around.

 

No it wasn't you that brought up the size of the deal. It was just the reports going around right after the Werth signing of what it was going to take to sign him. If you remember I was conveniently positioned at the top of the Werth/Crawford fence when the deal came through

Then all the, "this changes the market completely" talk came out and it was all the sudden going to be a 8/180M deal to get him. This is what ultimately led me to being 100% against Crawford. I had other worries but, I could get over those if they happen to get him, just not on a Tex deal. In the end like I said, i have a few concerns, but I won't complain he's part of the team.

[a700hitter]

Not too much fun I think most of us where saying how the Tex sized deal that was being rumored was insane. This deal isn't insane, it's probably an overpay, but it's nothing compared to if he really got a Tex deal.

 

Ex1 has done a good job of selling me on the financial aspects of the deal. I still have my worries, but realistically what long term deals don't have risk :dunno:.

All along I kept saying all along that I thought it was a possibility that he would get signed. I also disputed that Werth was the better value. On both counts I was mocked and told that I was nuts, high on drugs etc. When people started discussing Manny, I thought my head would explode because there was zero chance they would bring back a guy that forced himself out of town, and who demanded a trade, but I was told that there was a better chance of that than getting Crawford.

[Dipre]

20 million for Kenny Lofton with less OBP

 

You're totally and completely full of crap.

 

You were rubbing your boner at the possibility of him and Lee signing with the Yankees, hypocrite.

[Dojji]

Russell Martin has sucked the past two years and there's no sign of him turning it around. If you want a .250 hitter with no pop' date=' at least make sure he's good defensively. The advanced stats don't look any better. Everyone, please put your RuMart boners away.[/quote']

 

He's a medium to high OBP hitter with useful speed and above average D. The pitching staffs hes caught by and large have outperformed. He's a very interesting low cost investment at catcher, and he can run the bases when healthy. We're not going to replace V-Mart with another V-Mart, so adding a young Jason Kendall type makes a lot of sense.

 

I love this move more the more I think about it. Coming off a year where power was way down in the post-steroid era, we have invested in one of the best power hitters and loaded up on the other reliable way to score runs -- speed.

 

I think that if we make a move in the outfield to abate our lefthandedness issues, it'll be JD on the move. With all the insane money that's been thrown around in the meantime, a measly $14M for an all around decent ballplayer isn't that much anymore, he's possibly moveable. Grabbing Beltran and abating the contract gain by moving Drew, then sticking Beltran in right, would be yet another bold move that could materially improve the team yet again.

[BSN07]

All along I kept saying all along that I thought it was a possibility that he would get signed. I also disputed that Werth was the better value. On both counts I was mocked and told that I was nuts' date=' high on drugs etc. When people started discussing Manny, I thought my head would explode because there was zero chance they would bring back a guy that forced himself out of town, and who demanded a trade, but I was told that there was a better chance of that than getting Crawford.[/quote']

 

A better chance of Manny then Crawford getting 8/180 I believe was my original point. But let's rejoice and move on to more positive thoughts and start discussing lineup options :thumbsup:

 

I think they still need to get Martin. Now Downs isn't as bad because he won't cost a 1st rounder and the Sox would be screwing Toronto on a 1st round pick for the second consecutive year. But he's still gonna want three years and possibly to close. So if they get a couple BP arms they should be good to go. Now if they don't move Ellsbury(I doubt he can pass a physical if he's still having pain)

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Agon

Youk

Crawford

Martin

Ortiz

Drew

Scutaro

 

Ortiz may not like hitting 7th, but he will love all the RBI opportunities Crawford and Martin will give him. This lineup isn't just strong 1-9. It has pretty much 2 X 1-5 line ups pushed into one. I would bet a 1-5 of

 

Crawford

Martin

Ortiz

Drew

Scutaro

 

is better then a lot of teams actual 1-5. It's the perfect lineup

[Dojji]

You're totally and completely full of crap.

 

You were rubbing your boner at the possibility of him and Lee signing with the Yankees, hypocrite.

 

What's more, in this market, an in-his-prime Lofton would definitely have fetched that much.

[Dojji]

A better chance of Manny then Crawford getting 8/180 I believe was my original point. But let's rejoice and move on to more positive thoughts and start discussing lineup options :thumbsup:

 

I think they still need to get Martin. Now Downs isn't as bad because he won't cost a 1st rounder and the Sox would be screwing Toronto on a 1st round pick for the second consecutive year. But he's still gonna want three years and possibly to close. So if they get a couple BP arms they should be good to go. Now if they don't move Ellsbury(I doubt he can pass a physical if he's still having pain)

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Agon

Youk

Crawford

Martin

Ortiz

Drew

Scutaro

 

Ortiz may not like hitting 7th, but he will love all the RBI opportunities Crawford and Martin will give him. This lineup isn't just strong 1-9. It has pretty much 2 X 1-5 line ups pushed into one. I would bet a 1-5 of

 

Crawford

Martin

Ortiz

Drew

Scutaro

 

is better then a lot of teams actual 1-5. It's the perfect lineup

 

Any combination of Crawford, Ellsbury, Martin, Pedroia, Lowrie and Scutaro would make an effective one-two punch in a lineup. We're pretty much going to have a bottom third of the lineup full of leadoff and #2 hitters, which is incredible.