I'd like to take another look at bringing in Jose Reyes

[Dojji]

As much as I don't think SS is really a problem for the Sox, I see an opportunity to improve here for short value in prospects. Reyes plays for the Mets (duh) who are in deep financial doodoo and would like to move contracts. Reyes has underperformed his contract but still has a high level of skill and seems to be relatively healthy atm. I see a definite positive impact to the team in bringing him on board and the cost in talent shouldn't be insane.

 

Furthermore, even though last year wasn't Reyes' best, he still would have been the American League's best offensive shortstop. The timing to load up offensively at shortstop has never been better in this league.

 

That, and the idea of all three of Reyes, Crawford and Ellsbury plying their trade pn the basepaths for us frankly makes me a little giddy.

 

With the financial trouble the Mets are in right now, shedding veteran contracts is in their best interest, and the price in talent may be low because of the $11M in badly needed salary relief. Furthermore, they're unlikely to be able to re-up Reyes anyway, so any return better than a sandwich pick would be seen s a positive and trading Reyes is very likely high on the Mets organization's priority. If their financial crap really hits the fan, we could seriously buy low here. If there's any chance that's true, we need to get on board and try to pick up whatever edge we can, because we're in Go For It mode right now and we may never have a better opportunity. I think it makes all kinds of sense to go for it here. Ellsbury, Crawford and Reyes combined in some order in the 9, 1 and 2 holes would be awesome to watch.

[Palodios]

The Mets are waiting for Reyes's value to go back up. If they wanted to sell low, they would have done it this offseason, especially with such a short market at SS. He'll go midseason to a desperate contender. With Lowrie, and Iggy as possibly future shortstops, and Scutaro with a 2012 option, I see him as a longshot-- plus, it will take much bigger prospects that I think you're willing to believe.

[Dojji]

I really doubt the cost is that high, Paoldios. It depends on how the $1B lawsuit against the Wilpons goes, but until it resolves just the fact that it's there means they can't move money around to help pay for salaries. If they were just having a little trouble making debt payments that'd be one thing, but all signs point to that organization being totally stuck for lack of funds. Floating a loan from MLB is a desperate measure if there ever was one. If they can't pay their salaries, Reyes and Beltran could be moved for pennies on the dollar.

 

I wouldn't mind sticking with Lowrie, but his odds of becoming an elite player here are lower than Reyes' IMHO. And I'd swap out Scutaro for Reyes any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[Dipre]

Trading for an injury-prone SS who's about to get really expensive when i have not one, not two, but three viable options at the position?

 

No thanks.

[Palodios]

I really doubt the cost is that high' date=' Paoldios. [/quote']

 

Atleast $60 million more than the options they have, plus prospects from a completely wiped out farm system. All with the risk of injury. Despite Scutaro's seeming mediocrity, he's actually one of the best AL SS, and Iggy's defense, or the possibility of Lowrie's complete package are far and away better options than most AL SS.

 

Also, I don't care if you butcher the end of my name... just get "Pal" right

[Dojji]

Reyes had 600 PA last year.

 

It was the lowest total of his career since he was splitting time with Kaz Matsui in '04. With one exception -- the SINGLE SOLITARY YEAR in which he missed significant playing time thanks to injury in 2009.

 

People need to stop overreacting when an athlete has injury troubles for one freaking year.

[Dojji]

Trading for an injury-prone SS who's about to get really expensive when i have not one, not two, but three viable options at the position?

 

No thanks.

 

Chances are very good that Jose Reyes will be better than any one of those 3 options. Especially if you're scouting Scutaro.

[italstallianion]

I wouldn't be surprised if Reyes is better than any of the options. In fact, I predict that Reyes will be better than any of those players, especially in the near future. But that doesn't mean that the Red Sox should go out and get him.

 

To be honest, without knowing how much Reyes will cost in terms of money, prospects, and future money (if we're talking an extension), and without knowing any rumours that would lead one to believe that Theo and company are in talks about Reyes, are looking to get Reyes, or are even considering Reyes, then we can't really argue one way or another what we should do. We might as well be saying that the Red Sox should get Pujols or Lee or anyone that makes the team better.

[Dojji]

I'd be surprised if Theo isn't sniffing around the Mets situation to see if he can improve the team. No sure knowledge of this, no, but if 29 teams aren't at least discussing internally ways they could exploit the Mets' financial collapse to their advantage then someone's sleeping on the job. They're not likely to be able to re-sign Reyes anyway with their finances in this much a jumble, so getting what you can for him makes a lot of sense from NYM's perspective.

 

I think we can say with some certainty that Reyes would make the team better. Question is, how much better and is it worth taking the risk over the guys we have. I'm willing to go for it because I suspect he's quite a bit more durable than Lowrie, and a better two-way ballplayer than Marco "Slightly Below Average In All Facets Of The Game" Scutaro. I still think he has a few years of 2007 left in him. If he doesn't, it was a one year risk and we'd still have at least one, probably more, of the options we have now to fill the gap going forward..

[Palodios]

Slightly below average? Name one AL SS who was significantly better than him in 2010.

[Dojji]

Alexei Ramirez. At least slightly better offensively, worlds apart on D. Why, Ramirez is actually good defensively. Has this thing called "range" going for him you know.

[Palodios]

Offensively is a complete wash, maybe even advantage Scutaro because of A-ram's abysmal OBP. Defense for Scutaro was a bit down, but that had a lot to do with the injuries he was playing through. Either way, he's been well above average at SS in the AL the last two years. Take Reyes' career .769 OPS into the AL East, and I'd bet you its pretty close to Scutaro's.

 

Edit: The last three years.

[italstallianion]

And you'd imagine that for Scutaro to be "below average" in all facets of the game, that you'd have a few shortstops that are clearly better than him.

[Dojji]

Yeah I'm sorry, advantage is heavily on Ramirez 's side when you take the homer glasses off. Besides the slight advantage in OPS and OPS+, Ramirez production in little insignificant columns like "HR," "RBI" and "SLG" are worlds apart. Also Ramirez is a plus defender while Scoot is a minus defender. Sure Scoot is a tough at bat, not taking that away from him, but it's literally all he has to offer.

[Palodios]

Someone needs to take the Jose Reyes glasses off. Their OPS were pretty similar. RBIs mean nothing for a guy who hit leadoff last year in Scutaro. HRs, sure, but Scutaro got on base a heckuva lot more(which is what you want in a leadoff hitter). I'm not saying Scutaro is an incredible SS, all I'm saying is that calling him "slightly below average" means that Alexi is the only average player, and no above average players exist. That doesn't seem logical to me.

 

Fun fact-- Lowrie's WAR in 2010 was very similar to Scutaro's in 1/3 the games.

[italstallianion]

I agree that Alexei Ramirez is better than Marco Scutaro. Granted, I wasn't the one arguing against you on that point, but my point is that in order for Marco Scutaro to be "below average" in all phases of the game, then at least half of the SS's out there would have to be better than him in every facet of the game, and I don't think that's true.

 

And I definitely think that Jose Reyes is better than Marco Scutaro as well, but that doesn't mean that Scutaro is worse than at least half of the weak SS crowd, and nor does that mean that the Red Sox need to get him. or that it would be a greater benefit to the Red Sox team to have Reyes than the cost it would take to acquire him, depending on what those costs might be.

[Dipre]

Fun fact-- Lowrie's WAR in 2010 was very similar to Scutaro's in 1/3 the games.

 

That's :

 

A) A fluke.

 

B ) Very misleading anyway, because Scutaro's WAR was negatively impacted very heavily because of his negative UZR which was a direct result of his injury.

[Palodios]

Its still a fun fact

[SoxSport]

After seeing Iglesias against the Yankees tonite, it looks like the Red Sox won't have any SS needs for awhile. This kid is already at the all-star level defensively: very quick, fast release, great arm. Speedy on the bases. Can take a pitch. Flashy-looking SS.

 

They beat most of the NY regulars tonite with mostly a minor league team. Doesn't mean much, of course. Kalish looks like he belongs. Reddick made a great catch in LF. Nava is a switch hitter. Drove in the first run batting RHd. Lowrie, another switcher, can play every infield position. Played first base tonite. Super-sub. That lefty Williams pitched an inning and looked OK. They have a bunch of lefties competing for a BP job, and you hope they keep a couple, looking at that Yankee lineup.

 

You look at their pitching and their bullpen needs, and you wonder how they can possibly keep Wakefield hanging around another year.

[Dojji]

Palodios: Why do you suddenly have Gom's avatar?

[Palodios]

Boredom, mostly.

[redsoxrules]

Realy dojji ?

 

what about Lowrie? the one you argued about for months that he should be the starting SS on this team , now Reyes ? no confidence in Lowrie anymore?

[BSN07]

Reyes had 600 PA last year.

 

Wow he was able to get to the dish 600 times last year. Impressive. What did he do with those PA's? A whopping .321 OBP... .... No thanks.

 

The Red Sox already have what Reyes can provide. He doesn't add a lot to this team besides salary.

[Dojji]

And switch hitting 15-20 HR power, and 40+ SB speed. If Reyes even has an average season for him, it makes our lineup ridiculous.

[BSN07]

And switch hitting 15-20 HR power' date=' and 40+ SB speed. If Reyes even has an average season for him, it makes our lineup ridiculous.[/quote']

 

The lineup is ridiculous as is. Reyes is redundant. They don't need him. Your starting to sound like a Yankee fan and wanting a "name" at each position. But I'll let it slide since your stuck in the winter wonderland that is Maine and your are probably just bored

[Northern Star]

The lineup is ridiculous as is. Reyes is redundant. They don't need him. Your starting to sound like a Yankee fan and wanting a "name" at each position. But I'll let it slide since your stuck in the winter wonderland that is Maine and your are probably just bored

 

I agree. Giving up multiple prospects just weakens the farm. I know we're made of money, but we should still spend wisely, and still do as much as we can to bring in young, cheaper guys through the farm. I'm also not sold on Reyes' health, and for all his talent he has yet to truly dominate.

[mvp 78]

And switch hitting 15-20 HR power' date=' and 40+ SB speed. If Reyes even has an average season for him, it makes our lineup ridiculous.[/quote']

 

Ridiculously overpaid. SB's are for fantasy purposes only. A single and SB isn't the same as a double, especially with runners on base. Let's be happy with some cheaper options filling out the roster.

 

Simply put, he's not worth giving up prospects when the SS position is 3 deep this year.

[jacksonianmarch]

Reyes is intriguing enough for the Mets to ask for a king's ransom even though he's flaky enough to be an average to below average SS this yr depending on health and OBP. The sox, IMO, dont have enough to land him right now, even though they might get him at a discount at midseason

[Dipre]

Free Jed, he's the best shortstop in the AL!!!!!

[Palodios]

Free Jed' date=' he's the best shortstop in the AL!!!!![/size']

 

This.