2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[seabeachfred]

WB and Jung---I hate to say it but I think you are right about Ellsbury. Unless the Red Sox hit him with a humongous contract he is gone after 2013. And this is all Epstein's fault for his lying to him as well as disrespecting him. One of the most ridiculous things I ever heard from any baseball executive was uttered by the Boy Blunder before the 2010 season when he muttered that he was moving Ellsbury to left field "TO SAVE HIS LEGS". What pure lying crap that was. He was moved to left to cover for Epstein's disastrous signing of Mike Cameron who was signed to replace Jason Bay, who had hit 36 homers and driven in 119 runs but wasn't resigned because of Epstein's equally ridiculous assertion that Bay's knees couldn't hold up and he would need a major operation on them......IN 2014!!!!!!

 

Then Ells was ordered to deal only with the Red Sox medical staff who misdiagnosed his rib injury and cost him his 2010 season. Finally he said to hell with it and would seek his own medical help. That miserable medical staff who also misdiagnosed Buchholz' injury this season, Pedroia's in the middle of the 2010 season and Youk's in June of 2009, they are still with us. Why, I don't have a clue.

 

So yes, I'm afraid Ellsbury will be gone after two more seasons. In my opinion Epstein will not be missed and most likely won't do much in Chicago either.

[italstallianion]

WB and Jung---I hate to say it but I think you are right about Ellsbury. Unless the Red Sox hit him with a humongous contract he is gone after 2013. And this is all Epstein's fault for his lying to him as well as disrespecting him. One of the most ridiculous things I ever heard from any baseball executive was uttered by the Boy Blunder before the 2010 season when he muttered that he was moving Ellsbury to left field "TO SAVE HIS LEGS". What pure lying crap that was. He was moved to left to cover for Epstein's disastrous signing of Mike Cameron who was signed to replace Jason Bay, who had hit 36 homers and driven in 119 runs but wasn't resigned because of Epstein's equally ridiculous assertion that Bay's knees couldn't hold up and he would need a major operation on them......IN 2014!!!!!!

 

Then Ells was ordered to deal only with the Red Sox medical staff who misdiagnosed his rib injury and cost him his 2010 season. Finally he said to hell with it and would seek his own medical help. That miserable medical staff who also misdiagnosed Buchholz' injury this season, Pedroia's in the middle of the 2010 season and Youk's in June of 2009, they are still with us. Why, I don't have a clue.

 

So yes, I'm afraid Ellsbury will be gone after two more seasons. In my opinion Epstein will not be missed and most likely won't do much in Chicago either.

 

 

For the record, it's not like Jason Bay hasn't totally sucked ass with the Mets the past 2 years.

[jung]

The move to left, the med staff screw up, Ells going outside the Sox organization for his rehab and then getting dinged for it by Youk....all adds up to "I am outta here".

 

While for obvious reasons I do not want to see Ells hurt again, I would be willing to bet that it it were to happen, after the mandatory Sox examination and process, Ells would be on to a second opinion as fast as his legs would carry him and if needed we would likely see a repeat of his doing rehab outside of the Sox org as well.

[Laser Show]

For the record' date=' it's not like Jason Bay hasn't totally sucked ass with the Mets the past 2 years.[/quote']

 

But he definitely didn't suck in Boston. The Mets just find ways to kill good players. Beltran, Bay, Santana, Pedro (not as much, already older and injury prone), Reyes, Wright, Vaughn, Burnitz, amongst others.

 

I think we need to trade Youk, Ellsbury, and Beckett. Ellsbury while his value is at an all time high. Youk and Beckett because they don't seem to be positive role models for the young guys. Go forward with a nucleus of Gonzo, Pedroia, Crawford, Lester, Buchholz, and Papelbon. Build around those guys. Utilize their strengths. Find a leadoff hitter, and go Crawford, Gonzo, Pedroia at the 2, 3, 4.

[commenter]

But he definitely didn't suck in Boston. The Mets just find ways to kill good players. Beltran, Bay, Santana, Pedro (not as much, already older and injury prone), Reyes, Wright, Vaughn, Burnitz, amongst others.

 

I think we need to trade Youk, Ellsbury, and Beckett. Ellsbury while his value is at an all time high. Youk and Beckett because they don't seem to be positive role models for the young guys. Go forward with a nucleus of Gonzo, Pedroia, Crawford, Lester, Buchholz, and Papelbon. Build around those guys. Utilize their strengths. Find a leadoff hitter, and go Crawford, Gonzo, Pedroia at the 2, 3, 4.

 

I don't know about trading Ellsbury, when you have no idea what you're getting out of Crawford. If Crawford returns to form, then maybe. But if he doesn't, then the team is screwed. I wouldn't trade Youkilis either because he's the exact type of player that needs to stay -- one who takes accountability & puts everything into the game when he's healthy. And, they aren't going to get much for him.

 

But I full heartily agree with trading Beckett. Trade Beckett to a team who desperately needs pitching. The free agent pool for pitchers is limited. If they paid part of his salary (which they'd obviously have to do), they could get some good young major league ready talent for him, which is what they need. They to start putting more into their farm system, because it's been completely overrated. They have no pitcher in their farm system who can come up & contribute. With the bad seasons that some of them had & their lack of progress, who knows when they'll be ready -- but it won't be any time soon. That means that they're going to have to continue signing free agents & that's not a way to build a team.

 

Seriously, the management has to stop relying on free agents to build this team. They should build from within & stop trading away all their talent.

[User Name]

This team needs to find pitching, not trade it away. Don't let chicken-and-beergate cloud your judgement of the role Beckett should play for this team next year. Also, no way the Sox would get market value for Beckett. The idea is not logically sound.

 

Also, how is this team not building from within? Papelbon, Lester, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Bard, Lavarnway, Youkilis, Reddick, Doubront all homegrown with possibly Kalish joining in 2012 and Middlebrooks in 2013.

 

The problem is not signing FA or making trades, since closing the possibility of exploring outside talent to build a team is (and i don't mean it as an insult, just the honest truth) downright stupid. What needs to happen is a change of how the FO evaluates free agents and how they fit with the team.

[Palodios]

This team needs to find pitching' date=' not trade it away. Don't let chicken-and-beergate cloud your judgement of the role Beckett should play for this team next year. Also, no way the Sox would get market value for Beckett.[/quote']

 

Elite pitchers always get monster hauls. Always. If there was a team willing to trade a #3 and a #4 type pitcher for Beckett, would you do it? I know I sure as hell would.

[User Name]

Elite pitchers always get monster hauls. Always. If there was a team willing to trade a #3 and a #4 type pitcher for Beckett' date=' would you do it? I know I sure as hell would.[/quote']

 

Elite pitchers that don't make seventeen million a year and are over thirty.

 

The scenario you present doesn't take into account that Beckett is one of the best-paid pitchers in the game, with a long-term contract to boot. For it to happen, the Sox would have to kick in enough money to pay the #4 pitcher they'd be getting, and the #3 pitcher probably wouldn't be as good as Beckett, signifying a net loss.

[Palodios]

Elite pitchers that don't make seventeen million a year and are over thirty.

 

The scenario you present doesn't take into account that Beckett is one of the best-paid pitchers in the game, with a long-term contract to boot. For it to happen, the Sox would have to kick in enough money to pay the #4 pitcher they'd be getting, and the #3 pitcher probably wouldn't be as good as Beckett, signifying a net loss.

 

You're exaggerating. 3/51 is not that expensive to pay a guy until he's 34. And no, the #3 wouldn't be as good as Beckett, but that's the point, you're trading quality for quantity and affordability.

[User Name]

You're exaggerating. 3/51 is not that expensive to pay a guy until he's 34. And no' date=' the #3 wouldn't be as good as Beckett, but that's the point, you're trading quality for quantity and affordability.[/quote']

 

Give me three teams who have the financial flexibility to eat Beckett's contract while trading away two cost-controlled pitchers. There's no exaggeration in reality.

 

Beckett's not good enough to warrant the above without them kicking in a significant amount of money, but good enough that the Sox shouldn't sell low on him.

 

Solution? Keep him.

[a700hitter]

For the record' date=' it's not like Jason Bay hasn't totally sucked ass with the Mets the past 2 years.[/quote']But that has had nothing to do with his knees which have been fine. About the only thing that he has done well the last 2 seasons is run.

[Palodios]

Give me three teams who have the financial flexibility to eat Beckett's contract while trading away two cost-controlled pitchers. There's no exaggeration in reality.

 

Beckett's not good enough to warrant the above without them kicking in a significant amount of money, but good enough that the Sox shouldn't sell low on him.

 

Solution? Keep him.

 

I don't think this is that unlikely a scenario. If the Red Sox kicked in 5 million a year, the other team would get a guy with a 2.90 ERA in 2011 for 3/36. 25 teams in baseball can afford that. The challenge isn't his cost, its finding a team who has enough depth to make the trade, but I don't think that would be impossible.

[User Name]

I don't think this is that unlikely a scenario. If the Red Sox kicked in 5 million a year' date=' the other team would get a guy with a 2.90 ERA in 2011 for 3/36. 25 teams in baseball can afford that. The challenge isn't his cost, its finding a team who has enough depth to make the trade, but I don't think that would be impossible.[/quote']

 

We see it differentially then. I think it's as much about the players as it is about the money, because to get the better pitchers, they'd have to kick in more money (or players), plus the money for the pitchers you're acquiring.

 

If you have to kick in too much money (or high-upside players), it doesn't make sense for the Red Sox, since they could keep Beckett and sign another starter, and if they don't kick in enough money, then they get lesser players, and it doesn't make as much sense as keeping the guy and signing someone else as well.

 

And also, why would a team give up two good pitchers for one good pitcher unless they're getting some else substantial in return?

 

I don't see a way for it to be a win-win situation. In this scenario, someone's getting burned.

[Palodios]

And also, why would a team give up two good pitchers for one good pitcher unless they're getting some else substantial in return?

 

I don't see a way for it to be a win-win situation. In this scenario, someone's getting burned.

 

I think you're thinking too deep into this. My intention is to say... if we could trade Beckett for two lower quality, lower cost pitchers, and make it work, I think this team should do it. If they need to throw in a Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, or some other mid level prospects I'd say go for it.

[seabeachfred]

For the record' date=' it's not like Jason Bay hasn't totally sucked ass with the Mets the past 2 years.[/quote']

 

He hasn't been much the past two years, but the concussion certainly set him back and his swing was tailor made for Fenway Park. As someone else mentioned, players go to the Mets and die. If Bay had been kept perhaps he wouldn't have suffered the concussion he did over there. Besides, we got nothing to speak of from Cameron in 2010; he was hurt at the beginning of the season and his play in CF left a lot to be desired. This season he absolutely sucked before Epstein's brain started funtioning and gave him away.

 

You are also missing the main point my fellow piasan. Moving Ellsbury to left resulted in a crash with Beltre that finished his season, helped along by our still employed and inept medical staff. If Ellsbury had stayed in CF he wouldn't have run into Beltre and we could have not only had him for that season but wouldn't finid ourselves believing that he wants out of Boston at the first opportunity. No matter how you dice it Epstein's ill timed move of him to LF turned out to be a disaster and the worst might be yet to come.:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown

[commenter]

The free agent pool for good pitchers is limited. Beckett's basically better than every single one of them, maybe sans one or 2 of them.

 

Teams that really need pitching, especially good pitchers (i.e., teams with a lot of #3's & no ace or someone not even close to being an ace), will give up a lot for them most of the time. Especially since he has 3 years left on his contract.

 

I'm not saying he's going to get the top prospect in someone's farm system, but teams like the Rangers (with CJ Wilson going), who really have a bunch of #2s or #3, might want to give up a few of their prospects to get one, especially if the Red Sox are willing to pay for a portion of his contract, which they'd have to do.

 

The team with the most pitching depth actually is the Braves. They have 4 prospects that could really come up & be an every day starter (Delgado, Teheran, Vizcaino, Minor) along with Hudson, Beachy, Jurjjens, & Hanson. I would kill for that kind of pitching depth.

[jung]

Gotta' agree with User on this one. I don't want to repeat what he has posted but I do think he has it right as far as these Beckett trade scenarios are concerned.

[SoxSport]

They've got three good starters. The problem is to keep them healthy. And to back them up with a couple of more starters to give them depth. Aceves and somebody else.

 

Last season, Dice-K and Buchholz go down. And what replaced them was a failure. The one guy who stood out was Aceves, and he was relegated to middle relief--a key mistake. They got Bedard in trade at mid-season, but the guy never really came back fully from his knee injury. The rest of them--Lackey, Wake and Miller--did not do the job, despite being given the chance--too many times.

 

The bottom line is nobody ever replaced Buchholz, much less Dice-K.

One key problem is their lack of pitching depth in the minors. No help there.

[jung]

As far as the starting rotation goes, if for a minute we assume that either Aceves or Bard moves into the rotation, aren't we really left looking for a #4 starter for 2012? Maybe it is somebody with major upside that we think can be a #4 if he does not end up able to turn major upside hopes into reality. It is hard to build a staff out of these major upside guys because you just can't have that much faith in them. But it would seem like 2012 would be a good year to see if we can pull in a #4 that maybe becomes our 2012 version of Aceves from a results vs expectations perspective.

 

I think it would be worth the gamble especially since I think we give this Lester at the top of the rotation thing one more year to materialize before we end up forced to go try and get somebody. Really Lester should do it but there are plenty of examples out there of big league pitchers that just never made the grade when the added pressure of being THE GUY was added to the equation. By all rights that seems to be what happened to Lester in 2011 but he sure did not seem to get any help in making that transition either. If he can't I think that means we will be looking at the FA market going into 2013 looking for a guy at the top of the rotation.

 

I really don't think we had a #1 in 2011 because regardless of their stats there was not a single SP on the staff that we could hand the ball to as a stopper. A stopper does not have to be successful in that role every time out but you have to have confidence that he can get the job done and we had nobody that filled that role in 2011.

 

It is hard to have post season aspirations if you don't have that one guy that you feel like you can hand the ball to when you really need a win. During the regular season he keeps 4 game slides from turning into 8-10 game disasters and in the post season he becomes the guy that can get you up 1-0 or can win the 7th game for you as Carp did for the Cards.

 

I know moving Aceves or Bard into the rotation means we are looking for even more BP help but I would rather be looking for BP help than starters.

[commenter]

As far as the starting rotation goes, if for a minute we assume that either Aceves or Bard moves into the rotation, aren't we really left looking for a #4 starter for 2012? Maybe it is somebody with major upside that we think can be a #4 if he does not end up able to turn major upside hopes into reality. It is hard to build a staff out of these major upside guys because you just can't have that much faith in them. But it would seem like 2012 would be a good year to see if we can pull in a #4 that maybe becomes our 2012 version of Aceves from a results vs expectations perspective.

 

I think it would be worth the gamble especially since I think we give this Lester at the top of the rotation thing one more year to materialize before we end up forced to go try and get somebody. Really Lester should do it but there are plenty of examples out there of big league pitchers that just never made the grade when the added pressure of being THE GUY was added to the equation. By all rights that seems to be what happened to Lester in 2011 but he sure did not seem to get any help in making that transition either. If he can't I think that means we will be looking at the FA market going into 2013 looking for a guy at the top of the rotation.

 

I really don't think we had a #1 in 2011 because regardless of their stats there was not a single SP on the staff that we could hand the ball to as a stopper. A stopper does not have to be successful in that role every time out but you have to have confidence that he can get the job done and we had nobody that filled that role in 2011.

 

It is hard to have post season aspirations if you don't have that one guy that you feel like you can hand the ball to when you really need a win. During the regular season he keeps 4 game slides from turning into 8-10 game disasters and in the post season he becomes the guy that can get you up 1-0 or can win the 7th game for you as Carp did for the Cards.

 

I know moving Aceves or Bard into the rotation means we are looking for even more BP help but I would rather be looking for BP help than starters.

 

Bard breaks down about 70 innings every year. What makes you think he'll be able to hand 150 innings?

 

This team has ONE pitcher who can give them 200 innings, which is why their barren farm system was so noticeable.

 

The Yankees had injuries so they called up Nova. For next year, they have Banuelos & Betances if need be.

The Rays have Moore for next year & they already brought up Hellickson. Plus they have Cobb down in the minors as well.

The Braves had injuries to their rotation & they had an overworked bullpen so they called up Minor, Delgado, Teheran, Vizcaino, & a bunch more for help.

 

The only major league ready pitchers in the Red Sox farm system are relievers. Bowden, Doubront, Wilson, Tazawa, Weiland etc. -- all relievers.

 

Their starting pitchers are years away.

 

They showed this year that their pitching depth is terrible. Weiland (who's clearly a reliever), Wakefield (retire already -- you throw BP to the other team), & Andrew Miller (why do people expect anything out of this guy? This is what he's always been -- he was over-hyped & he failed as a major league pitchers. I'm sure the Tigers & Marlins thought that was going to change, but I think he's proven that it's not.).

 

If next year -- or most likely WHEN next year -- Beckett & Buchholz go on the DL, like they always do, who's replacing them while they are recovering?

[jung]

All fine except I think all you are really saying is that there is going to be a penalty for FO indiscretions of the last few years.

 

While I would acknowledge that it is a lousy place to be in the prime production years of a number of everyday players since I don't see JH doing much to loosen the purse strings I think 2012 becomes a year of in some ways making do with what we have until we can catch up a little in the farm system. This team needs time to recover. It needs time to heal. Need I remind us that Cherington has already said as much as far as money for 2012 is concerned or do we want to close our ears as well as our eyes.

 

You are suggesting that the FO is going to send off Beckett to a team presuming he is going to become their #1 and that the Sox are going to pay $5M for the privilege to boot. I don't see that happening and I don't think Beckett is anytime soon going to be a #1 pitcher for anybody. He was probably the best starter we had in 2011 but could you give him the ball with any confidence that he was going to get you a win if you needed one? Carp was a good example of what a #1 SP for a contending team is supposed to be. Beckett does not appear to be there at this point and I don't see him getting back there in 2012.

 

And:

If he is in fact so prone to breaking down, don't you think a team like the Rangers or anybody else for that matter is going to question his ability to be their #1? You can't have it both ways. You can't project him as a #1 for somebody else while claiming it is only a matter of time before he breaks down here. What...is there something in our water that makes him break down here but thrive someplace else?

 

The problem is that there is no scenario that brings back enough value for letting Beckett go meaning it is another backwards step for a team that has already taken to many backwards steps particularly with regard to pitching. There is just no fast or easy answer to that problem.

 

Maybe in fact we should stop worrying about the "prime years" for a number of our everyday players as if there is one thing that has been proven time and again it is that everyday players may put fannies in the seats but they won't put any more flags up in center field. Neither will taking more backwards steps than we have already taken especially in starting pitching. Who knows, since we are now stuck paying Lackey while he gets TJ maybe he comes back as something other than Hurricane John recking havoc on everything in his wake in 2013.

 

In fact, other than getting rid of real dead wood like Wake and Tek and Ortiz if he won't take short money or decent money for 1 year with an option, I don't see the Sox moving many players off this roster. There is one everyday player exception beyond the question of Ortiz that is probably worth considering. Ells is not coming back to this team past his contract obligations. Moving him at his peak value may well make sense given what I consider to be an undeniable fact.

[commenter]

All fine except I think all you are really saying is that there is going to be a penalty for FO indiscretions of the last few years.

 

While I would acknowledge that it is a lousy place to be in the prime production years of a number of everyday players since I don't see JH doing much to loosen the purse strings I think 2012 becomes a year of in some ways making do with what we have until we can catch up a little in the farm system. This team needs time to recover. It needs time to heal. Need I remind us that Cherington has already said as much as far as money for 2012 is concerned or do we want to close our ears as well as our eyes.

 

You are suggesting that the FO is going to send off Beckett to a team presuming he is going to become their #1 and that the Sox are going to pay $5M for the privilege to boot. I don't see that happening and I don't think Beckett is anytime soon going to be a #1 pitcher for anybody. He was probably the best starter we had in 2011 but could you give him the ball with any confidence that he was going to get you a win if you needed one? Carp was a good example of what a #1 SP for a contending team is supposed to be. Beckett does not appear to be there at this point and I don't see him getting back there in 2012.

 

And:

If he is in fact so prone to breaking down, don't you think a team like the Rangers or anybody else for that matter is going to question his ability to be their #1? You can't have it both ways. You can't project him as a #1 for somebody else while claiming it is only a matter of time before he breaks down here. What...is there something in our water that makes him break down here but thrive someplace else?

 

The problem is that there is no scenario that brings back enough value for letting Beckett go meaning it is another backwards step for a team that has already taken to many backwards steps particularly with regard to pitching. There is just no fast or easy answer to that problem.

 

Maybe in fact we should stop worrying about the "prime years" for a number of our everyday players as if there is one thing that has been proven time and again it is that everyday players may put fannies in the seats but they won't put any more flags up in center field. Neither will taking more backwards steps than we have already taken especially in starting pitching. Who knows, since we are now stuck paying Lackey while he gets TJ maybe he comes back as something other than Hurricane John recking havoc on everything in his wake in 2013.

 

In fact, other than getting rid of real dead wood like Wake and Tek and Ortiz if he won't take short money or decent money for 1 year with an option, I don't see the Sox moving many players off this roster. There is one everyday player exception beyond the question of Ortiz that is probably worth considering. Ells is not coming back to this team past his contract obligations. Moving him at his peak value may well make sense given what I consider to be an undeniable fact.

 

Well for one, I do think they could get a lot for Beckett - not a ton, but good players back for him -- for the mere fact that he has 3 years left on his contract & the starting pitching Free agent pool is so bad. But I do not think they'll trade him from everything Lucchino & co. have said.

 

Trading Ellsbury? I'm not entirely against it but it rests on the fact that Crawford will turn it around. If Crawford doesn't (which there is a chance, despite everyone playing this off as a "bad" year), then they're screwed in the outfield. On top of that, they'd have to have someone they could replace him with and I have no idea who that'd be.

 

Of course, I'd want the maximum value for Ellsbury & they could get a lot. He has 2 more years on his contract, he's a good hitter, he can steal bases & hey, they gave him a Gold Glove (not that I believe he's the best defensive center fielder whatsoever).

 

I'm just not sure about trading their best hitter (better than Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz) when they have so many question marks -- 3rd base (how's Youkilis?), right field, catcher (what are they going to get from whatever tandem actually works behind there?), left field (What's Crawford going to be like), DH (is Ortiz coming back? Is it going to be Lavarnway? All those questions) -- that adding center field to that may be too much.

 

But If I could get the right deal for Ellsbury, I'd do it. Build up the farm system & not have to spend of bad starting pitchers like John Lackey or John Smoltz or Brad Penny.

[SoxSport]

If you look at the sabermetrics books going back 20 years, they tell you the Red Sox have only one problem--PITCHING. When they have the pitching (ERA

 

Against the Yankees, dating back 50 years, it has ALWAYS been the pitching. Throught the 40s and 50s, when the Sox had power teams, but the Yankees had better pitching.

 

It was no different last year, and it will be no different this year. The Red Sox will live or die on their pitching--regardless of what happens to Crawford and the rest of the hitters. And so will the Yankees.

 

Epstein & Co., by the way, didn't do a very good job of drafting and developing minor league pitching in recent years. A major part of their pitching problem.

[jung]

As I had indicated earlier my view on Ells is based on being pretty confident that when you look at all of the particulars (what has happened here with Ells, his agent's propensity to take players like Ells through the full terms of their contracts and into the FA market) Ells will be gone at the end of this contract. Ells is not going to consider an extension even if offered and once he gets to the FA market, not only would there be no home town discount to the Sox, if anything he would demand a premium to stay. So he is gone. It is only a matter of determining if we can put together an outfield without him earlier than the term of his contract and what we can get for him in a trade.

 

Just as an aside, more and more we are hearing rumors of players just not interested in coming back here. Maybe it is all smoke but a good deal of what has been attractive about coming here has been the chance to win it all and I think it possible that guys are beginning to wonder if other teams have just as much of a chance to win it all without all the crap that seems to come along with being here. Tito interviewing in St. Louis gives one cause to wonder.

 

Back to Ells, I think the Sox would be out of their minds not to explore what they could get for him in trade although I would want a "goooood" deal for the Sox if I am moving Ells this year. Can they deal with some of the real problems this team has by moving Ells now and can they maintain enough offensive fire power without him? The answer to the fire power question is likely yes although you might be more inclined to keep Ortiz without Ells.

[User Name]

Well for one' date=' I do think they could get a lot for Beckett - not a ton, but good players back for him -- for the mere fact that he has 3 years left on his contract & the starting pitching Free agent pool is so bad. But I do not think they'll trade him from everything Lucchino & co. have said. [/quote']

 

Why settle for less than what Beckett is actually worth?

 

His contract is a hindrance to trade negotiations, but if the Sox are going to trade him, they should do so for fair market value even if they have to kick in money in the process.

 

The desperation to get rid of Beckett baffles me. Whether a player eats chicken or drinks beer is easily fixable. Sucking is difficult to fix, and that's something Beckett doesn't do.

 

Don't deepen the pitching problem please.

[mvp 78]

Is keeping Becks healthy easily fixable? What good is a broken down pitcher for the playoffs?

[User Name]

Is keeping Becks healthy easily fixable? What good is a broken down pitcher for the playoffs?

 

Yes, if the FO fixes the clubhouse. (At least as far as him "breaking down" at the end of the season goes.)

[Palodios]

Why settle for less than what Beckett is actually worth?

 

His contract is a hindrance to trade negotiations, but if the Sox are going to trade him, they should do so for fair market value even if they have to kick in money in the process.

 

The desperation to get rid of Beckett baffles me. Whether a player eats chicken or drinks beer is easily fixable. Sucking is difficult to fix, and that's something Beckett doesn't do.

 

Beckett is very inconsistent. One year he pitches like an ace, the next year he's out of shape, unhealthy, and pitching poorly. He has done that his entire career, and he has not had a good "even year" in almost a decade. If he had applied himself, he possibly had an outside shot at the hall, but the best thing for the Sox to do is sell high on his career year, which I guarantee you... he'll never surpass.

[User Name]

You haven't provided a situation where the Sox receive fair value for Beckett. If they can't, then they shouldn't trade him. Whether or not he can repeat 2011, when he's healthy he's very good.

[Palodios]

You haven't provided a situation where the Sox receive fair value for Beckett. If they can't' date=' then they shouldn't trade him. Whether or not he can repeat 2011, when he's healthy he's very good.[/quote']

 

I already provided the scenario. It may take some wheeling and dealing, and possibly a three team trade, but I think it is possible.

 

Here is a hypothetical-- send Beckett and 5 million to the Tigers for Schzerer and prospects. The Tigers probably could use a pitcher to bridge the gap between Verlander and Fister, and are probably hungry for success after a ALCS loss. Schzerer seems like a good #3/4 type who doesn't gave up too many runs, pitches a respectable number of innings and won't be too expensive in arbitration. Then send those prospects, and one or two other pieces to another team for another #3/4 guy.