2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[iortiz]

Theo Epstein. I understand he can pitch, too.

They can also throw in a prospect.

 

I wish Cherington would get back to his GM job, instead of trying to handpick the next manager.

Cmon Ben. Get to work on Theo's compensation, trades and free agents. Like your buddy Hoyer in Chicago. You haven't done a thing yet.

 

 

At least they should consider the entire Theo compensation (whatever it means) as a part of the deal-package for Garza, of course, if they really are trying to go after him.

 

On the other hand, I'm not sure if we have the pieces that the Cubs need. They are asking for elite prospect pitchers, aren't they?

 

It would be great land a guy like Garza, that's for sure.

[User Name]

I am not advocating getting him' date=' I just dont think you can say he's a fluke. I agree, but the thing is, for every AJ Burnett there is a guy like CJ Wilson who can harness his stuff enough to be very effective.[/quote']

 

I think i can, until he can get that BB/9 under 4 and normalize his splits. Otherwise agree.

[a700hitter]

 

At least they should consider the entire Theo compensation (whatever it means) as a part of the deal-package for Garza, of course, if they really are trying to go after him.

 

On the other hand, I'm not sure if we have the pieces that the Cubs need. They are asking for elite prospect pitchers, aren't they?

 

It would be great land a guy like Garza, that's for sure.

The possibility of getting Garza does pique my interest, but I have some concerns. I think he throws too many pitches at times and has some trouble getting into the late innings. Also, he was on the DL last season. What is the condition of his arm?

[iortiz]

The possibility of getting Garza does pique my interest' date=' but I have some concerns. I think he throws too many pitches at times and has some trouble getting into the late innings. Also, he was on the DL last season. What is the condition of his arm?[/quote']

 

... and He spits a lot

 

You made a couple of good points. I have no idea how is the condition of his arm these days or moving forward.

 

But If healthy, he would be an interesting arm in our rotation. I hope that at least BC is considering to make this diligence.

[a700hitter]

... and He spits a lot

 

You made a couple of good points. I have no idea how is the condition of his arm these days or moving forward.

 

But If healthy, he would be an interesting arm in our rotation. I hope that at least BC is considering to make this diligence.

If we can get him at a reasonable cost in prospects as the Theo comp, I guess it would be a no-brainer.

[a700hitter]

Astros Obtain Permission To Interview Friedman

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [November 28 at 7:53pm CST]

 

The Astros obtained permission to interview Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, according to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle. The Astros have asked to interview a handful of candidates, but Friedman, a Houston native, is clearly their top choice, according to Justice. The team dismissed GM Ed Wade less than two weeks after owner Jim Crane completed his purchase of the franchise.

 

Thad Levine and A.J. Preller of the Rangers are believed to be under consideration for the GM job as well. However, former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker, who now works with Friedman and the Rays, will not be interviewed. Astros president and CEO George Postolos has explained that he's looking for a GM with a strong commitment to player development who can develop 'one of the top farm systems in baseball.'

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/astros-obtain-permission-to-interview-andrew-friedman-.html

 

Good move by the Astros

[iortiz]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/astros-obtain-permission-to-interview-andrew-friedman-.html

 

Good move by the Astros

 

That is the kind of move I would have wanted for our team. That would have been a nice start, after the epic collapse.

 

Hope that Cherington surprise us.

[Spitball]

I wouldn't deal with Theo at this point...especially for someone like Garza. He did better in the NL last year, but his ERA in the AL had been rising almost yearly. And, for what it's worth, Garza is not a plus in the clubhouse.

[iortiz]

I wouldn't deal with Theo at this point...especially for someone like Garza. He did better in the NL last year' date=' but his ERA in the AL had been rising almost yearly. And, for what it's worth, [b']Garza is not a plus in the clubhouse[/b].

 

I heard that too, when he was with the twins.

 

But I still believe that with the right strong-hand manager, he would fit just find here, plus he is more mature.

[jacksonianmarch]

I wouldn't deal with Theo at this point...especially for someone like Garza. He did better in the NL last year' date=' but his ERA in the AL had been rising almost yearly. And, for what it's worth, Garza is not a plus in the clubhouse.[/quote']

 

K/9 went up and his WHIP has remained pretty stable for the last 4 seasons

[VA Sox Fan]

I wouldn't deal with Theo at this point...especially for someone like Garza. He did better in the NL last year' date=' but his ERA in the AL had been rising almost yearly. And, for what it's worth, Garza is not a plus in the clubhouse.[/quote']

 

The constant spitting (as iortiz already mentioned) and his chin pubes are disgusting. :thumbdown

 

But, if healthy....who knows?

[jacksonianmarch]

He's healthy and he's a solid AL East #2 starter, something both of our teams could use

[iortiz]

He's healthy and he's a solid AL East #2 starter' date=' something both of our teams could use[/quote']

 

Well, if this is a fact I agree jacko. But maybe for us he'd be a great 3-4, I'm not sure if I rate him above Lester or even Buch.

[example1]

Well' date=' if this is a fact I agree jacko. But maybe for us he'd be a great 3-4, I'm not sure if I rate him above Lester or even Buch.[/quote']

 

I would be happy to be stuck having that discussion from here on out. He's young. He's succeeded in the AL East. I really like what I've seen from Garza. In a good season he could be nearly as good as Lester or Beckett. Not quite as good, but good. Buchholz is a crap shoot. He probably has the best stuff of any of them.

[a700hitter]

I would be happy to be stuck having that discussion from here on out. He's young. He's succeeded in the AL East. I really like what I've seen from Garza. In a good season he could be nearly as good as Lester or Beckett. Not quite as good' date=' but good. Buchholz is a crap shoot. He probably has the best stuff of any of them.[/quote']Garza for Epstein and a couple of prospects would be a good swap.

[iortiz]

I would be happy to be stuck having that discussion from here on out. He's young. He's succeeded in the AL East. I really like what I've seen from Garza. In a good season he could be nearly as good as Lester or Beckett. Not quite as good' date=' but good. Buchholz is a crap shoot. He probably has the best stuff of any of them.[/quote']

 

What would you give for him?

[example1]

What would you give for him?

 

Not sure. A package around Ranaudo probably. Doubront too perhaps.

 

At this point I think the Sox would be appropriate to just tell teams that they have 4-5 guys who are simply off limits. Their top prospects. Except for Ranaudo, who could be moved for really solid pitchers.

 

So that's Kalish, Middlebrooks and Lavarnway (who all have obvious openings on this team in the next 2-3 years), Bogearts (who has tremendous upside), and probably some of the recent draftees who can't be dealt anyway (Swihart and Barnes in particular). Otherwise, I would be open to discussion.

 

The Cubs system is weak and could use some high upside talent like the Sox have. As much s*** as people want to talk about the Sox system, they do have a number of expensive and highly coveted draftees from the past 2 drafts. It isn't as shallow as many want to believe.

 

I like Pete Abraham's suggestion of (Theo Compensation) + Vitek + Ranaudo.

[iortiz]

Not sure. A package around Ranaudo probably. Doubront too perhaps.

 

At this point I think the Sox would be appropriate to just tell teams that they have 4-5 guys who are simply off limits. Their top prospects. Except for Ranaudo, who could be moved for really solid pitchers.

 

So that's Kalish, Middlebrooks and Lavarnway (who all have obvious openings on this team in the next 2-3 years), Bogearts (who has tremendous upside), and probably some of the recent draftees who can't be dealt anyway (Swihart and Barnes in particular). Otherwise, I would be open to discussion.

 

The Cubs system is weak and could use some high upside talent like the Sox have. As much s*** as people want to talk about the Sox system, they do have a number of expensive and highly coveted draftees from the past 2 drafts. It isn't as shallow as many want to believe.

 

I like Pete Abraham's suggestion of (Theo Compensation) + Vitek + Ranaudo.

 

From a sox fan perspective I like it, I'd make it in a heartbeat. On the other hand, If you were a Cub fan, would you accept this?

 

I'm not sure how much is the value of this Theo compensation, that would be likely the key of the negotiation. Ben would sell very high that compensation. Sounds weired but Theo would do just the opposite.

 

Can we compete against this?

 

What will it take to acquire Garza? *The Cubs' farm system is light on top-shelf young pitching, based on rankings from Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. *With Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, and Martin Perez, the Yankees and Rangers' top arms could be of particular interest to the Cubs.

[iortiz]

Btw what about Reddick + Ranaudo and Theo for Garza...

 

That could sound more interesting for them, don't you think?

 

or is too much?

[a700hitter]

Btw what about Reddick + Ranaudo and Theo for Garza...

 

That could sound more interesting for them, don't you think?

 

or is too much?

Factoring in the compensation in the same trade makes it really hard to determine what value we get for Theo. I think at this point that we just chalk Theo up as a loss with little or no comp value.

[SoxSport]

Getting Garza as part of a compensation package for Epstein sounds like a good idea. Too bad the Red Sox are currently caught in a 'who's running this team' conflict right now--which seems to have put everything else on the back burner.

[jopete19]

Since we lost Papelbon I would've thought we would go after either Broxton or Bell, Broxton is gone to the Royals! I swear, if we keep waiting around we aren't gonna have a closer.

[SCM33]

Jonathan Broxton just signed a 1 year deal for 4 million to be a setup guy.

 

Why didnt we take a flier on him?

 

His days of closing are probably over, but hes still a power arm out of the pen.

 

I guess they are still spending every single resource they have at finding a manager.

[User Name]

Well if you go by the guys out in Cali, he's a head-case and his elbow is screwed up. The Sox were one of the teams interested by the way, meaning they probably passed.

[iortiz]

Factoring in the compensation in the same trade makes it really hard to determine what value we get for Theo. I think at this point that we just chalk Theo up as a loss with little or no comp value.

 

I don't have idea what are the terms of this mysterious Theo comp. If there's no predefined terms (likely to me, hope I'm wrong), his value right now is close to zero, since he is already with the Cubs. IMO they should negotiate those terms (value) before his departure from Boston. If they didn't predefine his value, Boston's position in order to negotiate the comp will be tough. I guess that the Cubs will give to Boston whatever they consider this Theo's value is/was. This is no longer a Boston's call IMO.

[SoxSport]

Jonathan Broxton just signed a 1 year deal for 4 million to be a setup guy.

 

Why didnt we take a flier on him?

 

His days of closing are probably over, but hes still a power arm out of the pen.

 

I guess they are still spending every single resource they have at finding a manager.

 

Gammons said this morning on TV they are inclined to make Bard a starter. That means they go after a closer like Bell or somebody else.

[User Name]

White Sox Looking To Trade Matt Thornton

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [November 29 at 8:16am CST]

The White Sox have been looking to trade Matt Thornton since July and are still trying to move him, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). Before the 2011 season, the White Sox signed the left-hander to a two-year, $12MM extension that covers the 2012-13 seasons and includes a club option for 2014.

 

The 35-year-old posted a 3.32 ERA with 9.5 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 59 2/3 innings this past season. Armed with a fastball that averages 96 mph, Thornton figures to draw interest this offseason, as he did last summer, especially since the free agent market doesn't feature lefty relievers of his caliber. The Yankees, Blue Jays and Rangers are among the teams that may seek left-handed relief this offseason.

 

 

This is something the Red Sox should seriously consider.

[iortiz]

Gammons said this morning on TV they are inclined to make Bard a starter. That means they go after a closer like Bell or somebody else.

 

I'd prefer bring a solid SP and put Bard as a closer (even he is not ready IMO), if you have to make this transition at some point, now is the right moment given the circumstances.

 

I think that the gap is much bigger making the transition from a Setup spot to a SP spot than to a closer spot.

 

I thought that the plans for Bard in this organization were as a closer not as a SP, what did I miss?

 

This idea to put Bard as a SP is new, isn't it?

[Meh]

Jonathan Broxton just signed a 1 year deal for 4 million to be a setup guy.

 

Why didnt we take a flier on him?

 

Maybe he wanted a pressure free team to try to regain his value?

 

Bell, K-Rod, Mason, Dotel, Rauch, Francisco, Capps, Frankie CoCo are still out there.

 

Also Bailey(who has a huge price tag) and Street could be had as well. Still a ton of options, the only downside to Broxton signing is he didn't take a team out of the mix for a closer. So prices might of went up a tad even.

[mvp 78]

Jonathan Broxton just signed a 1 year deal for 4 million to be a setup guy.

 

Why didnt we take a flier on him?

 

His days of closing are probably over, but hes still a power arm out of the pen.

 

I guess they are still spending every single resource they have at finding a manager.

 

I saw him everyday for 3 years. He's another Jenks.