2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[User Name]

I'm surprised he hasn't called you Dutchy yet.....

 

Anyways, from MLBTR:

 

The Red Sox are "kicking around their preference" between trying to sign Hiroki Kuroda or trade for Gio Gonzalez, writes Yahoo's Tim Brown.

 

WEEI's Alex Speier takes an in-depth look at the process of converting relievers to starters, with a focus on the Red Sox. Speier notes that even though the Sox are preparing Daniel Bard to start, it doesn't necessarily mean the right-hander will end up in the rotation.

 

I recommend going to MLBTR and reading the Speier link. It's interesting.

[FredLynn]

Who do we have that the A's would accept for a top tier pitcher like Gonzalez? He is going to be very very expensive.

[mvp 78]

I'm surprised he hasn't called you Dutchy yet.....

 

I recommend going to MLBTR and reading the Speier link. It's interesting.

 

That's enough lip out of you. We know who you really are GoBruins2010-2011...

[SoxFanForsyth]

Who do we have that the A's would accept for a top tier pitcher like Gonzalez? He is going to be very very expensive.

 

From everything I've read, the A's are looking for a future 3rd baseman as the centerpoint of the Gio trade.

 

So no doubt, the trade would revolve around Will Middlebrooks. The A's won't be competing this year, so that gives WMB a year or two to develop his skills a little more and gives the A's a couple extra years of control over him.

 

It would definitely take a haul to bring in Gio. WMB + Ranaudo + Lavarnway + 1 most likely. Gio is very appealing because the Sox would have him under club control for 4 years. I'm not sure his high BB/9 would play well in the patient AL East, though.

[User Name]

That's enough lip out of you. We know who you really are GoBruins2010-2011...

 

Should i add that to my list of people i'm supposed to be?

[Bellhorn04]

From everything I've read, the A's are looking for a future 3rd baseman as the centerpoint of the Gio trade.

 

So no doubt, the trade would revolve around Will Middlebrooks. The A's won't be competing this year, so that gives WMB a year or two to develop his skills a little more and gives the A's a couple extra years of control over him.

 

It would definitely take a haul to bring in Gio. WMB + Ranaudo + Lavarnway + 1 most likely. Gio is very appealing because the Sox would have him under club control for 4 years. I'm not sure his high BB/9 would play well in the patient AL East, though.

 

I can't see any way they would give up all that farm talent for Gonzalez. I think a one year deal for a starter, and they hope that Buchholz comes back, maybe Bard gives some starts, maybe Lackey comes back next year. I know that's a lot of hopes and maybes but I think that's what we're looking at this year.

[FredLynn]

I can't see any way they would give up all that farm talent for Gonzalez. I think a one year deal for a starter' date=' and they hope that Buchholz comes back, maybe Bard gives some starts, maybe Lackey comes back next year. I know that's a lot of hopes and maybes but I think that's what we're looking at this year.[/quote']

 

That sounds very reasonable. Accept that we will be very lucky to make a run next year and don't surrender our future flexibility for lots of minor league talent. I keep all the top prospects this year-all of them-and see what kind of reclamation projects we can come up with for SP in 2012

[SoxFanForsyth]

That sounds very reasonable. Accept that we will be very lucky to make a run next year and don't surrender our future flexibility for lots of minor league talent. I keep all the top prospects this year-all of them-and see what kind of reclamation projects we can come up with for SP in 2012

 

I don't think Gio is worth all of those prospects myself. But if you tack on 1 or 2 more mid to high level prospects and make it a 5 for 2 trade for Garza, I'm all for that.

 

Garza is a much better pitcher than Gio IMO, and if we're going to unload some prospects, we shouldn't get skimpy.

 

I'd go WMB + Ranaudo + Bogaerts + Lavarnway for Garza + Soriano + $$$ (taking Soriano's contract down to around 3/18).

[a700hitter]

I don't think Gio is worth all of those prospects myself. But if you tack on 1 or 2 more mid to high level prospects and make it a 5 for 2 trade for Garza, I'm all for that.

 

Garza is a much better pitcher than Gio IMO, and if we're going to unload some prospects, we shouldn't get skimpy.

 

I'd go WMB + Ranaudo + Bogaerts + Lavarnway for Garza + Soriano + $$$ (taking Soriano's contract down to around 3/18).

Cubs are also reportedly shopping Marshall. He's a really good lefty for the pen. He'd be a great 8th inning guy.

[Meh]

I'd go WMB + Ranaudo + Bogaerts + Lavarnway for Garza + Soriano + $$$ (taking Soriano's contract down to around 3/18).

 

I just want to say that Im proud of you bud. Finally a trade where you don't trade rape the other team. You get a gold star.

[Meh]

Cubs are also reportedly shopping Marshall. He's a really good lefty for the pen. He'd be a great 8th inning guy.

 

Reds sound close to a deal. Offering Wood and reportedly two prospects.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Cubs are also reportedly shopping Marshall. He's a really good lefty for the pen. He'd be a great 8th inning guy.

 

We need a lefty badly. Right now we have Morales, but he's awfully wild. Adding Garza + Marshall would really boost this team. Morales/Jenks in the 7th, Melancon/Marshall for the 8th inning, Bard in the 9th. Rotation of Lester - Garza - Beckett - Buchholz - Aceves. That looks awfully good.

 

Maybe Bobby V will know how to use a situational pitcher!! That'd be exciting!

[SoxFanForsyth]

I just want to say that Im proud of you bud. Finally a trade where you don't trade rape the other team. You get a gold star.

 

I will admit, I do enjoy me some trade rape.

[VA Sox Fan]

Cubs are also reportedly shopping Marshall. He's a really good lefty for the pen. He'd be a great 8th inning guy.

 

I have a friend that works w/ Sean's twin brother Brian. Brian was with Red Sox minor league system for a while, came up w/ Lester, Ellsbury, Pedey etc. He obviously didn't make it. Good guy.

 

I've watched Sean pitch some, wouldn't mind having him either.

[a700hitter]

I have a friend that works w/ Sean's twin brother Brian. Brian was with Red Sox minor league system for a while, came up w/ Lester, Ellsbury, Pedey etc. He obviously didn't make it. Good guy.

 

I've watched Sean pitch some, wouldn't mind having him either.

Hopefully, Theo will not try to screw with Luchinno by sending us the twin brother.

[sleepyhollow]

WEEI At 12:57 pm, Valentine claims that we have a new Pitching Coach. He neglected to name him.

[VA Sox Fan]

Hopefully' date=' Theo will not try to screw with Luchinno by sending us the twin brother.[/quote']

 

Yeah that would suck.

[seabeachfred]

Hahahahahaha.

 

Ok. Well we will just go ahead and offer Aviles + DiceK + 1 prospect. Major league talent. Aviles OPS'd .698 last year, but hit over .300 in 2 of the 3 years before that.

 

God the sheer magnitude of ******** that comes out of your mouth is amazing. It really is.

 

Oh - and by the way - Reddick hit .280 with a .784 OPS in the MLB last year. Considering he had a better season than Prado last year, I'd say he's major league talent. Or, I should say, if he was on the Braves, he would be major league talent, but he's on the Red Sox, so he's not.

 

Nah, no bias though. Like I said, it takes about 2 minutes to do some research. Prado had played 2 games at SS prior to last year.

 

But I'm sure two injury-prone players plus 1 prospect is something that the Orioles just marveled at. Sure, Jurrjens would be their best SP. For about 140 IP. I'm sure they would be thrilled with that return. Just because these are players who played in the MLB doesn't mean it's a good deal. It's two players whose injuries have turned them to garbage last season, and they're having to sell low on them.

 

I'm the one who is picking and choosing stats, but you want to defer back to 2009 for Jurrjens and 2010 for Prado, and claim they're paying a lot because of how they performed a couple years ago??

 

Really setting the bar high there, Jackso. You just continuously make yourself sound dumber and dumber.

 

Forsyth, I like a lot of the stuff you write but I don't appreciate you telling Jacksonian that he looks dumber and dumber with each passing post. He has layed out a case that makes a lot of sense to some of us and while he may be off a shade there is more to like in what he says than not. Besides, it is becoming evident that what we're doing here in nothing more than an exercise in written verbiage, and with the risk of me looking dumb, it seems more and more likely that the Red Sox are not going to spend any more money this season in signing free agents. Ortiz' signing has sucked the wind out of our budget and you factor in the raises that Ellbury is getting, plus Gonzales' big contract kicking in, where is any money left to spend on players unless Henry decides to open his wallet and let the moths out.

[seabeachfred]

From everything I've read, the A's are looking for a future 3rd baseman as the centerpoint of the Gio trade.

 

So no doubt, the trade would revolve around Will Middlebrooks. The A's won't be competing this year, so that gives WMB a year or two to develop his skills a little more and gives the A's a couple extra years of control over him.

 

It would definitely take a haul to bring in Gio. WMB + Ranaudo + Lavarnway + 1 most likely. Gio is very appealing because the Sox would have him under club control for 4 years. I'm not sure his high BB/9 would play well in the patient AL East, though.

 

It wouldn't play very well at all, either in the AL East or at Fenway Park Forstyh. Besides, we have to start thinking of our future as well, and Middlebrooks and Lavarnway are two real keys to our future. Two RH hitters who are run producers and who have the ability to be 25-35 home run men. We can't keep raping our farm system for people who may not produce for us and Gio is not going to be pitching in Oakland if he comes here, and he is not going to he be facing mostly Angels and Mariner lineups. He pulls that BB s*** on the Yankees and they'll tie a tin can to his ass and boot him out of Yankee Stadium. Just sign the Phillies free agent, send Bard back to the bullpen and keep our good prospects. Right now there's damn few of them and we cannot afford to lose two of our best.

[seabeachfred]

Should i add that to my list of people i'm supposed to be?

 

Come on User, take Boomer off that list. Pretty please. I was wrong. Boomer is an *******; you wouldn't want anything to do with him. You're of a different cloth. Just take Boomer off your list. Besides, it was just a one or two day thing between you and me on that one.

[win red sox]

White Sox, John Danks Agree To Extension

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 21 at 7:52pm CST]

Despite many rumors to the contrary, John Danks isn’t going anywhere. The White Sox have agreed to sign the left-hander to a five-year, $65MM contract extension. The news won't be announced before next week, since Danks has to take a physical for the move to become official.

 

Danks would have been eligible for free agency following the 2012 season, his final year as an arbitration eligible player. Matt Swartz projected a 2012 salary of $7.6MM for the 26-year-old CAA client, who earned $6MM in 2011. That means the White Sox are paying $14-15MM for each of the four free agent seasons the deal buys out (Danks' age 28-31 seasons).

 

Jered Weaver's recent $85MM extension also covered one arbitration season and four free agent years. However, Weaver has superior career stats, was headed for a massive reward through arbitration and has finished in the top five in AL Cy Young balloting in both of the past two seasons. Weaver's deal was definitely out of reach for Danks and agent Jeff Berry.

 

Another comparable pitcher, Chad Billingsley, signed a three-year extension worth $35MM this spring. His deal covers his final season of arbitration eligibility and his first two seasons of free agency, which means Danks obtained two more years of security. However, Billingsley signed his deal (it's a team-friendly one) two full seasons before free agent eligibility, while Danks was just one season away from the open market. Danks and Billingsley are similar pitchers who have been compared to one another for years through the arbitration process.

 

Danks posted a 4.33 ERA with 7.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 170 1/3 innings for the White Sox this past season. Only 16 pitchers in baseball have produced more wins above replacement since 2008 (15.6).

 

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported the news (Twitter links). Doug Seyller reported the agreement on Twitter earlier today and appears to have broken the story

[redsoxbeatz]

So, who is our new pitching coach?

 

p.s. - - what are some popular Fantasy Baseball sites you guys use? I'm going for my first fbb season this year.

[a700hitter]

I would expect that Cain and Hamel will also be extended by their teams. Anyone who is looking forward to freeing up money to be used on those guys after 2012 is hoping for something that will not even be a possibility.

[DeadHorseSociety]

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN and Sirius XM Radio, Bob McClure will be the Red Sox' next pitching coach.

McClure was a major league pitcher for 19 seasons (1975-1993) before moving into the coaching profession in 1999 with the Rockies. He most recently served as the Royals' pitching coach, but was let go in September of this year after six years on the job. McClure will be tasked with righting a Boston pitching staff that posted a 22nd-ranked 4.20 team ERA in 2011.

[FredLynn]

So, who is our new pitching coach?

 

p.s. - - what are some popular Fantasy Baseball sites you guys use? I'm going for my first fbb season this year.

 

Bill Lee

[Palodios]

Tim Bogar no longer serving as Red Sox Third Base Coach!!!

 

 

... but he was promoted to Bench Coach.

 

Still, this is big news. If only this had happened last year, and one of the games Bogar lost would have been the difference in the WC standings. Valentine talks about Timmy someday being a manager at the major league level. Painful stuff. Still, I'm surprised this hasn't been posted.

 

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7375773/sources-jerry-royster-new-boston-red-sox-3b-coach-tim-bogar-bench

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Tim Bogar no longer serving as Red Sox Third Base Coach!!!

 

 

... but he was promoted to Bench Coach.

 

Still, this is big news. If only this had happened last year, and one of the games Bogar lost would have been the difference in the WC standings. Valentine talks about Timmy someday being a manager at the major league level. Painful stuff. Still, I'm surprised this hasn't been posted.

 

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7375773/sources-jerry-royster-new-boston-red-sox-3b-coach-tim-bogar-bench

 

And with this move, we now win the division.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

THANK YOU. f***ING FINALLY THE BASEBALL GODS HEAR ME. CAN I GET AN AMEN?

 

I'm sorry but I couldn't stand Bogar. I told mysekf I was going to launch peanuts at his head if I ever went to Fenway. He's cool now.

[sleepyhollow]

Source: Sox eye McClure as pitching coach

 

 

According to a major league source, the Red Sox are moving toward hiring Bob McClure as their next pitching coach. As of Wednesday night, no deal had been finalized for the 59-year-old, who had most recently been the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2006-11.

 

Two other candidates interviewing for the position, besides McClure, were former Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, and Neil Allen, the Rays' Triple-A pitching coach. The Red Sox allowed their pitching coach for '11, Curt Young, to return to the Athletics to serve in the same position.

 

McClure had originally been hired by the Red Sox as a roving minor league pitching instructor in November. The veteran of 19 major league seasons also served as the pitching coach in the Colorado Rockies minor league system from 1999-05 prior to being hired by then-KC general manager Allard Baird, who now serves as the Red Sox' vice president of player personnel.

 

Despite being fired at the end of the '11 season, McClure had many supporters in the Kansas City organization, having had a big role in the development of such young Royals pitchers as Greg Holland and Felipe Paulino. The former starter, who finished his career in 1993 after being released from the Florida Marlins, was also very close with former KC ace Zack Greinke, who figures to be one of the most highly sought after free agent pitchers following the '12 season.

 

In an interview with FanGraphs, McClure explained his priorities when working with pitchers (or the interview, click here):

 

When they’re young, I’m more or less focusing on getting them to repeat their delivery and letting them go. Very seldom, with young guys with good arms, do I get too in depth with, “This hitter is this type of hitter.” I’m more “pitch to your strengths” than “pitch to their weaknesses.” Stay in the lane, throw strikes, and go from there. Trust your stuff, because you’re better than they are.

 

With young kids, what you’re hoping for is that they repeat their delivery so their command gets better. The more they can repeat their delivery, the better their command is going to get.

 

I never understood it when I was told to me by my pitching coach, Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish, but he always used to tell me “Mac, strikes are in your delivery.” I had a pretty wild kind of delivery, a max-effort type of delivery. He would tell me, “:Strikes are in your delivery, strikes are in your delivery.” I couldn’t put two and two together, because I was 23, 24 years old. I really didn’t understand what he was saying, because the game was going so fast for me at that time. Now, as a pitching coach, and even when I was an older pitcher, I understand the importance of repeating your delivery.

[mvp 78]

Every third base coach sucks. I don't know why people get so pissy about it. He's always the most despised coach on the team. It's tough because armchair coaches always know better since they see an outcome 1 second later. Thrown out at home? Coach was wrong. Held at 3rd? Coach isn't aggressive enough. No one blames a 1b coach when a runner gets picked off or doubled up.