2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[iortiz]

My guess is that they were hoping Ortiz's ego would prevent him from accepting arbitration. If they didn't offer him arbitration' date=' he would be gone with no compensation at all. If they offered it and he declined, he would be gone, but they would get two draft picks. Unfortunately, they guessed wrong; arbitration was offered and he accepted it. Thats the worst possible outcome. [b']It would have been better, in retrospect, to have said good bye to him[/b].

 

Bingo. Ortiz would have been an idiot if he hadn't accepted the arbitration. I don't see a bunch of teams paying that contract (15 M). I'm not against Ortiz or the money he wants. He will perform. This is about priorities. Our? Pitching, Pitching, pitching.

[Palodios]

Our #1 priority this offseason was the goddamn SP. Even a 6 year old could see that. Again' date=' If we stay short (do not bring a solid SP) because Ortiz contract, Ben will be the "boob".[/quote']

 

I think there is a very good chance that the Red Sox will still get either Oswalt, Kuroda, or Madson. Based on how they're treating the offseason, they probably have about 8-10 million more in their budget. They wouldn't even be in free agent talks with those players if they didn't have atleast that much money to spend, but it is still on the lower side of what those players wanted. If they simply couldn't afford the second tier guys, they probably would have already signed one of the better third tier guys like Maholm or Saunders by now.

[iortiz]

I think there is a very good chance that the Red Sox will still get either Oswalt' date=' Kuroda, or Madson. Based on how they're treating the offseason, they probably have about 8-10 million more in their budget. They wouldn't even be in free agent talks with those players if they didn't have atleast that much money to spend, but it is still on the lower side of what those players wanted. If they simply couldn't afford the second tier guys, they probably would have already signed one of the better third tier guys like Maholm or Saunders by now.[/quote']

 

Yes, we have to wait and see. As I said, Hopefully Ben will surprise us all.

[Spitball]

Garza is massively overrated by the way.

 

Agreed....and Epstein is trying to capitalize on the lack of pitching options out there. Garza had declining numbers in the AL but saw a spike in his statistics due to a move to the NL. I hope the Red sox stay away. I hope they save their chips until something better opens up.

 

Malholm = not interested.

[jung]

I think the Sox have not opted for a third tier pitcher as yet because they are still holding out for a second tier pitcher falling as far as they hope. I just don't see that happening but at this point I understand why they would still be holding out. All things being equal if I were in exactly the same spot I think I would hold out as well at least having gotten to here.

[jacksonianmarch]

Garza is a good pitcher and would fit into most AL rotations as a #2 or a #3. Theo is asking for an ace's ransom and he'll likely get it

[a700hitter]

I think there is a very good chance that the Red Sox will still get either Oswalt' date=' Kuroda, or Madson. Based on how they're treating the offseason, they probably have about 8-10 million more in their budget. They wouldn't even be in free agent talks with those players if they didn't have atleast that much money to spend, but it is still on the lower side of what those players wanted. If they simply couldn't afford the second tier guys, they probably would have already signed one of the better third tier guys like Maholm or Saunders by now.[/quote']I hope you are right. I continue to hold out hope.

[VA Sox Fan]

I hope you are right. I continue to hold out hope.

 

That is nice to hear.

[FredLynn]

I hope you are right. I continue to hold out hope.

 

Its possible if their asking price comes way down. I don't see that happening.

[Palodios]

So I was digging up stats today, and I found something eerie.

 

 

Player A's season

27 GS, 176.33 Innings 1.27 WHIP, 3.83 ERA

 

Player B's season

26 GS, 162.1 Innings 1.29 WHIP 3.66 ERA

 

Player A was John Lackey in 2009. Player B is Paul Maholm in 2011. If they were willing to shell out 80 million to one in 2010, why not give the other 2/10 in 2012?

[a700hitter]

So I was digging up stats today, and I found something eerie.

 

 

Player A's season

27 GS, 176.33 Innings 1.27 WHIP, 3.83 ERA

 

Player B's season

26 GS, 162.1 Innings 1.29 WHIP 3.66 ERA

 

Player A was John Lackey in 2009. Player B is Paul Maholm in 2011. If they were willing to shell out 80 million to one in 2010, why not give the other 2/10 in 2011?

We probably shouldn't have signed lackey at any price. We should give Maholm exactly what Lackey was worth.

[a700hitter]

Maholm has had as many years with a 5+ ERA as he has with a sub 4 ERA. Lackey hadn't gone over 5 in any year until last season. I'd stay away from Maholm.

[Palodios]

Maholm has had as many years with a 5+ ERA as he has with a sub 4 ERA. Lackey hadn't gone over 5 in any year until last season. I'd stay away from Maholm.

 

Maholm averages a 4.30 ERA, 180 innings per season, he's 29 years old, relatively healthy, and he can probably be had for 2/10. He'll probably end up with a 4.70-5.00 ERA in Boston... but if he can throw innings, I could care less at 5 million.

[a700hitter]

Maholm averages a 4.30 ERA' date=' 180 innings per season, he's 29 years old, relatively healthy, and he can probably be had for 2/10. He'll probably end up with a 4.70-5.00 ERA in Boston... but if he can throw innings, I could care less at 5 million.[/quote']Relatively healthy? He didn't pitch after August 17th last season with a shoulder injury.

[Palodios]

Relatively healthy? He didn't pitch after August 17th last season with a shoulder injury.

 

He's averaged 30 starts per season throughout his career. "Relatively healthy" acknowledges the shoulder, but also points to the fact that he's usually pretty good to make his starts.

[a700hitter]

He's averaged 30 starts per season throughout his career. "Relatively healthy" acknowledges the shoulder' date=' but also points to the fact that he's usually pretty good to make his starts.[/quote']He missed the last 6 weeks of last season, so why would we assume that he is healthy.

[Palodios]

He missed the last 6 weeks of last season' date=' so why would we assume that he is healthy.[/quote']

 

I'm talking about his career stats. I have no idea what condition he is in now, but last I heard it certainly wasn't serious.

[a700hitter]

I'm talking about his career stats. I have no idea what condition he is in now' date=' but last I heard it certainly wasn't serious.[/quote']It's nice that he was healthy early in his career, but missing the last 6 weeks of last season witha shoulder injury would make me very cautious.

[Palodios]

Just checked up on it. He was cleared to start working out again in October. I see no reason why he couldn't be healthy by April.

[a700hitter]

Just checked up on it. He was cleared to start working out again in October. I see no reason why he couldn't be healthy by April.

I'd still be cautious. This is his shoulder.

[Palodios]

I'd still be cautious. This is his shoulder.

 

Fortunately, the Red Sox medical team has gone back to the third world country they got their M.D.'s from.

[a700hitter]

Fortunately' date=' the Red Sox medical team has gone back to the third world country they got their M.D.'s from.[/quote']I don't know where they went to school, but I think they are just dermatologists. Pimple Poppers, MD.

[SoxSport]

Agreed....and Epstein is trying to capitalize on the lack of pitching options out there. Garza had declining numbers in the AL but saw a spike in his statistics due to a move to the NL. I hope the Red sox stay away. I hope they save their chips until something better opens up.

 

Malholm = not interested.

 

Traderumors says the Tigers are hot on Garza's trail. Dombrowski has been very agressive trading for pitchers. Like that fellow in Toronto. Benny has a lot of competition out there. Is he up to it?

[jung]

While we may or may not actually be in the running for Garza (I guess not) it will interesting to see what his price turns out to be.

[a700hitter]

Cubs To Sign Paul Maholm

By Tim Dierkes [January 9 at 9:51pm CST]

 

The Cubs' revamped rotation has gotten deeper, as they've reached an agreement with lefty Paul Maholm according to his Twitter feed. "I hope to get to continue some things when I visit during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career," said the southpaw. With Ryan Dempster, Chris Volstad, Travis Wood, and Randy Wells presumably penciled into the rotation, new Cubs management is either bracing for a Matt Garza trade or just building up depth.

 

As a member of the Pirates for seven seasons, Maholm has logged 64 career innings at Wrigley Field. The 29-year-old posted a 3.66 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 0.61 HR/9, and 49.9% groundball rate in 162 1/3 innings for the Bucs in 2011. I ranked him as the ninth-best free agent starter in October. Maholm, a Bo McKinnis client, had his 2011 season cut short in August due to a shoulder strain. After the season the Pirates chose a $750K buyout over his $9.75MM club option.

 

So far this offseason Cubs president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer have signed David DeJesus, Reed Johnson, Manny Corpas, and Andy Sonnanstine via free agency. They've added Ian Stewart, Casey Weathers, Ronald Torreyes, Dave Sappelt, Wood, Volstad, Zach Cates, and Anthony Rizzo via trade.

Maholm is off the table.

[a700hitter]

Will this Maholm trade be a prelude to a Garza trade?

[iortiz]

Maholm is off the table.

 

Is this just me or the Cubs ain't going anywhere next season. Unless they sign Fielder, keep Garza and make a couple of extra moves, I do not see The Cubs solid.

[jacksonianmarch]

Maholm is a good move for the Cubs. He shouldnt be expensive, and if he shows he can recover from his shoulder strain, then he'll be valuable on the open market come the deadline

[a700hitter]

Is this just me or the Cubs ain't going anywhere next season. Unless they sign Fielder' date=' keep Garza and make a couple of extra moves, I do not see The Cubs solid.[/quote']Theo gutted whatever was left of the Cubs team. He has added nothing. Unless he has a flurry of acquisitions, they should be worse than last season.

[jacksonianmarch]

Theo gutted whatever was left of the Cubs team. He has added nothing. Unless he has a flurry of acquisitions' date=' they should be worse than last season. [/quote']

 

That's his plan. He wants to rebuild the cubs. Too many bad contracts effectively neutered the team. I like his acquisitions of Volstad and Rizzo