2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't know that I am ready to go here yet with Bard as big a question mark as he is as a starter. However if we get Oswalt that gets us close enough in my view and it is probably as good as we could have hoped to get this year with the rotation. All it would take to flip the Sox rotation to superior to the Yanks presuming the other four guys pitch to form would be for Bard to turn out to be a pleasant surprise outperforming expectations. We are talking about a guy that has not been successful starting even in the minor leagues that will now be starting in the AL East.

 

One difficult decision the Sox might have to make if Bard does struggle would be to determine if he should go back to the BP. If the Sox are forced to make a decision like that I hope they do not give up on him to soon. I would rather have them be a bit patient with the guy since in fact he could go back to the BP. This is a great opportunity for Bard and the Sox as I am hoping Bard will not put tons of pressure on himself. Since he will know that the pen is there for him that should give him some degree of security that the alternative is not down to the minors.

 

The highest prediction I've seen for him has him at a 3.43 ERA.

 

His stuff is undeniable. And he's been through the league a few times so he's polished too. It's going to be exciting to see him pitch.

[NativeBostonian]

To be completely honest, I wouldn't mind putting Iglesias there, watching him steal base hits and prevent runs, and throw him in the 9 slot and let him hit .210/.280/.320 all season.

 

I don't care about his bat. We really need a glove up the middle.

 

Can you imagine the plays that Pedroia and Iglesias would make as a middle infield combo??!?

 

That's what I was thinking. IMO, it's times to give him a shot at playing in the bigs.

[iortiz]

But he didn't have the money to make the signing. How is that a good situation?

 

How was he going to sign a pitcher unless he moved payroll? Was he going to pay Oswalt with bananas?

 

@iortiz.

 

I have no idea why this is directed to me

[User Name]

The same cast of writers that said in an article a couple days ago that Boston needed to do whatever it took to get one more SP?

 

GTFO.

[User Name]

I agree, just posted that for entertainment value really.

 

Who was it that was calling them "Experts" again?

 

Lol thank you.

[jung]

bleacher report is calling the Scutaro trade "a huge mistake"

 

How the hell can they have the nerve to call that a "huge" mistake? Sounds like an effort at sensationalism and an opportunity to say I told you so if anything goes wrong in the deal. I hate ******** like this (not meaning to imply any angst directed toward the poster).

 

Huge mistakes are ones where you give up cornerstones to the team and get nothing back. That deal can not be straight up player for player anyway. Scuts is a nice player but he is not one of the bedrocks that the team is built upon.

[NativeBostonian]

I don't think Punto is going to be the answer for SS....

[Emmz]

What would make you say that? @NativeBostonian

[Station 13]

The Padres were shopping Jason Barlett. Is he still any good?

[Station 13]

I don't think Punto is going to be the answer for SS....

 

the only worse hitter is Jeff Mathis.

[a700hitter]

Guardians Sign Julio Lugo

By Mike Axisa [January 21 at 8:32pm CST]

 

The Guardians have signed Julio Lugo to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Dionisio Soldevila of the AP (on Twitter). He's an ACES client.

 

Lugo, 36, spent last season with the Braves, signing a minor league deal in May and getting released in September. In between, he hit .231/.286/.365 in 58 minor league plate appearances and .136/.208/.136 in 48 big league plate appeances. Lugo gives the team some infield depth along with Jose Lopez and Andy LaRoche, who signed minor league deals with Cleveland earlier this offseason.

[SoxFanForsyth]

The Padres were shopping Jason Barlett. Is he still any good?

 

We don't need a SS. We need a SP.

[iortiz]

We don't need a SS. We need a SP.

 

And after that, an OF If were the case...

[jung]

I have believed for the longest time now that Iglesias would get his shot this year regardless of the fact that he has not shown much at the plate yet. No I don't think he will give us Scuts numbers at the plate. But if Iglesias is where they were going anyway, I don't think we have to worry all that much about what kinds if numbers we get from the guys they throw into the breach before they insert Iglesias.

[Station 13]

We don't need a SS. We need a SP.

 

we need both.

 

Aviles isn't a fulltime player. Send them Aviles/Bowden if we can get Barlett back.

[User Name]

Bartlett? Seriously?

[SoxFanForsyth]

we need both.

 

Aviles isn't a fulltime player. Send them Aviles/Bowden if we can get Barlett back.

 

Aviles was 4th in ROY. He's a solid player. And he's got a ton of versatility.

 

Like I said earlier. I'd love to see us put Iggy at SS this year and just let him shine defensively and be a Varitek offensively.

 

We can very easily hide his bat in this lineup. And having Iggy and Pedey up the middle would be a show.

[Station 13]

Bartlett? Seriously?

 

Yes. Seriously.

[User Name]

.643 combined OPS the last two seasons. Can't get on base, non-existent power, ineffective base stealer, and below-average D.

 

Why would we want him?

[Station 13]

Aviles was 4th in ROY. He's a solid player. And he's got a ton of versatility.

 

Like I said earlier. I'd love to see us put Iggy at SS this year and just let him shine defensively and be a Varitek offensively.

 

We can very easily hide his bat in this lineup. And having Iggy and Pedey up the middle would be a show.

 

Remains to be seen. It's been a while since Aviles was decent/good.

 

Iggy should be our SS if there's no alternative.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yes. Seriously.

 

Bartlett really is not that good at all. I'd rather have Iggy there than Bartlett, not even close.

[Station 13]

.643 combined OPS the last two seasons. Can't get on base, non-existent power, ineffective base stealer, and below-average D.

 

Why would we want him?

 

Career .339 OBP isn't bad. his WAR been around 2.0 AVERAGE. That's decent for a SS with no power.

[SoxSport]

bleacher report is calling the Scutaro trade "a huge mistake"

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1033711-mlb-trade-rumors-boston-makes-huge-mistake-trading-marco-scutaro

 

Nonsense. Scutaro was a one year rental. If they sign Oswalt, he could be a top starter if his back is OK.

[Station 13]

Bartlett really is not that good at all. I'd rather have Iggy there than Bartlett' date=' not even close.[/quote']

 

When CC is back to performing maybe. C/LF/RF/SS looks like giant sucks right now.

[a700hitter]

Bartlett really is not that good at all. I'd rather have Iggy there than Bartlett' date=' not even close.[/quote']He had a career year in 2009, but never did anything else.

[SoxSport]

The talks on Oswalt 'heated up' almost immediately, probably because they already had a deal in principle before even thinking about the Scutaro trade.

 

Also I just came across this: http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981044034

 

Think it has any weight at all?

 

 

Don't know if Philly wants to break up their big 3. Seems they would not having signed Pap

to big money for 4 years. But they do have Worley, who looked very good last year as the no.4 starter. You never know about these things. Hamels would be very big.

[User Name]

Career .339 OBP isn't bad. his WAR been around 2.0 AVERAGE. That's decent for a SS with no power.

 

His skills have noticeably eroded. I don't think that's a chance you want to take.

[redsoxrules]

Nonsense. Scutaro was a one year rental. If they sign Oswalt' date=' he could be a top starter if his back is OK.[/quote']

 

thats a big IF .

[redsoxfan3]

I just got home from an 15 hour of work and I am pretty happy with what I read on MLBTR. I will miss Scutaro. He was a good solid SS for us last year. We got rid of salary, which is really good. Now we have the chance to sign Oswalt. I know a deal isn't close, but the chances of us actually signing him now are a lot better than they were. I am glad we can keep Youk and we still found salary relief from trading Scutaro.

 

I am kind of interested to see what Mortensen can do. I hope we sign Oswalt into as our 4th starter. If we do sign Oswalt, then Mortensen can compete with Bard, Aceves, Silva, Cook, Carlson, Padilla, etc. to fill in the 5th spot. I really hope that we can keep both Bard and Aceves in the pen. Bard would still be a decent 5th starter if he gets the job though. I am now a lot more confident that are pitching will be right where it needs to be. I just hope we sign Oswalt.

 

Obviously SS is a question mark now. We have really no depth in the outfield either with Crawford and Kalish out to start the year. I hope Iglesias will be given a shot at SS. Then hopefullly Aviles can play in an OF spot to start the year. That way we have Aviles, Ellsbury, and Sweeney in the OF until Crawford can start. By that time, we will know if Iglesias will work out, if not then we send Aviles to SS and Crawford will obviously be back in LF. My hope is that Iglesias works out and Aviles can platoon with Sweeney in right when Crawford is healthy. I know that everyone is unsure about Aviles in the OF, but I feel like he will be decent. Time will tell. Obviously we always have the option of getting another OF.

 

The thought crossed my mind of Pedroia moving to short and Punto playing 2B. I feel like that would be better defensively than Punto being our main SS. I doubt that happens, but it might be something for the FO to think about. To me, I feel like we are in a better situation after the trade then we were before.

[SoxSport]

Good point - Don't by 2x for him. But having him at cheap money when we're up against the lux tax would make this team pretty incredible.

 

Still, good point, I wouldn't mortgage the future for 1 year.

 

 

I guess the idea is to get him and extend him before the Yankees get to him.