2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[a700hitter]

If the Tigers have an interest in Oswalt, Benny Boy had better get this locked down soon.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

If the Tigers have an interest in Oswalt' date=' Benny Boy had better get this locked down soon.[/quote']

 

But Oswalt turned them down, which is interesting, and probably a good sign

[Station 13]

But Oswalt turned them down' date=' which is interesting, and probably a good sign[/quote']

 

Well they might have a deal agreed already to have dumped Scooter. Otherwise Ben should be carried off the field by his ears.

[a700hitter]

But Oswalt turned them down' date=' which is interesting, and probably a good sign[/quote']Until the Sox get this locked down, there is nothing to keep the Tigers from increasing their offer.

[mvp 78]

Personally go up to Pedroia and tell him you don't think his arm is strong enough for SS. That is the exact reason he loves to play the game. There are always doubters and he always proves them wrong. I would say that you have a logical opinion' date=' but I personally think he is capable of playing SS.[/quote']

 

I don't see the point. Go up to Lackey and tell him he had a bad start, we all know what his response will be. Just because you think you can do something, doesn't mean you really can.

[win red sox]

If the Tigers have an interest in Oswalt' date=' Benny Boy had better get this locked down soon.[/quote']

 

I imagine Mr Cherrington is waiting for Scutaro to pass the physical(which is not a given) before finalizing any deal on a pitcher.

[a700hitter]

I imagine Mr Cherrington is waiting for Scutaro to pass the physical(which is not a given) before finalizing any deal on a pitcher.

... or they are waiting for Ortiz's arbitration hearing. Does anyone know the date of the hearing?

[iortiz]

... or they are waiting for Ortiz's arbitration hearing. Does anyone know the date of the hearing?

 

I read somewhere that it is going to be somewhen in the first two weeks of February.

[a700hitter]

I read somewhere that it is going to be somewhen in the first two weeks of February.

I hope they are not waiting for that.

[Meh]

We would lose our clean up hitter, only RHH powerbat. Not happening.

 

Youk got a ton of value if we sell him as a 1B. But we're not selling him.

 

Youk isn't your clean up hitter, is he?

[MANNYHOF24]

Youk isn't your clean up hitter' date=' is he?[/quote']

 

Last year when Youk was healthy

 

Ells- L

Pedy-R

Gonzo-L

Youk-R

Ortiz-L

[BSN07]

Youk isn't your clean up hitter' date=' is he?[/quote']

 

No one knows how Bobby V will set the line up. But I would say at this point he's the most likely candidate.

 

I'm not against trading Youk. But right now it seems unlikely as he is one of the few threats from the right side. If the lineup wasn't as incomplete as it stands then they could trade Youk and hand the keys to 3B to Middlebrooks. But with SS, LF and RF already question marks I don't think they will go all in with Middlebrooks because they will need some offense from him and that would be a fairly large question mark at this point.

 

Now starting Middlebrooks, Iggy and Kalish(probably most unlikely is this highly unlikely scenario) would be a huge risk, but wow, it would make for an interesting topic heading into the season. But hey the Rays go into every season with no money to spend and rookies starting all over the place

[a700hitter]

Cody Ross Decision Expected Today

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 23 at 2:56pm CST]

 

Free agent outfielder Cody Ross is expected to pick a team by the end of the day, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News tweets. The Red Sox are having an ongoing dialogue with Ross, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick tweets.

 

The Mets also have some interest in the free agent outfielder, but the Red Sox can offer more money and a hitter-friendly home park, according to Baggarly. The Mets aren't sure Ross fits for them, so the Red Sox and others are more likely fits, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.

 

Ross, 31, posted a .240/.325/.405 line with 14 home runs in 461 plate appearances for the Giants in 2011, while playing all three outfield positions. The SFX client has a career .282/.349/.563 line against left-handed pitching. Ross won the NLCS MVP in 2010, when he hit three homers against the Phillies. The Braves and Rockies have also been linked to Ross this winter.

[MANNYHOF24]

 

I want this guy

[a700hitter]

I want this guy

Me too.

[Muggah]

No one knows how Bobby V will set the line up. But I would say at this point he's the most likely candidate.

 

I'm not against trading Youk. But right now it seems unlikely as he is one of the few threats from the right side. If the lineup wasn't as incomplete as it stands then they could trade Youk and hand the keys to 3B to Middlebrooks. But with SS, LF and RF already question marks I don't think they will go all in with Middlebrooks because they will need some offense from him and that would be a fairly large question mark at this point.

 

Now starting Middlebrooks, Iggy and Kalish(probably most unlikely is this highly unlikely scenario) would be a huge risk, but wow, it would make for an interesting topic heading into the season. But hey the Rays go into every season with no money to spend and rookies starting all over the place

 

It should be clear to everyone now they're in a rebuilding mode, why not trade Youkilis and give Middlebrooks the playing time?

[seabeachfred]

I get the point that you're trying to make there, but I don't really think the changes you made make it any easier as we plan for the future. You mentioned that Pedroia could play SS, which opens it up for Tejeda to get his chance at 2nd. That's great, but then we just have the same situation with Iglesias not getting a chance. Basically, whether Pedroia plays SS or 2nd, it means that one of Tejeda and Iglesias wont have much of a chance. I guess the question then becomes who is likely to be the better of Tejeda and Iglesias? Whichever one pans out better should get their chance, and Pedroia can play whichever of the positions is vacant.

 

Regarding Bogaerts, I don't know a huge amount about the kid, but the talk seems to be that he will become too big to play SS and is more likely to end up at 3rd or in the OF.

 

In my opinion you don't improve the defense by moving one of the greatest second basemen in the game to another position, whether he played it before during his college days or not. With Pedroia at second and Gonzales at first we are as strong as anyone both deensively and offensively on the right side of the infield. I expect Youk will have a solid season and he can play third base a helluva lot better than he gets credit for. That leaves shortstop. We know right Iglesias can't hit to save his ass, has no plate discipline, hardly walks, has no power to speak of, and can't steal bases because of his lack of foot speed. That's a lot of minuses; let him play in AAA and see if he can at least learn to be more than a zilch at the plate. Maybe he will get better with the bat or not. Tejada is only average and I've heard he is error prone although I don't know that for a fact. Aviles can handle the spot for this year and give us good hitting as well. All he really needs to do is make the routine play and sharpen his footwork on the double play grounder. Of course, trading Scutaro right now seems a little strange to say the least unless we are going to get that pitcher that all of us know we need.

[User Name]

The idea that the Red Sox are "rebuilding" is pretty silly.

[Muggah]

The idea that the Red Sox are "rebuilding" is pretty silly.

 

 

Not to someone who understands the game.

[User Name]

Oh, here we go. The "intellectual superiority" of a member of the crew. Well good for you that you understand the game from the comfortable confines of your couch.

[Station 13]

Cody Ross Decision Expected Today

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 23 at 4:33pm CST]

 

4:33pm: It sounds like Ross will probably end up with the Red Sox, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Rubin suggests the Mets didn't want to spend more than $1MM.

[a700hitter]

Cody Ross Decision Expected Today

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 23 at 4:33pm CST]

 

4:33pm: It sounds like Ross will probably end up with the Red Sox, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Rubin suggests the Mets didn't want to spend more than $1MM.

I hope this is accurate.

[User Name]

If the Sox get Ross and Oswalt (or another dependable #4 starter) come the start of the season, they will be very well-positioned to make a run.

[win red sox]

It should be clear to everyone now they're in a rebuilding mode' date=' why not trade Youkilis and give Middlebrooks the playing time?[/quote']

 

I'm all for different opinions, but this has to be the most ridiculous post I've seen. The Red Sox don't rebuild, they reload.

[User Name]

I'm all for different opinions' date=' but this has to be the most ridiculous post I've seen. The Red Sox don't rebuild, they reload.[/quote']

 

A re-building period entails a team trading valuable assets that are expensive, have soon-to-expire contracts, or both for high-upside prospects, lowering of payroll and no designs on competing.

 

The Red Sox have not traded away veterans for prospects, have not lowered payroll (they have actually increased it, albeit marginally) , and they have a team that can and they expect to compete.

 

I don't quite understand where the idea of "rebuilding" is coming from.

[Station 13]

I hope this is accurate.

 

Words around it's 2M.

 

Dump Sweeney and his 1.75M contract somewhere if true.

[Muggah]

I'm all for different opinions' date=' but this has to be the most ridiculous post I've seen. The Red Sox don't rebuild, they reload.[/quote']

 

 

You obviously don't understand that there's more than one way to rebuild. That's ok, you're not alone by the sounds of things here.

[User Name]

Re-building, re-tooling and re-loading are different things though.

[iortiz]

I hope this is accurate.

 

If we get Ross and Oswalt/Wandy/Floyd IMO we are going to be in the same tier where NY, LAA and TEX are right now.

 

If true, the AL will be a dog fight in the West/East and for the Wild Card.

 

C'mon Ben sign the damn checks!

[User Name]

I would contend that: A) LAA isn't in the top tier. B ) Texas is in a classification all on its own.

 

The talent pool of that team is just too deep.