2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[RedSoxNC84]

Jackson may provide more innings though. Oswalt I'd say is a better pitcher regardless, but his injury history is something to be weary of.

[jung]

Well with the money they freed up it appears they can get a pitcher and still stay under the cap. So I gotta' believe at this point they get somebody. Just don't know who or when.

[BSN07]

I'd prefer Oswalt over Jackson

 

Jackson has control issues and alows a lot of base runners

 

I think both are equally risky. Now that I had the LT thing explained I'm not so against getting one of them. Ejax is the more proven pitcher in the AL and is healthier. Oswalt has the better track record, veteran presence but has more of an injury risk. Both I'm sure can help, both also have red flags.

[jung]

I am not sure how much I am buyin' the Sox "preferring" Jackson. I suspect they might have been rejected by Oswalt and maybe even more than once and are now preferring Jackson out of necessity. Just a guess on my part though.

[RedSoxNC84]

I think both are equally risky. Now that I had the LT thing explained I'm not so against getting one of them. Ejax is the more proven pitcher in the AL and is healthier. Oswalt has the better track record' date=' veteran presence but has more of an injury risk. Both I'm sure can help, both also have red flags.[/quote']

 

It's a gamble either way. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.. I just want someone to get signed before I have to leave for work in 30 minutes haha

[iortiz]

Interesting the timing. First, a tweet about Oswalt (1:33 p.m.). An hour later, a tweet about Jackson. Maybe Ben is making pressure on both or Oswalt already refused the offer and Ben went to Jackson.

[a700hitter]

Oswalt is the much better pitcher.

[MANNYHOF24]

Jackson always gives up as many hits or more hits than inning pitched and he doesn't strike out a lot of batters. I can definitely see him imploading under the Boston pressure.

[SoxSport]

Well, Boras just made an absolute killing with Fielder, thanks to the Detroit owner who is a win-now 83 years young and remembers Prince's dad. You have to wonder why the media missed the boat on the connect here with Cecil and the Detroit market. The Tigers were never mentioned. Same deal with Pujols. The Angels had an extra $100 mil to spend thanks to their new TV contract, and that went under the radar at the Baseball Meetings.

 

So now Boras has Jackson left, a guy he has been overselling while keeping a straight face. He might just pack it in and do a one-year deal with Boston--just for good PR. Or wait for some other team to get suckered long term. I would be surprised if the Sox go up to $10 mil for Jackson. He would have to fit under the cap somehow. I think they're pretty serious about that (for complicated reasons related to next year), though they may still have some flexibility in the numbers which involve Lackey's option and the Papi deal.

[SoxSport]

Oswalt is the much better pitcher.

 

I don't know at this point. He wasn't the same prime time pitcher in Philly as he was in Houston. Maybe his back was beginning to bother him even then. He was a no.3-4 starter there. He might be good if his back issues are behind him. You wonder at his age. He's a helluva good competitor--the type you want in a pennant race.

[redsoxfan3]

At this point I don't care if it is either of the two, I just want us to sign the one that is willing to come here. I am getting concerned because we have made offers and we haven't heard anything yet. If we don't sign one of them by the end of the night, then I will be worried about what is going on. I don't know what to think with it. I hope one of the two wants to come here.

[a700hitter]

I think something will develop quickly here. I think something will happen by before the weekend. Benny Boy seems to be turning up the heat on the two pitchers.

[Station 13]

Bailey, Red Sox Avoid Arbitration

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 25 at 3:45pm CST]

 

The Red Sox and Andrew Bailey avoided arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Bailey agreed to a one-year, $3.9MM deal that includes $100K in incentives.

[diony]

I'd rather have Jackson. 200 IP machine, AL East experience AND HEALTHY.

[a700hitter]

I'd rather have Jackson. 200 IP machine' date=' AL East experience AND HEALTHY.[/quote']In 11 seasons, Oswalt has failed to crack 200 innings 4 time-- once was his rookie year.

[Meh]

I'd rather have Jackson. 200 IP machine' date=' AL East experience AND HEALTHY.[/quote']

 

agreed. If I'm the Red Sox GM I'd rather have the guy who will pitch 200 innings and post a 4.50 ERA than the guy who is boom or bust. Oswalt's back wouldn't make me feel good as a Sox fan, I hope they do sign him but it looks like he only wants to pitch in the NL and can you blame him? AL was already beast with bats and they just added Pujols and Prince.

[Spitball]

Interesting the timing. First' date=' a tweet about Oswalt (1:33 p.m.). An hour later, a tweet about Jackson. Maybe Ben is making pressure on both or Oswalt already refused the offer and Ben went to Jackson.[/quote']

 

Or, maybe the Sox are playing the pitchers off each other. There might be some desperation on their parts to find employment with a contending team.

 

I prefer the Oswalt option to the Jackson option. Oswalt had back issues last season but has had a winter to heal and strengthen that area. When he is healthy, Oswalt is a superior pitcher. Jackson has been shifted around to six or seven teams for a reason. He has promise but has never quite reached it.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

In 11 seasons' date=' Oswalt has failed to crack 200 innings 4 time-- once was his rookie year.[/quote']

 

But 2 of those 4 times have been within the last 3 years. At his age that is likely to be a continuing trend I think.

 

 

Thinking about it I'd probably take Jackson. Oswalt has been better but who knows how he'll be with having injuries in recent years and playing in this division.

[a700hitter]

But 2 of those 4 times have been within the last 3 years. At his age that is likely to be a continuing trend I think.

 

 

Thinking about it I'd probably take Jackson. Oswalt has been better but who knows how he'll be with having injuries in recent years and playing in this division.

In one of those 2 years, he still pitched 181 innings.

[a700hitter]

The latest is that there is mutual interest between Oswalt and the Rangers. If that happens, Texas will be a very good team for another year.

[User Name]

* In an interview on WEEI this afternoon, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said that there was no instruction from ownership to stay under the luxury tax threshold of $178MM, writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.

 

 

Wut?

[Station 13]

Wut?

 

something is cooking.

[User Name]

My thoughts exactly.

[Palodios]

BEN WROTE TWO CHECKS!!! Please cash it Oswalt!!!

[iortiz]

Red Sox Notes: Ross, Jackson, Payroll

By Zach Links [January 25 at 5:29pm CST]

The Red Sox freed up some spending room last week by sending Marco Scutaro to Colorado, and today it was reported that the club has made offers to both Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson. Here's the latest on the BoSox..

 

The Red Sox are in the process of “exploring everything” with regards to freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster after signing Cody Ross, a team source tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com. At the moment, the source says, there’s no sense that the team will consider a “significant” move with regards to its roster. The most straightforward way to make room for the club might be to deal one of their many out-of-options pitchers. Boston is also carrying six outfielders on their 40-man roster.

According to a major league source, the Red Sox are more likely to address their starting rotation needs through free agency than via a trade, writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. Lauber also spoke to Scott Boras who declined to confirm the Red Sox's reported offer to Jackson.

More from Lauber (via Twitter) as a major league source says that the money saved by trading Scutaro is "not a hard number," meaning that the Red Sox may be able to spend more to land a starter and/or shortstop.

In an interview on WEEI this afternoon, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said that there was no instruction from ownership to stay under the luxury tax threshold of $178MM, writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.

[jung]

I do think it is interesting that so much focus seems to have shifted from Oswalt to Jackson. If I were a betting man I would bet that Oswalt has shunned the Sox and the Sox are now concentrating on Jackson.

[iortiz]

If we land a man, that man will be Jackson IMO. Signs say that Oswalt wants to avoid in every possible way to sign with Boston, even making less money.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Everyone's concern was getting a pitcher. Not only do we have 1 option but 2. I don't care who we get. One isn't significantly better than the other.

[User Name]

I disagree. When healthy, Oswalt is massively superior to Jackson.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

But his health is a question mark. What I was trying to get at is the numbers weren't much of a difference in 2011.