2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[MANNYHOF24]

Get JD Drew on the phone!

[Palodios]

I hate to say it... but the next guy on the OF depth chart is Che-Hsuan Lin.

[Bellhorn04]

Ultimately the blame for the neverending string of medical screwups has to fall back on upper management. They fired Dr. Bill Morgan after 2004, for reasons that were never disclosed. Morgan was the guy who devised the procedure on Schilling that helped save the title run.

 

And then they permit Gill and his fellow bunglers to continue negatively impacting entire seasons until finally firing him, much too late, after 2011.

[jacksonianmarch]

This brings to mind Dr. Thomas Gill's infamous words 'We aren't going to MRI a bruise' which Ellsbury attributed to him. As it turns out Gill may be the single biggest factor in the Red Sox injury problems of 2010-2012. 'We don't MRI bruises' is probably the slogan that sits on his desk. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Buchholz, Crawford...Gill may be the worst sports medical guy in history.

 

My daughter plays high school basketball and before the year they were all sent for MRI's on their knees as a preventative measure. But the Boston Red Sox scrimp on MRI's.

 

Armchair BBDoc could see it from home. Sometimes doc's get a god complex and forget that there are confirmatory tests done to prove your differential.

[Station 13]

The Darvish crap is wrapping up today and Oswalt fate might finally comes to conclusions soon.

[RedSoxFan84]

The Darvish crap is wrapping up today and Oswalt fate might finally comes to conclusions soon.

 

 

 

That would be great if it works out that way. I, and most other Sox fans from what I can gather on this board, would love to see Oswalt signed for the 2012 season. I'm expecting that it wont happen, but praying that it will. Either way, once Oswalt finds a new home, at least it will all be over and we'll be able to stop speculating about where he is going to sign.

[RedSoxFan84]

I guess I'm more upset with his production and the fact we will lose Jacoby, a far superior player because of his deal.

 

 

 

Wait... what? We're losing Jacoby? Is this certain, or is it a prediction? Why would we be losing him? I would expect that with a player of his quality, ownership would pick up the check to keep him, even if it means paying the tax.

[SoxSport]

At least he should be back for the 2012 season. The same can't be said for Victor Martinez in Detroit. Bummer for him... I always liked V-Mart.

 

A lot of people would rather have VMart and Beltre right now than Crawford and AdGon.

Plus all those prospects they gave up. I wonder if Mr Henry is one of them.

[User Name]

A lot of people would rather have VMart and Beltre right now than Crawford and AdGon.

Plus all those prospects they gave up. I wonder if Mr Henry is one of them.

 

Who would like to not have Gonzales?

 

If you meant VMart and Gonzales that'd be a whole other deal.

[SoxSport]

Ultimately the blame for the neverending string of medical screwups has to fall back on upper management. They fired Dr. Bill Morgan after 2004, for reasons that were never disclosed. Morgan was the guy who devised the procedure on Schilling that helped save the title run.

 

And then they permit Gill and his fellow bunglers to continue negatively impacting entire seasons until finally firing him, much too late, after 2011.

 

Is this the bunch that wanted Buchholz to go down to Florida to pitch 2 innings before pitching in Boston last September? Talk about cost overruns.

[SoxSport]

What in the world? Your payroll is going to be over 180 million this year... it's up from last year. What do you want? Do you want to have a higher payroll than the Yankees? It's crazy how red sox fans are getting worse than some of these Yankee fans I see on message boards. Just stop man... the red sox will have the second highest payroll unless the angels or phillies sign Fielder' date=' which they won't.[/quote']

 

That's the point. You spend 180 jillion, you have to spend a few jillion more if you are short of your weakest suit--pitching. The time to worry about jillions was last year when they went crazy spending on pieces they didn't need. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the frying pan.

[User Name]

This makes no sense.

[Bellhorn04]

It sounds like the Sox might have a real arbitration showdown with Ortiz. If it goes to that it'll be very interesting to see what the arbitrator decides. Their 12.65 million offer is a small raise from last year.

[Meh]

Andrew Bailey requested $4.7 million and was offered $3.35 million from the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.

Bailey, who was acquired from the Athletics in late-December, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 2.07 ERA over his first three major-league seasons. Look for the two sides to settle somewhere around $4 million.

 

-Rotoworld.com

 

I suggested a 3.5 million salary, I believe UserName said no way he gets over 1.5 million. Heck they might even settle at $4 million.

[User Name]

Andrew Bailey requested $4.7 million and was offered $3.35 million from the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.

Bailey, who was acquired from the Athletics in late-December, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 2.07 ERA over his first three major-league seasons. Look for the two sides to settle somewhere around $4 million.

 

-Rotoworld.com

 

I suggested a 3.5 million salary, I believe UserName said no way he gets over 1.5 million. Heck they might even settle at $4 million.

 

Bailey? Where did i say no way he gets over 1.5 million? The only players i assumed would make less than a million were Morales, Bard and Salty. Already whiffed on Salty though.

[Station 13]

4M is overpay for Bailey, because you don't know if he could pitch a whole season.

 

Bard is getting less than half, been healthy the last 3 years and pitch more innings. No AL reliever has pitch more games and innings in fact since 2010.

[Meh]

Bailey? Where did i say no way he gets over 1.5 million? The only players i assumed would make less than a million were Morales' date=' Bard and Salty. Already whiffed on Salty though.[/quote']

 

I apologize it was SoxFanForsyth, I get you two mixed up a lot. My mistake though.

[User Name]

Bleh, it's okay. I'll probably whiff on two of my three predictions either way.

[BSN07]

The Red Sox requested in late December that MLB commissioner Bud Selig resolve the Theo Epstein compensation issue, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs were granted permission to speak to Epstein by the Red Sox and hired him as president of baseball operations in October. Since then, the two teams have been unable to determine what compensation the Red Sox should receive for Epstein, since he had a year remaining on his contract.

 

This pretty much guarantee's the Sox will be getting practically nothing from the Cubs for Theo leaving. Selig doesn't want FO personal to be valued highly. The Sox will probably get 1M for their troubles. If there was any justice in the world the Cubs would have to take Crawford and or Lackey

[FredLynn]

Armchair BBDoc could see it from home. Sometimes doc's get a god complex and forget that there are confirmatory tests done to prove your differential.

 

You know what? I would have that MRI machine working 24/7 this year. Its not like an XRay which has potential side effects (there is no safe dose of radiation). An MRI is based on the magnetic properties of atoms and unless you are made of metal, its a very very safe procedure.

I have a suspicion that this Crawford thing is going to drag on much longer than they are letting on.

[RedSoxFan84]

Can someone help me out here? Someone said before that we were going to lose Ellsbury because of Crawford's contract. Is that true? If so, how?

[User Name]

Can someone help me out here? Someone said before that we were going to lose Ellsbury because of Crawford's contract. Is that true? If so' date=' how?[/quote']

 

That's speculation. It's something that hasn't been confirmed.

[FredLynn]

Can someone help me out here? Someone said before that we were going to lose Ellsbury because of Crawford's contract. Is that true? If so' date=' how?[/quote']

 

It could happen because when Ellsbury becomes a FA the Sox may not be able to afford both him and CRAPFORD...OOPS..I mean King Carl Crawford, the recalcitrant jerk who wouldn't return phone calls to his new boss for months.

On the other hand, Ellsbury is unlikely to repeat his stellar performance in 2011. I think that while it was a truly great year, it was an aberration.

[RedSoxFan84]

God damnit!!! If we lose Ellsbury because of Crawford's contract, I'm going to be pissed as hell. If it happens, then Crawford better seriously improve his performance from last season.

[Elktonnick]

You know what? I would have that MRI machine working 24/7 this year. Its not like an XRay which has potential side effects (there is no safe dose of radiation). An MRI is based on the magnetic properties of atoms and unless you are made of metal, its a very very safe procedure.

I have a suspicion that this Crawford thing is going to drag on much longer than they are letting on.

 

There is speculation out there that this injury may portend a long term problem with the wrist. Does anyone know how he injured the wrist in the first place?

[a700hitter]

Hopefully, we have insurance on this awful contract. If we do, he can cut off his hand for all I care.

[ORS]

But the Boston Red Sox scrimp on MRI's.

With all this talk about staying under the cap, and since benefits are included in the cap figure, maybe they are on a quota for reduced premiums?

[a700hitter]

Red Sox Still Interested In Gavin Floyd

By Tim Dierkes [January 18 at 11:30am CST]

 

WEDNESDAY, 11:30am: The Red Sox are still showing interest in Floyd, tweets Morosi.

 

TUESDAY, 9:15am: We haven't heard a ton about righty Gavin Floyd lately, but the White Sox are still listening on the soon-to-be 29-year-old, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. White Sox GM Kenny Williams has traded Carlos Quentin, Sergio Santos, and Jason Frasor this winter, but he's held onto his starting pitching and even extended John Danks.

 

This winter top young starters Michael Pineda, Mat Latos, Gio Gonzalez, and Trevor Cahill have been traded, but all came with at least four years of team control. Floyd and crosstown hurler Matt Garza are in the next tier along with Jair Jurrjens, with two years of control at higher prices. Two years of Floyd will cost $16.5MM in salary plus prospects. Floyd is capable of 30 starts and a sub-4.00 ERA, so he's still plenty valuable and may represent a more reasonable commitment than a four-year deal for Edwin Jackson. The Yankees figure to be done rotation shopping, but the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Pirates are potential fits in my opinion.

[VA Sox Fan]

There is speculation out there that this injury may portend a long term problem with the wrist. Does anyone know how he injured the wrist in the first place?

 

From Peter Abraham in the Globe:

 

Crawford felt soreness when he started his offseason hitting workouts around Jan. 1. He had an MRI that showed cartilage damage, and arthroscopic surgery was recommended. Crawford has had wrist issues in the past, but the discomfort had always passed. Having such pain at this time of the year was a red flag.

 

Cherington did not rule out Crawford being available for Opening Day. But it sounds like he could miss the early part of the season. Crawford is expected to be ready to resume baseball activities at some point during spring training.

 

"We're not going to put a timeline on his recovery," Cherington said. "But we're optimistic Carl will be progressing in baseball activities as we get into spring training and be in a position to be active and our left fielder in our lineup for the bulk of the regular season."

[a700hitter]

Rangers Close To Deal With Yu Darvish

By Tim Dierkes [January 18 at 11:48am CST]

 

The Rangers have a 4pm central time deadline to sign Yu Darvish today. If they fail to reach an agreement with agents Don Nomura and Arn Tellem, the $51,703,411 posting fee will not be paid to the Nippon Ham Fighters and Darvish will return to Japan for the 2012 season. The latest:

 

The Rangers are close to a deal with Darvish, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. He elaborates that the Rangers and Darvish "are still working on details, but they are making good progress" with four hours remaining until the deadline.

The Rangers are "cautiously optimistic that Darvish will be signed," reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

If the Rangers sign Darvish, do the Sox sign Oswalt?