2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[a700hitter]

Pretty obvious, but here's the story.

 

 

 

Again, the writing is all over the wall on this signing. It makes entirely too much sense not to happen. I would be shocked if a deal wasn't done by the end of the weekend. Hell, I'd be surprised if it wasn't done by the end of the night.

An Oswalt deal should have been pretty much in place waiting for the salary relief. This shouldn't drag on.

[SoxFanForsyth]

There is always the possibility that this salary dump was meant to free up money for Ortiz's arbitration award. If that is the case' date=' I will be pissed.[/quote']

 

Almost impossible. First off, there's almost zero chance that Ortiz is going to win an arbitration case. Especially if they look at more than 1 year of work. Plus, he's a DH. At $12mm, he's STILL setting the bar for DH's in FA over the past few years. He completely screwed himself because he could have gotten around $14mm had he filed for that amount, but filing for $16mm ended up saving the Sox $2mm in what they were probably presuming they were going to have to pay ($14mm).

[User Name]

He's already gotten interview requests from The Globe.

 

Well played.

[iortiz]

To be fair, Cherrington has been put in a s***** situation. A 1 year/8mm deal for Oswalt puts the Red Sox back atop the AL East this year IMO.

 

If Bard can come out and post a 3.3-3.5 ERA for 160-170 IP (like most projections have him), this could potentially be the best rotation in the AL East as well.

 

I'll take Lester/Beckett/Buchholz/Oswalt/Bard over CC/Pineda/Kuroda/Nova/Garcia any day of the week.

 

Even with Bard around 4.0 ERA/150 IP as SP I'll be very pleased.

 

BTW SFF, do you or anybody know how is Oswalt (healthy) these days?

[a700hitter]

To be fair' date=' Cherrington has been put in a s***** situation. [/b']A 1 year/8mm deal for Oswalt puts the Red Sox back atop the AL East this year IMO.

 

If Bard can come out and post a 3.3-3.5 ERA for 160-170 IP (like most projections have him), this could potentially be the best rotation in the AL East as well.

 

I'll take Lester/Beckett/Buchholz/Oswalt/Bard over CC/Pineda/Kuroda/Nova/Garcia any day of the week.

I don't think he has been put in a bad situation. This team is only a couple of pieces and a Crawford recovery of being a very very good team. The biggest piece is a good starting pitcher.

[SoxFanForsyth]

An Oswalt deal should have been pretty much in place waiting for the salary relief. This shouldn't drag on.

 

Exactly, and look how quickly the talks "heated up" on Oswalt after the trade. It was almost instantaneous.

 

And I can't stress this enough. It's pretty obvious that the Red Sox were consistently in touch with Oswalt, and telling him to just wait while they clear up some payroll and they'll give him the 1/$8mm he wants.

 

Otherwise the guy would have signed by now. Oswalt for 1/8mm is an absolute steal. Especially for a team who is looking for a veteran guy (i.e. the Royals) or a team who needs one more piece to their rotation (i.e. everyone).

[User Name]

^This is the real turn-around. But you don't see one of his "crew" members calling him out on it. At least it's more optimistic than the usual dabble, so it's improvement.

[a700hitter]

Almost impossible. First off' date=' there's almost zero chance that Ortiz is going to win an arbitration case. Especially if they look at more than 1 year of work. Plus, he's a DH. At $12mm, he's STILL setting the bar for DH's in FA over the past few years. He completely screwed himself because he could have gotten around $14mm had he filed for that amount, but filing for $16mm ended up saving the Sox $2mm in what they were probably presuming they were going to have to pay ($14mm).[/quote']I wouldn't be so sure that Ortiz loses his arbitration hearing, but I am expecting that Scutaro was moved to get a pitcher.

[User Name]

Exactly, and look how quickly the talks "heated up" on Oswalt after the trade. It was almost instantaneous.

 

And I can't stress this enough. It's pretty obvious that the Red Sox were consistently in touch with Oswalt, and telling him to just wait while they clear up some payroll and they'll give him the 1/$8mm he wants.

 

Otherwise the guy would have signed by now. Oswalt for 1/8mm is an absolute steal. Especially for a team who is looking for a veteran guy (i.e. the Royals) or a team who needs one more piece to their rotation (i.e. everyone).

 

A bunch of people on the board suggested that, and he constantly said that the Sox would get no one, and that Cherington was sitting around sucking on his thumb.

[a700hitter]

Exactly, and look how quickly the talks "heated up" on Oswalt after the trade. It was almost instantaneous.

 

And I can't stress this enough. It's pretty obvious that the Red Sox were consistently in touch with Oswalt, and telling him to just wait while they clear up some payroll and they'll give him the 1/$8mm he wants.

 

Otherwise the guy would have signed by now. Oswalt for 1/8mm is an absolute steal. Especially for a team who is looking for a veteran guy (i.e. the Royals) or a team who needs one more piece to their rotation (i.e. everyone).

I think you are right. The most time consuming part of this process should be the medical exams.

[RedSoxNC84]

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?

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't think he has been put in a bad situation. This team is only a couple of pieces and a Crawford recovery of being a very very good team. The biggest piece is a good starting pitcher.

 

That's the thing. People don't realize this. I've heard entirely too much about how this team needs to strip down and rebuild. It makes zero sense to me.

 

Sure, if our top 5 pitchers were Lester/Beckett/Wakefield/Miller/Weiland, we would need to shed a piece or two and make a big trade for a SP. But that's not our rotation.

 

People are frustrated with his lack of activity this offseason. Well, coming off an offseason like last year, and on a strict budget, I think he's done well.

 

If he signs Oswalt, I would say this team is in better shape than last season's team was.

[User Name]

The only problem is that, even if they sign Oswalt, the team is going to be a bit top-heavy lineup-wise until Kalish is ready and Crawford comes back.

[SoxFanForsyth]

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?

 

I sure as hell hope so. That would be incredible. Hamels is an absolute beast. But I'd be shocked if the Phils dished him. And who would they want in return? They are looking to win now, so it would need to be a guy like Ellsbury. After seeing Kalish and Crawford in surgery, I can't justify risking Ellsbury in a trade.

 

But if we could get away with some top prospects (including Bogaerts), I'd be fine with it.

[Station 13]

 

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

 

Think it has any weight at all?

 

There is no chance of that happening.

[User Name]

I sure as hell hope so. That would be incredible. Hamels is an absolute beast. But I'd be shocked if the Phils dished him. And who would they want in return? They are looking to win now, so it would need to be a guy like Ellsbury. After seeing Kalish and Crawford in surgery, I can't justify risking Ellsbury in a trade.

 

But if we could get away with some top prospects (including Bogaerts), I'd be fine with it.

 

I disagree. If the Phillies aren't going to extend him, let the Sox sign him as a FA.

[SoxFanForsyth]

The only problem is that' date=' even if they sign Oswalt, the team is going to be a bit top-heavy lineup-wise until Kalish is ready and Crawford comes back.[/quote']

 

Ellsbury - Pedroia - Gonzalez - Youkilis - Ortiz - Salty - Sweeney - Aviles - Punto.

 

Yeah it is a bit top heavy. But Crawford should be back in April, so take out Punto, add Crawford in the 2 slot, drop everyone down, and the lineup will be stacked again, and this time with a rotation that can win a lot of games.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I disagree. If the Phillies aren't going to extend him' date=' let the Sox sign him as a FA.[/quote']

 

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.

[User Name]

Ellsbury - Pedroia - Gonzalez - Youkilis - Ortiz - Salty - Sweeney - Aviles - Punto.

 

Yeah it is a bit top heavy. But Crawford should be back in April, so take out Punto, add Crawford in the 2 slot, drop everyone down, and the lineup will be stacked again, and this time with a rotation that can win a lot of games.

 

Punto wouldn't play the same time as Aviles though. It'd probably be McD in the OF, and Aviles at SS. Just my guess.

[a700hitter]

Hmm... Cole Hamels? I don't even want to let my self think that is possible. He won $15 million in arbitration. Wouldn't that blow the cap?

[iortiz]

I don't think he has been put in a bad situation. This team is only a couple of pieces and a Crawford recovery of being a very very good team. The biggest piece is a good starting pitcher.

 

Yup, We have been saying this. Why put in high risk a season (2012) when you are so close (couple of moves) to put very good team in paper?...

 

Anyway...If Oswalt is the guy, I only hope that he is healthy.

[RedSoxNC84]

I disagree. If the Phillies aren't going to extend him' date=' let the Sox sign him as a FA.[/quote']

 

Even if they are in win now mode, extending one pitcher and then trading him for talent isn't the craziest thing I've ever heard of.

[NativeBostonian]

What are we going to do with the SS position now that this trade just went down?

[User Name]

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.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Punto wouldn't play the same time as Aviles though. It'd probably be McD in the OF' date=' and Aviles at SS. Just my guess.[/quote']

 

Well, regardless, McDonald/Punto. Neither strikes fear in the eyes of a pitcher. Pretty much the same in terms of dangerous offensive potential.

[RedSoxNC84]

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

[jung]

Lester/Beckett/Buchholz/Oswalt/Bard over CC/Pineda/Kuroda/Nova/Garcia

 

 

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.

[SoxFanForsyth]

What are we going to do with the SS position now that this trade just went down?

 

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??!?

[SoxFanForsyth]

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

 

I call bleacherreport a huge mistake. Anyone can write an article on that website.

[RedSoxNC84]

I call bleacherreport a huge mistake. Anyone can write an article on that website.

 

 

I agree, just posted that for entertainment value really.

 

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