2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[Meh]

With Fielder going to the Tiger' date=' I am wary that the Rangers will make a run at Oswalt.[/quote']

 

Seems like, just speculation on my part, but Oswalt wants to stay in the NL. He went to an NL team and asked them if they had any interest in him, he turned down the Tigers too.

[User Name]

Seems like' date=' just speculation on my part, but Oswalt wants to stay in the NL. He went to an NL team and asked them if they had any interest in him, he turned down the Tigers too.[/quote']

 

Actually, it makes a lot of sense.

 

If he's actually looking for a longer deal after he signs a one-year deal for 2012, it would be much easier to rebuild his value in the NL.

[jung]

It does make a lotta' sense. If this comes all the way down to the wire and Oswalt still does not have a deal somewhere then I think he would be much more likely to sign with an AL East team. However I would not be surprised if he views signing with an AL East team as having an impact on his future prospects as limited in time as those might be and would actually ask for something like an AL East surcharge at least until he had ho choices left open to him.

 

I don't even know how often I have seen this before. We have a legitimate big league pitcher that probably started this offseason figuring he was likely to be signing his second to last or last big league contract, probably for something like 3 years who has been backed into a willingness to accept a 1 year deal and drop kick his career one year forward as a result. Oh by the way that is going to put him in the FA class of 2013 which is shaping up to already have a goodly number of pitchers in it.

 

Would you be completely surprised if he were not trying to maximize his opportunity to look good as opposed to coming over here and possibly having his head handed to him?

[User Name]

That's why waiting to see the market play itself out can be a very good idea. If the Red Sox do get Oswalt on the cheap and for one year, it will be because they waited him out.

[jacksonianmarch]

Actually, it makes a lot of sense.

 

If he's actually looking for a longer deal after he signs a one-year deal for 2012, it would be much easier to rebuild his value in the NL.

 

Exactly. If I were him, I'd go out to LA and pitch in Dodger Stadium against all the anemic offenses in the NL West.

[User Name]

Exactly. If I were him' date=' I'd go out to LA and pitch in Dodger Stadium against all the anemic offenses in the NL West.[/quote']

 

The problem here is that he may have to settle for whoever wants to sign him.

[jacksonianmarch]

The problem here is that he may have to settle for whoever wants to sign him.

 

If he wants to try and recoup his value, though, it may be best to take less money this yr in hopes of landing a 3 yr deal after this season. I am sure LA would take him for $3 mil

[User Name]

If he wants to try and recoup his value' date=' though, it may be best to take less money this yr in hopes of landing a 3 yr deal after this season. I am sure LA would take him for $3 mil[/quote']

 

Yeah, but he's realistically not taking $3 million. I think he'd rather take $8 mill and pitch in the AL. Of course, i'm massively speculating here, but it is paramount to the usual Major Leaguer thought process of: More money is better!!!!

[jung]

It remains a little surprising to me that Oswalt is not generating more interest from a larger pool of teams. It really does make me wonder if there is something that the baseball pros know about him that we don't.

[iortiz]

It remains a little surprising to me that Oswalt is not generating more interest from a larger pool of teams. It really does make me wonder if there is something that the baseball pros know about him that we don't.

 

This.

 

IMO, and this is olny my opinion, he is not that "healthy". This has been my concern about this guy all offseason long, reason why I would prefer to land Wandy or Floyd these days. On the other hand, if we sign him, I want to believe that Ben sees enough fuel in his tank to face next season.

 

I just want to avoid another failure in that regard (injuries).

[User Name]

Wandy would be a disaster at Fenway though.

[iortiz]

If Wandy puts (4-4.5) I"ll be pleased.

[User Name]

I don't quite think he would. Probably high 4's, low 5's.

[ForeverYoung]

I don't quite think he would. Probably high 4's' date=' low 5's.[/quote']

 

Lackey is getting paid a lot more to do a lot worse.

[iortiz]

BTW beyond Oswalt's health/ physical conditioning, what I would have liked about this move is that we wouldn't give up prospects.

[jung]

On the other hand we have signings like the Prince in Detroit (nice to know that there are other teams out there motivated in part by Marketing considerations in their major FA signings). I might be wrong but I think Fielder is 31 or maybe 32 by the time the season starts????

 

He is going to be over 40 in the last year of that contract and it is not like the guy is headed for a robustly athletic mid-life at the rate he is going or should I say growing!

[User Name]

On the other hand we have signings like the Prince in Detroit (nice to know that there are other teams out there motivated in part by Marketing considerations in their major FA signings). I might be wrong but I think Fielder is 31 or maybe 32 by the time the season starts????

 

He is going to be over 40 in the last year of that contract and it is not like the guy is headed for a robustly athletic mid-life at the rate he is going or should I say growing!

 

Fielder is 27. You're way off man.

[User Name]

Lackey is getting paid a lot more to do a lot worse.

 

It doesn't have anything to do with the money. Why would you get a pitcher knowing he's likely to be ineffective? Isn't that the lesson they should have learned with Lackey?

[iortiz]

Wandy would be a solid #4 SP. We do not need more.

[jung]

Holy Cow....he is only 27. Geez he must have been able to get into bars at 12!

[User Name]

Wandy would be a solid #4 SP. We do not need more.

 

Based on what? That is the problem.

 

He's a lefty who gets hit hard by righties, gives up a ton of homers and walks a lot of guys without very good stuff moving from the AL Central to the AL East, and specifically to Fenway. That is a recipe for disaster.

 

The only redeeming quality Wandy has if that he draws a fair amount of ground balls.

 

I would like to see evidence that would help reach the conclusion that he would be effective in the AL East, and specifically, Fenway.

[ForeverYoung]

It doesn't have anything to do with the money. Why would you get a pitcher knowing he's likely to be ineffective? Isn't that the lesson they should have learned with Lackey?

 

You are correct....just trying to make a correlation.

Lackey went 12-12 last year with a 6+ ERA, Wandy doing 4-5 is above .500 winning Pct. Which is what you look for out of a #4, although Wandy is not filling the role of #4 on Astros (Or whatever the hell the new owners decides to name them). If the Astros eat enough of his contract in order to get a prospect than I don't see why we don't grab him.

[User Name]

You are correct....just trying to make a correlation.

Lackey went 12-12 last year with a 6+ ERA, Wandy doing 4-5 is above .500 winning Pct. Which is what you look for out of a #4, although Wandy is not filling the role of #4 on Astros (Or whatever the hell the new owners decides to name them). If the Astros eat enough of his contract in order to get a prospect than I don't see why we don't grab him.

 

Because if he gets his ass kicked (and he likely will) we will want to murder every one who is even remotely related to the Red Sox FO.

[jung]

One thing I have seen in some articles recently (which is not to say that I agree with them) is columnists assigning the number 5 slot to whichever pitcher we get. That would clearly suggest that they think Aceves or Bard moves right into the 4 slot. That is a good deal of pressure for guys that have really not had starting roles before and have not given indications that they can just slot right into the 4.

 

If the Sox are thinking along the same lines I am not sure that they would have the same expectations for performance that we would expect for a 4. It is an interesting question. Certainly there are more guys and less costly guys that you would consider as a 5. Often 5's have a hard time doing more than giving you 5 innings in the AL East and they are often a rocky 5 innings at that.

[iortiz]

Based on what? That is the problem.

 

He's a lefty who gets hit hard by righties, gives up a ton of homers and walks a lot of guys without very good stuff moving from the AL Central to the AL East, and specifically to Fenway. That is a recipe for disaster.

 

The only redeeming quality Wandy has if that he draws a fair amount of ground balls.

 

I would like to see evidence that would help reach the conclusion that he would be effective in the AL East, and specifically, Fenway.

 

Well, he is a career 4.0 ERA pitcher, regardless he has been HEALTHY, under 3.5 last four years and has put 190+ IP the last three season. I got your concerns, but I see on him a decent 4-4.5 ERA in a very viable scenario with a great upside. And who knows? if he makes the necesary adjustments he will improve those concerns.

[User Name]

Well' date=' he is a career 4.0 ERA pitcher, regardless he has been HEALTHY, under 3.5 last four years and has put 190+ IP the last three season. I got your concerns, but I see on him a decent 4-4.5 ERA in a very viable scenario with a great upside. And who knows? if he makes the necesary adjustments he will improve those concerns.[/quote']

 

I just think his profile is very similar to Lackey's. If it was up to me, i'd go after Floyd (AL proven) or Oswalt (better stuff) instead.

[iortiz]

I just think his profile is very similar to Lackey's. If it was up to me' date=' i'd go after Floyd (AL proven) or Oswalt (better stuff) instead.[/quote']

 

I definitely like more Oswalt, but as I said, I'm very concerned about his health. I hope, they examine him very well before they sign him. If he is ok, sign him, no doubt.

[ForeverYoung]

Because if he gets his ass kicked (and he likely will) we will want to murder every one who is even remotely related to the Red Sox FO.

 

And that is different from every off-season how?

 

I personally think "Cool Hand" Ben's slow playing of this off-season is going to work for us. Not only do we keep our top talent that played amazing for every month that was not named September, but we also add through trades enough players to make our BP pretty good. Papelbon was a great showman and was consistent, but Bard/Bailey/Melancon is better than just about anyone's 7,8,9 men.

 

Not to mention when Josh Hamilton and/or Matt Cain are wearing Red Sox Jerseys next year I will have to put "I told you so" 500 times in my signature.

[User Name]

And that is different from every off-season how?

 

I personally think "Cool Hand" Ben's slow playing of this off-season is going to work for us. Not only do we keep our top talent that played amazing for every month that was not named September, but we also add through trades enough players to make our BP pretty good. Papelbon was a great showman and was consistent, but Bard/Bailey/Melancon is better than just about anyone's 7,8,9 men.

 

Not to mention when Josh Hamilton and/or Matt Cain are wearing Red Sox Jerseys next year I will have to put "I told you so" 500 times in my signature.

 

 

I don't understand what that has to do with Wandy sucking but ok.

[Muggah]

Exactly. If I were him' date=' I'd go out to LA and pitch in Dodger Stadium against all the anemic offenses in the NL West.[/quote']

 

Couldn't agree more. If it's a one year showcase Oswalt's looking for, the AL East is the last place he wants. I know there's a personal challenge element to the thing, but do you really think any agent worth his salt would suggest the AL East is the place to maximize your earning potential on a one year deal?