Papi sounds like he's done with Boston

[FredLynn]

I agree with that statement. But I somewhat wish to see Lavarnway more. He could POTENTIALLY be a DH because of the lack of experience at catcher' date=' but Youkilis already said that he'll probably end up being a DH at some point in his career. Which raises the question mark: Who will be our third basemen?[/quote']

 

Thats a very good question. I think we need to look at the FA 3B becoming FAs in 2012 (after the season). Its possible that Middlebrooks could be available by then, but he has never played a ML game yet. Lowrie/Aviles could handle it next year during our rebuilding process and Youk could DH and spell guys at at both 1B and 3B.

[BossSox]

Thats a very good question. I think we need to look at the FA 3B becoming FAs in 2012 (after the season). Its possible that Middlebrooks could be available by then' date=' but he has never played a ML game yet. Lowrie/Aviles could handle it next year during our rebuilding process and Youk could DH and spell guys at at both 1B and 3B.[/quote']

I am probably wrong here but is it even the slightest possibility that we go out and get Fielder for DH and keep Youkilis at 3rd? I'm guessing probably not.

[jung]

I am probably wrong here but is it even the slightest possibility that we go out and get Fielder for DH and keep Youkilis at 3rd? I'm guessing probably not.

 

No chance of seeing Prince come here to DH. There is more chance of moving AGons to get Prince if you really want him and even that chance is slim to none. Besides, Youk can no longer be depended upon to play 3rd for an entire season yet you don't want to lose his bat. So if the Sox played their cards perfectly Youk would play some 3rd, but not so much that he runs inordinate risk of going down with an injury. If they are still here the 2012 plan will have to include more rest for Youk and for AGons least we are left to endure another second half slump from AGons with associated comments about injury and the schedule and ultimately whether God knows what a 6-4-3 is.

[SoxSport]

Fielder has no chance here. They have to turn that lineup around and remember what park they are playing in.You can bet Epstein took the heat for signing a LHd lineup last year. I doubt Tito was thrilled.

 

That means Middlebrook 3B, Youks 3B/DH, Cuddyer DH/RF--maybe platooned with Kalish. It means by by Papi.

 

You can also look at this thing another way: it was the pitching, stupid. Actually, it was.

 

Leave the lineup alone and fix up the pitching. That means Lackey gone, Wake gone. Sign another FA starter to go with Beckett, Lester and Buchholz. Keep Pap or sign a Bell or Madsen. Bard can start or setup.

Get more innings out of the starters instead of 100 pitches and out. Less bullpen.

[FredLynn]

Here are the FA 3B available after next year:

 

Third Basemen

Geoff Blum

Miguel Cairo

Brandon Inge *

Maicer Izturis

Chipper Jones *

Kevin Kouzmanoff

Placido Polanco *

Mark Reynolds *

Scott Rolen

Mark Teahen

Ty Wigginton *

David Wright *

Kevin Youkilis *

 

And here are the available FA SP. Its a pretty good list. We ought to wait until then to pursue a very good SP and consider next year to be a rebuilding year. We need it:

 

Starting Pitchers

Scott Baker *

Joe Blanton

Matt Cain

Fausto Carmona *

Kevin Correia

John Danks

Jorge De La Rosa *

R.A. Dickey *

Scott Feldman *

Gavin Floyd *

Zack Greinke

Jeremy Guthrie

Cole Hamels

Dan Haren *

Tim Hudson *

Colby Lewis

Francisco Liriano

Kyle Lohse

Derek Lowe

Shaun Marcum

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Brandon McCarthy

Brett Myers *

Carl Pavano

Jake Peavy *

Anibal Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez

Ervin Santana *

Joe Saunders

James Shields *

Jake Westbrook *

Randy Wolf *

Carlos Zambrano *

[Dawgma]

Every body likes Papi.. It will be tough to see him go.

By the way, that slump he had was no coincidence.. He wasn't drinking the right juice.

Bye Papi!

[Jwmann2]

What is he going to DH for the Yankees? They have no room for him. They're going to focus their payroll on pitching this season. Cashman has already been in contact with Buerhle, Cj Wilson, Edwin Jackson, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez.

[seabeachfred]

With all due respect for what Big Papi has meant to the team, it is high time for him to take his wares somewhere else and all of RSN bid him a fond adieu. He has been acting more like a spoiled diva than a team leader and it is also high time to turn the leadership of the team over to Pedroia and whoever else of the new crowd is willing to share that load with Dustin. Ortiz, Wakefield and Varitek need to be shown the door and the money saved not signing them used to either sign a FA pitcher or saved for 2013 when a whole slew of FA pitchers hit the market.

 

Besides, we should be concentrating on pitching. We have no one ready in the minors ready to step up unless Renaudo suddenly blasts through the cracks next Spring. That means resign Papelbon, get two good relief pitchers, a RH hitting outfielder, and a decent No. 4 starting pitcher. Sorry my friends, I know it is getting repetitious reading me saying the same things over and over again but from where I sit out needs are staring me right in the face and I wonder if the front office can see that or have blinders on.

[Cask N Flagon 76]

What is he going to DH for the Yankees? They have no room for him. They're going to focus their payroll on pitching this season. Cashman has already been in contact with Buerhle' date=' Cj Wilson, Edwin Jackson, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez.[/quote']

 

 

 

Fact is we are sitting on our A** and simply not looking at these pitchers or am I assuming this?.

[Laser Show]

Fact is we are sitting on our A** and simply not looking at these pitchers or am I assuming this?.

 

I think you're assuming. There's no way the entire Red Sox FO is sitting around playing yahtzee and doing nothing. They're probably doing exactly what we're doing, researching and speculating.

[Cask N Flagon 76]

I think you're assuming. There's no way the entire Red Sox FO is sitting around playing yahtzee and doing nothing. They're probably doing exactly what we're doing' date=' researching and speculating.[/quote']

 

 

I guess the frustration of another championship season that went south has gotten to me then haha. I hope you are right i know these things take time to grow and then blossom

but this is a long winter so far.

[User Name]

Negotiations are usually long, drawn-out processes. Unless a team is willingly to significantly overpay a player (like the Sox erroneously did with Crawford) the agents will take their time weighing their options.

[RonVermette]

From the Cherington interview on the Sox site, it sounds like Papi will be signed before the owners meeting next week, but Papelbon won't be.

He'd like to settle on a manager first, but the early activity has surprised him so he's spending more time than he expected on player contacts.

Desperate for news: 3 games against Toronto next spring, brings the total to 9.

[User Name]

From the Cherington interview on the Sox site, it sounds like Papi will be signed before the owners meeting next week, but Papelbon won't be.

He'd like to settle on a manager first, but the early activity has surprised him so he's spending more time than he expected on player contacts.

Desperate for news: 3 games against Toronto next spring, brings the total to 9.

 

I like you.

[SoxSport]

Papi wants 3 years. So did VG a couple of years ago, after his good year in Texas.

He didn't get that much in Baltimore, and had a down year.

 

These older guys all overestimate their value.

 

What did Texas do for DH this year? Didn't they split it up? Michael Young did a lot of it.

They signed Beltre and replaced VG in-house.

 

The Red Sox have hung a sign on Papi (and maybe Pap) saying "available for the right price."

That means you outbid us, you get him.