Bullpen Options

[Trillz808]

David Aardsma cleared waivers and while hes coming off a season with an injury and recovering from tommy john surgery reports say by midseason he would be pitching again but if he can get back earlier in the season I think he would be great fit in our bullpen AGAIN anyone else got any names for the bullpen?

[Palodios]

Dan Wheeler. Pick that option up! A very good 6th/7th inning guy for 1/3. Hard to argue with that.

[Palodios]

Dan Wheeler. Pick that option up! A very good 6th/7th inning guy for 1/3. Hard to argue with that.

 

Scratch that, they declined it. Wheeler was a type B so they probably wanted the first rounder.

[seabeachfred]

Dan Wheeler. Pick that option up! A very good 6th/7th inning guy for 1/3. Hard to argue with that.

 

Sorry Palodios, but just read this afternoon that the team did not pick up Wheeler's option, and frankly I cannot understand that. I feel he was misused by Francona this past season in that the former manager seemed to favor others in those key situations. A healthy Wheeler could have been a solid wheel for us. Now what? We let Papelbon go? Then, again, what? We need a good bullpen and without those two we have Bard and a lot of baloney. I hope Cherington have some decent relievers in his crosshairs.

[SCM33]

bye bye Wheeler.

 

We dont need more of the same, we need overhaul.

 

Looks like "blow it up" and "overhaul", 2 things that I prayed for are really happening.

 

He wasnt bad, but he wasnt good enough. Replace him with another dime a dozen MR's and get a first round pick.

[iortiz]

Sox pass on Wheeler; Pap, Ortiz Type A's

October, 31, 2011

 

BOSTON -- No surprise here, but as expected, closer Jonathan Papelbon and DH David Ortiz have been classified as Type A free agents, while catcher Jason Varitek is a Class B and reliever Dan Wheeler is a Class B after the Sox declined to exercise his option.

 

The Sox also declined the option they held on reliever Scott Atchison, who remains on the team's 40-man roster.

 

Free agents are eligible to sign with other clubs beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

 

Any club losing a Type A free agent receives a first-round draft pick from the signing club as compensation, plus a supplemental first-round pick, also known as a sandwich pick. Any club losing a Type B free agent receives a sandwich pick as compensation.

 

In order to receive compensatory draft picks, clubs must offer their free agents salary arbitration by Nov. 23.

 

There is some uncertainty this season, because it's possible MLB owners and the players' union might strike a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement that could change free-agent compensation rules.

[mvp 78]

bye bye Wheeler.

 

We dont need more of the same, we need overhaul.

 

Looks like "blow it up" and "overhaul", 2 things that I prayed for are really happening.

 

He wasnt bad, but he wasnt good enough. Replace him with another dime a dozen MR's and get a first round pick.

 

There was an overhaul of the pen last year. How'd that work out?

 

Most people on here were excited about Wheeler and Jenks.

[a700hitter]

There was an overhaul of the pen last year. How'd that work out?

 

Most people on here were excited about Wheeler and Jenks.

They probably didn't realize that Jenks signed his contract at an all you can eat buffet.

[Palodios]

There was an overhaul of the pen last year. How'd that work out?

 

Most people on here were excited about Wheeler and Jenks.

 

The Wheeler contract was a very good one. 1/3 on a 3.00 relief pitcher who has spent the last few years in the AL East. He sucked at the beginning of the year, but besides that he pitched to career averages. He just happens to be worth more to the team via a first rounder right now than as a reliever, and I understand that move.

 

 

Jenks was a fat f***. I said it at the time, and will say it again today. Terrible contract.

[SoxFanForsyth]

There was an overhaul of the pen last year. How'd that work out?

 

Most people on here were excited about Wheeler and Jenks.

 

I mean, Boston's 3.67 bullpen ERA was 4th best in the AL last year, and was a massive improvement over their 4.24 bullpen ERA in 2010. So I'd say shaving off over 1/2 of a point on your ERA probably worked out pretty well.

 

Jenks was a horrific contract, no denying that. But Wheeler had a solid 2nd half (3.43 ERA in 2nd half). He rarely walked anyone (1.50 BB/9) and posted a 4.88 K/BB (significantly higher than Bard's 3.08).

 

Wheeler was never meant to be our closer. He was never even meant to be our 7th inning guy when we signed him. We had Jenks - Bard - Pap locked in for the 7th - 8th - 9th. Jenks goes down, but Aceves steps up, and we have Ace - Bard - Pap locked in. You have to take him for what he is, a guy who can keep you in a game, but rarely pitches in high pressure situations. Overall, it was money well spent.

[SoxSport]

I bet they re-sign Pap.

 

I checked some stats, and Pap had the best K/W ratio of any closer in baseball last year. Pap-8.7, Rivera-7.5, Putz-5.0. Those were the top 3. Pap didn't get a lot of saves relative to others, but he had a helluva good year in quality stats. His best year since '08 when his K/W was 9.6.

 

Bard's K/W last year was 3.1--close to his career average.

 

These stats will probably determine how far the Red Sox will go to keep Pap.

[seabeachfred]

I bet they re-sign Pap.

 

I checked some stats, and Pap had the best K/W ratio of any closer in baseball last year. Pap-8.7, Rivera-7.5, Putz-5.0. Those were the top 3. Pap didn't get a lot of saves relative to others, but he had a helluva good year in quality stats. His best year since '08 when his K/W was 9.6.

 

Bard's K/W last year was 3.1--close to his career average.

 

These stats will probably determine how far the Red Sox will go to keep Pap.

 

Sox Sport, I would be very tempted to take that bet with the hope that I would actually lose it. We certainly need Papelbon now more than ever, but with the plethora of closers available this free agent season the team might decide to take the two draft choices and go the cheaper route on the closer. However, if the money is going to be sent I think the wiser choice would be to let Ortiz walk and resign Paps. Our hitting should be good enough to cushion his loss and it would give Lavarnway the opportunity to get in the lineup. I have a very strong feeling that given the chance Ryan would develop into a solid RH power hitter, something very badly needed when a team plays half its games at Fenway Park.

 

As for the bullpen, you guys tell me. Letting Wheeler go doesn't make much sense to me because in his role he was pretty good from the summer on. Bad enough we have to have thehuman smorgasboard back for another season. That didn't work last year and most likely won't work again. Where is the bullpen coming from?

[SoxSport]

Sox Sport, I would be very tempted to take that bet with the hope that I would actually lose it. We certainly need Papelbon now more than ever, but with the plethora of closers available this free agent season the team might decide to take the two draft choices and go the cheaper route on the closer. However, if the money is going to be sent I think the wiser choice would be to let Ortiz walk and resign Paps. Our hitting should be good enough to cushion his loss and it would give Lavarnway the opportunity to get in the lineup. I have a very strong feeling that given the chance Ryan would develop into a solid RH power hitter, something very badly needed when a team plays half its games at Fenway Park.

 

As for the bullpen, you guys tell me. Letting Wheeler go doesn't make much sense to me because in his role he was pretty good from the summer on. Bad enough we have to have thehuman smorgasboard back for another season. That didn't work last year and most likely won't work again. Where is the bullpen coming from?

 

Yeah, I've argued that point, too, about Pap. Take the draft picks for him and Ortiz. Sell high with both these guys. Absolutely. That's probably the only way they'll be able to keep their payroll from increasing--if they want another RHd bat. But they'll probably have to sign a Madsen, unless they move Bard up.

 

They might try to sign Wheeler for cheaper money. They just didn't want to pay him $3M.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, I've argued that point, too, about Pap. Take the draft picks for him and Ortiz. Sell high with both these guys. Absolutely. That's probably the only way they'll be able to keep their payroll from increasing--if they want another RHd bat. But they'll probably have to sign a Madsen, unless they move Bard up.

 

They might try to sign Wheeler for cheaper money. They just didn't want to pay him $3M.

I don't think the FO will be looking to rebuild this team while paring payroll. They have missed the post season two years in a row, and IMO, a third season in a row would be unacceptable to ownership. I expect that payroll will go up and the the FO and ownership will want to make a strong statement by returning to the playoffs.

 

Madson, as the Sox closer, would have us puking out our guts before the end of May.

[Dojji]

We're going to have to either call up Doubront, or trade Doubront, at some point next year. This limbo status is getting silly from both his and our standpoint.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

The Wheeler contract was a very good one. 1/3 on a 3.00 relief pitcher who has spent the last few years in the AL East. He sucked at the beginning of the year, but besides that he pitched to career averages. He just happens to be worth more to the team via a first rounder right now than as a reliever, and I understand that move.

 

 

Jenks was a fat f***. I said it at the time, and will say it again today. Terrible contract.

 

It was bad because he had a career worse his last season in Chicago. Before that he wa pretty nice but it makes no sense to throw a shitload of money after such a bad year imo. What a waste. Funny thing is I was happy about this move.

[jung]

Not sure how this will play out but Paps FA year is coming up both when Closer looks like one of the few high profile positions with a few options in this FA year and at a time when the position of Closer is not considered with the same stature that it once had from a salary perspective. Sorta' like what is happening at DH.

 

I also believe that the Sox will add payroll this year but I don't think JH will open the purse strings wide enough to account for some multi-million $, multi-year deal without taking some payroll from someplace.