Your 2013 Red Sox Lineup

[redsoxfan3]

This is just for fun. I know that 2012 hasn't even started yet, but I am interested in seeing who everyone thinks will be on the opening day roster for 2013. Try to make it as realistic as possible. In a perfect world, I am assuming that Iglesias, Lavarnway, and Middlebrooks will be on most of the rosters. This could just get some more discussion going before the 2012 season starts for the Sox. It will also be interesting to look back on this next year to see who was right or close to predicting the roster. Here is mine:

 

C- Lavarnway

1B- Gonzalez

2B- Pedroia

SS- Iglesias

3B- Middlebrooks

RF- Ross/Kalish

CF- Ellsbury

LF- Crawford

DH- Ortiz

 

Bench-

OF- Kalish/Ross

C- Salty??

IF- Aviles??

OF- McDonald/Sweeney??

 

I think Middlebrooks will progress this year and will be able to take over 3B next year. The reason I am saying this is because I think Youk will have another down year due to some injuries. I think we will not pick up his 13 million team option for 2013. I know there has been some talk about him possibly being our future DH, but I feel like Papi will have a decent year and we will work out a contract with Big Papi. I think Big Papi will retire with the Sox because I don't think the FO will be able to part ways with him.

 

Salty, Aviles, Sweeney, and McDonald are all eligible for arbitration next year. If the roster I listed above ends up working out, I could see all four players used as trade bait. They are all good options for backups, but I don't know if they will want to stick around as backups, especially Aviles. I could see us trading McDonald and keeping Sweeney as our 5th OF. I think Ross will have a good year in Boston and we will be able to agree to new contract terms with him to keep him in Boston for a couple more years (he is only 31).

 

I think Iglesias will progress enough this year to name him our opening day SS for 2013. I think Kalish will have a full recovery after sitting out a lot this season and will be in the mix for a starting spot in RF for next year. I could see Ross and Kalish platoon in RF during 2013. Gonzalez, Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Crawford are all obviously going to be around. I think Lavarnway will be named the starting C in 2013. Salty is not really a good option for us defensively, so I see us trying to upgrade offensively at C in 2013.

 

This is of course all speculation and what I want to see happen. I am not going to project the pitching, because a lot of depends on the success of this year. If our rotation and pen works out for us this year, then I could see us keeping it the same next year, especially if Doubront and Bard prove to be quality starters. I guess there is always an option to send Bard back to the pen after this year if we either sign a pitcher in free agency or use some of the players listed above to trade for another pitcher. I feel like we will try to upgrade our bullpen in 2013 by looking to make some signings or make some trades.

[DeadHorseSociety]

1. Crawford

2. pedroia

3. ellsbury

4. AGon

5. http://blog.tastebuds.fm/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/worstalbumcovers04.jpeg

6. Ortiz

7. Lavarnway

8. Ross

9. Aviles

[example1]

Youkilis as DH/corner IF backup makes more sense to me instead of keeping Ortiz around. He's more versatile and I think he's a better hitter overall. Plus he's RH and younger. That's assuming he doesn't have some horrible injury this year of course.

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Gonzalez

Youkilis

Crawford

Lavarnway

Kalish

Middlebrooks

Iglesias

 

I like that group quite a bit. Lots of assumptions (Crawford is some semblance of his former self, Kalish is healthy and producing like he did in the past, Middlebrooks doesn't collapse, Youkilis doesn't get injured, Iglesias can hit .250 or so) but it isn't unreasonable to think that could be the 2013 team.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

1. Crawford

2. pedroia

3. ellsbury

4. AGon

5. http://blog.tastebuds.fm/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/worstalbumcovers04.jpeg

6. Ortiz

7. Lavarnway

8. Ross

9. Aviles

 

:lol::lol:

 

 

oh god why did you include that pic

[jacksonianmarch]

Salty may be your catcher. I think Lavarnway is your backup catcher and half time dh while youkilis will be part time 3b and half time DH

[iortiz]

Youkilis as DH/corner IF backup makes more sense to me instead of keeping Ortiz around. He's more versatile and I think he's a better hitter overall. Plus he's RH and younger. That's assuming he doesn't have some horrible injury this year of course.

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Gonzalez

Youkilis

Crawford

Lavarnway

Kalish

Middlebrooks

Iglesias

 

I like that group quite a bit. Lots of assumptions (Crawford is some semblance of his former self, Kalish is healthy and producing like he did in the past, Middlebrooks doesn't collapse, Youkilis doesn't get injured, Iglesias can hit .250 or so) but it isn't unreasonable to think that could be the 2013 team.

 

I like this L-up with those assumptions, regardless we could use the 2013 money coming off the books for once and for all in pitching.

[example1]

I like this L-up with those assumptions' date=' regardless we could use the 2013 money coming off the books for once and for all in pitching.[/quote']

 

Let's hope that some good pitching is still available at that time. Sox would be stupid not to aggresively pursue Cole Hamels or Matt Cain if either gets away from his current club.

 

Any preferences between the two?

 

Anyone else the Sox could drop a boatload of money on next year?

[iortiz]

Let's hope that some good pitching is still available at that time. Sox would be stupid not to aggresively pursue Cole Hamels or Matt Cain if either gets away from his current club.

 

Any preferences between the two?

 

Anyone else the Sox could drop a boatload of money on next year?

 

I like Cain, but if Hamels is the name I won't complain, you bet.

 

IMO both will receive extentions, hopefully no.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I like Cain, but if Hamels is the name I won't complain, you bet.

 

IMO both will receive extentions, hopefully no.

 

I don't know how this has gone so unnoticed, but the 2011-2012 offseason is almost an exact replica of the 2009-2010 offseason. Saving money for the upcoming FA class.

 

Would not surprise me in the least to see the Sox sign a guy like Cole Hamels and trade for a guy like Matt Garza mid season this year, and sign to an extension.

 

Very much like the 2010-2011 offseason.

[seabeachfred]

I think the Phillies will go all out to resign Hamels since he is still young and entering his prime. Keep in mind that both Lee and Halliday are getting up in years and the team still depends on their pitching to carry them. OTOH, the Giants don't have the money the Phillies do and they have to worry about resigning Tim Lincecum and that will be a big payday. If the Red Sox decide to finally let Ortiz walk and maybe Youkilis as well, they will free up some serious money to sign a top quality pitcher, and to me that is Matt Cain who I have always hoped one day would be on the Red Sox. Of course, it also depends on Will Middlebrooks not s***ing in the bed at Pawtucket this year and being ready to take over at third and finally giving Lavarnway the DH job, if not the catching job in 2013. Of course they could keep Youk and just spend some money that they didn't spend this off season.

[SoxSport]

I think they'll have to unload significant salary before they do any more spending. $180-190 mil is out of their comfort range. I can't figure why Henry let Epstein spend all that dough the last two years for iffy free agents. Notice that Theo hasn't spent a dime pre-season in Chicago. He's on good behavior.

[iortiz]

I think they'll have to unload significant salary before they do any more spending. $180-190 mil is out of their comfort range. I can't figure why Henry let Epstein spend all that dough the last two years for iffy free agents. Notice that Theo hasn't spent a dime pre-season in Chicago. He's on good behavior.

 

[User Name]

I think they'll have to unload significant salary before they do any more spending. $180-190 mil is out of their comfort range. I can't figure why Henry let Epstein spend all that dough the last two years for iffy free agents. Notice that Theo hasn't spent a dime pre-season in Chicago. He's on good behavior.

 

This makes no sense. He was hired in Chicago to re-build from scratch, so it was obvious from the beginning he wasn't going to be spending. Also, Larry Lucchino has admitted to having strong influence in the signings of Lackey and Crawford. This is not anyone speculating....it came right out of the horse's mouth.

 

The train of thought should go A------>B, not A------>F----->Z.

[ORS]

This makes no sense. He was hired in Chicago to re-build from scratch, so it was obvious from the beginning he wasn't going to be spending. Also, Larry Lucchino has admitted to having strong influence in the signings of Lackey and Crawford. This is not anyone speculating....it came right out of the horse's mouth.

 

The train of thought should go A------>B, not A------>F----->Z.

The jumps taken to some of the conclusions reached are quite large.

[a700hitter]

In his process of rebuilding, Theo has given Cub fans nothing worth watching in 2012. They are loyal fans, but the Cubs have always had a few stars to excite their fans even when the team sucked. This team has nothing. It will be interesting to see how they do with their attendance.

[User Name]

That being exactly the mindset that's kept them s***** all these years. It's not about having a few "stars" to keep the dough rolling in. If they really want to turn the Cubs into a contender they need to rebuild from scratch and turn that organization around bottom-to-top.