So you're the Sox' GM...What's your plan?

[Orange Juiced]

Suppose you are the GM of the Red Sox. What's your plan? Do you go for it this year, and deal away prospects and excess bullpen guys to acquire expensive stars to bolster the team's chances? Do you just play around the edges with guys like Sweeney, Aviles, etc.? Do you make a bold move for the future? Try to think realistically about what the Sox could get in return. How would you approach things at this point, given payroll, standings, players' contract situations, etc.

[kapsis21]

trade Beckett and Salty. for a decent return. Cinci is in desperate need of an offensive catcher.

[User Name]

Stand pat. Then no matter the outcome of this season, sell, sell, sell in the offseason.

 

Namely, i would sell: Aviles, Beckett, Salty.

[Dojji]

Move the players we can replace immediately, which have value enough to help re-stock the upper minors.

 

Those players are Salty, Aviles, and Ross. Maybe throw in one of our middle relievers like Albers or Miller as well if you can get someone to overpay (unlikely). And when they're gone, you call up Kalish, Iglesias and Lavarnway and see if you can't luck out, have those guys produce at about the level of their replacements collectively, and use the trade return return to stay competitive.

 

No Beckett. Sorry. You're not going to get an ROI worth your trouble there. Teams don't take on the players you WANT to lose without you making it worth their while, and no.

 

No Lester. I don't sell low on LHSP that talented.

 

If things take a turn for the worse between now and 7/31 I put Papi on the block too, just to see what I could get for him. I doubt he'd be moved, but you never know. I didn't think Youk would be traded.

[Orange Juiced]

trade Beckett and Salty. for a decent return. Cinci is in desperate need of an offensive catcher.

 

Interesting idea about the catching situation. Devin Mesoraco is a terrific catching prospect. Terrific power, and he's reportedly very good defensively, but he hasn't done much yet in his rookie season. I read before yesterday's game that the Sox were 20-9 with Shoppach catching and 19-40 with Saltalamacchia. So it would now be 21-9 after last night's win vs. 19-40.

 

I don't know what to make of that, but it indicates that perhaps Salty doesn't call a good game, or that pitchers aren't as comfortable pitching to him, or whatever. I like Salty's power (on pace for 30+ hr), but he will be a free agent in 2014 at age 29. Would the Sox give him a long-term deal at that point? Unlikely. So maybe he's a good piece to move.

 

Saltalamacchia for Mesoraco and a mid-level prospect? Gives the Sox a young, talented, cost-controlled two-way catcher for years and adds a minor league chip. Gives the Reds instant offense from the catching position at a current price they can afford.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Fake my death, change my name, move to North Dakota and open a small store specializing in woodcarving and landscape supplies. Do not purchase a television or internet connection. Live in peace away from witless hordes of armchair executives. Die happy in bed next to loving wife of several decades.

[User Name]

One of the theories about why Salty is so bad with pitchers is that he's very tall and wide. Catchers with Salty's build supposedly do not give a very good target and give the impression of a larger strike zone to umpires.

[Youk Of The Nation]

In all seriousness, I don't know a lot about the business end of baseball. The only decisions I know I would have made are:

 

1. Hold on to Youk at least until the deadline, and try to get at least a semi-decent starter or infielder for him

 

2. Agressively pursue another starter in the offseason and keep Bard in the pen.

[kapsis21]

Interesting idea about the catching situation. Devin Mesoraco is a terrific catching prospect. Terrific power, and he's reportedly very good defensively, but he hasn't done much yet in his rookie season. I read before yesterday's game that the Sox were 20-9 with Shoppach catching and 19-40 with Saltalamacchia. So it would now be 21-9 after last night's win vs. 19-40.

 

I don't know what to make of that, but it indicates that perhaps Salty doesn't call a good game, or that pitchers aren't as comfortable pitching to him, or whatever. I like Salty's power (on pace for 30+ hr), but he will be a free agent in 2014 at age 29. Would the Sox give him a long-term deal at that point? Unlikely. So maybe he's a good piece to move.

 

Saltalamacchia for Mesoraco and a mid-level prospect? Gives the Sox a young, talented, cost-controlled two-way catcher for years and adds a minor league chip. Gives the Reds instant offense from the catching position at a current price they can afford.

 

i think Mesoraco is a talented catcher and i dont think Cinci can give up on him just yet.

but if they can get offense out of Salty maybe somethings gotta give.

 

 

One of the theories about why Salty is so bad with pitchers is that he's very tall and wide. Catchers with Salty's build supposedly do not give a very good target and give the impression of a larger strike zone to umpires.

 

true that

[Laser Show]

Ellsbury has to get traded this offseason, unless they think they can resign him. I can't imagine both Ells and Crawford being in the OF in 2014, nevemind 2013.

 

They need to listen to any and calls they get for Crawford, Beckett, Salty, Aviles, and Punto.

 

Lester, Buchholz, and Lackey should be the 2, 3, and 4 going into 2013. Morales could be the 5, which leaves us a #1 to go acquire.

[kapsis21]

Ellsbury has to get traded this offseason, unless they think they can resign him. I can't imagine both Ells and Crawford being in the OF in 2014, nevemind 2013.

 

They need to listen to any and calls they get for Crawford, Beckett, Salty, Aviles, and Punto.

 

Lester, Buchholz, and Lackey should be the 2, 3, and 4 going into 2013. Morales could be the 5, which leaves us a #1 to go acquire.

 

we had a perfect chance to trade Crawford and keep Ells for years to come.. we could have moved HanRam and his salary right back to Dodgers at that point..

 

given a choice i would have done that in a heartbeat knowing we could have dumped both salary dumps for Crawford and Hanley and only had to worry about Bell. if that was the case.

[Elktonnick]

Interesting idea about the catching situation. Devin Mesoraco is a terrific catching prospect. Terrific power, and he's reportedly very good defensively, but he hasn't done much yet in his rookie season. I read before yesterday's game that the Sox were 20-9 with Shoppach catching and 19-40 with Saltalamacchia. So it would now be 21-9 after last night's win vs. 19-40.

 

I don't know what to make of that, but it indicates that perhaps Salty doesn't call a good game, or that pitchers aren't as comfortable pitching to him, or whatever. I like Salty's power (on pace for 30+ hr), but he will be a free agent in 2014 at age 29. Would the Sox give him a long-term deal at that point? Unlikely. So maybe he's a good piece to move.

 

Saltalamacchia for Mesoraco and a mid-level prospect? Gives the Sox a young, talented, cost-controlled two-way catcher for years and adds a minor league chip. Gives the Reds instant offense from the catching position at a current price they can afford.

 

He not only doesn't call a good game, he doesn't catch a good game. Shoppach is a better defensive catcher and Lavarnway can't be any worse than Salty IMO. I beleive Lavarnway has an over 30% CS to Salty's 16

[Orange Juiced]

i think Mesoraco is a talented catcher and i dont think Cinci can give up on him just yet.

but if they can get offense out of Salty maybe somethings gotta give.

 

I don't think it would be a case of "giving up" on Mesoraco. I think it would be a case of "we have a real chance to win it now, and Salty (who is still young) gives us a much better chance for the next couple of seasons than Mesoraco does, and Salty isn't really that expensive at all right now". The price for that upgrade would be Mesoraco. Seems pretty fair to me.

[kapsis21]

I don't think it would be a case of "giving up" on Mesoraco. I think it would be a case of "we have a real chance to win it now' date=' and Salty (who is still young) gives us a much better chance for the next couple of seasons than Mesoraco does, and Salty isn't really that expensive at all right now". The price for that upgrade would be Mesoraco. Seems pretty fair to me.[/quote']

 

scouting on Mesoraco are pretty high, not that it wasnt on Salty, Salty has always been an offensive catcher and if they are looking for that upgrade while a defensive downgrade... i am all for it..

and i dont know how good Mesoraco is on defense..

[kapsis21]

Defense: Mesoraco will likely stick as a catcher but he’s not great defensively. He has a great arm but his transfer adds some unwanted ticks to his pop time. Watching Mesoraco in the Arizona Fall League last year led some to believe that he’d have to move out from behind the plate because he struggled to simply catch the ball, especially from pitchers with good velocity. Now we know that Mesoraco had suffered another finger injury that hindered his ability to handle pitches cleanly. I saw Mesorcao catch 3 games in a series this year and he was much better.

[Bellhorn04]

Echoing what some others have said, trading Beckett and trading Salty would be my first two moves.

[jung]

I would be surprised if a NL team had as much tolerance for Salty's defense as an AL team would have, even one looking foe an offensive catcher. I would think a NL team's context on an offensive catcher would suggest a catcher that was still not such a fail defensively but that could provide a bit of offense....maybe in the form of about 50% to 75% of Salty's homers for example.

 

Teams are going to look at those splits for Sox pitchers and some of the other available data including what they can see with their own eyes and not be all that thrilled. Salty is in all likelihood another guy that he Sox won't get much for but they would be sure to get more from an AL team that could also DH Salty.

[italstallianion]

I'd listen to offers for everyone. I'd then assassinate Lucchino and live the rest of my life (in jail) knowing that they'd have built a statue of me in Boston.

[SoxSport]

The Globe consensus is to get rid of Crawford and Beckett.

 

Crawford is one of the biggest, most expensive misfits in the history of the franchise.

If the Red Sox management doesn't jump when some team proposes a trade for him, it is a sign the management is out of touch with reality--or doesn't want to admit they made a mistake.

When Cherington, for example, shows no sense of urgency in a press conference, and says things will come around without major changes, he is whistling in the dark.

 

Beckett seems to be one of the laissez faire ringleaders. He is on the downside of his career, and at this point they will hardly miss him. Trade him.

 

There is a growing feeling in the media that the Red Sox need further purging before they can turn things around. And maybe not just players, Mr Henry.

[Brennan]

Move the players we can replace immediately, which have value enough to help re-stock the upper minors.

 

Those players are Salty, Aviles, and Ross. Maybe throw in one of our middle relievers like Albers or Miller as well if you can get someone to overpay (unlikely). And when they're gone, you call up Kalish, Iglesias and Lavarnway and see if you can't luck out, have those guys produce at about the level of their replacements collectively, and use the trade return return to stay competitive.

 

No Beckett. Sorry. You're not going to get an ROI worth your trouble there. Teams don't take on the players you WANT to lose without you making it worth their while, and no.

 

No Lester. I don't sell low on LHSP that talented.

 

If things take a turn for the worse between now and 7/31 I put Papi on the block too, just to see what I could get for him. I doubt he'd be moved, but you never know. I didn't think Youk would be traded.

 

 

 

 

This. Especially the part about bringing up Kalish, Iglesias and Lavarnway and see if you can't luck out.

[SemperFi Sox]

Ownership still doesn't know if they want to be buyers or sellers. No surprise, they're f***ing clueless.

[User Name]

Ownership still doesn't know if they want to be buyers or sellers. No surprise' date=' they're f***ing clueless.[/quote']

 

I don't understand what you meant by this, since they're obviously buyers. They (think they can) make a run, so they're scourging every other MLB team for pitching. Their specific targets are Josh J. (made of glass) and Matt Garza (not really that good). Both are bad choices.

[redsoxbeatz]

Might as well just sit tight. The only guy if move for is Felix Hernandez or a way to dump Carl Crawford. Otherwise I see no moves. Lester and Beckett need to fix their s***. Beckett has no value right now. This is not a one pitcher away from a WS run team. But again, if The King is available to us or CC can be dumped there is nothing.

[User Name]

Red Sox won't trade Jon Lester

 

Teams hoping the Boston Red Sox might be willing to part with left-hander Jon Lester are advised to look elsewhere.

 

Despite his disappointing performance, the Red Sox will not trade Lester, a major league source said Wednesday, further reinforcing the team's decision to push for a playoff spot in 2012.

 

More On The Red Sox

 

Gordon Edes and the rest of the ESPNBoston.com team have the Red Sox covered for you. Blog

 

The Red Sox remain engaged on a number of fronts to add starting pitching, most notably with the Miami Marlins for right-hander Josh Johnson and the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Matt Garza.

 

But Boston will face stiff competition from a number of contenders. With the Marlins already having traded another front-line pitcher, Anibal Sanchez, to the Detroit Tigers, another major league source said it was unlikely Miami also would move Johnson "unless another team goes crazy.''

 

"It makes you feel good that you're wanted," Lester said before Wednesday night's game at Arlington, Texas. "That's kind of the whole point of trade inquires is the fact that other teams want you. It's nice, but it's nice to be here and nice to be wanted here. "I'm sure it's something that goes on every year; it's just a little more publicized this year because of obviously not very good numbers and some other nonsense that was let out, or said earlier this year about being unhappy and all that other stuff.

 

"When it comes down to the fact of being wanted, it's a good feeling. That's what everybody wants in life and in your job. It gives you that extra confidence that even though I'm not doing what I normally do, people still see the good and want what I've done in the past."

 

"I'm sure a lot of teams want him," Red Sox pitcher John Lackey said. "It doesn't surprise me at all. There are a lot of teams that would want a guy like that. This is the first time he's ever struggled. It's not that big of a deal to stick behind a guy who's done what he's done. I think it's a no-brainer."

 

Meanwhile, several clubs have approached the Red Sox about their surplus of outfielders. The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates both have scouted the Red Sox extensively. Ryan Kalish, Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ross all have attracted varying degrees of interest.

 

The Red Sox are at .500 with a 49-49 record, four games behind in the wild-card race. In order to win 90 games, the Red Sox would have to go 41-23 the rest of the way, a .641 percentage. Since 1996, 90 wins would not have been sufficient to qualify for the playoffs; the 2000 Mariners and 2011 Rays both qualified with 91 wins, the fewest since the wild-card Orioles won 88 in 1996.

 

The extra wild card this season changes things a bit, of course. Since 1996 (the start of the wild card era), the team with the fifth-best record in each league (the equivalent of that second wild-card spot) has averaged 89 wins.

 

What is the likelihood of the Red Sox playing at a 90-win pace? In the past six seasons, only five teams have played at .641 or better over the season's last 64 games, no more than one in any season. In the National League, only four teams have played at .641 or better, none from 2007-2009.

 

Over the past 10 seasons, the Red Sox have done so twice -- in 2004, when they went 44-20 (.688) to claim a wild-card spot, and in 2005, when they went 41-23 (.641) to claim another wild-card spot.

 

There are seven teams ahead of the Red Sox in the wild-card race and another, the Blue Jays, tied with them. The two teams in the lead, the Angels and Athletics, would have to play .600 ball the rest of the way to finish with 91 wins.

 

FTR.

[SemperFi Sox]

I don't understand what you meant by this' date=' since they're obviously buyers. They (think they can) make a run, so they're scourging every other MLB team for pitching. Their specific targets are Josh J. (made of glass) and Matt Garza (not really that good). Both are bad choices.[/quote']

 

Every report is that they haven't decided which direction to go in and won't know until Tuesday.

[User Name]

Every report is that they haven't decided which direction to go in and won't know until Tuesday.

 

Read above. "Every report" has them attempting to trade for pitching, and turning down all offers for Lester/BP pieces.

[SemperFi Sox]

Read above. "Every report" has them attempting to trade for pitching' date=' and turning down all offers for Lester/BP pieces.[/quote']

 

Both aren't rentals, controlled for 2013. It's not like they would be going all in for this season. They are also monitoring RH hitting help too, they haven't made a distinct direction.

[User Name]

Both aren't rentals' date=' controlled for 2013. It's not like they would be going all in for this season. They are also monitoring RH hitting help too, they haven't made a distinct direction.[/quote']

 

Read what i posted above carefully. Notice Edes' specific mention that they are trying to make a run for the playoffs this year. The fact that neither pitcher is a rental is inconsequential if they're turning down offers for other pieces. They are trying to make a go for it, even though i can't quite understand why.

[SemperFi Sox]

Read what i posted above carefully. Notice Edes' specific mention that they are trying to make a run for the playoffs this year. The fact that neither pitcher is a rental is inconsequential if they're turning down offers for other pieces. They are trying to make a go for it' date=' even though i can't quite understand why.[/quote']

 

I'd really take what Edes says with a grain of salt. Actually most of these guys don't have a clue what the FO is thinking.

[SoxSport]

I don't believe in selling just because you're having a bad year. This is a $170 million dollar team.

What they should do is get rid of players who are dragging them down. Beckett for one. Crawford for another. Lester is a reclamation project. Salty needs some competition from Lav. They need better defense at SS.

 

There isn't much difference between the 7 or 8 teams vying for playoff positions. Even the Yankees could collapse. They just lost ARod.

 

The important thing is for the Red Sox to identify what's wrong and correct it. I have my doubts they can do that. That's what will kill them.