Red Sox 2012/2013 Offseason Thread

[Palodios]

He's not at all dissembling. One of his first statements when he became GM last year was about Papelbon. He said something to the effect that he would understand if Paps got an offer from another team that he couldn't turn down. The writing was on the wall. Whether people agree with his moves is another issue, but he is pretty honest about his intentions, which is why his statements about thinking the starting pitching is much improved from last year concern me so much. Based on his statements, I think the chances are 10% or less that we add another starter like Marcum or even Jurjens.

 

In all fairness, they are scouting Vazquez heavily. I would argue that he is in the same tier as Jurjens. Marcum will be expensive, and it is hard to bring in pitchers for pillow contracts.

 

While it is a problem that the Red Sox haven't added much starting pitcher at the top, I don't think they are done with adding pitching depth.

[a700hitter]

In all fairness, they are scouting Vazquez heavily. I would argue that he is in the same tier as Jurjens. Marcum will be expensive, and it is hard to bring in pitchers for pillow contracts.

 

While it is a problem that the Red Sox haven't added much starting pitcher at the top, I don't think they are done with adding pitching depth.

I hope you are right.

[jacksonianmarch]

Vazquez is a guy you can scout all you want in the Dominican and in PR. Put him on the big stage in the Fens and throw him against a good team and he'll be on his knees faster than a 2 dollar whore

[jopete19]

Vazquez is a guy you can scout all you want in the Dominican and in PR. Put him on the big stage in the Fens and throw him against a good team and he'll be on his knees faster than a 2 dollar whore

 

 

Funny Jacksonianmarch!

 

I'd like to apologize for that drunk post last night... I was angry about the Red Sox for some reason.

[Lucienbel]

Is it just me, or have the Red Sox assembling a group of players that were very good in 2011?

 

The entire bullpen-- Bard/Bailey/Hanrahan/Uehara/Aceves were pretty much lights out that year.

 

Victorino had a career year. Pedroia and Ellsbury were in the running for MVP for a while there. Napoli was probably right behind them. Ortiz had his best year in a very long time.

 

They definitely are. I don't think they're banking so much on these players having years like they did in 2011, but more bouncing back from the bad ones they had in 2012 (those who did have bad years). It seems like Bailey and Hanrahan have a decent shot at a rebound, and the bullpen has a chance to become one of the better ones in the game. Victorino will have to prove that last year wasn't his age causing the decline... Or if it was, he has more than that left.

Not the worst tactic by any means, and could potentially pan out rather well.

 

At this point in time I wouldn't mind seeing them go the Vazquez or Jurrjens route, but I would hope neither of them would be on a major league deal. A minor league deal with an invite to training would be best. They certainly haven't done what I wanted them to do with pitching, so at the least I would like to see some backup options. My biggest fear is that they're thinking a strong bullpen will bail them out of trouble if things don't pan out well. We've seen how that's worked in the past.

[BSN07]

I'm going to agree with Jacko. We have seen two tours of Javy in the AL East. Neither provided much hope. I think he signs with the Nats.

 

I'd take Jurrjens over Javy. At least with Jurrjens there is some unknown upside. You know exactly what you will get with Javy.

[Spitball]

I'm going to agree with Jacko. We have seen two tours of Javy in the AL East. Neither provided much hope. I think he signs with the Nats.

 

I'd take Jurrjens over Javy. At least with Jurrjens there is some unknown upside. You know exactly what you will get with Javy.

 

I hear they are scouting him, but where does he fit in? They already have Gonzalez, Strasburg, Zimmermann, Haren, and a pretty good number five starter in Ross Detwiler.

[a700hitter]

I hear they are scouting him, but where does he fit in? They already have Gonzalez, Strasburg, Zimmermann, Haren, and a pretty good number five starter in Ross Detwiler.

Last year Detwiler was a depth option. Wang was in the rotation. This year Detwiler will take the spot and Vasquez will be depth if they sign him.

[BSN07]

I hear they are scouting him, but where does he fit in? They already have Gonzalez, Strasburg, Zimmermann, Haren, and a pretty good number five starter in Ross Detwiler.

 

He's injury insurance. And will likely get an opt out date if he's not in the rotation. The Nats are in a strong position to get him.

[Palodios]

Breaking news! The Cubs just got Darnell Mcdonald and Brent Lilibrige!

 

Here's to 100 more years of no championships

[a700hitter]

Breaking news! The Cubs just got Darnell Mcdonald and Brent Lilibrige!

 

Here's to 100 more years of no championships

Theo's 5 year plan starts to take shape.

[seabeachfred]

We need better pithcing and I know that drunk! Come on Banny Boy! oh an BTW we need more players like Bill Mueller!!

 

jopete, we need better pitching and Im hoping Jon, Clay and the rest of the crew can improve enough to give it to us. They also have to stay in one piece and stay off the DL.

 

And speaking of Bill Mueller, since I've followed the Red Sox the past 12+ years he is my all time favorite Red Sox player. I liked his style, hustle and hard nosed play when he played for the Giants and Cubs and was elated when the Red Sox got him in 2003. He left it all on the field and was the classic overachiever----a winner all the way.

[seabeachfred]

I'm going to agree with Jacko. We have seen two tours of Javy in the AL East. Neither provided much hope. I think he signs with the Nats.

 

I'd take Jurrjens over Javy. At least with Jurrjens there is some unknown upside. You know exactly what you will get with Javy.

 

Same here BSN. Look, we've seen this scene before. Vasquez has been a human pinata pitching in the AL East and now that he is older he is not suddenly going to start showing us some drumfire performances he didn't show before. Jurrgens does have some upsides in that they dont know him in the AL, plus he is younger and a better fit for us just on those two items alone.

[seabeachfred]

Breaking news! The Cubs just got Darnell Mcdonald and Brent Lilibrige!

 

Here's to 100 more years of no championships

 

You have to efen kidding me Palodios!!!!!!! Some of us knew for the past few years that Epstein had become pretty much of an empty ignorant suit but I think he has outdone himself this time. Darling Darnell and Babbling Brent? Well let the Cubbie fans gag on that one.....we need to sign a first baseman before too much longer.

[seabeachfred]

Breaking news! The Cubs just got Darnell Mcdonald and Brent Lilibrige!

 

Here's to 100 more years of no championships

 

You have to efen kidding me Palodios!!!!!!! Some of us knew for the past few years that Epstein had become pretty much of an empty ignorant suit but I think he has outdone himself this time. Darling Darnell and Bungling Brent? Well let the Cubbie fans gag on that one.....we need to sign a first baseman before too much longer.

[Spitball]

Last year Detwiler was a depth option. Wang was in the rotation. This year Detwiler will take the spot and Vasquez will be depth if they sign him.

 

Huh? Detwiler was one of the better number 5 starters in baseball last season. He started 27 games last year, and Chien-Ming Wang started only 5 and relieved in 5.

[Spitball]

He's injury insurance. And will likely get an opt out date if he's not in the rotation. The Nats are in a strong position to get him.

 

I believe you, but it would be wiser to sign with Miami or another team with openings in the rotation.

[a700hitter]

Huh? Detwiler was one of the better number 5 starters in baseball last season. He started 27 games last year, and Chien-Ming Wang started only 5 and relieved in 5.

Yep those are the stats. He was removed from the rotation early in the season when Wang returned from injury. Wang's return didn't last long and Detwiler returned to the rotation. Wangs was slotted to be the #5 guy going into the season. That's my recollection. Wang blew up, and that is why depth is so important,m

[a700hitter]

I believe you, but it would be wiser to sign with Miami or another team with openings in the rotation.

I disagree. He could get 30 starts with a terrible team like Miami and lose 15 or 20 games. With the Nats, he might only get 10-15 spot starts for injured pitchers, but he'll be pitching for. A better team and probably be performing at a higher level, because he is over 40 and a whole season would wear him out. Contributing on a playoff team is something he said that he wants to do.

[BSN07]

I believe you, but it would be wiser to sign with Miami or another team with openings in the rotation.

 

He has stated he only wants to pitch for a contender. That would exclude Miami.

[a700hitter]

Speaking of those first base options, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox "have explored" signing Casey Kotchman and Nick Johnson and also checked in with the Mariners about a trade for Justin Smoak.

Kotchman? Nick Johnson? Please no!

[Bellhorn04]

Kotchman? Nick Johnson? Please no!

 

I heard they were being considered as backups.

[a700hitter]

I heard they were being considered as backups.

I wouldn't want them near Fenway, not even taking tickets at the turnstiles.

[Bellhorn04]

I wouldn't want them near Fenway, not even taking tickets at the turnstiles.

 

LOL

[Station 13]

I think Nap will take 1 year and be back on the market after denting the green monster like Beltre did.

[Spitball]

Yep those are the stats. He was removed from the rotation early in the season when Wang returned from injury. Wang's return didn't last long and Detwiler returned to the rotation. Wangs was slotted to be the #5 guy going into the season. That's my recollection. Wang blew up, and that is why depth is so important,m

 

This is closer to what happened, but you said, "Last year Detwiler was a depth option. Wang was in the rotation."

 

With 27 starts and his success, Detwiler was definitely in the rotation and was beyond being labeled a mere a depth option.

[Spitball]

He has stated he only wants to pitch for a contender. That would exclude Miami.

 

But why a contender with 5 solid starters? The Nationals' number five (Detwiler) had one of the best ERAs in their rotation. Why not Toronto who have a number 5 with an ERA of 5.77?

[a700hitter]

This is closer to what happened, but you said, "Last year Detwiler was a depth option. Wang was in the rotation."

 

With 27 starts and his success, Detwiler was definitely in the rotation and was beyond being labeled a mere a depth option.

At the start of the year the Nats had Wang targeted to br the #5 starter and Detwiler was a depth or swing option. Wang went down early and Detwiler won the job. That happens at times with the guys who start the season as the depth option.

[mvp 78]

At the start of the year the Nats had Wang targeted to br the #5 starter and Detwiler was a depth or swing option. Wang went down early and Detwiler won the job. That happens at times with the guys who start the season as the depth option.

 

Wang wasn't in the rotation at the start of the year. He didn't pitch until May 25th.

[a700hitter]

Wang wasn't in the rotation at the start of the year. He didn't pitch until May 25th.

Because Wang was injured.