Red Sox Offseason Ideas

[Spitball]

Over the next two rebuilding years, I believe the Sox need to work Brentz, Bradley and/or Kalish into the outfield. They should trade Ellsbury now and resign Ross. Teams are rarely built around expensive outfields. Manny has a ring, but Griffey, Bonds, Sosa, and lots of other big name outfielders had contracts that hampered their teams' abilities to sign or keep decent pitching.

 

As I see it, Ellsbury and Saltalamacchia are the Sox big trading chips. They need to rebuild their pitching and solidify their defense. It may take two years, but they need to take an approach designed to build a strong foundation. It will not be the approach we are used to from the Epstein years, but the Red Sox need to be fortified with a sound approach to rebuild the foundation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Salty is not a big trading chip

[Spitball]

Salty is not a big trading chip

 

He is a viable trading chip at a position that is wanting for some measure of quality/potential.

[bubbakeg52]

Offseason 2012:

 

The ownership knows the Red Sox rotation has sucked the past 2 years. The Sox need 2 starters because of the Lackey card. With 3 rotation spots slotted for Spring Training 2013, Sox need to find 2 pitchers because lets face it, Felix Doubront is expandleable in my opnion. With a list of identical pitchers in their low 30's such as Peavy and Haren. Those guys are ideal fits for the rotation and are identical in ERA plus statistics. The reason you can sign both is because Lackey is only due 30 million for the next 2years with an option for a league minimum salary on the 3rd year. If you have a problem with Haren and Peavy then you can sign the younger category pitchers such as Sanchez, Jackson, Greinke, McCarthy.

 

The Outfield market is a deep pool of options because of the amount of quality starters available. The Red Sox are in a pefect positon to acquire talent in a trade (Ellsbury) without losing a drop off in talent in the outfield for a cheaper value free agent acquistion. Outfield can be replaced with starters such as Bourn, Upton, Hamilton, or Swisher type of starter. The cheaper list also includes Delmon Young, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Ludwick, Angel Pagan, and Tori Hunter . They also need 2 outfielders because they have a trading chip in Ellsbury. The argument can be made that Boston doesn't need to sign these guys because of the minor league talent but those guys can be dealt in the midseason or next year.

Ellsbury and Doubront can acquire an Ace, SS, or 1b.

1b and SS can't be found as easily on the open market as SP(2) and OF(2) can be on the open market.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

.

Tell me I'm not the only one who read this wrong the first time.

[mvp 78]

Tell me I'm not the only one who read this wrong the first time.

 

You are not the only one.

[bubbakeg52]

Read This!

Sign Upton and Swisher to screw the AL East. Trade Ellsbury and Doubrount for an Ace. Lincecum or Johnson! At worst pick up Elvis Andrus. Sign 1 of these guys Peavy/Haren or both due to not acquiring an Ace via trade.

 

The reason the Red Sox need 2 Ace's is because the past two years the Rotation has sucked. Keeping 4/5 of the same rotation isn't going to improve the rotation. Bucholz is at best a #2 . Lester is at best a # 2. Peavy/Haren are a huge upgrade. Lackey is done and a # 5. Need to get two guys in the market or trade that bump these guys down in the rotation order. Doubrount isn't going to be a Lester.

 

Drew

Pedrioa

Middlebrooks

Ortiz

Upton

Swisher

Ross

Napoli

Saltlamachia

 

Ace

Haren/Peavy

Bucholz

Lester

Lackey * Trade

DeLorosa

[bubbakeg52]

What's the rule?

First free agent signing in the top 150 doesn't cost Boston a draft pick compensation because of the top 10 protection. What is the rule if they go down the list and keep signing people such as Upton, Swisher, Drew, and Napoli, Haren, Peavy??? Do they lose 6 of their next draft picks or does it not effect them?

[italian93kid]

LF Sign Ryan Ludwick CF Ellsbury RF Ross

3B Middlebrooks SS Ciriaco 2B Pedroia 1B Sign Mike Napoli

C Salti DH Ortiz

Rotation: Lester Doubront Bucholz Lackey Sign Brandon McCarthy

Bullpen: Miller Morales Breslow Tazawa Bard Bailey (Mortensen,Aceves,or sign someone?)

what you think

this team can def. win the division if healthy

[SoxFanForsyth]

LF Sign Ryan Ludwick CF Ellsbury RF Ross

3B Middlebrooks SS Ciriaco 2B Pedroia 1B Sign Mike Napoli

C Salti DH Ortiz

Rotation: Lester Doubront Bucholz Lackey Sign Brandon McCarthy

Bullpen: Miller Morales Breslow Tazawa Bard Bailey (Mortensen,Aceves,or sign someone?)

what you think

this team can def. win the division if healthy

 

This would be a 70-75 win team, if healthy.

[iortiz]

This would be a 70-75 win team, if healthy.

 

Yuo.

 

We need to spend if we want to have real chances.

 

I hate all this 2 rebulding-yrs cheap talk. Spend, for God's sake! Wisely of course!

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yuo.

 

We need to spend if we want to have real chances.

 

I hate all this 2 rebulding-yrs cheap talk. Spend, for God's sake! Wisely of course!

 

Unfortunately, there's nothing out there to buy. And I'm not in the business of spending prospects anymore.

[bubbakeg52]

Truth is they have about 75 mil to spend on a 150 mil payroll. (offhand) Rebuilding can be done with smart contracts that are 3 years with an option for 4 years. Extra money means quality players comming to Boston. Deals like Swisher who can play right then swap to 1st after Napoli's contract is done is one alternative. To many outfielders and starters not to waste some cash for their high ticket prices. No on the roster breaks top 20 for Red Sox revenue. Glad Bill James is back invovled. They need to sign 2 aces in my opinion because they don't have a number 1. All of this Bucholz is Beckett in his prime is suspect at best. Lester is a number 3. Lackey is a number 5. The reason the Yankees make the playoffs every year is because their pitching is always good and they have a number 1.

[bubbakeg52]

Sox have about 10 great prospects if they do well in this draft comming up. Why wouldn't they gamble and make some trades?? They still have to compete with everyone else and they can still have a payroll under 170 mil. Don't forget Ortiz and Lackey in 2 years can shed 30 mil off the table.

[bubbakeg52]

Rebuilding laugh.

 

Say everyone of their great prospects steals the starting position in 2014.

 

The roster 2014

 

SS Igelesias..Bogaerts (Moving to Left or 3b)

2B Pedrioa

3B Middlebrooks (maybe moves to 1st for Bogarets)

OF Bradley Jr

OF Brentz

OF Ross

OF Ellsbury ?

DH Ortiz

1B Loney

 

SP Bucholz

SP Lester

SP Webster

SP De LoRosa

SP Barnes

Lackey/Doubront

 

The team salary would be 70mil. ???? Ticket $$$ league high. That doesn't seem realistic unless they are trying to give LiverPool a championship. Where is the other 100 mil in salary going to go?

[italian93kid]

if Red Soxs had

Ludwick Ellsbury Ross Middlebrooks Ciriaco Pedroia Napoli Salti and Ortiz that is without a doubt the best hitting team in the east

and all we need to do is add a starting pitcher (Brandon McCarthy)

this team can be very good

i dont understand why u would think its a 70-75 win team

[rjortiz]

The pitching is pretty weak, considering McCarthy is coming off a major injury, but I think it would win at least 80.

[iortiz]

The pitching is pretty weak, considering McCarthy is coming off a major injury, but I think it would win at least 80.

 

oh boy!

[Plumpamania]

McCarthy is another enigma. Plus yea that fractured skull that he almost died from.. who's to say he'll be the same pitcher?

[MANNYHOF24]

What about signing Youkilis to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal to play 1B? I honestly think with Bobby gone he would consider coming back here, and it might not be a bad 2 year investment. I know the guy is on a complete down swing, but at 34 there is still a chance that he could be a really solid player for us, and help fill a hole at first base for a few years while we search for a more long term option.

[SoxSport]

69 wins this year. It would take a miracle to turn this around to 69 losses. That won't happen in one year. Those season ticket holders will be gettting lousy value at Lucchino prices for several years--at least.

[SoxSport]

What about signing Youkilis to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal to play 1B? I honestly think with Bobby gone he would consider coming back here, and it might not be a bad 2 year investment. I know the guy is on a complete down swing, but at 34 there is still a chance that he could be a really solid player for us, and help fill a hole at first base for a few years while we search for a more long term option.

 

It appears Youks has slipped as a hitter the past couple years. His OPS is way down--especially on the road. He isn't worth $12 million anymore, but he could be a decent hitter and first baseman in Fenway for half that.

[MANNYHOF24]

69 wins this year. It would take a miracle to turn this around to 69 losses. That won't happen in one year. Those season ticket holders will be gettting lousy value at Lucchino prices for several years--at least.

 

Honestly, the team was about a .500 most of the season. I don't think the 69-93 record truly represents the talent level of the team. Ortiz will be back healthy, Ellsbury will have an off-season to strengthen the shoulder, hopefully Buchholz and Lester will get their heads screwed on straight. Lackey could be a dark horse next season, if he can regain what he was in 2009 the Red Sox could have a very good staff next year.

 

IMO, if the Red Sox

 

Sign a 1B (Youk Perhaps)

Sigh an OF (say we get Lind in the trade for Farrell)

Re-sign Ortiz and Ross

Sign a # 2 starter (for shits and giggles say Jake Peavy)

 

This is what the sox are looking like

 

Ellsbury-CF

Pedroia-2B

Middlebrooks-3B

Ortiz-DH

Youk-1B

Ross-RF

Lind/Swisher-LF

C-Lavs/Salty

SS-Iggy/Stephen Drew??

 

That lineup doesn't suck and if it remained healthy probably would be a top offense in the AL.

 

No how about pitching. Let's say that Lester and Buchholz regain form and Lackey is healthy next year and we sign a solid number 2/3 type guy.

 

Buchholz

Lester

Peavy

Lackey

Doubront/Morales

 

Honestly, IMO if things swing right we could be a playoff team next year, especially with how brittle the Yankees looked at the end of this season.

[Red Foreman]

Honestly, the team was about a .500 most of the season. I don't think the 69-93 record truly represents the talent level of the team. Ortiz will be back healthy, Ellsbury will have an off-season to strengthen the shoulder, hopefully Buchholz and Lester will get their heads screwed on straight. Lackey could be a dark horse next season, if he can regain what he was in 2009 the Red Sox could have a very good staff next year.

 

IMO, if the Red Sox

 

Sign a 1B (Youk Perhaps)

Sigh an OF (say we get Lind in the trade for Farrell)

Re-sign Ortiz and Ross

Sign a # 2 starter (for shits and giggles say Jake Peavy)

 

This is what the sox are looking like

 

Ellsbury-CF

Pedroia-2B

Middlebrooks-3B

Ortiz-DH

Youk-1B

Ross-RF

Lind/Swisher-LF

C-Lavs/Salty

SS-Iggy/Stephen Drew??

 

That lineup doesn't suck and if it remained healthy probably would be a top offense in the AL.

 

No how about pitching. Let's say that Lester and Buchholz regain form and Lackey is healthy next year and we sign a solid number 2/3 type guy.

 

Buchholz

Lester

Peavy

Lackey

Doubront/Morales

 

Honestly, IMO if things swing right we could be a playoff team next year, especially with how brittle the Yankees looked at the end of this season.

 

I agree that the Sox only need a few tweaks to back to .500 at worst, especially if Lackey comes around. The only real correction I make here is that you twice referred to Lind as an OF. He really is a 1B.

[jacksonianmarch]

Shahei Ofani is coming to the states. Let's see who nabs him

[Behindenemylines]

Honestly, the team was about a .500 most of the season. I don't think the 69-93 record truly represents the talent level of the team. Ortiz will be back healthy, Ellsbury will have an off-season to strengthen the shoulder, hopefully Buchholz and Lester will get their heads screwed on straight. Lackey could be a dark horse next season, if he can regain what he was in 2009 the Red Sox could have a very good staff next year.

 

IMO, if the Red Sox

 

Sign a 1B (Youk Perhaps)

Sigh an OF (say we get Lind in the trade for Farrell)

Re-sign Ortiz and Ross

Sign a # 2 starter (for shits and giggles say Jake Peavy)

 

This is what the sox are looking like

 

Ellsbury-CF

Pedroia-2B

Middlebrooks-3B

Ortiz-DH

Youk-1B

Ross-RF

Lind/Swisher-LF

C-Lavs/Salty

SS-Iggy/Stephen Drew??

 

That lineup doesn't suck and if it remained healthy probably would be a top offense in the AL.

 

No how about pitching. Let's say that Lester and Buchholz regain form and Lackey is healthy next year and we sign a solid number 2/3 type guy.

 

Buchholz

Lester

Peavy

Lackey

Doubront/Morales

 

Honestly, IMO if things swing right we could be a playoff team next year, especially with how brittle the Yankees looked at the end of this season.

 

We need to say NO to this Swisher thing. The guy can't hit in the clutch and his stats are helped out during the regular season by having so many bats around him and hitting at Yankee Stadium. Drew is staying with the A's, they just traded Pennigton away. Lind is a 1B-DH kind of a player, and he is not the player coming back to us. I love Youk to death, but that ship has sailed and his body is breaking down and he isn't the hitter the Sox need in the middle of the lineup. I do believe the FO has the resources to make us competitive next season, but do they have the smarts?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Now that the DBacks dealt Chris Young and got Cliff Pennington in return, the Rangers and DBacks are no longer that ideal trade partner in a deal of Andrus for Upton.

 

So, now it's going to be very very interesting since the Rangers love Ellsbury, and they have Profar ready to come up, I can definitely see an Ellsbury for Andrus deal.

[Behindenemylines]

Those names have been mentioned before when the Sox and Rangers have been talking about trades. I don't know if I'd do a straight up trade. It would have to involve more players to equalize the value.

[jacksonianmarch]

Now that the DBacks dealt Chris Young and got Cliff Pennington in return, the Rangers and DBacks are no longer that ideal trade partner in a deal of Andrus for Upton.

 

So, now it's going to be very very interesting since the Rangers love Ellsbury, and they have Profar ready to come up, I can definitely see an Ellsbury for Andrus deal.

 

I think the Rangers would definitely have pulled the trigger on that prior to 2012, but after seeing the shell of a player Ells returned as after his injury, I doubt they make that move. I especially doubt they'd do it since Ells has 1 yr left on his contract too.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I think the Rangers would definitely have pulled the trigger on that prior to 2012, but after seeing the shell of a player Ells returned as after his injury, I doubt they make that move. I especially doubt they'd do it since Ells has 1 yr left on his contract too.

 

The Rangers have done a lot of homework on Ellsbury, according to all the reports I've read, going into this offseason.

 

If it was last year, the Red Sox wouldn't pull the trigger. Now that Ellsbury is coming off of a down year, the values are similar. After last season, Ellsbury's value was much higher than Andrus's.

 

I don't think the Rangers just lost interest in Ellsbury. Hell, they almost pulled the trigger on a deal at the trade deadline.

 

The only issue now is the contract. And Andrus becomes a FA in 2015. Ells becomes a FA in 2014. So the contracts are not different enough to merit another substantial player in the deal. Perhaps Ells plus a C level prospect for Andrus.