Theo beats Ben to the punch (Haren)

[jung]

Unfortunately, the trend is toward pitching becoming even more dominant in MLB. If that were not the case it would be easier to believe that a couple rubs of the genie's lamp, a FA here and a FA there and hey anything is possible.

 

However, pitching is becoming even more dominant and if anything we have more pitching question marks this offseason than last. Plus everybody is even more focused on who is available, how much risk is there and if there is deal to be made for a pitcher or not. Still hope that having wrestled away pitching from LA in "the trade" does not say more about those two particular pitchers. Pitching is getting progressively harder to come up with.

 

I think we are likely to see a number of the young guys playing this year with the Sox focusing on trying to find some value in FA pitching. I hope that does not mean the bum of the week campaign we were on last year. Hunting for value does not have to mean throwing a bunch of crap against the wall and hoping something sticks.

 

I am beginning to wonder if the Sox should dispense Greinke out of hand on the "he can't pitch in the big markets" claim. It is so hard to just take a pitcher off the board like that.

[Orange Juiced]

I'm not sure why people would be excited for a rotation of 4 reclamation projects (Lester, Buch, Lackey, Haren) and a miscellaneous 5th starter.

 

I think people need to come to grips with the fact that the Sox won't be a WS contender in 2013 but that it's not the end of the world. The Sox need to build a young core in hopes of renewing a Sox dynasty in 2015. If it was 2003, the Sox should be trying to load up on anything and everything. However, right now they need to take a more patient approach.

 

Why is it an either/or question? I think they will need to be patient for guys like Barnes, Webster, and De La Rosa to develop. In the meanwhile, they'll need to field an actual major league team. Getting Haren on a short deal (one or two years) is probably pretty perfect, actually. It's very possible that he returns to the really good Haren he's been most of his career. And that would serve as a terrific bridge to the year when those young guns are up and producing. And if he stinks, well then, at least the contract is short.

[mvp 78]

Because a spot to Haren takes away a spot for a young arm (like Webster's) to develop in the majors.

 

If they're going to compete for real, they need a bonafide #1 SP, a #3, a set up guy or closer, a SS, a RF, a LF, a 1b and a C that knows how to call a game. Just too many holes to make any real push.

[rjortiz]

Because a spot to Haren takes away a spot for a young arm (like Webster's) to develop in the majors.

 

If they're going to compete for real, they need a bonafide #1 SP, a #3, a set up guy or closer, a SS, a RF, a LF, a 1b and a C that knows how to call a game. Just too many holes to make any real push.

 

Webster is at least a year away. Haren wouldn't take away any spot. I just don't think it's productive to fill a hole with another injury prone pitcher. We could bet $8 million that he could bounce back and then flip him at the deadline. Although, the Cubs had that same option and still passed.

[Lord Snow]

Haren is must-sign for the Red Sox. There are concerns about his medical sure, but the Sox need the pitching depth.

 

For a guy who has a bad back he had a good September, which is important, 3.07 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 29 1/3 IP, 23 K, 5 BB, 5 starts. I'll take that as a good indicator that he was feeling better at the end of last season and therefore it makes him worth a look.

 

Why not throw 1-year $10M at him with $7.5M in performance bonuses? That should get it done. If we can afford to budget $8.1M for two backups who are unlikely to do diddly to improve the Red Sox next season (D Ross, & J Gomes) why can't we guarantee Haren $10M? He just might be an ace. At worst he might reproduce 2012 which wasn't all that bad, it just wasn't Haren good.