We just signed Dempster. What's next this offseason?

[beeee_c]

This isn't going exactly the way I'd like, but at this point here's what I'd like to see happen next. What do you guys think?

 

Trade bait: Ells, Salty, bullpen depth

Trade for: Masterson and A. Cabrera from the Guardians

Sign Cody Ross

Keep Lester

[Palodios]

The Red Sox have a pile of players who could be worthless, or could be superstars.

 

Napoli with a 1.000 OPS?

Ellsbury/Pedroia with a MVP caliber season?

Lester/Buchholz with CY young caliber seasons?

Middlebrooks with a 30 home run season?

Victorino/Kalish as a explosive 5 tool players?

Middlebrooks/ Ortiz with 30+ bombs?

Bard/Bailey/Aceves/Melancon having bounce back seasons at the end of the bullpen?

 

 

There are a lot of question marks. Maybe adding some high ceiling, low floor pitchers is the best plan, and hope that everything goes the right way.

[iortiz]

The Red Sox have a pile of players who could be worthless, or could be superstars.

 

Napoli with a 1.000 OPS?

Ellsbury/Pedroia with a MVP caliber season?

Lester/Buchholz with CY young caliber seasons?

Middlebrooks with a 30 home run season?

Victorino/Kalish as a explosive 5 tool players?

Middlebrooks/ Ortiz with 30+ bombs?

Bard/Bailey/Aceves/Melancon having bounce back seasons at the end of the bullpen?

 

 

There are a lot of question marks. Maybe adding some high ceiling, low floor pitchers is the best plan, and hope that everything goes the right way.

 

Sounds like last season scenario Pal. A lot ?s, and you know what happened.

 

Hopefully this time the story is different.

[Palodios]

Sounds like last season scenario Pal. A lot ?s, and you know what happened.

 

Hopefully this time the story is different.

 

Based on what this team has, the only way for them to get into the postseason is having some good luck. They have a pile of players who, with good luck, could be very very good. Maybe it is in the Sox's best interest to just pile on guys who could get lucky and see what happens.

[a700hitter]

Based on what this team has, the only way for them to get into the postseason is having some good luck. They have a pile of players who, with good luck, could be very very good. Maybe it is in the Sox's best interest to just pile on guys who could get lucky and see what happens.

I think we would need a lot of luck unless there is further building of the pitching.

[jung]

All of the everyday player gambles and gambits would be just fine if we had some real pitching. But the team right now is gambles and gambits all the way up and down the line with what looks like little pitching in one of baseballs most notorious hitters ballparks.

 

This looks right now like a glass that is half empty more than a glass that is half full. But then again, heck I just never thought there was a way to do much better for 2013 anyway. My concern all through this "process" they have been involved in is that I don't see much building to a 2014 effort. If we are going to end up with a lost season at least get something for it.

[Palodios]

I think we would need a lot of luck unless there is further building of the pitching.

 

I didn't expand on my main point in my previous post: High ceiling, low floor pitchers. Marcum, Liriano, Jurrjens. Maybe Web even. Low risk, massive rewards. Or trade for Garza/Jimeniz/Santana, which are a bit riskier, but have high potential.

 

The problem the Red Sox have had in the past with their depth signings is that they sign low potential, low floor guys. What did they think Aaron Cook was going to do? At the best points in his career, he's a 4.20 ERA guy, and at his worst he's a 6.00 ERA guy.

[a700hitter]

All of the everyday player gambles and gambits would be just fine if we had some real pitching. But the team right now is gambles and gambits all the way up and down the line with what looks like little pitching in one of baseballs most notorious hitters ballparks.

 

This looks right now like a glass that is half empty more than a glass that is half full. But then again, heck I just never thought there was a way to do much better for 2013 anyway. My concern all through this "process" they have been involved in is that I don't see much building to a 2014 effort. If we are going to end up with a lost season at least get something for it.

I think we just have to hope that the off season plan has not been fully executed yet.

[beeee_c]

Palodios wants to roll the dice. The rest of you haven't given any specifics... what exactly would you do right now if you were Ben?

[beeee_c]

By the way I am Ben, trying to get some ideas undercover. Sshhhhh.

[a700hitter]

Palodios wants to roll the dice. The rest of you haven't given any specifics... what exactly would you do right now if you were Ben?

 

One possible approach would be to sign Edwin Jackson and maybe Wilson for the pen. I would also consider lance Berkman to play some 1B and LF.

[iortiz]

Palodios wants to roll the dice. The rest of you haven't given any specifics... what exactly would you do right now if you were Ben?

Really?, I mean really? Several posters have put a lot of ideas since 2011... problem is that time has passed and several players have already signed/traded with other teams and the deck is getting thin since then.

 

For example, Unfortunately what I was suggesting few days ago is banished. I would have signed Sanchez and Jackson. At what price? Say ... 120 M both. Overpaid? You bet, but at least you would have had a decent rotation this year, and next year if needed you could look for a #1 pitcher trading some prospects/players.

[jung]

My idea is past executing at this point. The players are gone. There are still some one year pitcher deals that can be done but the basis for what I wanted went out the window already.

[beeee_c]

iOrtiz, I'm asking about now, not yesterday... I know opportunities have come and past. I'm asking what would you do, specifically, for the rest of this offseason?

 

Jung, I hear ya. I do think for the most part it's a done deal and the rest is execution. There'll be no silver bullet. But I think you're short-changing the rest of this offseason's possibilities a little bit, especially the trade market.

 

a700, I like Berkman, even though he wouldn't have a defined role seeing as we've signed Nap and have Ortiz. But I think he wants the Astros or nothing, anyway.

[a700hitter]

iOrtiz, I'm asking about now, not yesterday... I know opportunities have come and past. I'm asking what would you do, specifically, for the rest of this offseason?

 

Jung, I hear ya. I do think for the most part it's a done deal and the rest is execution. There'll be no silver bullet. But I think you're short-changing the rest of this offseason's possibilities a little bit, especially the trade market.

 

a700, I like Berkman, even though he wouldn't have a defined role seeing as we've signed Nap and have Ortiz. But I think he wants the Astros or nothing, anyway.

If Berkman's knees can hold up, he can play some OF and 1B when Napoli is catching.

[SoxSport]

Toronto looks like the only team that has substantially improved in the off-season. And their Energizer Bunny GM still isn't through yet, apparently, going after Dickey. The other teams are treading water, or maybe have declined--at least short term. I'm thinking TB losing two starters to get a young hitter who may spend next year in AAA. I'm also thinking the Yankees who don't look improved, and Baltimore which may come down to earth some. That leaves the Red Sox. They had a grand opportunity with all their cap space to make a much bigger splash--but so far have settled for the middle road. I don't think the division is as strong as some think. There are better teams in other divisions. Can the Red Sox climb out of the cellar? I guess its possible if a lot of things go their way.

[iortiz]

Well, the way I see the thing is that you already have a bunch of #3-4. You just signed another. What we really need is at least a #2. Unfortunately, again, nobody is available, so you have to get this arm via trade or cross fingers that Buch and Lester bounce back.

[SoxSport]

If Berkman's knees can hold up, he can play some OF and 1B when Napoli is catching.

 

Berkman might fit at 1B part-time. Depends on his health and the kind of shape he is in.

[a700hitter]

Toronto looks like the only team that has substantially improved in the off-season. And their Energizer Bunny GM still isn't through yet, apparently, going after Dickey. The other teams are treading water, or maybe have declined--at least short term. I'm thinking TB losing two starters to get a young hitter who may spend next year in AAA. I'm also thinking the Yankees who don't look improved, and Baltimore which may come down to earth some. That leaves the Red Sox. They had a grand opportunity with all their cap space to make a much bigger splash--but so far have settled for the middle road. I don't think the division is as strong as some think. There are better teams in other divisions. Can the Red Sox climb out of the cellar? I guess its possible if a lot of things go their way.

The team that was immediately ahead of us--Toronto is the team that improved. I don't think the Sox have improved enough to pick up 20+ games. On the other teams.

[SoxSport]

The team that was immediately ahead of us--Toronto is the team that improved. I don't think the Sox have improved enough to pick up 20+ games. On the other teams.

 

They could. After all, they pissed away the season last year after the Dodger deal--just about quit. And they were about .500 up to that point half playing for Valentine with a lot of dysfunction in the coaching. Plus Ellsbury going down.

 

The thing that killed them was the dumb move to make Bard a starter, and then keeping him there--stubbornly, you could say--when Bailey went down early. Cherington got on my shitlist for that, and I've been after him ever since. He may have wrecked that kid's career. They knew he was a head case in the minors about starting.

 

Aside from Bard, they had a lot of underachievers and injuries last year, and the tables are due to turn. I'm not saying they can reverse their record, but they could get to 85-90 wins if everything works out.

[iortiz]

I didn't expand on my main point in my previous post: High ceiling, low floor pitchers. Marcum, Liriano, Jurrjens. Maybe Web even. Low risk, massive rewards. Or trade for Garza/Jimeniz/Santana, which are a bit riskier, but have high potential.

 

The problem the Red Sox have had in the past with their depth signings is that they sign low potential, low floor guys. What did they think Aaron Cook was going to do? At the best points in his career, he's a 4.20 ERA guy, and at his worst he's a 6.00 ERA guy.

 

These are some good ideas too Pal.

[beeee_c]

Nobody has a GM game plan for the rest of the offseason? I'm still not hearing specifics...

[beeee_c]

Except from Pal. Roll the dice with high ceiling pitching. I like Garza.

[iortiz]

Nobody has a GM game plan for the rest of the offseason? I'm still not hearing specifics...

 

oh boy...

[beeee_c]

I like a trade for Masterson / A. Cabrera best for our needs... I think they're realistically attainable and will improve us.

[beeee_c]

iortiz your silence is deafening. Come on man, tell me what you would like to see happen tomorrow.

[a700hitter]

They could. After all, they pissed away the season last year after the Dodger deal--just about quit. And they were about .500 up to that point half playing for Valentine with a lot of dysfunction in the coaching. Plus Ellsbury going down.

 

The thing that killed them was the dumb move to make Bard a starter, and then keeping him there--stubbornly, you could say--when Bailey went down early. Cherington got on my shitlist for that, and I've been after him ever since. He may have wrecked that kid's career. They knew he was a head case in the minors about starting.

 

Aside from Bard, they had a lot of underachievers and injuries last year, and the tables are due to turn. I'm not saying they can reverse their record, but they could get to 85-90 wins if everything works out.

If buchholz gives us 200 innings and Lester lowers his ERA by 2 runs we will be competitive. I wonder how many pitchers have lowered their ERAs by 2 runs from one year to the next.

[jung]

Pal and I (initially Pal to his credit) have been petitioning for these pitching signings for a long time now. Bring them in....see what we can sift through. The difference between what we have been talking about this year and what the Sox have done in past years is that the guys they have brought in have not had much in the way of a high ceiling so the best they could do was not far off the worst they could do.

 

That list of one year deal potential high ceiling pitchers has been the same list for weeks now with some now off the list. In my case that is as I stated earlier all that is really left of what I wanted to do. The rest got blown out of the water with one other exception....trade Ells at some point.

 

I do think it is kinda' funny how quickly we got to be "to right handed". The whole board was concerned about having to many LH batters and one trade later we were suddenly to right handed. I hardly think there is anything we could have done to have been as left handed as we were last year. To be honest i think the board was a little to concerned about how left handed we might be this year.

[iortiz]

iortiz your silence is deafening. Come on man, tell me what you would like to see happen tomorrow.

 

Lets face it, at this point is complicated to get even a number 2 as I wish, even via trade IMO.

 

Who would really like a player who is made of glass and will hit the FA next year? Philly? Texas? IDK but if so, set a package around Ells and Salty and see if they trade a pitcher.

 

If you complete that trade with Philly/Tex. or other team, get Bourn and Swisher too.

 

Bourn

Peddy

Napoli

Ortiz

Swisher

Victorino

WM

Ciriaco

Lav/Ross

 

 

Traded Pitcher

Lester

Buch

Dempster

Lackey

Depth: Douby

 

Bailey

Bard

Morales

Aceves

Hill

Tazawa

Miller

 

Like it?

 

That is a big market team... instead we are executing this offseason like KC and A's

[Palodios]

If buchholz gives us 200 innings and Lester lowers his ERA by 2 runs we will be competitive. I wonder how many pitchers have lowered their ERAs by 2 runs from one year to the next.

 

It happens extremely frequently, actually. I ran through a pile of pitchers, and they pretty much all seemed to have something like that. Follow up a very bad year with a very good year. It happens.

 

Cliff Lee 2010-2011

Ra Dickey 2009-2010.

Dempster 2011-2012.

Liriano 2009-2010.

Dice-k 2007-2008.

Buchholz 2010-2011

Beckett 2006-2007

Beckett 2010-2011 (3 runs )