2013-2014 Off-Season: Who stays? Who goes?

[Lord Snow]

What do you guys think?

 

Key free agents being Jacoby Ellsbury, Koji Uehara, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Napoli (let me know if I missed anyone significant).

 

What I would like to see happen:

 

Jacoby Ellsbury re-signed for 6-years $90M, or less.

 

Koji Uehara re-signed for 1-year $10M + $10M vesting/club option.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia re-signed for 3-years $22.5M

 

Joel Hanrahan re-signed at league minimum.

 

Let Mike Napoli walk.

 

Let Stephen Drew walk.

 

Sign Kendrys Morales 3-years $45M.

 

Sign Shin-Soo Choo 4-years $60M.

 

Defense:

 

1B: Morales

2B: Pedroia

3B: Middlebrooks

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Choo

CF: Ellsbury

RF: Victorino

DH: Ortiz

[BigPapi]

What do you guys think?

 

Key free agents being Jacoby Ellsbury, Koji Uehara, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Napoli (let me know if I missed anyone significant).

 

What I would like to see happen:

 

Jacoby Ellsbury re-signed for 6-years $90M, or less.

 

Koji Uehara re-signed for 1-year $10M + $10M vesting/club option.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia re-signed for 3-years $22.5M

 

Joel Hanrahan re-signed at league minimum.

 

Let Mike Napoli walk.

 

Let Stephen Drew walk.

 

Sign Kendrys Morales 3-years $45M.

 

Sign Shin-Soo Choo 4-years $60M.

 

Defense:

 

1B: Morales

2B: Pedroia

3B: Middlebrooks

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Choo

CF: Ellsbury

RF: Victorino

DH: Ortiz

 

 

I like the acquisitions you included in choo and kendrys morales and also the resigning of ellsbury. However, joel hanrahan would never take league minimum. He would walk if we offered him that. And I hope we could sign ellsbury for that little of an amount.

[BigPapi]

But if we get giancarlo stanton by giving up a package of prospects, we wouldnt need choo. If not, im all in for getting choo next year.

[marklmw]

What do you guys think?

 

Key free agents being Jacoby Ellsbury, Koji Uehara, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Napoli (let me know if I missed anyone significant).

 

What I would like to see happen:

 

Jacoby Ellsbury re-signed for 6-years $90M, or less.

 

Koji Uehara re-signed for 1-year $10M + $10M vesting/club option.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia re-signed for 3-years $22.5M

 

Joel Hanrahan re-signed at league minimum.

 

Let Mike Napoli walk.

 

Let Stephen Drew walk.

 

Sign Kendrys Morales 3-years $45M.

 

Sign Shin-Soo Choo 4-years $60M.

 

Defense:

 

1B: Morales

2B: Pedroia

3B: Middlebrooks

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Choo

CF: Ellsbury

RF: Victorino

DH: Ortiz

 

This year has to play out but Drew is growing on me. He is a very solid defensively and he is starting to swing a nice bat. If this team Win's it all this year and they can do it I would want to bring Drew back. I think you have to go with Bogaerts at 3rd. Deal Middlebrooks for some Pitching Prospects. I like Morales at 1B but another option will be James Loney. (for a lot less money)

I am not a fan of signing Choo at 4/15m when Carp, Nava, Victorino, Gomes are getting the job done. Its going to take 110m to get Jacoby for 6 years but I am all for it.

[SCM33]

What do you guys think?

 

Key free agents being Jacoby Ellsbury, Koji Uehara, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Napoli (let me know if I missed anyone significant).

 

What I would like to see happen:

 

Jacoby Ellsbury re-signed for 6-years $90M, or less.

 

Koji Uehara re-signed for 1-year $10M + $10M vesting/club option.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia re-signed for 3-years $22.5M

 

Joel Hanrahan re-signed at league minimum.

 

Let Mike Napoli walk.

 

Let Stephen Drew walk.

 

Sign Kendrys Morales 3-years $45M.

 

Sign Shin-Soo Choo 4-years $60M.

 

Defense:

 

1B: Morales

2B: Pedroia

3B: Middlebrooks

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Choo

CF: Ellsbury

RF: Victorino

DH: Ortiz

 

No.

 

But if we get giancarlo stanton by giving up a package of prospects, we wouldnt need choo. If not, im all in for getting choo next year.

 

The Marlins are not going to trade him. Pittsburgh offered them a great deal and the Marlins declined. Boston would have to deal 4 or 5 of their top prospects, the major ones included. I don't think any 1 player is worth that much.

[SeanJohn93]

There has been talk about Brian McCann as well

[marklmw]

No.

 

 

 

The Marlins are not going to trade him. Pittsburgh offered them a great deal and the Marlins declined. Boston would have to deal 4 or 5 of their top prospects, the major ones included. I don't think any 1 player is worth that much.

 

I agree ... you cannot give up your top prospects for 1 player ... one injury can end a career.

[Lord Snow]

I don't understand the Stanton hype, and I definitely don't understand it for 4 or 5 top prospects.

 

The NL is AAAA and the NL East is one of the weakest divisions in all of baseball. Furthermore, Stanton is hitting a meager .241 this year. I'll pass.

[Lord Snow]

This year has to play out but Drew is growing on me. He is a very solid defensively and he is starting to swing a nice bat. If this team Win's it all this year and they can do it I would want to bring Drew back. I think you have to go with Bogaerts at 3rd. Deal Middlebrooks for some Pitching Prospects. I like Morales at 1B but another option will be James Loney. (for a lot less money)

I am not a fan of signing Choo at 4/15m when Carp, Nava, Victorino, Gomes are getting the job done. Its going to take 110m to get Jacoby for 6 years but I am all for it.

 

Choo is a consistent hitter. His career .386 OBP and .850 OPS are sexy as hell and fit in well on any team.

 

Of the bunch you named the only one I'm truly optimistic about moving forward in Daniel Nava. We can probably expect more of the same from Victorino, but how long can you stomach a .730 OPS out of a corner outfielder, a position where an .800 OPS should be the minimum passing grade.

 

I've got faith in Jackie Bradley as well. I like the idea of an outfield made up of some combination of Ellsbury, Choo, Bradley, and Nava.

[marklmw]

Choo is a consistent hitter. His career .386 OBP and .850 OPS are sexy as hell and fit in well on any team.

 

Of the bunch you named the only one I'm truly optimistic about moving forward in Daniel Nava. We can probably expect more of the same from Victorino, but how long can you stomach a .730 OPS out of a corner outfielder, a position where an .800 OPS should be the minimum passing grade.

 

I've got faith in Jackie Bradley as well. I like the idea of an outfield made up of some combination of Ellsbury, Choo, Bradley, and Nava.

 

Yeah, but reality is that Victorino will be in a Sox Uni for 2014 & 2015. He is batting in the 2 spot and plays good defense. JBJ is probably a year away so we can talk about him for 2015.

[RedSoxNC84]

As everyone has been saying, Ellsbury will probably get the big bucks elsewhere.. so why not sign Choo for RF and slot Vic in center until JBJ is ready? Or get JBJ some time in left..

 

I'd rather see the sox go after Brian McCann instead of Salty again. Kendrys Morales is okay but still kinda ugh, I'd say Mike Morse or Justin Morneau if they're available. Koji would be worth 10M. Hanrahan could probably be had for a QO, but not league min.

[BigPapi]

No.

 

 

 

The Marlins are not going to trade him. Pittsburgh offered them a great deal and the Marlins declined. Boston would have to deal 4 or 5 of their top prospects, the major ones included. I don't think any 1 player is worth that much.

 

If he doesnt require xander, why not? We cant just hoard prospects down there. Giancarlo Stanton has plus plus power.

[Bellhorn04]

If he doesnt require xander, why not? We cant just hoard prospects down there. Giancarlo Stanton has plus plus power.

 

So what if he required Bradley, Cecchini, Owens and Ranaudo? No thanks. I agree with what SCM said.

[BigPapi]

Giancarlos stats may look down this year, but his nagging injury has a lot to do with it. He hit 37 hrs in only 123 games last year. Thats tremendous pop.

[BigPapi]

So what if he required Bradley, Cecchini, Owens and Ranaudo? No thanks. I agree with what SCM said.

 

What happens if we kept jacoby? We wouldnt need jb jr. Call me crazy, but I like Stanton a lot.

[Bellhorn04]

The big question for me is whether the Sox see Bogaerts as a shortstop or a third baseman. If it's third base, then you have to consider re-signing Drew.

[BigPapi]

The big question for me is whether the Sox see Bogaerts as a shortstop or a third baseman. If it's third base, then you have to consider re-signing Drew.

 

True.

[Bellhorn04]

What happens if we kept jacoby? We wouldnt need jb jr. Call me crazy, but I like Stanton a lot.

 

No, don't get me wrong, you're not crazy for liking Stanton a lot. I think we all know he's an offensive stud. It's a question of how much is too much to give up. And you know that Miami would want some of our top pitching prospects in the deal.

[BigPapi]

Also, when papis power dwindles away as he ages, who is going to compensate for it? Will WMB?Stanton's a right handed, young, power hitter who iif is healthy, we should consider pursuing,

[BigPapi]

No, don't get me wrong, you're not crazy for liking Stanton a lot. I think we all know he's an offensive stud. It's a question of how much is too much to give up. And you know that Miami would want some of our top pitching prospects in the deal.

 

Ya defintely, thats 100 percent right. I have no problem giving up garin, but i have been very impressed with ranaudo. With the state of the marlins now, if they have to give up a big piece, theyre gonna want 4 legitimate future starters in return. I hope if he did come here though, his power numbers wouldn't deter like some people recently( ie.. Mike napoli and adrian gonzalez).

Edited August 11, 2013 by BigPapi

[Palodios]

The problem with Stanton is that he'll cost a brick-ton of prospects AND money.

Would you rather have Stanton or.... Shin-Soo Choo + Bogaertz + Bradley + Owens + Britton. There isn't a player in the majors who is worth 150 million + Bogaertz + two other top 100 prospects.

[Palodios]

I would give qualifying offers to Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, and maybe Uehara and Napoli. I say maybe, because there is no way in hell they should even let negotiations even get that far with Uehara -- if he doesn't retire, they need to lock him up. They need to check out the market for 1B, but a qualifying offer might make sense, even if it means we have to see him another year. I'd rather hold onto Napoli for one more year than pay 30-40 million for injury-prone Morales and give up a first rounder at the same time.

 

I see the Red Sox making a push for Brian McCann, getting outbid by the Yankees, and re-signing Salty. I'm not thrilled about it, but his .864 OPS against righthanded hitters is probably worth it, assuming they can find a suitable platoon partner for him.

[BigPapi]

The problem with Stanton is that he'll cost a brick-ton of prospects AND money.

Would you rather have Stanton or.... Shin-Soo Choo + Bogaertz + Bradley + Owens + Britton. There isn't a player in the majors who is worth 150 million + Bogaertz + two other top 100 prospects.

 

If he doesnt require xander, they would defintely have to consider it. I mean, hes younger than will middlebrooks and has incredible pop. Who is gonna provide pop from the right side on this team and even legitimate power in that regard when papi is gone?

[a700hitter]

can we just enjoy the present? LOL! Seriously, we have only won one division in 17 years.

[Bellhorn04]

can we just enjoy the present? LOL! Seriously, we have only won one division in 17 years.

 

I hear you. This thread is purely for shooting the breeze purposes.

[sk7326]

Ellsbury - let him go. A tough decision and I'm not 100% "let him walk". But 5 years is too rich without any sort of options.

Napoli - bring him back. If they can get a year + option for an average price ($10M maybe) it's a solid value

Drew - He will probably get 3 years from somebody ... I'd bring him back for 1 or 2. Frankly, this was the point of the marriage - Drew has reestablished him value as an above average to good ML SS and the Red Sox were able to solve a flaming train wreck of in that position.

Choo - good idea, perfect fit. He can't really play CF, but he has been able to fake it at CIN. A Choo-Bradley-Victorino outfield features three guys who can at least pretend to play CF, a good thing. He is one of the best on-base guys in the game, and the Sox can never have too many of those.

Salty - Lavarnway has shown he can't really do this for a living. Not really many choices here. Perhaps call the Twins on Joe Mauer for diligence.

 

Stanton - will cost too much. A 23 year old slugger is a great idea though - but I wouldn't empty a farm system for somebody who has to play a corner. (by empty a farm, Boegarts + more blue chippers)

[Dojji]

If he doesnt require xander, they would defintely have to consider it. I mean, hes younger than will middlebrooks and has incredible pop. Who is gonna provide pop from the right side on this team and even legitimate power in that regard when papi is gone?

 

Not Giancarlo Stanton.

 

I've said this before, but I'd be all for making a buy-low move on Billy Butler this offseason. The man's offensive style is made to order for Fenway Park, and it'd rebalance the lineup in favor of righthanded power. He'd have to get back into the swing of playing first base, and after 3-4 years of playing entirely DH that's a tall order, but if he could settle in there we'd have that position covered by a young and good righthanded hitter signed for several years at below market prices. With Carp to back that up and come in defensively that looks like an idea that could work for us -- if we could pay what KC would ask for Butler.

 

First base is the only real problem I see for us going forward. Our outfield situation is fairly stable, and outfielders aren't that hard to find. Third base is a temporary problem -- one of Cecchini and Middlebrooks ought to get something done there in the next 24 months (my money, by the way, is on Cecchini). Shortstop is a non-problem even with Iglesias gone. Catcher is handled between Salty, Lavs, and some nice backup caliber prospects. (I'd back up a winning team with either Dan Butler or Christian Vazquez and think nothing of it).

 

Overall, I would look to extend Stephen Drew for another 3 years. Good quality shortstops are hard to find, even with the sexy sexy sexy prospect in the wings having that veteran cover man is valuable -- and if Bogaerts breaks through early Drew has value on the trade market.

 

Napoli I let go. I don't qualify him for fear he'll accept. But I only do it that way if I'm sure I have a deal in place for another 1B such as Butler. Otherwise Napoli and Carp next year, with an emphasis on grooming Carp longer term.

 

I can get on board with the idea of Choo, and we don't have to lose Ellsbury to make a Choo signing work for us. Ditching Gomes or Nava, moving the other to a bench role, and starting Choo in left would still be a good move. Working Bradley around that would be a nice problem to have.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Dojji

[sk7326]

If he doesnt require xander, they would defintely have to consider it. I mean, hes younger than will middlebrooks and has incredible pop. Who is gonna provide pop from the right side on this team and even legitimate power in that regard when papi is gone?

 

The team could succeed with a lot of 15-25 homerun types too (the "Boston Bruins" approach) ... as long as none of them give at-bats away. Choo is a perfect fit there (so is Stanton, but one only costs money). Marlins have no incentive to give up a guy they still have some control over - with a team that has a modicum of promise. He could still be a star when the Marlins are good again.

[Dojji]

Normally I don't like the idea of signing guys over 30, but I'd go 4 years with Choo and not blink. His skillset strikes me as the kind that should age reasonably well.

 

I actually suspect that Choo will take a short years deal if the money is right, to set himself up for one last contract at the age of 33 or 34 when it's clear he still has some life left in him.

[BSN07]

can we just enjoy the present? LOL! Seriously, we have only won one division in 17 years.

 

I'm in agreement with you here. I love talking off season story lines but this type of talk can really wait and everyone should be enjoying the "now".