Playoff Decisions

[BornToRun]

Marlon Byrd can buzz off. I want nothing to do with him.

[FredLynn]

Well said Fred; you make very good points, but there is a difference.....Carl Crawford couldn't play or endure in the Boston cauldron; Ellsbury has thrived in it and if we could get him for five years and $18-20 million I would do it. He changes the course of the game every time he gets on base and don't think I didn't notice how nervous Price was yesterday staring down the guy when trying to concentrate on Shane. His eyes and ball was going all over the place except where it should have gone.

 

Crawford's contract with us is generally regarded as one of the worst Epstein ever concocted. I understand what you are saying about him not being able to handle the Boston atmosphere; he couldn't. On the other hand, his numbers are remarkably similar to Ellsbury's in terms of age, attributes, and production at the time the contract came up. Do you give an $18- $20M contract to a guy whose career OPS is below .800 and who despite his speed has a very weak throwing arm, not to mention the time he misses on the field (whatever the reason is)? I wouldn't. I would structure his contract based on playing time so the if he is on the field a sufficient amount of time he can earn what top OF like Pence earn: about $18M a year. I would offer him no more than $15M guaranteed, maybe a little less, with incentives, for four years with a team option for one more year. There is no reason for the Red Sox to assume liability for his frequent absences (playing just 55% of the games in the past four years is a real red flag) from the playing field. The player with that sort of history should do it. Will this offer get it done with Boras? Probably not. No player is irreplaceable, not even Ellsbury.

Edited October 6, 2013 by FredLynn

[sk7326]

Since we are on the topic of Ellsbury and talking about the offseason, if we cannot resign him, who would you guys like to see replace him? I know there is the chance we might, but it is hard to tell what could happen this winter.

 

Would you want to try our luck with Bradley? We also have the option to move Victorino to CF and sign a RF. I am not sure if Bradley would stay in CF, or if Victorino would move over to CF and Bradley would be in RF.

 

Signing Choo is an option. He could play in RF or CF.

 

Signing Beltran to play RF could be an option. I know he is getting older, but I think a one year deal (or at most two) could be a decent move. He could add some pop in the middle of the lineup.

 

Would you even consider Nelson Cruz to play RF?

 

Would you consider a reunion with Marlon Byrd to play in RF? Age is also not on his side.

 

I am sure there are more options, but those are just off the top of my head. I think it is interesting to consider. Obviously, I want to resign Ellsbury if I had the choice. Choo finished his third career 20 SB and 20 HR season. He would be able to provide some power and still be able to be a threat on the bases. With Beltran, you get an aging OF who can still hit for power and a good average. With Byrd, you get a guy that made a huge comeback this year. He hit the most HR's in his career this year. He is also aging and he might be more of a gamble if his numbers start to decline. PED Cruz says it all. We did a great job of bringing in great team players last offseason and developed great team chemistry this year. You can't ignore Cruz's power numbers over the last five seasons, but do we want a guy like him to be part of our team?

 

Byrd is a screaming fluke at his age. He has been important for Pittsburgh because they got literally nothing out of that position before his arrival. Choo is the best target - giving years to a 31 year old comes with risk, but he is an on base machine who can play a corner solidly. His platoon split this year earns some additional scrutiny here. Beltran is a great player for a short hitch too.

[redsoxfan3]

Byrd is a screaming fluke at his age. He has been important for Pittsburgh because they got literally nothing out of that position before his arrival. Choo is the best target - giving years to a 31 year old comes with risk, but he is an on base machine who can play a corner solidly. His platoon split this year earns some additional scrutiny here. Beltran is a great player for a short hitch too.

 

That is right on track as to what I was thinking. Byrd is 36 and he had the most HR's this year in his career. He had a great comeback year, but I think it would be hard for him to repeat those numbers. It is a huge risk to expect that type of production from him again as he gets older. Choo would be a viable option to play RF. The OBP, 20 steals, and 20 HR's could be a big help if we were to lose Ellsbury. Beltran would add another power bat that we could use. He could be a solid player that could help us on a short-term contract, which would help give Bradley some more time in AAA.

 

That would potentially leave us with Gomes, Nava, and Carp in LF. Victorino in CF. Beltran in RF, with Nava and Victorino being capable of playing there. Not to mention if Beltran would get injured, Bradley is only a call away.