Marahiro Tanaka And Sox Starting Rotation.

[marklmw]

That's what i meant, but i worded it weirdly.

 

gotcha

[jacksonianmarch]

LOL, Dojji, pot meet kettle. Regardless, it isn't just about the prospects Dojji. You have 6 bona fide MLB starters. You don't spend $100 mil to get a 7th. It doesn't make sense. Now, if you wanted to keep all 6, then that's fine, but you focus your resources elsewhere

[a700hitter]

LOL, Dojji, pot meet kettle. Regardless, it isn't just about the prospects Dojji. You have 6 bona fide MLB starters. You don't spend $100 mil to get a 7th. It doesn't make sense. Now, if you wanted to keep all 6, then that's fine, but you focus your resources elsewhere

There is probably no room for him next season. Dempster, Lackey and Peavey are under contract and Lester's option kicked in. Doubs is cost controlled. I hope they don't make the mistake of trading away pitching that can give us close to 200 innings That would be a mistake. One of the 6 will probably get hurt next year, so the #6 guy will be experienced depth.

[marklmw]

There is probably no room for him next season. Dempster, Lackey and Peavey are under contract and Lester's option kicked in. Doubs is cost controlled. I hope they don't make the mistake of trading away pitching that can give us close to 200 innings That would be a mistake. One of the 6 will probably get hurt next year, so the #6 guy will be experienced depth.

 

If Buchholz did not return to form this year you can kiss the post season goodbye. The Sox have a huge need to add a legit # 2 SP. If they think that Tanaka can be that man they should get him. They will always be able to unload Dempster, Peavy or Lackey and get some prospects in return.

[Beaneater]

Lackey is making 16 million next year, and league minimum the following year. If they try to trade him, he would arguably be worth more than any other free agent starting pitcher, and more than any other possible trade candidates besides Price.

 

Oh, right. Well, other that I was right.

 

Thanks, by the way, for not saying, "Check your $@%&ing facts, you giant pulsating ball of phlegm!" as sometimes happens here. I appreciate that.

[User Name]

For luxury tax calculation purposes, Lackey's making the 11 +, not the 16.

[Behindenemylines]

If Buchholz did not return to form this year you can kiss the post season goodbye. The Sox have a huge need to add a legit # 2 SP. If they think that Tanaka can be that man they should get him. They will always be able to unload Dempster, Peavy or Lackey and get some prospects in return.

 

I agree. If they think that he would be an upgrade in the rotation you could trade from the depth they already have built up. Between what is on the current major league roster and the talent in the minors the SP depth is the best it has been in awhile. With other teams in great need of starters ($panks) it could get quite costly trying to land Tanaka.

[marklmw]

I agree. If they think that he would be an upgrade in the rotation you could trade from the depth they already have built up. Between what is on the current major league roster and the talent in the minors the SP depth is the best it has been in awhile. With other teams in great need of starters ($panks) it could get quite costly trying to land Tanaka.

The $panks have been on record as trying to get beneath the luxury tax. The Sox are in much better position due to the fact that they might be taking the salaries of Ellsbury, Drew and our 2 non closers off the books next year. The posting fee blows but it does not affect the Cap. It shall be interesting.

[SoxSport]

They will say no to Tanaka. He said no to them at least once.

[mvp 78]

If Buchholz did not return to form this year you can kiss the post season goodbye. The Sox have a huge need to add a legit # 2 SP. If they think that Tanaka can be that man they should get him. They will always be able to unload Dempster, Peavy or Lackey and get some prospects in return.

 

If they need a legit anything it's a #1.

[marklmw]

If they need a legit anything it's a #1.

Well I am assuming that the health issue with Buchholz was a fluke this year. It would be hard to replace him as the number 1.

[mvp 78]

Well I am assuming that the health issue with Buchholz was a fluke this year. It would be hard to replace him as the number 1.

 

He has health issues every year. It's no fluke.

[marklmw]

He has health issues every year. It's no fluke.

You make a good point.

[jacksonianmarch]

A legit #1 doesn't just put up the big numbers, they put up the big innings and the durability. Buchholz puts up the stats, but cannot stay healthy. If he kills it this post-season, the sox might be best served by moving him when his stock is sky high

[a700hitter]

A legit #1 doesn't just put up the big numbers, they put up the big innings and the durability. Buchholz puts up the stats, but cannot stay healthy. If he kills it this post-season, the sox might be best served by moving him when his stock is sky high

They could get a huge haul for him. I'd hate to see him go, but I don't know if he will ever consistently put up 200 inning seasons.

[sk7326]

If Buchholz did not return to form this year you can kiss the post season goodbye. The Sox have a huge need to add a legit # 2 SP. If they think that Tanaka can be that man they should get him. They will always be able to unload Dempster, Peavy or Lackey and get some prospects in return.

 

Ehhhh ... the Red Sox won this year because they basically had four #2-#3 starters (Dempster excepted though if he is your 5, that's good). The Sox (and every other team) could use a King Felix sort of legit #1 But there are maybe 10 of those, so the odds of actually having one is pretty darn low. (Scherzer, Darvish, Price, Wainwright, Felix, Verlander - big picture, Strasburg ... you start running out of names pretty quickly)

[marklmw]

Ehhhh ... the Red Sox won this year because they basically had four #2-#3 starters (Dempster excepted though if he is your 5, that's good). The Sox (and every other team) could use a King Felix sort of legit #1 But there are maybe 10 of those, so the odds of actually having one is pretty darn low. (Scherzer, Darvish, Price, Wainwright, Felix, Verlander - big picture, Strasburg ... you start running out of names pretty quickly)

 

And that is why Tanaka is an interesting name ... some think that Tanaka is more talented then Darvish.

[Orange Juiced]

They could get a huge haul for him. I'd hate to see him go, but I don't know if he will ever consistently put up 200 inning seasons.

 

If the Sox understand this, don't you think other teams also understand this? And if they do, why would they give the Sox a "huge haul" for a guy with such red flags?

[a700hitter]

If the Sox understand this, don't you think other teams also understand this? And if they do, why would they give the Sox a "huge haul" for a guy with such red flags?

He would probably need to put up 200 innings next season to remove those flags.

[sk7326]

http://irfast.blogspot.com/2013/08/masahiro-tanaka-scouting-report.html for one scouting report ...

 

Just comparing Nippon stats, Darvish rates out a bit better ... the strikeout rate was (and has translated) absolutely insane. Tanaka is no slouch - and from what I've read could be a true #2 sort, which is not at all bad. The posting fee rumors not in the ballpark of Darvish's from what I can tell.

[Palodios]

If the Sox understand this, don't you think other teams also understand this? And if they do, why would they give the Sox a "huge haul" for a guy with such red flags?

 

As a fan this offseason, many of us were clamoring for an ace, a #1 guy. Most of my suggestions were guys who weren't #1s, but had the potential to be... Josh Johnson, Peavy, both Santanas, short deals for guys like Liriano/Marcum. If Buchholz has a good postseason, creates a large amount of buzz, he could definitely be worth a good haul to someone, even if it is a GM trying to create their own buzz and sell tickets.

 

Put this into perspective... When Josh Johnson, Reyes, and Buerhle were traded to the Jays, the group pulled in some very good talented. Josh Johnson was the only guy in that group who wasn't just a salary dump.

[marklmw]

As a fan this offseason, many of us were clamoring for an ace, a #1 guy. Most of my suggestions were guys who weren't #1s, but had the potential to be... Josh Johnson, Peavy, both Santanas, short deals for guys like Liriano/Marcum. If Buchholz has a good postseason, creates a large amount of buzz, he could definitely be worth a good haul to someone, even if it is a GM trying to create their own buzz and sell tickets.

 

Put this into perspective... When Josh Johnson, Reyes, and Buerhle were traded to the Jays, the group pulled in some very good talented. Josh Johnson was the only guy in that group who wasn't just a salary dump.

 

I would imagine that Buchholz is our number 1 for the playoffs. If Buchholz does have a great post season IMO he isn't going anywhere.

[sk7326]

I am not sure how much the postseason will impact things on Buchholz. There is the body of work - and yes, the durability is a concern if a fat extension is in his future. But this season he has shown at least evidence that the #1 stuff we saw in the past could be for real. I'd be hesitant to offer him years but there is time for that hestitation to be allayed.

[Palodios]

I am not sure how much the postseason will impact things on Buchholz. There is the body of work - and yes, the durability is a concern if a fat extension is in his future. But this season he has shown at least evidence that the #1 stuff we saw in the past could be for real. I'd be hesitant to offer him years but there is time for that hestitation to be allayed.

 

He's signed for two more years with two more years of club options. They won't have to make a decision until they have a better grasp of his health.

[SoxSport]

They can go all the way if their starters can pitch well. Bullpen, too. It's all about the pitching in these short series.That's why I don't like Cleveland. The As are dangerous. So is TB. The Tigers have issues: Miggy's health, Verlander's form. The Dodgers will be tough with Kershaw and Greinke.

[sk7326]

Cleveland is a contender of course - because anybody who qualifies can win it. But they basically rolled up 92 wins against the sisters of the poor (16-2 against the White Sox, 53 wins against sub .500 teams). This is not a dig at all - beating the teams you should beat matters. But CLEARLY they are the team Boston wants to draw.

 

The playoffs are a true coin flip - the best team doesn't win it that often. Missing bats really helps - as well as putting great at-bats together. The Red Sox do both well - the things they are weaker at (pre-7th inning relief) are things most of these teams are bad at. We're the best team in the league - but unlike say, the NBA, it means precisely zero now.

[marklmw]

He's signed for two more years with two more years of club options. They won't have to make a decision until they have a better grasp of his health.

 

Talking about dealing Buchholz at this time is a non discussion. The Sox can significantly improve next years team over this years team by adding a quality SP and Tanaka might be that player.

[Palodios]

Talking about dealing Buchholz at this time is a non discussion. The Sox can significantly improve next years team over this years team by adding a quality SP and Tanaka might be that player.

 

Adding two reliable setup guys would be a significant upgrade. Adding McCann would be a significant upgrade. Introducing an unproven Japanese pitcher to the toughest division of hitters is not an upgrade for 2014, it is an upgrade for the years ahead.

[Dojji]

Adding two reliable setup guys would be a significant upgrade. Adding McCann would be a significant upgrade.

 

Are those things sufficient upgrades to justify the expense of bringing them in over the decent, relatively inexpensive men we have at those positions now?

 

Introducing an unproven Japanese pitcher to the toughest division of hitters is not an upgrade for 2014, it is an upgrade for the years ahead.

 

And the problem with that is? It's a bad FO that only plans for the next 12 months after all.

[marklmw]

Adding two reliable setup guys would be a significant upgrade. Adding McCann would be a significant upgrade. Introducing an unproven Japanese pitcher to the toughest division of hitters is not an upgrade for 2014, it is an upgrade for the years ahead.

Adding McCann will cost us a draft pick .... yes? I am happy with Salty and I hope that he signs a 3 year deal. It will be interesting to see what the Sox do this off-season ... my only point is that if the team comes back as is but with JBJ and Bogaerts replacing Ellsbury and Drew I am in favor to adding a # 1 or 2 type SP.

You are right about it not being only about the 2014 season but 4-5 years after. If the Sox control Buchholz and perhaps resign Lester adding a 3rd quality SP could never hurt.