2014 Roster Projections

[seabeachfred]

HaHaHa ... not touching this one UN ... I just do not want to be accused of wearing pink colored glasses especially since I have been going out on a limb for Tanaka. BTW one scout compared JBJ skill set to Ken Griffey ... Senior. Nothing wrong with that.

 

If the Red Sox are convinced that Jackie Bradley is ready to take over CF then put him there and don't sign any Chris Young or any other CF who will put undue pressure on JBjr. If he doesn't work out we can move Victorino to CF and still have Gomes and Nava to fill our outfield spots. It worked very well this season and will work well next. Bradley must be given free reign if they are handing over CF to him. If the Sox are leery of him it's another matter and maybe they will have expend some serious cash to keep Ellsbury in Red Sox crimson.

[seabeachfred]

Now I'd like to see a list of the buy-low guys from the last few years that have actually paid off.

 

 

Well that duet of Smelltz and Pennyless of 2009 were sure fire whizzes, weren't they?

[User Name]

Well that duet of Smelltz and Pennyless of 2009 were sure fire whizzes, weren't they?

 

Such genial eloquence.

[Spitball]

I hope the Sox can avoid the temptation to sign anyone to a foolishly long contract. The Cardinals made Albert Pujols a very respectful offer, but he (his agent) wanted more years and more money. That was a huge choice by the Cardinals to decide to move in another direction. Pujols was the best player in baseball at the time, but the Cardinals have more than successfully moved beyond the Pujols era.

 

And the Red Sox have traded away big contracts and been even more successful. I am in favor of the Cherington method and moving past the Epstein method we have been accustomed to embracing.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Spitball

[seabeachfred]

Such genial eloquence.

 

You should have heard me then. Of course both of them were released and both were after they were pasted by the Yankees in the opener of two successive series in August of that year. Maybe you remember; we lost seven of those eight games and in each opener we had Josh Beckett (having a good year) and Jon Lester (also having a good year) ready at full rest to pitch in those openers instead. BTW, we scored seven in that first game and nine in the next opener. With our best pitchers in there we would have won those games. Might have made a difference in the AL East race. I still get a little mad thinking of those series.

[seabeachfred]

I hope the Sox can avoid the temptation to sign anyone to a foolishly long contract. The Cardinals made Albert Pujols a very respectful offer, but he (his agent) wanted more years and more money. That was a huge choice by the Cardinals to decide to move in another direction. Pujols was the best player in baseball at the time, but the Cardinals have more than successfully moved beyond the Pujols era.

 

And the Red Sox have traded away big contracts and been even more successful. I am in favor of the Cherington method and moving past the Epstein method we have been accustomed to embracing.

 

Don't think that will happen Spitball. I believe the Red Sox have learned their lesson in that regard, and since our farm system is booming we could get a lot of home grown players in the next year or two......Brentz, Cecchini, Swihart, Owens, Renaudo, Bradley, Barnes and so on. I would take a chance with Ellsbury but I don't think the Red Sox will.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I am hereby declaring a moratorium on derogatory player nicknames for the foreseeable future.

[sk7326]

1/3 of the time Trout played left or DH ... point is Ellsbury is a dam good lead off hitter. Trout also does not lead off. Ellsbury hit .320 when leading off. Is he worth 20m for 5 or 6 years ... maybe not when you have a stud in JBJ in the wings.

 

Ellsbury is probably the best "lead off guy" in the classic sense in the league. Trout did not lead off because he is the Angels best hitter, and you don't put your best hitter 1st. It's not that he can't lead off (he did last year) so much as his superpowers are better used elsewhere.

[redsoxrules]

According to reports, Drew to decline QO

[jung]

Sox still have an inside track to signing him if he does not take the QO since they would not have to give up a pick. I think the media particularly is downplaying the importance and value of these sandwich picks. We have guys being drafted and contributing immediately...especially pitchers. Drew would be a nice fit here especially if WMB does not fit into the Sox future plans. They just slide XB over to 3rd for awhile. If Drew goes elsewhere, the Sox get the pick and we could end up tickled pink with the pick.

 

Would not surprise me all that much if Drew does not take it especially with Boras as his agent. The field of SS's is pretty weak. Drew was ranked pretty highly offensively amongst SS's this year. That is not saying much these days but I am sure Boras will make him seem like Robin Yount has been reborn. Of course "he is Ozzie Smith in the field"...clearly a bargain at any price you care to name.

 

I think it would actually make sense for Drew to take the $14.1M to work a little more on his hitting. He could come back to adoring fans...make a bundle and with really very little in the way of luck, likely turn himself an additional $6-8M in a contract signed next year.

[sk7326]

Drew turning down the QO is interesting ... not surprising. It was a 50-50 proposition. In a way this is the perfect time to have Boras as your client. Shortstop of any sort of quality in this year's market is a 1-man show (well 2 if you count Peralta, which is fair) ... and there will be no shortage of patience waiting for the teams to figure it out. The pick penalty will be tough for a team to swallow, unless you are a team like the Cards (who came within 2 games of a title with a little leaguer playing SS) or the Dodgers (who could move Hanley to 3B)

[jung]

I think the Cards have the inside track on Drew. As hard as the Dodgers are trying with very little change the Cards could still end up atop the NL in 2014.

 

Thought Drew saying he would like to finish his career here in Boston was kinda' funny. Yea right Steven....good coaching Scott.

 

Drew turning down the QO may make it more interesting to see how the Sox react. We may end up learning more about what the Sox really think of Will depending on what they do or don't do on Drew.

[sk7326]

I think the Cards have the inside track on Drew. As hard as the Dodgers are trying with very little change the Cards could still end up atop the NL in 2014.

 

Thought Drew saying he would like to finish his career here in Boston was kinda' funny. Yea right Steven....good coaching Scott.

 

Drew turning down the QO may make it more interesting to see how the Sox react. We may end up learning more about what the Sox really think of Will depending on what they do or don't do on Drew.

 

Oh if you are looking at "healthiest franchise (on the field) for the next 5 years" the answer is CLEARLY Saint Louis ... though Boston is among the elite in that field too ... I mean the media drooled all over Wacha, yet they have at least 3 pitchers with higher ceilings not make a start in their postseason. (Miller, Martinez, Rosenthal - who is a guy with Top 2 starter stuff put into closer since they needed one) And one thing we know is that if an org is lacking depth somewhere, a bottomless supply of arms is a good asset to use to shop for depth.

[marklmw]

Ellsbury is probably the best "lead off guy" in the classic sense in the league. Trout did not lead off because he is the Angels best hitter, and you don't put your best hitter 1st. It's not that he can't lead off (he did last year) so much as his superpowers are better used elsewhere.

True that ... my point is that when talking about the top Center Fielders when you have to take all things into consideration. What if Ellsbury were batting 3rd this year with Ortiz behind him? I would assume that he would have more RBI's and maybe more HR's. The job of the lead off player is to get on base. Set the table for the hitters behind him. The numbers that Ellsbury put up in 2011 are that much more remarkable from the lead off spot. 100+ rbi's ... 32 HR's that is unheard of.

[User Name]

How would batting him third make him hit more homers? He doesn't hit more homers because he doesn't have HR power. 2011 was a fluke.

[marklmw]

I think the Cards have the inside track on Drew. As hard as the Dodgers are trying with very little change the Cards could still end up atop the NL in 2014.

 

Thought Drew saying he would like to finish his career here in Boston was kinda' funny. Yea right Steven....good coaching Scott.

 

Drew turning down the QO may make it more interesting to see how the Sox react. We may end up learning more about what the Sox really think of Will depending on what they do or don't do on Drew.

 

Drew is becoming much more attractive to Sox fans now that he might be going to another team. Like the song 'Only know that you love her when you let her go' Sometimes no action is the right action. Without Drew Bogaerts can get mentally ready to assume the role of the Short Stop and Middlebrooks can get psyched to be the starting 3B. JBJ will be prepared to take over in Center. The team gets a lot younger but still has the leadership of Peddey, Papi, Koji, and Lester. Plus from everything that I have seen so far both Bogaerts and JBJ are a delight to be around.

[jung]

I think the AL waters are a little muddier. But I was only discussing the NL in the case of the Cards.

 

I think the Pirates will regularly peter out and not get there at the end and I refuse to trust a Dodgers team with Crawford and Agons and the master of disaster, Mr. Beckett. Those guys will decide to fail at just the right moment and sink the Dodgers.

 

I am sure we have noticed that the LA crowd has been trying to recover some ground on "the trade" with some trying to argue that it really was more even steven than initial comments suggested. Can't wait for that BS to come home to roost. Crawford's a-holeness and ability to fail is always just resting under the surface. Ultimately, the travel or playing on Sunday or God only know what will catch up to Agons just at the wrong moment. He is not a "big moment" kind of player. I am so glad he was not on the 2013 team. I would bet real money he would have turned out to be a Prince Fielder sort of big moment player...ugh!!! If one of those two guys don't fail at the wrong moment, you can always depend on Mr. Beckett to just drag the whole clubhouse through the mud at the wrong time. The Master of Disaster can kill a whole season on you if you are not careful. There is of course an ace in the hole. If one of those three clowns don't end up screwing it up for the Dodgers Little Nicky will just let one go right through the wickets.

 

As for the AL, there are so many teams that have been spending large and asking Santa for a championship, Rangers, Tigers, Angels and some up and comers to boot.....I think there is more of a log jam at the top in the AL. The Sox have picked up so much ground on everybody else though. We may really not want to admit it but the foundation for the 2013 championship was in fact "the trade" which is one of the things that make the LA crowd and their efforts regarding the trade so comical. We got a championship out of it. What did you guys get? I think BC is too smart to give up all that ground gained in the trade, certainly not quickly. The Sox are in such great shape right now that I think Jacko will be packing his belongings for the duration of the decade at least. Where is Jacko....packing....Where is Jacko....still packing......where is Jacko.....STILL PACKING.....:D

Edited November 8, 2013 by jung

[marklmw]

How would batting him third make him hit more homers? He doesn't hit more homers because he doesn't have HR power. 2011 was a fluke.

 

20 HR's for Ellsbury next season ... steak dinner UN?

[SoxFanForsyth]

On Drew - I think the Sox resign him for 2/24.

 

I don't think any team is going to give him money and their 1st rounder. I can maybe see a team in the top 10 picks making a move for him (Mets, maybe?), but outside of that, I think he stays in Boston.

 

Also, Ervin Santana is asking for $100mm.

 

Don't. Trade. A. Single. Pitching. Prospect. (Unless it's for Stanton.)

[marklmw]

On Drew - I think the Sox resign him for 2/24.

 

I don't think any team is going to give him money and their 1st rounder. I can maybe see a team in the top 10 picks making a move for him (Mets, maybe?), but outside of that, I think he stays in Boston.

 

Also, Ervin Santana is asking for $100mm.

 

Don't. Trade. A. Single. Pitching. Prospect. (Unless it's for Stanton.)

 

Alan Webster?

[a700hitter]

Alan Webster?

I'd trade Webster or Rubby.

[marklmw]

On Drew - I think the Sox resign him for 2/24.

 

I don't think any team is going to give him money and their 1st rounder. I can maybe see a team in the top 10 picks making a move for him (Mets, maybe?), but outside of that, I think he stays in Boston.

 

Also, Ervin Santana is asking for $100mm.

 

Don't. Trade. A. Single. Pitching. Prospect. (Unless it's for Stanton.)

 

I highly doubt that the Sox will sign Drew for 24/2. Drew should find a better offer than that.

[marklmw]

I'd trade Webster or Rubby.

 

I would too ... In a New York Minute.

[marklmw]

How would batting him third make him hit more homers? He doesn't hit more homers because he doesn't have HR power. 2011 was a fluke.

 

Let's say my friend is right and it take 2 years to fully recover from a shoulder injury and in fact Ellsbury does hit 20 HR's next year and for the next 5 years. Even if this does happen it does not mean that Sox management made the incorrect decision to let Ellsbury go. With JBJ very close to being MLB ready it changes everything. If JBJ was not with the Sox then signing Ells would be a top priority. You can only have 1 CF playing CF. 20M can be used in area's of weakness ... I do not feel that CF will be that area over the next 5-6 years.

[Bellhorn04]

20 HR's for Ellsbury next season ... steak dinner UN?

 

You might need him in a park with a short right field fence to pull that off.

[SoxFanForsyth]

You guys are very reactive over a rough year.

 

Don't forget, Webster had never thrown a pitch in AAA before 2013. Would you also trade JBJ? He struggled pretty bad in the MLB this year after trying to skip AAA.

 

And RDLR had TJS last year. 2nd year back is typically the year where they start to flourish.

 

You'd be selling low on two guys who both have insane upside and were probably pushed a bit too hard this year, considering Webster was a conversion project (played SS in HS, converted to P in pro ball), and RDLR (TJS).

[SoxFanForsyth]

Let's say my friend is right and it take 2 years to fully recover from a shoulder injury and in fact Ellsbury does hit 20 HR's next year and for the next 5 years. Even if this does happen it does not mean that Sox management made the incorrect decision to let Ellsbury go. With JBJ very close to being MLB ready it changes everything. If JBJ was not with the Sox then signing Ells would be a top priority. You can only have 1 CF playing CF. 20M can be used in area's of weakness ... I do not feel that CF will be that area over the next 5-6 years.

 

If you're banking on a 2 year recovery from a shoulder injury and are willing to deal a good bit of money for him, then go trade for Kemp, who, when healthy, is a perennial 30 HR guy with the ability to touch a 40/40 season.

[User Name]

If you're banking on a 2 year recovery from a shoulder injury and are willing to deal a good bit of money for him, then go trade for Kemp, who, when healthy, is a perennial 30 HR guy with the ability to touch a 40/40 season.

 

Who, instead of Ellsbury, has actually proven he can sustain his HR numbers. marklmw is grasping at straws with the whole two year recovery time for shoulder injuries. I have not seen that assessment anywhere else.

[MNSoxChief102]

If you're banking on a 2 year recovery from a shoulder injury and are willing to deal a good bit of money for him, then go trade for Kemp, who, when healthy, is a perennial 30 HR guy with the ability to touch a 40/40 season.

 

I'd be ecstatic to get Kemp, but I don't see why the Dodgers would think about dealing him given the seemingly infinite monetary resources at their disposal.

[win red sox]

You guys are very reactive over a rough year.

 

Don't forget, Webster had never thrown a pitch in AAA before 2013. Would you also trade JBJ? He struggled pretty bad in the MLB this year after trying to skip AAA.

 

And RDLR had TJS last year. 2nd year back is typically the year where they start to flourish.

 

You'd be selling low on two guys who both have insane upside and were probably pushed a bit too hard this year, considering Webster was a conversion project (played SS in HS, converted to P in pro ball), and RDLR (TJS).

 

Just to add to this, Webster has 3 plus pitches (4 seamer, changeup,sinker) and a developing slider. It appeared to me in his ML starts this year he was trying to strike out everybody and barely threw his sinker. The potential to be a front of the rotation starter is there, just needs to work on his control.