2014 Roster Projections

[MNSoxChief102]

Trumbo is not akin to the type of hitter the sox aspire to acquire. He's not a grinder. He's a basher

 

I agree. Don't mind his power, but his inability to work the count and bring out ABs is not something I want to trade for. Especially since it's being reported that he would cost the Sox WMB and Doubront. No thanks.

[MNSoxChief102]

I keep saying it, and I keep thinking it, but the smart move really is to sign Napoli, Ruiz/Salty, and add a fill-in center fielder and a bullpen arm. There are years where you need to shake things up and make a big move, but I don't think this is one of them. You have 6 good starters. Piles of good waiting arms in the minors. Waiting for a breakout year for guys like Middlebrooks, Xander, Bradley, Lavs or Brentz at the plate, or Vazquez behind it. Maybe even Cecchini.

 

Even though I'd love to see the Sox be aggressive and make a few moves to bring in a top notch player or two this off-season, purely from a personal enjoyment of the off-season perspective, I think Cherington's line of reasoning falls more closely with yours. Obviously we can't stand pat and think we can repeat next season, but dumping a ton of cash in FA is not the way to go either. Best case scenario is being able to do some similar things to last off-season and sign several quality players for reasonable contracts that can help in positions of need.

 

Bringing back Nap is a no-brainer. He wants to be here and we want him here. A deal will get done. As much as I'd prefer to move on from Salty, I think he comes back as well. I love what McCann brings to the table, but don't think he's worth the kind of coin he's reportedly seeking. As for replacing Ells in center, I like giving JBJ a shot, and bringing in an experience CF on a one year deal to help if he falters. Maybe Franklin Gutierrez if he's healthy... guy played pretty outstanding defense his whole career and could have a nice bat if he's not stuck in a pitcher's dream out in Seattle.

[marklmw]

I keep saying it, and I keep thinking it, but the smart move really is to sign Napoli, Ruiz/Salty, and add a fill-in center fielder and a bullpen arm. There are years where you need to shake things up and make a big move, but I don't think this is one of them. You have 6 good starters. Piles of good waiting arms in the minors. Waiting for a breakout year for guys like Middlebrooks, Xander, Bradley, Lavs or Brentz at the plate, or Vazquez behind it. Maybe even Cecchini.

 

Palodios you are very astute in your analysis. Every year is an entirely different set of circumstances. I hope Ben realizes that he does not have to stretch for projected marginal improvements. I do not know if Vazquez is MLB ready but there is every indication that he is defensively. Brentz and Cecchini would get more love if it were not for Bogaerts and JBJ. The Sox have a lot of high ceiling prospects in the organization and we will be re-stocking with 3-4 high picks in 2014 if we do not give away picks for FA compensation. One of the great accomplishments this season was that Papi stayed healthy. That was huge. Why add an aging Beltran as it will only increase the changes of one of the 2 going down.

[marklmw]

Even though I'd love to see the Sox be aggressive and make a few moves to bring in a top notch player or two this off-season, purely from a personal enjoyment of the off-season perspective, I think Cherington's line of reasoning falls more closely with yours. Obviously we can't stand pat and think we can repeat next season, but dumping a ton of cash in FA is not the way to go either. Best case scenario is being able to do some similar things to last off-season and sign several quality players for reasonable contracts that can help in positions of need.

 

Bringing back Nap is a no-brainer. He wants to be here and we want him here. A deal will get done. As much as I'd prefer to move on from Salty, I think he comes back as well. I love what McCann brings to the table, but don't think he's worth the kind of coin he's reportedly seeking. As for replacing Ells in center, I like giving JBJ a shot, and bringing in an experience CF on a one year deal to help if he falters. Maybe Franklin Gutierrez if he's healthy... guy played pretty outstanding defense his whole career and could have a nice bat if he's not stuck in a pitcher's dream out in Seattle.

 

JBJ is a plus defender. I think it is best to let the lad have a crack at it. Build his confidence without someone over his shoulder. Remember Pedroia's beginnings? I remember watching a game one day with my father and we were both wondering what the story was with Peddey ... management stayed with him and the rest is history. Should JBJ fail miserably once the season gets underway the Sox can seek out help then. There is always a starter that gets injured without any clear replacement at the time but they manage to fill the slot. Management knows every top CF prospect and it they need to spend capital in the form of players to acquire him they will. I would not be surprised if JBJ is considered the top CF prospect in all of baseball right now.

[jung]

I don't think we will some number of years from now be talking about JBJ's power. Frankly I would be surprised if he hits more HR's than Ells hits. However I still think that if he continues to develop as he has and gets his shot, he will produce at more than satisfactory levels, probably not in 2014 but soon after that.

 

More interested to see if the Sox are going to respond in some way to the offensive hole that will be left if both Ells and Salty are out of the everyday lineup. Maybe the Sox are interested in Beltran after all and intend tossing him into LF.

 

I am assuming the Sox are going to find a way to get Naps back here. If Ells, Salty and Naps are out of the everyday lineup, now an offensive hole becomes an offensive Grand Canyon.

 

As for Drew, maybe the Sox figure they can wait Boras out because the Sox have guys for the left side of the infield and in a Sox perfect world, XB plays short and WMB hits for enough power to play 3rd anyway.

 

The Sox will need an experienced Catcher in the everyday lineup I think. Without both Drew and Ells, they are going to be very young up the middle if XB is playing SS and JBJ is playing CF. I just think they have Salty in a tough spot in that he is not really ready to leave Boston and take on a whole new pitching staff. Frankly as much progress as Salty has made in the last couple years, he still gives horrid targets, does not frame the ball well, calls a pretty close to terrible game even with pitchers that he knows, can easily be pushed to throwing errors because he cannot throw to 3rd or 1st at all and is a streaky hitter. I think that the Sox may well have just seen enough and would keep him entirely on their terms but only on their terms.

[seabeachfred]

Trumbo has a lot of power, but also makes a tremendous amount of outs. Not a fan.

 

Trumbo would be a 250-260 hitter but would hit 35-40 homers and drive in over 100 runs playing half his games at Fenway Park and would provide good protection for Papi. One other point....he seems to save some of his biggest hits for the Yankees, walk offs and all. I would much rather have him than Morales, Morneau or Loney, and the guy can also play the outfield and in a dire emergency play third base. Still, I would rather have Mike Napoli back than the lot of them.

[seabeachfred]

There is next to no chance Ellsbury stays. And it makes a lot of sense. They have a GG CFer in RF. They have a kid who is ready in JBJ and if they want to, there are a lot of OF platoon options. They also can splurge on the FA market and in losing Ells, they'll drop only one spot in the draft if they pay a premium FA to replace him. I think the sox are gonna go hard after Beltran as a 2-3 yr deal suits them more than a guy like Choo, who's gonna get 6.

 

 

Stop trying to do us favors Jacko. You like Beltran so much, how about letting your Yankees take him. You need him more than we do. We have Brentz and others in the minors who are close to being ready while you guys don't have s*** on the farm. Beltran is going to be 37 next season, has lost speed, arm strength as well as power. He would clog up our outfield and keep two good players on the bench where they would be sulking and unhappy and we cannot afford to have that.

[seabeachfred]

I keep saying it, and I keep thinking it, but the smart move really is to sign Napoli, Ruiz/Salty, and add a fill-in center fielder and a bullpen arm. There are years where you need to shake things up and make a big move, but I don't think this is one of them. You have 6 good starters. Piles of good waiting arms in the minors. Waiting for a breakout year for guys like Middlebrooks, Xander, Bradley, Lavs or Brentz at the plate, or Vazquez behind it. Maybe even Cecchini.

 

Keep saying it Palodios; maybe someone in the Red Sox front office will hear you. We don't need to shake things up and we certainly don't need to make a big move.

[jung]

I don't think they need a big move either....certainly do not need McCann. Don'e even think Beltran makes sense even if restricted to LF.

[iortiz]

I'm ok letting Salty, Drew, and even Ells walk... I only would try signing McCann even if you overpay a bit. Ross is not a everyday C and IMO Lav is not the answer yet.

[marklmw]

I like Ruiz and Ross as 2014 catchers. Nothing long term but will get the job done. Ross will love to be back and Ruiz is very solid. We have some very good prospects at the Catcher position.

[marklmw]

It occurs to me that most FA signings result in the player being over paid. Perhaps not so much in the 1st and 2nd year of the contract but more so for years 4+. Many of the signings would be well justified if they were of the 2 year kind. This is not to say that signing a young player in his mid twenties to a long term contract is a bad thing because it probably isn't but when management does this they are spending more than they are forced to in the early years and benefiting in the later years ... as long as the player remembers that he signed the deal to begin with for the lifetime of financial security. It always comes down to ownership making a judgement of the character of the player. I look at the FA class of 2013 and it is my opinion that every one of them will be overpaid. Drew included, Ellsbury included, Salty included, even Nap's included because of his hip condition. One player I would not touch with a ten foot poll is Beltran. If he signs for 3-4 years more power to him but anything more than 2 years is like playing Russian Roulette. The difference between Team A. Ellsbury - Drew vs. Team B. JBJ - Bogaerts is about 32M per season for the next 4 - 5 seasons. It will be really interesting to see at the end of 2014 season the aggregate Stats of Team A vs. Team B. I think letting Drew and Ellsbury walk is an easy decision to make. Team B will have some growing pains but they will also have stronger legs after 140 games. What do I know anyway ... just pontificating here.

[redsoxrules]

It appears that the Mariners are not going to blow the bank at Ellsbury according to reports now.

[Palodios]

It appears that the Mariners are not going to blow the bank at Ellsbury according to reports now.

 

What? They didn't want to pay 200 million for an injury prone outfielder that averages 10 HR a year? But he's from Oregon! Blasphemy.

[Hoplite]

Sign Corey Hart to a 1 year/$10 million deal.

Sign Carlos Ruiz to a 2 year/$14 million deal.

Sign Juan Uribe to a 2 year/$12 million deal.

Sign Chris Young to a 2 year/$8 million deal.

Sign Jesse Crain to a 1 year/$3.5 million deal.

 

This would net us three draft picks, we wouldn’t have to give up any prospects in a trade, we wouldn’t have to trade a starter to clear salary (it would be cost roughly $30 million of our $32 million budget), and it would provide us insurance if two of Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. or Will Middlebrooks struggle.

 

It would also be flexible. Ryan Hanigan could be substituted for Ruiz (this would require a trade). Reed Johnson or Rajai Davis could be substituted for Chris Young. Ryan Madson could be substituted for Jesse Crain.

[Dojji]

Sign Corey Hart to a 1 year/$10 million deal.

 

I have no idea why you think one of the few hitters in the entire game to reach 30 HR's this year is going to come this cheaply. None at all. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if Hart comes away with a 5 year deal for an AAV of nearly twice what you're offering.

 

I have nothing against kicking the tires on Hart. But let's be a bit realistic about what it will take to bring him to Boston. The fact is that hitting that 30th run meant that despite being only a 2 WAR player last year (average by definition) the man will be so overpaid it's not even funny. Stay away.

 

Sign Carlos Ruiz to a 2 year/$14 million deal.

 

Again, I have no idea why Ruiz would accept that price to play here. He's not quite a middle of the order guy, but for a catcher, Ruiz's offense lands him in the upper third of the league, he can get more than 7M AAV -- again, he can probably land double that in both years and salary per year -- and again, I pray it is NOT from Boston.

 

Sign Juan Uribe to a 2 year/$12 million deal.

 

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii think we can find a better use for 6 M AAV next year when Garin Cecchini is knocking on the door and Uribe's aging backside is blocking him. I suspect that we'll be bringing in more of an all around backup infielder, especially because at present we have no one to back up Bogaerts at shortstop, something Uribe probably can't be counted on to do anymore.

 

As for who I'd bring in? Well, I'm sure he's not the shiniest trinket in the pile, but I like Willie Bloomquist's game, and he can help in the outfield as well as backing up infield. I'm sure you can get him for 1 year and a lot less than 12M. I think he'd help us fine.

 

Sign Chris Young to a 2 year/$8 million deal.

 

I can see what you're thinking here, but I'm not quite sure you've thought this all the way through. As it is right now we're carrying our three starting outfielders, Carp and whichever of Gomes and Nava you don't consider a starter. That's 5. You want to add another. Who are we dealing? Or are we adding a sixth outfielder???? That's what attracted me to Bloomquist as an acquisition. He adds the same depth up the entire middle (catcher obviously excepted) while occupying only the one roster spot.

Sign Jesse Crain to a 1 year/$3.5 million deal.

 

you exceed yourself. Everything else is less than half what the player would actually except, you managed to come up with an offer for Crain that's less than a quarter AAV and less than a third of the years. You're talking about an all-star level setup man who's pitched at a high level each of the last 4 years, you're not going to find too many of those being willing to be paid like a reclamation project.

 

If Cherington could get anywhere near any of those prices for any of the players I'd actually want (read: not Young or Uribe) I'd go berzerk and stop at nothing until I'd given him a wet one full on the lips. It's not happening.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Dojji

[User Name]

Dude, what are you talking about? Corey Hart did not play in a single MLB game last season.

[mvp 78]

Doesn't matter. He's still signing for 5/$100M!!!

[Palodios]

They need to check out his knees. If they seem healthier than Napoli's hips, they should go for him. Otherwise, I see absolutely no reason to sign him above Napoli, even if it would mean the Sox get an extra pick.

[sk7326]

Sign Corey Hart to a 1 year/$10 million deal.

Sign Carlos Ruiz to a 2 year/$14 million deal.

Sign Juan Uribe to a 2 year/$12 million deal.

Sign Chris Young to a 2 year/$8 million deal.

Sign Jesse Crain to a 1 year/$3.5 million deal.

 

This would net us three draft picks, we wouldn’t have to give up any prospects in a trade, we wouldn’t have to trade a starter to clear salary (it would be cost roughly $30 million of our $32 million budget), and it would provide us insurance if two of Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. or Will Middlebrooks struggle.

 

It would also be flexible. Ryan Hanigan could be substituted for Ruiz (this would require a trade). Reed Johnson or Rajai Davis could be substituted for Chris Young. Ryan Madson could be substituted for Jesse Crain.

 

This is not that bad ... at the same time:

 

Ruiz is 35 and can't hit righties ... that is not a player who deserves 2 years. Lavarnway/Ross make more sense than this.

Corey Hart is a good idea but he does not require that sort of guarantee. If he can walk, he can be a righty partner in a platoon, and perhaps more. But the contract needs to account for that.

Juan Uribe - no.

Chris Young - if you can get him at this price it is a very good idea. Can play CF for real as a platoon partner and could supplant Gomes as the fourth outfielder

Jesse Crain or Madson - good value plays, just need them to be values

[dupree]

Does anyone think that Blue Jays will move Jose Bautista? The Sox' farm system is filled with good young talent, so a deal could be made if the Blue Jays were willing to listen. Be awesome to watch him playing half his games in Fenway.

[win red sox]

Sign Corey Hart to a 1 year/$10 million deal.

Sign Carlos Ruiz to a 2 year/$14 million deal.

Sign Juan Uribe to a 2 year/$12 million deal.

Sign Chris Young to a 2 year/$8 million deal.

Sign Jesse Crain to a 1 year/$3.5 million deal.

 

This would net us three draft picks, we wouldn’t have to give up any prospects in a trade, we wouldn’t have to trade a starter to clear salary (it would be cost roughly $30 million of our $32 million budget), and it would provide us insurance if two of Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. or Will Middlebrooks struggle.

 

It would also be flexible. Ryan Hanigan could be substituted for Ruiz (this would require a trade). Reed Johnson or Rajai Davis could be substituted for Chris Young. Ryan Madson could be substituted for Jesse Crain.

 

Corey Hart seems like a perfect fit and 1 year contract appears in line due missing last year due to knee surgery.

Carlos Ruiz makes sense only if you cant get Salty back on a 2-3 year deal.

Juan Uribe only makes sense if you sign him as your starting 3b, didn't realize he put up a fwar of 5.1 until just now.

Chris Young would be a good sign, but im pretty sure he's looking for a starting gig and more money. another name I would look at would be Drew Stubbs.

Jesse Crain would be a good sign, it would all come down to his medical report and if you can get him on a 1 year deal.

[mvp 78]

Sad news, guys:

 

@joestiglich: #Athletics announce they've signed infielder Nick Punto to a one-year contract w/vesting option for 2015.

 

WAKE UP BEN!

[dupree]

How is that sad news?

[dupree]

Dodgers are reported to be listening on Matt Kemp. Id like to see him maning CF or LF for us but as to what cost of prospects would LA take.

 

I want Ellsbury back 1st and foremost. But if Ells prices himself out of here i want a masher in outfield in one of the positions. Stanton, Bautista, Kemp, not Beltran (too old for too much). I have confidence in Cherries and hope he works his magic again this year.

[sk7326]

Dodgers are reported to be listening on Matt Kemp. Id like to see him maning CF or LF for us but as to what cost of prospects would LA take.

 

I want Ellsbury back 1st and foremost. But if Ells prices himself out of here i want a masher in outfield in one of the positions. Stanton, Bautista, Kemp, not Beltran (too old for too much). I have confidence in Cherries and hope he works his magic again this year.

 

Kemp is very interesting though yes, his injuries probably preclude him from being a full time CF. He is worth kicking the tires on for LF.

[Bellhorn04]

Kemp is very interesting though yes, his injuries probably preclude him from being a full time CF. He is worth kicking the tires on for LF.

 

But he's making 21-21.5 million a year for 6 years. It would be like a big thank you to the Dodgers for The Trade.

[User Name]

How is that sad news?

 

It's sarcasm bro.

[redsoxrules]

But he's making 21-21.5 million a year for 6 years. It would be like a big thank you to the Dodgers for The Trade.

 

The Dodgers would most likely have to eat a little of that contract to trade him.

[dupree]

It's sarcasm bro.

i was hoping it was... no on punto