2014 Roster Projections

[Palodios]

Interesting that you say this Dojji ... I love Pedroia but I was attacked when I suggested that signing him to age 38 was not smart. I thought age 36 was just about right.

 

Pedroia is a franchise player. They know he won't be worth the money in the later years, but there is an intangible value that he will bring to the team. In the meantime, paying 13-14 million a year for a 6 WAR player will be very rewarding. The incredibly low AAV for a former MVP is a big factor here too.

[SoxFanForsyth]

wRC is an offensive stat ... Bogaerts will still get credit for that stat ... I want to take the 130 and give it a 50% weighting and you want to give the 130 a 45% weighting. I want to give Bogaerts a 50% weighting on his Defensive stat and you wan to give him a 55% weighting on the same defensive stat whatever that might be.

 

Your weighting structure is a bit deceiving IMO. What I'm trying to say is that offense up the middle is scarce because of the reliance on defense. It's rare that a player has the defensive ability to play everyday at a position up the middle, and produce offensively at the rate that Bogaerts or Pedroia can.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I just don't see why bridging the year with Butler or Lavarnway, and Ross or another veteran, is such a scary proposition.

 

Why would you want to do that?? It makes no sense to me. If they're not a part of the future, and you're not developing them to be a catcher for your team for years to come, why would you put that strain on the entire pitching staff when you can acquire an elite defensive catcher at a low cost who provides elite OBP for the C position?

[marklmw]

I've been screaming for a long time to just give Lav a shot at catching for us but it has fallen mostly on deaf ears and it also looks like the front office agrees with most of the posters here that he is not the answer to our catching needs. The guy can hit and hit with power and while he is not a top notch defensive catcher he is better than he was two years ago just as Salty has improved during that time. The other problem with this is that Ryan is a RH hitter and I think it would be more effective for us to have a L and R platoon combo behind the plate. And that fiasco in Houston can also be laid at the feet of one Steven Wright and his God Damn knuckleball----which BTW always needs a special catcher to handle it. We've been through that with Wakefield who stayed three or fours years too long. I still believe Lavarnway could be a very pleasant surprise if given a chance.

 

Lavarnway is a sharp and intelligent lad and I have no issues with given him a chance. I have said many times ... let the boys compete in the spring. Some players develop more rapidly than others. What if ... what if Vasquez arrives to Florida and he is looking really really good ... the pitchers are giving great feedback ... he is great defensively and he is swinging the bat well also. FO decides to start Vasquez off in Pawtucket anyway and gives the nod to Lavarnway and Ross to open the season. BTW ... Butler is also having a very impressive spring. So they arrive in Pawtucket and Vasquez is not hitting all that great but his defense is still stellar ... no one is even close defensively ... at the end of April he is hitting .250 / .300 / .400. But he begins to improve offensively ... and his numbers for May are .293 / .342 / .426. Ross gets injured June 1 ... Vazquez can very well be called up ... the rest is history ... he goes on to become a perennial gold glove catcher for the next 12 years. My point is that not everything needs to be set on opening day. You have to admit that Bogaerts was an important component of the Championship success.

[Palodios]

Lavarnway is a sharp and intelligent lad and I have no issues with given him a chance. I have said many times ... let the boys compete in the spring. Some players develop more rapidly than others. What if ... what if Vasquez arrives to Florida and he is looking really really good ... the pitchers are giving great feedback ... he is great defensively and he is swinging the bat well also.

 

Weren't we saying the same exact thing about Jackie Bradley last year? Spring training can be deceiving sometimes. There's no reason not to get someone to fill in at depth, especially if it is at low cost.

 

Do you think that if Vazquez or Lavs are lighting the world on fire in AAA, they'll be blocked because the Red Sox spent 2 million dollars on Navarro, or sent out their #45 prospect for Hannigan? I doubt it.

 

The scenario you are suggesting is one that the Red Sox have tried the last few years, and failed miserably with it. Remember when we had Nick Green at shortstop? Or Darnell McDonald in CF? That's what happens when a team doesn't have enough depth at a position.

Edited November 25, 2013 by Palodios

[marklmw]

Your weighting structure is a bit deceiving IMO. What I'm trying to say is that offense up the middle is scarce because of the reliance on defense. It's rare that a player has the defensive ability to play everyday at a position up the middle, and produce offensively at the rate that Bogaerts or Pedroia can.

 

I guess it has yet to be seen how well Bogaerts does with the glove. All things being equal 2 players with similar defensive skills will be decided on who the better offensive player is.

[User Name]

wRC is an offensive stat ... Bogaerts will still get credit for that stat ... I want to take the 130 and give it a 50% weighting and you want to give the 130 a 45% weighting. I want to give Bogaerts a 50% weighting on his Defensive stat and you wan to give him a 55% weighting on the same defensive stat whatever that might be.

 

WAR already does this.

[User Name]

Why would you want to do that?? It makes no sense to me. If they're not a part of the future, and you're not developing them to be a catcher for your team for years to come, why would you put that strain on the entire pitching staff when you can acquire an elite defensive catcher at a low cost who provides elite OBP for the C position?

 

Because it's Dojji.

[User Name]

The fundamental difference is that we have Ross to help cover for any adequacies his junior partner shows. In order to get the same advantage in center at the moment we'd need to shift Victorino out of a position that's nearly as tough to defend as center, at least at Fenway, and one which he won a Gold Glove while playing. In order to fix that, we need to jettison one pretty decent player (Carp/Gomes/Nava, all highly worthy) or espose the infield even further by carrying 6 outfielders.

 

I've also been loudly calling for bringing in a stout utility man to cover for any rookie issues at SS/3B while those players are developing in place. It's the same thought process, the only difference is we're approaching the two situations from different angles (in CF/SS we have the rookie but are in need of veteran help, in C we have a veteran, and a glut of rookies, none of which excite, but any of which could be adequate if they are worked with and patience is shown in their development).

 

Or you could bring in a guy like Bloomquist who's a plus defender in essentially every position. That'd solve every reason for your whine-fest. Go figure.

[Dojji]

Why would you want to do that?? It makes no sense to me. If they're not a part of the future, and you're not developing them to be a catcher for your team for years to come, why would you put that strain on the entire pitching staff when you can acquire an elite defensive catcher at a low cost who provides elite OBP for the C position?

 

who says you're not developing them to be a catcher on the team? It's not like Ross has many years left to him.

 

Kid looks good, he takes Ross's spot after this coming year, backs up the guy who is the future going forward, or even surprises you by making himself part of the future. Kid doesn't look good, Hanigan's probably still out there for a midseason acquisition.

[Dojji]

Or you could bring in a guy like Bloomquist who's a plus defender in essentially every position. That'd solve every reason for your whine-fest. Go figure.

 

When was the last time Willie Bloomquist played centerfield?

 

And it's not MY whinefest. I have no problem going young up the middle as long as you've got veterans to play backup. I'm responding to other peoples' concerns.

[User Name]

When was the last time Willie Bloomquist played centerfield?

 

And it's not MY whinefest. I have no problem going young up the middle as long as you've got veterans to play backup. I'm responding to other peoples' concerns.

 

True, but then you get an utility who can and problem solved.

Edited November 25, 2013 by User Name?

[User Name]

Pedroia is a franchise player. They know he won't be worth the money in the later years, but there is an intangible value that he will bring to the team. In the meantime, paying 13-14 million a year for a 6 WAR player will be very rewarding. The incredibly low AAV for a former MVP is a big factor here too.

 

Not necessarily. Market inflation, positional scarcity and the possibility of Pedroia retaining his core offensive skills could see him producing even or even slightly above average value in the latter stages of his career, health permitting.

[Palodios]

Not necessarily. Market inflation, positional scarcity and the possibility of Pedroia retaining his core offensive skills could see him producing even or even slightly above average value in the latter stages of his career, health permitting.

 

That's my concern. When was the last time he went through a season completely healthy? Foot surgery in 2010 and again in 2011. Thumb issue in 2012, broken ring finger. Thumb surgery in 2013.

[Dojji]

True. Just because he plays through it doesn't mean he isn't adding wear and tear to his body.

[User Name]

They're going to have to convince to rein it back a little bit. He's too intense for his own body's good.

[Dojji]

That's why I'd love to see them bring in Omar Infante to back up our infield. that's a guy you can rest Pedroia in favor of without causing a lot of anxiety. He's probably going to get starting money to play 2B somewhere though.

[Palodios]

That's why I'd love to see them bring in Omar Infante to back up our infield. that's a guy you can rest Pedroia in favor of without causing a lot of anxiety. He's probably going to get starting money to play 2B somewhere though.

 

Just to be clear, "resting Pedroia" is something that would CAUSE a lot of anxiety, especially for the managers:p

[seabeachfred]

I see the Sox crossing that bridge when they come to it, to be honest. A move to the outfield isn't out of the question, a move to another infield position either, and to be quite frank about it, Dustin Pedroia will be defying his body type if he's effective much past age 34. he's already sliding gently downhill -- still very very solid, but nowhere near his MVP form in the last 2 years. His run of dominance might be shorter than we hope, and in that case I'd be glad to have a guy like Betts either in the wings, or playing another position on the team, able to slide over if needed.

 

Worry about something else Dojii. Pedroia is a gamer and he played all season with a serious thumb injury that would have driven most ballplayers to the DL. Yet Pedey played and hit 301, drive in 84 runs and handled the No. 3 spot in the batting order very well all season. Not to mention what a leader he was on the field, in the clubhouse and the complete ballplayer he was offensively, defensively and speed wise. He will be set and play outstanding baseball for us well into his 30's because that's just who he is. Credit the Red Sox and their scouting staff for being able to read this guy when he was in college and not be swayed by his lack of size. I would take him just about over any other player in the league, especially when to factor in his intangibles that he brings to the ball club. Betts either will find a new position or be used in a trade because barring some very tragic development second base and Pedroia are a well fitted glove for the next eight seasons.

[User Name]

That's why I'd love to see them bring in Omar Infante to back up our infield. that's a guy you can rest Pedroia in favor of without causing a lot of anxiety. He's probably going to get starting money to play 2B somewhere though.

 

Infante will find a starting job.

[Palodios]

Report coming through that Navarro may sign soon, and it won't be with the Red Sox. Running out of non-Salty catcher options.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Report coming through that Navarro may sign soon, and it won't be with the Red Sox. Running out of non-Salty catcher options.

 

I'll be worried when Hanigan is off the board, particularly since the Yanks have McCann, the Rays just extended Molina for 2 years, and the O's have Weiters.

 

When Hanigan became excess for the Reds, it was pretty commonly thought that it would be the AL East teams bidding for his services.

 

Send over Sean Coyle or Kolbrin Vitek and call it a day.

[win red sox]

Report coming through that Navarro may sign soon, and it won't be with the Red Sox. Running out of non-Salty catcher options.

 

What about Carlos Santana? Cleveland has let it be known that Gomes will be there everday catcher and Swisher will be regulated to 1B. I could envision something along the lines of Santana+Stubbs for something along the lines of Doubront, Carp, and maybe RDLR. It could solve Boston's Catcher position this year and then 1B for future years, Stubbs could be backup in CF and RF. Cleveland lost 2 sp's this year (Jimenez,Kasmir).

[marklmw]

I'll be worried when Hanigan is off the board, particularly since the Yanks have McCann, the Rays just extended Molina for 2 years, and the O's have Weiters.

 

When Hanigan became excess for the Reds, it was pretty commonly thought that it would be the AL East teams bidding for his services.

 

Send over Sean Coyle or Kolbrin Vitek and call it a day.

 

SFF ... Only Hanigan himself will be as happy as you should the Sox acquire him.

[iortiz]

If they don't sign Hanigan I won't mind going with Lav/Ross. I just don't want to see Salty in Boston again.

[marklmw]

What about Carlos Santana? Cleveland has let it be known that Gomes will be there everday catcher and Swisher will be regulated to 1B. I could envision something along the lines of Santana+Stubbs for something along the lines of Doubront, Carp, and maybe RDLR. It could solve Boston's Catcher position this year and then 1B for future years, Stubbs could be backup in CF and RF. Cleveland lost 2 sp's this year (Jimenez,Kasmir).

 

I would not make that deal. Santana is not much of a defensive upgrade from Salty. Doubront is on the edge of a break-out.

[marklmw]

If they don't sign Hanigan I won't mind going with Lav/Ross. I just don't want to see Salty in Boston again.

 

I thought I had a twin brother some place

[Bellhorn04]

I'd rather have Salt than Lava, that's for sure. We did win 97 games with Salt doing most of the catching.

[Station 13]

Salty is fine. He's 29, coming into his prime.

[SoxFanForsyth]

No thanks to Salty.

 

He had a nice run here but his K's and, improved but still sub par defense can go sign somewhere else.

 

If Hanigan isn't available, explore some trades