2014 Roster Projections

[BornToRun]

Wow ... interesting. Let's hope that Cano signs someplace else and the Sox sign Tanaka & Napoli.

 

Napoli yes if he can be had for something close to 2/28. Meh on Tanaka.

[SoxSport]

Ells made his Faustian Pact. He took the money and ran with it. Just a grand opportunity for JBJ. Ells was expendable. And he won't help the Yankees that much. They need pitching, not another rabbit.

[rjortiz]

Ells made his Faustian Pact. He took the money and ran with it. Just a grand opportunity for JBJ. Ells was expendable. And he won't help the Yankees that much. They need pitching, not another rabbit.

 

He'll help the Yankees a great deal next year, but you are right. They aren't even going to jump the Rays if they can't fill the holes in their rotation.

[SeanJohn93]

Gary Tuck is expected to be hired to be the Yankees bullpen coach

[SeanJohn93]

According to Robert Murray on twitter

Source: Many within the #Yankees organization unhappy about the Jacoby Ellsbury deal

[a700hitter]

According to Robert Murray on twitter

Source: Many within the #Yankees organization unhappy about the Jacoby Ellsbury deal

Many in Red Sox Nation unhappy about the Ellsbury deal.

[a700hitter]

Who left after 2007? Youk and Okajima were well past their primes when they ended up with the Yanks.

No one. They were still in the middle of their deal with Damon, who helped the Skanks win their last championship. Let's hope that we don't have to see Ellsbury win a Championship for the skanks.

[Hitch]

Hello all, first time poster from UK.

 

I have been following this board for a little while now, but have held off posting, and just enjoyed reading the comments and opinions instead. I fell in love with Baseball this past season and I have pretty much spent the last year trying to watch every game I could; spend time reading up about the sport, and basically just tried to absorb as much information as I can. I am a Liverpool fan, so naturally latched onto Boston as a team to follow and loved every minute of this season just past.

 

Today feels like a great time to get involved though, what with the off season signings starting to crank up. Bear with me if I get things wrong as I'm still very much learning about the game.

 

 

From looking at this Ellsbury trade(and this off season as a whole), it feels like some fans are a little impaitent and maybe letting rivalries with teams cloud their thinking.

 

Baseball looks a very cyclic sport to me. It seems a sport that is very dfficult/impossible to win/compete for, the WS year in year out.

 

The Red Sox seem like they are in a brilliant position at the moment.

 

Sure they have just lost Ellsbury which was expected, but they have a ready made relacement in Jackie Bradley Junior likely to step in. They have two highly rated catchers not far away from being ready(especially Vasquez it would seem). Bogearts and Middlebrooks are two young talented players covering the left side. And they have some very good platoon/bench options at the club.

 

The aquisition of AJ makes perfect sense to me. It ties them over till Vasquez is ready to step up next year. Sure they look likely to lose something replacing Ellsbury with JBJ next season but then what after that? I would guess the Red Sox would be in a very strong positon with JBJ playing CF from 2015 onwards, after a full year playing at MLB level.

 

As I say, I think the game is cyclic, and with a hugely strong farm system and with young, highly rated, players about to come in and replace exspensive outgoing players on the way down from their peak, for me at least, I would say while next year might not be a WS win(although it's certainly not out of the question), the following years after that, will see the Red Sox be in a position to challenge year in year out. While teams like the Yankees, will be overloaded with aging players on huge contracts and no real farm depth.

 

I think you can get too caught up in what your rivals are doing. You need only concentrate on what you do at your own club and I think the future of the Red Sox looks very, very, bright.

 

Anyway, sorry for the long rabmling thesis lengthed post. Just wanted to share my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing what moves happen over the next month or two.

 

Really enjoy reading this board.

[a700hitter]

Hopefully, Cano signes with the Dodgers.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Just to be clear, I was 100% joking about signing Cano. That was purely out of spite and I am 100% against the Red Sox giving up anything for him.

 

Now, Kemp on the other hand...if the Sox can get the Dodgers to eat around 30-35mm of his deal and get his contract down to 6/90 or 6/95, I would send over a couple prospects for that.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Hopefully, Cano signes with the Dodgers.

 

I've been saying this for a while. I can see the Dodgers trading Kemp, opening up a good amount of payroll, and paying Cano.

 

Also - don't sleep on the Tigers, after getting rid of Fielder and all his money, they could turn that into Cano.

 

As a side note for Kemp, I wonder if the Sox sent Cecchini, Ranaudo, and Lavarnway, if the Dodgers would eat the 35mm I mentioned above and the Sox could get Kemp for ~15.5mm/year.

[mvp 78]

Nice post, Hitch!

[Palodios]

Morneau -> Rockies. Napoli is running out of suitors. Time to bring him home.

 

Apparently the Red Sox offered Salty 2/18 to the Marlins 3/22. He got greedy, and the game of musical chairs screwed him. I really hope Napoli doesn't make the same mistake.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Morneau -> Rockies. Napoli is running out of suitors. Time to bring him home.

 

Apparently the Red Sox offered Salty 2/18 to the Marlins 3/22. He got greedy, and the game of musical chairs screwed him. I really hope Napoli doesn't make the same mistake.

 

I'm hearing the Marlins are also in on Napoli, but I can't imagine that they can match the offer the Sox will be extending, plus even if the offers are close, the Sox have the massive appeal of winning.

[marklmw]

Hello all, first time poster from UK.

 

I have been following this board for a little while now, but have held off posting, and just enjoyed reading the comments and opinions instead. I fell in love with Baseball this past season and I have pretty much spent the last year trying to watch every game I could; spend time reading up about the sport, and basically just tried to absorb as much information as I can. I am a Liverpool fan, so naturally latched onto Boston as a team to follow and loved every minute of this season just past.

 

Today feels like a great time to get involved though, what with the off season signings starting to crank up. Bear with me if I get things wrong as I'm still very much learning about the game.

 

 

From looking at this Ellsbury trade(and this off season as a whole), it feels like some fans are a little impaitent and maybe letting rivalries with teams cloud their thinking.

 

Baseball looks a very cyclic sport to me. It seems a sport that is very dfficult/impossible to win/compete for, the WS year in year out.

 

The Red Sox seem like they are in a brilliant position at the moment.

 

Sure they have just lost Ellsbury which was expected, but they have a ready made relacement in Jackie Bradley Junior likely to step in. They have two highly rated catchers not far away from being ready(especially Vasquez it would seem). Bogearts and Middlebrooks are two young talented players covering the left side. And they have some very good platoon/bench options at the club.

 

The aquisition of AJ makes perfect sense to me. It ties them over till Vasquez is ready to step up next year. Sure they look likely to lose something replacing Ellsbury with JBJ next season but then what after that? I would guess the Red Sox would be in a very strong positon with JBJ playing CF from 2015 onwards, after a full year playing at MLB level.

 

As I say, I think the game is cyclic, and with a hugely strong farm system and with young, highly rated, players about to come in and replace exspensive outgoing players on the way down from their peak, for me at least, I would say while next year might not be a WS win(although it's certainly not out of the question), the following years after that, will see the Red Sox be in a position to challenge year in year out. While teams like the Yankees, will be overloaded with aging players on huge contracts and no real farm depth.

 

I think you can get too caught up in what your rivals are doing. You need only concentrate on what you do at your own club and I think the future of the Red Sox looks very, very, bright.

 

Anyway, sorry for the long rabmling thesis lengthed post. Just wanted to share my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing what moves happen over the next month or two.

 

Really enjoy reading this board.

 

Hello Hitch,

 

This was a very thoughtful post. You are certainly insightful on the sport of baseball. I need to hear your words as loosing Ellsbury (my favorite player) was painful ... more so because it was the Yankees who we play against 19 times every year and compete with for the Division title as well.

The Yankees always are raiding our players and it gets tiring. I think that baseball would benefit greatly by making it more painful on teams that exceed the annual payroll tax.

[BornToRun]

I'm hearing the Marlins are also in on Napoli, but I can't imagine that they can match the offer the Sox will be extending, plus even if the offers are close, the Sox have the massive appeal of winning.

 

And a fanbase that actually gives 2/3 of a flying f***.

[marklmw]

Hopefully, Cano signes with the Dodgers.

This makes no sense ... we will be playing against the Dodgers in the WS in 2014. How about I hope that Cano signs with Seattle.

[marklmw]

Morneau -> Rockies. Napoli is running out of suitors. Time to bring him home.

 

Apparently the Red Sox offered Salty 2/18 to the Marlins 3/22. He got greedy, and the game of musical chairs screwed him. I really hope Napoli doesn't make the same mistake.

 

Salty should have taken the 2/18 from the Sox. Bad career move. I am happy that he didn't however.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Side note - Great post, Hitch. Glad to have you on board. Very level headed post, something you don't see very much around here (I'm looking at myself more than anyone)

[a700hitter]

I've been saying this for a while. I can see the Dodgers trading Kemp, opening up a good amount of payroll, and paying Cano.

 

Also - don't sleep on the Tigers, after getting rid of Fielder and all his money, they could turn that into Cano.

 

As a side note for Kemp, I wonder if the Sox sent Cecchini, Ranaudo, and Lavarnway, if the Dodgers would eat the 35mm I mentioned above and the Sox could get Kemp for ~15.5mm/year.

I think that package would get the attention of the Dodgers.

 

I will miss Ellsbury's elite speed. Speed like that makes things happen on offense. Many runs were scored without a base hit during 2llsbury's tenure with the Sox. That kind of speed is the rarest of tolls for the Red Sox. I have never seen anyone with his speed and base stealing ability on the Red Sox in my 47 years of rooting for the Sox. That being said, I think Cano is the much better investment for a 7 year contract.

[a700hitter]

Salty should have taken the 2/18 from the Sox. Bad career move. I am happy that he didn't however.

Agreed. Salty will fade into oblivion with the Marlins.

[marklmw]

I've been saying this for a while. I can see the Dodgers trading Kemp, opening up a good amount of payroll, and paying Cano.

 

Also - don't sleep on the Tigers, after getting rid of Fielder and all his money, they could turn that into Cano.

 

As a side note for Kemp, I wonder if the Sox sent Cecchini, Ranaudo, and Lavarnway, if the Dodgers would eat the 35mm I mentioned above and the Sox could get Kemp for ~15.5mm/year.

 

Because of Kemp's injury history I would never give up Cecchini and Ranaudo for him. I think the Red Sox FO should be very careful dealing with LA. We bested them so badly with the AGon, Crawford, Beckett dump that my gut is telling me that taking Kemp off their hands will in the end help even the score. Cecchini is our next Wade Boggs, Bett's in our next Ellsbury. Ellsbury is gone ... JBJ will do fine. I had a good night of sleep. Stay the course.

[a700hitter]

This makes no sense ... we will be playing against the Dodgers in the WS in 2014. How about I hope that Cano signs with Seattle.

You cocky bastard.

 

If we the Championship in 2014, Lester and Ortiz should probably wear Yankee hats during the post game celebration. LOL!

[SoxFanForsyth]

I think that package would get the attention of the Dodgers.

 

I will miss Ellsbury's elite speed. Speed like that makes things happen on offense. Many runs were scored without a base hit during 2llsbury's tenure with the Sox. That kind of speed is the rarest of tolls for the Red Sox. I have never seen anyone with his speed and base stealing ability on the Red Sox in my 47 years of rooting for the Sox. That being said, I think Cano is the much better investment for a 7 year contract.

 

I agree, I think the package would open the eyes a bit of the Dodgers as well. And let's not forget, Kemp is a 40 SB threat as well. He's actually a 40/40 threat to be honest.

 

It's only a gamble because of his injuries. But when he's healthy, he's a game changing player. If you add Kemp to the OF (playing LF), you can afford to swallow the lumps of Bradley in CF. But, IMO, you need that extra offense from LF to absorb the rookie learning curve. Doesn't necessarily have to be Kemp, but I think we need a bit more offense from the OF if we're handing the reigns to JBJ.

[dupree]

I agree, I think the package would open the eyes a bit of the Dodgers as well. And let's not forget, Kemp is a 40 SB threat as well. He's actually a 40/40 threat to be honest.

 

It's only a gamble because of his injuries. But when he's healthy, he's a game changing player. If you add Kemp to the OF (playing LF), you can afford to swallow the lumps of Bradley in CF. But, IMO, you need that extra offense from LF to absorb the rookie learning curve. Doesn't necessarily have to be Kemp, but I think we need a bit more offense from the OF if we're handing the reigns to JBJ.

Well said. I hope Ben makes a move on Kemp and Napoli soon.

[Palodios]

Granderson still makes more sense for the Red Sox than Kemp.

[a700hitter]

I agree, I think the package would open the eyes a bit of the Dodgers as well. And let's not forget, Kemp is a 40 SB threat as well. He's actually a 40/40 threat to be honest.

 

It's only a gamble because of his injuries. But when he's healthy, he's a game changing player. If you add Kemp to the OF (playing LF), you can afford to swallow the lumps of Bradley in CF. But, IMO, you need that extra offense from LF to absorb the rookie learning curve. Doesn't necessarily have to be Kemp, but I think we need a bit more offense from the OF if we're handing the reigns to JBJ.

What about Beltran? He has a much lower price tag. He would not cost talent in return, and he puts up big numbers. LF at Fenway would add some years to his career.

[Bellhorn04]

cano will only cost us money and we have a lot of it. Sign him god damn it, sign him!!!!!! And sign napoli tomorrow as well.

 

lmao

[User Name]

Hello all, first time poster from UK.

 

I have been following this board for a little while now, but have held off posting, and just enjoyed reading the comments and opinions instead. I fell in love with Baseball this past season and I have pretty much spent the last year trying to watch every game I could; spend time reading up about the sport, and basically just tried to absorb as much information as I can. I am a Liverpool fan, so naturally latched onto Boston as a team to follow and loved every minute of this season just past.

 

Today feels like a great time to get involved though, what with the off season signings starting to crank up. Bear with me if I get things wrong as I'm still very much learning about the game.

 

 

From looking at this Ellsbury trade(and this off season as a whole), it feels like some fans are a little impaitent and maybe letting rivalries with teams cloud their thinking.

 

Baseball looks a very cyclic sport to me. It seems a sport that is very dfficult/impossible to win/compete for, the WS year in year out.

 

The Red Sox seem like they are in a brilliant position at the moment.

 

Sure they have just lost Ellsbury which was expected, but they have a ready made relacement in Jackie Bradley Junior likely to step in. They have two highly rated catchers not far away from being ready(especially Vasquez it would seem). Bogearts and Middlebrooks are two young talented players covering the left side. And they have some very good platoon/bench options at the club.

 

The aquisition of AJ makes perfect sense to me. It ties them over till Vasquez is ready to step up next year. Sure they look likely to lose something replacing Ellsbury with JBJ next season but then what after that? I would guess the Red Sox would be in a very strong positon with JBJ playing CF from 2015 onwards, after a full year playing at MLB level.

 

As I say, I think the game is cyclic, and with a hugely strong farm system and with young, highly rated, players about to come in and replace exspensive outgoing players on the way down from their peak, for me at least, I would say while next year might not be a WS win(although it's certainly not out of the question), the following years after that, will see the Red Sox be in a position to challenge year in year out. While teams like the Yankees, will be overloaded with aging players on huge contracts and no real farm depth.

 

I think you can get too caught up in what your rivals are doing. You need only concentrate on what you do at your own club and I think the future of the Red Sox looks very, very, bright.

 

Anyway, sorry for the long rabmling thesis lengthed post. Just wanted to share my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing what moves happen over the next month or two.

 

Really enjoy reading this board.

 

This is the best first post i've read on probably any message board. Well done.

[Dojji]

The big impact of Ells definitely being gone, is that I don't think we can go into the season with 3 LF's. One of Gomes, Carp and Nava need to move on and be replaced with a backup CF type in my honest opinion, for maximum depth and ability to handle the kind of attrition a full 162 exacts from a team.

 

I'd love to see what the Royals' asking price was for Jarrod Dyson. As a righthanded platoon partner for JBJ and a speed demon off the bench, Dyson would make a ton of sense for this club. Doesn't hit much, but he does boast a .335 OBP against LHP which with his elite speed makes him interesting in a platoon/roleplaying mode and his speed makes him a possible Dave Roberts redux..