2014 Roster Projections

[Palodios]

The most important question here is... do you walk Ortiz if there is a guy with 40 HR power behind him?

[mvp 78]

The most important question here is... do you walk Ortiz if there is a guy with 40 HR power behind him?

 

They did with Napoli on deck.

[win red sox]

I really don't see Ben signing anyone with a draft pick attached to them, including the Sox's own free agents. Next years June draft is incredibly deep.

[mvp 78]

@SmittyOnMLB: #RedSox GM Cherington: "We're looking for guys who not just want to win but want to play and are looking forward to coming to Boston."

[SeanJohn93]

I do not know if the Sox would go after Granderson just because of the fact that he received a qualifying offer. Our pick would go towards the Yankees and they do not have a pick in the 1st or 2nd rounds due to the signing of McCann and Ellsbury.

[RedSoxNC84]

What's the consensus of the board on, if Napoli falls through, going after Joe Mauer? Apparently he's moving to first base just like Napoli did, his team's going nowhere, and he's got a bloated contract for the next 5 years that is pure undistilled bad news, especially if you're Minnesota. Minny unloaded Morneau last year so you have to think they know what price they'll accept for Mauer too. I would not mind seeing him play the role they had in mind for Napoli last year before they learned about the hip injury -- a handful of games at catcher and a lot at first base. He's not a premium power hitter but he doesn't need to be -- Mauer is one of those rare hitters that can generate a ton of offense without homers.

 

If a package for some of our flawed or extraneous guys, plus one solid prospect they can sell to their fans, would get a deal like that done I'd say the Sox would be silly not to go for it.

 

The Twins are unloading money on SP. I think they're actually trying to compete.. I don't see them letting go of Mauer short of a move that would decimate a team's farm system and they'd still have to take the bulk of Mauer's contract.

[RedSoxNC84]

I really don't see Ben signing anyone with a draft pick attached to them, including the Sox's own free agents. Next years June draft is incredibly deep.

 

That's the same thing I'm thinking, except I think they still sign Napoli.

[redsoxrules]

According to a Sanspo report passed along by Newman, NPB officials are planning to accept the $20MM maximum bid and the new posting rules

 

I like this.

[seabeachfred]

This is where you start to sound a little crazy.

 

"Look Buster, you better f***ing hit this year or else..."

 

"Or else what?"

 

"We'll make you play ultimate frisbee with SFF, the career killer."

 

Or else his ass is on the bench and next winter we look for a CF who can run and hit. Now that doesn't sound crazy even though the guy writing it was in a psychotic frame of mind last night.

[seabeachfred]

Did you really think that just because Bradley's a black CF he's got the talent to steal bases and just doesn't know how? Talk about your stereotypes.

 

Don't put Ellsbury on Bradley. No more than Bradley's best should be expected of Bradley. Take what you can get and set your expectations somewhat short of escape velocity for this unproven kid. That's what I've been trying to tell you all all offseason, and for that I get accused of hating on the kid. I don't hade JBJ, I just recognize that we don't know what we'll get, and I don't want him held up to jacoby's standard. Evaluate Bradley for what he is, don't set the kid up to fail because he's not Ellsbury.

 

As for Dyson, yes, as a speed guy off the bench with a bit of usefulness against lefthanded pitching he makes some sense for the team. I stand by that opinion. If you want to disagree with it, feel free.

 

No Dojii, you have every right to express your opinion just as I do mine. As for Bradley, he is a good athlete and very coordinated and he should be able to steal some bases for us. If he is going to bat leadoff for the Red Sox he must be albe to run. Keep in mind that Pedroia doesn't have blazing speed but learned to steal bases by working on his running and studying pitchers. And stereotype or not, there are a lot of American-African ballplayers batting leadoff for teams who can run. We should expect that of a player who has the tools to do it if he will work hard at it. We need that.

[seabeachfred]

Hitch ... if you really want to know what moves the Sox should or should not make just listen to me. Do yourself a favor and never listen to UN or MVP.

 

Hey Mark, how about your friend SBF? Don't leave me out in the cold. Besides, you VA and I were the only three posters who correctly predicted that filthy turncoat would wind up with the Yankees.

[User Name]

I can find at least 5-6 more posters who predicted Ellsbury would end up with the Yanks, and most of us acknowledged the possibility saying "you can never count out the Yankees". No one was surprised when he signed with them either. You didn't reinvent the wheel here.

[win red sox]

Nick Cafardo ‏@nickcafardo 11s

Matt Kemp is in play for the Red Sox and the Dodgers would eat some money in the right deal. Just a question of whether the Red Sox want to

[seabeachfred]

Glad that we get at least some kind of consolation with the Yankees getting ready to lose Cano and Granderson. Least they can do.

 

Don't get your hopes too high Thunder. They will lose Granderson just as long as we don't get him. As for Cano I'll believe it when I see him signing with some other team. Seattle? A bunch of gutless talkers who can never follow up on anything. That's why they're turds in the AL West.

[seabeachfred]

@SmittyOnMLB: #RedSox GM Cherington: "We're looking for guys who not just want to win but want to play and are looking forward to coming to Boston."

 

If Cherington is not giving us a load of ******** he knows damn well he has a free agent who played for us this past season who qualifies on both counts. Napoli wants to win and knows how. And he knows how to lead and he has said repeatedly he wants to stay in Boston. So Ben, stop talking and sign the guy.

[RedSoxNC84]

If Cherington is not giving us a load of ******** he knows damn well he has a free agent who played for us this past season who qualifies on both counts. Napoli wants to win and knows how. And he knows how to lead and he has said repeatedly he wants to stay in Boston. So Ben, stop talking and sign the guy.

 

I know you want them to sign Nap pretty bad and I'm not trying to be a dick, but this is literally the same thing you've posted every day since the world series ended.

[seabeachfred]

I can find at least 5-6 more posters who predicted Ellsbury would end up with the Yanks, and most of us acknowledged the possibility saying "you can never count out the Yankees". No one was surprised when he signed with them either. You didn't reinvent the wheel here.

 

No you can't. . No revisionist history here User. If some of you thought that you didn't come out and say like we did so don't give me any of that s***. You can round up five or six and they can tell you that's what they believed but all I saw here were mutterings about how the Yankees didn't need him, weren't interested in him, how he was going to Seattle and all that sort of ********. Mark Va and I were the only three who came out and said it and kept saying it. On that score we reinvented the wheel. So please no more revisionist history. You didn't think he was going to the Yankees and neither did the rest of the board because just about everyone said he wasn't going there. Now go find me someone besides the three of us who said what your saying. Good hunting.

[User Name]

No you didn't Fred. No you didn't. Also notice how i didn't include myself in the above quote, since all i said was "you can never count out the Yankees, but i doubt they'll sign him". Again Fred, your reading comprehension needs some work.

[seabeachfred]

I know you want them to sign Nap pretty bad and I'm not trying to be a dick, but this is literally the same thing you've posted every day since the world series ended.

 

And I'll keep posting it until they do sign him. I'm a pretty persistent fellow and I never let go, never!!!!!. If they fail to sign him and we wind up with some fraud not as good as Nap you will hear from me again and again and again and again.

[User Name]

And I'll keep posting it until they do sign him. I'm a pretty persistent fellow and I never let go, never!!!!!. If they fail to sign him and we wind up with some fraud not as good as Nap you will hear from me again and again and again and again.

 

This is not a good thing. All it does is annoy people.

[VA Sox Fan]

Hey Mark, how about your friend SBF? Don't leave me out in the cold. Besides, you VA and I were the only three posters who correctly predicted that filthy turncoat would wind up with the Yankees.

 

Come on fred. We all knew Ells wasn't going to be with the Red Sox in 2014. Of course I would have much rather seen him go to Seattle. But he went where the money is. Just makes me appreciate players like Papi and Pedey who WANT to play for the Red Sox. Jacoby's disposition, to me, was much like JD Drew's. He didn't give a f*** where he played or if he sucked or if he was injured. Pay me.

 

Nothing wrong with that either, just not a quality I admire because of my love of the game. But I understand completely when players go for the money.

 

It's not the end of the world. I have tons of faith in Ben C. And I don't expect to win every year. Just LOVE THIS TEAM, no matter what. As I have since I was a kid.

[VA Sox Fan]

This is not a good thing. All it does is annoy people.

 

Have to agree with you there bro.

[User Name]

For the record Fred, most of this is chain-jerking. I'm sorry, i just can't help myself because you get agitated so easily. I'll stop f***ing with you man.

[SoxSport]

I do not know if the Sox would go after Granderson just because of the fact that he received a qualifying offer. Our pick would go towards the Yankees and they do not have a pick in the 1st or 2nd rounds due to the signing of McCann and Ellsbury.

 

Better chance I think of a deal with the Dodgers for Kemp or Ethier. They might be able to unload Dempster in a deal with them.

[marklmw]

The best bat the Sox could add would be someone who can play the corner OF spots and even better if somewhat capable in Center. Granderson, Kemp, Beltran.

[DirtDog]

I'd rather have Daniel Nava than Andre Eithier. That felt weird yet oh so satisfying to say.

[seabeachfred]

Come on fred. We all knew Ells wasn't going to be with the Red Sox in 2014. Of course I would have much rather seen him go to Seattle. But he went where the money is. Just makes me appreciate players like Papi and Pedey who WANT to play for the Red Sox. Jacoby's disposition, to me, was much like JD Drew's. He didn't give a f*** where he played or if he sucked or if he was injured. Pay me.

 

Nothing wrong with that either, just not a quality I admire because of my love of the game. But I understand completely when players go for the money.

 

It's not the end of the world. I have tons of faith in Ben C. And I don't expect to win every year. Just LOVE THIS TEAM, no matter what. As I have since I was a kid.

 

I love this team too VA--to the point that I sometimes go off the deep end over them. Understand this...I never said we should sign Ellsbury if it was going to take the kind of money the Yankees were throwing around. It is just the fact that it was those rotten bums who got him and that is why I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Cano ends up elsewhere. I also have faith in Ben. He certainly won me over with the job he did last year even though I wish he would move just a mite faster now. However, no matter how you slice it, the Yankees have to look up at us; we are the World Champions and they are following deep in the rear and that alone helps to make us all happy. BTW, my dogs survived my rants last night and my wife tuned me out completely. Back to normal around here.

[seabeachfred]

Have to agree with you there bro.

 

Well I decided to stand down and not do it. I just hope we do sign Nap. I think he is a terrific fit for the Red Sox. Help out with some good thoughts that Ben inks him within the next week or two.

[RedSoxNC84]

The best bat the Sox could add would be someone who can play the corner OF spots and even better if somewhat capable in Center. Granderson, Kemp, Beltran.

 

There are cheaper options there that would still be good options:

 

McClouth, Morse who can also fill in at 1b, Delmon Young even though he's not that great an option, Grady Sizemore might benefit from a change of scenery, etc.

 

One of the most intriguing options to me is Brennan Boesch. He's only 28, and the Yankees are unlikely to resign him given their potential outfield depth now. Not to mention he could be very cheap.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Better chance I think of a deal with the Dodgers for Kemp or Ethier. They might be able to unload Dempster in a deal with them.

 

Good point on Dempster. I can certainly see the Sox getting a deal done involving Dempster, Middlebrooks, and a prospect. The prospect would be heavily dependent on the money eaten by the Dodgers. If they take Kemp down to a 15mm AAV deal, I wouldn't be opposed to adding Ranaudo to the mix. If not, it's more of a Lavarnway type deal.