2014 Roster Projections

[Mr Tibbs]

Is he off the radar or still a possibility? I know he turned down the qualifying offer but it looks like he has no bites on the free market. Thoughts??

[seabeachfred]

Is he off the radar or still a possibility? I know he turned down the qualifying offer but it looks like he has no bites on the free market. Thoughts??

 

Well Mr. Tibbs, I know I will hear it from the Stephen Drew Marching and Chowder Society but I wish someone would give him a one way ticket to Zanzibar----and take that shyster agent of his with him. As much as I've grown to like and respect Ben Cherington, for some reason he can't turn the page on this guy. Think of it----no team seems to want this guy, good teams, bad teams, mediocre teams, and yet our team, right now by virtue of being the champions, are the best team and we still are carrying the torch for him. LET HIM GO!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!

[Youk Of The Nation]

There is plenty of Drew discussion going on, I'm going to fold this into one of the offseason discussion threads.

[rjortiz]

Is he off the radar or still a possibility? I know he turned down the qualifying offer but it looks like he has no bites on the free market. Thoughts??

 

Looks like the Mets are out, although that could always change. I've heard he wants an opt-out after the first year. Which remaining team is going to give up a pick for a one year player? I can't imagine you could get more than a C prospect for a half of year of Drew.

 

I thought Toronto, and they make more sense than the Mets. They have a realistic chance at contending, and have nothing at 2B. They would lose a second round pick, and the pool money, which may hurt their ability at maximizing their value at picks #7 and #11. I don't even know if they've offered him a contract.

 

As of right now, they couldn't guarantee him more than 500 PA's in Boston. I can't imagine that he'd be worth anything more than $7-8 million annually to the Red Sox right now. I guess I'm still not believing that they could get him that low.

[Dojji]

Well Mr. Tibbs, I know I will hear it from the Stephen Drew Marching and Chowder Society but I wish someone would give him a one way ticket to Zanzibar----and take that shyster agent of his with him. As much as I've grown to like and respect Ben Cherington, for some reason he can't turn the page on this guy. Think of it----no team seems to want this guy, good teams, bad teams, mediocre teams, and yet our team, right now by virtue of being the champions, are the best team and we still are carrying the torch for him. LET HIM GO!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!

 

WTF? seriously? the only reason to move on from Drew is because we have Bogaerts. Drew himself is a very acceptable shortstop -- like his brother he's not great at an one thing but he's pretty good at everything for his position and that rounds up to a solid player. Sure we don't need him per se but to deny that he'd find a way to make himself useful is a little silly.

 

Personally I'm absolutely flabberghasted why a shortstop with that caliber of performance last year is having this much trouble finding a new home. I suspect that he's holding out for something specific, a particular team or situation he'd prefer, otherwise this makes no sense.

[Dojji]

Looks like the Mets are out, although that could always change. I've heard he wants an opt-out after the first year. Which remaining team is going to give up a pick for a one year player? I can't imagine you could get more than a C prospect for a half of year of Drew.

 

I thought Toronto, and they make more sense than the Mets. They have a realistic chance at contending, and have nothing at 2B. They would lose a second round pick, and the pool money, which may hurt their ability at maximizing their value at picks #7 and #11. I don't even know if they've offered him a contract.

 

As of right now, they couldn't guarantee him more than 500 PA's in Boston. I can't imagine that he'd be worth anything more than $7-8 million annually to the Red Sox right now. I guess I'm still not believing that they could get him that low.

 

The Royals might be another surprise bidder if Drew expresses interest in second base. Normally they wouldn't be but they seem to be in one of those 2-3 year windows where their team might actually be good, which is a good time to hit the gas pedal, their big hope at 2B, Johnny Giavotella, flopped bigtime, and they dropped some payroll over the offseason by allowing Ervin Santana to move on. It's an interesting combination of circumstances that could make them a dark horse bidder.

 

(for the record if there's any idea that Santana's price is coming down I'd take a look at that as an option. Santana probably isn't everything his 2013 campaign makes him out to be, but we do know that he's hella durable and has good command, and soaking up as many innings as he does has a value all its own)

Edited February 15, 2014 by Dojji

[rjortiz]

The Royals might be another surprise bidder if Drew expresses interest in second base. Normally they wouldn't be but they seem to be in one of those 2-3 year windows where their team might actually be good, which is a good time to hit the gas pedal, their big hope at 2B, Johnny Giavotella, flopped bigtime, and they dropped some payroll over the offseason by allowing Ervin Santana to move on. It's an interesting combination of circumstances that could make them a dark horse bidder.

 

(for the record if there's any idea that Santana's price is coming down I'd take a look at that as an option. Santana probably isn't everything his 2013 campaign makes him out to be, but we do know that he's hella durable and has good command, and soaking up as many innings as he does has a value all its own)

 

Royals signed Infante to play 2nd. Drew isn't going to KC. Even if they hadn't signed Infante, giving 1/8th or 1/9th of your payroll, and losing a first round pick for the right to Stephen Drew would be extremely unlikely. Although, he did make that awful Shields trade, so you never know.

 

As for Santana, I don't think he's that much of an upgrade over Doubront to justify spending $10-$13 million and losing the pick.

[rjortiz]

 

Personally I'm absolutely flabberghasted why a shortstop with that caliber of performance last year is having this much trouble finding a new home. I suspect that he's holding out for something specific, a particular team or situation he'd prefer, otherwise this makes no sense.

 

Draft pick, age, injury history, high strikeout rate, terrible road numbers, MLB teams apparently don't value defense that highly, and lack of holes at SS. Drew had a good year, but he has a lot of question marks.

[Dojji]

Actually he doesn't have a lot of question marks. he has a lot of pluses and minuses, I'd say there's a pretty big difference between the two. There really aren't a lot of SS who slug over .400 to make me think the market for him is that bad.

 

There is something else going on. Something Drew himself is holding out for. If Drew was open to all takers, he'd have one by now.

[seabeachfred]

WTF? seriously? the only reason to move on from Drew is because we have Bogaerts. Drew himself is a very acceptable shortstop -- like his brother he's not great at an one thing but he's pretty good at everything for his position and that rounds up to a solid player. Sure we don't need him per se but to deny that he'd find a way to make himself useful is a little silly.

 

Personally I'm absolutely flabberghasted why a shortstop with that caliber of performance last year is having this much trouble finding a new home. I suspect that he's holding out for something specific, a particular team or situation he'd prefer, otherwise this makes no sense.

 

Yea, seriously. The guy can't hit lefthanders, he has a large strikeout number for a non power hitter, he has a reputation for getting hurt a la like his brother, lousy on the road, and the fact that nobody else seems to want him. Why should we when it would hold back the development of Middlebrooks and Bogaerts. Useful to us? Only as a sub and the fear is he would worm his way into the lineup and hurt our two young players on the left side of that infield who both have power to give us run production. As for being flabbergasted maybe the fact is that he doesn't have much market value and isn't that good to screw up a younger player on our team or any other team. Hell, the Mets would rather go with their dud at SS than sign Drew up. That should tell you something. Yes he could help some team but not us. He would never accept a utility position and that is all I would even consider him for. It I time for him to see if he can hook up with some NL team.

[Bellhorn04]

Farrell has spoken up on the Drew situation again. He says the team still doesn't know if Drew will be back or not and it's 'almost time to move on' to be fair to the other players.

[Dojji]

Yea, seriously. The guy can't hit lefthanders,

 

Not precisely an uncommon failing in lefthanded hitters

 

he has a large strikeout number for a non power hitter,

 

For a shortstop, Stephen Drew is a power hitter. He's not Nomar, but he isn't Brendan Ryan or Nick Punto either. His power numbers last year were in range of where they were for his pre-injury career, especially if you ignore the career year in 08.

 

he has a reputation for getting hurt a la like his brother,

 

Please check your facts. Before the ankle injury that messed him up a couple years ago he was about as prone to miss games as Dustin Pedroia. He missed a month with a concussion, which no one plays through anymore, and he still played about 125 games which tells me that once he got back from an injury no one plays through he was almost never out of the lineup again.

 

lousy on the road,

 

and by the same token, dominant at home, where you play just as many games, and the whole package still averages out to an OPS not far south of .800 at a premium position, so if you want to make some kind of point here, I'd like to hear what it actually is.

 

and the fact that nobody else seems to want him.

 

You concluded your tirade by begging the question, which is rather strange.

 

Why should we when it would hold back the development of Middlebrooks and Bogaerts.

 

Why should we hang the team off an unproven rookie when we can have both the rookie and a solid veteran? If you honestly think that 3 infielders, 2 of which bat left and 1 of which bats right, can't share time nicely on the left side of the diamond I don't know what to tell you, because that's just an odd argument.

 

Useful to us? Only as a sub

 

I would be delighted to have a player of that caliber as a sub. Absolutely delighted.

 

and the fear is he would worm his way into the lineup and hurt our two young players on the left side of that infield who both have power to give us run production.

 

And if those two players are ACTUALLY giving us run production, that won't happen. If they're giving us ups and downs and growing pains and a whole lot of frustration, which I firmly expect to happen, we'll be glad of a high caliber veteran to smooth over the rough spots.

 

As for being flabbergasted maybe the fact is that he doesn't have much market value and isn't that good to screw up a younger player on our team or any other team. Hell, the Mets would rather go with their dud at SS than sign Drew up. That should tell you something.

 

It would tell me more if we had any idea why the Mets passed on Drew -- by which I mean any at all. It would tell us even more if we knew for a fact that it WAS the Mets that passed on Drew, rather than the reverse

[seabeachfred]

Farrell has spoken up on the Drew situation again. He says the team still doesn't know if Drew will be back or not and it's 'almost time to move on' to be fair to the other players.

 

Farrell has been speaking on the Drew situation since the beginning of December and is rationalizing and making generalizations about whether or not Drew will be back. Well he and Cherington can finally do something about it and close the damn door to his return, simply say we're moving on and wish Drew and his agent the best of luck. ALMOST to move on? It's been time for a month and a half now. Drew doesn't particularly want to play for the Red Sox unless it is his last resort if he can't find something better. Farrell is certainly right that it is not fair to the other players, so he and Ben should stop pussyfooting around and just tell Drew and Boras to look elsewhere and good luck!!!!!!

 

I would almost be willing to bet that Boras is doing his three card monty with various and sundry teams because he knows he has a sucker in the Red Sox to come back to if all else fails. I also think, though this is only my opinion, that if the Red Sox close the door on Drew finally and utterly Boras will be forced to sign whatever parachute or pillow contract he can get for his client. TIME TO MOVE ON!!!!!!!

[rjortiz]

Actually he doesn't have a lot of question marks. he has a lot of pluses and minuses, I'd say there's a pretty big difference between the two. There really aren't a lot of SS who slug over .400 to make me think the market for him is that bad.

 

There is something else going on. Something Drew himself is holding out for. If Drew was open to all takers, he'd have one by now.

 

Call it whatever you want. I'm not interested in a semantics argument. He has flaws, draft pick compensation attached to him, and no known suitors. If he's holding out for something, he'll be on the market until June. Seriously, look at the incumbent SS's for all MLB teams and tell me where he would be a fit.

[Palodios]

Red Sox sign Francisco Cordero. He has been hurt, and hasn't had much success lately, but if he can pull it back together, the guy is a veteran, and one of the best closers of last generation.

 

Ben doing his due diligence.

[SoxSport]

Well, they just generated another $13M from Dempster's retirement. I hope it doesn't go to Drew/Boras. I'd rather see Ethier.

[Behindenemylines]

Well, they just generated another $13M from Dempster's retirement. I hope it doesn't go to Drew/Boras. I'd rather see Ethier.

 

I rather they start the season with what they already have on the roster. No Drew or another starter. They now have some $$$$$ if they need to go fill a hole during the season.

[seabeachfred]

That's how it should be spent. Use the money for reinforcements during the season. No Drew!!!!

[a700hitter]

That's how it should be spent. Use the money for reinforcements during the season. No Drew!!!!

It is more likely that it will go toward profits for the owners. I am okay with that. They are entitled to enjoy the spoils of their success.

[Bellhorn04]

I predict they'll spend most of the 13 million.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Save the money or go give Hanrahan a 1/4mm deal that can get up to 6mm with innings thresholds, and really have an outrageous back end of the bullpen.

 

Uehara, Mujica, Taz, Miller, Breslow, Hanrahan, and Workman is an outrageous pen. I'd rather them give Cordero a try in the 6th inning and let Workman start though, and if that doesn't work out then give Workman the job.

 

Either way, the rich get richer.

 

Could also wait until Kemp gets back, see how JBJ is doing, and then go trade for Ethier if JBJ needs more time (Vic in CF obviously)

[SoxSport]

I rather they start the season with what they already have on the roster. No Drew or another starter. They now have some $$$$$ if they need to go fill a hole during the season.

 

I'll go along with that, too.

[mvp 78]

Ethier is too expensive for a platoon player with declining production. Kemp is too much of an injury risk.

[BSN07]

It be kind of interesting to see how Ethier's bff Pedroia could get out of him. If the prospect haul wasn'too demanding and the Dodgers ate enough of the deal to make it a 10M a year deal I'd be interested.

[Bellhorn04]

f*** Dodger castoffs.

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier: Lester on hometown discount: 'I'm not going to go back on what I said...I want to stay here. This is all I've known. I don't like change'

[vjcsmoke]

Well, they just generated another $13M from Dempster's retirement. I hope it doesn't go to Drew/Boras. I'd rather see Ethier.

 

Thank you Dempster!! I was just thinking a while ago that we'd have to eat some of that money to move Dempster to another team. now it gets freed up all by itself. I think you save that money and use it when you've identified a prime player.

 

As for Kemp, I would not give him a big contract. i'd consider giving an incentive-laden 'prove it' deal for 1 year. And then if he plays awesome, he is welcome to test the free agent waters after.

 

The bigger question to me is what do we do about Ortiz? He says he wants a multi-year extension. To my mind, Giving him 2 years/32m would be ideal. But would he take that? I wouldn't go over 2 years. A 2 year extension would take him to age 40.

 

The other thing I'm thinking is that with the Dempster money saved, now might be the perfect time to sign Lester to a long term extension. I just don't want to give crazy money ie not Kershaw type dough.

[redsoxrules]

@alexspeier: Lester on hometown discount: 'I'm not going to go back on what I said...I want to stay here. This is all I've known. I don't like change'

 

I expect Lester will get extended once the season start.

[SoxSport]

I heard some think Ethier might be a good pickup for the Sox, because he is good friends with Pedey, who would push him harder--which is apparently one of his problems in LA. His contract is better than Kemp's.

 

With the FO mindset right now, I don't think they are interested in any big tickets in the OF. They have a bunch of role players who can be slotted effectively for different situations. The star system doesn't work nearly so well in MLB as it does in the NBA, because you have so many starting players in MLB. Star pitchers can have a bigger impact. Greinke had a big impact with the Dodgers.The same is true in the NFL, except a star QB can make a big difference if he has somebody good to throw to. The NBA is all about stars--except for Pop and his Spurs.

[seabeachfred]

It be kind of interesting to see how Ethier's bff Pedroia could get out of him. If the prospect haul wasn'too demanding and the Dodgers ate enough of the deal to make it a 10M a year deal I'd be interested.

 

Keep in mind BSN that Ethier has his troubles against left handed pitching and like most of the f***ing Dodgers he's a chronic complainer. He tried pulling some of that s*** he pulls in LA and the fans and Boston press would run his ass out of town. As for Kemp, keep in mind the reason he will not be ready when the bell sounds is that his ankle is still not near being healed and keep further in mind that he hurt when he loafed home on an infield grounder and thinking the play was going to first. Then when it wasn't he tried an awkward slide and got banged off. s*** on both of them.