Let's assume the opening day lineup

[MANNYHOF24]

Now that Ells is officially gone, let's assume the rest of the opening day lineup...

 

For me it's going to be:

 

Victorino-RF

Pedroia-2B

Ortiz-DH

Kemp-LF

Napoli -1B

Xander-SS

Drew-3B

Pierzynski/Ross-C

JBJ-CF

 

Trade Middlebrooks, Nava, and Ranaudo for Kemp.

 

 

Pretty solid if you ask me. Two rookies makes me a little nervous, but something tells me XB is going to be a super star.

[rjortiz]

Now that Ells is officially gone, let's assume the rest of the opening day lineup...

 

For me it's going to be:

 

Victorino-RF

Pedroia-2B

Ortiz-DH

Kemp-LF

Napoli -1B

Xander-SS

Drew-3B

Pierzynski/Ross-C

JBJ-CF

 

Trade Middlebrooks, Nava, and Ranaudo for Kemp.

 

 

Pretty solid if you ask me. Two rookies makes me a little nervous, but something tells me XB is going to be a super star.

 

I think they resign Napoli, and call it an offseason. Pierzynski, Napoli, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Middlebrooks, Nava/Gomes, Bradley, Victorino, Ortiz

[Palodios]

Sorry bro, but isn't the same thread as 2014 Roster Projections?

[BornToRun]

1- Victorino RF

2- Xander SS

3- Pedey 2B

4- Papi DH

5- Hart 1B

6- Nava LF

7- WMB 3B

8- JBJ CF

9- AJ C

[mvp 78]

Let's assume the opening day lineup before the winter meetings have begun! No.

[BornToRun]

Let's assume the opening day lineup before the winter meetings have begun! No.

 

Eh, it's just a fun thing to do to kill time.

[marklmw]

1- Victorino RF

2- Xander SS

3- Pedey 2B

4- Papi DH

5- Hart 1B

6- Nava LF

7- WMB 3B

8- JBJ CF

9- AJ C

 

Me likie BTR

[BornToRun]

Me likie BTR

Thanks. What are you thinking it might look like?

[dupree]

I think that Big Ben makes a trade for a big bat and also resigns Napoli. Stanton, Bautista, or Kemp one will be on the Red Sox before the end of the Winter Meetings. Not sure that Beltran is big enough bat for the price and a lil too old to put into the 3rd spot in the lineup. The offseason is still early.

 

IN BEN WE TRUST!

[BornToRun]

Not that interested in Beltran. He's old, not much better than Nava at this point with the bat, and a huge liability in the field with his balky knees. If we signed him, I'd hope it would be to teach him how to play first.

[win red sox]

CF Victorino/JBJ

2b Pedroia

RF Stanton/JBJ

DH Ortiz

LF Kemp/Nava

1B Santana/Nava

SS XB

C AJ/Ross

3b WMB

 

Trade Ranaudo,B Johnson,Ramos for Kemp + 30 million

Trade Cecchini,Owens,RDLR,Betts,Brentz for Stanton

Trade Doubront,Carp for Santana

 

I can dream!!!!!!

[Navafan29]

Victorino

Pedroia

Ortiz

Napoli

Nava/Gomes/Carp

Middlebrooks

Bogarts/ (Drew???)

Pierzinski/Ross

Some outfielder

Edited December 4, 2013 by Navafan29

[RedSoxNC84]

 

Trade Middlebrooks, Nava, and Ranaudo for Kemp.

 

 

 

 

 

No.

 

 

I would like to see the Sox bring back Napoli and Drew. Napoli for the chemistry and his occasional contribution to the offense, he's not so much a question mark as before. Drew for his defense of course.

 

I think the moves that Ben makes the rest of the season are going to be fairly quiet, non splashy moves. We'll probably see a veteran outfielder for JBJ insurance, a relief pitcher of course, Napoli, and maybe a utility infielder. I don't see much else happening besides that. I'm sure most of you already know this by now though.

 

As far as some of the moves, here's what I see possibly happening:

 

Sox trade Dempster and another SP to Angels for Howie Kendrick. Kendrick slots in at 1B and 3B.

Sox sign Nate McClouth

Sox resign Napoli

 

Given that, here would be my lineup predictions

 

1. McClouth

2. Vic

3. Pedroia

4. Ortiz/Napoli

5. Napoli/Kendrick/Carp

6. Pierzynski/Gomes/Nava

7. Bogaerts/Pierzynski

8. WMB/Bogaerts

9. WMB/JBJ/Ross

 

If JBJ turns into the s*** then McClouth could be a trade chip, or spend more time in LF. If JBJ turns into s***, then you'll at least have a cheap outfielder that's a little above replacement level, and Vic could slot in at center.

Edited December 4, 2013 by RedSoxNC84

[SoxSport]

I think they aren't through yet in the OF. Names bandied about include Ethier, Kemp, Grandy and Cruz.

[BornToRun]

Ethier is Nava for 20x the money, Grandy would cost us a draft pick, and Cruz would cost us a draft pick and is terrible at baseball.

 

Kemp is an intriguing option depending on the price.

[Dojji]

I think whatever we do to upgrade the lineup will involve a trade for a contract.

[BornToRun]

CF Victorino/JBJ

2b Pedroia

RF Stanton/JBJ

DH Ortiz

LF Kemp/Nava

1B Santana/Nava

SS XB

C AJ/Ross

3b WMB

 

Trade Ranaudo,B Johnson,Ramos for Kemp + 30 million

Trade Cecchini,Owens,RDLR,Betts,Brentz for Stanton

Trade Doubront,Carp for Santana

 

I can dream!!!!!!

 

Holy mother of farm rape, Batman!

[RedSoxNC84]

I think whatever we do to upgrade the lineup will involve a trade for a contract.

 

That all depends. I could totally see some cheap FA moves to serve as stopgaps until various prospects are ready.

 

The signing of Pierzynski says a lot about the FO's opinion on Swihart and Vasquez. The non-signing of Ellsbury may say a lot about JBJ. I still think they sign a cheap outfielder with a somewhat similar skillset to what they're missing now. I think that also means no Granderson.

[SoxSport]

50/50 chance one of these will be in the starting day lineup playing RF: Cruz, Kemp, Ethier or Choo. Bradley could also be in CF and Vic in RF.It depends on whether any of those mentioned players can be had for reasonable money or acceptable deals. Pierzynski said he took a lesser deal to come to Boston--a winning team. That won't happen with any Bora$$ client, but could with the others--especially a Dodger deal. Edited December 4, 2013 by SoxSport

[Behindenemylines]

I have a feeling that BC has a big deal going down sometime next week at the winter meetings. So I will wait until after next week to project the opening day lineup.

[VA Sox Fan]

I have a feeling that BC has a big deal going down sometime next week at the winter meetings. So I will wait until after next week to project the opening day lineup.

 

I prefer to wait until after Spring Training.

[seabeachfred]

I prefer to wait until after Spring Training.

 

.....And I prefer to wait indefinitely for any big trade. I think we are pretty well set right now once we get that utility infielder we need and that extra outfielder, a RH batter who can spell Bradley when we face a real tough lefthander. Having said that, we need to give him, Bogey and WMB the chance to show what they can do. I had three fears entering the offseason VA. One was we might not resign Napoli. Thank God we did and that was a big load off my mind. The second was that after a WS win and a year when he was pretty much confined to his CEO office and the duties associated with that job that Lucchino would once again try to start meddling in baseball operations. This talk about making a big trade for Matt Kemp or some other hotshot is the third fear I had and if Larry is getting involved again that could be what might be going down in the Winter Meetings. I hope Cherington and Farrell hold the line and do nothing foolish to play havoc with our long range plans.

[dupree]

Fred i think your 3rd fear is going to come to light. I dont see this FO going to the winter meetings and just picking up a utility infielder and a RHH OF and calling it a winter. The Sox are set now if the season were to begin tomorrow but the season is months away. So that beginning said Ben has already said that the heavy lifting was done now it would be time to look at "Opportunistic" ways to add to the club. So they are in the drivers seat. If the right deal comes along i think Ben & Company make a splash this winter. They held the course and didnt overpay too badly on players as of yet and i dont foresee them making any rash moves either. If Kemp Stanton or Bautista are out there on the trade market i could see them pulling the trigger. The farm is deep and not all the boys are gonna make it here and contribute so why not move them for a piece that can be a horse for us in the middle of the lineup for years to come.

[seabeachfred]

Fred i think your 3rd fear is going to come to light. I dont see this FO going to the winter meetings and just picking up a utility infielder and a RHH OF and calling it a winter. The Sox are set now if the season were to begin tomorrow but the season is months away. So that beginning said Ben has already said that the heavy lifting was done now it would be time to look at "Opportunistic" ways to add to the club. So they are in the drivers seat. If the right deal comes along i think Ben & Company make a splash this winter. They held the course and didnt overpay too badly on players as of yet and i dont foresee them making any rash moves either. If Kemp Stanton or Bautista are out there on the trade market i could see them pulling the trigger. The farm is deep and not all the boys are gonna make it here and contribute so why not move them for a piece that can be a horse for us in the middle of the lineup for years to come.

 

Well one reason is that players like Cecchini, Renaudo, Swihart, Owens and possibly Brentz could make it and I don't want to dilute our youth corps for a diva who might not be such a bargain after all, and an expensive one at that. You say Stanton? Great talent and future but what would it cost us? You know that IF the Marlins put him up for sale they are going to want a bundle for him. Bautista? I like the guy but would Toronto trade him within the division? Most likely not. T he Kemp thing has me concerned too. Here is a five tool player perhaps heading south after two miserable injury plagued years, and with hamstrings that are always tight and ready to burst, not to mention an ankle injury hurt in the mid-summer that still hasn't healed, as well as shoulder and hand problems. Now I don't doubt for a second a healthy any one of these guys could make us better but I am not looking just at 2014. There are seven more seasons in this decade and I would like to see us competitive in all of those years. What we don't want is that dry spell of young players that plagued us from 2009-2012. Perhaps Cherington will decide to pull the trigger but if any of those names I mentioned are mentioned by the other team, and that included Bogey and WMB, Ben should put on his helmet and tool his scooter out of town as fast as he can go.

[marklmw]

Fred i think your 3rd fear is going to come to light. I dont see this FO going to the winter meetings and just picking up a utility infielder and a RHH OF and calling it a winter. The Sox are set now if the season were to begin tomorrow but the season is months away. So that beginning said Ben has already said that the heavy lifting was done now it would be time to look at "Opportunistic" ways to add to the club. So they are in the drivers seat. If the right deal comes along i think Ben & Company make a splash this winter. They held the course and didnt overpay too badly on players as of yet and i dont foresee them making any rash moves either. If Kemp Stanton or Bautista are out there on the trade market i could see them pulling the trigger. The farm is deep and not all the boys are gonna make it here and contribute so why not move them for a piece that can be a horse for us in the middle of the lineup for years to come.

Bravo Dupree. My gut tells me that our FO is going to make some type of trade or go after Tanaka. Boston is in a nice position because other than dealing away Dempster there isn't much to be done heading into spring. Should Boston make a move to improve an already great team they will be doing so with a clear head and not out of desperation. Kemp for the right price and prospects would give us 4 players with 30 HR potential. Ortiz, Napoli, WMB & Kemp. Kemp, JBJ & Victorino can share the outfield with Nava coming off the bench .... Gomes can be dealt or salary dump. Of course finding the right deal for Kemp that is another story. There are certain prospects that I would not part with for Kemp.

[dupree]

Bravo Dupree. My gut tells me that our FO is going to make some type of trade or go after Tanaka. Boston is in a nice position because other than dealing away Dempster there isn't much to be done heading into spring. Should Boston make a move to improve an already great team they will be doing so with a clear head and not out of desperation. Kemp for the right price and prospects would give us 4 players with 30 HR potential. Ortiz, Napoli, WMB & Kemp. Kemp, JBJ & Victorino can share the outfield with Nava coming off the bench .... Gomes can be dealt or salary dump. Of course finding the right deal for Kemp that is another story. There are certain prospects that I would not part with for Kemp.

Tell the Dodgers that WMB, JBJ, and Boggey are no longer options they are not prospects the the FO considers them MLB players.

Henry Ownes and Garin Cecchini are nonnegotiable they are here to stay.

so if they want to make a deal Ben tells Ned... ok Ned you can have one of between Barnes, Ranuado, Swihart, and Vazquez... and pick two of anyone else in the Sox minors system. If the Dodgers agree to eat 6-8 million per of Kemp's Contract. Thats just if its only the Sox and Dodgers dealing with eachother only.

 

Ben is in the drivers seat with team's that are wanting to make a deal.

I could see a three team trade get done with the Dodgers Padres and Red Sox.

 

Red Sox get Kemp

Dodgers get Headley

Padres get Pitching prospects and maybe we could throw Dempster there

*these are the main pieces along with prospects going to the Dodgers and Padres from the Sox* so all and all a win win for all clubs involved.

 

I think if the Sox could get a 3rd team inlvoved they can send less prospects and the deal will get done easier.

[dupree]

25 Man Roster

Opening Day Line - Up

 

#1 Peedy - 2B - R

#2 Vic - CF - B

#3 Kemp - RF - R

#4 Ortiz - DH - L

#5 Napoli - 1B - R

#6 Nava / Gomes - LF - L / R

#7 Boggey - SS - R

#8 A.J. / Ross - C - L / R

#9 WMB - 3B - R

 

Bench: JBJ Gomes Ross Holt

 

Rotation: Lester Buch Lackey Peavy Doubrant

 

Bullpen: Workman Breslow Mucija Miller Britton Taz

 

Closer: Koji

 

I know Peedy dont like leading off but with Ells gone i think he is the best option. I like the fact that when Vic walks into the box his first time up the score could be 1 - 0, Peedy goes up there swinging for the fences every swing and we know he is gonna be there 162 games a year. A lot of HR potential in the lineup. Vic starts the year in CF with Nava in LF and Kemp in the spacious RF. LF for Kemp is too much of an injury risk for me and Nava dont have the arm for RF at Fenway. JBJ gets days to play CF when facing RHP.

 

I think Drake Britton breaks Big League camp in the bullpen this year.

[marklmw]

Holy mother of farm rape, Batman!

BTR ... you are very funny!

[marklmw]

25 Man Roster

Opening Day Line - Up

 

#1 Peedy - 2B - R

#2 Vic - CF - B

#3 Kemp - RF - R

#4 Ortiz - DH - L

#5 Napoli - 1B - R

#6 Nava / Gomes - LF - L / R

#7 Boggey - SS - R

#8 A.J. / Ross - C - L / R

#9 WMB - 3B - R

 

Bench: JBJ Gomes Ross Holt

 

Rotation: Lester Buch Lackey Peavy Doubrant

 

Bullpen: Workman Breslow Mucija Miller Britton Taz

 

Closer: Koji

 

I know Peedy dont like leading off but with Ells gone i think he is the best option. I like the fact that when Vic walks into the box his first time up the score could be 1 - 0, Peedy goes up there swinging for the fences every swing and we know he is gonna be there 162 games a year. A lot of HR potential in the lineup. Vic starts the year in CF with Nava in LF and Kemp in the spacious RF. LF for Kemp is too much of an injury risk for me and Nava dont have the arm for RF at Fenway. JBJ gets days to play CF when facing RHP.

 

I think Drake Britton breaks Big League camp in the bullpen this year.

 

A healthy Kemp is a game changer ... I like it. We still will have enough talent on the farm to replace him ... Brentz is someone we need to hold on to as well if we do a deal for Kemp.

Edited December 9, 2013 by marklmw

[marklmw]

Kemp, Stanton and Bautista are all middle of the line-up type bats. Anyone of them would have a possitive impact in our line-up. I said this before and I will say it again ... Bogaerts is the same type of player ... he can easily be hitting in the 2 or 3 hole by mid season. He is a special player but no one wants to project him as such as to not put undo pressure on him in his first full season in the bigs. The reason why Victorino will lead off is because Pedroia goes the other way much like Jeter and he can move Vic to 3B. We do not have Ell's next year so yeah it changes our dynamics but we can still score lots of runs with a different set of dynamics.