2014 Offseason Thread

[Elktonnick]

Papelbon is the worst case scenario.

[seabeachfred]

You were talking about Bradley the same way you are talking about Swihart just a year ago. This organization needs backup plans for its prized prospects.

 

With all due respect Pal, please get the facts straight. Yes, I was talking Bradley up the same way a year ago UNTIL his pathetic performance in Spring Training. If you will check things out you will see that I then said we had better have an alternate plan because I might have been off on this guy. And I was, but unlike Farrell I didn't try to fit a square peg in a round hole. As for comparisons, Bradley is an outfielder who can field with the best of them but has average speed and no power to speak of. Swihart is a switch hitting catcher with developing power who is projected to be a solid Major League hitter. I don't want a 36 year old Ruiz on the Red Sox and either Blake blocked or traded away for him. Just thought I would set the record straight on that. Bradley has to go and he should not be in the lineup one more time this season except as a defensive replacement. He has had plenty of chances and has failed miserably. Let Brentz play and see what he can do. Hell, he got two hits last night. How many games has it taken Jackie to get two hits----about 20?

[Palodios]

With all due respect Pal, please get the facts straight. Yes, I was talking Bradley up the same way a year ago UNTIL

 

That's the thing. You can't say "Let's go all in on this guy.... until we see him in the majors and realize he can't hit". You either sign major league players and build a major league team, or you stick your neck out for minor leaguers and hope everything goes accordingly. If you wait until Spring Training, all the best options are already signed and traded for.

[Palodios]

Papelbon is the worst case scenario.

 

Yeah, that career 2.37 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 would look awful back in a Red Sox uniform.

[Elktonnick]

It isn't his pitching, its his baggage. The Sox don't need another prima donna a--hole.

[a700hitter]

I just don't remember him being a clubhouse problem.

[Northern Star]

Giving up Owens for Beltre would be a terrible move.

[Northern Star]

s*** on Martin!!!!! We have our best prospect Blake Swihart only a year or so away from giving us a solid catcher who switch hits with power and projects as a solid hitter as well. He must not be blocked. Let Martin go elsewhere----and let's hope the Red Sox don't keep making mistakes in personnel. Betts must stay and they must find a spot for Holt. The latter needs to be in the lineup. AND BRADLEY MUST GO....FAST!!!!!!

 

I am OK with another year of Vaz and worry about other positions first.

[Elktonnick]

" During Pap’s tenure with the Phils, he has not exactly been a fan favorite. Nicknames such as Papelblow are commonly heard to reference his tendency to blow leads in the ninth inning over the past two years, but this year has been different. Papelbon has been one of the best closers in baseball, and if not for his attitude, there would not be many complaints about him. Unfortunately, with Papelbon, a team needs to take the entire package (attitude included)."

Read more at http://throughthefencebaseball.com/where-do-phillies-jonathan-papelbon-go-from-here/43976#SDRhzw5qesAyYEKr.99

 

Comcast Philadelphia had the following:

 

"Will fans ever look past last week’s incident? Will Papelbon’s signing always be viewed as an expensive mistake in this town? Will he always be perceived as the guy in the black hat that other teams want nothing to do with? Remember, there were teams desperate for closers this summer and the Phillies were willing to pay a lot of his salary in a trade, and no one wanted him."

 

 

 

There's more but this makes the point. Paps is good but is he worth it? He is now viewed as a talented nutcase.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Elktonnick

[SoxFanForsyth]

Giving up Owens for Beltre would be a terrible move.

 

Given the pitching depth we have, particularly now with Eduardo Rodriguez, I couldn't disagree more. It's a steep price to pay for a player who only has 1 year and an option left, but if you get Beltre, that's a WS favorite.

 

Either way it sounds like the Sox are looking for a LHH 3B according to Lucchino. So, Beltre is out. Probably wasn't available anyway.

 

I think they'll probably end up with Sandoval but I didn't want to just repeat Pal's projection.

[BSN07]

This off season is gonna be really interesting. The Sox have a good amount of chips and $ to play with. The Yanks have missed the playoffs 2 years in a row. The Rays will be trading like always. Toronto could see a last ditch effort from their FO to save their jobs if they haven't cleaned house by then. And Baltimore who will need to reload after a Division title and PO appearance.

 

I believe Lester will sign with Boston. That's just my gut feeling now. But I understand how crazy FA can be. I think even with Lester on board they go after another proven SP. I could see Shields on a 2-3 year deal(Not saying he won't get better offers, but if he signs with the Sox that's what I think it would be) in the 15M per range. Or they go the trade route and package up something for SP X(too early to tell who is gonna be available).

 

If WMB is traded I think it would mean they have signed either Headley or Sandoval already to play 3B. A LHB is important this off season. But that could come from elsewhere and Betts could be the starting 3B.

 

I think they will a LHH catcher to back up Vasquez. I think he gets the job for at least 2015. I know Swihart isn't far off but he still needs time in the minors.

 

I think Boagerts will get a full season at SS next year with no yo yoing.

 

Holt will be Super Utility man and with Vic always a ? and Pedroia(even if he crys about it) needing more time off to keep him on the field, he should get plenty of AB.

 

The BP is always a hard guess. I'm not sold on Papelbon. If he's free and part of a deal for Hamels and Philly is eating some of that salary too I guess I wouldn't be overly upset. Miller could be back but if he starts getting crazy offers no chance the Sox splurge there imo.

 

I have no idea what they do with Craig lol

 

 

Out of RF moves: These moves are very unlikely but would make noise and possibly melt the internet.

 

Sox sign Hanley to play 3B. Be surprising.

 

Sox trade for Tulo to play 3B. Yes I said 3B. He's got injury issues and it be a move to keep him on the field all season. This would rock the baseball landscape and crash talksox hahaha

 

Regardless here's to an off season full of rumors, surprises, pages of bickering and jokes, the Holiday seasons, endless January days and the count down to ST

Edited September 26, 2014 by BSN07

[Spudboy]

I just don't remember him being a clubhouse problem.

 

Because he wasn't.

 

But since he bolted for Phillie he has said a bunch of dumb things ( no surprise there! ) leading the fans to think that he is somehow a lesser talent and or cancer.

 

I don't care if he comes back on way or another.

 

I don't see it happening, either.

[Palodios]

Papelbon's biggest problem was an insanely high level of competitiveness. He wouldn't have tolerated a crappy season like this one or 2012. Is that a problem? Maybe.

[d-money]

Hasnt papelbum had decreased velocity on his fastball?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

My projected 2015 roster (additions in bold):

 

SP: Lester - Shields - Buchholz - Kelly - RDLR

Bullpen: Koji - Taz - Miller - Layne - Workman - Badenhop - Webster

 

C: Vazquez; Soto

1B: Napoli; Craig

2B: Pedroia

SS: Bogaerts; Holt

3B: Beltre **Give up Eduardo Rodriguez OR Henry Owens + Ranaudo + Cecchini

LF: Cespedes; Holt

CF: Castillo; Betts; Victorino; Holt

RF: Betts; Victorino; Holt

DH: Ortiz

 

Lineup:

Betts, RF

Pedroia, 2B

Beltre, 3B

Ortiz, DH

Cespedes, LF

Napoli, 1B

Bogaerts, SS

Castillo, CF

Vazquez, C

 

Interesting you're trading for Beltre when he's a FA in 2016. May I ask why? Btw you've been gone for a while. Has the big day come yet?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Interesting you're trading for Beltre when he's a FA in 2016. May I ask why? Btw you've been gone for a while. Has the big day come yet?

 

Beltre has a mutual option for 2016, which I would expect to be exercised, particularly given that he liked his time in Boston in 2010.

 

The big day arrived on 8/21/14. Total hours of sleep since then is still in double digits.

[a700hitter]

Beltre has a mutual option for 2016, which I would expect to be exercised, particularly given that he liked his time in Boston in 2010.

 

The big day arrived on 8/21/14. Total hours of sleep since then is still in double digits.

Congratulations! It will be a while before you can watch full Red Sox games on a regular basis--- a couple of years. Hang in there.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

My predicted roster:

 

Rotation -- Lester/Hamels/Kelly/Buchholz/RDLR

Bullpen -- Koji/Tazawa/Miller/Mujica/Layne/Barnes/Workman

 

Outfield -- Castillo, Cespedes, Betts

Infield -- Napoli, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Sandoval, Russell Martin, Ortiz

Bench -- Nava, Victorino, Vazquez, Holt

 

 

The starting pitching is reloaded. The lineup will be much deeper with acquisitions of Martin and Sandoval.The bullpen won't provide many new faces, but adding Workman and Barnes to the mix will be a big boost for the team, since they seem far more productive in that role.

 

I like this, but would prefer Sale instead of Hamels.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Beltre has a mutual option for 2016, which I would expect to be exercised, particularly given that he liked his time in Boston in 2010.

 

The big day arrived on 8/21/14. Total hours of sleep since then is still in double digits.

 

Congrats man!! Hope everything is well!

[Dojji]

I like the idea of bringing in James Shields. He's not the most exciting pitcher but he's a big strong durable innings burner with extensive AL East experience and he did take the Rays to the Series in 08. He's a bit overhyped as the "ace" of the Royals but he's the perfect #2 guy for a big market rotation. If we can get Lester back and supplement him with Shields, they might go back to drumming in the bullpen just for lack of anything to do 2 days out of 5.

 

This is the guy you want to bring in to really add some weight to the starting rotation. We aren't going to have a lot of innings eaten by the bottom of our rotation, it's critical that we have two big durable guys at the top of the rotation -- more critical than two ace caliber pitchers in terms of ERA or WAR, in my honest. Guys like that make bullpen solutions simple.

 

With all the crap we've put up with in terms of injuries I could really go for a skilled starting pitcher with good-to-great command that hasn't missed his turn in the rotation at any point in the last 4 years, and has never failed to pitch 200 innings since he broke into the big league game, couldn't you? Throw in the fact that Mr. Shields is actually also a pretty darn decent pitcher, and you have something an offensive minded club with a decent lineup can use to win ballgames.

 

In fact looking at his track record it's entirely possible that James Shields has literally never missed a scheduled start, which in a 8+ year career would be phenomenal. Yes, gimme some of that.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Dojji

[Dojji]

Oh, and if we're plundering the Royals, could we also possibly make moves for Jarrod Dyson and Jeremy Guthrie?

 

No one's fooled by Buchholz on the field or in the stands, or very probably in the owner's box anymore. Adding another durable arm to the bottom of the rotation to eat some more innings would be useful, and Guthrie is possibly an odd man on in KC with some talented starting arms in the pipe, and he costs more money than a small market wants to spend on a below average pitcher. And while we don't love being in a position to need a guy like that, he would at be least durable enough to be a good professional #5 and keep the bullpen from going into a death spiral.

 

I could think of worse guys to have in tha #5 spot, starting with a guy whose last name starts with B and his first name is a synonym for the dirt he pitches like.

 

As for my manlove for Dyson? Well, dat speed for one thing. He's one of the fastest ballplayers in the league. Yeah, he can't hit, but neither could anyone else we put in center this year. We could use some help in centerfield and I wouldn't mind adding him to that mix as either the starting CF or as a possible bench option.

[seabeachfred]

testing one two three. I have posted three articles and all three have been rejected as being either too short or too long. So I did a test. What gives? Anyone knows? Is it my computer?

[Spudboy]

testing one two three. I have posted three articles and all three have been rejected as being either too short or too long. So I did a test. What gives? Anyone knows? Is it my computer?

 

No Fred. I have seen this too. Just make sure you post your text BELOW the text you are quoting. If you don't, you will see the message of too few characters and you will not be able to post. Just check where your text is positioned in your would be post BEFORE you try to hit post and all will be fine.

[seabeachfred]

No Fred. I have seen this too. Just make sure you post your text BELOW the text you are quoting. If you don't, you will see the message of too few characters and you will not be able to post. Just check where your text is positioned in your would be post BEFORE you try to hit post and all will be fine.

 

Thank you sir. I will remember that.

[Spudboy]

Thank you sir. I will remember that.

 

Yeah I was scratching my head about that for a short while. Sometimes it takes this old fart a while to catch on.

[seabeachfred]

I like the idea of bringing in James Shields. He's not the most exciting pitcher but he's a big strong durable innings burner with extensive AL East experience and he did take the Rays to the Series in 08. He's a bit overhyped as the "ace" of the Royals but he's the perfect #2 guy for a big market rotation. If we can get Lester back and supplement him with Shields, they might go back to drumming in the bullpen just for lack of anything to do 2 days out of 5.

 

This is the guy you want to bring in to really add some weight to the starting rotation. We aren't going to have a lot of innings eaten by the bottom of our rotation, it's critical that we have two big durable guys at the top of the rotation -- more critical than two ace caliber pitchers in terms of ERA or WAR, in my honest. Guys like that make bullpen solutions simple.

 

With all the crap we've put up with in terms of injuries I could really go for a skilled starting pitcher with good-to-great command that hasn't missed his turn in the rotation at any point in the last 4 years, and has never failed to pitch 200 innings since he broke into the big league game, couldn't you? Throw in the fact that Mr. Shields is actually also a pretty darn decent pitcher, and you have something an offensive minded club with a decent lineup can use to win ballgames.

 

In fact looking at his track record it's entirely possible that James Shields has literally never missed a scheduled start, which in a 8+ year career would be phenomenal. Yes, gimme some of that.

 

I'm right there with you Dojii but you're about a dollar short. Shields is fine and we need someone like that, but we also need another top quality starter at the top of the rotation as well, a good No. 1 and No. 2 man. Who might that be, a person who can throw 200 innings a year and pitches from the left side so as to have a good balance with Shields. How about Henry tucking in his horns and going out and getting Lester back with us? Now that would give us a decent starting rotation. Who knows? We might actually go from last to first again on this seemingly endless merry-go-round.

[Dojji]

I'm right there with you Dojii but you're about a dollar short. Shields is fine and we need someone like that, but we also need another top quality starter at the top of the rotation as well, a good No. 1 and No. 2 man. Who might that be, a person who can throw 200 innings a year and pitches from the left side so as to have a good balance with Shields. How about Henry tucking in his horns and going out and getting Lester back with us? Now that would give us a decent starting rotation. Who knows? We might actually go from last to first again on this seemingly endless merry-go-round.

 

I like the idea of bringing in James Shields. He's not the most exciting pitcher but he's a big strong durable innings burner with extensive AL East experience and he did take the Rays to the Series in 08. He's a bit overhyped as the "ace" of the Royals but he's the perfect #2 guy for a big market rotation. If we can get Lester back and supplement him with Shields, they might go back to drumming in the bullpen just for lack of anything to do 2 days out of 5.

 

;);)

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

So am I the only one who thinks the Yankees will grab Lester?

[Northern Star]

So am I the only one who thinks the Yankees will grab Lester?

 

Nightmare scenario, I'd hate to root against him.

[gojohn99]

So am I the only one who thinks the Yankees will grab Lester?

 

It wouldn't surprise me.