2014 Offseason Thread

[BSN07]

Apparently Lester sold his Newton home yesterday. That's no good.

 

I read that yesterday. Doesn't mean anything really. He just purchased a home in Atlanta for the off season and that doesn't mean he's signing with the Braves. He can always buy a bigger house with his ned deal in Boston or rent a place for the summer.

[Palodios]

I read that yesterday. Doesn't mean anything really. He just purchased a home in Atlanta for the off season and that doesn't mean he's signing with the Braves. He can always buy a bigger house with his ned deal in Boston or rent a place for the summer.

 

I'm sure he'll have no problem finding a new place. What concerns me is the timing of it. He was talking to the Red Sox and signing away his house on the same week -- not good timing or a good omen.

[BSN07]

I'm sure he'll have no problem finding a new place. What concerns me is the timing of it. He was talking to the Red Sox and signing away his house on the same week -- not good timing or a good omen.

 

The house was taken off the market a couple weeks ago. The sale is just now becoming final I believe. Funny how the writer failed to mention that. Guess his little snippet of news would have been less interesting.

[alphilip77]

Nick Cafardo is reporting that the Sox are believed to be in the lead for Sandoval. Says their offer is 5/95. If true he could be a Red Sox by the end of the weekend.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Pepen reporting that the Sox offered 6/120 to Lester. Good offer but that he is looking for that 7th year.

[dupree]

Hopefully the Sox offer a mutual option for the 7th year to get this deal done. Once this gets done the other pieces of Sandoval and Miller will fall. Then a trade for Jordan Zimmerman using Mookie Betts as the centerpiece then call it an offseason. Washington needs a 2nd baseman and Zimmerman would be a solid #2.

[BSN07]

A vesting option for IP would be good. Or a team option with a decent sized buyout could work as well. We will have to wait and see. It be nice if the signings were fast and furious like the NFL but MLB FA seems like it prefers the snails pace.

[dupree]

Reports say that the Sox are very serious about Andrew Miller and that has received mutiple 3 year offers... I just wonder if it is 3 yr 39 million? That seems to be the Sox normal 3 year offer.

[a700hitter]

Reports say that the Sox are very serious about Andrew Miller and that has received mutiple 3 year offers... I just wonder if it is 3 yr 39 million? That seems to be the Sox normal 3 year offer.

Wow! It is good to be left-handed and be able to throw a baseball.

[Bellhorn04]

Reports say that the Sox are very serious about Andrew Miller and that has received mutiple 3 year offers... I just wonder if it is 3 yr 39 million? That seems to be the Sox normal 3 year offer.

 

The chatter seems to be more like 8 million a year for Miller.

[Spudboy]

Strong money for any reliever in my opinion.

 

Still, I'd love to see him back.

[Spudboy]

Strong money for any reliever in my opinion.

 

Still, I'd love to see him back.

 

Edit: Although the Sox did pay heavily to resign Koji at 2/18.

 

The whole MLB pay structure is obscene.

[Spudboy]

This morning I read somewhere speculation that the Lester camp may wait until after Thanksgiving or even until the first week in December to sign in hopes that the Yankees will get in on the bidding. Lovely.

[seabeachfred]

This morning I read somewhere speculation that the Lester camp may wait until after Thanksgiving or even until the first week in December to sign in hopes that the Yankees will get in on the bidding. Lovely.

 

The Yankees will most certainly get in on the bidding. You can bet your last dime on that because that's their standard MO. Lets the cheapies bid lowball against each other and then step in and blow the others away. If the Red Sox don't step on this and up their offer you will see low risk high reward failure manning our rotation and a third place finish next season will have all the front office bootlickers jumping for joy while those of us who can see past our noses will understand how once again Cherries blow the duke once again.

[Palodios]

This morning I read somewhere speculation that the Lester camp may wait until after Thanksgiving or even until the first week in December to sign in hopes that the Yankees will get in on the bidding. Lovely.

 

The Red Sox need to put Lester in a room and ask him what it will take to get him on the team. If they wait around for weeks while he considers other offers, its going to bite the team in the ass.

 

Scherzer, Shields, Fister, Zimmerman, Price, Cueto, Leake, and about a half dozen other top talents are available right now. I would love Lester back -- probably more than any other player -- but if he's waiting for the Yankees, then the Red Sox might as well look for other options.

[Dojji]

The Red Sox have no right to put Lester in a room or anywhere else. He's a free agent. He has no obligation to this team at all.

[BornToRun]

The Yankees will most certainly get in on the bidding. You can bet your last dime on that because that's their standard MO. Lets the cheapies bid lowball against each other and then step in and blow the others away. If the Red Sox don't step on this and up their offer you will see low risk high reward failure manning our rotation and a third place finish next season will have all the front office bootlickers jumping for joy while those of us who can see past our noses will understand how once again Cherries blow the duke once again.

 

I request five examples of times when Cherington "blew the duke" (whatever that means) and seriously screwed up a personnel decision.

[Northern Star]

I request five examples of times when Cherington "blew the duke" (whatever that means) and seriously screwed up a personnel decision.

 

It's when you bend her over and show her the 50 states.

[Northern Star]

The Red Sox have no right to put Lester in a room or anywhere else. He's a free agent. He has no obligation to this team at all.

 

If we don't resign him and lose cespedes i'll be loling....but not.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have been saying all along that the Yankees are gonna be in on Lester and will likely offer him the highest AAV and total cash. The question is, will he accept less to go elsewhere. Scherzer is waiting for insane money AND comes with pick compensation/loss. Add in the fact that Scherzer isn't the post season ace Lester is and you have a guy who should get the biggest offseason pitching contract. Right now, we know that the sox have a deal on the table. The rumor is that it's 6 yrs $110 mil or so. If that contract is their final offer, he goes elsewhere. I can see NYY offering 6 yrs $150 mil.

[Palodios]

The Red Sox have no right to put Lester in a room or anywhere else. He's a free agent. He has no obligation to this team at all.

 

What are you talking about?

 

Lester has a number. The Red Sox should either meet that number, or look for other options. Waiting weeks for the Yankees is going to hurt this team.

[BSN07]

What are you talking about?

 

Lester has a number. The Red Sox should either meet that number, or look for other options. Waiting weeks for the Yankees is going to hurt this team.

 

Even if his number is a CC Fatassia deal? No thanks. Listen I want Lester back too but not at some outrageous price. Signing him into his late 30's is risky enough as it is even tho he's been a horse. But so was CC until he wasn't, so was Halladay, and even the immortal noodle arm of Cliff Lee has shown signs of breaking down.

 

I mean some on here are worrying about Panda at the end of the Sox current offer in his age 33 maybe 34 seasons but just assume Lester will be Lester through to the end of his deal. Both are crap shoots for the 2nd half of the deals, but I don't see anyone worrying about Lester being dead weight at the end of his contract. If you are worried about Panda you should also be worried about Lester too.

[Spudboy]

The Red Sox have no right to put Lester in a room or anywhere else. He's a free agent. He has no obligation to this team at all.

 

Sorry Dojji but you are completely wrong on this. It is an open bidding process and negotiations can be approached in any desired fashion.

 

I said it before. The Sox should have given Lester a "no walk" price ( offer ). An offer very close to or exceeding what would be seen as market value. In this case it should have been 6/130 - 6/140 ( maybe even 145 ). If he was leaning toward returning as everyone has assumed, he would have signed before leaving town. Presented in a way that Lester felt pressure not to leave. This technique usually works if the negotiator knows what the hell they are doing. I have done it hundreds of times and have seen it done thousands of times. It does not matter that he has a right to do this or do that. A strong negotiator takes the bull by the horns and gets it done or he will not have a job for long. That is what happens in the real world. Not the concocted fantasy of professional sports.

 

The Sox had the upper hand while he was in town. Now Lester has walked and chances are that he may not come back. That is what happens when you are not a "closer" in sales.

 

No personal attack intended Dojji. Maybe you have not been working in marketing and sales for 40 years.

[Spudboy]

Even if his number is a CC Fatassia deal? No thanks. Listen I want Lester back too but not at some outrageous price. Signing him into his late 30's is risky enough as it is even tho he's been a horse. But so was CC until he wasn't, so was Halladay, and even the immortal noodle arm of Cliff Lee has shown signs of breaking down.

 

I mean some on here are worrying about Panda at the end of the Sox current offer in his age 33 maybe 34 seasons but just assume Lester will be Lester through to the end of his deal. Both are crap shoots for the 2nd half of the deals, but I don't see anyone worrying about Lester being dead weight at the end of his contract. If you are worried about Panda you should also be worried about Lester too.

 

I am one of those people. Here is why.

 

Panda is less of a need to the Sox and is more likely not to perform adequately during the length of the contract. Lester or someone of equivalent talent is essential to building a strong rotation. The Sox can fill 3rd base in any of several ways at lower "risk".

 

Sandoval is just not worth the money or a long contract.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox certainly had it within their power to not give him am offer to shop around. They could have waited until he received some offers. Instead they gave him a starting point to drive up his price.

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox certainly had it within their power to not give him am offer to shop around. They could have waited until he received some offers. Instead they gave him a starting point to drive up his price.

 

They gave him a starting price, sure, but it's been widely expected that he would get 130-150 million.

[BSN07]

The team not signing Lester might a was may have been you know, Lester's choice. His camp could very well from the beginning told all teams that he planned to meet with all interested parties regardless of early offers. So the Sox gave him their bumped up starting offer to show they are serious and have agreed to negotiate further when Lester's camp is ready(after his meetings with Chc and Atl). We just don't know. I'm not saying how the team is handling negotiations right or wrong, I'm just trying to point out there is another side(Lester's side) that everyone seems to be forgetting about when trying to figure out why it's not a done deal yet.

[a700hitter]

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe asked about a dozen GMs in Phoenix about the Yankees’ situation and not one of them thought the Bombers would stay away from a major signing. For all the talk about the Cubs being a major player for Jon Lester, the Red Sox are still fearful that it’ll be the Yankees that swoop in and grab him.

Lester going to the Yankees would be a nice kick in the teeth.

[a700hitter]

The team not signing Lester might a was may have been you know, Lester's choice. His camp could very well from the beginning told all teams that he planned to meet with all interested parties regardless of early offers. So the Sox gave him their bumped up starting offer to show they are serious and have agreed to negotiate further when Lester's camp is ready(after his meetings with Chc and Atl). We just don't know. I'm not saying how the team is handling negotiations right or wrong, I'm just trying to point out there is another side(Lester's side) that everyone seems to be forgetting about when trying to figure out why it's not a done deal yet.

I can't speak for others, but I am not ignoring Lester's side. On the Red Sox side, IMO you don't give the other party the first offer to shop.

[BSN07]

I can't speak for others, but I am not ignoring Lester's side. On the Red Sox side, IMO you don't give the other party the first offer to shop.

 

What if Lester's camp asked for a starting offer so they knew the team was serious?