2014 Offseason Thread

[sk7326]

This is great! Sox sign a beat up non SS whose bat kinda fell off this yr and they're signing an overweight 3b who doesn't hit well and both will be on the books at big money for the next 5 seasons? This is very good, and I'm a Yankee fan.

 

1. Ramirez' contract is not actually big money by 2014 baseball standards

2. Sandoval is interesting - poorer stats but in mostly pitchers parks. Overweight but a good athlete who is an above average defender and the youngest premium FA. I am conflicted. But this is more sensible than signing Brian McCann's beat up body for the length of time he is hitched up for.

[BSN07]

Hanley will be in the OF. No way he plays SS. His defense is worse than Xander's. If his health geys better from playing in the OF and his bat returns, Hanley could be the steal of the off season. It wasnt long ago yanks fans were dreaming of him in pinstripes. Lets keep it real.

 

Don't be jealous jacko. Pablo will only be 33 at the end of his deal. Just the right age for the Yanks to give him another 5 year deal.

[BSN07]

Btw Pablo's agent is saying he has not agreed and is still weighing offers. Does look to be getting closer tho.

[a700hitter]

He has told suitors he is ok moving off of SS. He physically cannot do it anymore. But the bat still plays at 3B and even LF. It is a smart first signing - gives a lot of options with the rest of it.

I don't think that he has played the OF since he was in the Red Sox minor league system when he was a teenager. I doubt that at age 30 they plop him into a major league OF. I don't know if the Panda thing is still going to happen, but if it does, say goodbye to XB. If they pass on Panda, Hanley will slot nicely into 3B, but IMO he will not be playing OF.

[BSN07]

I can't see how Hanley will be any worse in LF than Gomes or Ramirez have been in the past.

 

Xander is not getting traded imo.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe they trade Napoli and Hanley goes to 1B. There are enough scenarios to make your head spin. I'm sure they have a master plan all laid out.

[GomesBeard]

The Globe (along with Rosenthal and Heymann) are reporting Sandoval as a done deal. I hope this doesn't mean an XB trade. But there are going to have to be several, if Hanley is playing LF and Sandoval 3B. I hope that being back with Papi does good things for Hanley's maturity level. The next week or so is going to be very interesting on the trade front.

[a700hitter]

Maybe they trade Napoli and Hanley goes to 1B. There are enough scenarios to make your head spin. I'm sure they have a master plan all laid out.

So, they sign an All Star who is 30 years old and people are prediciting that he will play 2 positions that he has never played in the major leagues? Funny. Of course, the Sox invested $200 million in 2 players but are steadfast in keeping XB at SS. Eyeroll. Of course Hanley is getting soooo old that he can't take SS from a kid who still hasn't learned the position. If the Panda thing happens, I would expect that XB will be part of one of those headspinning trades that SFF says that Ben has in the hopper. Maybe he goes to Philly for Hammels. That would be good. Sign Lester or Scherzer and call it a day.

[User Name]

They will more likely than not trade from their significant surplus of OF instead of XB.

[a700hitter]

Other than ARod moving to 3B to accomodate Jeter, when has a big All-Star free agent signed an played a position that he never played before? Yes , he might slide to 3B, but I think he has played 3B in a limited capacity in the majors, but i don't think that he he has played the OF or 1B. And XB is not Derek Jeter.

[alphilip77]

This is great! Sox sign a beat up non SS whose bat kinda fell off this yr and they're signing an overweight 3b who doesn't hit well and both will be on the books at big money for the next 5 seasons? This is very good, and I'm a Yankee fan.

 

Your team is paying obscene money to an aging CF whose whole game is based on his legs, and has long term deals committed to a broken down overrated catcher and a declining 1B. Oh, and you're still paying A-Rod for 3 more years. You have no leg to stand on.

[User Name]

Hanley career OPS+: 132

Hanley 2014 OPS+: 132

[sk7326]

Other than ARod moving to 3B to accomodate Jeter, when has a big All-Star free agent signed an played a position that he never played before? Yes , he might slide to 3B, but I think he has played 3B in a limited capacity in the majors, but i don't think that he he has played the OF or 1B. And XB is not Derek Jeter.

 

How many of them have physically broken down playing said position - this is pretty clear. This is not asking prime Alex Rodriguez to move to 3B to accomodate an inferior player - this is a guy who will do what it takes to be a 600 PA dude again (and thus someone who can be paid like a guy who contributed 600 PAs).

 

Ramirez in 2014 WAS a dropoff from Ramirez 2013. But Ramirez 2014 was more or less in line with his entire career, it was 2013 that was the outlier.

[dupree]

I hope that even with the two signings of Sandoval and Ramirez that the Sox keep Cespedes until the trade deadline just to have the masher in the middle of the order. Let Bogey start off in AAA and let Hanley play SS until Cespedes gets moved midseason.

 

But I also feel that Ben has some big moves in store for some pitching

[a700hitter]

How many of them have physically broken down playing said position - this is pretty clear. This is not asking prime Alex Rodriguez to move to 3B to accomodate an inferior player - this is a guy who will do what it takes to be a 600 PA dude again (and thus someone who can be paid like a guy who contributed 600 PAs).

 

Ramirez in 2014 WAS a dropoff from Ramirez 2013. But Ramirez 2014 was more or less in line with his entire career, it was 2013 that was the outlier.

If he is that badly broken down, then maybe they should not have signed him for 5 years. Running around the larger outfields away from Fenway for the first time since he is 19 years old doesn't seem to be the best idea for a guy who is breaking down. He will be playing SS on opening day if Panda also signs.

[Palodios]

I'll be annoyed if the Sandoval signing is true, but the lineup does look lovely. Sandoval is hitting 8th haha.

 

Castillo

Betts

Pedroia

Ortiz

Hanley

Napoli

Cespedes

Sandoval

Vazquez

[a700hitter]

I'll be annoyed if the Sandoval signing is true, but the lineup does look lovely. Sandoval is hitting 7th.

 

Castillo

Betts

Pedroia

Ortiz

Hanley

Napoli

Cespedes

Sandoval

Vazquez

I would go with

 

Victorino

Pedroia

Ortiz

Hanley

Panda

Napoli

Cespedes

Castillo

Vasquez

[dupree]

I would do

 

Vic

Pedroia

Ortiz

Cespedes

Hanley

Sandoval

Napoli

Castillo

Vazquez

[a700hitter]

Betts and XB will return Hammels and our rotation will be:

 

Lester

Hammels

Masterson

Bucholz

Kelly

[dupree]

I'd say you are right 700 about both being involved in a trade in the next few days. I like that rotation.

 

I just hope they keep Cespedes in the fold for the start of the season and see just how good this offense can be.

[User Name]

Betts and XB for Hamels? That may be the single worst idea i've ever heard.

[User Name]

I would do

 

Vic

Pedroia

Ortiz

Cespedes

Hanley

Sandoval

Napoli

Castillo

Vazquez

 

We get it. You don't like Mookie.

[dupree]

Not true User. I like him in the fact that his value is up and a team will trade a legit pitcher for him and then get burnt when he starts sucking.

[redsoxrules]

I'll be annoyed if the Sandoval signing is true, but the lineup does look lovely. Sandoval is hitting 8th haha.

 

Castillo

Betts

Pedroia

Ortiz

Hanley

Napoli

Cespedes

Sandoval

Vazquez

 

No way Panda bats 8th in any lineup.

[BSN07]

I'd be shocked if the team traded Xander over 1 year of Cepedes.

 

If both are signed i actually think it makes Betts more expendable. His value is right up there and it seems the team has no plans for him at 2B(because of pedey), SS or 3B.

 

I still think it's Cepedes that gets traded for SP. If Hanley and Pablo are signed this is what i see the positions being

 

C Vaz

1B Napoli

2B Pedey

SS Xander

3B Pablo

LF Hanley

CF Castillo/Betts

RF Betts/Castillo/Vic

 

Betts is gonna have to beat out a healthy Vic coming out if camp as i don't see them moving Vic in this scenario in case Castillio and/or Betts struggle.

 

Betts could be traded for more P if they Can't sign Lester.

 

I keep dreaming they sign Lester and trade Cepedes and SP prospect for Price. Cepedes for Porcello is more likely tho.

Edited November 24, 2014 by BSN07

[BornToRun]

Betts and XB for Hamels? That may be the single worst idea i've ever heard.

Seconded. That s*** is ridiculous.

[User Name]

Not true User. I like him in the fact that his value is up and a team will trade a legit pitcher for him and then get burnt when he starts sucking.

 

What do you base this on? The notion itself is ridiculous.

[MANNYHOF24]

I like both of these signings. 5 Years in length will not make either of these contracts become albatross contracts. Hanley will have played out his age 35 season at the end, and Sandoval will have played out his age 32 season. It's not like either of these guys will be approaching 40 at the end. Offense is at a premium right now in the MLB, and the Red Sox just made significant improvements, and also protected themselves for when Papi retires.

[Palodios]

I'm starting to wonder if Ben is thinking bigger right now. He's built perhaps the best offense in the majors, and has a ton of guys sitting around in the minors. Some unknown combination of Cecchini, Xander, Holt, Nava, Cespedes, Marrero, Betts are expendable.

 

That's a group that isn't intended to land Hamels. That's a Chris Sale type load. Whoever Ben is targeting, I believe him to a 20-something ace.

[dupree]

The notion of betting the farm on a kid with 52 games of major league experience is ridiculous to me. He had a hot streak and that was all. He is a 2B that last year's team plugged in anywhere because he was the only shining light after the trade deadline.

 

XB, Holt, & WMB all cooled off. And so will Betts. If he had Ellsbury speed and Jackie Bradley defensive range I would say yeah keep the kid because his bat does play as an on base guy at the top of the order. But he don't have elite speed or elite OF defense, (given its not his natural position) I hope they roll him to bring in pitching and use him in the trade instead of our pitching prospects. I'd rather trade Betts than Owens anyday.