2014 Offseason Thread

[Spudboy]

clusterf***?... As I said, send Castillo and JBJ to minors and finish their developments and only keep Betts giving him some ABs in order to prepare him to 2016. No big deal.

 

Betts needs every day at bats.

 

For the Sox to do less with him now would be very, very stupid.

 

He should lead off under most circumstances. His on-base skills and speed make him the best choice by far.

[Bellhorn04]

clusterf***?... As I said, send Castillo and JBJ to minors and finish their developments and only keep Betts giving him some ABs in order to prepare him to 2016. No big deal.

 

But Betts may not need any more preparation, and it's pretty clear we're going all in on 2015.

[alphilip77]

@iortiz: We don't gain much by starting Cespedes over Betts and Castillo. Cespedes is a known quantity at this point: he's a low OBP guy with some bop in his bat and a cannon of an arm. Plus he's almost 30. I'm not saying he stinks, but the Red Sox would be doing themselves a disservice by starting him over higher upside guys like Betts or Castillo. Also, Castillo was given $72 mil a few months ago, which means the FO believes he is a major league caliber player. You don't send guys down for seasoning when they're being paid that much scratch. His "seasoning" came last September when he was in the minors for a week or so. Cespedes will be moved. It's not a matter of if, but when and for who.

[iortiz]

Betts needs every day at bats.

 

For the Sox to do less with him now would be very, very stupid.

 

He should lead off under most circumstances. His on-base skills and speed make him the best choice by far.

 

I like Betts, do not get me wrong here. Man, he is only 22 and is not already proven but with a great ceiling. I would go slow here. By 2016 he will be ready anyways. In 2015 you will give him the opportunity to show more without responsability while gaining more experience.

 

Besides I do not expect our 3 OFs healthy all year long and Betts would be your 1st option to cover the ofield.

[Spudboy]

I like Betts, do not get me wrong here. Man, he is only 22 and is not already proven but with a great ceiling. I would go slow here. By 2016 he will be ready anyways. In 2015 you will give him the opportunity to show more without responsability while gaining more experience.

 

Besides I do not expect our 3 OFs healthy all year long and Betts would be your 1st option to cover the ofield.

 

Betts has almost nothing to gain be playing in Pawtucket. Maybe he could hone his outfield skills a bit but that is it. He can flat out hit and get on base. The Sox need that combination very badly. He needs to be in MLB now. I too have been critical of the Sox promoting some prospects too early. In this case it is justified.

[sk7326]

You could give some AB but not fully responsibility, not just yet IMO. They will have around 60 M by 2016 to play with, reason why I would go to FA to get these 2 SPs without trading anyone. Man they are in a position to have a great depth in every position while still developing these young talents and to be ready by 2016, not sure why the rush. Squeeze what is left in Cespedes, Napoli, Ortiz and Victorino, and by 2016 your young talent will be ready to take full responsibility. That would be my approach.

 

It is hard to justify not playing your 3 best outfielders. Betts by the end of the season was.

[Palodios]

New report coming in that the Red Sox upped their offer to Lester to 145 million. If that isn't enough for him, he's breaking Sabathia's record.

[dupree]

Damn Pal you must have an inside contact. Where are you getting your info. I haven't seen any rumors at all today regarding Lester.

[Palodios]

Damn Pal you must have an inside contact. Where are you getting your info. I haven't seen any rumors at all today regarding Lester.

 

I've just been reading Jake Wesley's twitter. His source is the one who broke the Pablo and Hanley signings. Its really strange, but the 14 year old kid's source is giving him good information.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Palodios

[seabeachfred]

I've just been reading Jake Wesley's twitter. His source is the one who broke the Pablo and Hanley signings. Its really strange, but the 14 year old kid's source is giving him good information.

 

 

JUST IN -- CESPEDES TRADED TO REDS!!!! Oh, I hope its Cueto.

 

If it's just Cespedes it is most likely NOT Cueto but either Leake or Latos----and that does not solve our need for a good No. 2 because neither is equipped with the stuff, the guts and the where-with-all to compete in the AL. If it is Cueto I'll break my tee totaling way and have a brewski.

[RedSoxNC84]

He just took it back, apparently no trade.

[Palodios]

Huh. Well there goes that.

[RedSoxNC84]

Huh. Well there goes that.

 

I know, I kind of got excited heh

[Palodios]

Another one of these hot shot twitters is saying Cespedes for Latos. Wonder if its true.

[RedSoxNC84]

Another one of these hot shot twitters is saying Cespedes for Latos. Wonder if its true.

 

Would be interesting, but Latos scares me.

[a700hitter]

If you are hoping for Cueto, you should be prepared to say goodbye to Betts or XB.

[Northern Star]

If you are hoping for Cueto, you should be prepared to say goodbye to Betts or XB.

 

God, Cueto is a punk, don't want any part of him.

[a700hitter]

God, Cueto is a punk, don't want any part of him.

I'd love to have a punk with a 2.25 ERA.

[RedSoxNC84]

I'd love to have a punk with a 2.25 ERA.

 

You mean a 2.25 ERA over 243 IP with 242 Ks.

 

although his K/9 was WAY up over what it normally is.. I wonder what changed with him for that kind of performance.

[seabeachfred]

If you are hoping for Cueto, you should be prepared to say goodbye to Betts or XB.

 

Right Ted, and let me tell some of our fellow posters something I don't have to tell you since you and Pal and Spud are aware of it. Latos is not any No. 2 pitcher under any circumstances. He's a three or a four and he doesn't perform well in big games. He never has lived up to what was predicted for him by the "experts". Cueto? Be prepared to way big for him.

[RedSoxNC84]

Right Ted, and let me tell some of our fellow posters something I don't have to tell you since you and Pal and Spud are aware of it. Latos is not any No. 2 pitcher under any circumstances. He's a three or a four and he doesn't perform well in big games. He never has lived up to what was predicted for him by the "experts". Cueto? Be prepared to way big for him.

 

I don't have much confidence in Latos' skills translating into the AL. He pitched well this last season, but his K/9 is terrible. If we're going for someone of that type, I'd rather have Doug Fister than Mat Latos. At least Fister has proven he can pitch in the AL.

[a700hitter]

I don't have much confidence in Latos' skills translating into the AL. He pitched well this last season, but his K/9 is terrible. If we're going for someone of that type, I'd rather have Doug Fister than Mat Latos. At least Fister has proven he can pitch in the AL.

i like Fister.

[RedSoxNC84]

i like Fister.

 

The Nationals are willing to deal Zimmerman and Fister. Zimmerman I'm not too thrilled with, but if there were a possibility of a Strasburg/Fister package that'd be worth looking at, at the very least.

[RedSoxNC84]

The Nationals are willing to deal Zimmerman and Fister. Zimmerman I'm not too thrilled with, but if there were a possibility of a Strasburg/Fister package that'd be worth looking at, at the very least.

 

Of course they don't necessarily need OF, and their roster is pretty good already, so it would probably take top prospects and could end up not being worth it.

[jd98]

Latos would be a solid #2 if he still had an elbow. He's not someone you want to depend on for next year.

[RedSoxNC84]

Padres were in for Yasmany Tomas, who just signed with the Dbacks. They could still be looking for OF and may be a trade partner possibly.

[Palodios]

It seems like there is heat on a few teams for pitching...

 

Padres: Tyson Ross/Ian Kennedy

Reds : Latos/Simon/Leake

Phillies : Hamels

Nats : Zimmerman/Fister

Tigers: Price

 

I can't remember when so many options were dangling like this.

[User Name]

Tyson Ross and Alfredo Simon are both terrible pitchers who had a good season based on home/away splits and luck respectively.

[BSN07]

Lmao Betts or Xander are not getting dealt for 1 season of a SP... smh

[sk7326]

The Nationals are willing to deal Zimmerman and Fister. Zimmerman I'm not too thrilled with, but if there were a possibility of a Strasburg/Fister package that'd be worth looking at, at the very least.

 

Zimmermann is a better pitcher, but you'd only be getting a year of him. The Nats might also just decided to say screw it - we're the best team in the NL, we should maximize our shots at the big prize.