2014 Offseason Thread

[BSN07]

OK Freddy boy, it's intervention time. It's time to end the personal pity party. You're starting to drag the whole forum down with your bitter rehashing of the same 5 or 6 arguments, and I say that knowing that I don't even really disagree with any of those opinions, but the sheer self-entrenched bitterness is starting to get contagious, and it needs to stop.

 

I've offered you a wager in the starting 9 thread. Look at it, and tell me which of the options you prefer. I'd be down with the "do nothing but SBF agrees to chill out a bit" option personally but let me know what you think.

 

Amen.. get on in the morning and its a page and a half of fred basically copy and pasting what he said the day before... and the day before that... and the day before that and so on and so forth. Fred just put the s*** in your sig.

 

Hate FO

 

Hate Henry's stingy ass

 

Lester is gone forever

 

Why hasn't cherries signed any P?

 

The sky is falling

 

Would save a lot of clutter in the threads my man..

[a700hitter]

The offer came before this great season. As you know, he wasn't that good the two seasons prior. Get off Henry's ass and stop spying in his bedroom. He chases his wife for exercise. And if you can't refrain from being a peeping tom at least film it. And you've been calling the FO stingy for years.

 

Let's see...

Overall payroll rank by year:

2014 - 4th

2013 - 4th

2012 - 3rd

2011 - 3rd

2010 - 2nd

2009 - 4th

2008 - 4th

2007 - 2nd

2006 - 2nd

2005 - 2nd

2004 - 2nd

2003 - 6th

Henry buys the team in 2002.

2002 - 2nd

2001 - 2nd

2000 - 7th

1999 - 6th

1998 - 7th

http://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm

------------------------------------

 

But people will believe whatever the hell they want to believe.

Lester termed the post trade hug from pruneface as uncomfortable and strange.

[pruneface]

Lester termed the post trade hug from pruneface as uncomfortable and strange.

Everyone needs a hug. Henry has a hug for SBF if he wants one. They're free. Precious little else is nowadays.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not as negative as Fred but I have to say I'm getting a bad feeling about the pitching situation. A lot of people think Lester is gone to the Cubs or the Giants. And meanwhile, it sounds like the Dodgers are working out a deal for Hamels.

[a700hitter]

Everyone needs a hug. Henry has a hug for SBF if he wants one. They're free. Precious little else is nowadays.

No one likes an awkward hugger. If Lester leaves, the post trade hug could be part of the reason. Look at Henry. It must have been like getting a hug from an over-cooked piece of linguini. It probably made Lester's skin crawl.

[a700hitter]

If it takes Bogaerts to land a big time pitcher, and the Red Sox pull the trigger, who do you think would fill the hole at SS. Would it be Hanley who has never been a top fielding SS or would they look elsewhere? Evereth Cabrera is a non-tender. Does he play SS or 2B? What about Drew for a season until Marrero is ready?

 

Right now it looks like Cespedes can net us Leake or Niese. Leake stinks and Nieses's arm is hanging by a thread.

[Bellhorn04]

Trading Cespedes for Porcello doesn't seem like such a bad idea to me.

[a700hitter]

Trading Cespedes for Porcello doesn't seem like such a bad idea to me.

That may be the best offer that we get for him, and I think it would be a fair trade. That rumor seems to have come and gone at this point.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'm hearing a lot of smoke about the Sox focusing hard on Sale, and that they are focused on him right now (essentially they feel they've lost out on the Lester sweepstakes).

 

The deal being discussed is something in the range of Owens, Swihart, Marrero, and Barnes.

 

The stuff is being floated by Jared Carrabis on Twitter.

 

Here is one of his tweets, so you can follow or read to catch up. Keep in mind, this guy just started working for Barstool Sports, so he's not in the business of floating garbage rumors that could affect his job.

 

[User Name]

I'm not as negative as Fred but I have to say I'm getting a bad feeling about the pitching situation. A lot of people think Lester is gone to the Cubs or the Giants. And meanwhile, it sounds like the Dodgers are working out a deal for Hamels.

 

It's December 3rd, and none of the pitchers has actually been signed/acquired. What "a lot of people think" doesn't mean Jack, if it did, Panda would still be a Giant, and Cliff Lee would be a Yankee.

[BSN07]

I'm hearing a lot of smoke about the Sox focusing hard on Sale, and that they are focused on him right now (essentially they feel they've lost out on the Lester sweepstakes).

 

The deal being discussed is something in the range of Owens, Swihart, Marrero, and Barnes.

 

The stuff is being floated by Jared Carrabis on Twitter.

 

Here is one of his tweets, so you can follow or read to catch up. Keep in mind, this guy just started working for Barstool Sports, so he's not in the business of floating garbage rumors that could affect his job.

 

Hate to see Swihart go. If they could sub 1 or 2 others for him I'd like it more.

[BSN07]

It's December 3rd, and none of the pitchers has actually been signed/acquired. What "a lot of people think" doesn't mean Jack, if it did, Panda would still be a Giant, and Cliff Lee would be a Yankee.

 

People are acting like the market is moving and options are being snatched up while the Sox sit with thumbs planted.. Lester was rumored to be making his choice this week. Its wednesday. Relax people. SF aren't breaking the bank for him. He got his Cubs offer and still left town. If he is really waiting for the Yanks to get involved then he was never coming back. I say stick with the 130m offer. That high enough for a fringe ace SP. And yes he is a fringe ace. It wasn't ling ago the argument of what # SP he is was being bantered about around here. He has 1 really good season in a contract year and some want a blank check handed out.

[a700hitter]

Hate to see Swihart go. If they could sub 1 or 2 others for him I'd like it more.

Sale is a stud. He's going to cost us if they want him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Sale is a stud. He's going to cost us if they want him.

 

Yup. Love Swihart too but Sale has a ridiculous contract and he is an absolute stud.

 

Trade Swihart, Owens, Cecchini, Barnes for Sale (this is what Carrabis is suggesting)

 

Trade Marrero, Middlebrooks, and Ranaudo for Samardzija.

 

Trade Cespedes for Latos as your #3 which I hate but ok I guess.

 

That rotation would make losing Lester all ok.

[Palodios]

One of these twitter-reporters is reporting Lester to Cubs, as of 20 minutes ago. None of the big names have confirmed his reports. That seems like a long time for no one to know anything.

[BSN07]

Sale is a stud. He's going to cost us if they want him.

 

Ya I know. Sale is probably one of the only SP I could stomach losing Swihart for. It be like the Becket/Hanley situation again. Be glad the team got him but would hate watching the Prospect blossom somewhere else.

[Dojji]

Hate to see Swihart go. If they could sub 1 or 2 others for him I'd like it more.

 

If you move Swihart, then you're rolling the dice on Vazquez, but Vazquez is a very very good defensive catcher, and would be quite a sufficient starter over the next few years, so he's potentially expendable. I do like having him around as insurance but if you need a big upgrade on the rotation, it's one of the less risky prospect trades.

[BSN07]

Yup. Love Swihart too but Sale has a ridiculous contract and he is an absolute stud.

 

Trade Swihart, Owens, Cecchini, Barnes for Sale (this is what Carrabis is suggesting)

 

Trade Marrero, Middlebrooks, and Ranaudo for Samardzija.

 

Trade Cespedes for Latos as your #3 which I hate but ok I guess.

 

That rotation would make losing Lester all ok.

I don't mind that plan. I don't think Shark is worth a ton tho. I wouldn't send any top guys for him. He's a mid tier SP signed for a season. He has upside for next year, but he's still basically a 4 ERA guy. I don't care what Beane was willing to give in the heat of a pennant race. I'd give him 2 maybe 3 of WMB, Marreo, Bradley, Brentz, and Nava.

One of these twitter-reporters is reporting Lester to Cubs, as of 20 minutes ago. None of the big names have confirmed his reports. That seems like a long time for no one to know anything.

 

It'll catch on somewhere if true soon enough.

[sk7326]

One of these twitter-reporters is reporting Lester to Cubs, as of 20 minutes ago. None of the big names have confirmed his reports. That seems like a long time for no one to know anything.

 

Rob Bradford said absolutely not ... other reporters agreeing, that the Cubs are going to be on the podium, but they absolutely have not won the bidding yet. That said, a report like this might indicate that the show is wrapping up soon.

[sk7326]

Ya I know. Sale is probably one of the only SP I could stomach losing Swihart for. It be like the Becket/Hanley situation again. Be glad the team got him but would hate watching the Prospect blossom somewhere else.

 

Sale is an elite starter - and yes the sort of guy you move top prospects for. There is a bit of risk - because his delivery looks like it should kill him, but it hasn't so far and he warrants some benefit of the doubt there.

 

One thing we have seen in this market though which is interesting is that pitching is generally cheaper than we think it is (in prospects at least) and hitters are more expensive than we thought. It might reflect a changing industry view, a change in industry supply:demand mechanics.

[BSN07]

Sale is an elite starter - and yes the sort of guy you move top prospects for. There is a bit of risk - because his delivery looks like it should kill him, but it hasn't so far and he warrants some benefit of the doubt there.

 

One thing we have seen in this market though which is interesting is that pitching is generally cheaper than we think it is (in prospects at least) and hitters are more expensive than we thought. It might reflect a changing industry view, a change in industry supply:demand mechanics.

 

I think a big part of it is all the elbows that have been blowing out the last couple seasons.

[jd98]

Sale's not available. It's not happening. It would take an overwhelming ridiculous offer for the White Sox to even begin to listen.

[Spudboy]

Yup. Love Swihart too but Sale has a ridiculous contract and he is an absolute stud.

 

Trade Swihart, Owens, Cecchini, Barnes for Sale (this is what Carrabis is suggesting)

 

Trade Marrero, Middlebrooks, and Ranaudo for Samardzija.

 

Trade Cespedes for Latos as your #3 which I hate but ok I guess.

 

That rotation would make losing Lester all ok.

 

Trade Cespedes for Porcello, not Latos and I'm on board. Although i doubt that it will play out this way.

[BSN07]

Trade Cespedes for Porcello, not Latos and I'm on board. Although i doubt that it will play out this way.

 

idk Detroit is looking for a COF. Porcello seems like a fair deal. It's not a ridiculous trade proposal.

[Spudboy]

So in the non-news of the day we see that the Sox did not tender Juan Fransico.

[MNSoxChief102]

Rob Bradford said absolutely not ... other reporters agreeing, that the Cubs are going to be on the podium, but they absolutely have not won the bidding yet. That said, a report like this might indicate that the show is wrapping up soon.

 

Absolutely no one with legit cred in the business is supporting the 14 yr old kid's take on Lester being signed, sealed, and delivered to Theo's doorstep. He's just regurgitating Incarcerated Bob's tweet and using it as his own. Pretty sure anyone who followed him (myself included) has been had for a bit now.

[mvp 78]

So in the non-news of the day we see that the Sox did not tender Juan Fransico.

 

Season over.

 

0-162

[seabeachfred]

OK Freddy boy, it's intervention time. It's time to end the personal pity party. You're starting to drag the whole forum down with your bitter rehashing of the same 5 or 6 arguments, and I say that knowing that I don't even really disagree with any of those opinions, but the sheer self-entrenched bitterness is starting to get contagious, and it needs to stop.

 

I've offered you a wager in the starting 9 thread. Look at it, and tell me which of the options you prefer. I'd be down with the "do nothing but SBF agrees to chill out a bit" option personally but let me know what you think.

 

Deal DOJII. I will chill out for the rest of this year. How's that? On January 1st, if we haven't gotten those two damn quality pitchers we need, then I will weigh in again. And my previous promise holds. If we get to the WS in 2015 you will see a totally different guy on this board. Satisfied?????

[seabeachfred]

idk Detroit is looking for a COF. Porcello seems like a fair deal. It's not a ridiculous trade proposal.

 

Porcello could be a decent No. 3 for us so I would made that deal and hope Kelly and Buchholz can at least pitcher better than 500 ball for us next season. Personally, though, I do not want to trade Swihart. The guy in my opinion is a stud, a good athlete who has become a top notch catcher, can hit and hit with power and can play another position if necessary. Still, it depends what pitchers are available. For my part, a trade for Hamels, sign Shields and along with Porcello, Kelly and Buchholz, we could possibly do well enough to win the division and advance to the playoffs. That's not a killer rotation but I'd settle for it.

[Palodios]

The Dodgers are in on Lester. Well, f***.