2014 Offseason Thread

[pruneface]

A few thoughts:

-In any given year, there is a future Yankee player on the Red Sox roster.

-Odds are, whoever lands Lester, will be overpaying.

-Most fans want him back, which will prompt the FO to make excuses.

-It's reasonable to assume the Sox have made Lester a competitive offer.

-There's a good chance Lester won't offer good value through the length of the contract.

-Sometimes missing out can be a blessing. Remember Arod and Texeira.

-Sox can fill their rotation needs in other ways.

-While the Lester sweepstakes are ongoing, Sox should look at other FAs like Shields and Liriano.

-Trading for a top tier guy like Cueto would be just as well.

-It's only December. There are a lot of candidates to fill the Sox's 2 top spots in the rotation. Neither have to be named Lester.

-Most people who are s***ing on the Sox if they miss out on Lester will still be watching come April.

Edited December 7, 2014 by pruneface

[pruneface]

I feel your pain my friend. Feel mine....I live in the Los Angeles area and can't stand the Dodgers in body, shape and form. They are the Yankees of the West and will do all they can to buy a WS Title. Even though I have never believed Lester was coming back to Boston I still held out hope I could be wrong. With the Dodgers now seemingly involved, if the tell tale turns out to be money first, well, Lester is not going to be with us.

 

Funny how Sox fans always cry poverty. This is coming from one of the biggest markets in MLB.

[mvp 78]

Funny how Sox fans always cry poverty. This is coming from one of the biggest markets in MLB.

 

Well, there are 13 clubs with larger markets than Boston, so strictly in terms of "market size" they are in the middle. Sox fans are just more likely to pay higher ticket prices to keep their team's salary limits towards the top of the league.

[pruneface]

Well, there are 13 clubs with larger markets than Boston, so strictly in terms of "market size" they are in the middle. Sox fans are just more likely to pay higher ticket prices to keep their team's salary limits towards the top of the league.

THey also have the smallest seating capacity, which ramps up prices. They have good revenue from advertising and NESN, maybe soon to be The Globe. Forbes ranks them as the 3rd most valuable franchise behind NYY and LAD at 1 billion. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlm45mkmf/3-boston-red-sox/

 

The team has been consistently in the top 4 since Henry took over the team in team salary. If you want to find reasons to complain, you'll find it, but this team is not poor.

[a700hitter]

I was online at 10 am this morning to buy Spring Training tickets. I was shocked at how fast the tickets were selling. I try to get Grandstand tickets, because they are in the shade. Of the 4 games that I tried to purchase, those tickets were available for only 1 game. I ran out of time making my purchase, so I had to repeat the process, and when I did, one of the games was sold out to the point where i couldn't purchase two seats together. This team definitely knows how to make money.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Right on both counts amigo. It will come down to money and Henry did NOT bring an open checkbook, and Lester thought it was a total waste of his time. Actually, you were right on three counts. Sorry for the omission at the beginning.

 

I wasn't aware that Henry took you with him for the meeting.

[mvp 78]

THey also have the smallest seating capacity, which ramps up prices. They have good revenue from advertising and NESN, maybe soon to be The Globe. Forbes ranks them as the 3rd most valuable franchise behind NYY and LAD at 1 billion. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlm45mkmf/3-boston-red-sox/

 

The team has been consistently in the top 4 since Henry took over the team in team salary. If you want to find reasons to complain, you'll find it, but this team is not poor.

 

I agree, they are a wealthyteam and can't cry poor. They just aren't a "big market" in terms of population size. They are more like a "rich market" team. When ownership complains about the evil empire and that BS, it's embarassing.

[BSN07]

I agree, they are a wealthyteam and can't cry poor. They just aren't a "big market" in terms of population size. They are more like a "rich market" team. When ownership complains about the evil empire and that BS, it's embarassing.

 

I don't like it when they do that either. Just flat say yes we have money but we chose to spend it wiser and not write blank checks.

[User Name]

A few thoughts:

-In any given year, there is a future Yankee player on the Red Sox roster.

-Odds are, whoever lands Lester, will be overpaying.

-Most fans want him back, which will prompt the FO to make excuses.

-It's reasonable to assume the Sox have made Lester a competitive offer.

-There's a good chance Lester won't offer good value through the length of the contract.

-Sometimes missing out can be a blessing. Remember Arod and Texeira.

-Sox can fill their rotation needs in other ways.

-While the Lester sweepstakes are ongoing, Sox should look at other FAs like Shields and Liriano.

-Trading for a top tier guy like Cueto would be just as well.

-It's only December. There are a lot of candidates to fill the Sox's 2 top spots in the rotation. Neither have to be named Lester.

-Most people who are s***ing on the Sox if they miss out on Lester will still be watching come April.

 

I like you.

[Bellhorn04]

A few thoughts:

-In any given year, there is a future Yankee player on the Red Sox roster.

-Odds are, whoever lands Lester, will be overpaying.

-Most fans want him back, which will prompt the FO to make excuses.

-It's reasonable to assume the Sox have made Lester a competitive offer.

-There's a good chance Lester won't offer good value through the length of the contract.

-Sometimes missing out can be a blessing. Remember Arod and Texeira.

-Sox can fill their rotation needs in other ways.

-While the Lester sweepstakes are ongoing, Sox should look at other FAs like Shields and Liriano.

-Trading for a top tier guy like Cueto would be just as well.

-It's only December. There are a lot of candidates to fill the Sox's 2 top spots in the rotation. Neither have to be named Lester.

-Most people who are s***ing on the Sox if they miss out on Lester will still be watching come April.

 

I think you kind of made the same point at least 5 different ways there LOL

[Bellhorn04]

Personally I fail to see that Lester can be 'easily' replaced, unless you consider giving Scherzer 180 million or Shields 110 million or trading Swihart/Owens/whoever for Hamels and taking on his 110 million easy.

 

As for Cueto, does anybody actually know the Reds want to deal him, or will deal him without being 'blown away'?

[iortiz]

Personally I fail to see that Lester can be 'easily' replaced, unless you consider giving Scherzer 180 million or Shields 110 million or trading Swihart/Owens/whoever for Hamels and taking on his 110 million easy.

 

As for Cueto, does anybody actually know the Reds want to deal him, or will deal him without being 'blown away'?

We need at least 2 arms of the pitchers you named.

[Bellhorn04]

We need at least 2 arms of the pitchers you named.

 

There are other possibilities. But I just don't see how it's a sure thing we can swing a good deal for an ace. The names of Cueto and Sale keep getting tossed around but no one knows if they're actually available.

[User Name]

Personally I fail to see that Lester can be 'easily' replaced, unless you consider giving Scherzer 180 million or Shields 110 million or trading Swihart/Owens/whoever for Hamels and taking on his 110 million easy.

 

As for Cueto, does anybody actually know the Reds want to deal him, or will deal him without being 'blown away'?

 

No one said it would be "easy". But it's certainly possible. And even if they got Lester, they still need to trade from their OF surplus. The formula's there, sign and trade, the issue is putting a name on he who shall be signed and he who shall be traded for.

 

It's also clearly not as difficult as you're making it out to be. There are available arms, and the Sox have money and surplus talent. Stop your slow and steady descent into the dark side.

[User Name]

When Tony Mazz is telling you the sky is not falling and there are options other than Lester, you may want to reconsider your position

 

Pitching, Not Lester, the priority for Red Sox

[example1]

When Tony Mazz is telling you the sky is not falling and there are options other than Lester, you may want to reconsider your position

 

Pitching, Not Lester, the priority for Red Sox

 

I mean, the same conversation can happen every offseason: populace believes there's a single option to fill the need. Others say there are more than one option. Sox sometimes replace appropriately, sometime they miss. I think rolling the dice like that is far better than just giving in to the salary demand of every FA who is leaving the Sox.

 

Lester should come back. That would make this team better over the next 4-5 years. However, having never written a check for 9 figures I can't speak intelligently about how hard it is to take that risk. I can imagine it is much more difficult than people let on. Smaller contracts spreads the risk, even if it may not have the same immediate reward of a single guy who can add 4-8 WAR in any given year.

[Bellhorn04]

When Tony Mazz is telling you the sky is not falling and there are options other than Lester, you may want to reconsider your position

 

Pitching, Not Lester, the priority for Red Sox

 

I read that piece. It's kind of a jumbled mess IMO

[User Name]

I read that piece. It's kind of a jumbled mess IMO

 

When has anything that Mazz writes not been a jumbled mess? But the point is that he's the main "sky is falling" proponent of he Boston media. The fact that he actually believes Lester isn't the be-all, end-all for the Sox offseason is a breath of fresh air.

[Spudboy]

The only advantage gained by reading an article by Mazz is that you don't have to listen to him.

 

He irritates the hell out of me.

[RedSoxNC84]

Padres are trying to discuss an Ian Kennedy for Cespedes deal. PASS.

[seabeachfred]

I wasn't aware that Henry took you with him for the meeting.

 

I was that fly on the wall IO.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kennedy allows 38% of the balls in play to go in the air. Also, aside from 2011, Kennedy has been around 1.2-1.3HR/9IP while in Arizona. He moves to SD and miraculously, his HR rate got cut in half (nearly). If he goes to Boston, he's gonna see an ERA north of 5 with LOTS of HRs

[Palodios]

Ben has been shopping Cespedes to a variety of teams. He's looking for a #2, and Ian Kennedy is a #4. Doubt this one will happen.

[BSN07]

Fred will be on the grassy noel outside the airport if Kennedy is traded to the Sox..

[pruneface]

Fred already is on a grassy knoll.

 

BTW, mlbtraderumors is reporting Lester will get a 7 year deal. That's crazy. The guy turns 31 in a month. I really don't give a crap where he goes anymore just so long as it's not the Red Sox. Sox could probably get both Liriano and Shields for a total of 7 years combined and trade for another starter like Kennedy. You don't need lights out pitching, just good solid pitching, good hitting and good D to be competitive.

Edited December 8, 2014 by pruneface

[mvp 78]

Liriano sucks. They better not sign him unless they need another #5. Why get someone worse than Buchholz?

[Bellhorn04]

Fred already is on a grassy knoll.

 

BTW, mlbtraderumors is reporting Lester will get a 7 year deal. That's crazy. The guy turns 31 in a month. I really don't give a crap where he goes anymore just so long as it's not the Red Sox. Sox could probably get both Liriano and Shields for a total of 7 years combined and trade for another starter like Kennedy. You don't need lights out pitching, just good solid pitching, good hitting and good D to be competitive.

 

You probably won't like how many years and dollars Shields gets either - it'll be too much of each, you can be sure of that.

[User Name]

After the market settles, it's unlikely Shields gets an obscene number of years, but he'll get an increased number of dollars. I can live with that.

[a700hitter]

You probably won't like how many years and dollars Shields gets either - it'll be too much of each, you can be sure of that.

 

Top pitching is at a premium, and we have none of it, so we will have to pay market prices.

[BSN07]

Shields is likely to get 5 years..pass.. Lester on 7 years? Pass.