2014 Offseason Thread

[Dojji]

you can't pass *everything* people. Sooner or later your perfect-world grasp of what values should needs to bend to reality and you need to take SOMETHING you CAN get.

[User Name]

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

 

They'd both end the contract around the same age-year, so i fail to see your logic here.

[BSN07]

They'd both end the contract around the same age-year, so i fail to see your logic here.

 

In terms of contracts I like neither. They are both too long. Shields is already at an age where you really don't know what your going to get health wise from year to year. Lester is quickly approaching that area.

 

This all stems from my dislike of big contracts to P already in their 30's. That's just how I see today's game. 10 years ago I would have been fine with signing 30+ SP. But to me times have changed.

[Bellhorn04]

Based on some of the stuff I'm hearing, my gut feeling is that Lester is going to the Giants.

[mvp 78]

you can't pass *everything* people. Sooner or later your perfect-world grasp of what values should needs to bend to reality and you need to take SOMETHING you CAN get.

 

Fielding a playoff team: pass

 

They need a guy to lead the staff, either Lester or Shields would be fine. They also need a #2 guy. They will probably be paying out the nose. They wouldn't need to if any of the pitching prospects met their ceiling (Webster, Renaudo (Aka Calvin Schiraldi 2.0), RDLR, etc).

[Bellhorn04]

Lester decision reportedly coming tonight or tomorrow.

[BSN07]

Lester decision reportedly coming tonight or tomorrow.

 

Just saw this. Talksox getting ready to melt

[Palodios]

If I disappear from Talksox for a few weeks, there will be a good reason why.

[Spudboy]

Life will go on if Lester goes elsewhere.

 

Although I still would prefer to see him return.

[BSN07]

Edes is tweeting about the Sox having the pieces to get Hamels with Betts being the center piece.

[Palodios]

Edes is tweeting about the Sox having the pieces to get Hamels with Betts being the center piece.

 

Is it just me, or does that seem dumb? Unless Lester doesn't want to come back, it just doesn't make sense. 120 for Hamels or 140-160 million for Lester + Betts? Seems like a no-brainer to me. I wouldn't trade Betts unless he is bringing back Sale, or Harvey. Good AND cheap.

[BSN07]

Is it just me, or does that seem dumb? Unless Lester doesn't want to come back, it just doesn't make sense. 120 for Hamels or 140-160 million for Lester + Betts? Seems like a no-brainer to me. I wouldn't trade Betts unless he is bringing back Sale, or Harvey. Good AND cheap.

 

What if it was Lester and Hamels? Just wondering

[BSN07]

Lester's choice more likely to come tomorrow then this evening via mlbtr

[Spudboy]

I am totally against making Betts the centerpiece of a deal to get Hamels.

 

And as would any person with a functioning brain, I agree with Pal's reasoning.

[Palodios]

What if it was Lester and Hamels? Just wondering

 

The Red Sox can't afford both, and especially not if it takes the only cheap outfielder on the roster. If they want to make payroll space, it will be Victorino, Cespedes or both. They can probably afford 1 big money arm, plus a 10 million dollar type arm like Latos/Porcello/Zimmerman.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox can't afford both, and especially not if it takes the only cheap outfielder on the roster. If they want to make payroll space, it will be Victorino, Cespedes or both. They can probably afford 1 big money arm, plus a 10 million dollar type arm like Latos/Porcello/Zimmerman.

Of those last 3, I'd prefer Zimmerman.

[mvp 78]

Edes is tweeting about the Sox having the pieces to get Hamels with Betts being the center piece.

 

f*** that.

[Spudboy]

f*** that.

 

Precisely.

[dupree]

Cubs and Giants are finalist for Lester per Ken Rosenthal.

[Palodios]

Rosenthal reporting that the Red Sox are out on Lester. Apparently John Henry didn't open the checkbook... yet.

 

edit: Peter Abraham reporting Red Sox 'Absolutely not out" of the running.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Palodios

[seabeachfred]

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.

 

Prune Face, I AM already on the Grassy Knoll, but guess what? I for got my ammunition. How about you and BSN bring me some. I can't leave here or I'll blow my cover. All BS aside, I think getting a No. 3 or a No 3-4 type is the best we are going to get for Cespedes unless he is part of a bigger trade for a top notch No. 1 type like Hamels. Even then I think the Phillies would want someone either better than Cespedes and or someone with longer contract obligations to the Phillies. Get Porcello or Kennedy and take our chances.

[seabeachfred]

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

 

Should have said that to Pruney when I answered his post. LIRIANO DOES SUCK AND HE ADDS VERY LITTLE TO OUR ROTATION AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW EXCEPT TO MAKE IT STINK MORE.

[seabeachfred]

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

 

And that's the bottom line Ted----and I think we all have come to understand that unless there a couple of guys here we don't know about who think we'll get something for nothing. Good pitching costs....simple as that. You either pay good money for it, or good players and or prospects for it unless you want to finish where we did this season..

[seabeachfred]

Edes is tweeting about the Sox having the pieces to get Hamels with Betts being the center piece.

 

Is Edes someone who is trustworthy or is he dispensing some more s***? I remember him when he wrote out here for the Los Angeles Times and he had his nose so far up the Dodger front office's ass that he was always gasping for breath. I promised I wouldn't go to the ledge until after New Year's but I don't believe a think I hear from that guy. What actually is he saying?

[seabeachfred]

Is it just me, or does that seem dumb? Unless Lester doesn't want to come back, it just doesn't make sense. 120 for Hamels or 140-160 million for Lester + Betts? Seems like a no-brainer to me. I wouldn't trade Betts unless he is bringing back Sale, or Harvey. Good AND cheap.

 

Don't kick yourself my friend because, excuse the slang, IT AIN'T YOU!!!!! I think the picture is becoming clearer to everyone. Lester does NOT want to come back to Boston, and as I've said all along, he isn't coming back. Yes, I hope I'm off base there, but the facts are becoming clearer by the day. The front office low balled him in the Spring and traded him in the summer. Do you believe for a minute he was believing the ******** being dispensed by Prune Face Senior and his cohorts that they really wanted him back? Having lost Lester we need Hamels and that is going to cost us and cost us plenty......AND IT ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE FRONT OFFICE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THEIR HEADS OUT AND OFFERED HIM A MAJOR EXTENSION RIGHT AFTER WE WON THE WORLD SERIES A YEAR AGO.

[seabeachfred]

Rosenthal reporting that the Red Sox are out on Lester. Apparently John Henry didn't open the checkbook... yet.

 

edit: Peter Abraham reporting Red Sox 'Absolutely not out" of the running.

 

Hey mvp, I hope you don't mind me playing copy cat, but between Rosenthal and Abraham, f*** THAT!!!!!!!!

[User Name]

Sextuple post? Holy s***.

[User Name]

The Red Sox can't afford both, and especially not if it takes the only cheap outfielder on the roster. If they want to make payroll space, it will be Victorino, Cespedes or both. They can probably afford 1 big money arm, plus a 10 million dollar type arm like Latos/Porcello/Zimmerman.

 

Yes they can, and they have confirmed as much with their affirmation that they would go over the salary cap if needed. This is the Boston Red Sox we're talking about, not the San Diego Padres.

[User Name]

Current update has the Sox brass meeting with Lester before the night is over. He's giving them one last chance at signing him.

[vjcsmoke]

Current update has the Sox brass meeting with Lester before the night is over. He's giving them one last chance at signing him.

 

I'd love to have Lester return and then have the Sox add Cole Hamels to the mix. That would give them 2 proven, ace-quality pitchers at the top.

 

If we can't get Lester back, we'll probably target Cuetos from the Reds and again Cole Hamels from the Phillies.

Gotta give up some to get some.

The question is who do we give up to get that starting pitching?

 

You've got to think that Middlebrooks days in Boston are numbered ever since we signed Pablo Sandoval.

And Cespedes has been on the block and is the odd man out now that we signed Hanley Ramirez.