2014 Offseason Thread

[mvp 78]

Sports writers are obsessed with puns. I seriously hope we don't have to deal with "He's so Miley" headlines.

 

Not a Springstein reference. Sports writers wouldn't like that pun.

[seabeachfred]

Losers? They did win 3 WS didn't they? Maybe I'm misremembering?

 

But what have they done for us lately? As the old saying goes.

[mvp 78]

If he's going to be 3 or 4 and comes cheap, it's a decent move as he's topped 200 IP the last two seasons. If he's supposed to be 1 or 2, we're in trouble.

 

His whip is in the Masterson/Porcello area.

 

I agree though...

 

Trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble.

 

Plus it sounds too close to Wade Miller. f***.

[d-money]

Need that lefty starter that's could.Trade for porcello and then hamels

[mvp 78]

But what have they done for us lately? As the old saying goes.

 

In Redsox fandom, 3 rings in past 11 years is "lately" enough for me.

[iortiz]

I'm not surprised that Lester is gone. They should have made better offers last spring. I think Lucchino is the guy to blame.

 

How often does a guy resign with his original team after being traded at midseason. Has it ever happened?

 

Not sure but in all places a lot of people of media are saying that the Red Sox just conduct the worst negotiation in the history of negotiations.

[Palodios]

Two sources saying Red Sox close on Miley, Bob Nightengale say Sox not close. What a long torturous offseason.

[iortiz]

And if he had any balls, Cherington would be saying to them...."You two guys f***ed this Lester thing up. What is your plan and how much money or prospects are you willing to expend to make us a contender next season.....or do you want to keep screwing up like the two f***ing losers you are? Of course he then would most likely be on borrowed time but he then could go work for Epstein as gofer or something.

Just noticed on FB that Ben is sending "reflexive" messages to the red sox nation about Jon's departure LOL!

 

He should shut the f*** up and get some pitching already.

[Spudboy]

Nope... for completely misread his value at the time.

 

On the other hand it is quite possible the Sox knew the likely "value" of Lester and decided early on that they would not sign him to a contract above what they ( The Sox ) value him at.

 

The Sox made a ridiculous initial offer last spring of about 4/70. Then recently let it be known that they would go to 5-6/120. Ultimately the Sox landed at 6/135 ( incidentally the offer that I suggested would do it last spring ).

 

I believe that the Sox put a value on Lester and were very confident that he would eclipse that value by a sizable margin in free agency. They may have made the under bids and even traded him with the idea that he would not return.

 

In doing so the Sox can easily say that they made the effort to get him to sign when they were pretty sure that he would be gone.

 

On the bright side, while loosing a compensatory pick of unknown value, the Sox got Cespedes in return for Lester's value.

 

Now the outstanding defensive power hitter can be used to land another arm.

 

Brilliant!!!

[Spudboy]

Mega-contracts come down to what ownership wants to pay, not the GM.

 

Ben already has plans B-Z ready since he's already commented on looking into 20 other guys.

 

I may be incorrect here but the quote from Ben was that there were 15-20 scenarios that could help the Sox reload. Not 15-20 pitchers.

 

I wish I could find that quote.

[Spudboy]

If the Sox lose game 73, I turn the tv off and go to sleep. No reason to stomp around and pout.

 

Of course when you get much older and your prostrate enlarges you may suffer from the Fred Walk.

 

I speak from experience, unfortunately!!!

[iortiz]

On the other hand it is quite possible the Sox knew the likely "value" of Lester and decided early on that they would not sign him to a contract above what they ( The Sox ) value him at.

 

The Sox made a ridiculous initial offer last spring of about 4/70. Then recently let it be known that they would go to 5-6/120. Ultimately the Sox landed at 6/135 ( incidentally the offer that I suggested would do it last spring ).

 

I believe that the Sox put a value on Lester and were very confident that he would eclipse that value by a sizable margin in free agency. They may have made the under bids and even traded him with the idea that he would not return.

 

In doing so the Sox can easily say that they made the effort to get him to sign when they were pretty sure that he would be gone.

 

On the bright side, while loosing a compensatory pick of unknown value, the Sox got Cespedes in return for Lester's value.

 

Now the outstanding defensive power hitter can be used to land another arm.

 

Brilliant!!!

Speaking for myself, this was terrible managed all around. On the other hand, this hasn't finished, but IMO teams like Reds, Phillies and FAs which the Red Sox are supposdly talking to have increased their power to negotiate.

 

Now we most likely going to give up prospects like Betts and XB and/or overpay if we want to land two solid SPs... hopefully I eat my words.

[Spudboy]

Re Miley:

 

Latest On Wade Miley

By Jeff Todd [December 10, 2014 at 3:46pm CST]

 

3:46pm: The Red Sox are actually not involved at all in discussions on Miley, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Miami is still in the picture, Nightengale tweets.

 

3:40pm: The Red Sox are indeed nearing a deal to acquire Miley, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter.

 

3:21pm: The Marlins and Rangers are out on Miley, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, leaving the Red Sox as the likely suitor unless another team has jumped in.

 

3:02pm: One team that had been in discussions on Miley has dropped out, believing a deal to be nearing between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com tweets.

 

2:37pm: The D’Backs are nearing a deal involving Miley, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets.

 

12:26pm: Arizona appears to be after young pitching in return, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports.

 

9:14am: The Diamondbacks are listening to offers for starter Wade Miley, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Arizona appears to have at least some inclination to move him, as the club is attempting to drop its payroll under the $90MM threshold.

 

Miley, 28, is in his first of three seasons of arbitratration eligibility. The lefty has been a sturdy presence in the D’Backs rotation over the past three seasons, posting a total of 598 2/3 innings at a 3.74 ERA clip over that stretch. Though his results took a step backward last year, ERA estimators suggested he was much the same pitcher, if not better. Indeed, Miley also managed a career-best 8.2 K/9.

 

Of course, with that kind of volume of productive innings, Miley’s arbitration earnings will not be low. MLBTR and Matt Swartz project that he will take home $4.3MM this year, and that number will only rise in future seasons.

 

Nevertheless, Miley is a durable, controllable starter who figures to draw plenty of suitors. The Red Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Rangers are already said to have some interest. Of course, the same things that make him attractive to other clubs presumably make him a nice commodity to the D’Backs, so it remains to be seen how serious the club is about striking a deal.

 

 

I have no idea what to believe or to think!

[Spudboy]

From ESPN Insider:

 

"The Baltimore Orioles have some lineup holes to fill and are interested in Boston’s Yoenis Cespedes, reports Ron Bradford of WEEI.com."

[pruneface]

Lester's contract includes a 30 million signing bonus and an optional 7th year. So it's really 30 million per year. I'd prefer Lester be on the Sox but not at that price.

[cp176]

What is confusing to me is that they really don't seem to have a plan. You sign a guy out of Cuba who has never played in the majors you throw 88 million at Hanley Ramirez and hope he can play left field. I'm a New Englander so I will continue to support them. I appreciate the 3 titles but if our minor leaguers were as good as we think they are, this team should never finish last in the East. From the position players Betts is the only one that I would not be willing to move. In terms of pitchers, maybe Renaudo is a keeper. Other than that I would move any and all to better this team and it is pretty obvious what they need. The money issue really troubles me. If there is a budget, it is self imposed. John Henry can afford whatever he wants. It kind of looks to me like the boys are just throwing something against the wall in hopes of it sticking!

[Bellhorn04]

Lester's contract includes a 30 million signing bonus and an optional 7th year. So it's really 30 million per year. I'd prefer Lester be on the Sox but not at that price.

 

It's not $30 million a year. It's either $155 million for 6 years = $25.83 million average, or $170 million for 7 years if the option vests = $24.29 million average.

[dupree]

We are about to acquire Wade Miley. Wait oh no we are not even talking to the D-Backs.

 

I honestly thought that rumblings of Sheilds tobt he Red Sox would be the talk. But it's been surprisingly quite today.

[Bellhorn04]

Cherington says he expects no deals this week. Much progress though.

[MJantomaso]

word on the skreet is the Sox are finalizing a deal with Masterson.

[Northern Star]

What is confusing to me is that they really don't seem to have a plan. You sign a guy out of Cuba who has never played in the majors you throw 88 million at Hanley Ramirez and hope he can play left field. I'm a New Englander so I will continue to support them. I appreciate the 3 titles but if our minor leaguers were as good as we think they are, this team should never finish last in the East. From the position players Betts is the only one that I would not be willing to move. In terms of pitchers, maybe Renaudo is a keeper. Other than that I would move any and all to better this team and it is pretty obvious what they need. The money issue really troubles me. If there is a budget, it is self imposed. John Henry can afford whatever he wants. It kind of looks to me like the boys are just throwing something against the wall in hopes of it sticking!

 

Signing Hanley is/was f***ing stupid. It's as simple as that. The moves look like Crawford and Gonzo ver 2.0. They haven't learned their lesson. I highly expect that their moves are gonna come back and bite them, and if they turn Cespedes (ie Lester) into an average return or worse, Im gonna be pissed.

[a700hitter]

Unless they can use the $155 million saved on Lester to find a top of the rotation pitcher or 2, the $155 million can't pitch and it doesn't mean anything to me.

[d-money]

What is the love affair with masterson?I just don't get it

[Northern Star]

Scherzer and Boras will be asking $200mil. Whether they get it will be another thing, but with Lester off the market, you can guarantee he will get north of Lester's deal.

[MJantomaso]

What is the love affair with masterson?I just don't get it

 

where is the love afair? He is a back of the rotation guy.

[cp176]

Wade Miley! Really? Let's see - I will take Renaudo, Webster, Ruby D.,Barnes, Workman, Owens, Tiant, Momboquette, Wilson, Moorehead, and Bill Lee before I take him right now. Come on. don't do this to me.

[d-money]

They have enough back of the rotation guys!The most disappointing thing is that these rookie pitchers last year made no great impression on the field.if they did then I wouldn't be worried about the pitching staff.I don't know how buchholz bounces back.Well maybe he won't be terrible as he was but his velocity keeps sinking and his mental makeup is pathetic.

[seabeachfred]

What is confusing to me is that they really don't seem to have a plan. You sign a guy out of Cuba who has never played in the majors you throw 88 million at Hanley Ramirez and hope he can play left field. I'm a New Englander so I will continue to support them. I appreciate the 3 titles but if our minor leaguers were as good as we think they are, this team should never finish last in the East. From the position players Betts is the only one that I would not be willing to move. In terms of pitchers, maybe Renaudo is a keeper. Other than that I would move any and all to better this team and it is pretty obvious what they need. The money issue really troubles me. If there is a budget, it is self imposed. John Henry can afford whatever he wants. It kind of looks to me like the boys are just throwing something against the wall in hopes of it sticking!

 

Well if that's what he trying to do CP I have a suggestion for pruney. Throw some of the ******** he and Lucchino have been dispensing at that wall. The smell would be terrible but they would then feel right at home.

[seabeachfred]

word on the skreet is the Sox are finalizing a deal with Masterson.

 

Gee MJ, that ought to get us back to the World Series next year. Masterson and Buchholz and Kelly as our anchors. And you wonder why I and some of us here keep bitching. We still haven't signed a top notch pitcher and we still have Cespedes who needs to be traded.

[seabeachfred]

What is the love affair with masterson?I just don't get it

 

Because the front office says he will be a key for us and the ball washers among us are already drinking the Kool Aid and rendering homage to Prune Face and his merry band of idiots.