2014 Offseason Thread

[MJantomaso]

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.

 

your butt hurtness is premature. It will be acceptable when the off-season comes to an end and we still don't have a number 1.

[Bellhorn04]

The trade for Miley is apparently a done deal. Webster and Rubby going the other way.

[RedSoxNC84]

Oh well, Webster was meh here.. RDLR wasn't too bad at times.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

The trade for Miley is apparently a done deal. Webster and Rubby going the other way.

 

 

Who is the third player we are sending their way?

[User Name]

your butt hurtness is premature. It will be acceptable when the off-season comes to an end and we still don't have a number 1.

 

That's his secret......he's always butthurt.

[User Name]

Miley's a good get imo.

[User Name]

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!!!

 

This is why i like you.

[Spudboy]

Miley's a good get imo.

 

I think so too. I can't understand why a third prospect is necessary but who knows. Webster will likely continue to fizzle. Ruby still has a chance to be something useful if only the pen for now.

 

Sox still need front of rotation arms. I wonder what they will do?

[User Name]

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.

 

No it isn't. Power and offensive production are at a premium, and Ramirez can flat out hit. If you wana point the finger at a stupid contract, point it at Panda.

[RedSoxNC84]

No it isn't. Power and offensive production are at a premium, and Ramirez can flat out hit. If you wana point the finger at a stupid contract, point it at Panda.

 

The Hanley deal was a steal. Panda was more expensive and isn't as good.. so yeah.

[Northern Star]

No it isn't. Power and offensive production are at a premium, and Ramirez can flat out hit. If you wana point the finger at a stupid contract, point it at Panda.

 

Shame he's never played a single game in the OF though.

[Palodios]

I don't understand this move. Rubby seems like he is worth slightly more than him. Why trade a guy with a 4.43 ERA in the AL East for a guy with 4.34 ERA in the NL West, and less years of control? One has an ERA+ of 86, the other 87. Innings are nice and all, but put Miley into the AL East and he will get shelled.

[dupree]

I like the Miley deal myself. Just wondering der who the other minor leaguer will be.

 

With the money saved on Lester I hope tomorrow brings us Shields and another trade for a guy like Hamels.

 

What do you like Shields will get?

I hope somewhere around 4 years at 90 plus a option for 5 at 110 total.

 

I also seen a report that the Sox were close on Masterson on a one year deal. As a # 4 I don't mind it if it's true. Move Kelly to the bullpen/long relief/spot start when Bucholtz gets arm fatigue.

[User Name]

I don't understand this move. Rubby seems like he is worth slightly more than him. Why trade a guy with a 4.43 ERA in the AL East for a guy with 4.34 ERA in the NL West, and less years of control? One has an ERA+ of 86, the other 87. Innings are nice and all, but put Miley into the AL East and he will get shelled.

 

High BABIP, low LOB%, good peripherals, career 3.79 ERA. That's what they see.

[User Name]

Shame he's never played a single game in the OF though.

 

Left field. Dude's a very good athlete and if Manny could play LF, so can he.

[jacksonianmarch]

Miley had a 0.8 WAR in the NL with a ton of homers allowed. He moves to the NL east in one of the toughest ballparks for lefties to pitch in. He's gonna give innings, but they won't be good ones. I also don't get the trade. De la Rosa had some potential and had great stuff. Miley is who he is.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't understand this move. Rubby seems like he is worth slightly more than him. Why trade a guy with a 4.43 ERA in the AL East for a guy with 4.34 ERA in the NL West, and less years of control? One has an ERA+ of 86, the other 87. Innings are nice and all, but put Miley into the AL East and he will get shelled.

 

But it may be time to revisit the AL Beast thing, considering that 3 of the 5 lowest scoring teams in the AL in 2015 were in our division.

[User Name]

Miley had a 0.8 WAR in the NL with a ton of homers allowed. He moves to the NL east in one of the toughest ballparks for lefties to pitch in. He's gonna give innings, but they won't be good ones. I also don't get the trade. De la Rosa had some potential and had great stuff. Miley is who he is.

 

1.7 WAR, in a ballpark that actually has a higher HR factor than Fenway. But why do research......

[Bellhorn04]

The general consensus I'm hearing on the trade from expert types seems favorable.

[User Name]

Not a done deal according to Dave Stewart though.

[MJantomaso]

Miley had a 0.8 WAR in the NL with a ton of homers allowed. He moves to the NL east in one of the toughest ballparks for lefties to pitch in. He's gonna give innings, but they won't be good ones. I also don't get the trade. De la Rosa had some potential and had great stuff. Miley is who he is.

 

AL East*

[MJantomaso]

BUT CAN LESTER DO THIS!?

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/22117014/video-wade-mileys-historic-home-run

[Bellhorn04]

BUT CAN LESTER DO THIS!?

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/22117014/video-wade-mileys-historic-home-run

 

No, in fact, Lester is 0 for 41 in his career including postseason.

[MANNYHOF24]

So if we make this deal our rotation is shaping out to be

 

Cueto/Hamels/Price/Shields

Clay Buchholz

Wide Miley

Justin Masterson

Joe Kelley

 

Clay Buchholz is the key, if he can become his 2013 self, we have a chance to be okay. Let's see how it shakes out though.

[MJantomaso]

No, in fact, Lester is 0 for 41 in his career including postseason.

 

psssh, totally not with 150mil then.

[MJantomaso]

That slider tho..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90_mB1SSmNw

[example1]

I don't understand this move. Rubby seems like he is worth slightly more than him. Why trade a guy with a 4.43 ERA in the AL East for a guy with 4.34 ERA in the NL West, and less years of control? One has an ERA+ of 86, the other 87. Innings are nice and all, but put Miley into the AL East and he will get shelled.

 

The difference is that they can reliably put Miley on the mound and believe he will be a serviceable MLB pitcher for the next few years. He's thrown 194 or more innings for the last three years at only 27. They can't be sure that either RDLR or Webster can do that, either next year or ever. I agree that the youngsters may have a higher ceiling but we can dream on both of them. Miley is an MLB pitcher right now. I think deals like this are what happen when fans (appropriately or not) demand that the team contend for a World Series this year.

 

Ultimately, I prefer Miley over Jake Peavy from last year. He's a 1st round pick who finished 2nd for ROY three years ago. I don't love the trade but I understand it.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

So, we got our #3 or #4 starter.

[seabeachfred]

So, we got our #3 or #4 starter.

 

I would take Miley over Rubby or Webbie any day. Now we have a plethora of three and four starters. Time to start working on getting that No. 1 and No. 2. Open that vault Prune Face and also prepare to part with some young players not named Betts and Swihart to get us those pitchers.

[Palodios]

But it may be time to revisit the AL Beast thing, considering that 3 of the 5 lowest scoring teams in the AL in 2015 were in our division.

 

With the Yankees struggling, it makes life easier, but the big problem is the ballparks. Tampa is the only pitchers park in the group, and who knows where they will be in a year or two.