2014 Offseason Thread

[BSN07]

I think it be more surprising if they hadn't. If Scherzer goes to dc, which i think has a good chance of happening, the Nats will trade Zim.

 

I have a hard time seeing them do it if no one else is brought it. They just traded Detwiller, so they aren't terribly deep at SP.

[dupree]

@OverTheMonster: Red Sox, Nationals have talked Jordan Zimmermann trade

 

Yum

I hope this happens. I'd rather the Sox give Zim 135 million instead of Lester anyday. I was big on resigning Lester but young controllable pitching is the way of the future. Giving these 30+ pitcher 120 million + and 6 or 7 year deals and expecting it to work all out is crazy on any teams account. It took me a long time to realize that but I can kinda see where Ben is heading this team in regards to pitching. Not to say I like all the moves but I see the intent of the madness.

[sk7326]

Would you trade Craig+ for Gallardo or Lohse?

 

Gallardo. Now I think the Brewers can get more.

[mvp 78]

Sox acquired Nestor Molina (rhp), Luke Montz © and Marco Hernandez (if).

 

Ben running the MVP 2004 trade machine.

[jacksonianmarch]

Zimmerman is hitting the market unless you blow him away. He's turned down big money from Washington

[mvp 78]

Zimmerman is hitting the market unless you blow him away. He's turned down big money from Washington

 

If you never overpay, you better hope the market starts undervaluing guys.

 

They have the money. They should stop dicking around.

[Palodios]

If you never overpay, you better hope the market starts undervaluing guys.

 

They have the money. They should stop dicking around.

 

The problem never seems to be money, the problem is usually years.

 

I'm surprised teams don't heavily frontload these deals in order to pay players what they would actually be worth, ie 35/35/25/15/10/10. They'd lose a few million from inflation, but atleast they would be paying players for what they are worth on a given year, and it would make trading them much easier.

[mvp 78]

Why even tack on 2 additional years? Why not just overpay for 2-3 years and say "you can still get another deal down the line?"

[sk7326]

The problem never seems to be money, the problem is usually years.

 

I'm surprised teams don't heavily frontload these deals in order to pay players what they would actually be worth, ie 35/35/25/15/10/10. They'd lose a few million from inflation, but atleast they would be paying players for what they are worth on a given year, and it would make trading them much easier.

 

I suspect most teams would have serious cash flow issues doing that - or at least to a certain degree. MVP noted why don't teams offer the latter years - I think that comes down to winning the auction. Because of the recent CBA rules, we are dealing with big time seller's markets (and probably will for the foreseeable future). Teams have the cash to make the crazy offers, and the rules are limiting the ways you can spend it.

 

At the same time, you DO see that logic hold on the "Adrian Beltre 2010" (or Justin Masterson now) sort of marriages of convenience.

[jacksonianmarch]

I thought of that as well, but it doesn't make fiscal sense. If you assume 8% on the market, every million you give per year that you didn't need to is costing you $80K. Also, it allows for a negotiation tactic. If a player is worth his contract, then you make a deal straight up. But monetarily, you have more leeway in terms of cost when a player is owed a ridiculous contract

[Palodios]

Bookies are predicting the Red Sox to win the AL Pennant this year.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/12/no_lester_no_problem_red_sox_odds-on_favorite_to_w.html

[Palodios]

The Dodgers looking to dump Brandon League. He's an extreme groundballer who has somewhat effective -- maybe he's available on the cheap.

[seabeachfred]

The Dodgers looking to dump Brandon League. He's an extreme groundballer who has somewhat effective -- maybe he's available on the cheap.

 

Please Palodios, not this guy. Take it from me......he is a poster boy for a choker. You think Alan Webster had the deer in the headlights look; this guy is academy award in that regard. He would get eaten up by the American League and eaten up by the Boston fans. Believe me, we can do better.

[cp176]

I thought of that as well, but it doesn't make fiscal sense. If you assume 8% on the market, every million you give per year that you didn't need to is costing you $80K. Also, it allows for a negotiation tactic. If a player is worth his contract, then you make a deal straight up. But monetarily, you have more leeway in terms of cost when a player is owed a ridiculous contract

 

I would be curious to know some actual stats. How many of the current owners of Major League franchises need to worry about cash flow? I think that I am on safe ground by saying that the majority don't worry about it too much. Most probably made their money doing something else. You don't make it by giving it away but we are pretty convinced that not overspending by billionaires is an important issue. I don't think that it is.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's a business. There is time value to money. All businessmen know this. Paying big money up front when you can spread it out or delay it is a bad business strategy Edited December 17, 2014 by jacksonianmarch

[cp176]

There is no question about that. Wealthy people allow their money to work for them for as long as they can. Borrow at 3% while you are making 8. Makes sense to me. Like I said before, they are all rich. For most of these guys, our talk about over paying someone is just a bunch of babble. The Red Sox can do what they want to do. It is really just a matter of how they want to do it.

[Bellhorn04]

There is no question about that. Wealthy people allow their money to work for them for as long as they can. Borrow at 3% while you are making 8. Makes sense to me. Like I said before, they are all rich. For most of these guys, our talk about over paying someone is just a bunch of babble.

 

Well, there's overpaying and there's overpaying. It's not going to kill most teams to overpay their productive players by 10% or 20% or whatever. But some contracts are so disastrous that they handicap even the wealthiest teams (A-Rod, Crawford).

[BSN07]

Wilson got dfa'd by LAD. Any interest to see if he can stick in the Sox pen?

[Palodios]

Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro. Weird that the Braves DFAed him -- he seems relatively effective the last two years.

[BSN07]

Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro. Weird that the Braves DFAed him -- he seems relatively effective the last two years.

 

Knew nothing about the guy but a quick peak at the ol stat line and he appears to be a decent BP arm.

[iortiz]

Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro. Weird that the Braves DFAed him -- he seems relatively effective the last two years.

I haven't seen his numbers but I clearly remember a friend who roots for the Braves, complaining all the time when this guy was on the mound haha

[Palodios]

I haven't seen his numbers but I clearly remember a friend who roots for the Braves, complaining all the time when this guy was on the mound haha

 

In all fairness, you could say the same thing about every reliever on this team in the last 15 years not named Papelbon or Uehara:p

[Navafan29]

Why the Red Sox have a better chance of winning in 2015 than 2014: The 2014 season has already happened, so there is a 100% chance they will finish last. The 2015 season on the other hand, hasn't happened yet; who knows the probabilities. Mind blown. But I have a felling we will finish 3rd...

[mvp 78]

In all fairness, you could say the same thing about every reliever on this team in the last 15 years not named Papelbon or Uehara:p

 

f*** that. I'm a Scott Williamson guy.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro. Weird that the Braves DFAed him -- he seems relatively effective the last two years.

 

Needed to make room on the 40 for an upcoming trade?

[iortiz]

Why the Red Sox have a better chance of winning in 2015 than 2014: The 2014 season has already happened, so there is a 100% chance they will finish last. The 2015 season on the other hand, hasn't happened yet; who knows the probabilities. Mind blown. But I have a felling we will finish 3rd...

 

Well, if we go like this, you bet.

[NativeBostonian]

Anthony Varvaro doesn't seem like a bad pickup. He had an ERA under 3 last season.

[Palodios]

The AL East is much weaker in 2015.

The Rays have blown it up.

The Yankees have been quiet so far this offseason, and have lost several key players.

Baltimore has lost a pile of key players, including their 40 HR bat.

 

Outside of the Jays, what team are you afraid of in 2015?

[iortiz]

A rotation like this could be slaughtered by even mediocre lups, this is what worries me more; and not to mention that this current rotation is not by any means a PO rotation one. Edited December 17, 2014 by iortiz

[sk7326]

A rotation like this could be slaughtered by even mediocre lups, this is what worries me; and not to mention that this current rotation is not by any means a PO rotation one.

 

Oh I don't know - this rotation slots as quite good in the #2-#5 spots. #1 is not ideal but will not be 0fer against other 1s either. The offense needed to improve - as long as it does so, this rotation has potential to be fine.

 

Cherington's moves with relievers is solid - just sign a giant truckload of them, see who makes the cut.