2014 Offseason Thread

[Palodios]

As we look toward the 2015-16 free agent class, I find myself wondering: Why?

 

Scherzer seems like just as good an option as Price, Cueto, Zimmerman, Greinke. ERA+, arm mileage and injury history all seem to point to Scherzer as one of the best of the group. Cueto is the only better arm, but his injury history is concerning.

 

Here's the thing: no one seems to be in on Scherzer. Will you be able to say that about the options in 2015?

Scherzer will cost the Red Sox a 3rd rounder, whereas the other guys may cost a 1st rounder next year. If the Red Sox trade for them midseason, they may cost even more -- guys like Swihart/ Betts/ Owens.

[User Name]

I'd try to strike now on Scherzer. He has to be feeling the pressure.

[jacksonianmarch]

As we look toward the 2015-16 free agent class, I find myself wondering: Why?

 

Scherzer seems like just as good an option as Price, Cueto, Zimmerman, Greinke. ERA+, arm mileage and injury history all seem to point to Scherzer as one of the best of the group. Cueto is the only better arm, but his injury history is concerning.

 

Here's the thing: no one seems to be in on Scherzer. Will you be able to say that about the options in 2015?

Scherzer will cost the Red Sox a 3rd rounder, whereas the other guys may cost a 1st rounder next year. If the Red Sox trade for them midseason, they may cost even more -- guys like Swihart/ Betts/ Owens.

 

Scherzer would cost you a fourth rounder. Hanley and Pablo cost you your 2nd and 3rd and your 1st is protected

[Palodios]

Scherzer would cost you a fourth rounder. Hanley and Pablo cost you your 2nd and 3rd and your 1st is protected

 

The Red Sox received a competitive balance pick (2nd round I think) in a trade, so they lost that one instead of a 3rd rounder.

[seabeachfred]

As we look toward the 2015-16 free agent class, I find myself wondering: Why?

 

Scherzer seems like just as good an option as Price, Cueto, Zimmerman, Greinke. ERA+, arm mileage and injury history all seem to point to Scherzer as one of the best of the group. Cueto is the only better arm, but his injury history is concerning.

 

Here's the thing: no one seems to be in on Scherzer. Will you be able to say that about the options in 2015?

Scherzer will cost the Red Sox a 3rd rounder, whereas the other guys may cost a 1st rounder next year. If the Red Sox trade for them midseason, they may cost even more -- guys like Swihart/ Betts/ Owens.

 

I wonder about that too Pal. We could step up and sign a guy who would be a absolute No. 1 ace for us. Only two reason I can think of for not getting in on this. One, Henry is not willing to go over the luxury tax because he's a damn liar and doesn't want to spend the money---or afraid if does take the plunge the Yankees will get into the bidding was and once again force Prune Face to throw in his cards and look even more ridiculous. This is one time Henry must stand tall and go for it, if for no other reason that to confirm in the fans that he realizes how badly he blew it in the Lester debacle and is willing to make amends that need to be made.

[User Name]

They're already over the luxury tax, and this has been repeated ad nauseum. Do some research.

[dupree]

Report is D-backs are in on Shields

 

Well sorry but he will hold out till a legit contender calls. And the D backs will contender no time soon. But hey they have RDLR and Webster probably slotted into the back end of their rotation next year, may win 10 games between the two of them. We definitely won that trade even if Miley is mediocre we still won I hated watching Webster with every once of me.

[BSN07]

I'd try to strike now on Scherzer. He has to be feeling the pressure.

 

Doesn't make sense. No way he signs for less then the 160M(Boras's version)-140M(Detroits version) and at that point why wouldn't they just have offered that to Lester?

 

If they sign him whatever, I will hope for the best but I'll always have trouble watching him because his arm action makes me grimace.

Edited January 13, 2015 by BSN07

[User Name]

It does make sense if they valued Scherzer/Shields higher than Lester in the first place. We just don't know.

[a700hitter]

•The Twins are planning to watch lefty Johan Santana throw today after already seeing him on the mound last week, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets. Santana is not the only prominent hurler eyeing a comeback, it seems. Former closer Carlos Marmol threw in the Dominican earlier this winter and is now pitching in Venezuela, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. And one-time relief ace Daniel Bard, whose career derailed with a failed conversion back to the rotation, is also seeking a return, Cafardo reports. The 29-year-old says he is finally healthy and expects to sign a deal this week

Bard had some kind of arm, but then the wheels came off. It was a shame.

[BSN07]

It does make sense if they valued Scherzer/Shields higher than Lester in the first place. We just don't know.

 

Just out of curiosity if you had they choice of Scherzer this year or Price next year which would you choose?

[Bellhorn04]

Personally I'd prefer Scherzer over Price, but solely on intangibles. Price looked bad in the incident with Papi.

[BSN07]

Ya there is the Papi incident, but I think they sort that out eventually. I just think Price will be the better bet for the duration of the deal. Both are gambles for sure.

[Spudboy]

It does make sense if they valued Scherzer/Shields higher than Lester in the first place. We just don't know.

 

If so then it would be one very well kept secret and possibly a very good strategy.

 

I'm not in love with Scherzer for some reason and I certainly do not like what top pitching has come to cost.

 

However, if the Sox grab him I will be happy that the FO has gone out and gotten a top guy.

[Spudboy]

Bard had some kind of arm, but then the wheels came off. It was a shame.

 

I'm with you on this Ted. It was a huge shame to see what happened after he was so lights out. I hope that he can make it back but doubt it very much.

[alphilip77]

Sox apparently pursuing Alexi Ogando "aggressively." If this guy can get healthy, I would love him as a 7th or 8th inning guy in the bullpen. Could spell Tazawa or Mujica from time to time.

[Palodios]

I mentioned Ogando a few days ago, and he seems like a very versatile piece. In the past, he's put up an ERA in the mid 3.00s as a starter, and has also closed out games for Texas. If his elbow is healthy, he's a guy that will be very good in 2015.

[Palodios]

Just out of curiosity if you had they choice of Scherzer this year or Price next year which would you choose?

 

2015-2016 Price will probably have 200 more innings on his arm than 2014-2015 Scherzer. Price has had a better ERA/Whip over his career, but ERA+ numbers are similar. Both have been healthy. Near identical free agency ages.

 

Price will cost a 1st round pick instead of a 3rd. He's also looking at roughly 40 million more. He's also kind of a dick. Why not go for it all now?

[User Name]

Just out of curiosity if you had they choice of Scherzer this year or Price next year which would you choose?

 

Both.

[seabeachfred]

2015-2016 Price will probably have 200 more innings on his arm than 2014-2015 Scherzer. Price has had a better ERA/Whip over his career, but ERA+ numbers are similar. Both have been healthy. Near identical free agency ages.

 

Price will cost a 1st round pick instead of a 3rd. He's also looking at roughly 40 million more. He's also kind of a dick. Why not go for it all now?

 

I think we should go all for it NOW. John Henry blew the Lester contract talks miserably and cost us our ace and he should make amends by making up for that blunder by getting us a pitcher as good or better than Jon so we have a good chance to getting to the show this coming season. We should also consider the possibility that those pitchers we think will be FA after 2015 may be resigned to an extension or traded to a team that signs them long term. I mean there are owners and CEO's who aren't as myopic and short sighted as Henry and Lucchino were with Lester-------one of the most miserable and pathetic blunders that could come back to bite us on the ass the next few years unless they rectify that. Let's not mince words. Losing Lester is a potential disaster unless steps are taken to get us that ace we need.

[Spudboy]

Or the Sox FO are taking a less reactionary approach to building a team for the future with an eye to go for it in 2016?

[User Name]

Nah, they're just stupid. Henry is a prune face, Lucchino is an old slithering snake, and Ben is a boob/fred

[cp176]

Or the Sox FO are taking a less reactionary approach to building a team for the future with an eye to go for it in 2016?

 

What a huge waste of money that would be for them this year. They either think that they can win with the pitching staff that they have now or they make an addition. I truly do not believe (I hope anyway) that they would not have signed the people that they have signed if their intent was to build a team for 2016.

[Palodios]

Or the Sox FO are taking a less reactionary approach to building a team for the future with an eye to go for it in 2016?

 

What difference would 2016 make over 2015? Ortiz, Pedroia, Koji will be one year older. Napoli's production will be hard to replace. They will need to replace Masterson/Porcello/Buchholz. Mookie and Xander are here already. There is nowhere for the bridge to go.

[dupree]

Amen Pal. I see so many saying bridge year. Ok f*** the bridge. This is the red sox not a small market Tampa Bay type that nickel and dime to be competitive they are to compete every year.

 

I want to think a big pitcher will be added in the near future. Does anyone know the day ticket sales for this up coming year? Ofcourse Hanley & Panda will be on the stub but I'd say that if a pitcher is the be added it will be before then to add that pitcher photo in the middle of the two sluggers on the stub.

 

Tickets may have already come out tho I've looked a couple of times on Stub Hub and all it says is TBA so if theyve already been printed I'm totally wrong about adding an ace.

[seabeachfred]

Nah, they're geniuses!!!!! Henry was brilliant is resigning Lester to a new contract, your pal Lucchino was even more brilliant in that generous offer to Jon last spring, and Ben's signing of Drew was the masterstroke of the season//User Ballwasher.

 

BTW, a friend send me an E-mail of your ridiculous post but I will hold my ammo for a better time.....like when you decide to support fully what the FO didn't do to get us that ace you said you'd complain loudly about if they didn't. You see, you cannot help yourself. You're a front office lackey and will always be one. Thank God I have you on ignore---just like you told everyone you had me on ignore but, as usual, were full of s***.

[seabeachfred]

Amen Pal. I see so many saying bridge year. Ok f*** the bridge. This is the red sox not a small market Tampa Bay type that nickel and dime to be competitive they are to compete every year.

 

I want to think a big pitcher will be added in the near future. Does anyone know the day ticket sales for this up coming year? Ofcourse Hanley & Panda will be on the stub but I'd say that if a pitcher is the be added it will be before then to add that pitcher photo in the middle of the two sluggers on the stub.

 

Tickets may have already come out tho I've looked a couple of times on Stub Hub and all it says is TBA so if theyve already been printed I'm totally wrong about adding an ace.

 

Dupree----while it is true that a some posters like me are critical of some of the stupid things the FO has done and has not done to shore up our team, like get us an ace No. 1 type pitcher, you have to understand that there are also a few who believe Cherington and Henry can do no wrong, that they know what they're doing and will follow them like the rats followed the pied piper. Of course, letting Lester get away, signing Drew last Spring, and then not having a back up plan when Bradley and Middlebrooks cratered were sure signs of genius, now weren't they?

[Dojji]

Amen Pal. I see so many saying bridge year. Ok f*** the bridge. This is the red sox not a small market Tampa Bay type that nickel and dime to be competitive they are to compete every year.

 

That's a nice goal, we should have that goal along with the zero other teams that manage to achieve it.

 

We can put together runs, we can sustain runs, and we can spend a lot of money, but we are *not* going to contend *every* year. Personally I don't hate our chances this year, some things have to fall right but it's definitely in the realm of possibility, but nothing we can do will guarantee that we will always contend. That's an impossible standard in a sport like baseball here random chance and the kind of events that can happen across a season can play a far bigger role in the fate of the season than the offseason plan.

[mvp 78]

Why do I get the feeling that game threads will be a nightmare this year?

[mvp 78]

If I never had to read the term "ballwasher" again, I'd be so happy.