2014 Offseason Thread

[a700hitter]

I would not trade Pedroia for 1 year of Zimmerman, but I might consider it for Strasburg. Pedroia's health and performance have been declining. I am not sure that he can be what he used to be. But damn, it would be hard to part with him. Also, isn't Rendon their second baseman?

[mvp 78]

BBQ is fine. Sweet Baby Rays.

 

It's just gonna have to be a wait and see with Betts.

 

I'd rather have to eat crow and apologize and be totally wrong about him and the Sox do well than him sucking and be able to say i told you so. Let me just be the 1st to clarify that.

 

Sweet Baby Rays is the tits! The sauce is the boss!

[Palodios]

The Shields market took an interesting turn recently, according to both Bob Nightengale and Jayson Stark. Several teams are back in on Shields, but are "bottom-feeding" and putting out 80 million dollar offers. At that rate, there is no reason why the Red Sox shouldn't be in on him.

[Bellhorn04]

The Shields market took an interesting turn recently, according to both Bob Nightengale and Jayson Stark. Several teams are back in on Shields, but are "bottom-feeding" and putting out 80 million dollar offers. At that rate, there is no reason why the Red Sox shouldn't be in on him.

 

No kidding. Hopefully they are.

[Elktonnick]

The latest coming out of Boston is that the Sox aren't THAT interested in Shields because he isn't a ground ball pitcher whose style isn't suited to Fenway Park.

[mvp 78]

I would not trade Pedroia for 1 year of Zimmerman, but I might consider it for Strasburg. Pedroia's health and performance have been declining. I am not sure that he can be what he used to be. But damn, it would be hard to part with him. Also, isn't Rendon their second baseman?

 

Nats fans think Rendon is moving to 3b this year.

[mvp 78]

His Fenway numbers are pretty mediocre. 4.37 ERA in an astounding 167 IP. That's barely a small sample size.

 

He faced some ungodly Sox lineups during that stretch.

[Palodios]

He faced some ungodly Sox lineups during that stretch.

 

I actually screwed up those numbers. That's his career line against boston. Here's his Fenway line:

 

74 IP, 5.42 ERA, 1.45 WHIP. Not good.

[mvp 78]

Anyone else read the Betts for Strasburg article?

[mvp 78]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/making-the-case-for-a-strasburgbetts-trade/

[cp176]

Anyone else read the Betts for Strasburg article?

 

yes

[a700hitter]

I'm in on Betts for Strasburg, but it is just conjecture. There are no reports that there have been any negotiations between the 2 teams.

[cp176]

I took particular note of the very last sentence.

[mvp 78]

Isn't everything conjecture at this point? Just thought it was interesting as it may be a better deal for both clubs.

[cp176]

Isn't everything conjecture at this point? Just thought it was interesting as it may be a better deal for both clubs.

 

Sure is conjecture. It was interesting. Well written. When it looks like no one knows what is going to happen, quite often nothing does. I could live with the deal personally.

[cp176]

Sure is conjecture. It was interesting. Well written. When it looks like no one knows what is going to happen, quite often nothing does. I could live with the deal personally.

 

 

Should have added - I just think that every writer dealing with the game in general is throwing out possibilities. Not a bad thing necessariy. I enjoy reading about them.

[a700hitter]

Should have added - I just think that every writer dealing with the game in general is throwing out possibilities. Not a bad thing necessariy. I enjoy reading about them.

It's interesting that's for sure, but until I read a report that there are some negotiations I don't get too excited.

 

BTW, It seems like the Phillies are not getting interest in Hamels. It looks like no one wants to do business with Amaro. Phils President is reported to have said that he thinks interest in Hamel will pick up in the Spring.

[cp176]

It's interesting that's for sure, but until I read a report that there are some negotiations I don't get too excited.

 

BTW, It seems like the Phillies are not getting interest in Hamels. It looks like no one wants to do business with Amaro. Phils President is reported to have said that he thinks interest in Hamel will pick up in the Spring.

 

I know that you are familiar with the old expression - "when it is all said and done there is usually more said than done".

Seems to be the case here. I'm going to take a little nap and wait for something substantial to happen as well.

[Palodios]

It's interesting that's for sure, but until I read a report that there are some negotiations I don't get too excited.

 

BTW, It seems like the Phillies are not getting interest in Hamels. It looks like no one wants to do business with Amaro. Phils President is reported to have said that he thinks interest in Hamel will pick up in the Spring.

 

The Phillies seem to have been burned by the lengthy free agencies of Shields and Scherzer. If those guys were signed in December, Hamels would be a lot easier to move. It doesn't help that Amaro wants the farm.

[seabeachfred]

I still have not read any reports that Red Sox and Nats are discussing Zimmerman. Does anyone have a link?

 

And please Ted, let's not talk about trading Napoli. He's a key for our success this year and I hope he is pretty much injury free. Besides, who would play first for us if we traded him? We'd be weaker at first in the long run.

 

PS---see friends, 700 Hitter and I don't agree on everything and maybe we can now put that canard to rest once and for all. But he is right about 99% of the time.

[seabeachfred]

The latest coming out of Boston is that the Sox aren't THAT interested in Shields because he isn't a ground ball pitcher whose style isn't suited to Fenway Park.

 

I think that's been the holdup all along.....that and the price tag Elk. He has not pitched well at Fenway in the past, something like 2-9 with a high five plus ERA. Still a lot changes when you go from pitching poorly at that park and wind up pitching as a member of that home team. Shields will only cost us money, something Henry has plenty of. Zimmermann, the guy I now really want, might cost us some prospects we'd like to keep.....like Betts and Swihart and Owens for instance.

[seabeachfred]

Anyone else read the Betts for Strasburg article?

 

I didn't and don't want to. I want nothing to do with our team trading Betts, Swihart or Owens. However, they say where there's smoke there's fire and either the pundits who cover baseball are starving for things to write, or there is something afoot via Strasburg or Zimmermann that means something might break with a week or so. I keep wondering mvp just how expensive it's going to be to land Zimmermann or how much it would cost us to land Shields. Needless to say, I've been saying all along we need that No. 1 guy.

[seabeachfred]

It's interesting that's for sure, but until I read a report that there are some negotiations I don't get too excited.

 

BTW, It seems like the Phillies are not getting interest in Hamels. It looks like no one wants to do business with Amaro. Phils President is reported to have said that he thinks interest in Hamel will pick up in the Spring.

 

Can you blame any team for not wanting to do business with Amaro? I don't know how they rate GM's or if some group does, but Rube jr. has to rank with the worst in the game. Hell, even after a most miserable 2013 season, their second or third in a row, he didn't make one change except to resign some of his greybeards to extensions even though the needle was pointing down. As much as I've said about Cherington I would rather have him any day of the year over that nothing in Philadelphia.

[Palodios]

Ben just said that the Red Sox are done looking for significant rotation upgrades.

 

Sadpal.

[seabeachfred]

Ben just said that the Red Sox are done looking for significant rotation upgrades.

 

Sadpal.

 

That leaves us short a No. 1 pitcher---a potential disaster in the making considering we have Buchholz and Masterson for two of those slots, and we also have a glut in the outfield which could make for a very unhappy clubhouse. Betts and Castillo will not like going back down or being on the pine, and Victorino and Craig will not like being consigned to the bench either. This IMHO is both dumb and a time bomb. I hope Ben is just bullshitting us because if he isn't he is terribly wrong about this.....IMHO.

[dupree]

I honestly think Ben is a liar.

 

If something happens he will say at the time of that statement the opportunity to make a move on a rotation upgrade was not in front of them then things changed so they added another starting pitcher. That's how that goes. You pay attention to the right and don't see what the left is doing. Classic GM statement.

 

With Shields being not on the radar because he is a flyball pitcher, out of Zimmerman, Strasburg, & Hamels which is more of a ground ball low in the zone thrower?

[GomesBeard]

And please Ted, let's not talk about trading Napoli. He's a key for our success this year and I hope he is pretty much injury free. Besides, who would play first for us if we traded him? We'd be weaker at first in the long run.

 

PS---see friends, 700 Hitter and I don't agree on everything and maybe we can now put that canard to rest once and for all. But he is right about 99% of the time.

 

Craig would play first.... But I would rather keep Napoli as well, he is important to our success this year.

[dupree]

That leaves us short a No. 1 pitcher---a potential disaster in the making considering we have Buchholz and Masterson for two of those slots, and we also have a glut in the outfield which could make for a very unhappy clubhouse. Betts and Castillo will not like going back down or being on the pine, and Victorino and Craig will not like being consigned to the bench either. This IMHO is both dumb and a time bomb. I hope Ben is just bullshitting us because if he isn't he is terribly wrong about this.....IMHO.

I think you have many good points here Fred. The biggest of all being the playing time in the outfield. I think teams need to see Craig and Vic before any team would make a trade for either. I would rather keep Craig than Vic. If Craig is healthy he has more power and controlled longer and Vic has chosen to only be a RHH which I think hurts his value. Holt and Nava will be on the bench for lefty bats for matchups and you can play them pretty much everywhere. Then Hanigan will have a spot as the back up catcher.

So one question I have is what kind of range does Castillo have in CF? Will he have Mike Trout range and have similar stats? Maybe not as much power but still be classified as a 5 tool player. If not then you will have to have a guy in RF to cover a lot of ground. So alot of pressure will be on Castillo if he has hanley in left and Nava or Craig in right. I honestly don't think Betts has the arm for right field. So does Castillo have good enough arm for RF ? Then Betts would play CF. Injuries do happen and may sort everything out, but if all are healthy atleast one has to be moved.

[Kimmi]

Pedroia's health is a big issue. But 1st off I couldn't imagine the Sox without him and 2nd trading him for one year of Zimmerman is not smart. Peedy is the heart and sole of this team, hurt or not he is the emotional leader alongside Papi. His power numbers are definitely down, but I hope he comes into camp health a starts hitting doubles off the Monster this year.

 

I think we should just sign Shields now and then throw the propects out there at the deadline and bring in a #2. Hamels, Zimmerman, Strasburg, Price and any other top tier pitchers will cost too much to make a trade now.

 

 

There are some legitimate concerns about Pedroia's decline and health, but trading Pedroia right now would be a PR nightmare. As you said, Pedroia is the heart and soul of this team. After losing out on Lester, another home grown player, the last thing the Sox want to do is trade Pedroia.

 

Besides, Pedroia is on a mission to once again prove his doubters wrong. You tell Pedroia that he is in decline, he will do everything he can to show you that he's not.

[Kimmi]

You're kidding right? This team's an above average starter and a couple decent relievers away from being the hands-on favorite to win the East.

 

 

This team is as much a contender as any other team in the division. More so than most.