Long Term Plan at 1B

[Thunder]

As Kimmi said, it would be great to see Craig be able to hit again. We know what he was capable of at some point, and he would be a great option to hold down the 1B position. In the future though, I like Dojji's idea of an IFA. Recently (except Rusney), virtually everyone that has come from a place like Cuba or Japan has been a stud.

[waltr]

You may not want to hear this--OK you don't want to hear this. You are on the hook for $20M for Craig over the next three years. Bring him, play him and see what happens. He becomes the Craig of old, he plays decent enough to get some attention, or he bombs out.Hanley is definitely not the answer.

[reYoukilis]

We need to rebuild so that means we need a whole lot of everything and 1st base is just part of that. For now just put warm bodies there, check out the prospects, put Holt or Papi there and wait for the off season. I'm more interested in figuring out pitching and bullpen.

 

BTW, that grumbling Papi did when playing first base, was that a case of Papi being Papi in the media or is there a general lack of warm fuzzy feelings between coaching and players right now?

[dupree]

Speaking of Reddick it was rumored that The A's dangled him at the deadline. Maybe a reunion could come to bring him back to Boston. Put him in RF, Castillo in LF and Betts in CF. That wouldn't be as far of a pipe dream as CarGo and Beane has shown he would deal with the Sox so I'd hope they'd explore it?

 

I still see a trade with the Padres as the best trade partner.

 

Move a lot of prospects plus Panda to get Shields and Kimbrel and maybe even Ross. Fill in the rest of the bullpen with whoever arms in the but the bullpen could be filled with arms from within as well.

 

Sox get:

Shields & Kimbrel

 

Padres get:

Panda and 3 top tier guys plus cash off of Pandas deal

If Ross could be had in the deal all the better but I'd say that would ask too much

 

Sign Jordan Zimmerman in the offseason to fill out the rotation.

 

Rotation

Shields, Zimmerman, Porcello, Bucholtz, & Miley

 

Bullpen

Layne, Kelly, Rodriguez, Barnes, Taz, Koji, & Kimbrel, plus the reliever they got from SF I can't think of this name

 

Lineup

Betts CF

Pedoria 2B

Ortiz DH

Davis 1B

Hanley 3B

Reddick RF

Boggey SS

Castillo LF

Vazquez C

 

Bench

Holt

Craig

Swihart

 

One trade and 2 FA signing would take us from a complete rebuild and get us back to Championship contention

 

I don't see this too much to ask from Ben. With the salary relief and the thought of not finishing last place again the FO will have to make a splash this offseason. I can't wait for the Hot Stove to start.

[BigPapi]

Speaking of Reddick it was rumored that The A's dangled him at the deadline. Maybe a reunion could come to bring him back to Boston. Put him in RF, Castillo in LF and Betts in CF. That wouldn't be as far of a pipe dream as CarGo and Beane has shown he would deal with the Sox so I'd hope they'd explore it?

 

I still see a trade with the Padres as the best trade partner.

 

Move a lot of prospects plus Panda to get Shields and Kimbrel and maybe even Ross. Fill in the rest of the bullpen with whoever arms in the but the bullpen could be filled with arms from within as well.

 

 

Sox get:

Shields & Kimbrel

 

Padres get:

Panda and 3 top tier guys plus cash off of Pandas deal

If Ross could be had in the deal all the better but I'd say that would ask too much

 

Sign Jordan Zimmerman in the offseason to fill out the rotation.

 

Rotation

Shields, Zimmerman, Porcello, Bucholtz, & Miley

 

Bullpen

Layne, Kelly, Rodriguez, Barnes, Taz, Koji, & Kimbrel, plus the reliever they got from SF I can't think of this name

 

Lineup

Betts CF

Pedoria 2B

Ortiz DH

Davis 1B

Hanley 3B

Reddick RF

Boggey SS

Castillo LF

Vazquez C

 

Bench

Holt

Craig

Swihart

 

One trade and 2 FA signing would take us from a complete rebuild and get us back to Championship contention

 

I don't see this too much to ask from Ben. With the salary relief and the thought of not finishing last place again the FO will have to make a splash this offseason. I can't wait for the Hot Stove to start.

 

Not a bad idea, except no way do you put eduardo in the pen. You trade Andrew Miller to get a starter. You either trade erod, or put him in the rotation. In the rotation you put, I would switch eduardo with Wade Miley . Keep Miley in the pen as a long reliever and back up starter just in case of any injuries or another s*** year from porcello.

[BigPapi]

Also, adding Shields, Davis, and Zimmerman is taking on a ton of money, even with negating sandovals contract. I doubt they take on that much.

[dupree]

Not a bad idea, except no way do you put eduardo in the pen. You trade Andrew Miller to get a starter. You either trade erod, or put him in the rotation. In the rotation you put, I would switch eduardo with Wade Miley . Keep Miley in the pen as a long reliever and back up starter just in case of any injuries or another s*** year from porcello.

I could see that happening as well or include Miley in the Padres deal to get rid of his contract and put ERod in the rotation. But as injuries do happen and we have seen with Bucholtz I think you really need 6 starting arms and that's why I have him in the pen to start the year. I think Miley will improve next year and the Padres would need a starter coming back to them so it may work.

 

I just really like the idea of moving Panda most of all I don't care where he goes as long as it's out of Boston. Having Hanley Panda & Ortiz on the same team for 2016 it's smart in my opinion too many DHs aND only obe spot. I like the addition of Davis because he will add left handed pop for 2017 and beyond after Ortiz is gone. If 2016 is Papi's last I think they add pieces to contend for his last year. Their hands are tied to make big additions the FO won't stand for $200 Million for last place.

[dupree]

Also, adding Shields, Davis, and Zimmerman is taking on a ton of money, even with negating sandovals contract. I doubt they take on that much.

Restructure Shields' deal to be more evenly spread out per year with a vesting option for an extra year to add leverage to get the deal done.

 

Sign Davis to 6 year 108 million...18 per yr

This 2 million more per year than Napoli I thinks it's worth it.

 

Sign Zimmerman to 5 year 100 million.. 20 per yr

I know you are gonna say that's too much for him but think of what Price and Ceuto will command. In this day and age that what contending pitching will cost.

 

We wouldn't be having this conversation about Zimmerman if they hadn't s*** the bed with Lester. But that subject has been beat to death.

[mvp 78]

The Padres don't want our trash.

 

Trading any top prospects for Shields is a horrible idea imo.

[Kimmi]

One trade and 2 FA signing would take us from a complete rebuild and get us back to Championship contention

 

I don't see this too much to ask from Ben. With the salary relief and the thought of not finishing last place again the FO will have to make a splash this offseason. I can't wait for the Hot Stove to start.

 

I agree that it would not take much to make this team a contender for next season. I agree with you that we need at minimum 6 starters at the start of the season, but I would not put Eduardo in the pen. I would let him start the season in AAA.

 

I think trading Pablo to SD for Shields in some capacity has some merit. SD was all in on Pablo last offseason, so it's something they might be interested in. This move would allow Hanley to move to 3B and it would fill one of our SP slots, without adding much payroll (depending on the specifics of the trade). The Sox could then spend big on a #1 in free agency if they wanted to.

 

As far as 1B goes, I don't see the Sox spending that kind of money on Davis.

[Thunder]

Speaking of Reddick it was rumored that The A's dangled him at the deadline. Maybe a reunion could come to bring him back to Boston. Put him in RF, Castillo in LF and Betts in CF. That wouldn't be as far of a pipe dream as CarGo and Beane has shown he would deal with the Sox so I'd hope they'd explore it?

 

I still see a trade with the Padres as the best trade partner.

 

Move a lot of prospects plus Panda to get Shields and Kimbrel and maybe even Ross. Fill in the rest of the bullpen with whoever arms in the but the bullpen could be filled with arms from within as well.

 

Sox get:

Shields & Kimbrel

 

Padres get:

Panda and 3 top tier guys plus cash off of Pandas deal

If Ross could be had in the deal all the better but I'd say that would ask too much

 

Sign Jordan Zimmerman in the offseason to fill out the rotation.

 

Rotation

Shields, Zimmerman, Porcello, Bucholtz, & Miley

 

Bullpen

Layne, Kelly, Rodriguez, Barnes, Taz, Koji, & Kimbrel, plus the reliever they got from SF I can't think of this name

 

Lineup

Betts CF

Pedoria 2B

Ortiz DH

Davis 1B

Hanley 3B

Reddick RF

Boggey SS

Castillo LF

Vazquez C

 

Bench

Holt

Craig

Swihart

 

One trade and 2 FA signing would take us from a complete rebuild and get us back to Championship contention

 

I don't see this too much to ask from Ben. With the salary relief and the thought of not finishing last place again the FO will have to make a splash this offseason. I can't wait for the Hot Stove to start.

 

No. This is a stupid idea. You can't put ER in the pen. I would rather see Porcello out there than ER. I like the Kimbrel and Shileds idea as a backup for when Koji begins to slow down. I also like the idea of Zimermann. I don't want Reddick, and Billy Beane has gotten awfully stubborn of late. It would be nice to get a power lefty bat in Davis to hit behind Ortiz, but I have some concerns. I don't think he fits Fenway, and it becomes easier for LHPs to come out of the pen late in the game. I would put Hanley before Davis, but of course, all of this is hypothetical.

[a700hitter]

The Padres don't want our trash.

 

Trading any top prospects for Shields is a horrible idea imo.

they might just be happy to get rid of his contract. If we take most or all of the contract, we may only have to throw in a lottery ticket from A ball.

[cp176]

they might just be happy to get rid of his contract. If we take most or all of the contract, we may only have to throw in a lottery ticket from A ball.

 

Just out of curiosity - How could anyone who truly wants to see this team be successful suggest that Rodriguez goes to the pen?

If I had to pick one guy that had to start for this team ahead of everybody else that they have yarded out to the mound it would be Rodriguez. He is better than the rest.

[mvp 78]

they might just be happy to get rid of his contract. If we take most or all of the contract, we may only have to throw in a lottery ticket from A ball.

 

That's different than the trade proposed though.

 

If the Sox didn't want to sign Shields last offseason, why would they want him now?

[a700hitter]

That's different than the trade proposed though.

 

If the Sox didn't want to sign Shields last offseason, why would they want him now?

He might have been under consideration last off season, but since the A plan didn't work out they might reconsider him.

[cp176]

Just out of curiosity - How could anyone who truly wants to see this team be successful suggest that Rodriguez goes to the pen?

If I had to pick one guy that had to start for this team ahead of everybody else that they have yarded out to the mound it would be Rodriguez. He is better than the rest.

 

I didn't mean to quote you there 700. I was just stunned that someone even suggested that Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen.

[a700hitter]

I didn't mean to quote you there 700. I was just stunned that someone even suggested that Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen.

Me too. ER has to be in the rotation next season.

[Elktonnick]

Watching Marte play 1st for the Tigers today gives you some idea of the damage Hanley could do there.

[Thunder]

Watching Marte play 1st for the Tigers today gives you some idea of the damage Hanley could do there.

 

Yeah. Did you see the play last night when he waited for Simon to run to first to cover the bag on a routine grounder? That's laziness at its finest.

[sk7326]

Travis has some long term potential. But in the short term a job share would make sense.

 

Now the temptation is to say you owe Craig money so see what happens. That is stupid, and ignores the notion of sunk cost. That money's gone - so make the best baseball decision. Now if you think he can return to the land of .370/.450 slash, wonderful but the burden is on him. I would not bet anything meaningful.

[Behindenemylines]

Everything I here no Ramirez at 1B in the last two months. If you plan on potentially moving him there in 2016 wouldn't you do it these last two months of 2015? Or they have already decided they don't want him involved in that many plays during the game and don't want him at first. I think you will see a platoon of Shaw and Craig the rest of the season. Masterson was just designated to clear a spot on the 40 man.

[Kimmi]

Travis has some long term potential. But in the short term a job share would make sense.

 

Now the temptation is to say you owe Craig money so see what happens. That is stupid, and ignores the notion of sunk cost. That money's gone - so make the best baseball decision. Now if you think he can return to the land of .370/.450 slash, wonderful but the burden is on him. I would not bet anything meaningful.

 

If you're talking about relying on him for next year, I agree. However, I don't see why it's stupid to call him up and see what he can do the remainder of the season. If nothing else, he may improve his trade value, even if only slightly.

[Kimmi]

That's different than the trade proposed though.

 

If the Sox didn't want to sign Shields last offseason, why would they want him now?

 

I would only take Shields' contract in a trade that involves moving Pablo's contract back to SD, a swap of "bad contracts", if you will. SD was interested in Pablo last offseason, so they might be willing to make that deal.

 

Hanley could move to 3B, where I would prefer him to be over 1B, and that opens up the OF for Betts, Castillo, and Bradley, if the latter two can play up to expectations.

[sk7326]

If you're talking about relying on him for next year, I agree. However, I don't see why it's stupid to call him up and see what he can do the remainder of the season. If nothing else, he may improve his trade value, even if only slightly.

 

I agree with that.

[Behindenemylines]

I would only take Shields' contract in a trade that involves moving Pablo's contract back to SD, a swap of "bad contracts", if you will. SD was interested in Pablo last offseason, so they might be willing to make that deal.

 

Hanley could move to 3B, where I would prefer him to be over 1B, and that opens up the OF for Betts, Castillo, and Bradley, if the latter two can play up to expectations.

 

I would be in favor if this would come to be. Ramirez at 3B is probably the best option. He is a DH and probably get ABs there, but he will have to play some in the field as well.