2016 Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion Thread

[Kimmi]

You have brought this up a number of times. Most know all about what it would take to get Harvey. No one wants see either Betts or Bogaerts leave Boston just yet. There are other Harvey like talents out their that will not cost the Sox Betts or Bogaerts. The Mets can cover the loss of Harvey much easier than the Red Sox could the loss of either Bogaerts or Betts. It would look like a much better deal for the Mets I'm afraid if they got a package built around either of our two potential stars plus a potentially decent young arm. The Mets might not be interested in Swihart but plenty of others are. The Red Sox are in a position of strength here. Dealing with the Mets might not be the best way to go just yet.

 

There is also always the possibility of a 3 team trade. Maybe we don't match up with the Mets one on one, but bring in a 3rd team, and that opens up a whole new slew of possibilities. Dombrowski and other GMs are inquiring about trades that aren't even on our radar.

[Kimmi]

I was reading earlier (from Heyman) that the Sox deem Moncada, Benintendi, and Espinoza as untouchable.

[Kimmi]

Good news on Farrell - his cancer is in remission. He is gaining his strength back and fully expects to be ready to go by spring training.

[cp176]

I was reading earlier (from Heyman) that the Sox deem Moncada, Benintendi, and Espinoza as untouchable.

 

Moncada is currently banged up but I am glad to hear that the org. is high on them. It would just be an off the wall guess but I would bet on Moncada and Benintendi for sure. I think that they both might be impact players. Espinoza is still very young.

[cp176]

Good news on Farrell - his cancer is in remission. He is gaining his strength back and fully expects to be ready to go by spring training.

 

 

That is great news for sure.

[d-money]

David Price giving up hr derby. This guy's a headcase.

[dupree]

Ruben Amaro Jr to be Red Sox 1st Base Coach in 2016.

 

After being a GM I honestly don't understand this move on his behalf.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't know how anyone can convince themselves that the sox are in a position of strength in a Harvey deal. The Mets are in need of "now" players. They are in the WS this yr and if they flip a pitcher, they should reload enough to make up for the loss of Cespedes. If they cannot get a guy to replace Cespedes, then the Mets will just keep Harvey and have a ridiculous rotation again next yr.

 

If the sox don't go for a starter on the FA market (as Henry had stated 2 years ago) then they basically have to deal for an ace. There will be plenty of teams looking. The Mets wouldn't be a fit if they aren't willing to unload Betts. Maybe you go for Gray, but trusting anyone out of Oakland and a guy that slight might be a fools errand.

[reYoukilis]

Dont do anything that will compromise our future. I ask you, who is in the WS? Is it Price, Greinki, Kershaw? Cueto is there but he had one good game the whole playoffs. The only thing that is good on our team right now came cheaply. It works. The proof is becoming more and more apparent.

[Kimmi]

Ruben Amaro Jr to be Red Sox 1st Base Coach in 2016.

 

After being a GM I honestly don't understand this move on his behalf.

 

This one has me scratching my head. Amaro is probably the last person I would have guessed becoming our first base coach. Interesting move, to say the least.

[Kimmi]

Dont do anything that will compromise our future. I ask you, who is in the WS? Is it Price, Greinki, Kershaw? Cueto is there but he had one good game the whole playoffs. The only thing that is good on our team right now came cheaply. It works. The proof is becoming more and more apparent.

 

It starts with a strong farm. Blast Ben for all the free agent signings that didn't work out, but at least he understood the importance of the farm system and stuck to his guns when it came to not trading away our top prospects. This team has enough extra pieces that Dombrowski should be able to put together a nice package for a #1 pitcher without hurting our future outlook.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dont do anything that will compromise our future. I ask you, who is in the WS? Is it Price, Greinki, Kershaw? Cueto is there but he had one good game the whole playoffs. The only thing that is good on our team right now came cheaply. It works. The proof is becoming more and more apparent.

 

There is definitely a youth movement afoot in the big leagues. And for the most part, the youth movement is taking place on teams that have been down for a long time. That being said, looking at the WS and just focusing on the youth is rather naïve. The Mets aren't anywhere without a 32 yr old Daniel Murphy and a 32 yr old Yoenis Cespedes. Unless you are the Dodgers or the Yankees to some degree, nowadays you must build your core through your farm and supplement with veterans on the FA market or in the trade market. The days of just buying everyone and expecting it to work are over. Everyone has money now. No big league club is a feeder team to a larger market club anymore

[Bellhorn04]

This one has me scratching my head. Amaro is probably the last person I would have guessed becoming our first base coach. Interesting move, to say the least.

 

What I want to know is whether they offered the job to Ben first.

[a700hitter]

What I want to know is whether they offered the job to Ben first.

 

Lol!

 

Maybe Ben will catch on as a ball boy with some team.

Edited October 25, 2015 by a700hitter

[cp176]

I don't know how anyone can convince themselves that the sox are in a position of strength in a Harvey deal. The Mets are in need of "now" players. They are in the WS this yr and if they flip a pitcher, they should reload enough to make up for the loss of Cespedes. If they cannot get a guy to replace Cespedes, then the Mets will just keep Harvey and have a ridiculous rotation again next yr.

 

If the sox don't go for a starter on the FA market (as Henry had stated 2 years ago) then they basically have to deal for an ace. There will be plenty of teams looking. The Mets wouldn't be a fit if they aren't willing to unload Betts. Maybe you go for Gray, but trusting anyone out of Oakland and a guy that slight might be a fools errand.

 

I am just going to guess that maybe there are some other teams out there that might be interested in trading with the Red Sox other than the Mets. Of course the Mets would love to have Betts - who wouldn't. If the Sox go the trade route to acquire a top of the rotation arm, they definitely have players not named Betts or Bogaerts that could be used to acquire said player. With what they have on the horizon, they are in a very strong position to make deals. Maybe not with the Mets. Tough break for them.

[cp176]

If what you read, can have any validity, with Boston trying to take the names of Benintendi, Moncada, and Espinoza off the table, it does make you wonder who will be here and who won't next year.

[jacksonianmarch]

I get that they have chips. But they're already dealing from a position of not really having a rotation that resembles anything akin to a playoff rotation. When you've got a hole to fix that is immense, you're dealing from a position of weakness. It'd be one thing if u needed a pitcher. But really, you need three

[Kimmi]

There is definitely a youth movement afoot in the big leagues. And for the most part, the youth movement is taking place on teams that have been down for a long time. That being said, looking at the WS and just focusing on the youth is rather naïve. The Mets aren't anywhere without a 32 yr old Daniel Murphy and a 32 yr old Yoenis Cespedes. Unless you are the Dodgers or the Yankees to some degree, nowadays you must build your core through your farm and supplement with veterans on the FA market or in the trade market. The days of just buying everyone and expecting it to work are over. Everyone has money now. No big league club is a feeder team to a larger market club anymore

 

And this is exactly what Ben has done. In 2013, he supplemented with the right players. In the other years, he did not. In 2015, he supplemented with Pablo and Hanley. As I said before, you can blast him for making some poor decisions on who to supplement with, but his overall philosophy is exactly what you are saying. Farm systems take a while to build. Ben's long term vision is now coming to fruition, and he managed to win a World Series Championship along the way.

[Kimmi]

What I want to know is whether they offered the job to Ben first.

 

LOL After reading some rationale behind this decision, it now makes more sense. Amaro is interested in the job because he wants to manage one day. This position gets his foot in the door, so to speak.

 

The Sox are interested in Amaro because of his outfield experience. He is someone who could help our young trio of outfielders defensively.

[Kimmi]

Lol!

 

Maybe Ben will catch on as a ball boy with some team.

 

This just goes to show you that there are any number of reasons why Ben would not be interested in a GM job, none of which make him a fool. Maybe he wants to focus more on a different aspect of baseball like Amaro does, like scouting or working with the minor leagues?

 

Here is another case where you disagree with Ben's decision and hence, it must be wrong. So wrong, that you call him a fool. You have no clue as to what is the best decision for him and his family. Try to understand what his rationale might be, rather than thinking that you know what is best for him.

[Kimmi]

I am just going to guess that maybe there are some other teams out there that might be interested in trading with the Red Sox other than the Mets. Of course the Mets would love to have Betts - who wouldn't. If the Sox go the trade route to acquire a top of the rotation arm, they definitely have players not named Betts or Bogaerts that could be used to acquire said player. With what they have on the horizon, they are in a very strong position to make deals. Maybe not with the Mets. Tough break for them.

 

I have heard the Marlins name come up a couple of times as possible trade partners with the Red Sox. I don't know enough about the Marlins to know what they have to offer or what their needs are, but my understanding is that Dombrowski is very interested in a couple of their hard throwing young pitchers, be they starters or relievers.

[Kimmi]

I get that they have chips. But they're already dealing from a position of not really having a rotation that resembles anything akin to a playoff rotation. When you've got a hole to fix that is immense, you're dealing from a position of weakness. It'd be one thing if u needed a pitcher. But really, you need three

 

This post is just so wrong I don't even know where to start.

[Hitch]

....This team has enough extra pieces that Dombrowski should be able to put together a nice package for a #1 pitcher without hurting our future outlook.

 

I have only been following the sport for 3 years, and while my knowledge of rules, tactics, players, etc, is now quite decent, I still get a little lost on the trade market on times. Things I forget to take into account etc. So with that in mind this may be silly but would we be able to put a package together that tempts somebody (say the Mets for Harvey for this example) for an ace/top quality pitcher around these players.....

 

Buch

Owens

Hanley

One other highly rated prospect

 

?

 

I guess we would have to eat some of the Hanley contract but for the other team, for losing one of their top pitchers, they get another top pitcher in return(all be it for a year and injury prone), a highly rated pitcher for the future, a power bat and one other highly rated prospect.

 

Is that feasible?

 

For us - If you get rid of the Busch contract (for next year) and most of the Hanley one, it frees up funds to go sign a top pitcher off the free agent market too.

 

Go with a rotation of:

 

Harvey

Price/Zimmerman/Cueto

Rodriquez

Porcello

Miley

 

Move Kelly to the pen to add some fire power to that area.

 

I've no doubt I am probably in dream land, but I enjoy debates about trades without yet fully understanding the intricacies, so anyone that wants to tell me why it won't work/is a ridiculous idea, I'm all eyes.

[a700hitter]

I have only been following the sport for 3 years, and while my knowledge of rules, tactics, players, etc, is now quite decent, I still get a little lost on the trade market on times. Things I forget to take into account etc. So with that in mind this may be silly but would we be able to put a package together that tempts somebody (say the Mets for Harvey for this example) for an ace/top quality pitcher around these players.....

 

Buch

Owens

Hanley

One other highly rated prospect

 

?

 

I guess we would have to eat some of the Hanley contract but for the other team, for losing one of their top pitchers, they get another top pitcher in return(all be it for a year and injury prone), a highly rated pitcher for the future, a power bat and one other highly rated prospect.

 

Is that feasible?

 

For us - If you get rid of the Busch contract (for next year) and most of the Hanley one, it frees up funds to go sign a top pitcher off the free agent market too.

 

Go with a rotation of:

 

Harvey

Price/Zimmerman/Cueto

Rodriquez

Porcello

Miley

 

Move Kelly to the pen to add some fire power to that area.

 

I've no doubt I am probably in dream land, but I enjoy debates about trades without yet fully understanding the intricacies, so anyone that wants to tell me why it won't work/is a ridiculous idea, I'm all eyes.

I like your ideas for constructing a pitching rotation for next season, but I don't think you are close on a package for Harvey. To get the Mets to give up Harvey, we will have to give up one of our major league cost-controlled youngsters-- either Betts or Bogaerts or we would have to give up 2 of our top minor league prospects, e.g Moncado, Devers, Benidetto. Some of thes guy the organization has deemed "untouchable"

[Bellhorn04]

This just goes to show you that there are any number of reasons why Ben would not be interested in a GM job, none of which make him a fool. Maybe he wants to focus more on a different aspect of baseball like Amaro does, like scouting or working with the minor leagues?

 

Here is another case where you disagree with Ben's decision and hence, it must be wrong. So wrong, that you call him a fool. You have no clue as to what is the best decision for him and his family. Try to understand what his rationale might be, rather than thinking that you know what is best for him.

 

The question of whether Ben will get another job takes me back to when Francona was fired and there were people who thought he would have a hard time getting another manager job.

[Hitch]

I like your ideas for constructing a pitching rotation for next season, but I don't think you are close on a package for Harvey. To get the Mets to give up Harvey, we will have to give up one of our major league cost-controlled youngsters-- either Betts or Bogaerts or we would have to give up 2 of our top minor league prospects, e.g Moncado, Devers, Benidetto. Some of thes guy the organization has deemed "untouchable"

 

Would Bradley do it, do you think? Devers hasn't been ruled out yet has he?

[a700hitter]

The question of whether Ben will get another job takes me back to when Francona was fired and there were people who thought he would have a hard time getting another manager job.

But he didn't take any time off. He went to the announcing booth and tried his hand their and then returned to the dugout. Also, Tito did not have 3 last place finishes in his last 4 years on his resume. in fact, he had one of the best winning percentages in Boston history-- plus 2 World championships. I am not saying that Ben will not get another job. I think he is a fool if he is taking time off at a time when there is an unusually large number of GM jobs open. Next season there will probably be fewer openings. I don't doubt that some other team will show poor judgment and recycle Ben.

[a700hitter]

Would Bradley do it, do you think? Devers hasn't been ruled out yet has he?

I think Bradley could do it, if he continues his hot hitting in the first half of next season. I don't think his second half of 2015 will be enough to get Harvey in the off season. The Mets don't think they need OFers. They love Conforto and they still have Grandy and Lagares under contract. They desperately need a SS and if they lose murphy to FA or should they move him to first base, they will need a second baseman (Betts natural position).

[Hitch]

Yeah that's why I wondered would Hanley being in there, tempt them, with him seemingly heading to 1st base. I realise it's unlikely as nobody as actually seen him play the position yet! Ha!

[cp176]

I get that they have chips. But they're already dealing from a position of not really having a rotation that resembles anything akin to a playoff rotation. When you've got a hole to fix that is immense, you're dealing from a position of weakness. It'd be one thing if u needed a pitcher. But really, you need three

 

 

If it was 3, then I might agree with you to an extent but it isn't three it is two. Some suggest that it is just one starting pitcher that we need. I would like them to go get two. I would take a shot with our 3,4 and 5 guys being as good as anyones right now. We will just have to wait and see what unfolds in the off-season but I don't think there will any shortage of potential trade partners for the Sox. They won't have to go begging for someone to do business with. That to me is clearly a position of strength.