2016 Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion Thread

[cp176]

I can remember playing Strato in the early to mid 60's. I cheated - I actually started Dick Radatz. I truly never thought that the day would come that the Sox would ever become anything more than someone's doormat. Since 67, there have been very few seasons where the team has not competed for a playoff birth. The championships are great for sure but this franchise has proven over the years that they can compete year in year out. The recent team performance has been abysmal. It also has been unnecessary. Most people like Ben Cherington just not as a GM. I don't need anyone trying to educate me with respect to being patient as a Red Sox fan. Already been there and it sucks. We have learned through the decades that it is quite possible to compete year in and year out while still building a very good minor league program. It's great that people still express loyalty to Ben for what he helped to do in the past but a decision was made to bring in DD because it needed to be done. He has addressed issues and taken care of business. He is here - Ben is not - and it looks like the Red Sox are ready to compete at the highest levels once again. Most people applaud Dombrowski for what he has accomplished in a very short period of time. Very few are ready to give him the keys to city just yet which makes sense as well. I am just glad that our team offers a little more hope for us this year than it has for a few.

[User Name]

"For a few?" They won in 2013!

[Northern Star]

Cherington has something on his hand that separates him from Duquette.

 

I'm gonna be honest here. My first thought was "Does Duquette have a missing thumb?"

[Northern Star]

"For a few?" They won in 2013!

 

[cp176]

 

nice -

[User Name]

 

Well played, sir. Well played.

[cp176]

"For a few?" They won in 2013!

 

 

I get that I think. Guess I am just one of the impatient old guys who just doesn't understand how it works. I enjoyed 2013 - not so much the other years.

[a700hitter]

I get that I think. Guess I am just one of the impatient old guys who just doesn't understand how it works. I enjoyed 2013 - not so much the other years.

He didn't get fired! Don't you get that? Lol! He is highly sought after and he is just playing hard to get. DD is just keeping his seat warm.

[Elktonnick]

I get that I think. Guess I am just one of the impatient old guys who just doesn't understand how it works. I enjoyed 2013 - not so much the other years.

 

The only guy who had a vote, John Henry, was also impatient. I guess he didn't think Cherrington's 2013 work outweighed his screw up in 2014 and 2015 to justify keeping in his old job that's why he fired him from it.

[a700hitter]

The only guy who had a vote, John Henry, was also impatient. I guess he didn't think Cherrington's 2013 work outweighed his screw up in 2014 and 2015 to justify keeping in his old job that's why he fired him from it.

Only because he couldn't fire the ungrateful fans who are the real culprit in this.

[User Name]

Well if they're like you, then yeah.

[cp176]

Well if they're like you, then yeah.

 

It's always the fans right? How about a bring back Ben thread? Damn us guys.

[Palodios]

The Red Sox re-signed Varvaro to a minor league deal. I'm surprised to see the Red Sox get a guy with a 2.85 ERA over the last 3 years as minor league depth, but it works for me.

[User Name]

It's always the fans right? How about a bring back Ben thread? Damn us guys.

 

That's not the point. I'm very happy to have Dombrowski on board. As I stated before, I've been a fan of his work and got to watch his magic up close while I lived in Michigan. That said, I don't understand all of the hate towards BC.

[cp176]

That's not the point. I'm very happy to have Dombrowski on board. As I stated before, I've been a fan of his work and got to watch his magic up close while I lived in Michigan. That said, I don't understand all of the hate towards BC.

 

I think that you understand that this discussion has very little to do with a dislike of Ben Cherington. No one here dislikes Ben.

[User Name]

I think that you understand that this discussion has very little to do with a dislike of Ben Cherington. No one here dislikes Ben.

 

Haven't you been posting here for a while now? Whining about the FO in general and Ben's "incompetence" was the daily grind on this website. If "no one here dislikes Ben", why have so many pages of this thread been devoted to defending him?

[a700hitter]

I think that you understand that this discussion has very little to do with a dislike of Ben Cherington. No one here dislikes Ben.

Exactly, i don't think anyone dislikes him. The discussion is about his accomplishments. I just can't swallow that 3 last place finishes (unprecedented by a Red Sox GM) is a good job. In addition to his poor track record in the standings, organizationally, he left our pitching in very bad shape. As for the argument regarding whether he got fired/replaced, some people are living in a fantasy land or they just like to make absurd arguments out of boredom.

[cp176]

Haven't you been posting here for a while now? Whining about the FO in general and Ben's "incompetence" was the daily grind on this website. If "no one here dislikes Ben", why have so many pages of this thread been devoted to defending him?

 

? - ok - I guess. not sure if I am "whining" about him or defending him.

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox re-signed Varvaro to a minor league deal. I'm surprised to see the Red Sox get a guy with a 2.85 ERA over the last 3 years as minor league depth, but it works for me.

 

I like this.

[cp176]

With Varvaro, Rutledge, and Leon coming back but not being on the 40 man, is a really good thing. Someone is doing some good work in Boston.

[Elktonnick]

Exactly, i don't think anyone dislikes him. The discussion is about his accomplishments. I just can't swallow that 3 last place finishes (unprecedented by a Red Sox GM) is a good job. In addition to his poor track record in the standings, organizationally, he left our pitching in very bad shape. As for the argument regarding whether he got fired/replaced, some people are living in a fantasy land or they just like to make absurd arguments out of boredom.

 

I've never met Ben Cherrington so I neither like nor dislike the man since I don't know him. Based on his record, however, he did well as a subordinate but not so well as the chief of baseball operations. He is a perfect example of the "Peter Principle". He was promoted beyond his level of competence.

[a700hitter]

I've never met Ben Cherrington so I neither like nor dislike the man since I don't know him. Based on his record, however, he did well as a subordinate but not so well as the chief of baseball operations. He is a perfect example of the "Peter Principle". He was promoted beyond his level of competence.

Hater.

[Kimmi]

Ben deserves a lot more credit and a lot less criticism than he is getting.

 

All of the moves that Dombrowski made this offseason were only possible because of the state of the farm system that Ben left the team with.

[Elktonnick]

Ben deserves a lot more credit and a lot less criticism than he is getting.

 

All of the moves that Dombrowski made this offseason were only possible because of the state of the farm system that Ben left the team with.

 

Not to be rude but that is nonsense. 217 million dollars over 7 years not the state of the farm system is the reason David Price signed with the Red Sox.

[a700hitter]

Daniel Nava signed a minor league deal with the Angels.

[User Name]

Wasn't it widely reported that one of the first things David Price asked before putting ink to paper was the status of the Sox' farm system? They had to give him a rundown of both the MLB and MiLB roster, and he specifically asked about Benintendi. Let's just ignore the news that don't suit our arguments! Also, Craig Kimbrel.

[a700hitter]

A Three team blockbuster trade:

Todd Frazier goes from Reds to White Sox in 3-team, 7-player deal

Associated Press Wednesday, December 16, 2015

 

CHICAGO — The White Sox were looking to add some pop while solidifying third base, and they are counting on Todd Frazier to provide it.

 

The All-Star third baseman was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday as part of a three-team, seven-player trade that also included the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Los Angeles received outfielder Trayce Thompson, right-hander Frankie Montas and second baseman Micah Johnson from the White Sox, and Cincinnati got infielders Brandon Dixon and Jose Peraza and outfielder Scott Schebler from the Dodgers.

 

The 29-year-old Frazier, who won last summer's All-Star Home Run Derby in Cincinnati, was an NL All-Star in each of the last two seasons and hit .255 this year with 43 doubles, 35 homers and 89 RBIs. "I'm pretty excited," he said. "I've got to be truthful with you. I know it's the American League. I know it's gonna be a little different. It might take a little time to get acclimated. But I just saw the lineup on TV. It kinda put a smile on my face to see the guys we've got."

 

The move gives the White Sox a run producer and solid defensive third baseman who grew into a clubhouse leader in Cincinnati.

 

They hope he can help lift a team that finished a disappointing fourth in the AL Central at 76-86 and struggled to score despite the presence of Jose Abreu in the middle of the lineup. The White Sox ranked 28th in the majors in runs, and their third basemen were 29th in batting average and last in RBIs.

 

"Certainly, we feel a lot better," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "You've got a middle-of-the-order presence, obviously a power hitter with extra-base ability as well and someone to help solidify the middle and make it a little tougher to come through here."

 

Frazier has a $7.5 million salary next year and can become a free agent after the 2017 season.

 

His arrival means the White Sox will go with Brett Lawrie — acquired from Oakland last week — at second rather than third. Hahn said the White Sox were talking to Cincinnati about a trade for Frazier when that deal was completed.

 

"Brett gave us an answer at that time at third base should we do nothing else, and we also knew that if we were able to get Todd, Brett had the versatility to help us at second as well," Hahn said.

 

Frazier — a Jersey boy dubbed the ToddFather in Cincinnati — had in many ways become the face of Cincinnati's franchise after he won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby so dramatically in July at Great American Ball Park.

 

Teams started expressing an interest in Frazier during the winter meetings last week. Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty said parting with him was not easy, nor was the call informing him of the deal.

 

Frazier's Home Run Derby title was the best moment in Cincinnati's disappointing season that ended in a 64-98 record and prompted the Reds to start a full-scale rebuilding.

 

They dealt starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake in July, leaving them with an all-rookie rotation. They had a deal in place to ship closer Aroldis Chapman to the Dodgers this month before an offseason domestic dispute became public, putting the trade on hold.

 

Jocketty is talking to other teams about Chapman.

 

"We're not close to anything yet, but we continue to talk to clubs and clubs have expressed interest," he said. "I don't know how to determine when that might happen."

 

Cincinnati plans initially to move shortstop Eugenio Suarez to third base, with Zack Cozart expected to return from reconstructive knee surgery. The Reds plan to use Peraza as a second baseman.

 

The Reds have tried to trade Brandon Phillips, but his contract has been an issue — he is owed $13 million next year and $14 million in 2017.

 

The big-budget Dodgers haven't made an extraordinary splash this winter, but President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman believes this deal bolsters his roster while putting Los Angeles in position to make bigger moves.

 

"We're obviously having a lot of conversations that involve us trading prospects and different scenarios," Friedman said. "(This trade) wasn't necessarily directly connected, but every move we make has some connection, and extending our talent base is helpful on multiple fronts. I do know some teams that have some interest in some of the guys that we acquired, but these guys are really interesting. They're good, young players."

 

The 24-year-old Thompson, a Los Angeles-area native, made his big league debut in August and hit .295 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 44 games. He was an International League All-Star this year for Triple-A Charlotte.

 

Thompson is the brother of Golden State guard Klay Thompson and the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, now a Los Angeles-based broadcaster.

 

Friedman said Thompson is an "exceptional athlete with strong bloodlines. We feel like he has a chance to really continue to improve, really feel like the arrow is still pointing up."

 

Montas was 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA in two starts and five relief appearances for Chicago last season and 5-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 23 starts at Double-A Birmingham. Friedman seemed particularly high on the hard-throwing 22-year-old prospect.

 

"I feel like he's got a real good chance to be a real good major league starting pitcher," Friedman said, even suggesting Montas had a shot to crack new manager Dave Roberts' opening day rotation. "And if not, we feel like he can be a real impact bullpen arm."

 

Friedman said the Dodgers weren't interested in getting Frazier in the deal because they're set at third base with Justin Turner and didn't want to ask Frazier to change positions.

 

Schebler, 25, also made his big league debut this year and hit .250 with three homers and four RBIs in 19 games for the Dodgers.

 

Peraza, obtained by the Dodgers from Atlanta on July 30, made his major league debut on Aug. 10 and went 4 for 22 in seven games.

 

Dixon, 23, had 19 homers, 68 RBIs and 26 steals for Class A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa this year.

 

___

 

AP Sports Writers Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

[Northern Star]

Daniel Nava signed a minor league deal with the Angels.

 

Yes! Good riddance.

[Northern Star]

Ben deserves a lot more credit and a lot less criticism than he is getting.

 

All of the moves that Dombrowski made this offseason were only possible because of the state of the farm system that Ben left the team with.

 

that's nice, now about the state of the major league team under his watch.... because minor league teams don't play in the World Series.

[Palodios]

that's nice, now about the state of the major league team under his watch.... because minor league teams don't play in the World Series.

 

And minor league teams don't win the World Series.

 

It seems strange to me that all Dumbo had to do was spend 220 million on one arm, trade four significant prospects for Kimbrel, and wham, this team is looking like a contender. Its almost like the other 20 guys on the roster came from nowhere.