2016 Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion Thread

[Kimmi]

You can give him all the benefit you want but I don't either the fans nor Dombrowski will. I believe Farrell was criticized up in Toronto for the his handling of the bullpen up there as well. If the Sox falter I don't think Dombrowski will hesitate from giving him the boot. In one sense Farrell is in a tough spot with Lovullo sitting there just waiting.

 

You are probably right that most fans will not give him the benefit of the doubt, and that Dombrowski will not give him a very long leash if the team starts to falter.

[Kimmi]

I am going to Fort Myers for the entire month of March so I'll have a chance to see for myself just how much in shape Sandoval really is. I just don't have any confidence in either him or Ramirez. The Sox would be better off without both of them.

 

Nice. Take pictures!

 

I don't have a lot of confidence in Hanley playing first base, but not because he's lazy or because he has a bad attitude or anything along those lines. Offensively, I think he will bounce back if he is indeed healthy. Remember, he was an offensive beast before he ran into the wall and hurt his shoulder.

[Kimmi]

But unlike some else we know he got rehired pretty quickly now didn't he.

 

Only because that someone else we know turned down two opportunities to interview for a GM position and also turned down a position with the Yankees. And those are only the opportunities we know about. He could have been rehired pretty quickly if he wanted to be rehired.

[Kimmi]

And his teams were usually good bets to make deep playoff runs for most of Dombrowski's VERY long career in Detroit.

 

But he was fired. Does that make him a bad GM?

 

Is it that cut and dry? Is that the bottom line by which to judge a GM?

[Elktonnick]

Only because that someone else we know turned down two opportunities to interview for a GM position and also turned down a position with the Yankees. And those are only the opportunities we know about. He could have been rehired pretty quickly if he wanted to be rehired.

 

Ben after being the nbr 1 guy in Boston didn't interview for jobs where he would be the GM working under a VP for Baseball Operations. I understand those were the positions for which he was invited to interview That was the situation he could have had in Boston. Like I said before we will know what baseball owners really think about Ben if and when he returns to baseball.

[a700hitter]

Only because that someone else we know turned down two opportunities to interview for a GM position and also turned down a position with the Yankees. And those are only the opportunities we know about. He could have been rehired pretty quickly if he wanted to be rehired.

The position with the Yankees was not for GM. Oh, I forgot, Ben would rather teach than be a GM.

[Elktonnick]

The position with the Yankees was not for GM. Oh, I forgot, Ben would rather teach than be a GM.

 

yes it was further down the totem pole

[User Name]

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/540/658/5e8.jpg

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I am going to take a page out of your book. That's like asking "water, please don't be wet". You just have to let them be and ignore it.

[cp176]

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/540/658/5e8.jpg

 

I like this one!!! need some laughs these days.

[Elktonnick]

I noticed that no one besides Kimmi and I are having a discussion about anything.

[cp176]

I noticed that no one besides Kimmi and I are having a discussion about anything.

 

I'm telling you it gives people one more thing to blame Dombrowski for. Last year at this time we had lots of things to blast off about. DD comes in takes care of business and that is it.

[Elktonnick]

I'm telling you it gives people one more thing to blame Dombrowski for. Last year at this time we had lots of things to blast off about. DD comes in takes care of business and that is it.

 

Yea bring back Cherrington so we all can be happy to have something to complain about!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Technically speaking, I'm not sure Dombrowski was fired either. Officially, he was 'released from his contract to pursue other opportunities'.

[Elktonnick]

Technically speaking, I'm not sure Dombrowski was fired either. Officially, he was 'released from his contract to pursue other opportunities'.

 

You can never prove it of course but I believe those "other opportunities" were already known.

[SeanJohn93]

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I was wondering what you guys thought of Roenas Elias? I feel like he would be a good candidate to fill that Alfredo Aceves/Brandon Workman role of long relief/spot starter role. Anyways, I hope you all have a happy holiday with friends and family.

[Bellhorn04]

You can never prove it of course but I believe those "other opportunities" were already known.

 

That thought has occurred to me too.

[Bellhorn04]

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I was wondering what you guys thought of Roenas Elias? I feel like he would be a good candidate to fill that Alfredo Aceves/Brandon Workman role of long relief/spot starter role. Anyways, I hope you all have a happy holiday with friends and family.

 

Not sure what his role will be, but like many lefties he does much better against lefty hitters.

[a700hitter]

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I was wondering what you guys thought of Roenas Elias? I feel like he would be a good candidate to fill that Alfredo Aceves/Brandon Workman role of long relief/spot starter role. Anyways, I hope you all have a happy holiday with friends and family.

That is how I see Elias -- as a long man/spot starter. He might even be a late inning lefty specialist.

[Kimmi]

Once again, I don't see the harm in discussing a baseball topic, regardless of whether it's been beaten to death or not. We are debating civilly, for the most part, and are not hijacking any threads or other discussions. Right now, there just isn't much else to discuss.

 

At any rate, I am going to start a separate 'Dead Horse' thread for those of us who want to continue the debate. That way, the rest of you do not need to be bothered by the discussions. Simply do not read the thread.

[a700hitter]

Once again, I don't see the harm in discussing a baseball topic, regardless of whether it's been beaten to death or not. We are debating civilly, for the most part, and are not hijacking any threads or other discussions. Right now, there just isn't much else to discuss.

 

At any rate, I am going to start a separate 'Dead Horse' thread for those of us who want to continue the debate. That way, the rest of you do not need to be bothered by the discussions. Simply do not read the thread.

I agree with this post 100%. The back and forth has been civil and there is nothing else to discuss right now. If others don't like it, tough luck. When they resort to dictating what we can discuss and what positions we take, that is obnoxious.

[Elktonnick]

I agree with this post 100%. The back and forth has been civil and there is nothing else to discuss right now. If others don't like it, tough luck. When they resort to dictating what we can discuss and what positions we take, that is obnoxious.

Amen!

[a700hitter]

The Mets are going cheap. This was a reasonable price to pay and the Mets made no attempt to sign him. They are also going to let Cespedes walk.

 

Nationals To Sign Daniel Murphy

By Mark Polishuk | December 24, 2015 at 6:54pm CST

 

6:54pm: The contract is a three-year deal worth $37.5MM, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link).

 

4:25pm: The Nationals have agreed to a three-year deal with second baseman Daniel Murphy, ESPN’s Jim Bowden reports (via Twitter). The deal will become official once Murphy passes a physical, as per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Murphy is represented by the ACES agency.

 

Washington’s interest in Murphy was first reported by MLB.com’s Bill Ladson last week. The Nats have been looking for infield help for much of the winter, as they were finalists for Ben Zobrist’s services, had talks with Howie Kendrick and were on the verge of acquiring Brandon Phillips from the Reds before Phillips declined to waive his no-trade clause without a contract extension.MLB: NLCS-New York Mets at Chicago Cubs

 

Murphy, who turns 31 on April 1, hit .281/.322/.449 with a career-best 14 homers over 538 plate appearances in 2015. A 13th-round pick for the Mets in the 2006 draft, Murphy developed into a very solid big leaguer who has posted 12.2 fWAR/9.6 bWAR over the last five years. Mets fans will forever remember Murphy’s contributions in the 2015 postseason, as he posted a whopping 1.462 OPS and seven home runs over 39 PA in the NLDS and NLCS, a performance that earned him the NLCS MVP Award. Murphy became the first player in baseball history to homer in six consecutive postseason games.

 

In Murphy, the Nationals add a player who provides good pop for a middle infielder and also a versatile defender who play third, first and (on a limited basis) left as well as the keystone. In fact, according to metrics like UZR/150 and Defensive Runs Saved, second base is actually Murphy’s worst defensive position. Since Anthony Rendon can also play both second and third, it’s possible the Nats could use Murphy at the hot corner.

 

Regardless of who plays second, the signing ensures that Danny Espinosa will take over at shortstop until top prospect Trea Turner is ready for the big leagues. Murphy could also spell Ryan Zimmerman at first base against the occasional right-handed starter. In any case, Murphy’s multi-positional ability gives manager Dusty Baker a lot of flexibility in arranging lineups and late-game situations. Perhaps most importantly, Murphy also adds a much-needed left-handed bat to Washington’s lineup — Murphy and Bryce Harper are currently the only left-handed hitters projected to play everyday roles for the Nationals.

 

There wasn’t too much public buzz about Murphy’s free agent market before the Nats emerged, as the Rockies, Dodgers and Mets all had some interest but in somewhat limited fashion. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes ranked Murphy 17th on his list of the winter’s top 50 free agents and predicted he’d land a four-year/$56MM contract. It could be that Murphy’s market was impacted by the number of notable infielders being dealt this offseason. The three teams noted in Dierkes’ list (the Angels, White Sox and Yankees), for example, all addressed infield needs in trades for the likes of Andrelton Simmons, Yunel Escobar, Brett Lawrie, Todd Frazier and Starlin Castro.

 

Since Murphy rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets, New York will receive a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of the 2016 draft. The Nationals, in turn, will have to surrender their first-round pick (17th overall) the draft but they may end up taking only a minor slide down the draft board since they have two QO free agents of their own. Washington already received a compensation round pick when Jordan Zimmermann signed with the Tigers and they could receive another if Ian Desmond signs elsewhere.

 

Photo courtesy of Dennis Wierzbicki/USA Today Sports Image

[cp176]

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/540/658/5e8.jpg

 

it still is funny though. it has been an entertaining debate

[Behindenemylines]

With Sox winter shopping list complete the question that needs to be asked, when do catchers and pitchers report? Lets get this thing started!

[Kimmi]

With Sox winter shopping list complete the question that needs to be asked, when do catchers and pitchers report? Lets get this thing started!

 

The baseball season cannot start soon enough. That said, all of this warm weather has somehow made the offseason go by quickly so far. I can't believe it's almost January. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting in no time.

[jung]

I keep hearing a few pundits saying that "DD can't be done". But the money is basically done I think. So I am not sure what magic DD has to coax a better rotation 2 in here at least this year. Basically, I think he is done as well. Instead of last year's "we are all Aces" it almost seems like this year's theme is "we are all 2's" when in fact after Price we have our usual abundance of 4's and 5's and maybe a 3 in the bunch.

 

Some are all over him for not having offed either Panda or Hanley but I would be willing to bet he tried and nobody wants either one of them.

[Spudboy]

I keep hearing a few pundits saying that "DD can't be done". But the money is basically done I think. So I am not sure what magic DD has to coax a better rotation 2 in here at least this year. Basically, I think he is done as well. Instead of last year's "we are all Aces" it almost seems like this year's theme is "we are all 2's" when in fact after Price we have our usual abundance of 4's and 5's and maybe a 3 in the bunch.

 

Some are all over him for not having offed either Panda or Hanley but I would be willing to bet he tried and nobody wants either one of them.

 

I have no idea if DD is done. Like yourself, I bet he has tried to unload both stiffs. I'm just glad he has not traded Betts, Bogey or Swihart!

[cp176]

I keep hearing a few pundits saying that "DD can't be done". But the money is basically done I think. So I am not sure what magic DD has to coax a better rotation 2 in here at least this year. Basically, I think he is done as well. Instead of last year's "we are all Aces" it almost seems like this year's theme is "we are all 2's" when in fact after Price we have our usual abundance of 4's and 5's and maybe a 3 in the bunch.

 

Some are all over him for not having offed either Panda or Hanley but I would be willing to bet he tried and nobody wants either one of them.

 

I think that he has been left between a pebble and a firm place. Pretty sure he is ok with what we have moving toward spring training but he doesn't strike me as the kind of manager who likes to play the guessing game. In this case he has to. I bet that he would love to add one top of the line starter. The money is only done if John Henry wants it to be. There is still plenty of potential for a trade. Might even include Swihart. I don't think that he will let us be sucker punched though.

[jung]

I think a genuine problem on the money end is that JH is already over the luxury tax cap which is fine...for one year. But stretch that to two and you are really throwing money down a rat hole. They have to get back under again for 2017. That says to me, that the real gamble DD is taking is a hope and prayer that either or both of Hanley and Panda reestablish some value for him to work with allowing him to get out from under some part of their money by 2017 and hopefully set up the team for a serious run in 2017 and 2018. If that gamble does not pay off, every dollar they spend more at this point for 2016, makes it harder to get back under for 2017.

 

I don't see this year as the year to try to make more of this team than it can be. Too many holes, too many question marks, too much money invested in assets that are not only mediocre at best but that must play. That is sort of a rotten combination. Can't play very well but must play. We have at least three spots like that in the starting nine and possible four if JBJ never can hit for more than three weeks at a time.

 

Then we have Ortiz on his victory lap obviously very concerned about not blowing the Achilles in his last year which almost did blow on him the end of last year plus a lame duck manager on a team with proven lack of appreciation for lame duck managers. While securing TL's services by overpaying him is a brilliant move, it is really only brilliant if the Sox are pretty sure they are going to dispense with Farrell at some point during the 2016 season. Lame duck status is bad enough with this team....lame duck status with a guy sitting next to him that some team members will clearly prefer to have managing is another order of magnitude worse. A team with some guys preferring the "other guy" as manager might be pretty difficult for any manager to get to stay focused over the long grind of the 162. Their focus might wander quite a bit over the first 62 if they get off to the kinds of season starts we have seen lately.

 

As for Swihart, he really can't go anywhere without Vaz being ready to play.