2016 Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion Thread

[reYoukilis]

Shaw is certainly making his bid for a big league roster spot. I love what he has done since being called up. I am just hesitant about giving him the full time job based on his AAA numbers and such a short sample in the bigs. I think he could do the job, but I also think there needs to be a viable Plan B at first base in case Shaw turns into Middlebrooks 2.0.

 

If Hanley can stick at 1B, Shaw would be a great backup and defensive replacement.

We definitely should have a backup plan but so many factors are pointing to Hanley (or Panda), other than their contracts, being the odd man out that we should make that move. We also have Sam Travis in waiting.

 

As for comparing Shaw to WMB, I think Shaw is a more complete batter. WMB was all pull for home runs or nothing.

[Kimmi]

While I share your legitimate concerns about Shaw, I believe that he has done more in that short sample to earn a shot at the job than the over paid louse Hanley.

 

Play Shaw until he craps out ( if he does ) then execute plan B. Hanley should not be in any plans.

 

Shaw has definitley made his bid. That said, I'm not convinced that Hanley is gone next season. He could be, but he could also be the Sox starting 1B next season, with Shaw being Plan B.

[Kimmi]

We definitely should have a backup plan but so many factors are pointing to Hanley (or Panda), other than their contracts, being the odd man out that we should make that move. We also have Sam Travis in waiting.

 

As for comparing Shaw to WMB, I think Shaw is a more complete batter. WMB was all pull for home runs or nothing.

 

I wasn't trying to compare Shaw to Middlebrooks as hitters, but rather I was just trying to point out that hitters can look very good in a small sample, only to struggle in a larger sample.

 

I don't know what the answer will be. I won't be upset if Shaw is given the job. I also won't be upset if Hanley is given the job if the FO determines that he is capable of playing the position defensively. Lovullo and Dombrowski have both indicated that they think he can. I have serious doubts about that, but I will defer to the expertise of the powers that be.

 

Whichever route they decide to go, I just don't think it's a position that they need to spend a lot of additional money on.

[Behindenemylines]

All I want for Christmas this year is a true ace without giving up the farm.

[cp176]

One could be bought!

[Kimmi]

All I want for Christmas this year is a true ace without giving up the farm.

 

I have always preferred acquiring players for "just money" versus having to give up prospects plus money. I certainly hope that Dombrowski will not sell the farm this offseason.

 

That said, I think that the Sox have enough spare parts that they could deal and still keep their farm system relatively intact. Also, I am really wary of signing Price to the type of contract it will likely take to sign him, not that I would complain if the Sox do sign him.

 

I hate the Hot Stove season. It's so stressful for me. LOL

[mvp 78]

@EricFisherSBJ: Papelbon starts fight w Harper in Nats dugout, then gives up 2R HR in 9th. Nats' ugly 2nd half to season gets uglier.

[a700hitter]

Hazen (link) says that the Red Sox are tentatively planning to look at Hanley Ramirez as a first baseman in spring training. Ramirez was recently shut down for the year with a shoulder injury. He hit just .249/.291/.426 at the plate while advanced metrics labeled him as a weak defender.

Tentatively? Reading between the lines as Hawk Harrelson would say, "He gone!"

 

Here's an idea, trade him to the Nats for Papelbon. The Nats need a first baseman and Papelbon is a goner after the Harper dust up. Getting Papelbon in the salary swap is better than just eating the whole salary and getting nothing which is approximately Hanley's worth.

[Station 13]

Nats has their own disaster injury prone 1B under contract for 5 more year.

[a700hitter]

Nats has their own disaster injury prone 1B under contract for 5 more year.

Zimmerman? He can play the OF, unlike Hanley.

[Station 13]

Zimmerman? He can play the OF, unlike Hanley.

 

I highly doubt that is the case anymore. Zimmermann bat and glove has slowed way down. He might be worse off at this stage than Ramirez is.

[a700hitter]

I highly doubt that is the case anymore. Zimmermann bat and glove has slowed way down. He might be worse off at this stage than Ramirez is.

We need to find a team that has an opening for and that wants a full time DH.

[Jasonbay44]

I don't see the Nationals wanting another bad contract, they have enough bad contacts just between Werth and Zimmerman, who they are paying $35 million a year for minimal production.

[Palodios]

What about a Ryan Howard for Hanley Ramirez trade ? Throw in 10-20 million. Travis Shaw has a big split against LHP this year and plays as a defensive substitute, Howard has a big split against RHP.

[sk7326]

What about a Ryan Howard for Hanley Ramirez trade ? Throw in 10-20 million. Travis Shaw has a big split against LHP this year and plays as a defensive substitute, Howard has a big split against RHP.

 

That is a lot of money for a full time DH (an absolute full time DH - Hanley may or may not be one) who cannot hit lefties. That trade makes sense in a world where you think Hanley's hitting is a permanent problem.

[sk7326]

Tentatively? Reading between the lines as Hawk Harrelson would say, "He gone!"

 

Here's an idea, trade him to the Nats for Papelbon. The Nats need a first baseman and Papelbon is a goner after the Harper dust up. Getting Papelbon in the salary swap is better than just eating the whole salary and getting nothing which is approximately Hanley's worth.

 

It might mean they are trying to free up 3B too.

[sk7326]

All I want for Christmas this year is a true ace without giving up the farm.

 

There is enough without "the farm" to do it. Key thing to remember is some of the guys dealt might end up quite good - occupational risk.

[a700hitter]

f*** Dipoto.

DiPoto's tenure with the Red Sox will not vest him in a pension. He took the Mariners GM job. Ben remains unemployed. I mean " on vacation"

[cp176]

I did not and still do not think that signing Ramirez was anything more than just taking a shot that something might work out well. Over the course of his career he has not been the hitter that most thought he could be in Boston. If he is back, I guess we live with it. If he is not, than we move on. I think that what he did this year can certainly be covered and improved upon by the guys that played while he was "injured".

[Spudboy]

I did not and still do not think that signing Ramirez was anything more than just taking a shot that something might work out well. Over the course of his career he has not been the hitter that most thought he could be in Boston. If he is back, I guess we live with it. If he is not, than we move on. I think that what he did this year can certainly be covered and improved upon by the guys that played while he was "injured".

 

Of course those who know more than you or I on this board will tell you that he will definitely be much more productive next season because he has had good numbers in the past.

 

I think the guy is a lump and should be jettisoned at great cost. Just get him out of here.

 

And I do not believe for one f***ing minute that Dombrowski is seriously considering playing the bum at 1st next season. If he does he is a stupid team builder. I will not have anything nice to say about him thereafter.

[cp176]

Of course those who know more than you or I on this board will tell you that he will definitely be much more productive next season because he has had good numbers in the past.

 

I think the guy is a lump and should be jettisoned at great cost. Just get him out of here.

 

And I do not believe for one f***ing minute that Dombrowski is seriously considering playing the bum at 1st next season. If he does he is a stupid team builder. I will not have anything nice to say about him thereafter.

 

I don't know any better than anyone else whether T. Shaw is the answer going forward but I would far prefer him starting at first next year as opposed to the guy that people seem to think is going to perform better than he ever has. Shaw has outhit Ramirez. He is young, hungry, and actually wants to be in the lineup. I like that as much as I like his 12 home runs in 201 at bats.

[a700hitter]

Of course those who know more than you or I on this board will tell you that he will definitely be much more productive next season because he has had good numbers in the past.

 

I think the guy is a lump and should be jettisoned at great cost. Just get him out of here.

 

And I do not believe for one f***ing minute that Dombrowski is seriously considering playing the bum at 1st next season. If he does he is a stupid team builder. I will not have anything nice to say about him thereafter.

Hanley had a chance to showcase himself at first base this season and earn a spot with the team next season. Reports are that he has been swinging and throwing pain free for a while, but that he wasn't comfortable enough at first base to play in games. I guess that he was afraid of embarrassing himself. That's surprising as he didn't seem to mind looking like a clown in LF. Could he have looked worse at first base? His reluctance/refusal to play first base this season has probably guaranteed that he will be gone by next season. There is no way that DD opens camp in 2016 with a defensive experiment with Hanley. He will not risk the failure and embarrassment that in large part cost Ben his job. It just isn't going to happen. The only chance of Hanley being on the 2016 Red Sox is if they move Pablo and Hanley plays 3B. I think that is a very remote possibility as diving for balls at 3B would likely put him on the DL with his chronically bad shoulder. The Hanley deal may be the worst signing by a Red Sox GM in my memory.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox have given Hanley Ramirez permission to begin his offseason rehab process at his home in Fort Lauderdale, which ESPN Boston’s Gordon Edes feels is a curious and perhaps telling move from the team. While Ramirez has been shut down for 2015 due to a shoulder injury, Edes notes that the likes of Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa all remained with the club despite being shut down with past and current injuries in order to keep supporting their teammates. It could just be a case of bad optics, or it could be a hint that the Red Sox don’t have Ramirez in their future plans and will try to trade him this winter.

He gone!

[Spudboy]

He gone!

 

What a life!!! Imagine sucking at your job for 4-5 months then being told that you don't have to come to work at all. Just go play in the sand and Sun. Our treat.

 

I hope he never comes back.

[SoxnCycles]

What a life!!! Imagine sucking at your job for 4-5 months then being told that you don't have to come to work at all. Just go play in the sand and Sun. Our treat.

 

I hope he never comes back.

 

You do realize how dopey it sounds, when you compare a regular job to that of a MLB player, don't you?

Are you under the impression that they all just lie around in the off season?

[Bellhorn04]

Hanley was brutal this year except for his power surge in April. How much of it was s*** luck and how much was his own doing, who knows. But I too would be happy to see him go. Once he stopped playing we started playing like a good ball team.

[SoxnCycles]

Hanley was brutal this year except for his power surge in April. How much of it was s*** luck and how much was his own doing, who knows. But I too would be happy to see him go. Once he stopped playing we started playing like a good ball team.

 

Yup, it had nothing to do with the improved pitching.

 

They got better when Pedrioa was out too!

[Bellhorn04]

Yup, it had nothing to do with the improved pitching.

 

I think the improvement in the outfield defense has also been a sizable factor. His absence from the lineup hasn't hurt the offense either. Let's face it, the guy was horrible. It's not easy to pull off a WAR of negative 1.8.

[SoxnCycles]

I think the improvement in the outfield defense has also been a sizable factor. His absence from the lineup hasn't hurt the offense either. Let's face it, the guy was horrible. It's not easy to pull off a WAR of negative 1.8.

 

It's debatable how "sizable" that effect is.

 

I don't see it making as big an impact on Porcello as some rest was.

[Spudboy]

You do realize how dopey it sounds, when you compare a regular job to that of a MLB player, don't you?

Are you under the impression that they all just lie around in the off season?

 

I suppose you are attempting to teach me something. I admit that I have no clue what you are saying.

 

My comment was about the idiot Hanley. I made no assumptions about other players off season regiments nor did I make any generalizations.