The search for an ace

[mvp 78]

If I thought that this would be next season's rotation, I'd make the 2017 Red Sox Hot Stove Thread right now.

 

No duckboat reservations then???

[Bellhorn04]

They need two. I would be surprised more than last year for sure if they don't pick up at least one and still think they will sign two.

 

I think they will acquire one TOTR starter and two relievers. Anything beyond that would be Gravy City.

[mvp 78]

They need two. I would be surprised more than last year for sure if they don't pick up at least one and still think they will sign two.

 

2 guys, plus Porcello, Buchholz and Erod/Owens

 

Miley and Kelly will be traded.

[mvp 78]

I think they will acquire one TOTR starter and two relievers. Anything beyond that would be Gravy City.

 

Poutine Paradise?

[a700hitter]

No duckboat reservations then???

Yes, but just to take the tour of Boston. LOL!

[a700hitter]

2 guys, plus Porcello, Buchholz and Erod/Owens

 

Miley and Kelly will be traded.

I agree that this could be a likely scenario although I would opt to keep Miley and trade Buch. Your scenario is more realistic in that Miley is more tradeable than Buch. Plus, the FO seems determined to see Buch succeed.

[cp176]

I agree that this could be a likely scenario although I would opt to keep Miley and trade Buch. Your scenario is more realistic in that Miley is more tradeable than Buch. Plus, the FO seems determined to see Buch succeed.

 

They might take another shot with Buccholtz but they might not. I don't think that what ever they do with him will affect how they try to build next year's staff. If they sign him and get something out of him - great, but I don't think they are counting on him for anything.

[Orange Juiced]

If I thought that this would be next season's rotation, I'd make the 2017 Red Sox Hot Stove Thread right now.

 

If that rotation was in place next year, and put up those ERA numbers all season long, the Red Sox would easily win the AL East, and would be a heavy favorite to make it to the World Series.

[a700hitter]

If that rotation was in place next year, and put up those ERA numbers all season long, the Red Sox would easily win the AL East, and would be a heavy favorite to make it to the World Series.

that aint gonna happen.

[mvp 78]

I agree that this could be a likely scenario although I would opt to keep Miley and trade Buch. Your scenario is more realistic in that Miley is more tradeable than Buch. Plus, the FO seems determined to see Buch succeed.

 

Yeah, my thinking was "what would this FO do?"

 

I would not have extended Buch.

[dupree]

I hope DD and the front office shoots for the moon on Price and land him.

 

Whatever it takes. I know it's probably gonna be a bad contract in the later years but oh well.

 

With all the young talent I wouldn't move it. I'd sign Price to be the #1 and then let the guys from last year fill out the rotation.

 

Bucholtz option gets picked up with maybe Owens spot starting for him to help his innings down so he don't flame out like years past.

 

Hope that Kelly would come to terms and be our Wade Davis and let Taz pitch either the 7th or 8th. With a healthy Koji and maybe a trade for another closer in the event if bullpen injury along with some more bullpen arms I don't see this as a total rebuild of the rotation but the bullpen needs major help.

 

Price

Harvey

Owens

Bucholtz

Miley

 

Trade E-rod to the Mets along with two position prospects and maybe a pitching prospect would get it done.

 

If either Vazquez or Swihart is included in the deal I'd say let it roll to get the rotation that the Sox has needed for years.

 

The 1B situation is gonna be the most interesting this offseason in my opinion. If Hanley is moved due to the fact he don't want to be here or is unwilling to play 1B then a power bat is needed to plug in the lineup after Papi.

 

We all know that DD will get pitchers I think everyone who knows anything about baseball knows that is a given. But the most interesting thing this winter in the Hot Stove us what DD will do at 1b.

[Bellhorn04]

Price's final price tag should be something like 220 million, depending on which teams are in on him. That's a tough call for John Henry, who has gone on record about how deals like that for 30-year old pitchers are a bad idea.

 

On the trade front, Carrasco seems to be the consensus pick as the best target.

 

I don't like the idea of trading E-Rod at all.

[Orange Juiced]

Price's final price tag should be something like 220 million, depending on which teams are in on him. That's a tough call for John Henry, who has gone on record about how deals like that for 30-year old pitchers are a bad idea.

 

On the trade front, Carrasco seems to be the consensus pick as the best target.

 

I don't like the idea of trading E-Rod at all.

 

I want an ace. It's a challenge thinking through the best option, however. Price just costs money. But goodness it will be a TON of money. But there are juicy trade targets too. Harvey and Carrasco being the two highest on my list. Carrasco would cost less, but he's also likely going to be a lesser pitcher. Harvey is a stud. But he'll cost a ton to get.

 

A rotation of Harvey/Clay/Miley/Porcello/Rodriguez, with Johnson/Wright/Owens as depth probably would be pretty darned good. Whither Kelly? Dealt to the Mets along with a positional player/prospect to land Harvey.

 

And people, it's Buchholz. B.U.C.H.H.O.L.Z.

[Orange Juiced]

that aint gonna happen.

 

Miley is performing basically as he should be. Rodriguez is an up and coming stud. Obviously Rich Hill isn't going to be that good, but it's only been 3 games, so whatever. Porcello *should* be pitching this well. He has that kind of ability. Kelly? Eh....we'll see. Owens? Maybe.

[sk7326]

Getting one of the handful of aces out there would be amazing - stop the presses.

 

But if the Sox signed a Lackey - or at least 1 or 2 reliable starters - someone who can spit out 25-30 good starts, that would be ok. Team has been averaging 5.33 runs a game since the ASB, which is basically a Toronto-esque pace. The pitching has been better too, but it is just some serious raking which has emerged.

 

How much of the raking is sustainable? I think you can ask whether Travis Shaw will turn into a pumpkin. You can also assert that Bradley's power won't be like this. (although I think his .250/.340 slash is for real) But otherwise, the other guys are all in a position to be better. (including 3B just by virtue that Sandoval could not be much worse)

[a700hitter]

Miley is performing basically as he should be. Rodriguez is an up and coming stud. Obviously Rich Hill isn't going to be that good, but it's only been 3 games, so whatever. Porcello *should* be pitching this well. He has that kind of ability. Kelly? Eh....we'll see. Owens? Maybe.

I am glad that you like them. They are just not very good, and I am not one to cherry pick a month or two of performance and get excited about it. Yes, I am encouraged by ER and think he should be fine. Miley is what he is which is a number 4 starter. Taken as a whole the current group would be the staff of another sub .500 team next season, because they are just not very good.

[sk7326]

What is funny is the team is - based on the full season set (which you can use since there was no major trade during the season) is about what was expected. Scored a lot, mildly positive run differential. The difference between a shade below .500 and a bit above has been the pitching (and flammable relief in particular).

[Spudboy]

Could not find a thread on the subject so I'm posting it here.

 

Justin Masterson had right shoulder surgery ( arthroscopic ) yesterday.

 

For months a700 was asking what is wrong with the guy because of reduced velocity. I wonder how much the Sox knew about his health prior to awarding him $9.5 mil to be a bust. Terrible signing at that price.

[cp176]

What is funny is the team is - based on the full season set (which you can use since there was no major trade during the season) is about what was expected. Scored a lot, mildly positive run differential. The difference between a shade below .500 and a bit above has been the pitching (and flammable relief in particular).

 

Even more interesting when you consider that Buchholtz, Ramirez, Sandoval did not figure in much at all. I like this team with 1 or 2 new starters and some changes in the old pigpen. As for Shaw at first, playing him will pose no greater risk than counting on Ramirez, Buccholtz, and Sandoval to be able to produce. When you look in the crystal ball, I like young, athletic, and healthy as opposed to fat, stupid, and hurt. I actually don't mind seeing Marrero getting a chance at third.

[GomesBeard]

So what's the current feeling about Price, after the ALDS performance? Yeah, he pitched well in the last game, but still owns an 0-7 record in the postseason. Is he worth paying $100-plus million?

[jacksonianmarch]

Right now, the only guys in your rotation that I think should be there are Miley and ERod. ERod has the stuff and flashed the potential. Miley is a consistent average pitcher who gives you innings. Other than that, the rest are either too hurt or too inconsistent to be given a spot out of the spring. Maybe you fill the top 2 spots in the rotation, put ERod and Miley as the 3 and 4 and have the rest battle it out for the 5th spot.

[a700hitter]

So what's the current feeling about Price, after the ALDS performance? Yeah, he pitched well in the last game, but still owns an 0-7 record in the postseason. Is he worth paying $100-plus million?

Yes, although the contract makes me shudder.

[sk7326]

So what's the current feeling about Price, after the ALDS performance? Yeah, he pitched well in the last game, but still owns an 0-7 record in the postseason. Is he worth paying $100-plus million?

 

Small samples - he also recorded his only big league save in the toughest spot of his life. Let's not lapse in clutchy mcclutcherson arguments. His stuff can sustain for the contract mostly. He'll get paid very well by somebody and be worth it - mostly.

[GomesBeard]

Personally, I've never been a big Price fan, and with that post-season record..... Of course, the Sox have to get back there and he would certainly help that. It would be a lot of fun to be a fly on the wall for that first conversation between new teammates Price and Ortiz, though.....

[Dojji]

If he's available the guy I want is Greinke. I have no problems with Price but I have a sneaking suspicion that Greinke is going to age better, if only because he's not quite such a physical outlier

[GomesBeard]

If he's available the guy I want is Greinke. I have no problems with Price but I have a sneaking suspicion that Greinke is going to age better, if only because he's not quite such a physical outlier

 

Not sure he would thrive in Boston, however, given his social anxiety issues. He could be another A-Gon, needing a mellow San Diego or LA vibe to be successful. In other words, a wussy

[Divinity]

Not sure he would thrive in Boston, however, given his social anxiety issues. He could be another A-Gon, needing a mellow San Diego or LA vibe to be successful. In other words, a wussy

 

plus in LA the attention gets split between him and Kershaw, in Boston he'd be the sole ace and all eyes would be on him. Also a source close to Greinke speculated last week he “definitely wouldn’t want any more stress or additional media attention.”

[Spudboy]

I've always been surprised at Grienke's success in LA because of his social disorder.

 

I bet he stays there.

[Bellhorn04]

I've always been surprised at Grienke's success in LA because of his social disorder.

 

I bet he stays there.

 

He'll stay there. They need him and they've got all the money he can ask for.

[Kimmi]

Not sure he would thrive in Boston, however, given his social anxiety issues. He could be another A-Gon, needing a mellow San Diego or LA vibe to be successful. In other words, a wussy

 

I would be wary of signing Greinke. There is no place like Boston or NY when it comes to the scrutiny and pressure of the media and fans. I can't see someone with a social anxiety disorder thriving in this kind of atmosphere.