yagmaster

To clarify, this deal would be along the lines of David Wells and Doug Mirabelli for Mark Loretta and possibly another player like Akiniro Otsuka, according to an article in today's Globe: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/12/03/ramirez_wells_bring_interest/ I think this would be a great trade for the Red Sox. David Wells has no real value to us as we have a surplus of young starting pitchers, and he as also asked to be traded. Mirabelli, while a popular player and valuable as a backup catcher, deserves a chance to play every day and will probably never get that chance with Tek locked up for the future. Loretta would be our starting second baseman, and is two years removed from being an All Star. He is cheap and plays excellent defense and will be an excellent mentor to the future of our infield, Dustin Pedroia. Akiniro Otsuka has had two good seasons after coming from Japan, and figures to have another good year. He could be that last reliever that we need to make our bullpen a strength. I think trading a disgruntled, old, bottom of the rotation starter who has asked to leave and a backup catcher for these two guys would be a great trade.

Farnsworth is a good reliever and he will fill the void left by Tom Gordon. Good, albeit expensive, signing for the Yankees.

I think his ERA will balloon back up to his career ERA around 4.00 this season. While certainly serviceable, I don't think we missed anything.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2245182 This was bound to happen, and the overpaying for relievers continues.

Here's the article that mentioned it, from Philly.com http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/baseball/mlb/13306575.htm

I disagree, the '03 Tigers had no one. The '06 Marlins will have two of the best young players in all of baseball, in Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, both bonifide superstars, and they will carry the team to mediocrity. They will most likely finish at the bottom of the NL East, but they will not lose 119 games.

Abreu for Bedard and Gibbons is much better for them than Abreu AND Burrel for Vazquez and Green. Shawn Green's best seasons are far behind him, and while Vazquez is better than Bedard, he doesnt come close to making up for the difference between Burrel and Green. Another plus of Abreu for Bedard and Gibbons is that it cuts salary which this trade does not.

After losing Thome to free agency, I think it is very unrealistic to believe Philadelphia would trade Burrel AND Abreu, especially if they aren't getting Manny in return. While this trade works nicely for Arizona and Boston, the Phillies would be getting terribly shortchanged in this deal, and they don't even save salary.

I think the American League figured out Barry Zito. His curveball, while the best in the game, is readable out of his hand, and it's slow enough for hitters to adjust. Other pitchers like Roy Oswalt who throw big curveballs are successful because they use them to complement great, hard fastballs, and hitters don't have time to sit curveball and adjust up to fastball. With Zito, who may have even lost velocity, hitters can wait for the big hook, and if he does indeed throw an 86 MPH fastball, which is nowhere near overpowering, hitters have time to fight it off. I am not saying Zito is a bad pitcher, but I am saying that he will never come closer to replicating his 2002 season than he did last season, and a 2005 Barry Zito is not worth that many players.

The original article that you posted, Els, said that Pedroia would the focal point of any package the Sox would offer. Personally, I think Pedroi can put up the same numbers as Castillo put up last year or close to them THIS SEASON, and he is much younger, cheaper, and has much more potential. I would have liked to see Castillo play next to Renteria while Pedroia was allowed more time to develop, but if acquiring Castillo meant giving up Pedroia, I'm glad we held back.

Great post, Els, you pretty summed up the last week or so in the trade Manny saga. Unfortunately, the it seems as though none of the teams are willing to give up a mixture of MLB talent and young talent that we need for Manny, and the trades you proposed, which would satisfy me, seem almost unrealistic unless the three teams make it a bidding war for Manny. It's frusterating to me that a team like the Mets can say "we want to take your best player from you, but we won't trade Beltran, Delgado, Wright, Reyes, Millege, or Heilman," and that appears to be the case with Minaya. Only time, and the Sox no-name front office, will tell what happens.

With Gordon gone to Phillies and Farnsworth apparently almost under wraps with the Yanks, the Sox will have to look somewhere else to add to their bullpen. Julian Taverez, in my opinion, would be the best fit.

Perez is a career .247 hitter who's only strength is defense. I don't see any NEED to get him. Carrasco is 36 years old and has had one season (last year) in the last 7 in which his ERA was under 4.00. I don't really think either these guys are a MUST SIGN as you make them out to be.

And I could go back to my old Screenname...

I have nothing to back this up with, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Nomar will be back with the Sox next season. He was definitely his happiest here.

Blaine Neal was a little older and less dominant in the minors than Van Buren was. Plus, he wasn't named after a famous man in United States history. I think this is a solid deal with plenty of upside, and I doubt we gave up anyone too good. Though not Farnsworth, Van Buren definitely fits the bill.

Foulke struggled with injuries last year, but did have one of the better seasons and postseasons as a reliever of all time the previous year. I expect him to come back this season healthy and with a lot to prove, and I think he will. While he may never again be a 3 inning lights out super reliever like he was in the 2004 playoffs (especially in the ALCS), he will have a great comeback season. My pick for closer in the near future, which is no big surprise, is Hansen. From what I've heard about him from articles I have read and also from friends, Hansen has the stuff to be a Mariano Rivera or Brad Lidge type closer; he will be the best in the game. I think it's important not to rush him, or any of our other promising prospects.

As I have said in other topics, I really am not a Soriano fan. I think his lack of plate discipline, poor glove, and declining batting averages over the last three years all point to him having a very poor 2006 season, and I don't want him to do that as a Red Sox. This would be, however, a steal even if Soriano doesn't have that great of a year, as Arroyo has become expendable, Shoppach's future doesn't seem all too bright, and Cora, while serviceable, comes no where near a Soriano mediocre year. Even with my reservations about Soriano, I would do this trade in a heartbeat, but I doubt Texas will trade Soriano for anything less than Clement and a prospect, maybe even Lester, which I would not eve consider.

I merged these two threads beacuse people were posting the same posts in each and they were competing with each other.

The Red Sox are still in the hunt for one more reliever, be it Farnsworth or Gordon or someone else. I don't think Mota is holding us back from signing another guy, it's the money that these relievers are commanding after the huge contract signings by Ryan and Wagner that is holding us back.

ESPN is reporting that he did indeed agree to a five year, $60 million deal, which is almost a bargain for him considering his playoff heroics and past great seasons. Though I have never been a huge Konerko or White Sox fan, I really applaud Konerko for taking less money to play for his long time team. It's not too surprising either, who wouldn't want to resign with a defending World Series Champion...not named Pedro...? While this is a big signing for the White Sox, they still may need to add talent in order to remotely match their success of last year, considering the great improvement (already) of teams like Toronto, our Red Sox, and (inevitably) the Yankees, who are sure to sign or trade for some serious talent sometime this offseason. Big time signing by the ChiSox nonetheless.

Another plus about have Erstad is he had one of the best defensive seasons at first base last year of all time. With Erstad, Pedroia (eventually), Renteria, and Lowell, we would have an excellent defensive infield to complement our great pitching. And with Manny out of the outfield, and the reigning AL Gold Glove winning catcher, the 2006 Red Sox could do something that they haven't in memory...have one of the better fielding teams in baseball. And, as they say, pitching and defense wins championships (see Chicago White Sox in 2005). I don't think losing Manny's offense would be as crippling as people (including me recently) might think. I think ksushi's proposed trade with Anaheim and Arizona is excellent.

I have no idea what this weirdo is talking about and am in no way affiliated to him. Anyway, I personally do not like Soriano at all, he's a terrible clutch hitter, his batting average has declined in three straight seasons, and he plays terrible defense. Yes he does hit for excellent power, but that is not what the Red Sox need out of a second baseman. Granted, we would need power if we trade Manny (and Soriano would replace some) but I think Soriano will have his worst statistical season next year since his rookie season. PS - Andy, I'm only kidding. I love you with all my heart.

I hadn't even thought about that. This is a very good point, and makes the trade even better. Especially since we have been making great picks in drafts recently, this could become a factor.

Haha thanks, it's nice to be back...