SchillingIsTheNatural

I agree with you thats its hard to give up core players....unless the offer is too sweet to pass up. I still think pitching wins in baseball just as defense wins in football. I also would have traded Terrell Owens...now he is suspended for most likely the season....deffinitly not a Bill Belichick guy.

Maybe its more than stats with me..just watching Millar he always looks off balanced when he swings. He also takes the smallest step into the ball as opposed to driving it...its like he attempts to lift the ball out of the park. I dunno maybe Millar has had some success with Boston but I fully believe Erstad can to....he just looks like a Red Sox player. I doubt he can have a season like he did in 2000 but I also doubt Millar will ever have a good season again in Boston. Mostly cause he won't be back so I don't know why we are arguing this hahaha.

So you are telling me instead of gaining a young talented prospect ranked as the San Diego Padres #2 top prospect on baseball america for a 42 year old pitcher you would not do it????? I don't have Dave Roberts on the brain...I have "finding a replacement for JD" on the brain. This kid has talent...hits the ball well and is very fast...he is a switch hitter. We don't need David Wells. As it is we have too many starting pitchers. He wants to be traded to the SD Padres and they have expressed interest so we need to come up with a trade. If you have another idea in making a deal with the Padres then lets hear it...stop thinking David Well will be back. The Red Sox are going to bring in the young guys and Jonathan Papelbon will take Wells spot this season in the rotation. When Schilling or Wakefield move on Lester and Sanchez will take there spots. David Well is 42 years old....enough is enough with the old players get some young blood in. As for Freddy Guzman you haven't seen anything from the kid have you??? The guy can fly and he hits a good average.....you are judging him based on the fact he is a young player who hasn't done anything 'YET'...you would just assume get the old farts who have been around the league a long time who had success at some point. I want the young guys who will be future stars. I'm having the same argument with people who hate the deal for Manny Ramirez.....what happens if we move Manny for someone like Ervin Santana??? What happens is Ervin becomes the next Roy Halladay or Johan Santana or Mark Prior??? Freddy Guzman may be the next Jimmy Rollins....you think we can trade David Wells for Jimmy Rollins?? Dream on but if you get him before he brings out his full potential...then you just came out on top although at first sight you may not have thought so.

Once again you guys can throw all the stats you want at me but players tend to become betters hitters when they get to Boston. Its easier to hit in Fenway, the team is solid top to bottom with good hitters, and there philosophy on hitting is different than that of the Angels. Erstad has had a much more solid career that Millar could ever dream. The biggest difference though is the defense where I would like this team to get back to what helped them be champions. Remember when Pokey and Doug would come in late in the game....three gold glovers in the infield. How would this team look if they could add more gold glovers....the pitching would become much better and pitching wins in baseball.

The issue is that David Wells will either get traded or retire. So any hopes you have of David Wells playing for Boston next season...forget about it. They have a few pitchers on San Diego we could make a trade for OR we could invest in a young player like Guzman who at first would have to fill that roll of speedy base stealer. If you want to compare the potential talent of Adam Stern to Freddy Guzman you are making a mistake. Guzman is one of there top prospects for San Diego and although he wouldn't be an everyday player for us...that does not mean down the road he wont be. The Red Sox do not have a lot of young talent in the OF position and we could use more. Too many Red Sox fans look on a one year basis such as you are doing. Saying Guzman is not worth it cause he only nets a few runs shows you are not looking beyond this next season. Trading a 42 year old for a early 20s guy with talent seems like a no brainer to me. This kid could end up being the lead off guy for the Red Sox for years.

Darin Erstad is a better hitter than Kevin Millar.....Darin Erstad is a tough hardworking baseball player. Kevin Millar just eats chicken. It is a lot of money the Sox need to take on with him but I think we are gonna have to do that in any trade we make with Manny involved. Its fine adding a gold glove caliber player and some young excellent pitching...in the end it will benefit us more than hold us back.

Wasn't "haterade" in a Fred Durst song...guess that says it all back to the IMPORTANT topic...Durazo will be 31 this season so I don't know what his chances are of being the next David Ortiz. Again I wouldnt mind taking a gamble since he may come cheap but we would need another option since we dont have any right now.

How about trying to get Freddy Guzman away from the Padres for David Wells???? He is a young speedster who wouldn't play everyday BUT...he could be the missing link late in games if we need a stolen base. He tore up the minors with his OBP. He is also a switch hitter.

Yeah I dont think many people like Depodesta. I wouldn't mind staying in house for the next guy. Remember it wasn't just Theo that made this ship run it was everyone involved. Why not keep it that way instead of bringing in someone not familiar with the way things have gone the last three seasons. We know that Larry has a huge hand in what happens so instead of starting a feud with a new guy...just leave the ones that are there already. That way the team will run in the same direction as it has been.

I was thinking about him. Yes the potential is there and he always puts up a great OBP which is a clear sign the guy can see the ball well....if he can make contact like he did in 2004 then it would be huge. However, he does have injury issues, turns 31 in 2006, and isn't too great defensively. Deffinitly another intriguing player from the Oakland Athletics.

I don't know if anyone has been keeping track but 24 year old David Murphy is really starting to turn it on in the Arizona Fall League. He is now batting .319/.364/.528. As far as I know his hitting is the only thing stopping him from making a run to be on a major league team. I hear he is a fantastic defensive outfielder and if he can get his swing under control and put up numbers he could become our top OF prospect. It is possible Murphy could be our next Trot Nixon.

Thats funny I just mention Octavio Dotel in the main thread as a target the Red Sox should look at. He is a big risk/reward type guy coming off surgery but it has been shown a fair amount of guys come back with a stronger arm. The Doctor mentioned that he would be throwing harder than 94-95. He seems like a great fit for the Red Sox other than the fact they need a lefty. He certainly won't be as expensive as Wagner, Ryan, or Hoffman....yet he could produce similar numbers. Will be interesting to see where he lands.

It does him no good to hold out. What would be the point?? Its not a contract holdout (which seems to never work for players) and all he would do is decrease his trade value to the point...why would anyone want an OF with an attitude problem that refuses to show up... Basically that play would continue to keep him from being traded so this holdout thing....is garbage. He gains nothing out of it and the Sox would just find a replacement until he wised up...not to mention it would make Manny Ramirez look like the bad guy.

That seems strange cause well lets see: Boston: Manny Ramirez Arizona: Troy Glaus LA Angels: Darin Erstad ...clearly this is a move to free up money but at the same time we are moving EASILY the best of the three in that list. Great we get to take on the contracts of Erstad and Glaus but as a favor almost....WE should be getting "showered" with prospects. Maybe not from Arizona since we aren't giving them anything but certainly the Angels...I would expect two prospects from them. Obivously Ervin Santan is the popular name but another young infielder (since they have so many..I want Brandon Wood) would be real nice to have. How about: Boston: Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad, Ervin Santana, Brandon Wood Angels: Manny Ramirez DBacks: Bronson Arroyo, Howie Kendrick, Kelly Shoppach

I thought about that but with the money he wants...might as well just go after Billy Wagner or BJ Ryan....old man Hoffman wants more than $7 million a year...hmmm....thats a much bigger risk cause if he gets injured or really slows down...now you are out of money

Now that Eddie Guardado is back in Seattle...that crosses off a potential lefty... The more I look at this the less likely it will be for us to grab BJ Ryan or Billy Wagner. These guys will be real expensive and after looking over the list....lefty relievers are pretty limited. Perhaps we could get away with another righty but one who can dominate....kinda the way the Angels are set up with K-Rod, Shields, and Donnally/Escobar. I looked a little at Octavio Dotel...he was supposed to be out for the entire 2006 season but apparently his surgery went so well that the Doc thinks he can return for spring training 2006 as long as he keeps up with his rehab.....chances are (like most guys with this surgery now) his arm strength will be even better and hit higher than 94-95 mph once his rehab is finished. Most teams may pass cause of the risk/reward chances but the Red Sox like to take those gambles.....this is one I would think about. He could probably be signed for real cheap. We know Mike Timlin will be alright and with some time Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen are our best chance for a stopper. I would also think about resigning Matt Mantei who should be healthy and has a real live arm....between Keith Foulke, Matt Mantei and Octavio Dotel....one or two of them is bound to work.....if none of them do then we would have to turn to the young guys sooner.....which might be just fine

If Theo went to the LA Dodgers and was able to clear up that team from there disaster.....the more power he gains. I wouldn't necessarily put it past him and he did not rule out the idea of talking to them once he handles the Red Sox situation up to the GM meetings.

Everyone denies possible trade rumors. They like to keep things behind closed doors as much as possible...its always been that way. When things are leaked to a large extent (a la Noma) then stuff can get messy...ksushi is right in that the players for the Angels and D-backs could be fragile and get upset if they are trying to be traded and dont get traded...they feel the team doesnt want them.

This whole power struggle is pathetic when the front office primary concern should be winning another championship.

So would you guys rather have: Troy Glaus and Darin Erstad or Aubrey Huff and Mike Cameron ...sound like similar deals....the difference would obviously be prospects coming to Boston in the Angel trade (Ervin Santana or others). So I'm obviously taking the Angel trade in that regards BUT....who would you rather have on the Sox when it comes to those above players??

Lets get Peter Gammons to be our GM hahaha

Whats reall upsetting about this is if the fans could choose between Larry Lucchino and Theo Epstein......Theo would be the hands down choice of the people of Boston. Johny Henry should realize that and understand this is a mistake. I mean I'm sorry but Kevin Towers is no Theo Epstein. The two guys I would have been interested in (Gillick & Hunsinker) look close to getting deals with other clubs.....suck

First off....Vlad and Manny is no better than Ortiz and Manny......I can't believe you guys aren't giving David Ortiz enough credit....you have all seen him hit as I have....MVP. Not to mention you can guarantee the Red Sox will get another bat to back Ortiz up. As far as this trade making the Angels playoff contenders....guys...the Angels are already playoff contenders as are the Red Sox. Whats more likely...Manny Ramirez bat getting them far in the post season or the Red Sox pitching and defense getting them far. Not to mention you need to think further down the road about a player like Ervin Santana.....he was ranked higher on the Angels prospect list last season AHEAD of Bobby Jenks...look how he turned out. You can forget Manny for Vlad...whats the point?? Angles gain nothing from that cause not only is Vlad a great hitter but he has a great arm. I like Darin Erstad cause of his defensive capabilities. He can play in the OF for us (give guys a rest), he can play 1B, come off the bench....whatever....the guy is a baseball player. If we could make the deal for Ervin Santana (22 year old with great stuff), Darin Erstad (leadership, reliable, plays hard) and one other prospect I would strongly consider the deal. As for Troy Galus thats interesting....what I would do is let Glaus play 1B where he is less likely to be injured. The one thing I don't like about Glaus is his defense sucks. But if we aquire Darin Erstad he helps that problem from time to time. You could also let Ortiz and Glaus switch on and off at 1B/DH. Then if the Red Sox would get someone like Aubrey Huff who can play 3B/1B/OF....check this out...talk about versatility.... Darin Erstad - CF/OF/1B Troy Galus - 1B/3B/DH David Ortiz - 1B/DH Aubrey Huff - 1B/OF/3B ....Francona would have a field day coming up with matchups and lineups. To get an idea: 1. Dustin Pedroia (2B )® 2. Edgar Renteria (SS )® 3. David Ortiz (DH )(L) 4. Troy Glaus (1B )® 5. Aubrey Huff (OF )(L) 6. Jason Varitek ©(S) 7. Trot Nixon (LF )(L) 8. Kevin Youkilis (3B )® 9. Darin Erstad (CF )(L) ....thats awesome....the money run down: Glaus: 9 million Erstad: 8 million Huff: 5 million as opposed to paying Manny 20 million PLUS whatever else we would need to fill CF and 1B.

The one thing I may argue with is the bullpen. The Red Sox have one main focus and thats a dominating lefty reliever: Guardado, Wagner, or Ryan. The Yanks are going to fight hard for Ryan so why not bid on one of the other two. We can argue all day which one is the best but the fact is they are all good. They all have small ERAs, experience, ability to close, etc. The Red Sox just need to make sure they get one of them. They will give Keith Foulke the oppotunity to close again and rightly so...I would do the same. If the Red Sox have a three way combo of a healthy effective Foulke, Timlin, and *lefty*.....then we just made our bullpen. The rest of the spots can be filled by players already on our team. The only other guys I would consider bringing back is Myers and possibly Mantei. I would give Delcarmen and Hansen a little time in Pawtucket to get everything PERFECT when the join the team later...so I would start the season with: CL: Keith Foulke (huge reward/risk? money is already invested so give him another shot...at least this time we have a backup plan) SU: Mike Timlin (Mr. Reliable) SU: Guardado, Wagner, or Ryan (guaranteed upgrade over Embree) MR: Chad Bradford (situational righty...will do better now that he starts the season here) MR: Mike Myers (situational lefty) MR: Matt Mantei (should be fully healthy, less of a role so less pressure) MR: Lenny DiNardo (hitting his prime now at age 26..give him the chance to make it in the big leagues) ....as we saw this season things don't always work out the way you want BUT...if you have Hansen, Delcarmen, Alvarez, Lester, Sanchez, among others getting prepared in the minors (hopefully they are all in Pawtucket)...we have more fall back options as opposed to needing to make a deal. Not to mention the only real big money invested in this group will be the set-up lefty. This gives the Sox more money to go after key positional players.

I just read that the Padres offered Brian Giles 3 years - 21 million contract. Its on the table and he hasn't accepted it but its there. I think he can still play at 37 but I don't know how much more I would push that contract offer. Giles is a better hitter than Johnny Damon and plays good defense....I don't know how Damon can ask for much more than $7 million a year.