SchillingIsTheNatural

I think Jose Mollina is a free agent as well.

Yeah I wouldn't expect Tampa Bay (Kazmir) or Baltimore (Tejada, Bedard) to do us any favors after winning the division, ALCS, and World Series. A situation where those players leave the AL East division would also be a success.

example1....excellent post You hit on everything that needs to be mentioned when discussing these trade possibilities. Some people on this site need to not be so short-sighted. If the Red Sox do nothing more than resign Mike Lowell, they are the favorites to win the World Series again. The front office has worked hard to get the team to this position. Lets not trade away all that hard work for a quick fix that we may not be able to keep. We can keep the young kids who have done nothing but perform to this point. Theo Epstein is getting himself in a position that when he trades, he moves players he has a surplus of talent in a particular position. David Murphy was burried on the depth chart which made him expendable. Kason Gabbard was capable of being in the rotation but with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz making there ways to the rotation, he was expendable. Coco Crisp is at a point where he can bring in something of value. No matter what anyone wants to say about his offense...the kid is arguably the top defensive CF after the 2007 season. Plenty of teams are interested in Crisp and Epstein will find something of value for him to help improve this team. Outside of Alex Rodriguez coming to Boston I just don't see this team making any crazy moves. They won the World Series and have all the pieces in place (besides Mike Lowell) to make another run. Not just for next season but several seasons.

I understand the Yankees want to give him time but while they wait they lose out on options for the 2008 rotation. If Andy Pettite takes too long and declines to return, the Yankees may be limited on there choices.

Seems like everyone in the league is currently available. Most of these guys will probably be taken off the table. Johan Santana, Kazmir, Bedard, Cabrera, Tejada, etc. etc. Out of that group I would want Scott Kazmir the most. I still stick by the idea Clay Buchholz could be as good as any of them. All-Stars have to come from somewhere and the Red Sox are producing some players who will be All-Stars very soon. The fact Kazmir is only 24 and has done what he's done....on the Red Sox he would be incredible with no sign of decline in sight.

I'd love to see Joe Crede get traded to the Yankees because that means they won't be looking at Mike Lowell or Alex Rodriguez which gives the Red Sox a huge advantage to signing one if not both players.

Players who perform well on other teams, make the transition to Boston and don't produce the way you assume they should. Miguel Cabrera is a different player with a much more dangerous bat but that does not mean he can't come into Boston and struggle.

I just want to make the point that there would be JUST as many questions about Miguel Cabrera coming to Boston than Buchholz pitching a full season in the rotation. Miguel Cabrera would not be batting 3rd or 4th which could have an impact. He would have to change positions which can sometimes have an impact on a player offensively (I don't know why but it does). Not to mention the potential JD Drew factor. I think Cabrera is a better hitter than Drew but if he drops his average below .300 and hits under 30 HRs with the Red Sox we would be pretty disappointed.

I think it would be great if we had a crystal ball and could determine who will become great players. Only thing I can say is this Red Sox front office has done a great job of developing these young players. Players like Papelbon, Pedroia, Youkilis, Ellsbury, Lester played major parts in bringing the Red Sox a World Series Championship in 2007. They have come up through the Red Sox system and I'm sure they feel a sense of pride playing for Boston. The Red Sox team has changed over quite a bit in the last couple seasons.....it would be nice to leave a team intact for once and not bring in players who's work ethic comes into question no matter what kind of "hall of fame" career they may be looking at.

When a guy has a tough second half like Johan Santana did, wouldn't you think that would raise a red flag? His numbers dropped a bit after the all star break where he is usually unbeatable. Would you still trade for him when injury could be a question? Sure I would...but not Clay Buchholz. What does it say about Buchholz when he has developed his change in one season? Not just developed but made it a dangerous weapon to go with his other pitches which are just as good. My biggest issue is once Clay Buchholz is gone...he won't come back. Every team in baseball wants the guy. Johan Santana will be available again. He will be a free agent and rake in the money. If we want him then...I'm fine with that and we could have Johan Santana and Clay Buchholz.

Last thing I want to throw out there....a comparison of the two players last season in Minor League Baseball Santana Single A-Michigan, 8-8, 160.1 IP, 4.66 ERA, 55 BB, 150 K Buchholz AAA-AA Combined 8-5, 125.1 IP, 2.44 ERA, 35 BB, 171 K It does not mean he will be better than Santana but its something interesting to look at.

And you are assuming Johan Santana wouldn't have growing pains? Something to keep in mind with Santana....2004 was his coming out season. Since then his numbers have been great...2007 was a little different (although still dominated) Wins went down Losses went up IP went down Ks went down ERA went up BB went up HRs allowed went up perhaps a trend is beginning?

I know what you mean. Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Francisco Liriano, Jonathan Papelbon, Houston Street, Roy Oswalt, John Lackey, Francisco Rodriguez, etc. There are quite a few pitchers who start off with a bang. I don't believe any of the above players mentioned posted minor league numbers like Clay Buchholz or threw a no-hitter in there 2nd start (other than Verlander none have thrown a no-hitter). Not just that but who cares if he is a Cy Young candidate or not. There are plenty of good pitchers in the league who are not considered for the Cy Young and for the most part its because of the team they play for and the record they have. Clay Buchholz is in Arizona working on strengthening his arm to get ready for the season, not to mention he has the arsenal to compete, and the attitude to deal with the pressure of Fenway and Boston. Last its nice to have a cheap option in the rotation with stud potential while Santana is here for a season before he cashes in and we owe more money where we might not need to.

If the Red Sox can't resign Mike Lowell or get A-Rod I'm guessing this is the best player available. He is no longer a 3B option but Kevin Youkilis is. He will cost a lot and I'm not willing to give up a Clay Buchholz for him.

Buster Olney can be such a Yankee fan at times. " I think the Yankees will make a play for Mike Lowell and offer him more money and years than the Red Sox"... " I don't see the Red Sox going after Alex Rodriguez because of the PR hit the front office may take"... Alright Buster.....so we won't get Mike Lowell or go after A-Rod....so who are we going to get? Such an ass

Yeah I would assume we would get something for them rather than the Braves giving us "nothing" The Braves aren't going to spend big money on free agents and they need to replace Renteria and Jones. They may be able to do it within the organization but they might work out a trade. Since the Red Sox are great at paying for a majority of there players money...I'm sure the Braves would have interest since they can get major league players at a low cost (its a good deal no matter what you think about Lugo and Crisp)

I don't think I can agree with this. The Red Sox have been very careful with his innings and pitches. He is going through a strengthening program this offseason to build his arm for a full season and Clay Buchholz is not the type of pitcher who "throws" his arm out. He is more of a finesse pitcher. I deffinitly can't agree with trading unproven talent for proven talent. At some point...every player is unproven talent. They are all a risk but at what point do we concede....the Red Sox front office is pretty good. Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Manny Delcarmen, Clay Buchholz There haven't been many that have sucked coming up through the Red Sox system. Not to mention those who left the Sox organization and made excellent careers elsewhere. Consider this last point: Johan Santana likes playing in Minnesota. Thats a smaller market team and making the jump to Boston would be extreme, he is a quiet pitcher and I'm not sure he would come to Boston and post the same numbers that he does in Minnesota.

This is crap...I don't know who the new GM of the Twins is but his first move would be trading Johan Santana???... Nope don't see it happening. Nor would I want to trade Clay Buchholz who might be as good as Johan Santana (Hamels like change, Beckett like curve). I have something to say about Jon Lester as well....nobody really understands the cancer treatment he has had to deal with over the past year. This is his first offseason in two years he will be able to workout and strengthen his arm for a full season in pro baseball. He just won the deciding game in the World Series and suddenly we are trading him??? Nope just don't see it.

This sucks....a Tuesday?? It would have been nice to have it on the weekend where more people could go.

Atlanta Braves have an open position at SS now that they traded Edgar Renteria. They aren't going to bring back Andruw Jones. Perhaps they would be interested in Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. The Red Sox can stick Alex Rodriguez at SS and resign Mike Lowell for 3B.