SuperManny

I believe signing with the arch rival after specifically saying that you would not sign with them is probably a bigger slap in the face. Anyways this isn't the first time since the immortal Jason Johnson wore it last year as did Dustan Mohr.

People ususally get upset when you risk their $51M I'm guessing.

Don't forget that Sanchez has a long history of injury which is why he slipped to the 31st round in the first place. He really didn't do much until last year but he's still young so his numbers in AAA (mid 3's ERA) were fine. I hadn't heard about the top 10 closer prospect, do you have a link to anythink listing him in the top 10. Honestly though I didn't even know they did top 10 lists for closers since most are converted starting pitchers that don't work out. Good trade for Sheff in the long run but IMO it will hurt the Yankees in 2007. Sheff is an ass though so I can't believe Detroit would trade anything for him. As for Matsuzaka the biggest impact IMO is going to be the fact that his luxury tax hit is going to be less than $9M per year. Thats going to be great for the luxury tax limit throughout the next 6 years. So pumped that the Sox got him. I'm getting his jersey for Christmas once they put it on sale.

Bitter much? Matsui brings in revenue for the Yankees but I'm sure Matsuzaka won't bring any revenue in right? There are certain revenue streams that are shared (merchandise) but there are others like selling the rights to broadcast Sox games that aren't. Also $17M per year (including posting fee) isn't too bad in this market. Zito will sign for right around that much per year and I would much rather have Matsuzaka than Zito.

The same could be said about Papelbon just last year. You don't trade top prospects because they might never have success at the ML level. That said I would probably deal Buchholz for Cordero but not Buchholz and Hansen. Now I have no problem moving Hansen in a deal for Cordero because I agree that he would be a perfect fit for the Sox but I think its too much to include Hansen with Buchholz. Buchholz is the top pitching prospect in the system besides Lester and who knows how he's going to be. Buchholz and a lower prospect or two would be fine IMO.

I believe the posting system came about because of Nomo. I'm pretty sure the posting system is in place so that players can't retire and go to the US. Even if they retire they still can't sign with another team until their original contract is up. Baseball Reference

Arroyo was a very mediocre pitcher for Boston in 2005 so I don't know what him doing in the NL has anything to do with what he would have done in the AL. Arroyo would have had an ERA in the 4.50-5 range last year for Boston and although that would have actually been an upgrade it still wouldn't have been good. Pena is the only young power hitter the Sox have and I stll think this was one of the best trades the FO has done in a while. (outside of the Renteria trade) Arroyo's peripherals were declining and it was the right time to move him. If you think the Arroyo trade was bad just go look up what it cost to get Arroyo in the first place. I think the FO won in terms of what it cost to get him, what he did for Boston, and what they got in return for him.

Yeah if Boras is demanding $15M a year and an out clause after 3-4 years and won't budge it would clearly be the FO's fault If there is no deal by the deadline then we can see whos at fault and I'm guessing it would be a combination of each side. You can't just arbitrarily blame one side, and that goes for the people that blame Boras for everything too.

I think its hilarious that Yankee fans think that its actually a possibility that the Yankees are getting Matsuzaka this year. Repeat after me: agents cannot buy players and then resell them on the open market. Boras also wouldn't make enough money off of Matsuzaka's contract to make it worth paying say $30M to buy Matsuzaka out anyways.

Honestly, some of the things you say are completely ridiculous. LA lost one of its better players because his agent (who happens to be the best in the business) realized that the market was going to be good. There was no need for tampering because everyone involved in the game knew that the market was going to be crazy since there was more money than ever and it being an average FA class. He doesn't have to be psychic to realize that the market is going to be good considering that everyone knew that baseball was making more money than ever. It was released to the public near the end of the season but while games were still going on that baseball was brining in over $5 billion in revenue even though they only estimated somewhere in the $4 billion area. Here is a link to a Gammon's article on October 22: Drew opted out of his contract sometime in early November. I think if Gammons knew and was publishing to the public that MLB was making more money than ever that the best agent in the game was aware of the fact that MLB had more money to spend on FA's this year. Why do you think that Boras put the opt out clause in Drew's contract in the first place? Its not a normal clause that players have and he put it in there in case the market got crazy like it did. He predicted the market would increase in the offseason that MLB signed a new labor deal where the luxury tax limit was sure to continue to increase. There is no conspiracy theory here, Boras is good at what he does. Oh and when Drew opted out of his contract there were already the rumors of Aramis Ramirez's deal with the Cubs for 5 years/$73M. Thats what set the market.

I haven't seen Drew play much but from what I've read he still has a cannon. We will see in spring training I guess.

Abreu is a very good player but he wasn't the right fit for the Sox last year. You have to remember that Trot was still healthy at the trade deadline so there wasn't a need for Abreu and rumors were at the time that he would demand his contract options be picked up if traded. The Sox weren't going to win with Abreu even if they could have predicted Trot's injury. As for the AAV being used in luxury tax limit, I'm almost certain thats how its done. I have no idea why Mussina's AAV wasn't used if it wasn't as I don't really follow the Yankees payroll or luxury tax number.

When Theo gave the "we aren't the yankees speach" he said that they couldn't just go crazy like the Yankees and have 4-5 OFers making $10M+ a year. He said that they had to pick their battles where they could and thats what they did with Matsuzaka. The $51M doesn't count toward the luxury tax limit so in that sense it helps out and the FO felt he was the best SP on the market. The Sox needed a serious upgrade in the pitching department so they spent the money. In terms of Drew, I don't think they would have went after him if they didn't believe Manny was gone. If you subtract out Manny's contract then the Sox payroll won't go up much but thats left to be seen. It seems like all you do here is complain though so it probably doesn't matter if theres reason behind the moves. Your probably the same type of "fan" that bitched and moaned at the trading deadline when the Sox passed on the aging Abreu and would have bitched and moaned if the Sox weren't signing anyone this offseason.

Ouch, I'm one of Mannys biggest supporters but keep in mind that he's the one requesting the trade. I have no doubt that the Sox FO would like to move him anyways but lets not act like Manny is being run out of town. You might want to focus on how the Yankee fans treat AROD instead of worrying about the Sox. No matter what Manny will always be the man because of this: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006VTMVQ.01-A189WN3T5ROVH._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65718625_.jpg

You mean because he can play defense? jk. Pedroia isn't the hitter than Cano is but he's a better overall 2B IMO because of his defense. He struggled last year but hes a good player and will be fine given time. He's not good enough for SS IMO but at 2B he should be fine.

Wang had a high WHIP this year for someone who is supposedly an ace. His WHIP this year was higher than Becketts. He's good because hes a groundball pitcher but the lack of K's and higher WHIP will catch up with him.

I'll give this a shot - first timer so bear with me if I mess up the rules a bit. Spread Category : Date & Time Favorite................ Spread.................. Underdog 11/30 8:00 ET At Cincinnati.............. -3.............................Baltimore 12/3 1:00 ET At Chicago . ..............-9.5...........................Minnesota 12/3 1:00 ET At St. Louis............... -6.5.............................. Arizona 12/3 1:00 ET Indianapolis.............. -7.5 ......................At Tennessee 12/3 1:00 ET At New Orleans.......... -7....................... San Francisco 12/3 1:00 ET At Washington.......... -1.5................................ Atlanta 12/3 1:00 ET Kansas City................ -5 .........................At Cleveland 12/3 1:00 ET At New England.........13.5.............................. .. Detroit 12/3 1:00 ET San Diego.................. -6............................. At Buffalo 12/3 1:00 ET NY Jets.................... -1.5........................ At Green Bay 12/3 4:05 ET At Miami.................. -1.5.......................... Jacksonville 12/3 4:15 ET At Pittsburgh.............. -8........................... Tampa Bay 12/3 4:15 ET Dallas...................... -3.5......................... At NY Giants 12/3 4:05 ET At Oakland................ -3 ................................Houston 12/3 8:15 ET At Denver.................. -3................................. Seattle Monday Night Football Point Spread 12/4 8:30 ET Carolina.................. -3.5.............................. At Philadelphia Straight Category : Date & Time Favorite.......................................... .... Underdog 11/30 8:00 ET At Cincinnati........................................ .......Baltimore 12/3 1:00 ET At Chicago . ...............................................Minnesota 12/3 1:00 ET At St. Louis............................................. ....... Arizona 12/3 1:00 ET Indianapolis...................................... ......At Tennessee 12/3 1:00 ET At New Orleans..................................... San Francisco 12/3 1:00 ET At Washington........................................ ........ Atlanta 12/3 1:00 ET Kansas City.............................................. At Cleveland 12/3 1:00 ET At New England........................................... .... Detroit 12/3 1:00 ET San Diego............................................. ...... At Buffalo 12/3 1:00 ET NY Jets.............................................. .... At Green Bay 12/3 4:05 ET At Miami............................................. ..... Jacksonville 12/3 4:15 ET At Pittsburgh........................................ ..... Tampa Bay 12/3 4:15 ET Dallas............................................ ......... At NY Giants 12/3 4:05 ET At Oakland........................................... ..........Houston 12/3 8:15 ET At Denver............................................ ........... Seattle Monday Night Football 12/4 8:30 ET Carolina.......................................... ............ At Philadelphia Monday Night Football Total Points Scored : ................ 38

I would rather not give up a draft pick to get Lugo. Hopefully the Sox wait until after the arb deadline to make any signings of Type A FAs.

Theo's best move of last offseason was the Renteria for Marte trade. Worst move was the Marte for Crisp trade. Hated that trade. Cory Patterson could have been had much cheaper and he did much better. Crisp is a LF not a CF.