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I think you're pretty close here. If the Sox could land Choo to play RF and sign Hamilton for LF they would have a pretty potent offense (yet again). They would also be very LHH heavy.

I think there's two possible options: 1) They really like him for some reason and strongly want him to be around for two seasons 2) They are having trouble getting other OFs to be interested in coming to Boston and this is the best they could do for that 4th OF type position. I suppose there could be a 3rd option: 3) They know they are going to make a strong run at Josh Hamilton and wanted to get the other OF spot cemented prior to that push so they aren't left hanging. There was a story on mlb.com that noted that industry insiders believe the Red Sox are going to make a run for Hamilton. I think that would be great, if the contract isn't Crawford-esque and it offers them flexibility to do other things as well. In terms of comparable contracts, I think his best comps in terms of current performance and age would include players like Ryan Braun (5 years, 105m), Torii Hunter (5 years, 90m w/ Angels), Ichiro Suzuki (5 years, 90m w/ Mariners), and Matt Holliday (7 years, 120m). Those are the big OF contracts of the past few years and they are players who have roughly the same impact that Hamilton had. Based on those players I think he can rightly ask for a minimum of 5 years. The Sox would have to really blow him out of the water in terms of salary to make the deal shorter, but they could possibly give him the infamous "opt out" clause that the Yankees used with CC and Soriano, which would give him the chance to make more money on the market in a few seasons and keep them from having to get into a huge deal in terms of length.

Let's hope this doesn't become a Punto like deal. Signing a veteran who has shown some ability in other places who regresses to his usual self when he shows up in Boston. Gomes was interesting like 7 years ago. If he puts up his 2005, 2009 or 2011 seasons it will be a decent signing. Otherwise, wake me up when something exciting happens.

I can't help but wonder if fiscal discipline plus s***** current team will make it very hard to draw decent FAs unless it is their last resort. The last thing the sox should do is pay a 25% tax in AAV or years just to be an 85 win team.

I should show you video clips of this kid Mike Trout. I bet the Angels wouldn't trade them straight up or even with multiple other pieces thrown in.

Nakajima would be interesting, as would the closer that many teams are looking at right now. Sadly the Sox don't seem to be in on either of them. Not sure why they wouldn't be interested in Japan's best closer... Perhaps they are operating under the misconception tht the sox fans like watching games blown late. Or maybe he's just expensive or not that good.

It is interesting that there isn't a lot of rumor or speculation about Justin Upton. He would give the lineup some nice flexability and is potentially a star in this league. He is exceptionally strong and, at 24, is off to a really nice career. You can't get Harper or Trout, but Upton was a former #1 pick and he has shown why. His numbers aren't noticeably worse than Robinson Cano at the same age. With Upton playing RF for the foreseeable future the Sox could cement a position of a very good player in his prime years. He would cost a lot of talent, but the Sox have enough resources to deal even a Barnes and De La Rosa plus without it hurting them long term. With Upton you get better now and start putting together the team for the next run. In all seriousness they could trade for Upton and aim for Josh Hamilton and still have enough for a pitcher like Sanchez or Edwin Jackson. 2014 would have an OF of Hamilton, Bradley Jr and Upton. Bradley Jr Pedroia Ortiz Hamilton Upton Middlebrooks Lavarnway 1B Iglesias That's a young lineup with a great young core of players and some payroll flexability when Ortiz leaves and Hamilton declines. Meanwhile the team creates some excitement and would be poised to turn things around in the next few years.

Yes there have. I don't believe them because I think they are at the pre-smoke stage (i.e. where there's smoke there's fire).

I suspect we all agree with this, it's just the cost and the length that make the difference. Hamilton is one of those players who commands respect when he's on the field. He's not Miguel Cabrera, but he's capable of being as productive and when he's hot he's unlike anyone in baseball.

All these guys have something nice to offer. Gordon seems like a natural fit for LF, with plenty of risk since his defense would be a big reason to go after him. His offensive numbers have been impressive the past few years too, so I'd go for that. Hosmer's potential is really high. I'm just not sure that either of these guys would be worth clearing out the farm for. Webster, sure, but they need all the minor league pitching depth they can get so much beyond that (say De La Rosa or Owens) would really be prohibitive. I would think the Royals would want young, cost-controlled players. Perhaps a deal around Kalish and Webser could land a guy like Gordon.

What pieces would the Sox have that match up well with what the Royals want? Unless they're willing to move a guy like Webster I doubt they make a great partner here.

I would say that if the offseason goes by with no significant moves that are intended to make the team better--short term splash (Josh Hamilton, etc.,) or longterm development (trade for young guy like Upton, Stanton, etc.,) then I will share your disappointment. Of course, the other variable here is that Henry could be shopping the team and unwilling to spend anything significant until that deal has been made.

This. Combines with the introduction of some younger players to get them started in a less pressured season would be nice. Bradley Jr and maybe Xander could both be ready. Trade Ellsbury for something unless he's willing to resign.

So you agree in just about every way with me. Glad we have that settled now.

I don't want you to give anybody credit for anything and never said as much. Another poster was complaining that nothing was getting done and I simply said that just because no moves have been made does not mean nothing is being done. Deals and signings usually take time and finding the right deals usually takes exploration. You say consistently that you aren't criticizing him an that I misread your intentions. Yet you jump into this discussion, seemingly arguing against my call to be patient and withhold criticism. If you are advocating not withholding criticism them you are advocating criticism (at least by others). You have said you are patient and envision something by early December, yet you are choosing to argue with a post where I say essentially the same thing but without the December deadline. Weird.

Action for actions sake would be foolish and would leave the exact same group of fans complaining when hasty moves don't work out. For all we know they could be acting really aggressively with numerous FAs and on many trades with players and teams trying to feel out the market themselves. Given that it is mid-November (not mid February) the people who mock your indignation would just ask for a small bit of patience. We might all be criticizing Ben in a few months but right now, when many places say he's the most active team out there seems unnecessary.

Yes, but I think there's a perception that Hamilton is in the elite class of players a la Miggy and A-Rod (pre-sucking), whereas Napoli is in a lower tier. I would think fewer GMs have those stars in their eyes about Napoli than Hamilton and if a team sees Hamilton as that final piece they will pay exponentially more for him than a guy like Napoli. Just a hypothesis. I won't be shocked if Arran like WAS, BAL or MIL pay way too much for too long.

Why should Cherington do anything to convince you of anything? Why should he care about the arbitrary mental timelines of people out to confirm their own theories about his ineptitude?

Again, my point was premised on a team being stupid. I don't think a 7 year, 21m/per deal would be a good deal for anyone. However, I can't say I'd be shocked if, say, the Nationals or someone made a play like that.

Well, I would say it's possible that he does get that, he just won't get it from the Red Sox. I could see Napoli getting a 4 year, 48m (12m AAV) deal and Hamilton getting a 7 year, 148m deal (21m AAV). The Sox just won't be involved in that case (except perhaps on the Napoli end).

From everything I've seen most people aren't comfortable with paying Hamilton anything that would make him 100-150 million more expensive than Napoli. The only way Hamilton makes sense is on a shorter deal, 4 years maybe. For that short period it might cost 100m. It's unlikely that he would take it but if the AAV were high enough he might. Let's say Napoli is asking for 4 years plus an option, at 12m a year. That's 48-60m. Nowhere near 100-150 more. Your point stands though: how much more valuable is a guy like Hamilton than a guy like Napoli, especially with Napoli's cheaper cost and higher OBP skills. If Hamilton has one of his "great" years then his value is off the charts. If he does what he usually does he's very valuable, but he's not an MVP and likely not worth 20+m.

Hamilton would certainly make the top of the lineup formidable. He looked overwhelmed in the playoffs so some assessment would need to be made about whether that is a concern or a cold streak. Honestly I'm not convinced that he's the guy they ought to drop 20m+ on for the next 4-5 years. However, I don't see other foundational players becoming available in the next few years. If Braun or Votto were up for FA it might be harder to consider Hamilton.

A worthwhile examination, in my opinion. Those two are a good place to start too.

I know what he said. What it boils down to is that you would be okay with them having to trade him in a few years if he stinks, gets injured, or doesn't contribute what is needed to make the team good. You would be okay with the likely price for them to make the deal at that time. My experience with you on this board, however, after 7 years, is that you openly and roundly ridicule the FO when they are in the position of trying to "dump" contracts. You take it as a sign of someone having made a miscalculation in the past. Your posts imply that you would just let it slide for Reyes--and maybe that's the case--but I (and others here) can very easily envision your posts about the Red Sox bungling it again, or Ben having his lunch eaten by someone else, or whatever, when he's out there looking for fifty-cents on the dollar to move Reyes so the team can start going in another direction yet again. If Reyes had a bad year (like 2009 and 2010) and then got injured, it would be a huge setback for the club.

I would hate to see it too... if I were a Marlins fan, which I'm not. Stanton should be showcased in a city that cares about baseball. I'm not sure the Sox have the showstopper talent needed to land him though. The Marlins probably don't want anyone who would contribute now (their eligibility would be wasted) and the Sox don't have the Dylan Bundy-esque prospects who are near-certain stars in the future. Iglesias might have held more value to a team in Miami, but they have plenty of SS talent now too, so a package including him wouldn't swing much.