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Agreed. I'm not sayign this deal is necessarily going to get done, but this seems like the ideal situaiton to make it happen.

Thanks for the updates Scaffolds! I don't comment a whole lot on the team or their play but I truly enjoy you rupdates. Please keep them coming!!

12.5 a year is pretty reasonable.

Dude, the Red Sox are not the desperate ones here. They aren't the ones talking about trading one of their best pitchers for prospects. That's your team that is doing that because as it stands now they don't have a chance. Even JOKING about getting Ellsbury and Buchholz is laughable. Most of us wouldn't give ONE of those guys to get your soft tossing middle-of-the-rotation lefty. I think there is a VERY good chance Buerhle gets dealed with this deal in place. There is nothing that says that he wouldn't sign this deal with the condition that he gets traded, or with the understanding that he gets traded.

Impressive 2 batters by MDC. Quite impressive. (also, welcome my new avitar... it is time for a new Dice)

Frankly, I can't imagine that any team would give up top tier pitching prospects for a guaranteed 3 months without a negotiating window from a guy who wants to play in St. Louis and will likely sign there. Screw that. Furthermore, the Red Sox enormous lead makes it less likely still that a team like the yankees would trade a Kennedy or Clippard or Chamberlin, which may have happened had the teams been closer. St. Louis would love to have him, but why trade players when you can sign him in the offseason, after your crappy season is finished? The White Sox can't have it both ways. They have about 1-month to either deal him or get nothing for him. If they want to maxamize their return, then they need to help assure that team that he will sign with them as a condition of the deal. The less likely they are to provide that extended contract, the crappier the prospects.

There is no question that Anderson is the better prospect. But if he can be used in a deal for, say Zambrano or Cabrera, AND the Sox felt that Bates had some major league potential, I could see using Anderson. The fact is that they will not co-exist on the Red Sox, so at Anderson's age and with the time it will take between now and when he is on the Sox, the Sox would have the time to compensate for a loss of a prospect of his caliber (gaining, of course, something significant by trading him) through FA or draft or Bates. I understand how phenomenal Anderson is, however, and understand anyone's hesitance at even discussing moving him.

Sorry, I thought you were responding to SBF's "esteemed manager" comment. He has clearly had a crappy year. But I think there is something to be said about the fact that this guy--who was brought in to hit 9th--has the luxary of sucking in the 9 spot because the team is doing so well and winning. If they start NOT winning (like they did a few weeks back) then there will undoubtedly be panic about Lugo, and no real obvious answer other than playing through it and accepting that he's a SS and you're lucky if your SS can hit.

I love the optimism and hope for Salatamacchia. I think the Sox should get him if they can (I think anyone on this board would agree with that statement) but I'm not very confident that it will be possible for a guy like Crisp. Of course, being able to get established MLB players like Renteria and Crisp from the sox probably seems pretty good for a team that recently started 9 home-grown players. In other words, they probably don't have the connection to the home-grown talent that Sox fans would. Before he was traded to San Diego I was hoping the Sox would figure out a way to sign Michael Barrett. Perhaps they still will, but I think they need to play any catcher resigning carefully with Tek getting clsoer to the end of his contract and getting older. He shouldn't have a replacement who can kick him out of the way, but young talent at catcher is pretty hard to find (hence all the catchers the sox drafted this year). Anyway, there should be an option out there someplace.

It all depends on what Lowell wants to stay at 3B for the Sox. if he likes the team and would sign a decent contract then I could see them keeping him. If he wants what he has currently they will not. Youkilis gives them options, as they would just need to sign the best 3B or 1B available. I would quickly trade Lester for Buehrle. I like Lester and think he's a great 'spec. At the same time I have never really like Buehrle. He bores me as a pitcher; he's like all the other soft tossing lefties: good control, not a lot of K's, effective ERA. Only, of the past 5 years or so, he's the best. And he's only 28. The guy started the All-Star game in 2005 for crying out loud. If the Sox think they can sign him to 4 years with an option then they should pull the trigger for sure. I wouldn't let the White Sox get the equivalent of potential-ace value for him, however. The Josh Beckett deal (Hanley and Anibel PLUS taking Lowell's salary) was potential-ace value. Buehrle is good, but he doesn't have anything close to what Beckett does in terms of stuff. He has more poise and experience, but he doesn't have Beckett's ability to dominante and intimidate. Lester and Moss should get it done.

I wonder if the sox are convinced that Lester can come back. Bowden may have a higher upside if he can put it together and the team could wait. They are both great pitchers though. Buehrle would be a tremendous addition to the team in the #4 spot this year. I agree with just about everyone else here: if you can do it without Buchholz and Ellsbury and possibly Bowden then pull the string. If you can get a guy of Buehrle's caliber for a AA prospect (as the centerpiece that is) then he has already given you value. I haven't really seen Buehrle throw this season but he looked pretty good the two games I did watch. He has been great in the past against good competition.

reyes

You will see Lester come up at the end of this season to the point that he is no longer a rookie, and Buchholz in the rotation next year, if you ask me.

Good thing Peavy isn't as good as Young...

yummy, the Padres are enjoying feasting on Sox tonight.

s***. Terry won't get tossed either. Someone in the clubhouse probably told him it was fair. This blows. Wakefield, argh.... EDIT: I take that back. He got tossed.

Terry will get tossed if they overturn this one.

Totally unnecessary slide by Crud Jr. Totally unnecessary crappy at-bat by Manny Sr.

Ohhh, that 3-1 to Manny was a Home Run derby pitch.

Papi's speed is making Young nervous at 1st.