Rdsxmbnt

I agree, I think his role is more to ride the AAA shuttle this year and next in case there is an injury at 3B. He has options for this year and next I believe. I think if this was some random small market team I don't think this move gets any publicity at all. But Boston media has to report on literally everything when this is literally just a minor league depth move to get a guy who would maybe play if WMB got injured. Again we traded a non-prospect to do it too.

I don't think Ciriaco solves anything long term because he's not really a major leaguer. He had a sub .600 OPS in AAA last year in a large sample. Nice little streak he has going but he has a .400 BABIP and will come crashing down to earth.

The answer is that Mauro Gomez was the backup 3B when WMB went down. This fixes that and they got a guy with decent upside for a non-top 50 red sox prospect.

My bad, was actually gonna ask SFF the same thing but I had read the quote on my phone earlier in the day and wasn't logged in. But the point is no one ever made that comment. Trading Scutaro, whether we like it or not was to get under the luxury tax, I don't think there was any indication that that money was going to be allocated elsewhere in the future.

Theo never sold at the deadline in his time with the Red Sox...

Ranaudo was projected as a top 10 draft pick, when he was drafted he definitely had ace CEILING. I highly doubt they ever projected him to be an ace, rather that was his best case scenario. Projections and ceilings change with prospects constantly based on minor league performance, that's pretty much the most important thing someone who follows prospects should know. And I can't believe certain people are bashing soxprospects when the same people are constantly basing their arguments psychoanalysis on players and even the general manager, lmfao. At least soxprospects makes defensible arguments. I clicked on Garin Cecchini's page, and here's his scouting report: Tall and athletic frame, strong all-around tools. Sweet swing from the left side. Excellent batspeed and hip rotation in swing mechanics. Upward swing path through hitting zone and creates solid extension to produce backspin when squaring offerings up. Shows ability to drive the ball to all fields with lift. Slightly above-average power potential. Developing plate patience. Struggles with breaking balls. Tends to get too far out on front foot. Solid-average speed, but not likely to be a factor as he continues to physically develop. Played shortstop and second base in high school, but transitioned to third base as a professional. Soft hands. Needs improvement with reads off of bat. Can be stiff and slow with reactions. Plus arm. Tools to become a solid-average defender at the hot corner. High baseball IQ. Quick learner and makes adjustments. Wrist fracture cut short first pro season. Ceiling of an All-Star caliber third baseman. I don't see why someone with a decent amount of baseball knowledge couldn't put something like that together. In fact the main guy on soxprospects writes for ESPNBoston so someone in the media is noticing.

Josh Beckett isn't an ace, but he isn't getting paid like one either. The new market puts ace type pitchers at 22-25 mil a season (Lee, Hamels, Verlander, Sabathia, etc.) and Beckett is making a little less than 16. Fact is I think Beckett is a pretty good #2/#3. He strikes people out, has a low walk rate, and doesn't give up HRs. I think that is enough reason for optimism going forward. If you look at his season, I don't think the ERA tells the whole story. He's had 3 implosions but if you look at his other 14 starts he is pitching at a low 3's ERA level. Given that he actually has a pretty good QS% which means he at least gives his team a solid chance to win even if that haven't really been doing that in his starts. I'm not opposed to dealing him, but if we have to eat 15 mil and only get a middle tier prospect then that is a complete waste.

First HR tonight

I think they try to trade Sweeney but until then I think Nava gets optioned tomorrow to make room for Crawford. Tough situation but Sweeney plays all three OF spots and can't really ditch Lillibridge yet since no one else really plays 1B.

EVERY team ALWAYS makes players do rehab assignments. If they didn't think it was a good idea then they wouldn't do it. Let me tell you your problem. You WANT Ellsbury, Crawford, Gonzalez, etc to not give a f*** just so you can be the guy that said I told you so. But you're opinions have no basis and you are just the eternal pessimist. Its a real sad way to watch baseball. And there IS depth in this organization. At one point their entire starting OF was out, yet Ross, Nava, Posednick all were putting up numbers better than the vast majority of OFs in the majors. And the reason they have to put a guy like Gomez at 3B is because WMB is not on the DL thus they don't have the roster spot.

Gonzalez has not played in less than 10 games in the past 6 YEARS. Covering a span of over 800 games. He has played RF of all positions just to get a rookie bat in the lineup. Say what you want about his season so far, but if he was able to play you're dam right he'd be out there. You are overemotional and irrational.

f*** these injuries this is ridiculous

Contract details: Crawford, 5 years, 102.5mil left after this season. Currently ~11% of payroll Arod, 5 years, 114mil left after this season. Has huge options for 6 mil each for HR #660 and 714, ill assume he averages the 15 HR a year to hit both of those making the total 126 mil, 12-13% of payroll. Question is, which contract would you rather have without regard to whether the position is filled or open on either team. Arod's 5 years covers his 37-41 seasons. Crawford his 31-35 seasons. Arod has seen his OPS fall from .965->.933->.847->.823->.793 in successive seasons. Crawford has produced almost nothing since signing his contract in 2010. In Arods case he seems clearly out of his prime and its seems a question of how much farther he declines. Crawfords case he still is in his prime years but just hasnt been healthy since he has got here. So would you take your chances with Arod despite his declining batting and suspect defensive, or Crawford with his current inability to get healthy but a possibly still prime bat and defense?

If Crawford needs surgery to ever get completely healed again then they need to do it NOW. There is still a 100 mil investment in this guy after this season so it would be wise to get him in the best position to be at least somewhat productive for the remaining 5 years. Just call this season a bust and let Nava/Ross man the COF slots and get Crawford ready for 2013.