jacksonianmarch

He had a 189AB sample size. So let's not nut on yourself just yet. The reason why I say he is a tweener because he's between positions. I don't think he becomes a great defensive CFer and I also don't know if he will hit for enough power to be a top notch corner OFer. I know he has hit 16 and 15HR in his last 2 seasons, but he doesn't really have the frame to blossom into a 30+HR hitter. It also looks like the sox are wary about him as a 3b, aren't using him as a SS and have an entrenched 2b. So, for the sox, he's a tweener.

Hellickson dealt to the DBacks for a 19 yr old OFer with lots of promise but a LONG way to go

Betts is a tweener prospect. Not sure he can hack it in the infield, not sure he is a CFer. He has skills and probably ends up a good major leaguer, but he isn't a transcendent player. So, trying to get an ace, you'll need more than him

The funny thing is, he might still score a nice contract after this one ends. That, and if he has a 5 yr opt out, he could get another 10 yr contract if he dominates. Regardless, a $325 mil contract probably means he wont be hurting for cash when that contract ends

Make that a 13 year $325 mil contract. Holy s***. If he pens this deal, he never gets traded. This is absolute max value for a player of his ilk

Miller is asking for 4 yrs. That is too much. We just dealt Cervelli for Justin Wilson, a lefty who had success two yrs ago, but was nothing more than average last yr. This is a depth move, IMO, and probably one bracing us for no major acquisitions from the left side in FA. We do have some options in the minors with Lindgren being the best, but we have to see what works out. Right now, the sox and Yankees are jumping on the 3b bandwagon. The sox are all in on Sandoval, and from what I am reading, the Yankees are making re-signing Headley a priority as they do not think ARod is capable of handling 3b full time

There is a saying that goes something like never believe what you see in March or September. Webster lacks the mentality and the command of a major league starter. He has the stuff to dominate late innings if they limit his arsenal to two pitches.

Headley is the better player. The only issue for him is health. Chase isn't what he was in 2011, but he is a steady mid .700s OPS guy with 15-20HR power who will play superb defense and take his share of walks. He was a steadying presence in NY

The logic on the Samardzija "deal" is absolutely hilarious. The A's traded away Addison Russell, AKA the best SS prospect in baseball to get Samardzija. So they'll deal him to the sox for Marrero? Lets put this into perspective here. Marrero turns 25 next season, so he isn't exactly young. His MiLB career numbers offensively suck *******. .258/.338/.352. His minor league career OPS is under .700. "But he had a breakout last yr!!" Well, he really didn't. He hit .291 with Portland with an OPS of .804 in 68 games. The BA and OPS were far and away career bests. Well, he moved to AAA where he was an abysmal black hole of an offensive player, slashing .210/.260/.285 in 50 games. So in 1/3 of a season (still small, but not minute sample size) he was absolutely terrible. He does play good D, that much wont be debated by me. But he is pretty much a no hit, all glove SS who isn't young enough to expect major offensive improvements and you expect him alone to nab Samardzija? That's more rosy colored glasses out to lunch thought that I expect from sox fanboys. If Marrero is part of the deal, it is as piece #3 or 4, not a centerpiece by any stretch of the imagination. He profiles to be Brendan Ryan

I would go 3 yrs $30 mil with a $10 mil 4th yr vesting option based on appearances in year 3. That's closer money for a non-closer. But he also solidifies the 8th while Betances moves to the 9th. By the time Miller gets long in the tooth, Lindgren will be ready to take over the 8th inning role. Heck, if Miller isn't signed, there's a chance of that happening come the end of 2015

Napoli is gonna have a good year. Fatigue in ball players is a nightmare and this guy struggled with sleep apnea. If the surgery works, which isn't guaranteed, he should feel better coming into 2015. That plus the motivation of another big contract should give him a boost so long as he stays healthy. Bank on a big Napoli season

So you're paying $100 million to a 3B so they can play third base, right? His offensive numbers don't fly at 1b. The reason why he's going to get $100 mil is because he is a 3b. Now, his offensive production hasn't declined? Are you on meth? OPS's over the last 4 yrs... 2011- .909 2012- .789 2013- .758 2014- .739 So if his offensive prowess is declining, then his defense must be amazing, right? Well, not really. Last 3 seasons, his UZR/150 are 1.4, -6.3, and 3.5. So, are you really looking to pay $100 million to a guy who has seen his OPS slide into the low .700s who plays average defense and has weight issues? The only reason why this guy isn't staring 3yrs and $30 mil in the face is because he's killed it in the playoffs. He has also killed it at the buffet table and always comes to camp fat. It gets harder to work the weight off after getting closer to 30. But he wont have to worry, he'll have a panda sized paycheck coming in. I hope to high heaven you get this guy. Because come 2016, you'll be figuring out a way to get him off your roster

I honestly think this is for the better. I would look to sign Miller now and have a 1-2 punch of him and Betances at the back of the pen. We are not short on bullpen depth throughout the minors, so losing KRob isn't the end of the world.

Robertson wants Papelbon money. Nice knowing you KRob. You aint worth it

Sox are "all in" for Sandoval. He wants 6 years. Giving guaranteed money for six seasons to this fat pig will bite you in the ass. We know, we got good production for 3-4 yrs out of our fat ass before he fell apart. This time, though, Pablo's production has plateaued and is heading down. This is a disaster waiting to happen

I think it is time for Webster to relieve next yr. He doesn't have the command to be a starter

The Mets obviously think they can contend next yr. They should have the staff to contend, they just need the offense. Not sure if this is the best investment, though. This is like the finishing touch on a title winning team type move, and I don't think the Mets are there.

1. Scherzer- BAL- 7yrs $160mil 2. Lester- CHC- 7yrs $150 mil 3. Shields- BOS- 5yrs $90 mil 4. Ramirez- BOS- 6yrs $130 mil (converts to 3B) 5. Sandoval- SEA- 5yrs $95 mil 6. Martinez- SEA- 4yrs $70 mil 7. Cabrera- StL- 4yrs $55 mil 8. Martin- CHC- 5yrs $80 mil 9. N. Cruz- CWS- 4yrs $70 mil 10. Tomas- PHI- 7yrs $105 mil 11. Santana- BOS- 4yrs $50 mil 12. Maeda- NYY- 7 yrs $95 mil 13. Robertson- LAA- 4yrs $48 mil 14. McCarthy- NYY 3yrs $36 mil 15. Liriano- StL 3yrs $30 mil 16. Headley- SF- 4yrs $60 mil 17. Miller- NYY- 3yrs $29 mil that's all I have time for

I'm hearing a ton of rumblings in the NY media that Cash is targeting miller

The sox issue in 2012 was underachievement. There wasn't a personnel issue. 2014 was a personnel issue. Now, they're even more undermanned without Lackey and Lester. Without major spending on the mound, the sox won't be in contention in 2015

I doubt we go after Scherzer to be totally honest. He's an elite, top notch pitcher, no doubt, but he's another high velocity arm entering his thirties. I don't think he's a guy who ages well. Lester is the guy I want, if I was to be forced to sign a big ticket FA pitcher

I have said all along that Cashman does not want to give away the 17th pick in the draft. Lester is not attached to draft pick status. Neither is McCarthy or Headley. If we can bring in some talent without mortgaging the future, we're gonna set ourselves up right. I doubt that we're winning a title in 15 or 16 unless we have some career resurgences, which aren't happening after the roid cleanup. We need to make sure that 2017 is the year we roll.

They're going over the salary cap, mostly because they're already at it with who they have under contract. That being said, they need to get production out of the guys they already have on the roster. Also, I think Cashman doesn't want to give up his draft choices anymore, especially after watching one of his comp picks become the best player in baseball. Yes, Mike Trout was selected by the Angels as compensation for the Yankees signing Tex

I would love to see that operationally, but this team isn't a championship caliber team, and one pitcher doesn't change that. We need some flexibility, and with McCann, ARod, Tex, Beltran, Ellsbury, and Gardner all under contract for at least 2 more seasons, we don't have that. If those guys don't return to the backs of their baseball cards, we don't have a chance, no matter who we bring in

We have to be smart. Honestly, I don't see us making a big splash while we have ARod, Tex and CC under contract. Tex and CC are out after 2016. ARod is out after 2017