jacksonianmarch

I would assume Cliff Lee is looking to stop losing World Series' and wants to win one. Going to NYY gives him the best chance of securing one

It isnt a jinx post. It's obvious that the sox are one of the top 4 teams in the AL. And I am not scared right now. We need some work on the pitching side of things, but I think our entire team is good enough to win the WS, which is good. Getting Lee cements them as the best team in the AL on paper

With Tampa Bay losing a TON of talent and without any other team truly jumping to the forefront of the AL via FA or trade, I think the sox have to be considered one of the top 4 teams in the AL, with the Rangers, Yankees and Twins being the other 3. The sox are making the playoffs this year, I will stone cold lock that.

Papelbon looks like he should be on the next version of Jersey Shore

You are gonna run into some competition for Fuentes, but I think Feliciano ends up in the Bronx and Fuentes eventually ends up in Boston

This is why Theo went with AdGon. You dont have redundancy in the upper levels, so you deal what you have for a prime target and hope the lower level talent can build enough to fill in the gaps in the system by the time you need them

It's not the money. It's the prospects.

I meant generational for an organization. He's the best "prospect" since Jeter

I would be nervous as hell about the asking price, but he is a prime talent. There are two ways to view it The good: He has two yrs left on his contract at reasonable dollars, so if he bombs out, the committment to him isnt bad. Also, if he gets off to a strong start, then the concern will be minimized. The bad: And potentially horrible is the fact that we'd either gut our deep pitching farm or deal away a generational prospect talent in Montero to get him, and if he becomes a nutcase, then we'd get nothing for it. It isnt a bad contingency plan, but if it costs us Montero, then no dice

Yankee officials are pessimistic on Lee according to Heyman. Well, he's been wrong all offseason, so I think he'll be here, lol. Regardless, I think the Russell Martin negotiations are taking new meaning now. If Lee played us to get 6-7 yrs from Texas, then We might have to go looking for another ace, and Montero would be a he'll of a catch

And there were similar tweets out of the left coast in 2009 when CC signed saying that he was gonna sign in SF.

You do know this is all the guy wanted, was attention. He may end up being right, but not because of sources, just due to dumb luck. A broken clock is right twice a day

Find it funny that those "tweets" were leaked and some jumped on them so quickly. Lee got a guaranteed 7 year deal from the Yankees. The Rangers offered a 6 yr deal with a 7th year club option, otherwise known as a 6 yr deal (as nobody would pick up a 39 yr old's 20+ mil option. And from the sounds of it, the Rangers topped out at $20 mil per season. The Yankees offer is said to be just short of a CC deal. So, to recap.... The presumed Yankee offer is 7 yrs for around $158 million. The presumed Rangers offer is 6 yrs, $120 million. That is 1 year and $38 million short. Plus, you have to factor in marketing opps, as one of the estimates I read had Lee making $2+ mil more per year in endorsements as well. So factor that in, and the deal from the Yankees could be worth $52 million more over the length of the contract. Plus, if Lee signs in Texas, he would be the albatross contract that makes the team not be able to go after other valuable FAs (like ARod was), instead of in NY where he is virtually guaranteed to be on a contender year to year. Unless he is willing to part with over $50 million and the virtual guarantee of postseason baseball over 7 years, then he either hates NY or is an idiot. And from the sounds of it, he doesnt hate NY

I completely agree. I think Montero is going to be one of the best hitters in the league in his prime. It would be incredibly foolish to deal him now. But how else do you spin this to Martin to get him to come here? If Montero gets off to a hot start and is at least passable behind the dish, then Martin isnt useful. And with Eeyore at DH, there isnt a spot for the kid.

I wouldnt be surprised if we are going after Martin with some trade plan for Montero. Maybe the Yanks plan on getting Lee, then dealing for Greinke. Who knows, but it rings odd to go after a guy like Martin with Posada and Montero around

Even with your weak middle relief, the sox are a playoff team right now. I think Theo should be applauded by those who talked about how cheap he is. But should also be cautious to give him too much praise, as the Crawford deal was completely stupifying. Highest AAV EVER for an outfielder

and why shouldnt they be? The sox can offer him the starting catcher position for the forseeable future and in Fenway, with that park and that lineup, he can recoup his value a la Adrian Beltre. The Yankees can offer him the starting gig with the caveat that a massive prospect is right over his shoulder and any slip ups will lead to his removal. If I were the sox, I would sign him to a reasonable deal for 1 yr with a team option for something like $7 million for next yr, so that if he pulls a Beltre, they can bring him back on their terms

For 20+ mil per year, he'll hit wherever they tell him to.

Knowing Tito, there is no way he goes with the above lineup. Stacking 2 lefties twice in the order leaves you vulnerable to situational reliever, something I am expecting the Yankees to have two of (at least) and most teams will have at least one of. My guess at your lineup is as follows 1. Crawford LF 2. Pedroia 2B 3. Gonzalez 1B 4. Youkilis 3B 5. Ortiz DH 6. Martin C (I think you guys will get him) 7. Drew RF 8. Scutaro SS 9. Ellsbury CF The only L-L in the lineup will be from 9 to 1.

So the Yanks offered a menu of options, including a 7 yr deal world slightly less than CC's contract. I highly doubt the Rangers can beat that

I dont have the same concerns about Lee's shoulder as I do his back. He's a pretty tall guy with impeccable mechanics who has developed some back issues over the past year. I'd be worried that in the final 2 seasons of the contract, he'd be junk, which is why I dont want him to get 7, but looks like he will

I was at work when I saw it

Zig as in zig zag. Meaning, they were prepared to move off him. With Crawford getting insane money from the sox, I doubt that is going to happen. Lee went from being nice to being absolutely necessary and I think Cashman knows this