BSN07

lol this is your first off season on talksox. We beat so many dead horses around here that PETA has prices on most of our heads.

You seriously think Panda is the only player Cherries is working on signing? lmfao I guess I missed the interview where he said SP wasn't really on his to do list lol I'm more for Headley but if the Sox sign Panda and he declines half way through the deal it's not really an issue. By that time the Sox will have plenty of financial flexibility and would be able to replace him or reduce his role.

Cuddyer for 2/25M and gave up their 1st rounder in the draft... huh? They have to be planning on signing someone else right? Personally I think that deal is gonna suck right off the bat. Cuddyer is a flawed OF and his numbers are likely to come down a bit playing at Petco west.

Because a lot of us would rather take on Howards contract than give up the top prospects it would take to land Hamels otherwise. If taking on Howard and trading Napoli means the team nets Hamels and doesn't give up Betts, Bogaerts, or Swihart I'm all for it. Howard makes a lot but I don't care about the $, he's a short term deal at 2 years, 3 at the teams choice. I'm not saying Napoli should be traded, but with 1 year remaining and probably not in the long term plans of the team, a deal like that should be considered. I mean if it meant moving 1 year of Napoli for 4 years of Hamels you wouldn't do it? I'm not even overly big on Hamels but I'd still do it.

Damn now you mention it I remember seeing that lol I think Lester is the first big domino to fall this off season. No matter where he signs. I still think it's a 2 horse race between Chc and Boston. Seattle as my long shot dark horse.

http://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/627718 Says Sox willing to go 6 years for Lester

They crippled an already thin offense this season and now don't have a middle of the order bat or an Ace going into 2015. The Sox would have both and only gave up 11 games of Lester. How would that not be fleecing the A's?

If the Sox get Lester, the Lester for Cepedes trade will go down as one of the biggest fleece jobs in recent memory.

If someone offers something good for Napoli I'd trade him. I mentioned him as part of a package for Hamels and Howard. I guess Craig could fill in or they could go out and pursue a LHH 1B. Not really sure who, FA is a bit thin so it have to be a trade. Diamondback aren't going anywhere, wonder what it take to get Goldschmidt lol

I think Headley gets at least 3 years from someone. I'd prefer him over Panda based on contract alone. Panda has more upside, but higher risk of the contract becoming a stinker as well.

I've been kicking around some ideas for "my off season plan" and this is what I've come up with The big trade: Hamels and Howard for Napoli, Vic, WMB and Barnes. Some may scoof at that package but if you take into account the heavy sum of $ Philly would be saving, getting 2 good ML players on expiring contracts, a wild card in WMB who could end up being their starting 3B and a High quality P prospect in Barnes and it's a good deal. The big signings: Chase Headley(3/39M) and Hanley Ramirez(5/95M) Another trade: Cepedes for SP X. I'll go with Samardzija for now. So the lineup would be, 1B Howard/Craig 2B Pedroia SS Bogaerts 3B Headley LF Ramirez(his agents have said he will play wherever) CF Betts RF Castillo C Vasquez Bench: Craig Holt Nava C X Rotation: Hamels Samrdzija/Pitcher X Buchholz Kelly Prospect That plan push the ol LT limit but it only be for one year. Sox have plenty freed up after this season too. It be a lot to pull off but I think it would make them a contender for the next few years.

It's a toss up for me between Headley and Panda for me. If Panda's price tag gets too ridiculous than I probably prefer Headley.

Jesus K-rod is only 32? He seems like he's been around forever. Miller is a really good BP arm. But we all know giving big FA deals to relievers usually turns bad. It be great to have him back but I think some team is gonna give him Closer money and maybe even a chance to close/ BP Ace. So I think he signs elsewhere.

Oh I know, Bradley still has time to get it together, but for all the flailing ab's we had to watch this season, we should be able to take the piss out of him a bit for it

I'd hold out for the 2 for 1 special but if they offered 25% off I might jump at it

I gotta think Hanley is plan C at 3B behind Panda and Headley. But I wouldn't mind him at 3B next year as long as his contract isn't absurd.

One could be acquired by trade. Just read on mlbtr that his camp is saying he will play 3B or wherever there is a need. That is going to expand his market. The article also said the Sox had been in contact with his agents. So he may be a back up plan to Panda at 3B.

mlbtr has their annual contest of predicting the top 50 FA's for the off season. Thought it be fun to do a smaller one here. Keep it simple, signing team and contract numbers is fine. Have fun 1. Scherzer, Max ( Washington Nationals, 7/175M) 2. Lester, Jon (Chicago Cubs, 7/180M) 3. Shields, James (LAD, 5/90M) 4. Ramirez, Hanley(NYY, 5/105M) 5. Sandoval, Pablo(Boston Red Sox, 5/100M) 6. Martinez, Victor(Chicago White Sox, 3/45M) 7. Cabrera, Melky(Houston Astros, 4/48M) 8. Martin, Russell(Chicago White Sox, 4/40M) 9. Cruz, Nelson(Baltimore Orioles, 2/30M) 10. Tomas, Yasmany(Philadelphia Phillies, 6/95M) 11. Santana, Ervin(Boston Red Sox, 3/39M) 12. Maeda, Kenta(SF Giants, no idea for a contract lol) 13. Robertson, David(Detroit Tigers, 4/45M) 14. McCarthy, Brandon(NYY, 3/26M) 15. Liriano, Francisco(San Diego Padres, 2/24M) 16. Headley, Chase(NYY, 3/40M) 17. Miller, Andrew(CHC, 3/30M) 18. Masterson, Justin(CHC, 2/20M) 19. Ramirez, Aramis(Brewers) 20. Rasmus, Colby(Baltimore, 1/9M) 21. Lowrie, Jed( Oakland A's, 3/30M) 22. Hammel, Jason(Minnesota Twins, 2/15M) 23. Cabrera, Asdrubal(NYM 3/33M) 24. Markakis, Nick(SF Giants,3/36M) 25. LaRoche, Adam(Hoston Astros, 3/45M)

I'd like to see them get Tulo for 3B(I feel moving him from SS could help keep him on the field) but if the Rox price would seem to be too high for a player with injury issues. Cargo be an interesting option. I wonder what his price tag will be. I still think Stanton would cost too much but does anyone else find the constant public acknowledgment the Marlins FO have been giving on their efforts to sign Stanton to an extension a bit odd? I mean we all understood they were gonna try when they first made it known. Why do we need to be reminded every day? Something smells fishy to me. And we all know how the Marlins work. I'm starting to feel like they are setting up for the PR fallout from actually trading Stanton this off season. They will be able to claim they "tried" to sign him blah blah blah. Still some big names out there early on this off season

Ewwww no to Romo. He is a fly ball pitcher coming from the pitchers haven NL West.

I don't think the Yanks get Lester. But I'm not willing to believe they don't spend a s*** load until they don't. Last season all the talk was getting below the LT only to see them spend 300M+ on 4 the top FA's. The Yanks seem to want to rebuild through the system but when push comes to shove they can't stop themselves from spending. Maybe this is the year. I won't hold my breath tho. I think the Yanks sign 2 of Scherzer(7/180M)/Shields(5/100M)/McCarthy(3/36M). And for the IF they bring back Headley and if they really go all out Hanley for SS.

20M a season is a bit scary but I'd be in favor of that signing if it's legit. Very doubtful it's true so early on in FA tho. That's probably the Sox best offer and I doubt they would give it this fast and let Panda's agent shop it around. But the Hot Stove is officially lit Here's to countless rumors that come out fast and heavy only to be shot down by other sources mere minutes later lol

Holy s*** dojji hahaha Take it easy bud. Don't give up on some of these young players that had a rough year. They wouldn't be the first players to struggle a couple seasons before they found it. Not every player is Mike Trout. Can you imagine if KC gave up on Moose, Gordon, and Hosmer after slow starts to their careers? Some guys need time to figure the level out. And Yes I understand some never will. But it's way too early to say none of them can develop into solid to star level MLB players.

s*** show really? I think Theo and Co. have done a good job rebuilding the Cubs. They cleared most of the bad contracts and limited the ones they have given out(Jackson contract is bad but not an albatross). They have also rebuilt the farm system and have a good amount of talent coming up the pipeline. You add Lester and another good veteran SP and the Cubs are contenders imo. Maybe a bat for the OF. I think Maddon is a good hire for that team. If he wins a WS with the Cubs I don't think a700 will ever be the same again lol

Sandoval has the higher upside. He seems to show up when the bright lights are on so to speak. If they can get some kind of language about his weight in the contract I think it be a good sign. Headley would be a solid pick up as well. Ramirez makes no sense imo. I would not trade Betts or Bogaerts for a short term rental that's about to get 250m+ contract. Stanton is a great talent but there are some ? that come with him. The concussion is worrisome and he's missed his fair share of time over his 5 year career. Without the pitch to the face he was on track for his 2nd 150+ games played season. 2/5 years. The other 3 are 100, 116,and 123. That's a 126 gp a season average. Just for reference, JD Drew averaged 121 gp over his 5 years in Boston. Including his 81 game season his last year. He averaged 131 the first 4 years. Just some food for thought for the camp that would sell it all for Stanton.