BSN07

I was going to mention this. I think the Sox should go in hard and heavy before any other team sniffs around. Buchholz/Hadagone+3(too many players to mention could fit this spot in the trade) is a very very solid deal.

Just throwing this out there, but LAD have said ti be shopping Andruw Jones. Iknow he has been horrible the last couple seasons, but if LAD is picking up a sizeable portion of his remaining contract(I think it's 22M, and LAD was rumored to be picking up 20M of that in a swap with NYM). I mean, he is capable of all 3 OF positions, he is a RH hitter with some pop. That wouldn't seem to be too bad coming off the bench. I'm just trying to think outside the Box here.

DOH:lol:

I agree he will be more expensive. Just throwing packages together for speculation sake. But 5 cost controlled high prospects would be tempting to a small market team in times of financial crisis. I also think with his new deal, he is above the league minimum now.

It's just like any other season. Who will regress? Who will progress? Who stays healthy? Who doesn't? The only difference this year is some see the Yanks moves and are over reacting. Yes the Yanks on paper seem to be better of then last season. But they have plenty of question marks too. They are just being covered up right now by the shine coming off the new toys.

Given the teams willingness to move Lowell, could Hanley be considered a 3B option? Philly was said to be interested in Lowell, and they where shopping a failry good SS prospect around as well. Trade Lowell to Philly for SS prospect, use that prospect in place of Lowrie in the package I mentioned before. CF Ellsbury 2B Pedroia 3B Hanley DH Ortiz LF Bay RF Drew 1B Youk C ________ SS Lowrie That be a nice lineup:D

Let me first start by saying. I realize this is a semi pipe dream, but it makes for good conversation. I really like Jacoby and rather see them trade Lowrie and use Hanley at SS. But Hanley is in another stratosphere, so I wouldn't say no to moving Jacoby. I'd hate to see them trade the farm, but Hanley is a big time bat. So if it took 3 or 4 top prospects plus maybe some lower level guys I would do it. Besides being as good as he is, he is really cheap over the next 5 years or so. I don't like that it went public though. That's all the Sox need is for the Yanks to hear Florida is willing to listen to offers for Ramirez. (as I say this, I'm placing my toil foil hat on more securely LOL) Considering Florida had a legit CF prospect in Maybin it might be easier keeping Ellsbury. A package(s) of Lowrie/Buchholz/Hadagone/OF prospect(Reddick/Kalish/Westmoreland) + maybe a lower level pitcher/position player/ or maybe one of our average Catching prospects since Florida is thin at Catcher and probably doesn't want to add on a bloated over the hill veterans salary. If they want Ellsbury, I would try something like Ellsbury/Bowden/Hadagone/Kottraras +the lower level prospect. Alamnzar could be attractive to a Florida team as well. He will cost alot, but Hanley is one of those players it might be worth giving up alot for.

LOL I thought as much, but I thought I'd make sure incase you actually wanted a response to that post

I hope your being sarcastic. All I'm really trying to say is I think the division is more competitve, and that other teams have improved as well, making the WC spot no given like in some years past.

Littleton, Ramirez, Penny and Bard > Aardesma, Timlin, Byrd, Cash

No it's not unreasonable to see the Sox missing out on the Post Season IMO. Like any season there are certain unknowns that will play out to determine how the season goes. Will the Sox stay healthy? Can Lowell/Papi/Beckett rebound. Health is key for the Sox. Because i'm not sure they have the depth to sustain a key player missing significant time. But if everyone is generally healthy, except for the every day bumps and bruises, and produces with in career avg, the team shoul be competitive for the division. But it's not just the ? in Boston that could determine things either. Will TB be the same team again? Will the WS loss have any effect on the young players. Will they be better? And then there is question with the Yanks. Will all the new pieces brought in, improve the team? Of course, on paper they look to be very strong. But we have been down that road with teams looking good on paper and not panning out. Will Cleveland rebound, is Oakland going to make a run, will the Twins stick around. Making a WC spot even tougher. The Sox will be in the division race, but between TB and NY, all 3 teams might beat each other out of the WC spot. So ya making the Playoffs is going to be tough, but that's what makes it fun too watch:thumbsup:

I try to stay even keeled. I may run with idea aggressively here and there, but I try not to sway emotionally too far one way or another. I love my Sox and everything that entails, and I'll follow them win, lose, or draw. Of course I'd like to see them win more often then not. But I understand sustained success is not a given by any chance. Knowing full well a couple key injuries here and there can derail most any team out there. My expectations in most seasons is for the team to be in the PO. a WS title being the ultimate bonus. Knowing the Playoffs can be a crap shoot. But if some circumstances left them out this season, i wouldn't lose it, or be calling for heads. If the FO produces a Playoff team 3 out of 4 years, I find it hard to complain about.

I think Penny has been a decent pitcher over his career, and has had dominating stuff at certain points. Put him with Farrell, and the outcome could be nice. The fact he will be pitching for a long term deal for next offseason, is a nice little carrot that's dangling as incentive to pitch well this season.

I actually see it as having high upside. For the Sox it's a depth move. If he wins some games it has value, like Colon did last season. If he doesn't give them much, it's no big deal. The $ shouldn't hand cuff the team in anyway.

I'd say he could equal what Byrd gave the team. Maybe with more upside, but bigger health risk. I like it as a depth move. I also like Buchholz can fine tune himself in AAA, and Masterson can stay in the BP.

I like the move. Especially if it's 1 year deal on the cheap with incentives. If Penny can pitch 170 innings+, .500 W%, and a 4.5ish ERA, he's worth it.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8997354/Source:-Red-Sox-close-to-adding-Penny-to-rotation

Most popular answer, Survey says, "Cause we are dah Yanks" badda bing....

What makes you think I think the Brewers would just give them away? There where rumors earlier this offseason about them shopping Fielder. So I threw his name out there as a what if...

What about Hall? He can play IF/OF.

But as utility guys with limited playing time? LOL

Anyone like the idea of Fielder, and maybe Hall for utility/RH bat of the bench? I'm throwing names out there for sake of discussion, so don't blast me for this idea:D