BSN07

25+ starts, 170-180 IP, 3.5-4 ERA If he provided that I would consider it rebounding from last season but wouldn't be overly surprised by that production thus why I think that would be his "norm".

Ya it's a bit of a gamble. But considering who was out there and going for what it's not surprising they didn't spend a lot of the money on SP. But if Felix, or Verlander or some big SP with no issues(Grienke) the spending could have looked very different. And let's not just totally pass on the thought of Lester and Bucc actually coming back to career norms, instead of going down in flames. they had one bad season. It happens. With last years atmosphere it's not surprising a number of players bad below career years. Last season killed a lot of optimism around here. Thinking Lester and Bucc pitching to career averages and Felix continuing along his development path are not outlandish expectations.

If Lackey is healthy, his salary guarantee's him a rotation spot.

Couple good recent articles that might help answer some questions, http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/11/15/3650488/tommy-john-surgeries-continuing-research-and-analysis

Slim to none. Sox are at the LT limit if the Napoli deal goes through. Although they could decide to break it this season as they got under last season and reset their penalty % I think?

Minnesota is desperate for SP. I wonder if Lackey shows he's healthy in the spring if they would do some sort of Lackey for Morneau type deal. Sox can pick up the tab for both players this season. And then Minnesota has Lackey for like 3/30M(that's including the league minimum added year). Minnesota has a huge pitchers park and although he might be the head of the rotation by default as a Twin, Lackey is probably still a #3-4 SP outside of Boston and having that at 10M a season is a pretty good deal considering the market.

It makes sense to fly in some scouts to see if he can mange 1B. He's likely the LHH part of a possible platoon option in case Napoli signs elsewhere, which seems to be a likely scenario. Lee/Abreu on one year deals might be better then Napoli on a 3 year deal(if thats what he is still after). If Abreu and Lee bomb they are easy to shed. If Naploi's hip goes bump in the night they are stuck with him. Just throwing another perspective out there.

It makes sense to fly in some scouts to see if he can mange 1B. He's likely the LHH part of a possible platoon option in case Napoli signs elsewhere, which seems to be a likely scenario. Lee/Abreu on one year deals might be better then Napoli on a 3 year deal(if thats what he is still after). If Abreu and Lee bomb they are easy to shed. If Naploi's hip goes bump in the night they are stuck with him. Just throwing another perspective out there.

Exactly. And gives the writers the perfect way to snub Bonds and Clemens and they will probably take it. The whole HOF debate is getting ridiculous anyways. All these guys should be in regardless if they used. There are admitted amphetamine users in the hall, Ruth only played against white dudes etc etc. It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Records. And they should stop comparing the different era's, it's pointless. Criteria for the hall should be were you a beast among you peers for a long period of time in the ea you played in. Not if you got more hits then a guy that played in 1950. Sorry for the rant haha

I've been thinking Morneau could be a good fit and doesn't seem impossible to trade for.

I think he will get in this year because of all the "Users" that the writers are going to hold out on this ballot. It's probably the perfect ballot for him to appear on. Pettitte IMO should get in to. But he will have to wait for the PED issue to be resolved(which I think it will eventually)

A lot of teams fan bases don't like Schilling, he was a great big game pitcher and stuck to many. Great article on him here from SI, http://mlb.si.com/2012/12/22/jaws-and-the-2013-hall-of-fame-ballot-curt-schilling/

Would cost a lot. But if the Sox traded Ells for a couple pieces and took on Nolasco and his 12M salary for '13 that could lower the total cost possibly. They have to check in on this.

Yup. I kinda liked your Carlos Lee idea at 1B on a one year deal.

I literally made the post because Iortiz seems like an intelligent poster and I think he could add more to the board then just "agreeing" all the time. I mean if your going to agree with something someone says all the time, why even bother to post it when we all know what he's going to say? I'm trying to help the guy become something other then a joke around here. If that deems me to be a dick then I guess I'm guilty.

a700 doesn't like "unproven" talent. They are all bums until they become all stars I'd like to see them add a Marcum to the ML team and Jurrjens on a minor league deal. It won't be possible unless they trade off some BP pieces. I'd like to see them Pass on Napoli, and see if they can get a 1B for some of their BP pieces. Really like them to take a chance on Smoak. Miller and Aceves for Smoak is a good start to a deal. Now with the money saved from Napoli, sign Marcum 1 year 7-10M(I' don't think he will get too much more then that) and sign Wilson 1 year 4M base with incentives to 8M(add a player option for 9M +3M in incentives as he will have a chance to close in '14) Rotation heading into spring would be Lester Buccholz Dempster Doubront Marcum With Lackey coming back and Morales as the swing man. Jurrjens, De le Rosa, Wright and Webster waiting in AAA(might be best AAA rotation hahaha). BP Hanrahan Bailey Uehera(sp?) Bard Morales Mortensen Tazawa(or another LHRP) The BP would add Wilson mid season, that would make one of the strongest back end of the BP in the league.

True, I left these players off as they can be sent to AAA with no issues.

Also there is just no room for him now unless someone goes down, as it stands Lester Buccholz Demspster Doubront Lackey With Morales, Miller, Aceves, Tazawa as all guys that can be stretched out for long man swing man guy. The back of the BP is also full. Unless they trade Miller and say Aceves or whomever I don't think they will be able to give a ML deal to any SP. I still hope they can get Jurrgens on a Minor league deal and stash him in AAA.

Yes they do have a chance. But it's less then the division winners. Which it should be. The last format was the one that didn't make sense. They shouldn't have called it the WC winner. Just call it division winner 1a, because they had the same basic rights and advantages to the actual division winner. Like it or not this was the best way to keep the WC teams and give an advantage to winning the division.

It just boils down to the talent that would have made them a consideration for the division title this season was either not available or just not smart business moves(Hamilton, Grienke) IMO. So they built a competitive good group of good guys that should make them easy to root for.

He's not due back until mid season, they could still sign him. But $ will be tight if the Napoli deal goes through.

Winning the division has far more meaning now then it did. Theo built to win 90-95 games because that should be good enough to get you into the playoffs which was the point. Being the WC team or Division winner had no real advantage. Now it does. I would think most teams would be trying to build for a division title and trying to avoid the WC game all together. The WC has become what it should have been, a last chance not the same chance as a division winner. I think the new format is great. And will feel the same even if the Sox were a one and done team. 1 game is a lot to put 2 teams seasons on the line for, but they didn't win the division, so that's not a luxury the team gets to have.

Do any of your posts start with something other then "This" "I totally agree with you" or some other reference to how much your are 100% on board with anything and everything a700 writes? I mean if thats what you want so be it, I just figure why not be something other then a a700 co-signer? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to encourage you to write something of your own view instead of just agreeing with and re-writing something someone already said all the time. I mean ya I get we all say the same things but most of us venture of on our own thought process as well from time to time. I can honestly not re-call a post written by you that was not co-signing something a700 said.

Not sure if this had been discussed yet or not but here's my view of what the Sox have done this off season. With or without Napoli the roster is pretty good. If somethings in the rotation fall their way they will be competitive. If things don't work out they have loaded themselves with pieces that will be sought after at the TDL. Pedroia, Middlebrooks, and maybe Papi are the only guys they probably don't want to move. Victorino would probably involve adding $ but he is probably a guy they want to keep around for positive influence on a young team. Everyone else could be considered fair game. They could absolutely stack themselves with young talent and either go with that talent or use some of it for high end proven MLB players next winter.

Pass on Laroche. I'd rather they Give Gomez a chance and if he doesn't work out see if the Twins will trade Morneau.