BSN07

I wonder if they are trying to fill the clubhouse with good guys to help take the pressure off a Grienke or Hamilton if brought in? Just a thought. In the very least it looks like they are trying to change then attitude and atmosphere in the clubhouse, which can only be taken as a positive.

If he is planned to play the OF as much as Ross then ya I'm worried too. But I don't think that's gonna be the case. He's gonna be starting in LF against LHP. Maybe 1/2 of the games? He will be replaced later in games for defensive purposes. So realistically he's in the field for less then half of the available playing time. He's probably going to have a negative value in LF regardless. Hopefully in the limited time he's out there he can make routine plays and avoid catastrophic mistakes. We will have to wait and see.

You can't look at it Ross vs Gomes. Gomes is probably not coming in to fill the same role as Ross did last season. I've said it before it's Gomes/Kalish(Nava) vs Ross in terms of looking at it from a production stand point. Add the fact its Gomes making 5M a year and the other half of the platoon making league minimum vs 8M a year(hypothetically since he hasn't signed) from Ross who will also take more years to sign. If you look at it Ross vs Gomes straight up, it's a loss because of Gomes Defense. But when other variables are considered I consider it more of a wash production-cost wise and therefore it's a good move IMO.

I think you have to look at it like Gomes+Kalish or Gomes +Nava as the replacement for Ross. I'd like to see Ross back with the club, but don't fault them at all for not going to three years. Overall I like the move.

If they are going to overpay my choice would be Grienke. He's a possible #1 currently in the early stages of his prime. I wouldn't overpay for Sanchez. I'd be interested at around 4/60M but I think he will get closer to Beckett money. I'd consider an over pay on AAV for a one year deal on a guy like Haren. Grienke(6/120M) Lester Buchholz Haren(1/12M)/Lackey if Haren is not signed Doubront It's a solid rotation. I'd be ok if they went 5/125M on Hamilton. Flip Ellsbury somewhere for pieces to acquire Upton so they don't empty the farm. Find a 1-2 year stop gap in CF. A 2014 OF of Hamilton, Bradley, and Upton is nice to think about

Stop making sense please...

They could move Ellsbury to make room for a RHH OF. I like Choo but I don't find his one year remaining and the impending slob fest Boras is surely the throw him. I'm ok with Hamilton, but if they are trading Webster, I'd rather it be for a RHH OF.

I just mentioned Sweeney cause he's currently on the roster and they will have to do something with him. Kalish could be looking at more of a full time role if they don't bring in anyone else. But given the choice I would agree with you and go Kalish over Sweeney.

He's getting 60M minimum with some estimating he could get close to 100M. He will get 4-6 years at around 15M per.

Yes because SP typically jump from 70 to 200 IP and become horses over night. Your holding him up to ridiculous standards instead of looking what he actually was able to accomplish last season.

110 was already 40 more then the previous season, and he got through another 50 IP on top of that. If healthy going up another 20-30 IP is not out of the question.

Doubront doubled his IP total from the previous season. If you didn't think he would hit a wall at some point your nutty. I see Doubront coming close to 200IP. Lackey is a little harder to gauge but from what I have seen he should be ready to go in ST. So he might, but probably closer to 160-175IP. Lester has proven he can get 200+. Buchholz went to 190 last season, getting 10 more IP is not out of the question.

I think that's the market this year. Big AAV's for one year deals, lesser AAV's on 2 year deals. So does he platoon in LF with Sweeney?

But that doesn't count, it's now, and nothing new has happened

Ok, I didn't realize he played that much for Oakland. Looks like he might be able to replicate Ross's numbers from last season or close to as a 4th OF.

a700 will be pleased. If its true it's a nice RH option. I hope he wouldn't be the starter tho.

I disagree about the pitching staff. Right now I think it consists of 3-4 guys that can throw 190-210 innings at around 4-4.5 ERA. What I don't see is a sure fire stopper that you can bank on going 200+ with more of a 3.00 ERA. They have Pitchers with the possibility of doing that, but none of them are the sure Ace at this time. What they need is an anchor and for Lester and Buchholz to be good mid rotation guys and for Lackey and Doubront to keep them in games and not kill the BP at the back end. Now if they want to go out and get a couple ? guys for depth then sure. But if they are expecting those ? as sure things in the rotation, it's a bad approach IMO. As far as the Ben comments go if you were just saying "ho huum it's a slow news day" it be different. But "Another slow day on Cherington Lane" makes it seem a little the other way Besides most moves of note for the Sox in recent memory seem to come over Thanksgiving or after. I just don't see why everyone is surprised they haven't signed anyone. I think if they ahd signed or traded for anyone at this point it would have been more surprising to me at least.

I was guessing it be around 120-130M with the ability to add if needed.

Have you looked at the FA market? I mean really looked? There are no options outside of Grienke without some sort of issue or worry. They need a front line pitcher and there is one available. Maybe they can catch lightning in a bottle with Haren types. But even signing a few of those guys is no guarantee they will be "respectable" next season. I can easily see them still finishing last place if the sign a Haren or Lohse types. These moves would appease your types, but essentially don't make the team anymore of a guarantee the will be respectable. This team and roster need more then just money thrown at it. You keep saying he has to do something now. But your unwilling to accept that the right moves just might not be there. If you did understand that you would not be banging your ben and cherries drum everyday because there's no new headline. That's another thing, why do you harp on Ben so much when it's plainly obvious he's not the only person making baseball decisions for this franchise? Or do you just have something personal against the guy?

I wonder if they will check in with KC on Francoeur? Can play RF, RH power that could put up comparable numbers to Ross IMO and is on the last year of his deal making 6.75M. I can't imagine him costing a lot prospect wise. A deal could be expanded to include one of the other KC names that came up earlier in the thread. Just something to toss around on a slow day

:thumbsup:

Oh ya of course they have those things going for it and most likely always will. But the circus atmosphere of the last couple seasons is what I expect might make players weary of Boston for at least this season.

Guthrie on a one year deal? Sure. 3 years? That makes it "s***" for me He's a decent back end guy, but he is not someone I had interest in on a multi year deal.

Doesn't mean you throw more money at s***. It's thin for a reason. And just because they have a lot to spend, doesn't mean they have to spend it now. Maybe they really are on total rebuild mode. ANd if that's the case how often to those teams jump early into Free Agency? I'd rather see a team of prospects then team full of Guthrie's, Berkman's, and other retreads that don't make the team significantly better and save the money for a legit star.

I saw a scouting report that said Francour had the best arm the scout had ever seen. Brentz was 2nd. Ya the more I read about him the more I am actually starting to agree with you. He could very well be trade bate soon.