Spudboy

Break out The Chart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool. Malcontent.

I think so too. I can't understand why a third prospect is necessary but who knows. Webster will likely continue to fizzle. Ruby still has a chance to be something useful if only the pen for now. Sox still need front of rotation arms. I wonder what they will do?

From ESPN Insider: "The Baltimore Orioles have some lineup holes to fill and are interested in Boston’s Yoenis Cespedes, reports Ron Bradford of WEEI.com."

Re Miley: Latest On Wade Miley By Jeff Todd [December 10, 2014 at 3:46pm CST] 3:46pm: The Red Sox are actually not involved at all in discussions on Miley, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Miami is still in the picture, Nightengale tweets. 3:40pm: The Red Sox are indeed nearing a deal to acquire Miley, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. 3:21pm: The Marlins and Rangers are out on Miley, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, leaving the Red Sox as the likely suitor unless another team has jumped in. 3:02pm: One team that had been in discussions on Miley has dropped out, believing a deal to be nearing between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com tweets. 2:37pm: The D’Backs are nearing a deal involving Miley, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. 12:26pm: Arizona appears to be after young pitching in return, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports. 9:14am: The Diamondbacks are listening to offers for starter Wade Miley, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Arizona appears to have at least some inclination to move him, as the club is attempting to drop its payroll under the $90MM threshold. Miley, 28, is in his first of three seasons of arbitratration eligibility. The lefty has been a sturdy presence in the D’Backs rotation over the past three seasons, posting a total of 598 2/3 innings at a 3.74 ERA clip over that stretch. Though his results took a step backward last year, ERA estimators suggested he was much the same pitcher, if not better. Indeed, Miley also managed a career-best 8.2 K/9. Of course, with that kind of volume of productive innings, Miley’s arbitration earnings will not be low. MLBTR and Matt Swartz project that he will take home $4.3MM this year, and that number will only rise in future seasons. Nevertheless, Miley is a durable, controllable starter who figures to draw plenty of suitors. The Red Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Rangers are already said to have some interest. Of course, the same things that make him attractive to other clubs presumably make him a nice commodity to the D’Backs, so it remains to be seen how serious the club is about striking a deal. I have no idea what to believe or to think!

Of course when you get much older and your prostrate enlarges you may suffer from the Fred Walk. I speak from experience, unfortunately!!!

I may be incorrect here but the quote from Ben was that there were 15-20 scenarios that could help the Sox reload. Not 15-20 pitchers. I wish I could find that quote.

On the other hand it is quite possible the Sox knew the likely "value" of Lester and decided early on that they would not sign him to a contract above what they ( The Sox ) value him at. The Sox made a ridiculous initial offer last spring of about 4/70. Then recently let it be known that they would go to 5-6/120. Ultimately the Sox landed at 6/135 ( incidentally the offer that I suggested would do it last spring ). I believe that the Sox put a value on Lester and were very confident that he would eclipse that value by a sizable margin in free agency. They may have made the under bids and even traded him with the idea that he would not return. In doing so the Sox can easily say that they made the effort to get him to sign when they were pretty sure that he would be gone. On the bright side, while loosing a compensatory pick of unknown value, the Sox got Cespedes in return for Lester's value. Now the outstanding defensive power hitter can be used to land another arm. Brilliant!!!

I see Craig involved in a 3 player swap for starter. Maybe 4 player. Who knows?

I'm relieved that I'm not viewed as a boot licker or ball washer. Although I do wash my own balls quite thoroughly! Fred I can see the Sox making moves to have a decent ( on paper ) rotation going into the start of 2015. But my guess is that they will be much more involved in building a sound rotation for the future with FA signings in the 2016 class ( guys available in FA after 2015 ). 2015 will be another lost year for the Sox in my opinion. They may still go out and spend freely to get two top of rotation arms. But if they don't I will not be surprised.

I can see moving Craig. We have Nava and even Holt to back up 1st base. I bet some NL team would love to have Craig. I doubt that he will see much playing time in Boston if he remains here.

I just woke up!!! CRAP.

I like Masterson too so I guess that makes me a boot licker and ball washer. In any case I would not mind having either on the Sox. You pointed out that Masterson only cost money and that is a legitimate consideration.

Preferably Lester, Shields, Porcello. But if Lester Bolts, then Shields, Porcello, fodder.

I see the word "teams" used there. There have been comments here about how Cespedes would have somewhat limited value in trade talks. Lol.

It was.

Yep. But that is the game those types of guys are required to play.

Clearly a definitive answer!!!! Seriously, when you come back with answer like that I immediately stamp that player as not worth having. Thanks.

My condolences.

He was a front office type ( Cleveland ) before he became a manager at the big league level. He has cred and presence with the media. He's articulate and judicious.

Sounds good to me. Pass the chocolate chip cookies, please.

15-20 potential targets??? Are there that many MLB pitchers available?

From Trade Rumors: East Rumors: Masterson, Byrd, Red Sox By Zach Links [December 8, 2014 at 9:01pm CST] The latest from the AL and NL East.. The Red Sox have made an offer to Justin Masterson, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The pitcher is also talking with the Rangers, Marlins, White Sox, Royals, Giants, Twins, and others. Earlier today we learned that the Rangers have made an offer to Masterson, their first concrete bid for a free agent starter this winter. If the Orioles look to the trade market for a bat, Phillies outfielder Marlon Byrd is a name on their radar, sources tell Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told reporters, including Jason Mastrodonato of The Springfield Republican (via Twitter) that the team has targeted 15-20 starting pitchers via free agency and trade. So far, they’ve had advanced conversations for a few of them. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro says reports of him asking for too much in trades are “a bunch of malarkey,” according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).

Yeah but the Sox outfield is much cheaper than say, Kemp. That should make it easier to unload them with more potential suitors.

Fred I think that it's a safe bet that one way or another the Sox will rid themselves of the outfield congestion before spring training. If Lester does not come back it makes it almost certain that one, two, or even three OF will be dealt. At least I hope so. I don't wish to see Victorino go but maybe he can be part of a package or two that includes Cespedes and Graig. In this way the Sox eliminate a potential problem in the OF with playing time and can lower the payroll at the same time. This could help in paying for quality arms for the top of the rotation. This, to me makes sense. I hope that the FO can see this too.