SoxSport

Geez...why do I like Vic or Bradley better than Choo? Bradley's upside is at least as good as Choo--maybe better.

Yanks blew it. All they had to do was give him 7/210 if they didn't want to go 10 years. They basically undervalued a home bred guy who is their best 2nd baseman ever. I have to agree with Cano when he said he didn't get enough respect from the Yankee management.

I think they like two veteran catchers right now for their largely veteran starters. The pitching may well improve this year because of the catching.

No more Dice-Ks, please. Plus they aren't in a big spending mode right now. Don't have to be. They just bought time to gamble on the kids. Their next championship will be because those kids worked out--not because they bought a lot of players.

Here's an article which says they should sign Choo. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24374235/champion-red-sox-still-have-work-to-do I don't know if they are willing to throw $20M for 7years at any player. They weren't with Ellsbury.

What bugs me about the draft are the comp picks. Teams losing FAs benefit from the comp picks, sure, but the team signing the FAs isn't penalized by comp picks. They are created for the other team. So there are no limitations to how many picks a team can sign--a setup for the Yankees. Or now the LA teams. The caveat is buying a lot of FAs is no guarantee of winning. One of these days teams will realize their ticket to success is to sign 3 top FA starters. It's the pitching. The Dodgers became contenders only when they signed Greinke.

The Yankees should simply have upped their per yr to Cano if they wanted to stay at 7 yrs. Maybe 7/200. Instead they let their best player leave. For a team swimming in media money. Interesting that not a single one of those pundits on MLB TV has mentioned that. Al Leiter did let slip that he was wearing an "MLB TV" cap now, and he had to watch what he was saying. LOL. Which means "thou shalt not criticize the Yankees." That seems to hold true at the Boston Globe as well. Henry, new Globe owner, take note. The Sox have been "quiet" in the media. They are always quiet in the media outside of New England. But Tom Verducci of SI did say that they were one of the improved teams--pitching, catching and re-signing Nap at 1B. They have questions about whether the kids can handle CF and the left side of the IF. That's about it. They no longer have anybody blocking Bradley in the OF. That's good.

Haha. I can't believe Cashman was behind signing Ells over Cano. He's too smart. It was Starbrenner and Randy Levine above him. They let their best player go because they thought he couldn't DH at 40? And they signed Ells because he would still be stealing 50 bases and playing CF at 37? When was the last time any team outbid the Yankees for a FA --and their own home bred--no less? A monumental event--completely overlooked by the Yankee-fawning media. Seems like the higher ups were more intent in getting back at the Red Sox for their success than using common sense. Hopefully, they'll do the same with Drew.

A lot of people think this is the most sensible way to go. Drew only plays one position and wants to start. He really isn't a fit unless you want to block X or MBrooks. They have the same situation in the OF. They need a role player for RF, not a guy who has to start. A replacement for Vic on days off or if he plays CF. That's why they didn't sign Grandy or the other major FA outfielders. Bradley has first dibs in CF.

That's why the Yankees are unconcerned about draft picks. Teams should lose their no.1s in successive years instead of lower picks in the same year. Once again, a setup for NY and LA big budget teams to sign unlimited FAs.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post telling it like it is with the Yankees this morning: http://nypost.com/2013/12/13/yankees-can-still-spend-way-back-into-contention/ I post this because anything the Yankees do has relevance to the Red Sox, and Sherman, unlike the other pundits at MLB TV, is willing to say the Yankees f....ked up signing Ellsbury instead of Cano. In fact, I suspect Ben & Company are secretly delighted their adversaries have spent their way into a real predicament--they are out $300 million, and have filled but one need (McCann) and created another (Cano). Maybe they can sucker them into signing Drew for 3 years.

Trading Middlebrooks at this point would be stupid. They aren't stupid. Patience. The 2nd year is frequently a downer for good players. They talk about wanting RHd power--heck they got two in X and MBrooks. And protected. Hold onto those guys for dear life.

Interesting. The left leg doesn't move towards 1B, so maybe he's OK. It moves directly behind him.

Lots of lanky SSs in history with long careers. Think back further--before the steroid era. Drew, by the way, is also a lanky SS.

You'll have to hold that lineup, because the FO is still having wet dreams about Drew. This is a Boras guy with "overpay" marked on his forehead. Plus a potential block for X or Middlebrooks in a season where there is zero pressure for them to win a championship again. The situation has to break just right for a team to win it all, and it almost never happens again for at least a few years--no matter what the team does. Drew on this team is infield insurance--at one position. In case X has problems at SS (doubt it--great athlete), or Middlebrooks doesn't hit (patience--sophomore slumps are common). One thing he should not be is a starter who blocks either of the two other guys. Both are RHd power hitters critical to the lineup. I say better to sign a good field, no hit guy cheap who can play SS and other positions. Drew was largely a no hit guy the first half last year--fortunately he came alive the 2nd half, but didn't hit much in the playoffs while playing good defense. Media rumors at this time should be taken with a grain of salt--but I hope they haven't offered this guy a multi-year deal. It might screw up the left side of the IF more than strengthen it. You sign him for one year at reduced money if nobody else wants him on Boras terms. As insurance.

Believe he went to BCHigh before Duke.

Lot of power in that lineup if X,MBrooks and JBJ work out. More than last year.

I'd be shocked if they signed Choo. I think they want a RHd bat in the OF. Somebody who can play RF. A role player who doesn't have to play everyday.

Looks like the meetings were a big zero for the Red Sox. They did their due diligence prior to the meetings and improved the team. Those guys at MLB TV set up shop in the hotel lobby around the clock, and had little to talk about in the way of new things. So they wound up talking about the Yankees about half the time--never suggesting that they screwed the pooch letting Cano and Grandy go. You wonder if they would have signed Ellsbury if he hadn't played for the Red Sox. LOL. Now they're quoted as saying Ells and Gardner will share CF! I had to bold that one. Gardner must be feeling underpaid. The Dodgers quickly found out they weren't going to be able to deal Kemp until his injuries are healed. The Red Sox still have a fetish for a RHd power hitter in the OF, so they may address the Kemp situation later during ST, or even go after Stanton. Though I think they don't have to. They look pretty solid to me barring injuries and assuming the younger guys work out at 3B, SS and CF.

Lineup probably accurate, but Farrell says Pedey will bat 2nd, Papi 3rd. I figure Nap cleanup. If Bradley hits, he will move up the chain. He and X could improve lineup vs last year if they hit. Plus a healthy Pedey should show some power again.

Nava broke out last year, so his stats in previous years are deceiving. He doesn't have quite the power of Choo, and doesn't steal bases, but he's a very good hitter and on base guy much cheaper than Choo will be. i.e., better value if you are paying his salary. On Stanton, there is no compelling need right now. I don't know if they want to trade Bradley or their other top prospects for a pretty much one dimensional player who did not have a great year last year. I think they want to see what Bradley can do--he looked good in Sept, even against LHP. He could well be a 5 tool player. I expect he and X will be better than last year.

Heyman tweets Red Sox have decided Kemp not a good fit right now. They passed on Grandy, passed now on Kemp. Bradley looks like their CFer. They still need a backup guy who can play RF and maybe CF. Vic misses games. I think, even without Ells, this could be a stronger team than last year--better pitching, especially BP. And better catching. Plus X and JBJ.

Good question. LOL. But it's the Yankees. They keep adding outfielders.

Beneath all the talk about the Yankees from the meetings on MLB TV, there is an undercurrent of wonder about all the holes they haven't yet filled, despite spending $300 million or whatever. Tom Verducci, for example, of SI. They have holes in pitching, starter and BP, plus a huge hole at 2B, 39yo Jeter and Texeira trying to comeback and another possible hole at 3B (almost a no-win situation there with ARod). Plus they don't have many trade chips. They did fill a hole at catching, and have added a couple of outfielders they might have lived without. The loss of Granderson, for example, has created a power hole in the outfield which 37yo Beltran is expected to fill? Ells is an upgrade over Gardner in CF, but at what cost for a similar type player? The Red Sox, in contrast, look in a lot better shape. Lots of depth. Targeted improvements in pitching and catching made by Cherington so far. A ready replacement for Ells in CF ( they almost went with Granderson, but decided to stick with JBJ), and the kid X, who could be the all-star SS next year the way he played in the playoffs. At the moment it's hard to see the Yankees as significantly better in the competitive East unless they spend another $200 million. And at the moment, there isn't much to spend it on except more outfielders. Billy Beane is now on with Millar and Rose--MLB TV. I swear Beane has a halo around his head. He must have divine guidance.

Tanaka may be going nowhere this year. Rakuten thinks the posting fee is too low.