SoxSport

That Lester/Myers proposal probably has them thinking in different directions from big ticket outfielders. If they are intent on Swisher or Hamilton, Myers might have to change their thinking. They are already committed to Gomes, so he ties up LF. One of these other guys would have to play RF.Nava/Kalish are in the mix as well. Trouble with losing Lester is it weakens their pitching, and there aren't many quality replacements. Signing a FA outfielder doesn't do that.

Greinke's home/road splits don't warrant a big contract, but he'll get one because he's the best FA pitcher available. Hopefully, not in Boston.

I'm not oversold on prospects, but this proposed deal strikes me as an opportunity for the Sox to get an outfielder who is better than any that has come out of their farm system in a long time. He's the RHd power bat they've been missing. As for Lester, he's coming off a bad year and his contract makes him expendable. I'd like to see Morales given a shot to replace him. Plus they have other prospects who may surprise if given the opportunity. And they can use Lester's money to sign another starter--if they don't wait too long. They do have a propensity to wait for the leftovers. I expect Lackey to come back better, though it might take a half a season.

Myers is the no.1 hitting prospect in the minors right now. A RHd power bat. But there's no guarantees with prospects. On the other hand, Lester is coming off a bad year, and there is no guarantee he will rebound to his 2010 form. I would do this deal. It would give guys like Morales and DeLaRosa and a couple of their other prime pitching prospects an opportunity with the Sox. It's time they opened up the roster to young talent. In that sense, they can get the drop on the Yankees, who have severe age problems that are getting worse. The Sox have an up on other teams to get Myers, since lefty starters are prime property and Lester was an all-star two years ago. Could be they go after Hosmer as well, in a package.

There are a lot of ageing LHd hitters who are perfect fits in Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have half of them already.

Platooning Kalish in RF with Ross might be cheaper than Swisher, though Swisher can also play 1B.

My hunch is Lucchino wants Hamilton--to sell tickets. Cafardo has been promoting Hamilton just like he promoted Valentine--and V was Lucchino's choice. My guess is Nick and Larry are on good speaking terms.

Nava is slotted in LF, platooning with Gomes. RF is the open spot--Kalish right now. Maybe Hamilton or Swisher or Ross.

I would forget about signing a FA pitcher. The quality isn't there for the asking prices. They are better off improving their pitching from within. That means their coaches better get off their asses and coach this year. Including Farrell. Last year was a coaching disaster. The pitching is loaded with underachievers, who have to get back to their norms this year. If that happens, and Bailey can avoid getting his pitching hand stuck in the toilet door, and Bard comes back to his rightful BP role, they'll be OK. Save the #5 starter slot for Morales or DeLaRosa or that other prospect pitcher they got in the Dodger deal. And sign that superstar Hamilton to restore some luster to the team and re-energize the fan base.

Worth it only in NY--Yankee stadium. He can't play anywhere else anymore. Only in NY can he score from 3B taking a detour into the visitor's dugout to avoid the catcher's tag.

The latest tweets I'm seeing is that Napoli didn't get an offer from Henry et al. A previous post here said he wants 4 years and they were willing to go 5? Doesn't make a lot of sense. I've seen they were willing to go 3 years. Maybe they figure Texas won't give him an offer, and he'll come back. Maybe they are saving their money for Hamilton. Napoli is weak defensively, and maybe with Gomes' signing, they figure they don't want another weak D player. One thing that strikes me is Cafardo's column today on going after Hamilton or Mauer. Cafardo is suspected to have an in--probably Lucchino. He has been right before on Valentine. He might be right on Hamilton. Or maybe Mauer, though less likely.

Appears to have done OK. He does need to be watched, as most AA types do, but I don't think he's ever missed games due to drinking or drugs. He's had big numbers the past few years--huge 1st half last year--then tapered off. All FAs are overpaid. It's a fact of life. Look at the contracts last year. None of them are worth it. Teams want them--partly because they sell tickets and cable TV subscribers. They pay for themselves--almost. The Red Sox are in a state where Cherington's prognostications won't hold any water this year. They need to make a splash for the fan base. Toronto's dealings have almost assured that. They are currently last in the East, and small potatoes acquisitions probably won't change that. It's the business part of the equation that says they need a superstar like Hamilton.

I think the main concern about Napoli is defense. He doesn't give you much at C or 1B. You wonder if Swisher isn't a better choice here--being a switch hitter and playing OF/1B. Depends on the money difference. But Napoli hits well in Fenway. No mistaking that. He knows that, too. I don't know what will happen, but if Ben doesn't make a splash, there will be howls from the fanbase. I suspect that Lucchino and Henry are in on anything major--maybe out front. They know things have to happen.

How is Swisher on defense? 1B, RF? He's a cheaper alternative to somebody like Hamilton. Maybe an alternative to Ross or Kalish. Don't know how they see him. A plus is he plays with some energy--which is sorely missing on the Red Sox right now. The one guy who would energize this team--and the fanbase--would be Hamilton. But it would take Lucchino or Henry to pull that trigger.

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/11/25/red-sox-should-after-josh-hamilton-joe-mauer/iVElvj69tKteMQwMvTJiWO/story.html Cafardo thinks the Sox should go after Hamilton--to energize the fan base. I think he's right. Hamilton is the only FA out there who can do that. He would be money in the bank. To get him, Henry would pretty much have to be doing the pushing. I just can't see gentle Ben pulling this off. You look at the chatgroups, and many sound like a bunch schoolmoms talking about Hamilton's personal issues. Fact is the media has overblown them, and they have never interfered with his production in Texas. He does need guidance, but his time lost in Texas have been because of injuries--he plays hard, unlike some of the spoiled dorks who have worn a Red Sox uniform the past few years. He is one of the top 3 hitters in baseball, and he would energize the team and the fanbase in a way that is sorely needed. I doubt foggy Ben realizes this--based on everything he's said and done so far. But Henry does. He pays the bills. As for Mauer, I don't see him as the jumpstarter Hamilton is. You pay big bucks for power in a hitter. And he has no power. Way overpaid by the Twins to stay in Minnesota. So while Ben is splitting hairs about 3 or 4 years for Napoli, he really should be zeroed in on Hamilton. Napoli is OK, but somebody has already pointed out that he and Gomes in the lineup knock the defense down a notch or two--which knocks the weak pitching down as well. Hamilton, by the way, is an excellent outfielder. Too bad Ben never saw Ted Williams play. Hamilton's swing reminds me of Ted, and he is a far better all-around player than Ted was.

True--and true. Tito did as the FO told him to do. And the FO goes strictly by pitch counts. He left a guy in there to a certain pitch count, no matter how many innings he pitched, or how many runs he had given up, or how well he was pitching. It's a crazy philosophy, in that the overriding concern is pitch counts. They are obsessive about this, which may be why their pitching sucks.

Their bullpen is always sunk. That's because they rarely leave a starter in beyond 6 innings--win or lose, sharp or struggling. One of these days they'll realize that.

Gomes is a perfect platoon with Nava in LF. Nava hits RHP, Gomes hits LHP. Kalish will have to play RF by himself since Ross wants too much to be a platoon player. It's even money Kalish comes back strong his 2nd year away from injury. Plus the school is still out on Hamilton, who would fill the middle of the lineup in a big way. This guy is one of the top 3 or 4 hitters when he's healthy. Steal him while everybody is 2nd guessing about his drinking issues. I don't think the latter have cost him any games in Texas lately.

I figure Lester and Buccholz will come back this year, with Farrell back. If they don't, the Sox won't have a prayer to make the playoffs. But they will need a replacement for Beckett, and that has to be Lackey, right now. They are safer with Lackey as the 5th starter his 1st year back from surgery, following Doubront, and sign a #3 starter from the likes of Haren, Jackson, etc. I'd also like to see Morales in the picture as a starter, since he showed more than any of them last year before his arm gave out.

I said Gomes platoon with Nava in previous post. Nava is a switch hitter, but he hits much better from the left side against RHP, and played left field last year. Kalish is probably more the candidate to play RF since he's better defensively. Good hit/no field players have traditionally occupied LF in Fenway, beginning with Ted Williams. It's a matter of learning the caroms off the wall, and you don't need a strong arm like RF.

Cafardo just retweeted a tweet from a "friend" of Napoli. Napoli says all the recent leaks about him are nonsense.

Overpaying for a FREE agent is a fact of life. That's because you don't have to give up equal players to get him--like in a trade--or even a prospect. Sure, in some cases a draft choice, but that doesn't dissuade owners from overpaying if they want somebody. The agents know that, and scrape for the last dollar to fill their own wallets.

Jim Bowden just tweeted Napoli wants 4 yrs from the Red Sox. He may ask Seattle to give him 4 yrs. Napoli just turned 31 last month. 4 yrs is not unreasonable. We'll see if Ben can pull the trigger.

It will be Henry's call for the major FAs. Ben takes care of the minor stuff--and is getting help from James and others. You figure James is playing a role in the Gomes and other signings. I agree Cherington's negotiating abilities are in question. He can't have been very aggressive with the Marlins. Looks to me like that Toronto GM ate his lunch, taking all those players for prospects. Ben misjudged the situation, from his statement that he didn't realize the deal would be so big.

He may have gotten one or two other offers which pushed the price up.Hard to see him not platooned in LF.He is also DH insurance.