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It's foolish to think Cherington pulled that salary dump with the Dodgers off. Two independent news sources outside of Boston reported in some detail the deal was made at the owners' meetings by Henry and Kasten, who represented the Dodger owners. A deal of this magnitude is made at the ownership level--obviously. Where the front offices undoubtedly came in would be in the selection of the prospects coming to Boston. The owners wouldn't be expected to deal with that. The Boston media, at least some of it, chose to attach Cherington's name to the deal--partly because that's the way the Red Sox announced it--the way Henry wanted it. As a signal of support for Cherington, who had a mediocre first year as GM. Plus I'm almost sure Cherington et al were involved in the prospects--what they are expected to know. I think they did a good job there.
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I don't know if the Red Sox organization is capable of doing all those ambitious things covered in these previous posts. I mean, you look at passive Ben, and you can't see him doing all this stuff. Maybe he'll get some prodding from Henry and Lucchino, maybe James and some of the others in the FO will be a factor, but Ben doesn't strike me as being a very aggressive, out-front guy. More a cautious-type guy who gets the leftovers. I hope the Toronto-Miami dump isn't a bad omen--and the Sox become bridesmaids with every free agent out there. Just missing, or waiting too long to get the bargain. I'm waiting for Ben to prove me wrong.
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From what Henry said, they did not want to deal AdGon, but had to in order to get rid of the Crawford and Beckett contracts. That means they can absorb one $20 million dollar man in the budget. That doesn't mean it couldn't be a pitcher, but I don't see any studs available this year. Hamilton is the only stud out there, and he comes with some baggage, which may make him available for a reasonable price. I don't see guys like Bourne or Victorino coming to Boston--they aren't a team that values speed and stolen bases. Crawford found that out pretty quickly--one reason why he didn't fit. Fenway is a hitter's park.
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Iggy will get his chance this year. The Sox seem to be in a long range building mode, they are paying him $2.5 ? million this year, and he'll get a good look, along with some of the other prospects who have festered in AAA from benign neglect the last few years. When you don't fully know your prospects, you can get burned, as they did with Reddick. And Kalish was held down until he got seriously hurt in AAA, and hasn't been the same since. Having said that, I sure would like to see Hamilton in a Red Sox uniform, if they can get him for 5 years or less. This team is dead right now, and he would put some life into them--and the fans. The guy just looks too much like TSW to pass up.
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I don't think those Toronto vs Boston trade comparisons hold much water. Not unless Miami confirms the Red Sox part. Most fans don't believe it. Middlebrooks is by far the best player discussed, and I doubt Miami would ask for a guy they know is virtually untouchable. Plus I don't think the Sox would put him on the table for what amounts to a salary dump they just went through themselves. Could be somebody is trying to save face here, floating a red herring.
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This deal looks like the Red Sox salary dump --in reverse. Now why would the Red Sox take on all this salary again after just giving it up? From this standpoint, it makes sense for them to walk away. Buerhle and Reyes were overpaid--though they are a much better fit for Red Sox needs than Crawford or AdGon were at the time. And Josh Johnson would have a major impact on the pitching. You're talking about a ton of money here-- a bad long term deal for Reyes. I can't see Henry wanting to do this deal. I don't think he's willing to get back to surtax territory in one swoop. Not with Red Sox profitability now an important factor for him. He's sitting pretty right now money-wise with the team, and he has seen how money doesn't necessarily buy you championships. It's chemistry and the pitching.
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You look at Ben's personality, and you see a guy who hesitates, deliberates, gets beat to the punch compared to more aggressive GMs like Dombrowski and the Toronto GM. Ben is attending conferences while not doing his job trying to close a deal with Miami--and the Toronto guy swoops in and steals the show. This talk about Miami wanting front line Red Sox players in a deal, while accepting mid-level prospects from Toronto, strikes me as PR to save face. I don't believe it. The other aspect of this is whether Henry is in a position to take on any more mega-contracts. I doubt it. Let's see what happens. I would be surprised if they sign anybody for more than 2-3 years and more than $10 mil per year. The Red Sox competence as an organization has been tested the past few years. Clearly they have problems which go way beyond Bobby Valentine. In fact, the Bobby V hiring and ramifications may have been symptomatic of problems that still exist.
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Ben is giving a speech at UMass, and the Toronto GM leapfrogs him in one great big single bound. Ben is still focussed on getting a 2nd batting coach, while his east rivals are stocking up on salary dumps. Salary dumps don't necessarily improve teams, but on paper the Red Sox now look like they are the worst team in the AL East--no matter what they do--when they get around to doing it. Hopefully, Ben will have his 2nd batting coach hired soon, and then maybe he can put his "plan" for improving the team into effect. Has Henry found a buyer yet?
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Napoli will hit in Fenway, though he prefers to catch. The Yankees want him to catch, apparently. It will boil down to money. Plus he figures to catch some in Boston, too.
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Their major need in pitching is to have the current bunch pitching up to their abilities. I don't know if they need any expensive additions. I do think they have to restructure the bullpen--Bard has to recover his setup ability and Bailey has to avoid being hit by a bus. I'd like to see that kid DeLaRosa given every chance to be the 5th starter--under Pedro's tutelage.
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The Yankees want Napoli to catch. The Red Sox want Napoli to play 1B. Napoli prefers to catch, but he should prefer to hit in Fenway. So it boils down to money--natch.
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Pitching is the key. They had a lot of underachievers last year--for whatever reason. Ross was a good signing for the pitching. He could make a difference calling a game. Farrell was a good hire for the pitching. I don't know Nieves, but I suspect he was hired over Peterson because Farrell wants to be the pitching coach--more or less. And Peterson isn't that type of coach. Just a hunch. I see Salty being moved. Somebody will want him, and he still has upside. The lineup will take care of itself. They have some hitters and will add a couple more--without spending a lot. After all, Henry is a bit short of loose change these days. The important thing is for guys like Lester and Buchholz to pitch to their potential consistently, and for Lackey and Doubront to step up. Bard and Bailey have to anchor the bullpen. Aceves fits in there somewhere. If the pitching doesn't improve, the hitting will almost be irrelevant.
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They keep putting their dough in the wrong places. It's the pitching they need to spend on. A lineup full of stars doesn't help much without good pitching. They need another stud to go with Kershaw. Remember Koufax-Drysdale?
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Looks like the Ross deal was an effort to improve the pitching. If so, it means Salty will be traded. Ross must have had some assurance he was more than a backup to leave the Braves, where he was blocked by McCann. He figures to do a lot of catching in Boston.
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Hard to tell what the Ross signing means for Salty or Lav. Maybe Lav goes to AAA, maybe one or the other gets traded. My guess is Ross platoons with Salty, and Lav goes to AAA or is used as trade bait. I don't see Hamilton at all at this point. In fact, I see a situation not far removed from last year, when they tried to improve with trades and retreads rather than big ticket free agents. Henry is in bad shape financially--his hedge fund speculation business has caught up with him. He is now dependent on his sports holdings for income. Hardly a hobby anymore. He's smart enough to know it's time to sell.
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So now we hear Henry is shutting down his investment business: http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/11/09/red-sox-owner-john-henry-shutting-down-investment-firm/qAfOvJf5AAgTAqZKcpDu0L/story.html He is in worse financial shape than anyone thought. That explains the Red Sox sell-off. I think that puts a damper on major free agent acquisitions. I would not be surprised if the Red Sox or that team in England are sold in the next year or two.
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Hamilton is the one guy they could get their money back on--in ticket sales and endorsements. They are going to take a hit in revenues unless this team can get back on track quickly. Hamilton would be enough of a draw short term to give them time to get better. When he's healthy, he's as good as any hitter in baseball. And he can still play the outfield. He isn't too old. You hate to hear stories about Torie Hunter. He has Cameron written all over him. The last thing they need are ancient mariners on a young team. Papi is enough.
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Thyey do have some holes in the field, but I'd like to see them use most of their resources on upgrading their pitching. You can get away with a bunch of scrubs on the field if you have top notch pitching. Look at the As. Even the Orioles, who overachieved wildly in pitching this year. Then there's the Giants.
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I read Lucchino offered Papi's son, D'Angelo, a $5 contract. I also heard Larry offered him the manager's job last year, but he turned him down. Smart kid.
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Don't worry. Even Ben will pass on Loney. Ben would make my day if he would do something that showed he has some balls and brains. Nothing yet. One thing he could do is give some of those prospects they got from the Dodgers a chance to make the team. I see the Dodgers are looking to unload Ethier--after they gave him a contract. They could be targeting Hamilton--which means Ethier might be available. Wake up, Ben.
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They need to give Sands a shot at 1B or the OF. He is supposed to be ready--hits the curve well. But Youks should be in the mix, too. He won't be expensive, and he can still hit in Fenway and play good 1B.
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If they want a guy who hits well at home, bad on the road, they can always sign Youkilis--for cheaper and for playing 1B, a position of more need than the OF. That could be their thinking. Another posssibility is they are saving their money for Hamilton, who wants 7/175. Josh will have to have some clauses in his contract to get that much change.
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Tough to see anybody out there who is much better than what they've got for starters. Haren is a questionmark after last season. Declining heat like Beckett. Lackey might be their best bet to fill the 5th starter slot, though I wouldn't discount Morales. He and Doubront faded last year, and you have to wonder about their conditioning regimen for pitchers. Arm strength may not be what it should be with their pitch count obsession. Better to give their pitching prospects a good look--especially DeLaRosa. Chances are they have one or two who can help the team next year. No sense in leaving them in the minors if they are better than what you have.
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I would discount the chicken and beer stuff. The Red Sox are probably no different from any other organization. Way overplayed. Though conditioning undoubtedly was a problem. Hamilton is their chance to get on the map again. He has issues, but so don't a lot of players. Tough to see the Yankees passing on him--they love guys with issues that have LHd power. But he may be too rich for them, and they are probably more worried about their pitching. Hamilton isn't too rich for the Red Sox at this point, and Papi isn't enough thump in that lineup--not at 38. He could decline at any point, as he did a couple years ago. The other guy I like is Youks. His home-road splits in both Boston and Chicago are a mystery--hit well at home in both cities, weak on the road. He can still play 1B, and at least hit in Fenway. I believe shifting to 3B was a factor in his decline, though his conditioning has been questionable--along with a lot of other Red Sox players. I think conditioning on this team went to pot in general Tito's last couple years after Mills left.
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Haren isn't the guy they want. He's on decline, and he will want Beckett type money. They need a leader on the staff, and Haren isn't the one. Lackey is probably good for something next year, so you figure him as the 5th starter. They need to keep DeLaRosa on a short leash, because he could be their best pitcher pretty soon. The leader they need--but maybe not right away.