SoxFanForsyth

Here's Keith Law's take. You know, a professional who gets paid to scout these players: Rubby de la Rosa blew up as a prospect before blowing out entirely back in 2011, but he's back from Tommy John surgery and, by 2013, should be able to pick up where he left off when his elbow snapped. He has touched 100 mph as a starter and sits comfortably in the mid-to-upper 90s, offsetting it with an above-average changeup with good fading action in the mid-80s, and, before the surgery, could throw both pitches for strikes. His slider is hard but really short, 82-86, but it doesn't have a lot of tilt to it because he tends to get on top of the pitch, often coming out higher than he does on his fastball; his curveball, a pitch he seldom throws, is in the mid-70s, breaking down but without tight rotation. Even an average slider would give him No. 1 or No. 2 starter potential, and I think he can get there if he can release it from a slightly lower spot, closer to where he releases the fastball. It's a huge arm in any role, and, as long as he's healthy, he should be able to start.

First off, you act like he has a 5-6 BB/9. His career BB/9 in the minors was 4.0. That's not great, but it's not nearly enough to throw him in the bullpen. Second, he's a two pitch pitcher? I'm sorry, he's got an elite FB, an above average CH, and a SL that only needs work on his arm slot, which is an extremely easy fix. How is that a 2 pitch pitcher? 4 sm, 2 sm, CH, SL. That's 4 pitches right there. And he had 61 innings in 2011, as a 22 year old. Your reasoning is completely unjustified and, to be honest, a bit ignorant because you clearly have not done any research on this kid other than having a glance at a baseball reference page.

Why?? He'll be 24 years old. He's already started in the MLB and had success. Why would we ever keep him in AAA??

I've heard that his floor is a late inning stud. That's the closest to him outright being in the bullpen that I've ever heard.

Where?!? He posted a 3.88 ERA as a starter when he was 22. He sustains upper 90's in the late innings. Keith Law said he's at least a #2 and likely an ace with a slight modification of his arm slot on his slider. Why would he ever be a bullpen guy??

Exactly. So ST 2013 will be 18 months. Not to mention he was rehabbing all last season too. His TJS will have zero effect on him in terms of being ready for 2013.

What?? He's got an entire offseason for rehab starts. He's like 18 months removed from TJS. That makes no sense.

The Sox can't sign Dan Haren and trade for Lee or Lincecum?? They can easily get two front line starters. One via trade, one via FA.

Too many people are ignoring Rubby De La Rosa. He's going to open a lot of eyes. And he will be in the rotation next season.

I wouldn't touch Jake Peavy with a 10 foot pole. He's had 1 good season in the past 3 years. And it wasn't even an elite season. All you're getting with Jake Peavy is another Josh Beckett. Injury ridden and inconsistent. Peavy would be a big mistake. From 09-11, he made a total of 52 starts. That's averaging 17 starts per season, or essentially missing 1/2 of your starts each year. No on Peavy. Haren is an absolutely perfect buy low candidate. Considering the Angels will offer him a qualifying offer, you'll likely have to pay around $14-15mm for a 1 year deal with him, which is 110% worth it. He's a perfect fit for the Sox while guys like Webster and Barnes continue to progress. Then you go out and trade for either Tim Lincecum or Cliff Lee. The Phillies have $133mm locked into next season, and that's only accounting for 13 players. They are going to need offense badly, especially considering Utley, Howard, and Rollins are all injury ridden at this point. Dishing Cliff Lee for a couple prospects (Doubront + Cecchini should get it done) and salary relief (~24mm/year) would benefit them significantly. The Giants will owe Lincecum $22mm next year. Whether or not they listen on him will be interesting. They've got $81mm locked up for 6 players next year. But they very well may try to extend Lincecum given that they are out from the Zito contract after the 2013 season. Or they may try to get a more balanced team and grab some offense for Lincecum. I would guess that a deal involving Doubront + Ellsbury + Cecchini could work out for Lincecum, and the Sox would then be able to go out and sign a guy like BJ Upton for CF (believe it or not, he and Ellsbury have extremely similar numbers). It will certainly be interesting this offseason. But I've said it a number of times, I think they'll sign Dan Haren and trade for Lee or Lincecum. I also wouldn't be surprised if they contacted the Nats about Mike Morse. He's a versatile guy who can play LF or 1B.

I think it's hilarious how everyone is so down on Farrell because of his record with the Jays. What, exactly, was Francona's record with the Phillies before coming to Boston? Oh, 65-97. Point being - different strokes for different folks. Just because a coach doesn't work out in one place doesn't mean he's just simply not a good coach. Farrell already has all of the respect of the Red Sox players, especially the leaders (i.e. Pedroia, Ortiz, Lester, Buchholz). It's also been widely reported that Farrell and Alex Anthropolus haven't exactly seen eye to eye, but we all know that he fits in well with the Red Sox FO. Having the backing of a FO is extremely important (see: Valentine, 2012).

The Sox will almost certainly sign Haren and trade for another top of the rotation pitcher, IMO. Haren may sign a pillow contract, too. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

I would be shocked if Balfour, Broxton, or League aren't with the Sox next season.

Dojji, I honestly think you'd be a perfect fit for the Rays. Point being, I think Dojji and RJ represent both sides of the extremes. If you have a chance to go out and get a proven starter who you think can perform at a high level in the AL East, you make the trade. You don't empty the farm, but you make some player expendable. You also have to look at it from a perspective of which positions you can sign solid, cheap talent (i.e. Cody Ross), and which positions are extremely expensive (i.e. SP), and assess trades based on your depth at these positions. So, there are no true "untouchables" for me, but the closest are Bradley, De La Rosa, Bogaerts, Owens, and Barnes. Everyone else basically is fair game for the right deal.

I'd like to see Dave Martinez get a shot at managing. We got rid of most of the big ego's on the team, and Dave seems like a guy who is more Francona-like, which is what the 2013 Sox would likely be better off having.

Honestly, I think I'd rather have Lackey. I know he had a horrendous, horrendous year in 2011, but that's not indicative of him. His elbow was falling off, he was throwing in pain, his pitches had around zero movement. I want to see what we have in Lackey post-surgery before we just unload him for garbage.

They were taking shots in 04. The Beer and Chicken thing is so overblown it's disgusting IMO. I guarantee you they were drinking beer, etc in the clubhouse in 07 too, with Beckett, with Lester. And in 08, with Beckett, with Lester, when they went to game 7 of the ALCS. It's not like this just started, or is Farrells fault. But Buch for Farrell is retarded. Farrell likely will be fired this year anyway.

He certainly won't come at a discount. He's a Boras guy, and he's not totally vested in Boston like Weaver was in Anaheim. The Sox would do well to include him in a deal that will pay off for more than just next year.

@pgammo The roles Bosox see for Jason Varitek and Pedro Martinez will not be ceremonial. See Bill Mueller in LA, Brad Ausmus, Trevor Hoffman in SD I guess they'll bring him back as a front office guy for now. But how incredibly awesome would it be to see (in 2016) Tek as the manager and Pedro as the pitching coach?? Can you imagine Pedro teaching all of our pitchers his filthy changeup?? Even if only 1 of them picked it up, it would be huge. I would absolutely love to see him mentor Rubby De La Rosa. They are extremely similar pitchers.

Tek got Schrute'd. Assistant TO THE General Manager, Tek. Not Assistant General Manager.

Yeah, the Sox will certainly exercise that. I think it takes his AAV from $16.5mm down to $11.167mm because the Sox have already taken on $49.5mm on his deal. Which ultimately leaves him, as of right now (not exercised option) at 2 years/$33mm left in AAV. Add on a year and $500k, that goes to 3 years/$33.5mm. That's a big amount of savings. Essentially, the Red Sox could exercise the option and then go sign Cody Ross to 2/14 with a $7mm option and only take a $2mm hit on luxury tax calc.

Basically impossible. I'll be honest. If Lackey can just return to his 2011 numbers, where he ate 210 IP to a 4.40 ERA, I'd much rather have him in the 5 slot than to pay for him to pitch somewhere else. And he's actually a good clubhouse guy from all reports.

Um. $25mm/year is not too much for a guy who has given you a 2.76 ERA, 430 IP, 9.0 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, and a 6.19 K:BB ratio over 2 years in his contract.

Cliff Lee can likely be had for Doubront + Ellsbury, perhaps including Cecchini depending on how much the Phillies eat in salary. If they get salary relief, they can take Ellsbury on and sign him long term. They need offense, bad.

Given there's some hyperbole in his comment, it was still an absolutely ridiculous play, and in terms of current SS, I'm not sure another one makes that play, especially when you consider that a large portion of them don't even get to that ball. His throw was 100% perfect, too.