SoxFanForsyth

Well think about what you've got. 1. Dan Haren will be off the books in 2014. This will make room for a guy like Barnes, De La Rosa, or Britton. 2. Bogaerts can take over for Iglesias in 2014 if he's ready. Nothing keeping him away. 3. Bradley can slide into CF when Ellsbury leaves. I'm not too sure that I'm all in on giving Ells a big deal considering the year he's had this year. 4. If Ortiz is done after next season, Napoli can slide into the DH/1B/C role, Swisher can slide into the 1B role, and if you want to keep Iglesias at SS, then Bogaerts can become your cornerstone LF. Essentially, all of these deals are short term, and there's ultra flexibility in the deal. Cliff Lee is still an excellent, elite pitcher. I was hesitant on him as well, but his peripherals are actually better this year than they have been in the past, and his velocity is actually up a tick.

This team needs pitching, plain and simple. And there is SP out there to acquire. Have a look at this idea: Here's your 2013 Rotation: 1. Cliff Lee: Trade for Cliff Lee, take on $20-22 of his $25mm in annual salary. Do what it takes to obtain the top of the rotation starter. With guys like Henry Owens, Matt Barnes, Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster, and Drake Britton (who is having a solid year in AA, posting a 3.66 ERA and a 3.43 ERA in the 2nd half) all coming up over the next few years, you can sacrifice Doubront (trade him) for a true ace. Especially with the newly found payroll flexibility. 2. Jon Lester: Under Contract 3. Dan Haren: Sign Dan Haren. Give him a pillow contract. He's coming off of a 4.90 ERA, injury ridden season. He won't have his option exercised because the Angels will be going hard for Grienke, and they won't be willing to lose out on him given that they just spent prospects to get him. Go with a 1 year/$15mm deal for him. 4. Clay Buchholz: Under Contract 5. John Lackey: Sorry fellas, we're stuck with him. He said he was pitching in pain all season last season, so maybe he comes back and turns back into 2010 Lackey. If he can eat 215 IP of 4.40 ERA baseball again, he'd be a welcome sight as your #5 starter. So that eats $35-37mm of your payroll, but it eats it in the right way. You go get Dan Haren and Cliff Lee, and you combine them with Buchholz and Lester as your top 4, rounded out with Lackey chewing up innings as your #5 man, you've got a very solid rotation. As for the lineup. I would go out and sign Nick Swisher to around a 4 year, $54mm ($13.5mm) deal. He's a guy who can play LF or 1B, and he grinds out AB's. Consistently has a high .360's OBP since coming to the AL East. Also go out and sign Napoli to a 4/$48 ($12mm) deal. He's another versatile guy (1B or C) who has a swing like Cody Ross that is absolutely built for Fenway Park. He's not going to give you a ton of average, but he has a career OBP of .360 and he grinds out AB's. Finally, give Cody Ross 3/21, just like Willingham got. That's only a $4mm bump from what he's getting this year, and he's very much worth it. Lineup of: Ellsbury Pedroia Ortiz Napoli Middlebrooks Swisher Ross/Kalish (Platoon, not strictly enforced) Lavarnway Iglesias Finally - The bullpen should be solid next season, rounded out with Bard, Bailey, Aceves, Wilson, Breslow, Miller, and Tazawa. Now, I know a lot of you are going to be saying "That puts us exactly in the same spot we were in!!!". Well, no it doesn't. It gives us an elite rotation. It gives us a lineup full of guys who grind out AB's and take walks (outside of Iglesias, who by the way has a higher OBP than Aviles). And all of the deals are 4 years or less (Lee has 3 years with a buyout in his 4th). The total added payroll would be $66.5mm. The annual payroll relief we just got is about $56mm. When you tack on Jenks, DiceK, Youkilis, Padilla, and Aaron Cook, that's an additional $33mm that is off the books. So in total, we're getting $89mm off the books, and only taking on an additional $66.5mm. That leaves $22.5mm for raises and arbitration, which is plenty. And we will go into next season with most of our holes addressed, and the contracts are shorter. Thoughts?

Couple things. 1. Corey Hart is on a pretty team-friendly deal. I'm not sure why the Brewers would want to get rid of him? Am I missing something on this, because I've seen a few people bring up his name. 2. I'm not sure how comfortable I would be with Gomez as the full time 1B. He's going to be 28 next year. I just can't expect him to be any good with him getting his first gig at 27. Again, I sign Napoli, but I've beat that drum. 3. Bard and Breslow should both be back in the bullpen next year, as well as Alex Wilson, so I think that rounds out your pen.

Beckett was claimed off waivers. Meaning the Red Sox can let the claiming team take him and all of his salary. If Cherrington revokes him, I'm going to puke.

Well assuming a 7 month rehab stint, he'd be cleared to play by 3/23. I guess I'm a bit confused. I would assume that the tail end of the rehab program would include throwing, no? So, it's not that he goes 7 months without throwing a baseball. It's that he goes about 5 or 6 months without throwing, then a gradual build up process, and is ready to play full time after 7 months? If that's the case, I would expect him to be ready for Opening Day in LF.

He becomes a FA in 2014. Next year is his final year under club control (this is his final offseason of arbitration). Most people want to dish him because we likely can't afford him. But after seeing him perform this year, I am starting to wonder if a 6 year, $15-18mm AAV will keep him in Boston. I keep hearing he'd love to stay if at all possible (from Cafardo). I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox worked out a long term deal with Ellsbury this offseason at around 6/105.

I did see that he jammed his ankle sliding into home the other day, but I don't think they would put him in the lineup originally if he was hurt from yesterday.

Looks like the Red Sox are ready to move forward. The following items have happened today: 1. Carl Crawford's surgery has been scheduled for Thursday (8/23). 2. Pitching coach Bob McClure has been fired. 3. Jose Iglesias has been scratched from the PawSox lineup. He's hitting .348/.423/.420 in 18 games in August and continues to drop jaws with his glove. Hopefully this is a sign that Aviles has been traded.

No, FA after 2013. Not to mention he's making $13.75mm this year, so it's not even like he's in the last year of an excessively team friendly deal. Agree, Beckett + B level isn't going to work, but Beckett + Bradley + Cecchini would likely get it done. Having said that, I'd never pull the trigger on that deal.

Glad he's having it now. 6 to 7 months of rehab should have him back by ST or April at the latest. 7 months from Thursday would be 7 months from March 23rd. If he has a quick rehab, he could be back by Opening Day. If he's 7 months of rehab, he'll miss maybe 1-2 weeks. I'm not sure, though, if he could start swinging a bit sooner because really, if he's able to swing by early-to-mid March (6.5 months), the throwing will come almost instantly. It's timing that is the biggest time consuming activity.

Every trade under Jackso's authority starts with Bradley and Barnes. Fact is, it would likely take 1 of the two, but certainly not both. A deal of Bradley + Cecchini + Shaw, or something of that stature, would get it done. For 1 year of an injured Josh Johnson coming off of a career worst season and TJS would hardly net two of the top 35 prospects per BA.

It's time. I will say this, I am more excited about this offseason than I have been for any offseason in years. There have got to be some significant changes. Problem is, recent quotes from Cherrington have made me very weary of the moves he's going to make, including the following: And also.... I will say this. If the Red Sox go into the 2013 season with the exact same rotation as they went into the 2012 season, there will be torches and pitchforks at Fenway. So, lets hear it. What are your moves. From manager down to bench players and relievers.

Daniel Bard has 5 wins this season. He hasn't pitched since June 3rd. Josh Beckett has 5 wins this season. He has 1 win in his last 13 starts dating back to May 26th. Yes. Daniel Bard. The guy who hasn't been on the big league roster since June 4th, has as many wins as Josh Beckett.

It's going to look like Beckett in a Rangers or Pirates jersey.

What, like with a losing record? I mean, honestly how can it get any worse than it already is? It's not like they're vying for a slot in the PS and are going to lose it.

Watch Salty go deep here.

Ells goes deep here.

Huh?? I was being joking, as if 2 doubles is nothing worth talking about, nothing special for him because he's such a good hitter.

Atta boy Beckett!!! Build that trade value!!

Holy s***. This is Cherrington talking about Bard in 2013. You haven't DECIDED whether he'll be in the bullpen or a starter?!?! WHAT?!?!

Ordonez never hit .270 in AAA, either. And on top of that, he never had a lineup like the Red Sox hitting around him to be able to hide his bat. He's not going to win any batting titles, but he can make productive outs (i.e. hitting the ball on the right side of the infield with a man on 2nd), and make the fundamental offensive plays that this team struggles with on a daily basis. Plus, he is walking much more, and he's got a .843 OPS in August, and he's hitting .284 with a .344 OBP since the ASB.

I mean he hit 17 in the 1st half of 2011, which is when it would have affected him the most, and regardless, there was a huge market for him. Plus shoulder surgery for a power hitter is going to affect the market much more than elbow surgery for Crawford.

Ozzie Smith posted a .589 OPS and a 4.2 WAR. HanRam hit 21 HR, 76 RBI, and 32 SB, hit .300/.378/.475 and posted a 4.6 WAR. Defense up the middle is a big deal.

That's fine, I want them both out too. But I'm still really pissed about the Sox sucking, and that this board has gone to a ghosttown because of the Sox s***** play. Add Aviles to my list, too.

I don't ever question it unless it's a legitimate question, and I stand by it. If I get banned for it, fine. But I've never seen a fan so excited about being right that the team sucks.