Bellhorn04

One thing about this, though: the new rules that come into effect for 2014 are so punitive for going over the LT threshold (which is 189M for 2014) that teams may be doing whatever they can to stay under each year. So if the Sox do have a 2013 payroll of 120-130M, with the 2013 threshold at 178M, we can't expect them to spend the 'extra' 48-58M in 2014 or future years. I would expect them to make an effort to spend at least 150-160M this year.

If that were the case I don't think Cherry would have made the comments he did about the payroll being large this year.

I agree, a couple of reasonable targets there.

I copied this from a poster on the BDC forum who usually does his homework. The Blue Jay package of Jake Marisnick, Henderson Alvarez, Justin Nicolino, Adeiny Hechavarria, Yunel Escobar, Jeff Mathis and Anthony DeSchalfani was the rough equivalent of the Red Sox offering Will Middlebrooks, Felix Doubront, Matt Barnes, Jose Iglesias, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Sweeney and Miguel Pena. The 24-year-old Middlebrooks impressed this year in his 75-game MLB debut, but entered the 2012 season as Baseball America's 51st-ranked prospect. In contrast, outfielder Jack Marisnick entered the season as BA's 67th-ranked prospect. Their stocks headed is different directions this year but the 21-year-old Marisnick may have more room for development. Six distant years of Marisnick could approach the value of five immediate years of Middlebrooks. Compare the 2012 stats for Henderson Alvarez and Felix Doubront, who is 2 1/2 years older than Alvarez: Alvarez 31 GS, 187.1 IP, 4.85 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 88 ERA+ Doubront 29 GS, 161 IP, 4.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 89 ERA+ Twenty-year-old pitcher Justin Nicolino ranks 20th on John Sickels' recently released list of Top 50 pitching prospects. To provide perspective, 22-year-old Matt Barnes ranked 18th, 22-year-old Allen Webster 40th and 20-year-old Henry Owens 49th. Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria has a decent glove and a better bat than Jose Iglesias, who is only nine months younger than the 23-year-old Hechavarria. Yunel Escobar, a 30-year-old shortstop who is owed $5 million next season in the final year of his contract, has career WAR of 18.7, including three seasons at 3.6 or above. Jarrod Saltalanmacchia is projected to earn $3.9 million in his final arbitration year but the 27-year-old catcher has been valued at only 3.9 WAR in his entire career. Catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Ryan Sweeney are known more for their defense skills than for their hitting. The 29-year-old Mathis, who posted 0.8 WAR in 71 games last season, is scheduled to earn $1.5 million in each of the next two years. The 27-year-old Sweeney, who posted a 0.7 WAR in 67 games last season, is projected to earn $1.8 million next season in his final arbitration year. Pitcher Anthony DeSchlafani is the rough righthanded equivalent of Red Sox pitching prospect Miguel Pena. They were taken three picks apart in the sixth round of the 2011 draft and posted good numbers at the Single A level this year.

Fast upgrades are damn expensive these days. The Jays had to part with some prospects and $150 million. It's a bold and risky move. But if I'm a Jays fan, I like it a lot, absolutely. They've been trying the cheap and patient approach for a long time now and it's yielded squat. Their golden days in 1992-93 came with Pat Gillick at the helm and a big budget, with splashy quick fixes like Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Cone.

No, absolutely not. I don't think it's implausible that the Marlins were asking for a big haul of prospects from anyone interested in this deal.

Two of the prospects the Jays sent to the Marlins were in their top 5 prospects.

Cherington and the FO may have the mindset right now that they just unloaded a bunch of big contracts that were handcuffing them, do we really want to jump right into a new bunch of them? The Jays just took on 150+ million of contracts.

This is sure gonna make it that much tougher for the Sox to sell the 'patient approach'...

We have to keep in mind that the 2012 starters compiled an ERA of 5.19, the highest in franchise history.

No question. But: 2011 Red Sox ERA with Varitek 3.57 Salty 4.62 2012 Shoppach 3.77 Salty 4.84 Some stunning similarities there.

Salty is a backup catcher. He has a lot of pop from the left side so he should have a job for years to come.

OK, thanks.

Where is 700hitter? He hasn't posted since Sandy. Hopefully he's OK.

I don't know what you're basing this on. Just last year, Pujols and Fielder got 10 year deals.

We'll see what happens, but I haven't seen any evidence yet of teams being any more cautious about long term deals. This free agent season won't see too many big deals but only because there aren't many elite players on the market.

I think somebody will be willing to give Hamilton $150 million or more, but with some protection clauses in the contract.

Sanchez's numbers are not as good as Lackey's were at the time we signed him.

Well, I guess it's a good thing that NESN ratings are heavily influenced by the quality of the product on the field.

Ross pulled off the Triple Crown of Big Splits this year. 1.010 OPS vs. lefties .729 OPS vs. righties .921 at home .684 on road .915 first half .738 second half If you want a guy who murders lefties at home, especially in the first half of the season, he's your guy.

It's really not that difficult. If you are objecting to someone 'defending the indefensible', then reply directly to the post you're talking about. Using the term 'people' is a total cop-out. And it's not like there is a huge crowd of posters here right now.

Could you respond to specific posts instead of making generalized comments like that? Then whoever it is you're talking about can respond to you.

There have to be some facts we don't have though. Otherwise somebody would have taken Haren.

We don't know why the Cubs took their trade offer off the table at the last minute.

Per Cafardo, Ortiz has texted 'We are getting close'.