Orange Juiced

Looks like Dempster to the Sox is probably going to happen. Meh. Not a big fan, and don't think the Sox would end up doing much worse by having Morales pitch those innings. That said, Dempster isn't a bad pitcher. Last 5 years (since he's become a full-time starter): 65-49, 3.74 era, 1.30 whip, 8.2 k/9, 114 era+, 199 ip per season, 16.4 fWAR (3.3 per season) So he takes the ball, gives you a lot of innings, and gives you above-average performance. That's a pretty good thing to have in the rotation. Will it turn the Sox into World Series contenders? No. Will it help? Almost certainly. I'd expect an era in the low 4's (maybe 4.35 or so) for the Sox. Which isn't bad. It's not great, but it's not bad.

Bauer is exactly the kind of guy the Sox should have made a push for. I'd have done Ellsbury for Bauer straight up and then signed Hamilton. Ellsbury at his best is much better than Choo. Me not happy.....

I've been saying it and I'll keep saying it.... 1. Hamilton for 3/81 if you need to go that high in AAV. 2. Salty + a lesser prospect for Gavin Floyd. 3. Sign Anibal Sanchez or Edwin Jackson - 4/60. 4. Ellsbury to Atlanta for Delgado or Teheran or Beachy. CF - Victorino 2b - Pedroia RF - Hamilton 1b - Napoli (thought that deal may be in trouble) DH - Ortiz 3b - Middlebrooks LF - Gomes/Kalish C - Lavarnway SS - Iglesias Rotation - Lester, Sanchez, Floyd, Buchholz, Lackey Bullpen - Doubront, Morales, Bailey, Uehara, Melancon, Delgado/Teheran, Bard, Tazawa That's a serious team. And all of that, I believe, is doable.

What 3 prospects do you have in mind? Hint: Their names all need to begin with "B".

I hope Cherington's message to Hamilton was this: Go out there and get your best offer. Once you've gotten it, come back to us and we'll see if we can top it. If we can't, then you have got yourself a great deal. If we can, then you've got yourself an even better one. But don't sign until you've called me first.

Absolutely. Terrific pitcher. Good move. Of course, he'll probably implode and need TJ surgery in May.

Even after acquiring BJ Upton, the Braves have been looking for another OF. They were trying to trade for Justin Upton, but the D-Backs wanted Atlanta's great young SS, Simmons, who the Braves don't want to part with. They have pitching to give, and want an OF. We have an OF to give, and need pitching. Seems like a match made in heaven, to me.

Yep. At the cost of a higher AAV, but still, spot-on.

Apparently it's not, since there were several teams offering Victorino similar deals, according to reports. It was a fair market deal.

Atlanta is looking for an OF and is willing to deal Teheran or Delgado. Now they're both prospects, not established pitchers, but they are both big-time prospects. What I might explore is a deal of Ellsbury for Brandon Beachy. Just 26 years old, but coming off TJ surgery (which usually results in guys throwing harder). Not sure he'll even be ready for the start of the season....probably not. But here are his career numbers: 3.07 era, 1.14 whip, 9.5 k/9, 127 era+ Dude can *pitch*. And he makes essentially nothing (less than $500k) and is under team control til 2017. Trade Salty + a C-level prospect for Gavin Floyd. Trade Ellsbury for Beachy. Sign Lohse to a 2 or 3 year deal. Sign Josh Hamilton to a 3/75 deal. Lineup: CF Victorino 2b Pedroia RF Hamilton 1b Napoli DH Ortiz 3b Middlebrooks LF Gomes/Kalish C Lavarnway SS Iglesias Rotation: Lester, Buchholz, Floyd, Beachy, Lohse With Lackey, Doubront, and Morales there as depth. That team right there could win the World Series.

Just so I feel better.... Crawford (2011) - 506 ab, 11 hr, 56 rbi, 18 sb, .255/.289/.405/.694, 85 ops+, 0.0 fWAR, $20m in 2013 Victorino (2012) - 595 ab, 11 hr, 55 rbi, 39 sb, .255/.321/.383/.704, 91 ops+, 2.4 fWAR, $13m in 2013

Not loving this signing at all. Not for that kind of money.

I agree. I thought a 1-year, $12m deal was right, so I wasn't off by much. I think that deal right there (1/13) was pretty ideal for the Sox. Bummed to not get Haren.

Swisher vs. Hamilton, last 3 seasons. Total stats (last 4 years): Swisher: 1629 ab, 247 r, 76 hr, 267 rbi, .274/.366/.478/.844, 125 ops+ Hamilton: 1567 ab, 278 r, 100 hr, 322 rbi, .313/.370/.583/.952, 146 ops+ Average (last 4 years): Swisher: 543 ab, 82 r, 25 hr, 89 rbi, .274/.366/.478/.844, 125 ops+ Hamilton: 522 ab, 93 r, 33 hr, 107 rbi, .313/.370/.583/.952, 146 ops+ Swisher might make $17-18 million per season on his next contract. Hamilton likely will command $25 million per season on his. Is that production difference (which is real, no doubt) worth an extra $7-8 (maybe 10) million per year?

Last two seasons: Napoli: .275/.379/.552/.931, 142 ops+, 54 hr, 131 rbi, 1 hr per 13.4 ab, 1 rbi per 5.5 ab AGonz: .319/.377/.505/.883, 136 ops+, 45 hr, 225 rbi, 1 hr per 28.0 ab, 1 rbi per 6.0 ab Napoli: $13 million in 2013 AGonz: $21 million in 2013

ESPN tweet this morning: "Braves open to dealing Teheran or Delgado to land an outfielder." Braves need an OF. I wonder if KC deals Myers for either of these guys. Or, should the Red Sox get involved there? Both those guys are stud pitching prospects, but they're still just prospects. Maybe deal Kalish + something (not sure what the "something" would be) for one of them?

While Gonzalez plays 81 games in the cavern of Dodger Stadium.

If the rumor of Salty for Floyd is true, then yes, he's prepared to address the pitching situation. Floyd would be a nice addition to the rotation, and it appears the Sox have the goods to get him.

You and me both. I tried to find the "I'm horrified" emoticon...that was the best I could come up with.

Two recent Gordon Edes tweets: RT @ESPNJoeyMac: Red Sox met with Mets on knuckler R.A. Dickey, according to a baseball source. Mets want Bogaerts and Bradley, Jr. And then, following that: Relax, peeps: Sox wouldn't give up Bradley Jr and Bogaerts for Dickey. Phew.

Eh........ok! Thanks for joining the discussion. Your input has been invaluable.

The bolded part is pretty much exactly the opposite of what's likely true. If they gave out 5 and 6-year contracts then I'd agree with you. But a 3-year deal is a perfect length - it gives the Sox a fighting chance in the near future while giving players like Bogaerts, Brentz, Jacobs, Bradley, De La Rosa, Webster, Barnes, et al, time to mature and be ready for the majors. It's perfect.

Yep. As long as they make the right decisions, and don't do anything really dumb like giving Hamilton a 6-year deal or something. Keep every FA signing at this point short, even if you spend more per year. Not only to hedge against something bad happening, but also to keep these guys tradable if you need to, AND because the Sox have a bunch of good young talent working its way up, and you're gonna need room for them in 1-3 years. The more I think about it, the more I believe the Sox are actually set up PERFECTLY to do something just like this. Go get some big-time free agents on large, but short, contracts, keeping the roster flexible, and giving the prospects another year or two to mature. Once the big FA contracts are up, the kids will be ready to step in, and the new era of Sox baseball begins. That trade with the Dodgers last year was HUGE for this franchise. So long as they don't blow it.

Dan Haren to a 1-yr, $12m deal. Josh Hamilton to a 3-yr, $75m deal. Lineup: CF Ellsbury 2b Pedroia RF Hamilton 1b Napoli DH Ortiz 3b Middlebrooks LF Gomes/Kalish (platoon) C Lavarnway SS Iglesias Bench: Ross (really good backup C), Sands (good power), Gomez (good power), Ciriaco (good fielder, good speed, can play 3 IF positions), Nava (switch-hitter, can play LF or RF); plus Napoli's ability to C gives them a ton of flexibility Rotation: Lester, Haren, Floyd, Buchholz, Lackey/Doubront Bullpen: Bailey, Bard, Morales, Tazawa, Aceves, Breslow, Melancon, Bard, Lackey/Doubront Voila - instant contender, at a payroll of roughly $145 million, and *without* giving up any prospects, so you're still set up for the future.

Rumor floating around that the Red Sox and White Sox might pull off a Salty-for-Gavin Floyd trade. Makes sense for both sides. ChiSox need catching help and have lots of SP, Sox need SP help and have an excess of catchers. Floyd costs a lot more than Salty does, so ChiSox would save some $$ as well. That would be a good trade.