dupree

Excited for opening day and looking for a repeat. Nick Carfado just reported Vic will start the year off on the 15 day DL and JBJ will be recalled from AAA. I just wonder what the starting lineup will look like today.

Jacko you are hoping that Lester hits free agency so the Yanks have a chance to get a legitimate lefty ace instead of an overweight overworked lefty pitcher who yall have posing as your ace. I see Jon and the Sox coming together and reaching a deal in the near future. I dont see Jon bolting for the money like Ellsbury. He will take a hometown discount contract and Sox Nation will be happy and the Yanks and all other AL East teams will have to deal with him for years to come.

But the timing of when the Red Sox made that offer is unknown. That offer was probably made before the qualifying offer was made. Now the Sox are in the drivers seat with Drew refusing the QO and teams not wanting to give up a draft pick for him. I just wished he would sign somewhere so all the talk about him will stop. If he comes back fine, they will have a nice trade piece at the deadline if he stays healthy in the 1st half of the season. Him, X, and WMB will get enough at bats. But I hope the youngn's beat Drew out for the majority of the playing time and that he can stay off the DL so he will be a nice trade piece at some point in time.

We currently have 9 players on the Top 100 prospects list, which is the most of any team in MLB. I dont understand your logic on not having the right pieces.

Id say Drew being in pinstripes is a better bet than him being back here. All the top prospects list that have been out this week and showing Boggey as an elite talent will hurt Drew's chances. I say that unless Drew wants to be here on a short term deal and he has Boras makes it happen. WMB and Boggey as the Left side of the infield has power written all over it if both can live up to their potential and stay healthy. Thats a big IF but as it stands now thats all we have.

I know its a huge gamble on Sizemore but for some reason I like the signing. Grady used to bat leadoff for the Guardians and was on of the better leadoff hitters in the lead when healthy. I just see that if the Sox could catch lightning in a bottle on him that he helps clear up a lot of question marks that the Sox currently have going into the season. Leadoff Hitter, Backup insurance for JBJ, or sliding over to RF if Vic plays CF, speed (tho i dont know how much is left), but with all that being said he very well could be a flop. Im not getting my hopes up, it does make me feel better that another club was in on him, that kinda says that he my be healthy for awhile.

For the 1st time i agree with you. That would be useful and incentive based not to use PEDs. But I dont see the CBA doing it. It would be nice but I just dont see it. Only way in my opinion is to take away $ from the player for an extended period of time. I hate to admit but I believe whole heartedly that Bud Selig has a grudge against ARod and that he is trying to make an example out of him fair or not fair whatever is your opinion. I know Arod had admitted to using in the past but this is a different situation so I think he should of got only 50games just like the rest. He never has failed a test so I dont see no matter if ARod done anything concerning tampering with Bosch or his files the point of the matter is that he has never failed a test and with the evidence MLB had against him that at the end of the day he still only deserved 50games. A full year is a lot. But no matter what PEDs needs out of baseball and no matter what this puts a bad image on the game.

When will it be known what teams have posted the 20MM for Tanaka so we will know who he is in play for? Reason I ask is I havent seen any definites all I have seen is speculation of posting teams. I think he has until the 23rd or 24th of this month to sign with one of the posting teams.

With the Dodgers in the mix and are planning on going all out plus the Yanks getting salary relief with ARod suspension for the 2014 I can see them and the Dodgers running the price up so I cant honestly see the Red Sox getting involved at such as high price. Only way I see Tanaka coming here is if Tanaka himself wants the Red Sox more than any other club no matter money and wants to be in this city. But agents and the lure of big paydays in other cities will trump the desire to be in an other pay city. So I say he will be a Dodger or Yank when it is all said and done.

I didnt see a response like that coming... WOW thats insightful

Since Tanaka will be pitching in the Majors next year does he have to apply for citizenship in the U.S. or does he just have to get a temporary visa? Reason I ask is I know he was just posted a short time ago and i wonder how that process works and if a potential problem with coming to the U.S. will be a problem as far as the paperwork goes and delay his arrival. I seen he was going to meet with teams today I was just wondering about the long term stay here. Just curious if anyone had any knowledge on this.

The Tanaka saga has moved everything so slowly. What is the day that all the posting bids have to be submitted? And correct me if im wrong... but all teams can post the $20MM and then Tanaka has the ability to pick whichever team he choices out of those posting teams correct? I hope the Mariners or the DBacks get him. And Theo with the Cubs is my darkhorse pick to be in on him and could seriosuly overpay didto time. Anyone but the Yanks would be fine with me. But honestly with all the holes on the current roster and overpays for old old men i dont see how Tanaka will be that big of help for the Yanks.

Kemp may be a long shot, but I think it is still a possibility. I think the FO will look to see how JBJ does in ST and if he is not showing much they will pull the trigger on Kemp. Plus I seen this morning that the Sox were kicking the tires on bringing Scott Podsednik back. That tells me that they are not only scared of JBJ production but that the up and coming prospects are not that promising in their eyes, if the report on Podsednik is true. To me Podsednik doesnt make sense to waste money on even on a minors deal.

As bad as I hate to think it id say that ARod will get the full year suspended. Selig is wanting to make an example and the Yankess are wanting the payroll relief. So with those two factors its prolly gonna happen. Id say the announcement will come before Tanaka's posting process is done so they will know how far they can go in on Tanaka. So the idea of Arod not manning 3rd for the Yankees next year is all but certain but stranger things have happened. I hope he plays and that the Mariners sign Tanaka. That would make for a nice offseason. Also I wish the other NY team would pull the trigger on Drew and sign him if they are gonna sign him. If not let him come back here on a 1 year pact and be done with it. Drew gets hurt a lot so if he comes back cheap so be it. Let him start at SS against righties and Boggey moving to 3rd on those days and WMB and Boggey playing against lefties. All should get enough ABs. Wait till Spring Training and make a move on Matt Kemp if he shows that he is healthy. Trade some pitching away to get him and call it a good offseason.

Agreed Spud. But also I kinda like having an attractive broadcaster on the NESN network. Whether it be Jenny Dell or not eye candy is needed it helps to break up the sausage fest. Dont you agree?

She is trying to move on from NESN to Fox Sports 1.

I just wonder if this is a move by the Boras camp to get interest in Drew by going to the papers and getting his name in the media. I hope he signs elsewhere. I think him resigning here will hurt the development of one of either X or WMB. Also i believe that will just be the case. I can see Boras swinging an incentive based contract back with Boston on a 1 year deal with a promise of not offering him a QO after next season. I have hoped and hoped that the Mets or Pirates would swing in a sign him to a multi year deal but it seems the lose of a draft pick is too much for a mid tier player. Maybe Boras will work his magic and get him a multi year deal somewhere, but if all routes are closed he will be back here for 1 year. I just hope Farrell can get X, WMB, and Drew their ABs. And not trade one of the young guns away thats my biggest fear.

I hope the Mariners sign him. That would be the ultimate shot at the Yankees. Losing Cano and Tanaka to Seattle would be awesome. But i wouldnt rule out the Angels going all in on him. They have been a lil quiet this offseason and need some starting pitching so Tanaka could land there. I just hate that Tanaka is going to get posted i thought the Management had decided to offer him a huge contract so he would stay another year but oh well.

A lot of drama in the Balfour situation. Is he healthy or not, who knows. Reports say he will file a grievance against the O's. If he is healthy i hope he gets paid, if this was a ploy to get him to sign for less or made the agreement and decided to back out then shame on the O's and i hope the truth comes out.

Hahaha Im glad Tanaka stays in Japan for one more year. Anything that screws up the Yanks plans makes by day. Id say today and tomorrow will be fast and furious with signings and trades for starting pitchers. I just hope someone takes Dempster off our hands. And then that money gets relocated into the salary of a power OF bat and not into the salary of Stephan Drew.

I have to say I like this move by Ben. For one it shows that Andrew Miller, Craig Breslow, and Drake Britton will be the LHP out of the pen, which i think will be a strong lefty core. Also this answers a lot of our questions about a back up utility infielder that can bat left handed. Now Morales who came up in the Rockies organization will have a chance to get more of innings paired with Boone Logan out of the Rox pen. In my opinion well done Ben. Herrera is also known as a good clubhouse guy who is said to almost always with a smile on his face.

I just hope Stephen Drew signs somewhere other than here soon. I say that because ive seen and heard that the Sox are not going to platoon JBJ so that means they are not gonna spend any money on a OF bat. And also i dont want them to trade WMB away if Drew does sign here. Drew is definetly the best infielder left on the market and a LHH to slot into the lineup. If they sign Drew i just hope its not at the expense of WMB, trading a power hitter away i dont think is ever a good idea when the power hitter is starting into his prime.

Deal also has the potential to earn 2MM worth of incentives.

7MM is an overpay. But that is the situation the Yankees are in now. Players know that the Yankees want to win and will overpay to do so. The Yankees are in bad shape and I love every minute of it. They lost Cano, overpaid on Ells and McCann, resigned an old Kuroda, and are trying to fill the 2B void with anyone who can put on a glove. Now they are waiting on Tanaka who may be a bust or not even be posted. Also i hope A-Rod wins his appeal and the Yankees have to pay him. Life is good in Beantown coming off a World Series and the Yankees are in total disarray I'm soo happy right now.

On a baseball note... Matt Thornton signs a 2 year - 7MM deal with the Yankees. Another example of the Yankees signing another former Red Sox player. Apparently on the Yankees check list is 1. Former Red Sox player and 2. Over the age of 30 looks like the Spankees needs to add a retirement home in the clubhouse alone with a therapist to talk to the players when they hit their mid life crisis. I think its hilarious they just keep getting older and older.