marklmw

No doubt that Stanton is a stud. I think it would be a great deal as long as Boston can keep Owens, Bogaerts, JBJ. We can put Stanton in RF, move Vic to Center, Platoon in LF ... let JBJ play another season at AAA and come up as needed. No problem including any combination of WMB, Webster, Workman, Doubront, Dempster, Barnes, Brentz in any deal for Stanton. Would need to sign Drew if WMB were included in the deal. Having Stanton, Bogaerts, Pedroia, JBJ would be a great foundation for years to come.

I found some stats on the probability of making the show based on the round a player is drafted. If the Sox are compensated for 3 FA's along with their round 1 and 2 picks = 5 total high picks ... with a little luck 2-3 of these picks will make it to the show. http://new.berecruited.com/athletes/521209/blog/061113-question-what-percentage-of-mlb-draft-picks-make-it-to-the-mlb-salary comments welcome!

The Sox were reported to have interest in Tanaka and have scouted him. I love where the Sox are. It would be interesting to me to know if there are probability stats on players making it to the MLB level based on the round they were drafted in. I cannot be happier with the prospects we have in the pipeline and should we pick up 4-5 high picks in this years draft we will be restocking our farm at the same time. I think that Sox fans are extremely pleased with this years championship and that BC can do no wrong. Part of me hopes that Napoli, Drew, Salty and Ellsbury have good futures with 4 national league teams. Dempster can be joining them. I would not mind platoon situations in LF, IB and C. I also have a feeling that Vazquez is going to complete for a spot on 2014's roster. I also think that Brentz might surprise and can get an opportunity should Victorino spend anytime on the DL. Mind you these are just from my gut. I wanted badly to keep Ellsbury but others on this site had good arguments to change my mind. We really do not know how good some of our top prospects can be. Of course Bogaerts has superstar written all over himself and it would not surprise me in the least if he ends the season in the 3 slot ahead of Ortiz.

Sorry to say but any deal that Ellsbury signs that is 5+ years will be life changing. Could be for 17M per and will still be life changing. Boras works for Ellsbury not the other way around.

I read somewhere that Tanaka might not be coming to MLB next year and that he might be forced to put 9 years in Japan before he will be allowed to become a FA. It appears that the present posting system is unfair the mid and low level MLB teams.

It really does not make a lot of sense to sign Ellsbury when you have JBJ. JBJ will not give you what Ellsbury will in 2014 but he will be a solid player for 500K vs. 20M. The Sox have a real possibility of replacing Ellsbury's offensive production with an improved WMB at 3rd and Bogaerts at Short. 2014: JBJ & Bogaerts & Middlebrooks > or = 2013: Ellsbury & Drew & Holt/Snyder/Middlebrooks/Bogaerts.

It would not break my heart if we entered spring training with only Ross signed for 2014. Have a nice competition between Ross, Lavarnway, Butler and Vazquez

The Dodgers would like to have Gomes since you are guaranteed to win games when he is in the lineup.

It’s not clear how hitting fewer home runs helped the team or made Ellsbury a more effective leadoff man. His doubles also decreased substantially, from 46 in 2011 to 31 in 2013. “The fact of the matter is, Jacoby Ellsbury’s compensation is going to be based on all five of his tools [and] his slugging overall, not the fact that he hits 15 home runs or 25 home runs,’’ Boras said. “The fact is, in today’s game, having players that are that skilled at that position create value, not just power alone. He hits a ball into the gap, it’s a double, and if he hits the ball out and does it 18 times as opposed to 10 times, I’m not sure it has any difference in his value.’’ What should add value, Boras contended, is this: “Being a world champion, obviously, not once but twice, says a lot about who you are in a locker room, who you are on a team, your ability to play in a major market,” Boras said. “All those things play into a very different evaluation.” Boras is hilarious ... saying there is no difference if Jacoby hits 15 or 25 HR's ... this is like the world today when evidence shows that the earth is cooling so they change the framing from global warming to climate change.

10M per for Ruiz does seem excessive

Easy now. I am an Ellsbury fan ... love the guy ... I think he is going to hit 20 HR's next year. If the Sox did not have JBJ in the wings I am sure that we would sign him. You said it best "When Healthy" I know that Ellsbury's injuries were real and not his fault but he has been prone to injuries and the healing process slows with age. I think JBJ will be a pleasant surprise to you next season. Solid D, with a decent OBP and around 12 HR's. From an offensive standpoint a full season of Bogaerts and an improved Middlebrooks will fill the loss of Ellsbury's offensive production and then some. You may not think much of JBJ but obviously the FO does and at the end of the day that is all that matters. The Ownership team knows what they are doing ... they delivered a 3rd WS Championship in a 10 year period.

It would be quite the move indeed. Imagine a Carp / Hart tandem producing Napoli type numbers for less money. Getting a comp pick for Napoli and a comp pick for Hart one year later. That all sounds very appealing. Re-signing Nap's sounds appealing as well. There are options.

Nothing to be embarrassed about Dojji ... We all know that you meant to include the big guy.

All this plus it does not make good business sense with JBJ in the wings.

I might be wrong about this but they probably will wait unless they have plenty of room under the cap in 2014 and they wish to lower the AVV for the subsequent years

It is easy to get off topic isn't it? Farrell and resigning Ellsbury.

Fair enough ... but you admit that you are envious today November 16, 2013 ... tell the truth.

Jacko ... you make a lot of sense for a Yankees fan. If there were anytime that the Sox could turn towards their in-house young talent it would be now ... coming off a championship .... we are definitely playing with house money. If we play things correct we can extend Lester this off season giving him a little bump for 2014 as well. I think 2 compensation picks will work fine as I would like to see Napoli back. The Sox have an excellent scouting department so there is a very good chance that 1 out of our top 3 picks will turn out to be something special. With a little luck 2 of 3 will find their way to Fenway. I know you are envious of the place Boston is in right now with the mess that you have in the Bronx. Lots of needs and some really bad contracts.

Mujica gave up 3 long balls in September ... other than that he had a very solid season and would be another good set-up man and an occasional closer.

I agree ... try to use what we have in house. Miller will be back as well. Bailey has been a disaster and Hanrahan was no help.

You would think that Salty could frame a pitch by now ... he has been playing baseball since what 7-8 years old. We could always use Salty in the Pen as his ball also has fairly good late breaking action.

For the money I also like Mujica over Wilson because Hoji is the man until he proves otherwise. I also like Chris Young. I do not understand McDonald all that much. Dempster needs to go ... way too expensive for his role and could probably help a mid tier NL club. We can use Webster, Workman, Barnes as needed. Hopefully Miller will be back and in the same form before his injury.

Palodios, I do not know a Sox fan who does not want Nap's back. I know plenty of fans who think that Nap's is the only Sox FA of the 4 that is a need to come back. Give management time ... we really do not know the full and complete story with what is going on between the two sides.

I would be happy with: Vic Pedey Papi Napoli Nava / Gomes Bogaerts Salty WMB JBJ

I agree ... I Like Naps ... McCann will want too many years and we have Vasquez coming up. We can dump some payrool if we can deal Dempster. 2014 should be another exciting season.