Fan_since_Boggs

I like Z.Wheeler, reminds me of a young AJ Burnett. The Mets might be willing to move him, but it is hard to advocate trading for him without seeing the medicals. If the medicals check out: Swihart to the Mets for Wheeler? The Mets might have interest in a young catcher like Swihart. It is so hard to trade for an established ace. Your best bet is to trade for a younger pitcher who might be ready to blossom into one.

I was thinking the same thing. If they pitch Kluber on Sat, then I presume Bauer (game 5) and Tomlin (game 6) will also be pitching on short rest (I think I counted the days correctly). Whereas if they go with someone else on Sat, Kluber on Sunday, save Bauer for game 6 and Tomlin for game 7. In that scenario, they would all be pitching on normal rest. Moreover, if Kluber pitches on Sunday, he could probably give the Guardians an inning or two from the bullpen in a game 7. On the other hand, if they went with this scenario, who would pitch game 4? Salazar? But I'm not sure where he is physically.

Francona's teams have always finished off a 3-0 playoff series with a game 4 win: 2004 and 2007 World Series.

I was against the Kimbrel trade--that one still bothers me. I hated giving Price all that money but I supported it because the Red Sox needed to upgrade their rotation. I supported the Pomeranz deal, but I now have doubts about it.

I think the Red Sox and Blue Jays are better than the Guardians and yet the Guardians are one game away from going to the World Series. The Guardians could be like the 2007 Rockies, they go on an amazing run, but then reality catches up to them in the World Series. It's awesome when a team goes up 3 games to none. The sports media will reference the 2004 Red Sox against the Yankees, the biggest collapse in the history of sports.

I'm really into the Dodger/Cubs series, wanting to see the Dodgers pull off the major upset. If they can win 2 out of 3 in LA, they will be set up nicely to win the series especially if the Dodgers can save Kershaw for game 6. To make that work, they probably need to win game 3 with R.Hill. I wouldn't be surprised to see them come back with Kershaw in game 5.

Agreed. I'm worried Dombrowski will trade away too many prospects, and it sounds like the industry has a very high opinion of Hazen. If I had my choice, the Diamondbacks hire Dombrowski and Red Sox promote Hazen. LOL.

I've been thinking about this issue a little more. Maybe the Red Sox should go into next season with the same starting staff. (1) Acquiring an ace pitcher is so hard to do and requires a massive amount of assets. (2) Rodriguez still has significant upside--maybe he can develop into that big game postseason starting pitcher that the Red Sox lacked this year. (3) Just because Porcello and Price failed in the postseason this year doesn't mean they will continue to fail in subsequent years. I'm not crazy about Pomeranz. Maybe the Red Sox could trade Pomeranz and one or two other pieces for a hard throwing right handed starter, an upgrade over Pomeranz but not someone as good as Jacob deGrom, who is virtually impossible to acquire anyway.

So you have Frazier at 3b, and then Sandoval platooning with Young at DH? To be sure, the Red Sox are going to give Sandoval an opportunity to play next year. They aren't going to bury him on the depth chart. But he could be the DH rather than the 3b.

I definitely think the Red Sox might be missing a big time shutdown SP. When they won three W.S. Titles, look at who they had in their rotation: Schilling, Pedro, Beckett, Lester, Lackey. Price is supposed to be a big game pitcher, but, as we all know, he stinks in the postseason. Porcello had an excellent year but isn’t quite that dominant strikeout pitcher you look for in a big game. Thus, I would like to see the Red Sox add one of the White Sox aces or see to what extent Jacob deGrom is available in a Bradley trade (the Mets need a CF). The Red Sox could replace Bradley by moving Betts to CF and signing our old friend, Josh Reddick. If the Red Sox added an elite starting pitcher, they would have too many pitchers. 1. John Doe, acquired in a trade 2. D.Price 3. R.Porcello 4. S.Wright 5. E.Rodriguez 6. D.Pomeranz If the Red Sox pick up Buchholz’s option, they would be pretty loaded with SP depth: 7. Buchholz 8. Johnson (has options) 9. Owens (has options) In this scenario, the Red Sox could trade away a guy like Pomeranz. They could get a lot for him too, maybe a big bat, a 1b/DH type to replace Ortiz. On the other hand, the Red Sox could go into 2017 with the rotation they already have. It might be good enough to get them another division title. It might be good enough to carry them in the postseason if Price and Porcello can come through in big games. Then again, I would hate to get to the postseason next year only to watch history repeat itself.

I don't like Robertson and Frazier enough to give up that kind of young talent. I'm not giving up Basabe or Kopech unless I get back something I really like.

Even though I made the suggestion, I share your trepidation for Votto. The more I think about it, the more I don't like it. As far as Encarnacion goes, he will cost money and two good prospects. That is, he will cost a first round pick in draft compensation. Once the Red Sox lose that first round slot money, they will not be able to draft a hard-to-sign prospect in the later rounds for over slot money.

He would probably use his no trade as leverage and waive it if the acquiring team picks up his 2024 option. I just noticed that Votto and Encarnacion were born in the same year--Votto is 10 months younger. It'll be interesting to see what kind of contract Encarnacion gets--he will be 34 at the beginning of the 2017 season. I wouldn't go beyond 4 years; he will probably want 5 or 6 years. I don't like giving up a first round pick for Encarnacion. Sure, that pick could turn out to be a complete bust but the pick could also yield a pitcher like Noah Syndergaard.

If the Red were competing, then maybe they would want to hold on to Votto. They are in full blown rebuild mode and Votto will be a player in significant decline before the Reds are ever good again. I'm assuming the rebuilding Reds would rather invest Votto's money in player development, scouting, international signings, etc. I'm trying to think of the last time a team was able to trade a huge contract (where the player would be making over 20 million in his late 30s, early 40s) without picking up some of the money. I can't think of an example. The best example I can think of is the Troy Tulo trade, but the Rockies had to take back Reyes' contract (a player they didn't want at all) in order to make the trade work for the Blue Jays. Likewise, the Reds would need to do the same with Votto. And even though the Tulo contract is enormous, it is a better contract than Votto's (Tulo is a few years younger and his contract doesn't take him to his age 41 season). I was thinking about Sandoval, who has around 60 million left on his contract. He might be a better fit for this kind of trade. Votto would be the Troy Tulo in the trade whereas Sandoval would be the J.Reyes. These deals are complicated to work through and obviously involve input from ownership. With all that said, I don't think the Red Sox want any part of Votto's contract. I also don't think they will spend big money on the free agent market, i.e, I don't think they will sign E.Encarnacion.

Votto's contract is unmovable unless the Reds pick up some of the remaining money. He will turn 34 next year and thus is entering his decline years and yet the Reds are on the hook for 25 million per year (approximately) for the next 7 years (along with a 7 million buyout in the 8th year). No one is touching that contract unless the Reds kick in money or take on a bad contract. His contract isn't quite as bad as Albert Pujols' contract, but it is similar. If Votto were 26 years old, I would agree with you, but he will turn 34 next season and thus everyone knows that a significant decline in production is right around the corner.

A few ideas for 2017. 2017 position players: !b: J.Votto 2b: Pedroia SS: Bogaerts 3b: Sandoval C: Vazquez/Leon LF: Benintendi CF: Betts RF: Reddick DH: Ramirez Lineup: Pedroia Benintendi Votto Betts Ramirez Reddick Bogaerts Sandoval Vazquez/Leon Trade J.Bradley Jr to upgrade the starting rotation Sign free agent Josh Reddick (will not require draft pick compensation) Trade R.Castillo and prospects to the Reds for J.Votto. Votto has an enormous contract, the Reds would like to move it but can't. The Reds will need to pay off a portion of the contract in order to trade Votto and that is why I've included Castillo in the deal to offset 47 million of Votto's contract. The numbers still might not work out for the Red Sox, however. Votto's contract: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cincinnati-reds/joey-votto-228/ Castillo's contract: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/rusney-castillo-15757/

See that stat: the Red Sox have not scored more than 1 run in the last 40 innings. Good to know that John Farrell has these guys playing loose...

We need a big hit from Hanley. Please Hanley, do it for the gipper.

I must be weird, but I would rather see a double there than a HR. I don't know why??? I guess I want a big rally, keep men on base.

This is an interesting comparison. Tito managed with more urgency even up 2 games to none.....

I don't like Hill in this spot, would rather see Holt

Miller faces Ortiz if someone gets on. edit: or maybe sooner!

I wonder about this. Did Farrell have to go deep into the playoffs or was winning the division enough?

It could be argued that Farrell should have managed with more urgency and removed him after the lead off walk, always an ominous sign. This goes back to the failure of Clay Buchholz. I was hoping he would give the Red Sox a big start and carry them to victory. But he didn't have it in him. Of course, the same could be said for Price and Porcello.

I use to hate Toronto. I don't like them much now, but they haven't won in a long time. I like the City of Toronto, always a great place to visit.