southpaw777

Dalbec is really interesting to me. if that kid gets some pitch recognition he can be a 40-hr player at a corner. Hes an Arizona kid so pedeys probably all about it He has a legit shot to be in AA by the end of 2017 if everything goes right.

his GG D is well known and now hes an AllStar CFer. the bat is pretty known now. 280ish hitter with about a mid 800OPS and 20-25 hr power from the left side. that has a LOT of value if im a GM. to get an ACE type you would use him as a centerpiece, but hes got loads of value on both sides of the ball. once again, im not all for trading him unless for a young proven pitcher. also remember this. Boras is Xanders and JBJs agent. can we afford both of them if they both seek near or above 20M per for the next 7-8 years? those are some questions we need to ask because all these young kids are gonna want to get paid. they are probably gauging the chances of extending each one. Xander JBJ Rutledge Holt and Workman all start year one in arbitration. Betts Wright Vaz and Carson Smith after 2017. Id say four names could start to get pricey if performance is good. Smith is my fourth, although at a lesser level but still pricey for a bullpen arm. they are going to want to lock one or a couple of these guys long term if they can. Wright could make some $$ ala RA Dickey if he comes back and has continued success thru 2017...lots of other things go into it besides him being a great player we need

Benni is back!!! Im sure he will get the bulk of ABs vs RHP and YOung will continue to torch LHP

just the opposite. they think he has a ton of value to get something back. im guessing they believe with Betts and Benni being CFers as well, can step in and there wouldnt be a huge drop off in production. they may not be as good as him on D but they are still plenty good. I wouldnt trade him, but thats some of the thinking from others...seriously, who has ever said anything bad about his D?

Id start Johnson before Owens...even if he just returned from his anxiety issues

Hanley is just fine at 1b. hes got great lifetime splits. he ran into a rough spell offensively this year and was hurt all last year. it happens. to think he has an issue vs RHP because of such a tiny SS is ridiculous. you start tinkering and picking nits because of SSS then your just going to cause more issues. hanley is our 1b and should remain there.

Pretty sure all those FA will NOT be here in 2017. thats fine by me. Pass on Hanny and Im leaning on picking up the Buchholz option as we have zero pitching depth. I do think we can replace Clays depth with a lesser price tag, so im still kinda on the fence right now. Id really like that 13M. I think Kellys days as a starter are done. hes had his chances. Hes going to be around 3M for his 2nd arb. he has to be in the pen or just let him walk and save 3M. I think he can be a nice piece in the pen once he gets fully acclimated there again. Barnes, Kelly, and Smith are all hard throwers with a good off-speed pitch. Sandoval has got to be the biggest WC this off-season. Id play him in winter ball if hes ready, to show other teams hes good to go, then Id trade him if I can. maybe add a prospect or take back some salary for a player we can use. realistically, at some point in the near future it looks like Moncada is taking over 3b and Panda will have no home anyway.With Shaw and Holt were ok there until Moncada is 100% ready. Im thinking DD has to be looking at it that way as well. Rutledge has his 1st arb year 2017 so we need to think if we really want to pay him 1-1.5M or just use guys like Hernandez and Marero. Id think the latter. Swihart should get reps as a C in AAA to build that value back up a bit. hes still has plenty, but as a C he will have more. all he has to do is be serviceable behind the dish. his calling card is the athleticism and his bat as a SH catcher we have plenty of catching depth and will probably not bring back a couple guys. im guessing Holaday and Hanny. we would have Swihart and Romanski. Butler is there now but I thin k he was a 1year depth deal. he could resign again too. there will be PLENTY of movement this winter. I dont see a blockbuster, but more a lot of smaller moves. but this is DD were talking about. He could easily package up guys to get another front line starter. I just think with Price and Porcello at 1 and 1a, a 23yo Erod, Pomeranz in his prime and Wright still in the mix, theres not a glaring need to make a big splash in the rotation. If we keep Buch that rounds out a solid 1-6. hopefully Johnson or Owens can take a step forward and guys like Haley and Elias can help out, but we will need starting depth as always. as far as the pen, we have our closer and three guys I like to battle for the 7th and 8th in Barnes Kelly and Smith. i think we bring in a bunch of guys and see who sticks for the rest. I dont care to throw $$ at the pen beside a closer. maybe pay a little for an established late innings arm, but we already have a closer so no names like Chapman. those guys want to close. The pen seems like the place that needs some attention, but when I look at the roster, I dont see any real holes that cant be easily taken care of. a good amount of $$ is coming off the books and DD will be hard at work looking to shed some more of it while making the necessary improvements. 1b - Hanley - Shaw - Travis 2b - Pedey - Holt - Hernandez/Marrero ss - Bogey - Marrero - Hernandez - Holt 3b - Shaw - Holt - Panda - OF - Benintendi - JBJ - Betts - Young - Brentz - Castillo C - Leon - Vaz - Swihart - Romanski SP - Price - Porcello - Pomeranz - Erod, Wright - Buchholz - Owens - Johnson - Haley - Elias RP - Kimbrel - Smith - Barnes - Kelly - Ross jr - Hembree - Abad Guys like Kyle Martin - Robbie Scott - Brandon Workman - Austin Maddox, Noe Ramirez, and Chandler Sheppard will all be looking to secure a possible Bullpen role with Boston as well...

red sux? hmmmm after a win and 1st place? i dont think your a fan of the Sox mr 6 posts.

agree 100% i still see some with him in at 3b for 2017. To me, he doesnt look ready in any way shape or form. thats also in no way shape or form a bad thing. he still needs winter ball and to start in Pawtucket. we still have Pablo to deal with and shaw is in the mix. no need to rush the kid who has just over 100 professional games in the US under his young belt. theres still work to do on both sides of his game and Boston isnt the place for him to to that. His day will come.

HA! was saying the same thing about Clay... "Theres the Clay we all know" meanwhile Erod looked good and Pomeranz has been looking solid. IP will be his enemy

At this point, and that could change, They need depth. it would be like Rich Hill...why sign here for a possible rotation spot when they can be guaranteed one somewhere else. That and your not going to shell out much for a 6th starter. You would have to hit a lottery on a rule 5 guy or a vet with upside. We could get something good back in a trade if we packaged Buch with another prospect like Devers. Then maybe you dont need to spend the 13m on a starter. This is all based on a solid finish for him.

I just want him gone next year...i really could care less about his managing style here. Let him and his little notebook he has his face in all game work for another organization

Buch makes the most sense for the rotation for all those reason that you have listed above and Ive said in past posts. Erod has zero PO experience (and i just dont feel comfortable with him in a high pressure playoff game right now) and Pomeranz will be at a career IP by the end of September. If Buch continues his hot run, the obvious choice is to ride that hot arm. At their best Buchholz is better than Pom or Erod IMHO and has more playoff experience.

Toronto 2 games out Baltimore 3 games out MFY only 4 out now Im not too worried about the MFY, even if they make the playoffs. A lot of kids have fairly good succes when they first come up because nobody really knows them or has a book on them. I think thats part of the reason they are surging Like the sox did when Farrell left and Lovullo played the kids. If they get in, they wont go far at al IMHO. The good news is the rivalry should start to heat up a bit between the two teams again come 2017.

He said it himself. In the pen he didnt have much time to think about things. Just go out there and execute. I think he brought some of that mentality to being a starter. Everyone says a lot of his issues are between his ears and I agree... Sure hes had injuries, but i think the fact that he thinks he has to be 100% to pitch is more of a factor. Now iseems to me He has a different look to him, the way he works and his mechanics are a little different since returning from the pen. i like what Im seeing from him.

One year deals will be close to 17m this year, right? QUalifying offer. That would make Clay a steal to any GM. Especially if he kills it the rest of the way. We would land a nice piece. The question is...Do we take the chance at losing depth in the rotation? Porcello Price Erod Pomeranz Wright Buch? Owens Johnson Elias O'Sullivan Haley Without Buch there really is no reliable depth. We would absolutely have to shore up the pitching depth if Buch goes.

They may, but I dont think all those kids will do much in the playoffs. Its pretty amazing that they are only 4 games back from us and the division lead. Personally, i like when the MFY are good. The rivalry is much better and intense.

Had a very rough start in High A but has really taken charge the second half. I think hes almost at 300BA from a miserable 180 a couple months ago. Im guessing they start him in Salem again in 2017. Let him keep swinging good for a month then send him to Portland where he will really be challenged as a 20yo...Moncada will start in AAA probably. He needs work before hes 100%ready for MLB. No rush on him.

I agree...the hair has to stay for benni and Brock needs his back again. There should be an opposite rule of the MFY here in Boston requiring long hair. If I could grow my hair long again I would...but I cant Slash, Heard he was at 80% last I checked

Id rather have Price closing out the season than Pomeranz..I like the way its set up. To me, it doesnt matter who starts the first game of a playoff. Price or Porcello. Playing the team fighing us for 1st place as the last game of the season, I want price or Porcello out there

You guys are funny...if Buch pitches like 7ip 6 H and 1-2 down the stretch and the Sox picked up the option only to trade him, there would be a lot better offers than a Marco Hernandez type...id bet $$ on it. 13m, change of scenery, FA year...ill bet a GM who loves his stuff would give up a nice player(s) for Buch... I think some fans have let their personal feelings for Clay, mostly frustration, affect their perception of what he could bring back in a trade if he has success the restbof the way..,13m is chicken scratch for a starter in todays MLB. We paid 13m per for Dempster...granted a little overpay hecause of lowered years, but still...that was 3 years ago.

Kimbrel is frustrating out there, but he usually get the job done. Albeit with a bit of "excitement" ...thats not enough to pull him from his only MLB role...remeber he pretty much becomes useless not closing. He hasnt been good in non save situations and you want him to start a clean inning if possible...koji locking down the 8th is HUGE. Barnes/Zig seems pretty good for the most part for the 7th...

Ha! Go figure because I cant stand listening to a bunch of political lies and ********. Really, I have a top two right now and the 3-4 are Pom and Buch...probably like most fans right now. to me, they are tied for that fourth spot. I reserve the right to change my mind due to injury or poor performance. Which is why I said Ill wait til Septembers and to decide. I wont pick my fourth right now. That would be premature. With the way Buch looks and seeming to have a new attitude, I say hes the favorite right now IMHO. I dont see Wright being a playoff starter and Erod hasnt been reliable or consistent all year.

I understand that, but if hes lights out at the end of september there will be a desicion to be made. I think if Clay was at his best and Pom at his best, Clay has the better stuff and a bunch of playoff experience. Id go with him Also, Pomeranz is going to be at a career high in IP come October.