Red Sox 2012 Offseason

The money is crazy. But Angel Pagan got 40m for four; B.J. 75m for five. Seems absurd, but that's the going rate.

The brass probably feels that Kalish needs a lot of time to re-hab and get swings. His shoulder was obviously a problem to us who saw him on his Sept. call-up. At least a half season at Pawtucket.

If Ells doesn't sign an extension, Victorino is a Plan B in CF until JBJ is ready.

But there are, what? 5-8 players in baseball who qualify as "the guy"? And none are really obtainable. Most are either a. locked up forever or b. would cause followers of this site to burst into tears after learning who's going the other way.

2007 was a great example of the team I hope the Red Sox are looking to build in 2013. No one with the exception of Ortiz was considered a superstar. Ramirez was good but not great by this time. Lowell, Pedroia, and Ramirez were really the only above average guys at their respective positions. Ellsbury's late season emergence certainly helped too. But the common theme for that particular team was their ability to get on base.

This is why I prefer 5 Swisher's mixed in with one or two above/below average offensive players. Allocate smart money towards guys like Napoli and Swisher who drive pitchers crazy. Spend the rest firming up the rotation. I promise this will always be a solution that equates to wins.

Well, if he helps, he's coming off a year that was pretty much in line with his career averages minus a little BABIP. His power was down a tick too but that's not really how you would expect his decline to manifest itself. He did steal 39 bases in 45 attempts which suggests he's still pretty spry...

I would rather Nick Swisher at 16 million or Hamilton at 25. I really want no part of Victorino at anything over two years or 10 million dollars per year. If the Indians want to sign him for 3/38 thats their prerogative.

Seems like a bit much but if its keeps our 44th pick and our prospects in our system its probably worth it. Its like they took Crawford out of LF and put him in the more spacious RF. Good D, speed, better arm but not a great obp. Maybe he rebounds close to his 2011 form and we get a deal and maybe in year 3 he is 4th OF.

What an awful waste of $37.5 - $39 million to sign Shane Victorino. He's not a very good player. You can't stick him in the middle of the lineup which is where they would truly need another LH batter. I much rather have seen the Sox give Hamilton 4 years $100 million, instead of Victorino. Victorino is fading from being a decent player. Hamilton would be fading from being an elite player. His decline in my opinion would take longer to occur.

My guess is we'll get a mediocre year out of Victorino this year and we'll be begging for the Dodgers or somebody to take this smaller albatross contract off our hands.

Great Napoli signing+crappy Victorino contract=mediocrity.

Glad to see nothing's changed.

Considering how dead set you are against trading prospects, how exactly would you like them to get "creative"?

We really need to adjust our expectations in that regard. Money is pouring into the game right now, and while some of that money had been flowing to the draft and the international market, the league has put a stop to that now. And combined with everyone signing their young, elite talent now, there's more and more money chasing after weaker and weaker free agents. We can't think of a $40m deal today the same way we thought about it five years ago.

BC says to NOT rule out them signing another OF'er which in my mind means ells is gone

Solid pattern of paying for preferred free agent targets that don't require forfeiting a draft pick -- I bet they turn their attention to starting pitching, starting with Anibal Sanchez.

And now they have complete freedom to trade Ellsbury & Saltalamacchia (and even a Lester later on) without creating gaping holes in the roster.