|
Post by soxcentral on Dec 12, 2012 14:15:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bluechip on Dec 12, 2012 14:32:37 GMT -5
Could be only marginally better - he was hoping to get 3 years and maybe realized it wasn't going to happen. That may be the case, but it is close enough in AAV to reports on Sanchez that it brings out a huge pet peeve of mine - is it really worth saving a couple million in AAV to take the lesser player? If you're going to make a serious investment, especially in a starting pitcher, I'd like to see them take the higher ceiling talent than the one who got lit up in the AL. I'd much rather get Edwin Jackson or Marcum. Last year Jackson wanted 60/5. This time I'd happily give him 39/3 (for the sake of symmetry)
|
|
|
Post by soxcentral on Dec 12, 2012 14:39:43 GMT -5
My preference is still Sanchez, but I'd take Jackson or Marcum in a heartbeat over Dempster.
|
|
|
Post by nexus on Dec 12, 2012 17:40:29 GMT -5
My preference is still Sanchez, but I'd take Jackson or Marcum in a heartbeat over Dempster. Isn't this splitting hairs? They're all essentially the same pitcher.
|
|
|
Post by soxfanatic on Dec 12, 2012 17:46:53 GMT -5
My preference is still Sanchez, but I'd take Jackson or Marcum in a heartbeat over Dempster. Isn't this splitting hairs? They're all essentially the same pitcher. Except years younger and AL tested.
|
|
|
Post by nexus on Dec 12, 2012 18:24:01 GMT -5
Isn't this splitting hairs? They're all essentially the same pitcher. Except years younger and AL tested. And cost. There's that. I'm not saying Dempster's much better than Jackson or Marcum, but being 35 years old and making only 12 starts in the AL doesn't really mean he's worse either. The Red Sox starters have ranked 23rd and 25th in the league in IP the last two seasons. Compare that to their WS years when they ranked 3rd in '04 and 4th in '07. See where I'm getting at? Dempster's stuff (FB/SL/SF) doesn't require him to be overpowering in order to be effective. And you can't argue his durability. He's not the most sexy name out there, but he gets you innings/quality starts and I bet he ends up being a good value wherever he signs.
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Dec 12, 2012 22:02:48 GMT -5
Tell me the Sox didn't just blow out $90M in salaries and get rid of 3 players, one of which was definitely declining to replace them with 3 older players, all of whom are in decline.
jmei edit: oops, clicked wrong button.
|
|
|
Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 12, 2012 22:06:26 GMT -5
Tell me the Sox didn't just blow out $90M in salaries and get rid of 3 players, one of which was definitely declining to replace them with 3 older players, all of whom are in decline. Mike Napoli is six months older than Gonzalez Shane Victorino is eight months older than Crawford I'm not sure how age is relevant in either case. They haven't actually signed Dempster, but if that's who you're referring to, then yes, he's older than Beckett. But again, why are we complaining about things that haven't happened yet??
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Dec 12, 2012 22:10:50 GMT -5
Fixed.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Jan 3, 2013 0:34:15 GMT -5
Rob Bradford of WEEI reports the Red Sox are scouting Javier Vazquez in the PR Winter League ( link): According to an industry source, the Red Sox are slated to scout right-hander Javier Vazquez when he pitches for Caguas of the Puerto Rican Winter League on Friday. Vazquez is pitching against Santurce in the third game of the playoffs for Caguas as part of the 12-game round-robin postseason tournament on the island. News of the Sox' scouting undertaking was first reported by Victor Ramos in Puerto Rico (via twitter). The veteran has been showing fastball velocity of 92-93 mph in recent workouts.
|
|
|
Post by klostrophobic on Jan 3, 2013 1:43:38 GMT -5
He'd be perfect on a cheap one-year deal. Give him the fifth SP spot and 10 starts. If he sucks, you have Doubront and De La Rosa in AAA.
He hasn't consistently hit 92-93 since '07, so I'm really doubting that. But he did put up 3.69/3.57 ERA/FIP in 2011. If he's healthy and capable of averaging 90 with the fastball I'll take a flier on him.
|
|
|
Post by hammerhead on Jan 3, 2013 8:04:16 GMT -5
There is no way that I take Doubront out of the rotation for Javier Vasquez. Nothing against Vasquez, but he hasn't pitched in the MLB for a year and when he was last in the AL East he wasn't all that consistent. Doubront will hopefully take another step forward this season and he's exactly what you want in the back end of the rotation, young, cheap and with potential.
I wouldn't be 100% against a Vasquez signing, but I would do it more as Lackey insurance. Depending on how ST goes you could start Lackey in XST and let him do a minor League re-hab. He hasn't pitched for a year (like Vasquez), but he is still being paid a lot and there is some commitment to him.
|
|
|
Post by soxcentral on Jan 3, 2013 8:39:38 GMT -5
I agree, if you're developing for the long term you don't take a young starter like Doubront and toss him aside to sign someone like Vazquez. I also don't even like the idea of using him as Lackey insurance, because we already have a more intriguing person for that role in Franklin Morales.
GIve me Vazquez on a minor league deal, or stay away.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Jan 3, 2013 9:26:20 GMT -5
Vazquez had (has?) a funny career. He's been quite durable, surpassing 190 innings every year from 2000 to 2009, and again in 2011 - he only missed it in 2010 because the Yankees moved him to the bullpen. He also had great strikeout and walk rates. Unfortunately, he was never as great as the sum of his parts, never pitching up to the level of the peripherals. I remember thinking the Yankees made a great move when they picked him up in 2004. Instead, he's spent his post-Expos career having Bronson Arroyo results with Curt Schilling stuff, making him arguably the most frustrating pitcher of the generation.
If he'd take a minor league contract, that'd be great, because depth is still an issue with the rotation. I agree with soxcentral and hammerhead though - I'd hate to think of him taking starts away from Doubront, who is in a critical place in his development.
If I were Vazquez's agent, I'd go searching for a one-year major league deal, even if it were at short money, so he could re-establish his value. As a fly-ball pitcher, the Angels would seem to be an ideal fit.
EDIT: Klostrophobic - just fyi, Doubront is out of options, so he'd have to be in the bullpen, which really doesn't do much for the organization long-term.
|
|
|
Post by tjb21 on Jan 3, 2013 10:36:47 GMT -5
This seems like it could be a quality signing if it's to a minor league contract. I'm not Javier's biggest fan, but he has been pretty good and durable throughout his career. No idea if he would still be able to get hitters out, but as a minor league depth option, I would definitely be all over this.
|
|
|
Post by The Town Sports Cards on Jan 3, 2013 11:12:41 GMT -5
I wouldn't say pitching depth is too much of an issue at the moment. They need one more re-tread veteran type like Vazquez or Braden, but you have Morales and maybe Aceves who can spot start, and the AAA rotation already has De La Rosa, Webster, Hernandez and Wright. I'd like to see someone like Hernandez get a shot at the majors, he may not have the pure "stuff" but he gets results.
|
|
|
Post by grandsalami on Jan 4, 2013 20:57:46 GMT -5
Per @tavonsky, Javier Vazquez sitting at 93 mph, topping out at 95, for @criolloscaguas. 6 shutout IP, 4K, 0BB, 3H (all singles).
|
|
|
Post by klostrophobic on Jan 4, 2013 21:49:26 GMT -5
Didn't know Doubront is out of options.
I'd bet someone is gonna get a serious bargain with Vazquez.
|
|