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Post by Chris Hatfield on Nov 24, 2014 10:24:31 GMT -5
Everyone stop and go read Alex Speier's take on the salary situation: www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2014/11/24/so-%E2%80%A6-there-any-money-left-pitching-red-sox-rosSo reading this, I figure: 1) At least one of Cespedes and Victorino is absolutely, positively gone (upgraded from "almost certainly"). Potentially (likely?) both. 2) Francisco went from obvious non-tender to near-necessary non-tender. 3) Good chance they go over the tax this year, but if they don't and still want to bring in two front-line starters.... 4) The best way to do that just might be the Napoli trade, Nava/Craig first base platoon plan.
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Post by jimed14 on Nov 24, 2014 10:31:31 GMT -5
Everyone stop and go read Alex Speier's take on the salary situation: www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2014/11/24/so-%E2%80%A6-there-any-money-left-pitching-red-sox-rosSo reading this, I figure: 1) At least one of Cespedes and Victorino is absolutely, positively gone (upgraded from "almost certainly"). Potentially (likely?) both. 2) Francisco went from obvious non-tender to near-necessary non-tender. 3) Good chance they go over the tax this year, but if they don't and still want to bring in two front-line starters.... 4) The best way to do that just might be the Napoli trade, Nava/Craig first base platoon plan. Wouldn't it be better to just put Hanley at 1st if we're trading Napoli? I think it would be a lot easier for Hanley to learn. Also consider that Holt can play OF pretty well. We might not even need 5 OF, let alone 7.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Nov 24, 2014 10:38:29 GMT -5
Everyone stop and go read Alex Speier's take on the salary situation: www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2014/11/24/so-%E2%80%A6-there-any-money-left-pitching-red-sox-rosSo reading this, I figure: 1) At least one of Cespedes and Victorino is absolutely, positively gone (upgraded from "almost certainly"). Potentially (likely?) both. 2) Francisco went from obvious non-tender to near-necessary non-tender. 3) Good chance they go over the tax this year, but if they don't and still want to bring in two front-line starters.... 4) The best way to do that just might be the Napoli trade, Nava/Craig first base platoon plan. Wouldn't it be better to just put Hanley at 1st if we're trading Napoli? I think it would be a lot easier for Hanley to learn. Also consider that Holt can play OF pretty well. We might not even need 5 OF, let alone 7. Could just come down to whether Hanley can play LF well. Just thought of this - could Hanley be the 3B against tough LHP? No reason he can't be the 3B/LF version of Zobrist or something, right? Another thought, if both Hanley and Sandoval do indeed sign, Cecchini is a goner.
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badfishnbc
Veteran
Doing you all a favor and leaving through the gate in right field since 2012.
Posts: 417
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Post by badfishnbc on Nov 24, 2014 10:40:59 GMT -5
Reds and Mariners seem to be most obvious fit for Cespedes now. I also think we have to choose between Craig and Victorino. Nationals too - they were very eager to get Cespedes during his original availability. And he'd be a good centerpiece for a Zimmermann trade, allowing them to then sign one of the main FA starters available.
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Post by jrffam05 on Nov 24, 2014 10:44:31 GMT -5
Zimmerman, Fister, Latos, Leake, Cueto, Iwakuma seem like obvious targets. I think the best 2015 team has Napoli on it. Ideally in my eyes if you could move a package that turns Cespedes into one of those names, and sign Lester or move prospects to get another one, well then wow.
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Post by elguapo on Nov 24, 2014 10:49:55 GMT -5
Another thought, if both Hanley and Sandoval do indeed sign, Cecchini is a goner. I don't see him as full time MLB-ready and he's positioned to be key AAA depth at those positions; ship him out and you're back to WMB/scrubs (redundant?). But I guess if teams buy his value he could be a key piece in a trade, if not this offseason then over the next year. And having a flexible Major Leauge roster (anyone to LF, Hanley to 3B) greatly de-emphasizes AAA depth.
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Post by thursty on Nov 24, 2014 10:52:04 GMT -5
Just thought of this - could Hanley be the 3B against tough LHP? No reason he can't be the 3B/LF version of Zobrist or something, right? Another thought, if both Hanley and Sandoval do indeed sign, Cecchini is a goner. Pure speculation of course, but Hanley doesn't strike me as the kind of personality that's going to be amenable to moving around - I'm sure he would believe that agreeing to move to the OF is sacrifice enough. Zobrist is sui generis
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Post by jdb on Nov 24, 2014 10:56:33 GMT -5
Agree with Chris that I think Napoli very well could be the odd man out. If Speier says we are about 7 million shy of the tax putting Cespedes and Napoli (Hello Tajuan Walker) in a package would push that past $30 million. I see us passing the luxary tax this year but we need cheaper starters like Xander and Betts along with what we have coming off the books to stay under going forward.
Also the Nats don't need any OFers. They are set and their best position prospects could very well be OFers in Taylor and Souza.
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Post by jimed14 on Nov 24, 2014 11:02:24 GMT -5
Apparently neither contract is final yet.
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Post by bsout2 on Nov 24, 2014 11:05:34 GMT -5
Apparently neither contract is final yet. Watch both sign outside of Boston. Still hope they sign Ramirez and Sandoval goes to San Fran.
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Post by jrffam05 on Nov 24, 2014 11:05:41 GMT -5
Mike Loyko @nepd_Loyko · 4m 4 minutes ago
Reading @pgammo and according to "Two National League GMs they think Lester returning to the #RedSox is close to happening"
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Post by taftreign on Nov 24, 2014 11:10:47 GMT -5
Why wait for the winter meetings Ben. Just get it all done now.
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Post by taftreign on Nov 24, 2014 11:13:06 GMT -5
One positive side effect to signing both Hanley and Pablo?
It drives the price of Headley up as the remaining big free agent at 3B. Whether that is for a team like San Fran or more importantly the NYY.
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Post by brianthetaoist on Nov 24, 2014 11:15:03 GMT -5
Xander's not going anywhere because the Sox need to get back under the luxury tax next year, so they need Betts & Xander ... plus, Hanley's not a shortstop.
If Cherington has a trade sketched out with Cespedes that lands a pitcher, and he rolls it out in the near future, he'd be a total bad-ass. That'd be some Olympic Gold Medal level GM'ing. I'm skeptical it's going to work out so neatly.
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Post by GyIantosca on Nov 24, 2014 11:17:24 GMT -5
I so sick of Dan " the curse of the Bambino" Shawnessey. He gets on Espn and proclaims the Sox want no part of a bidding war with Lester. So far he has been wrong about everything. Sox spent 200 million and still in on Lester and Miller. They have extra outfielders re to make additional deals. No one predicted this. This reporters should lose there Red Sox creditionals.
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nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,903
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Post by nomar on Nov 24, 2014 11:31:18 GMT -5
Mike Loyko @nepd_Loyko · 4m 4 minutes ago Reading @pgammo and according to "Two National League GMs they think Lester returning to the #RedSox is close to happening" Boston reporters this week are hearing the exact opposite so I wouldnt draw too much conclusion. I think Cespedes and Victorino are definitely both gone. Victorino is an injury risk and only hits LHP well. Considering his contract and what we have committed now and the fact that we have many CF options aside from him, you can kiss him goodbye.
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Post by brianthetaoist on Nov 24, 2014 11:39:26 GMT -5
Sure, it makes a ton of sense to trade Cespedes and Victorino, but Victorino won't get you anything right now ... maybe that's ok just to shed the $13 million for this year and free up the roster spot, but it ain't my money, and it's early to start worrying about roster spots.
Anyway, fun day, makes me dream of Lester getting signed this week, and then Cespedes+(good minor leaguers I don't care about too much) getting traded for a decent #2 pitcher. Sign another bullpen piece or two, and that team would rock ... and it'd still have Owens, Johnson, Swihart, Rodriguez, Margot, plus the next wave of Chavis, Devers, Kopech ... that'd be awesome.
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Post by jimed14 on Nov 24, 2014 11:43:32 GMT -5
Safe to say that I won't be complaining about outfield depth this offseason like I did last year. Maybe Ben got my memo.
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alnipper
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Living the dream
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Post by alnipper on Nov 24, 2014 11:58:22 GMT -5
My opinion about losing our 2nd and 3rd rounds picks is this. What are the odds that those two picks end up being above average impact players for up to 5 years? It is extremely unlikely.
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Post by jimed14 on Nov 24, 2014 12:05:17 GMT -5
My opinion about losing our 2nd and 3rd rounds picks is this. What are the odds that those two picks end up being above average impact players for up to 5 years? It is extremely unlikely. Just remember that it's not the picks, it's the slot money.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Nov 24, 2014 12:05:39 GMT -5
My opinion about losing our 2nd and 3rd rounds picks is this. What are the odds that those two picks end up being above average impact players for up to 5 years? It is extremely unlikely. Just remember that it's not the picks, it's the slot money. Also, their second-rounder and the pick from the Lester trade, but same diff.
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Post by grandsalami on Nov 24, 2014 13:00:25 GMT -5
They’re trying to bring back Jon Lester, and while on Sunday, two National League general managers said they heard it was close to happening, Lester’s agents still has not heard from the Yankees. The plan is to visit St. Louis the week after Thanksgiving, then perhaps decide at the end of that week before the winter meetings convene in San Diego. Then there are several trade and free agent plans for the possibility of Lester leaving. There are trade and free agent plans for at least one more starting pitcher, even the thought of Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda. www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-gammons-hanley-red-sox-reunion-and-free-agent-rumblings-around-the-league
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Post by grandsalami on Nov 24, 2014 13:10:38 GMT -5
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Post by mredsox89 on Nov 24, 2014 13:11:58 GMT -5
This is actually happening, isn't it? Still stunning, and will continue to be so even if he does re-sign here
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Post by taftreign on Nov 24, 2014 13:15:16 GMT -5
Don't you feel like the offer is going to need to be somewhere around 6 years and 138 to 142 mil?
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