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Create your own adventure: You're the GM!
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Post by semperfisox on Nov 21, 2013 11:27:53 GMT -5
I'm still a little interested in Sandoval. Not someone I'd give top prospects for though.
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Post by raftsox on Nov 21, 2013 14:14:39 GMT -5
1. Trade Doubront, Ranaudo, WMB, Vazquez, and one of Buttrey/Callahan/McGrath for Giancarlo Stanton 2. Trade Jake Peavy for prospects 3. Sign Mike Napoli 3 years/30 million 4. Sign Eric Chavez 1 year/ 7 million 5. Sign Jarrod Saltalamacchia 2 years/ 20 million 6. Sign Roy Halladay 1 year/ 5 million 7. Trade Mike Carp for prospects RF- Shane Victorino backups - Castellanos, Hassan, Brentz2B- Dustin Pedroia backups - HoltDH- David Ortiz backups - ?LF- Giancarlo Stanton backups - Nava, Gomes1B- Mike Napoli backups - Nava?SS- Xander Bogaerts backups - HoltC- Jarrod Saltalamacchia backups - Ross, Lavarnway, Butler3B- Eric Chavez backups - HoltCF- Jackie Bradley Jr. backups - Victorino?, Castellanos1. Jon Lester 2. Clay Buchholz 3. John Lackey 4. Ryan Dempster 5. Allen Webster/Rubby De La Rosa/Roy Halladay backups - Wright, Barnes?I can guarantee you that the sox would never make that trade. There is literally no depth whatsoever and if the Sox showed us anything in , it's that they really value depth. That lineup assumes that Holt backs up all 3 infield spots, Chavez is healthy all season long, Napoli plays every game, Halladay is healthy, Buchholz is healthy, etc. If you take away the trade for Stanton, the signings of Chavez, Napoli and Halladay make a lot of sense. I could see them trading one of the starters and some of the catching depth, but for whom is the question.
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Post by coke0myfavdrink on Nov 21, 2013 17:35:32 GMT -5
Hello I am new around here I enjoy reading this bored and these games seem fun so I figured I would give it a shot. Trade Trade rhp Brayan Villareal for prospect 1b Mike Carp for prospects P Ryan Dempster for salary relief Shop P Felix Doubront P Jake Peavy
Sign C Dioner Navarro to a two year 6 million with club option for 5 million with 1 m buyout CF Rajai Davis to a two year, $10m contract INF Michael Young a one year 5 m contract with a 8 m club option with a 2m buyout 1B Mike Morse 1one year 3 million contract RP Edward Mujica to a three year, $18m contract with a club option for 10 m with 2m buyout RP Jose Veras 2 year 8 million contract SP Masahiro Tanaka bid 65 m and sign him to a six year 66 m with 2 club options of 11m and 15m with 5m buyout
Starting lineup RF Shane Victorino LF Daniel Nava 2B Dustin Pedroia DH David Ortiz 1B Mike Morse C Dioner Navarro 3B Will Middlebrooks SS Xander Bogaerts CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bench C David Ross 3B Michael Young LF Jonny Gomes CF Rajai Davis
Rotation LHP Jon Lester RHP John Lackey RHP Clay Buchholz RHP Masahiro Tanaka (Felix Doubront or Jake Peavy) RHP Brandon Workman (I would prefer a 5th starter with options ideally)(Jake Peavy or Felix Doubront) Bullpen RHP Koji Uehara RHP Junichi Tazawa RHP Edward Mujica LHP Craig Breslow LHP Andrew Miller RHP Jose Veras LHP Franklin Morales (stretched out as a starter in spring training) *[RHP Rubby de la rosa] *[RHP Alex Wilson] *[LHP Drake Britton]
(*assuming at least one Spring Training injury means one or more of the asterisked pitchers makes the Opening Day roster.)
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Post by rjp313jr on Nov 21, 2013 18:44:05 GMT -5
Welcome Coke0... Not bad but I wonder if that leaves them very thing up the middle. I'm not so sure Young can play anything but the corners at this point in his career.
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Post by juniorp90 on Nov 21, 2013 22:32:37 GMT -5
Trade s
- Doubront, Dempster, Webster and Mike Carp to Anaheim (Need pitching) for Mark Trumbo and Andrew Romine (Can play SS, 3B and 2B)
- Ranaudo, WMB, Drake Britton, F Morales, Alex Wilson and other prospect (J Haley, Kukuk, Sergio Gomez) to San Diego for Chase Headly and Andrew Cashner
Sign s
AJ Pierzynski 2 Years/13M Carlos Beltran 3 Years/42M RHP Joe Smith 2 Years/11M Starting lineupCF Shane Victorino 2B Dustin Pedroia RF Carlos Beltran DH David Ortiz 1B Mark Trumbo 3B Chase Headly C AJ Pierzynski SS Xander Bogaerts LF Jackie Bradley/Daniel Nava Bench
C David Ross UT Andrew Romine LF Jonny Gomes 1B Daniel Nava Rotation
LHP Jon Lester John Lackey Clay Buchholz Jake Peavy Andrew Cashner Bullpen
Koji Uehara Junichi Tazawa Joe Smith LHP Craig Breslow LHP Andrew Miller Brandon Workman Rubby de la Rosa (It's time you get your chance) *With these signatures and changes the organization keeps its top prospects (Cechinni, Bradley, Owens, Barnes, Swihart)
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 22, 2013 0:52:29 GMT -5
I'm surprised at how many amateur GMs want to gut the team's farm system and roster depth and seemingly make trades for the sake of making trades. The Sox won the Series because they were average to above average at just about every position and they had ample depth to cover injuries. Their lineup grinded pitchers to death. Even when they struck out they ran up the opposing pitchers' pitch counts and then they'd destroy the other teams' bullpens. Impatient hitters like Trumbo are unlikely to do so and not an improvement over what they have now.
Felix Doubront won't be a Cy Young candidate, but he's not somebody you just give away. The team got killed by injuries in 2010 and 2011 and was mostly fortunate in 2013, but getting rid of guys like Doubront unless there's a major return makes little sense.
The Sox are better off tweaking, keep roster/financial flexibility and let their kids get a chance while letting the ones who need development develop.
The only free agent worth spending a lot on and committing years is Tanaka. I'd love to see the Sox get him. It's unlikely. It'll probably take a $70 - $80 million posting bid to get him and then a $60 million contract to Tanaka on top of that. I'd like to see the Sox do that, but I don't see Cherington doing it or the Yankees being topped.
Guys like Carp, Gomes, Nava - they need to stay - the Nava/Gomes platoon is effective and cheaper than going after Choo or Beltran. Victorino needs to be in RF, not CF. Bradley might need a backup who can start - like a Chris Young, but Bradley will be the CF. I wouldn't offer Ellsbury more than 5 years $90 million with an option, and I doubt that gets a deal done.
I'd offer Salty 3 years and $30 million. Doesn't seem like Cherington is inclined to do so, so I guess I'd cross my fingers and go after Navarro because I don't think McCann will be enough of a hitter in year 4 of his contract to be a 1b/dh by then. I'd still hang onto Lavarnway just in case Navarro tanks.
The Sox can try Holt or obtain another utility guy to back on Xander at SS and WMB at 3b.
And the Sox need to beef up their bullpen. I like Joe Smith a lot. Jesse Crain could help. There are others. Perhaps a couple of 3 year $10 million deals will do the trick.
I'd sign Napoli to 2 years $30 million with an obtainable option for a 3rd year based on games played. If that fails I go after Cory Hart to be the 1b.
If Tanaka isn't obtained I leave the rotation as is - with six guys. Injuries happen. If somebody needs to be dealt to clear payroll it's Dempster. I prefer to have Workman in the pen to start the season but he's a starting option in case of injuries.
Peavy still has a chance to be an effective pitcher and can help the Sox in 2014. Lackey is too valuable to the Sox. Only he and Lester were truly functional in the post-season. I'd now try to re-sign Lester to 5 years and $100 million. Hopefully Buchholz can stay healthy and be an ace but assuming he spends time on the DL, rotation depth is important to have, especially if Webster and De La Rosa struggle and Ranaudo and Barnes and Owens aren't ready yet.
No need for the Sox to sell their soul to win in 2014. Be thankful like I am that the Sox were able to win and not sacrifice their future (other than Iglesias's defense). It's like they had their cake and ate it in 2013. They don't need to be desperate in 2014. If they win, great. If they don't but their kids develop and and are better going forward, then all the better.
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Post by thegoodthebadthesox on Nov 22, 2013 1:59:21 GMT -5
Am I missing something? Did Trumbo do something drastic to raise his trade value recently? Don't think I'd give up Doubront for him, straight up.
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Post by klostrophobic on Nov 22, 2013 2:12:46 GMT -5
He's Will Middlebrooks but without the ability to play third base. Let's give up everything for him.
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Post by stabbin31 on Nov 22, 2013 2:14:05 GMT -5
C Ross 1B Napoli 2B Pedy 3B WMB SS Bogaerts LF Nava RF Victorino CF JBJ DH Ortiz
C Lavarnway/Vazquez/Hannigan/Butler (in order of preference) U Carp U Holt OF R. Davis OF Gomes
SP Lester SP Buch SP Doubront SP Lackey SP Peavy
RP Koji RP Taz RP Workman RP Breslow RP Britton/Miller RP Crain
I love the idea of having Young on the bench, but now he is gone. I will move onto Davis then. Holt is already on the pay roll as a utility guy, is scrappy and fits the roll. Crain (or CrainWreck as we called him in MN) would be a nice power arm for the pen. Catcher is a sore spot for a lot of folks. I say give it a go with Lavarnway/Ross and see what happens. If we need to make a move later, then do it then. Pick your lefty, Britton or Miller, I am ok with either, but I am a sucker for home grown dudes.
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Post by bigpapismangosalsa on Nov 23, 2013 9:26:03 GMT -5
Since the two names I liked spending the most money on from the non-Sox free agent market (Hudson and Young) are gone, I will give this another shot, call it the post Badenhop edition. Again, I'm operating on the Sox having $32m to spend, as Alex Speier outlined on WEEI.com (also, can't he get his own radio show there instead of Mikey Adams, like any of us wouldn't listen to Speier talking nightly baseball - rant over, sorry).
Trade Dempster to whatever team will give the combination of $8m and the best prospects. Now at $40m. Trade Carp for the best prospect you can get. Sign Mike Napoli to a 3yr/$39m deal, with hip injury buy out clauses at the end of each season, $15m guaranteed ($27m). Sign Dioner Navarro to a 2yr/$8m deal ($23m). Sign Franklin Gutierrez to a 2yr/$8m deal ($19m). Sign Clint Barmes to a 1yr/$5m deal ($14m). Sign Brian Wilson to a 2yr/$16m deal ($6m). Sign Chris Perez to a 2yr/$8m deal ($2m - extra money for mid year acquisition).
LineUp Nava - lf Victorino - rf Pedroia - 2b Ortiz - dh Napoli - 1b Bogaerts - ss Middlebrooks - 3b Navarro - c Bradley Jr - cf
Bench - Ross, Gomes, Gutierrez, Barmes.
Lester Lackey Buchholz Doubront Peavy
Uehara Wilson Perez Tazawa Breslow Miller Badenhop
For the record, I would still try to re-sign Ellsbury, but do not go over 5yrs/$100m. I would kick the tires on this Matt Kemp rumor, but only if the prospect cost is low and the Sox are only taking on something like 6yrs/$84m. I also would love to have Salty back, but he is looking for a long term deal, and the Sox have maintained not going beyond two years for a catcher. As such, I don't think any of these are truly realistic, but would love to be wrong on any of them.
I would extend Lester, assuming it can be kept around 5yrs/$90m. I don't expect the playoff Beast-mode Lester all season, but someone that can consistently give 200ip of 3.75era pitching in Boston is worth that. Factoring in this, Lester, Pedroia, Ortiz and Bogaerts are realistically speaking untouchable, but I would listen intently on everyone else, clearly the return would have to be very high for names like Lackey, Doubront, Middlebrooks and such.
With that in mind, I load up the bull pen, and put a premium on positional versatility over actual production in Barmes and Gutierrez. Roll with the Nava / Gomes platoon another year, and hold on to all your prospects. When one of Buchholz or Peavy gets hurt, up comes Workman. When the other gets hurt, up comes whomever is pitching the best of Webster, Ranaudo, Barnes, etc. I want to see each of Bogaerts, Middlebrooks and Bradley Jr as every day players. There also remains some good depth behind them including Cecchini, Brentz, Betts, etc by not gutting the farm system for marginal upgrades.
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Post by taftreign on Nov 23, 2013 14:19:24 GMT -5
If this is the post Badenhop edition shouldn't the available luxury tax room be reduced by his projected arb salary of $2.1 million?
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Post by bigpapismangosalsa on Nov 23, 2013 16:09:57 GMT -5
Good point, I just re-read the piece by Speier to get the values. However I did assume that the cost of Badenhop and the arbitration value for Carp would cancel each other out - though I should have put that in my description. Even if Badenhop is a bit more since he is on a later arbitration year, I did have approximately $2m left in the budget, so call it $1m left as an additional million toward a mid season pick up instead.
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Post by mulecrossing on Nov 23, 2013 18:34:11 GMT -5
Thought I’d give it a try.
Off-Season Plan
32 mil to play with…
Trade J. Peavy for prospect(s) – save 12 mil (possible destinations: angels, nationals) Trade R. Dempster (salary dump) for a C prospect – save 7 mil (possible destinations: royals, twins, padres,giants) 51 mil… Trade M. Carp for prospect(s) – save 1 mil (possible destination: pirates) Trade prospect(s) from Carp trade to Reds for Ryan Hanigan – spend 4 mil 48 mil… Sign Stephen Drew ( 3 year/39 mil) 35… Sign Curtis Granderson (3 year/45 mil) or Sign Shin-soo Choo (5 year/90 mil) 20 or 17… Sign S. Kazmir (2 year/20 mil) 10 or 7 Signed Badenhop – spend 2.1 7.9 or 4.9… Sign Kelly Johnson – (1 year/3 mil) 4.9 or 1.9 left over
Starting 9 DH Papi C R. Hanigan 1B D. Nava 2B D. Pedroia 3B X. Bogaerts SS S. Drew LF C. Granderson/ S. Choo CF J. Bradley Jr. RF S. Victorino
Bench 1B/3B W. Middlebrooks (platoons with Nava at 1B and is the main sub on the team. Can substitute at 1B and 3B. Can fill in for other players through rotating positions. Can substitute for Drew by playing 3B while Xander moves over to SS, can sub for Granderson/Choo by playing 1B with Nava moving to LF. Can sub for Victorino by playing 1B while Nava plays LF and Granderson/Choo play RF, and can substitute for Jackie Bradley by playing 1B with Nava playing LF, Granderson/CHoo playing RF and Victorino playing CF). I think with this arrangement Middlebrooks would be able to get 400-450 at bats. This would allow Boston an additional opportunity to assess Middlebrooks’ true talent level, gives them a 25-30 homer backup option at every position except 2B and C, while not forcing them to totally commit to Middlebrooks as their everyday 3rd baseman in 2014. If he demonstrates the production he showed in 2012 they could consider trading Drew after the season and moving Middlebrooks to 3B and Xander to SS in 2015.
2b/3B K. Johnson (plus defender at 2B and 3B and gives us a decent LH bat off the bench. Insurance in case Pedroia gets hurt).
C D. Ross (they might be able to platoon Ross and Hanigan based on pitcher GB/FB tendencies - Ross is an extreme flyball hitter and Hanigan is an extreme groundball hitter)
LF J. Gomes (platoons with Granderson or Choo in LF)
Rotation SP J. Lester SP C. Buchholz SP J. Lackey SP F. Doubrant SP S. Kazmir (Peavy is probably a safer bet, but with Workman as a possible insurance policy if Kazmir stumbles and the contigent of major league ready arms at Triple-A, I think the sox can gamble with someone who is more risky but has a higher upside. Last year Kazmir’s K/9 was 9.23 and his BB/9 was 2.68. His average fastball velocity was 92.5 – the highest he’s shown since his 2nd year in the majors. He also got stronger as the season went on - his best month was in September when his K/9 was 13.82 and his BB/9 was 1.29. Also he’ll only be 30 next year. Kazmir might be becoming the ace he was supposed to become 8 years ago.
Bullpen K. Uehara J. Tazawa C. Breslow B. Workman A. Miller B. Badenhop F. Morales
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Post by mmmrocks on Nov 24, 2013 23:06:52 GMT -5
It's hard to plan this out without knowing the asking prices for anyone. My first target would be Ryan Hanigan. I think he's arguably the second best defensive catcher in baseball. He's lead the majors in caught stealing percentage in each of the last two years, he's in the top 10 in pitch framing runs saved and fangraphs defensive runs above average (despite having less playing time than virtually everyone else). I'm hoping the Reds would take a b prospect like Bryce Brentz or Sean Coyle but there are reportedly a lot of teams interested in him. I'd also be willing to give up a better prospect like Workman if needed.
My next biggest target would be Corey Hart on a pillow contract. A good righthanded hitting first baseman would fit our needs and Fenway would be an ideal place for Hart to rebuild value. By letting Napoli go, and then offering Hart a QO after this year, we could potentially net two draft picks on this deal.
I would then target Tanaka. I've already discussed the reasons why in the Tanaka thread. I'd be willing to bid $70+ million and sign him to a $75 million/6 year deal.
If we aren't able to land Tanaka, I would offer a five year deal to Choo. I'd prefer Tanaka because he wouldn't cost a draft pick and he's younger. But Choo's on base percentage would be great at the top of the batting order and Gomes would mitigate his platoon issues. But I wouldn't give him six years.
At this point, most of the offseason would be complete. Depending on the surplus pieces we have at this point (potentially one or two starters, Carp and/or Nava), we could attempt to trade for a backup infielder to cover shortstop and third base, acquire a backup centerfielder (preferably with a minor league option) and trade for a bullpen arm or a prospect.
If all of the free agent moves fall though, I'd offer Juan Uribe a 2 year/$10 million deal. His defense at third base is elite and he could back up the shortstop position as well. I expect his offense to regress from last year, but his offense over the last four years is better than his career averages and he'd be a super-utility player.
Jesse Crain or Ryan Madson would be worth making offers to if they could be signed for $3-4 million. I think Halladay's career is cooked, but if we have a ton of money left we could offer him an incentive deal. And I think that would about do it.
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Post by lowell4president on Nov 27, 2013 17:06:12 GMT -5
Here's my go at it, even if it's slightly unrealistic:
Trades: Peavy, De La Rosa, Wilson, Hassan, Betts to LAA for Conger, CJ Cron and Yency Almonte Carp, Dempster, Wright, Castellanos, $6M to PIT for Josh Bell, JinDe Jhang and Luis Heredia
Signs: Robinson Cano, 6yrs, $200M Masahiro Tanaka, 6yrs, $80M Lester (extension) 4yrs, $52M
Final squad would be: (vs RHP)
RF Victorino 2B Pedroia 3B Cano DH Ortiz SS Bogaerts 1B Nava C Conger LF Kalish CF Bradley Jr.
(vs LHP)
CF Victorino 2B Pedroia 3B Cano DH Ortiz LF Gomes SS Bogaerts RF Nava 1B Middlebrooks C Ross UTIL Brock Holt
Rotation Lester Lackey Buchholz Tanaka Doubront
Pen: Workman Badenhop Miller Breslow Tazawa Bailey Uehara
I know Cano is unrealistic but I was trying to think outside the box a bit
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Post by djsilva on Dec 1, 2013 13:03:59 GMT -5
Best offseason ever:
1. Bid/sign Tanaka
2. Resign Ellsbury (5 yr 110 mil with 6 yr option based on 2,500 plate appearances)
3. Trade Buccholz, Nava, Webster, Margot, Dempster to Arizona for Goldschmidt & Putz
4. Sign Furcal for backup infield
Lineup: 1. Ellsbury (L) - CF 2. Pedroia - 2B 3. Ortiz (L) - DH 4. Goldschmidt - 1B 5. Middlebrooks - 3B 6. Victorino (S) - RF 7. Boegarts - SS 8. Lavarnway - C 9. Bradley - (L)
Rotation: Lester (L) Lackey Tanaka Doubrount (L) Peavy/Workman
Bullpen: Uehara Putz Tazawa Miller (L) Breslow (L) Bradenhop Morales/Britton (L) De La Rosa/Wilson/Villarreal
Bench: Carp - 1B Gomes - OF Furcal - INF Ross - C
Rotation/bullpen depth: Ranaudo Workman Owens/Barnes (down the road)
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Post by jmei on Dec 4, 2013 16:36:09 GMT -5
jmei v.4:
Sign 1B Corey Hart to a one year, $8m contract with $2.5m in playing time/health incentives SS Stephen Drew to a three year, $36m contract RP Jesse Crain to a two year, $12m contract SS Munenori Kawasaki to a minor league contract
Trade RHP Ryan Dempster (and $6.25m) to the Kansas City Royals for [B-/C+ prospect]
Starting lineup (versus RHP) RF Shane Victorino LF Daniel Nava 2B Dustin Pedroia DH David Ortiz 1B Corey Hart SS Stephen Drew 3B Xander Bogaerts C A.J. Pierzynski CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bench C David Ross LF Jonny Gomes 1B Mike Carp 3B Will Middlebrooks
Rotation LHP Jon Lester RHP John Lackey RHP Clay Buchholz LHP Felix Doubront RHP Jake Peavy
Bullpen RHP Koji Uehara RHP Junichi Tazawa RHP Jesse Crain RHP Brandon Workman LHP Craig Breslow LHP Andrew Miller RHP Burke Badenhop *[RHP Brayan Villareal] *[LHP Franklin Morales] *[LHP Drake Britton]
(*assuming at least one Spring Training injury means one or more of the asterisked pitchers makes the Opening Day roster.)
Total payroll increase: approximately $19m (plus $2.5m in possible incentives) [Payroll limit should be roughly $25m]
Quick thoughts: -I still think someone is going to give Mike Napoli three (maybe even four) years at $15m+ a year, while Corey Hart is an intriguing buy-low opportunity. Hart is coming off microfracture surgery on both knees, but if he's genuinely fully recovered, I still think he's no more of an injury risk than Napoli's history of soft tissue injuries (plantar fasciitis in 2013, hamstring injuries in 2012 and 2007, shoulder injuries in 2008 and 2003) and that degenerative hip condition, which isn't getting any better. For what it's worth, Steamer projects Napoli to hit .239/.342/.456 (120 wRC+) while Hart is projected at .263/.331/.468 (119 wRC+). Napoli is obviously the much better defender, but the difference between the two is not worth giving Napoli 2-3 extra years at a much higher AAV. Plus, Hart has the ability to play a corner outfield position in a pinch, which might be handy in the case of injuries or a Carp breakout.
-None of the big free agent outfield options interest me. All of them are some combination of old, expensive, will require giving up a draft pick, and just not much better than existing options.
-With that extra money, picking up Drew seems to be a good move. His excellence versus RHP is pretty damn useful, and he adds plenty of depth to guard against a Bogaerts/Pedroia injury (or underperformance from Middlebrooks), especially considering the slim pickings both internally and in free agency. It "blocks" Cecchini somewhat, but I think he's a year away and his ultimate position may end up being LF.
-Ideally, the Red Sox would move one of Nava/Carp for good value and get a 4th outfielder who could competently play CF (if Bradley struggles) or RF (if Victorino gets hurt). However, I don't see an outfielder out there who really fits that description (Franklin Gutierrez's injury history is terrifyingly long), nor do I think they can move Nava or Carp and get enough back in return to make the effort worth it. If they can, however, Rajai Davis is the one guy who is worth a look on a short-term deal at reasonable money (say, two years and $12m).
-With the addition of Badenhop, the bullpen looks like it could use a strikeout guy for high-leverage situations. Crain looks like that guy, at least if his shoulder injury checks out. If he's not available, Francisco Rodriguez, John Axford, and Octavio Dotel are in the same vein. If they're looking more broadly for a RHP reliever, I also like Jose Veras, Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, Ronald Belisario, Jamey Wright, Chad Qualls, and Ryan Madson.
-The Red Sox could also keep Dempster (likely in lieu of signing a free agent reliever). I tend to think that with the wealth of starting pitching in Pawtucket, the Red Sox can risk it and deal Dempster-- I think his upside is league-average bulk innings, and that attribute probably appeals to some other rotation-hungry team more than it does to an organization overrunning with mid-rotation arms in the high minors.
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Post by jmei on Dec 4, 2013 18:04:44 GMT -5
One trade candidate for a potential fourth outfield spot: Cameron Maybin, who the Padres might move (they might have an excess of outfield arms after acquiring Seth Smith). Maybin is signed to a cheap-ish extension (14:$5M, 15:$7M, 16:$8M, 17:$9M club option ($1M buyout)) and is only 26. He's coming off an injury-plagued lost year in 2013 but still has tools and upside galore and at the very least will be a very good defender and baserunner.
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Post by ifixbadcredit on Dec 4, 2013 18:58:29 GMT -5
Jmei-
Solid sim, except I don't see any situation where the Sox sign Drew and keep Middlebrooks. We already know that Farrell will not platoon Drew, and Bogaerts will be playing everyday. Unless Middlebrooks is traded this offseason, I can see the Sox giving him the opportunity to win the 3b job during spring training and if he continues to struggle then make the move to Cecchini.
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Post by soxcentral on Dec 5, 2013 8:48:04 GMT -5
Sign IF Rafael Furcal to 2 year, $16m contract OF Curtis Granderson to a three year, $42m contract P Edward Mujica to a two year, $10m contract
Trade none of substance until spring training
Starting lineup 1B Daniel Nava 2B Dustin Pedroia DH David Ortiz RF Shane Victorino LF Curtis Granderson SS Xander Bogaerts C A.J. Pierzynski 3B Will Middlebrooks CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bench C David Ross LF Jonny Gomes 1B Mike Carp IF Rafael Furcal
Rotation LHP Jon Lester RHP John Lackey RHP Clay Buchholz LHP Felix Doubront RHP Jake Peavy RHP Ryan Dempster (if all are healthy Dempster odd man out and traded)
Bullpen RHP Koji Uehara RHP Junichi Tazawa RHP Edward Mujica RHP Burke Badenhop RHP Brayan Villareal LHP Craig Breslow LHP Andrew Miller LHP Franklin Morales (if all are healthy Morales or Villareal likely moved, all younger arms start in AAA)
I'm not huge on Napoli and would rather see Nava and Carp get his AB's at 1B.
Granderson deepens the lineup and can play CF if necessary.
Furcal is an overpay for a back up role but if he takes it he provides insurance on the left side of the infield.
The only time you have too much pitching is in the winter, I'd hold on to our depth everywhere and see what shakes out in March. Likely to get a better deal then anyways if you truly can't fit everyone.
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Post by moonstone2 on Dec 5, 2013 10:16:06 GMT -5
For me this is the kind of thing you do if you don't have a minor league CF ready to go and play every day. I feel very strongly that Jackie Bradley JR. is that guy and the Red Sox should sink or swim with him as the every day CF from day 1. I am confused at all the reports that point to the Red Sox reluctance to do this, and I hope that it's just mediot bluster.
The perfect guy to get if they really thought that Bradley needed another year in AAA would have been Chris Young and they didn't sign him. Perhaps that's an indication that they really do believe in Bradley more than some members of the media would have us believe.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 5, 2013 10:44:43 GMT -5
For me this is the kind of thing you do if you don't have a minor league CF ready to go and play every day. I feel very strongly that Jackie Bradley JR. is that guy and the Red Sox should sink or swim with him as the every day CF from day 1. I am confused at all the reports that point to the Red Sox reluctance to do this, and I hope that it's just mediot bluster. The perfect guy to get if they really thought that Bradley needed another year in AAA would have been Chris Young and they didn't sign him. Perhaps that's an indication that they really do believe in Bradley more than some members of the media would have us believe. They obviously believe in JBJ despite all the ridiculous "Who will fill the vacant CF spot now that Ellsbury left?" articles. But they still need depth in CF/RF, regardless. They had JBJ as depth for a significant injury last year.
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Post by jmei on Dec 5, 2013 10:49:24 GMT -5
I don't think Bradley needs another year in AAA. I think the Red Sox need another outfielder on the roster who can play CF competently so the backup plan (if Victorino gets hurt or Bradley struggles/gets hurt) doesn't involve Nava in RF, where he becomes overstretched. For what it's worth, I think a Victorino injury is more likely than a Bradley struggle, but a Bradley struggle (something like his terrible April in 2013) is more devastating because then you have to move two players (Victorino to CF and Nava at RF) and thus probably downgrade two positions (Farrell mentioned yesterday that they prefer Victorino in RF as opposed to CF because he gets better jumps on balls hit at an angle rather than right at him). The outfield depth in the high minors is pretty meh-- Hassan probably shouldn't be playing RF in Fenway, I have little confidence in Brentz's bat, and Castellanos/Linares are replacement-level guys. Ideally, I would have replaced Gomes with Chris Young, who hits lefties almost as well as Gomes (and so could be the short end of an LF platoon with Nava) but also adds defensive flexibility and competency, as well as some pinch-running value. Young was reportedly looking for an assurance of a starting outfield spot to maximize his playing time (to showcase himself for his next contract), which is probably one of the main reasons there was never much traction between he and the Red Sox. (There's also the fact that Gomes has somehow acquired near-deity status in Boston, which frustrates me because he's probably the worst regular on the team right now and thus should, in theory, be the best spot to try and upgrade. But intangibles, I guess.) That said, I ultimately did stick with just the Bradley/Victorino/Nava/Gomes outfield quartet, mostly because outside of Young, that type of starting-caliber but cheap outfielder who can play CF/RF just wasn't out there and Nava/Carp are too good to just give away. I agree that Bradley should start in center field on Opening Day; I would just like there to be more of a safety net.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 5, 2013 10:57:05 GMT -5
I don't think Bradley needs another year in AAA. I think the Red Sox need another outfielder on the roster who can play CF competently so the backup plan (if Victorino gets hurt or Bradley struggles/gets hurt) doesn't involve Nava in RF, where he becomes overstretched. The outfield depth in the high minors is pretty meh-- Hassan probably shouldn't be playing RF in Fenway, I have little confidence in Brentz's bat, and Castellanos/Linares are replacement-level guys. Ideally, I would have replaced Gomes with Chris Young, who hits lefties almost as well as Gomes (and so could be the short end of an LF platoon with Nava) but also adds defensive flexibility and competency, as well as some pinch-running value. Young was reportedly looking for an assurance of a starting outfield spot to maximize his playing time (to showcase himself for his next contract), which is probably one of the main reasons there was never much traction between he and the Red Sox. (There's also the fact that Gomes has somehow acquired near-deity status in Boston, which frustrates me because he's probably the worst regular on the team right now and thus would, in theory, be the easiest spot to upgrade.) That said, I ultimately did stick with just the Bradley/Victorino/Nava/Gomes quartet, mostly because outside of Young, that type of starting-caliber but cheap outfielder just wasn't out there and Nava/Carp are too good to just give away. Rajai Davis is the other option. Not great defensively, but certainly better than Nava. He does mash lefties and could platoon with Nava or JBJ (if he struggles). He'd also add a lot of speed.
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Post by jmei on Dec 5, 2013 10:59:52 GMT -5
Yeah, I mentioned Davis in my original post. He's an option, but you'd still have to move Nava or Carp (or forgo signing another 1B (Napoli or Hart or Morse)), which might be too many moving parts.
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