Well, what now?

by BoSox415 on Dec 23, 2008 6:07 PM EST

I think I speak for everyone when I say, I am in shock. The MFY have spent over $400,000,000 this offseason (look at all those zeros!) and have stolen Tex from under our noses. They look like serious contenders this year. Well, at least the AL East this year can really be the best division in all of sports, if we weren't already. Us, the MFY, and the Rays. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel closer to the Rays? I know we spend a lot, but 400 million in a SINGLE OFFSEASON is mind-bending.

Well, what I am going to ask is how that changes our priorities this offseason. Tex was our number one, and now he is out of the picture. AJ was also lured by the MFY. So, catcher, starter, 4th OF. Now, at least, we have a bit more to spend on those three positions. Who should we sign for where?

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I really wouldn't mind

making a trade for Peavy, even if that means we have to give up Bucholz or Bowden.

Also, we really need a catcher and a fourth outfielder shouldn’t be too hard to find.

"Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said...'I'm too drunk to taste this chicken.' "
-Ricky Bobby

by nepats108 on Dec 23, 2008 6:35 PM EST reply actions

If we're gonna trade Buchholz

I’d rather get Teagarden and sign Lowe or Sheets. Peavy will command a long-term contract or he’ll be gone in two years. Not worth trading the farm.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Dec 24, 2008 7:07 AM EST up reply actions

Peavy Contract

Peavy is signed through 2012, with an option for 2013

by drabidea on Dec 24, 2008 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

Ah, thanks.

I’d still rather trade Buch for a catcher and sign a FA pitcher.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Dec 24, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

hmmm..

I think we will make one big trade.

It will either be for a catcher such as Salty, Max Ramirez, Brian Anderson, or somebody else I have failed to mention.

If we don’t land a catcher, we will go all in and push for Jake Peavy. After losing out on Johan, I think it would be perfect compensation. Can you imagine a rotation in which 4 of 5 starters have an extremely good shot at Cy Young (2 which already have [Yes I am including Beckett because he got robbed by CC :D]). Our rotation would all be under age 30 (Assuming that we move Wake to spot start mid season and let someone like Bowden or Masterson take on the 5th starter role).

Even with a rotation like that above, I think we still need some form of bat. We have a VERY solid lineup, but its a very questionable lineup. Questions such as:

Will Peds regress after an MVP year?
Will Youk put up similar numbers next year or was his almost MVP year a fluke?
Can JD Drew stay healthy and consistent with his bat?
How will Jason Bay fair in his first full season at the Fens?
Can Ortiz provide much of the power now in a full season in which he will be the only real slugging bat or will he just show signs of age/injury?
Will Ellsbury ever become the leadoff man he was in the 2007 playoffs?
How will Lowell be after rehabbing his hip?
Will Lowries injury prove to be the real reason why he wasn’t the dominant hitter he has been in the minors?
And of course, where art thou mystery catcher?

Aside from that, Julio Lugo will still be the fuckface we all hate, and we need some form of bench seeing as Cora, Kotsay and the Mayor are now gone.

We all sit here and say how solid we are, but we really have a TON of questions that won’t be answered till June-July. I think we will be solid, but I think we have to do SOMETHING to stay as the best baseball team.

As I said, look for a catching trade of some sort. Maybe that Daniel Bard deal for Miguel Montero can fall through.

After that, package Buch and a couple other prospects to land someone like Peavy

And then rebuild the entire bench. I say bring Cora back seeing as he was an outstanding utility man, Rocco can be 4th outfielder, and bring up a guy like Chris Carter to avoid spending.

Other then that, I think not signing Tex is a very good thing. After its all said and done, it leaves money on the table to lock up Youk while he is in his prime years (till about 34-35), Allows us to give Beckett another contract after the season if he declines his option, and also lets us lock up Lester and Paps for another few years.

Sorry for the big jumble of words. Just had alot to say and didn’t feel like spreading it over numerous posts.

by Charged on Dec 23, 2008 6:45 PM EST reply actions

Answers to Questions

I still don’t know why we NEED a big bat. Youk and Pedroia will go down slightly but Jacoby and Lowrie will go up slightly. The nature of baseball is that players have good seasons and bad season. They go up and down year to year. If you average it out over the whole team, we will stay close to the same. You are being very pessimistic and assuming all of our question marks will go down hill.

There is no reason to assume Pedroia, Bay or Youk will regress. There is as much of a chance of one regressing as one of the others getting better.

Ellsbury will NEVER be like 2007. He had an OPS of .902, Manny had an OPS of .881 that year. Ellsbury will never be as good as Manny is, so stop expecting him to be. Lets not forget his 2008 numbers of .280/.336/.394. AL average is .269/.333/.412 for a CF. He is already hitting for average in his Rookie year, most projections point him to get better. Not to mention his 18.3 UZR/150. If he plays 150 games he will contribute 18.3 runs in defense alone.

Drew, Ortiz and Lowell. All had injuries last year. JD Drew is always injured, all he had was a strained back last year. This looked to be pretty well healed at the end of the season, if you forgot about the series against the Angels. Both Ortiz and Lowell had torn Labrums, I am not a doctor and I won’t pretend to be. I will assume though that one of two will be healthy next year.

Lowrie is going to be a big league hitter. His numbers project that, anyone that has played with him knows that, and he knows that. From the day he came aboard he played like a professional and played well. Last years numbers .258/.339/.400. Average for AL SS .265/.317/.373. He hit above average at his position and had a 21.0 UZR/150. WELL above average defense. He is already above average and will only get better.

So the only real concern is Lowell and Ortiz, but we didn’t really have them last year and we had one of the best offenses in the bigs. Our lineup projects to be getting better, not worse.

by drabidea on Dec 23, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Best Team in Baseball

Right now it seems pretty clear that the best team in baseball will be either the us or the Yanks. If we want to stay the “best” team in baseball we need to improve where our team needs improving. Lets look last years team and see how things have changed so far.

2008 Boston Red Sox
Hitting: 845 Runs 3rd Best in MLB
Pitching: 645 Runs 21st Best in MLB
Fielding: 6.1 UZR/150 3rd Best in MLB

The only big difference of the 2009 team and the 2008 team (So Far, doesn’t include Tek or anything like that) is that we lost Manny and gained Bay.
2008 Bay .387 wOBA
2008 Manny .432 wOBA.
This amounts to about 31.6 runs from Bay and 59 runs from Manny in offense. Even if we neglect the fact that Bay is a much better baserunner, a better fielder, and a better teammate. We are only losing 27.4 runs. That puts our team run total at 6th best in MLB

We have gained a nice bull pen arm with Ramon Ramirez, however, we still need alot more improving in the pitching department. We need another starting pitcher.

by drabidea on Dec 23, 2008 9:42 PM EST reply actions

Smoltz

Or John Smoltz. Smoltz would do wonders for Lester, Buchholz, and Beckett. How often does a guy come around with 20 seasons of MLB experience that can still get batters out? He has more baseball/pitching knowledge than anyone out there, and I’m sure it would give him wood to pass that on to a group of young, talented pitchers like the Sox’ young arms. It would be great for the team, the pitchers, and the sport.

by A2004LoveAffair on Dec 24, 2008 12:27 PM EST up reply actions