Why not sell the farm?

by fishfarmr on Jul 27, 2009 7:58 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

I say unload the farm system now while the proven players are available. We have the money to pay big salaries and the pieces to trade. Get Halladay before the Yanks sweep in. Get Gonzalez or Martinez. Empty the farm because with that pitching and Us paying Mauer 25 million in 2011 who is going to make the club? Think it over... Beckett, Lester, Halladay, Dice and whoever - then you have ells, pedy, youk, and vmart (in my scenario)plus going to have mauer, probably jbay. what spots are available for the guys coming up? I say trade Paps before Bard and keep reddick and bowden and trade the rest to get halladay and vmart(or agon). Why wait for potential, get what is proven. Plus we can rebuild the farm quick with our resources and scouting. I believe Paps in a three team deal is a very valuable piece to the upcoming puzzle. Am I the only one who thinks this? Also Scutero could be a great piece with Halladay.

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There is always a temptation to trade prospects because they are unproven commodities. However, it presents a few problems.

Cost controlled players allow you to acquire high priced talent via trade or free agency. Adding too much payroll may prevent you from spending heavily to on the draft and international market to keep that farm stocked.

Home grown talent is the core of this team. What would the roster look like if Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Bard and Papelbon were traded to acquire the high priced talent available at the time?

The key is to do both. Stock the system, keep most of the prospects you like, trade others to get that missing piece or two and build a roster balanced with youth and experience, minimum and high salaried players.

by mg050369 on Jul 27, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To answer your question

What would the roster look like if Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Bard and Papelbon were traded to acquire the high priced talent available at the time?

The Yankees circa 2004?

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by mystman995 on Jul 28, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Closer to half that.

The Sox payroll isn’t close to that of the Yankees.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 28, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was referring to the lack of young talent

that the MFY had with high paying aging veterans.

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by mystman995 on Jul 28, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you paying these salaries?

Because the owners certainly aren’t going to pay an all star team. We don’t have the money for Halladay and Vmart and Mauer and Beckett and Bay. Yes we have a high payroll, no it isn’t infinite. You’re also assuming that we clone Cashman and hire the clone as our GM with your “we’ll get this guy we’ll get that guy” approach, you’re forgetting that there is more than just 1 team with needs and money. If the Yankees get involved with Mauer (assuming he doesn’t just resign with his hometown team) guess where Mauer is going?

We have the money for Beckett and Bay and MAYBE one other for the next few years. Our team is in decent position right now and we have the prospects to win it for most of the next decade.

Why not sell the farm? Because we don’t have to.

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by Rogue Nine on Jul 27, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also...

…because we’d rather win two or three World Series over the next ten years than win one this year and not contend again until Pedroia and Youk are collecting Social Security.

by RSNexile on Jul 28, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the 1996 Boston Red Sox

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by Randy Booth on Jul 27, 2009 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does this mean I can't follow them until next year?

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by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jul 27, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lowrie and Masterson are two good reasons why you shouldn't sell the farm.

It’s hard to make a case that the Sox make it to the ALCS last year without the timely contributions from both Masterson and Lowrie. While Masterson has suffered the typical “sophomore slump” and Lowrie hasn’t seen much playing time this year, their yeomens’ work stabliized both the bullpen and the infield defense.

Both of those players would have been gone in the Santana trade. So, we’d have gotten Santana, but lost them, as well as either Ellsbury or Lester. Not a winning recipe.

by lone1c on Jul 27, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think there are a lot of good reasons not to "sell the farm"

First and foremost is our ability to actually develop said farm, producing players like Pedroia, Youk, Lester, Bard, etc. I know he said “sell the farm EXCEPT FOR _______” but that seems a bit disingenuous. All-Star Proven players have to come from somewhere, our farm system is as good as any for that.

Second is the increasing number of smaller teams who are spending big in the draft. Last year we were outspent by Kansas City. Overslot talent just doesn’t last as long as it used to. Maybe that’s why we decided to spend so much in IFA this year. Who knows how long that will last as an avenue for easy “restocking” as it used to be.

by South Coast Ghost on Jul 28, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs