The Off-season: The moves that will ensure us a playoff spot

by Dustin's #1 Fan on Oct 3, 2010 7:52 PM EDT

I love this time of the year. I LIVE for these predictions. If Theo does this, we could be celebrating the division.

1. Re-sign Victor Martinez at a 3 year deal, 40-50 million

2. Re-sign Beltre at two years if possible, if not, go with Lars Anderson

3. Sign Carl Crawford at a five year deal or whatever the money he wants.

4. Shop Ellsbury but don't get rid of him. If you get a good package, deal him. If not, keep him.

5. Exercise Ortiz's option.

Line up would look like this:

1. Crawford .280 15HRs and 60+ RBI's

2. Pedroia .290 15HRs and 65+ RBI's

3. Martinez .285 25+HRs and 80+ RBI

4. Youkilis .290 30HR and 100 RBI

5. Ortiz .270 25+HR 90RBI

6. Beltre .280 20HR 90RBI

7. Drew .270 20HR 75RBI

8. Scutaro .275 10HR 60RBI

9. Ellsburry .280 10HR 55RBI

My Projected stats....

It looks like a good lineup. Should be able to match the Yankee one.

The rotation should do better, with Beckett and Lackey settling into their contracts. Look for Buchholz and Lester to continue to dominate.

Poll

Who is the going to be the Red Sox's top acquisition of the offseason?

Carl Crawford - Free Agent

82 votes

Jayson Werth - Free Agent

27 votes

Re-signing V-Mart or Beltre

79 votes

Trading for a 1st Baseman or pitcher

22 votes

210 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

WHY DOES EVERYBODY THINK SCUTARO IS OUR SS

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 3, 2010 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

Why not?

He will platoon with Lowrie most likely, but I have never believed in Lowrie since he was plagued with injuries.

"I don't put any foreign substances on the baseball. Everything I use is from the good old U.S.A."

JVSM

Pedroya Lova

by Dustin's #1 Fan on Oct 3, 2010 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

He has an injurY.

We should let Lowrie start, and if he’s better, then why platoon?

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 3, 2010 8:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

had

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 3, 2010 8:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

agreed

"I don't put any foreign substances on the baseball. Everything I use is from the good old U.S.A."

JVSM

Pedroya Lova

by Dustin's #1 Fan on Oct 3, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Vic will probably get 4 years from someone, but we might be able to get him for 3.

And there’s no way we’re going with Lars.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 3, 2010 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

+1

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 3, 2010 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

he's going for the most ca$hola

bet he thinks he can get $75m for 5

theo better have the $60m/4 ante to sit down.

expect the yankmees to play at least one hand, maybe just to raise the pot.

victor has a very good rep and could fit in anyone’s organization and city – just don’t expect him to want to go to arizona.

by Mick Lowe on Oct 4, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would Vic sign with the Red Sox for 3 years if somebody (and we all know it is not the Pirates, Royals, D-Backs, etc.) offers him 4? We are talking about $15mil + here. Vic must be the Sox #1 priority in the off-season. If some middling team like Detroit or Chicago (either team) sign him there will be hell to pay around here. The Sox have options in OF and 3B, not great ones, but better than the options if they lose their starting catcher and #3 hitter.

by Scoop1981 on Oct 6, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

VIC SHOULD NOT BE HITTING 3rd.

I meant to say that we could give him 3 years and an option and he would take it if nobody else gave him 4.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 6, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Who is the going to be the Red Sox's top acquisition of the offseason?

resign veritek should be a poll choice. and what about papi? has he been signed already? no one likes the big guy anymore?

does anyone think getting a relief pitcher or 2 may be the Red Sox’s top acquisition of the off-season?

by Mick Lowe on Oct 3, 2010 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

A relief pitcher could be a top acquisition if it's a high leverage guy, i.e. Bard.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 3, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Carl Crawford

He is a priority.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 3, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't use the word priority because we

have 3 MLB OF already but not really an MLB catcher or 3B. Crawford or Werth would absolutely improve the team, but let’s get the other things out of the way first.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 4, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 6, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I starting to think the Sox will make a big FA move this offseason

The upper management knows they need to add some excitement to this team. The TV ratings were down significantly this year, and attendance will drop (slowly) if they miss the playoffs year after year. The WS championships are a few years back now and some of the causual fans are starting to fade away.
They are selling a premium product at premium pricing and they can’t afford to sit on the past glory. Anybody taking the time to post here is an avid fan and will watch and and attend Sox games come hell or high water. But they need to sell to a broader market and keep their hold on most of New England. The sell-out streak will continue for some time because the Sox and season ticket holders get the ticket brokers to buy the less desirable games in exchange for access to Yankees and other good dates.
Now I don’t think they are going to make a splash just to get attention, but if Theo and the baseball ops people agree that Crawford or Werth could make a big impact on the field and will fit in, the upper management may just go out and make a move.

by Scoop1981 on Oct 6, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

Before, I felt like they would lay off of Crawford and Werth (not completely of course) , but now I feel like one of them is almost destined for Boston.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 6, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

get them both

by Mick Lowe on Oct 6, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

My offseason

1) sign Carl Crawford.
2) resign V. Martinez
3) sign Jason Frasor
4) trade Jacoby Ellsbury and Dice-K to LA Dodgers for Matt Kemp.
5) kick the tires on a deal for Adrian Gonzalez. Padres did not make the playoffs and still cannot pay him close to his FA worth.
6) if AG fails, move Vmart to 1st.

Adrian Beltre is not going to sign with us, he will demand $15 million and get it from the Angels.

Lars is not an option, he needs lots of work.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 3, 2010 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

#4-Kemp is having a down year, but I still don’t think they do that. I’m pretty sure Dice will have hardly any value on the market.

Moving Vic to first would give us a well below average catcher (depends on who it is) and an average 1B. If we don’t sign Beltre, then we should keep Vic at C (above average there, I think) and try to sign a 1B for 1-2 years if we don’t move Lowrie to 3B.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 4, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

spot on.

by wolf9309 on Oct 4, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

And the Rosterbation begins.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 3, 2010 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

Are you saying that ....?

Carl Crawford and Jason Frasor are not targets of the Red Sox? or that they will not try and sign VMart? Or are you just one of those fans who wants all of Pawtucket in the majors and want the Sox payroll below 70 million?

by SoxAcumen on Oct 4, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm just saying that saying "Resign everyone good and sign the best free agents" is, uh, not saying much.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 4, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Those are the things we want. Off course we know it wont all happen.

"I don't put any foreign substances on the baseball. Everything I use is from the good old U.S.A."

JVSM

Pedroya Lova

by Dustin's #1 Fan on Oct 4, 2010 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what makes it rosterbation.

Hell, that description is almost PERFECT.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 4, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Rough Offseason

With a lot of questions.

Can we afford Beltre?
Is VMart a viable option at catcher in 3 years?
Could Youk move across the diamond again?
Could Scoot complete a whole year at short?
Should Papelbon be offered a contract?
Should Theo trade Ellsbury or Dice-K?

Some of these are easy. Like the last one. Absolutely not. Dice-K in his frustrating mediocrity would be maybe the best #5 in baseball at an affordable price in the bad pitching economy. Ellsbury, people seem to forget, is actually a pretty good player. Not great but not a piece of garbage as some would suggest. Trading him and signing Crawford isn’t really a big upgrade, especially considering the organization talent we’d be blocking in Reddick, Kalish or Lin, all of which have the tools to make it.

I think we should non-tender Papelbon and Okajima. We’ll save ourselves a lot of money that way which could go to signing some better relievers which is handy given the large amount of good arms available this year.

If we don’t re-sign Beltre, and I don’t think we will, I think Lowrie could be the starting third baseman. This isn’t ideal but I don’t see the brass pursuing the AG deal anymore and I don’t see the Padres trying to move him until the deadline next year depending on where they’re at in the standings. Trading and signing a big name 1B doesn’t make much sense given Lars and Rizzo in AAA and AA knocking on the door. Scoot should be fine at short for another year, he was playing pretty well before his injury.

Catcher is the real conundrum. I think we should re-sign VMart but if we don’t, Ianetta would be a suitable replacement with Salty and maybe even Tek backing him up for another year.

My next year’s roster isn’t really different, with FA only going into the BP and onto the bench.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Oct 4, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

Should Theo trade Ellsbury or Dice-K?

yes for julio lugo

but not for gonzo

by Mick Lowe on Oct 4, 2010 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

I would absolutely try to trade Dice.

IIRC, he’s about to make 8.5mil next year, and let’s face it, he isn’t very good. There are FA 5th starters that can be had for cheaper. As for the trade, I’d happily take a bad of balls in return for a salary dump. Although, getting someone to take his full salary may be a problem.

"Every night I go to bed thinking about when I’m going to play again. I dream about playing at Fenway."-Ryan Westmoreland
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on Oct 4, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions