Will Outfield Uncertainty Force The Red Sox' Hand?

clearly they think Kalish is going to make it for sure, which isn’t necessarily the case, but does mean that he’ll be given every possible chance. I think after next year, if Reddick doesn’t look ridiculously good this year, they’ll deal with the issue then and trade for someone to fill the space if necessary. For now, it just doesn’t make sense to pay big money so that 5 players can fight over 3 spots.

First, lets worry about 2011 first. Mark Texiera aside, the Theo Sox have not been big players in the top tier of the free-agency market. Texiera is also a middle of the order switch-hitting power bat and a gold-glove caliber defender. Crawford is great player, although I put him a notch below Texiera for impact.
Crawford is only 29, so he will demand and likely get a 6-7 year deal at $17 – $20 mil. per. Remember, the Yankees are in this one, so anything can happen. If we assume the Yankees sign Cliff Lee for $20/year, will they also sign Crawford and add $40 mil to the annual payroll with Jeter and Riviera up for new contracts? I have learned not to underestimate the Yankees when it comes to spending, and this is great news for the Royals, Marlins and Pirates owners, as their tax reciepts will grow.

All that beign said, I would personally love to see the Sox sign Crawford. Unlike many posters here, I don’t stay up at night worrying about the finances of the Red Sox, I just want the best players. I just don’t see it happening. They still have Cameron on the books next year, can’t move him and will be looking at essentially eating his $7 mil. I guess they have experience (Lugo, Renteria) with eating contract money, but it is a bad business practice to say the least. If they do, the 2011 OF of Crawford/Ellsbury/Drew(Kalish) looks awesome. Dream on.
The Sox will monitor the health of Cameron and Ellsbury very carefully in the off-season and in the spring. If they feel they can bounce back, I see them possibly grabbing a veteran or another Hermedia-type to start the season with Kalish in Pawtucket. I can also envision Kalish coming north to be the 4th OF. I know, I know…he will “waste away” on the bench when he could get full-time play in AAA. But if he is deemed ready for the bigs, I see him getting plenty of time with Cameron and Drew at the corners.

I see it being from left to right Kalish, Ellsbury, and Werth. I would like to trade Ellsbury, but I don’t see him really being worth much for the next couple years due to arbitration, so I think we will have to hold him till free agency. Which would not be a bad thing. By that time he could become a type A or B Free agent (B is more likely, but either way) I’d rather hold him until his value kicks up. That said if we could trade Ellsbury for a decent prospect, I’d be all for it. I would love an outfield of Reddick, Kalish, and Werth, although thoughts of grandeur lead to me wanting Crawford, Kalish and Werth. That would be one hell of an outfield. Unless they get injured.

Which leads me to believe that we would need a strong fourth outfielder. Enter Reddick in situation A, Nava in situation B, and Reddick again in Situation C. Where is JD Drew? Far gone, I love the guy, but I wouldn’t mind losing him for a Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford

Ells returns to LF b/c he’s not tradeable given his injury year.

Cameron returns to CF b/c he’s still under contract. At his age, contract, and coming off an injury, he, too, isn’t tradeable.

Drew is in RF. With his contract and a lackluster year, particualry against LHPs, he is also untradeable.

Kalish is the future, but will stick with the team as the main fill-in OF.

D-mac should also return as the 5th OF. If, however, we don’t keep D-Mac, that opens the door for a free agent, or either Nava or Reddick (I think Nava).

I don’t see us burning our wallet on Crawford/Werth this off-season after last year’s Lackey debacle even though Papi resigns for less and Lowell is gone. We have bigger need to re-sign V-Mart and Beltre.

Reddick or Nava returns to AAA.

Our best trade possibility is Scutaro given Lowrie’s performance – provided we re-sign Beltre.

The Sox are not going for Crawford because they already have an OF for 2011 – Cameron (in left, please!), Ellsbury and Drew, with Kalish and Reddick almost ready for prime time. They tend to shun most big-time free agents anyway, because you always “overpay”, it is just the nature of the market. If the signed Crawford, they would be paying over $39 million for Crawford($@18), Cameron($7) and Drew ($14).
On the other hand, the reason the Sox would want Crawford has nothing to do with already having Ellsbury. Crawford is a much more proven commodity than Ellsbury, and is more versitile in the lineup as he can hit from 1-6 if needed. I am not in the camp that is ready to give up on Ellsbury; he still has all the potential and tools to be a big contributor to the Sox for many years.

we will be fine without him

The math hasn’t ended this year! Go Sox!!!

the thing that $ucks is tampon bay will make out on this game :-(

you are the MAN ! we can never thank you enough for what you have done for your team !

F U C K Y O U. P S A !

Sir Randall has been dealing with something of a nomadic lifestyle, and my Friday ran very late. But this is one we should’ve had.

My internet connection sucks today. I think they’re doing work on something, so the wired is down.

Just not the same.

…WHY THIS GAME?!

He’s hitting under .100 the last week or so.

What do you mean why this game?

Just realized, I have the Yankees broadcast on MLB Network. Crap.

Once the game ends, I’m going to read through the thread and then put my two cents in.

Shorthand, though… is that I want Ellsbury in LF, Cameron in CF, Drew in RF, with Kalish called up by the All-Star Break and Nava as the one riding the pine until then …

… are you kidding me??? PAPELBON!!!

About time he got the call… Yankees announcers didn’t like that call.

you lost!

Struck out the side… ignoring AFraud’s trip to first base on his strike out.

MIKE LOWELL THANK YOU !

Like I said earlier, great topic. Not sure anyone will see, or care, about my final thoughts on the 2011 outfield, but I agree with what seems to be the majority opinion on here (and that means, as has been said already, the Sox will do something different).

First, 2011 should start with Ellsbury, Cameron and Drew, although I will step back from my earlier assertion of LF/CF/RF… personally, all the UZR stats aside, I like Ellsbury in CF, but I think the Sox have decided (whether for negotiating reasons with Boras, adherence to UZR rating, or random stubborness) to go with Cameron in CF. My eyes tell me Ellsbury’s speed makes up for his bad reads, but I’m smart enough to know the math matters.

For my money, I’d rather see Nava or McDonald at the fourth OF position than Kalish/Reddick, simply because I want them to spend the first half of next year at AAA getting more ABs. I think Nava doesn’t necessarily have the upside offered by the other two, and can afford to be platooned (and likely get some time with the elder statesmen of Cameron/Drew).

That said, I’d be happy to have McDonald back. With all he’s done for the Sox this year, though, I’d also be happy to see him get a chance on another team where maybe he’d actually get to start? Either way, Nava or McDonald stays as the fourth OF in my ideal world, and the other gets traded for a bullpen piece.

I have no use for the commitments to Crawford or Werth that would be required, because in 2012, I would really like to see an OF of Ellsbury/Kalish/Reddick, assuming all three manage to hit, and by the time Ellsbury is a true free agent, and Boras can hold us over a barrel (assuming Ellsbury hasn’t fired him somewhere along the way), we let him go and bring up one of the prospects that are further out (Lin, Westmoreland, or someone I haven’t even heard of yet).

For me, Drew has been solid enough (and I’ve certainly been one of those people screaming at the TV when he takes a called strike three in a key situation, like bases loaded with two outs in the 9th) offensively, and very underrated defensively, that I’m happy to have him in RF for 2011.

Then again, maybe I still need to make it up to him after telling friends I’d buy a JD Drew jersey if he got a hit with the bases loaded in the Cleveland series in 2007 (you know, the one where he hit that monster grand slam). Never bought the jersey, but I have gradually come to respect what he brings to the plate, figuratively and literally, for the Red Sox.

My two cents (or two dollars… brevity is not my strong point).

If i am going to gamble on Unproven farm hands, i would gamble with a catcher that can call a game so let Victor and Jason go and Big Pappy too, sign the best hitters you can, ala Crawford and Werth too if you can afford it, fill in a first and third as you can and sign some low risk relievers and hope to get lucky on a couple. I think you get hitters while they are available, after 2011 you lose OF’s too. I wouldn’t be too surprised that Lowrie could be an everyday 1B as well (yes i expect lots of comments on the post:)