2012-2013 Off-season thread part II

[bruins>habs]

You and Bags tied at 280.


Don't see a SS but I definitely see a pitcher whether it be starting or relieving.

Also...


Sounds like it would be a minor league contract according to Royle.

More pitching depth the better....he was good 3 years ago (17-11 3.75 era) he could be a nice low risker/high reward guy....i'd say sign Braden before him though...much higher reward

[Celtic AL]

You and Bags tied at 280.


Don't see a SS but I definitely see a pitcher whether it be starting or relieving.

Also...


Sounds like it would be a minor league contract according to Royle.

oh i see a ss. or a veteran infielder

[AI]

I missed all the deleted posts

You would've laughed too, epic rant.

[-Lavigne43-]

@Evan_P_Grant
Geovany Soto has agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers, pending a physical.

Could effect Napoli.

[AI]

Soto's a guy I had platooning with Ross in my sim, he murders LHP.

Back to the drawing board.

[Celtic AL]

The Mariners have talked with the Pirates about first baseman/right fielder Garrett Jones in recent weeks, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Baker stresses that it was just one of the many conversations the M's have had with clubs, but the discussion went beyond just one phone call and names were batted back-and-forth.

One proposal had Jones and Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan and possibly another player going to the Mariners in exchange for first baseman Justin Smoak, catcher John Jaso, and starting pitcher Hector Noesi. The Bucs have let other teams know that Hanrahan is available and were said to be seeking rotation help in return.

Jones, 31, had a .274/.317/.516 batting line with 27 home runs in 515 plate appearances for the Pirates last year. We saw the first baseman/right fielder on the pages of MLBTR last offseason as the Yankees reportedly had interest in trading for him.

Hanrahan, also 31, posted a 2.72 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 last season in Pittsburgh. The closer earned $4.1MM last season and is in line to earn $6.9MM for 2013 in his final year of arbitration. Jones earned $2.25MM in 2012 after heading to arbitration in his first year of eligibility and is projected to make $4.4MM. Baker writes that the Pirates may be motivated to make a deal like this in order to ease their payroll burden.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...OKXsu6OklR2.99

it looks like there prepping for napoli

[Redsox07Champs]

I simply can't see Hamilton coming here, even though I'd drool over the bat in the middle of the lineup. We already have Gomes in left, whom Cherington has said he will have a much larger role than a part time player. It just creates a log jam. Gomes in right would be a disaster, and if we sign Hamilton to play LF, then where and when would Gomes play? I just don't see it. I can see them happily bringing Ross back to play RF, even though I'd much rather have Swisher. My predictions for this week:

1.) Napoli signs with Boston. Boston has wanted him for a long time. It's a good fit. 3 years with option, 40 mil.

2.) Ross resigns for 2 years w/option. He was a great fit in Boston both on and the field and in the club house.

3.) Lots of trade talks for pitching, ultimately, nothing gets done.

My realistic 2013 Opening day lineup:

1.) Ellsbury CF
2.) Pedroia 2B
3.) Ortiz DH
4.) Napoli 1B
5.) Ross RF
6.) Middlebrooks 3B
7.) Gomes LF
8.) Lavarnway C
9.) Iglesias SS

My dream 2013 Opening Day Lineup:

1.) Ellsbury LF
2.) Pedroia 2B
3.) Hamilton LF
4.) Ortiz DH
5.) Swisher RF
6.) Napoli 1B
7.) Middlebrooks 3B
8.) Lavarnway C
9.) Iglesias SS

[gustofer1]

I would rather have Ross than Swisher, the years match our long-term plans and I don't want to jam up 1B/DH with Swish/Napoli 2-3 years from now. I would, however, sign Hamilton if we can't get Napoli or Ross. I think he can play RF for a year or two at the least, and we do need another LHH power bat for if/when Ortiz goes down again.

I also see Iglesias being packaged for pitching along with one of Lavarnway/Salty and Ciriaco or another SS we could acquire playing there, I also really hope we move Ells before he has another down year riddled with injuries. Hopefully Christmas comes early for us starting tomorrow!

[EEasyA]

We need pitching badly. If we don't sign at least one pitcher Ben failed. If lester fails or gets injured ,who do we have as our ace. Surely not Buch, or Doubront and certainly not lackey.

Furthermore, i prefer your dream lineup . It at least helps us contend. Signing both Swisher and Ross is Redundant.

[AuSox]

The more I think about it the more I would like to sign Hamilton to a 4 year deal, maybe with a vesting option for a 5th. There would need to be some strongly worded clauses to allow the Sox to void his contract if he relapses, but I think they could design a system to keep him out of trouble. One of my biggest concerns for this team long term is left handed power in the lineup, especially with Ortiz coming towards the end of his career. Hamilton could play LF for 2 years then maybe move to DH and replace Ortiz once he retires.

My ideal off-season would be something like:

Sign
Hamilton- 4yrs- $96mil (vesting option for 5th)
Haren- 2 yrs- $24mil
Brian Wilson- 1yr- $5mil
Dallas Braden- 1yr $3mil (+ incentives)
Shane Victorino- $2 yrs $22mil (only if we trade Ells before the season)

Trade
Lester and Bard to KC for Wil Myers, Cheslor Cuthbert and Mike Montgomery
I still love the Lester for Myers idea and I also have no faith in Bard. Cuthbert and Montgomery are both lottery tickets with huge upside but also bust potential. I don't mind taking a risk here because the potential gain far outweighs the risks in my opinion. I don't see Lester leading us to a World Series in the next 2 years, but I can see Myers as a perennial All Star in RF for the next decade. Plus prospects with the kind of pedigree, high ranking and elite performance in the upper levels of the minors have an excellent record of success and the vast majority have become above average MLB regulars if not stars (Delmon Young being the obvious exception).

Stolmy Pimentel, Jeremy Hazelbaker and Cash to Min for Justin Morneau
Morneau still crushes righties (.902 OPS in 2012) and could be a bounce back candidate. If Gomes can take some at bats against lefty's we could get some nice production out of 1B and we aren't stuck long term. If Morneau performs he could be brought back

RP- Craig Breslow to Stl for Anthony Garcia
I'm just a big fan of Anthony Garcia and think he could be a gem of a prospect. Not highly rated in the Cards system yet and they need a LH relief pitcher.

Salty and Aceves to Chi Cubs for Dan Vogelbach and Barret Loux
Cubs need catching help and the Sox need left handed power in the farm system. Cubs get a starting C and versatile major league RP for a top 5-10 and top 15-20 prospect in the Cubs system.

Ellsbury traded either now or at the deadline depending on if we can get a good deal. If we could do something like Ells to Seattle for Hultzen I would do it. If we don't move him until the deadline then we don't sign Victorino.

Short term that would leave us with something like

C- Lavarnway/Ross
1B- Morneau/Gomes
2B- Pedroia
3B- Middlebrooks
SS- Iglesias
LF- Hamilton
CF- Ellsbury (Victorino)
RF- Myers
DH- Ortiz

B- Ross
B- Ciriaco
B- Gomes
B- Kalish

1. Ellsbury (Victorino)
2. Pedroia
3. Ortiz
4. Hamilton
5. Middlebrooks
6. Morneau
7. Myers
8. Lavarnway
9. Iglesias

SP- Buchholz
SP- Haren
SP- Doubront
SP- Lackey
SP- Braden/De La Rosa/Morales


I think short-term this would be an exciting team and if some things came together with the pitching it could potentially compete for a playoff spot. But the key is to build for the future. We keep all of our top prospects as well as gain Myers who is rated higher than anyone currently in our system. We could also have a pretty decent haul for Ellsbury and we also don't handcuff ourselves long term with any potential albatross contracts because 4 years of Hamilton should be pretty safe.

So I would pretty much do all the deals Bags hates, nothing personal, just a difference of opinion.

[bagwell368]

So I would pretty much do all the deals Bags hates, nothing personal, just a difference of opinion.

I don't favor Hamilton. I worry about Haren. The rest of the deals are fine - although Victorino might be a little high at $22M/2 yrs.

[AuSox]

I don't favor Hamilton. I worry about Haren. The rest of the deals are fine - although Victorino might be a little high at $22M/2 yrs.

I've been reading 3yrs $30 mil for Victorino so I thought it would be better to overpay a little for 2 years instead of 3. Either way I think he would be trade bait after the first year when Jackie Bradley Jr is ready anyway. I think the same could be done with Haren. If he has a bounce back year and the Sox are out of it in July, he could net a nice return. That's why I favor 1 and 2 year deals for vets this off-season, because if we aren't serious contenders like most of us believe, these guys can help get us even more future parts if we sell them off.

[Nomar]

I was thinking that Victorino would be a good flip candidate even if we signed him to a multi year deal. His bat wont play well in LF though.

[Nomar]

If we got Myers, Hultzen, and Vogelbach id freak.

[Celtic AL]

@JonHeymanCBS
james loney has deal with #rays. good time to buy (low).@TBrownYahoo 1st reported close.

As expected Loney is ray. which means there will be a new 1st baseman for the sox this year.