2009 - 10 Red Sox Off Season Thread
TheVon
Posts: 2,725 ✭
in Sports Talk
So, the 2009 season was a bit of a disappointment but now it's time to look ahead to next year. Let's discuss the free agent signings, the trades, and the farm system in anticipation of a better 2010 season.
A couple things have already taken place:
The Sox traded for Jeremy Hermida.
They declined the option on Alex Gonzalez. Though it sounds like they might still try to work out a cheaper contract with him.
Wakefield and the Sox are renegotiating his contract due to concerns about his back. Lower base salary with performance incentives that would restore his total salary to the $4 mill mark he was getting.
And within the last couple of hours the Sox officially picked up the option on Victor Martinez.
I like all these moves, with the possible exception of not signing Gonzalez. He was a good fit. I hope they can work something out with him still. Hermida is good insurance against outfield injuries and in case they can't sign Bay.
My main hope for the rest of the off season: trade for Adrian Gonzalez.
A couple things have already taken place:
The Sox traded for Jeremy Hermida.
They declined the option on Alex Gonzalez. Though it sounds like they might still try to work out a cheaper contract with him.
Wakefield and the Sox are renegotiating his contract due to concerns about his back. Lower base salary with performance incentives that would restore his total salary to the $4 mill mark he was getting.
And within the last couple of hours the Sox officially picked up the option on Victor Martinez.
I like all these moves, with the possible exception of not signing Gonzalez. He was a good fit. I hope they can work something out with him still. Hermida is good insurance against outfield injuries and in case they can't sign Bay.
My main hope for the rest of the off season: trade for Adrian Gonzalez.
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Comments
Team declined Varitek's option (Tek still has a player option)
Team declined Wakefield option (tore up contract) and signed Wakefield to two year contract
Paul...let go of the emotions, the season is ovah, can't change anything, gotta move foreward. Maybe a good noreaster and 2 feet of the white stuff in your drivewary will cool you down.
Of course, if the Sox find a better back up catcher, they'll just pay him his money and cut him loose.
Speaking of Watney, I heard that she had moved on from The Captain to Nick Green. Did anyone else read that?
On the other hand, Bay and Wagner are both Type A free agents and we already know Wagner is going elsewhere. Picking him up last year could pay huge dividends down the line because of those draft picks.
But I also read that the draft pick compensation is contingent on the team offering that player arbitration.
They've got a solid core signed or under control for the next 4 years (Buchholz, Bard, Ellsbury, Youk, Pedroia, Lester, Dice, likely Beckett and V-Mart). Maybe they catch some breaks and Ortiz hits 30/100, Drew 20/90 and Lowell 15/80, and they squeak into the playoffs. I'm not counting on any of those things, so I think they win 88-90 and fall short.
I'm OK with taking a step back this year in order to gear up for free agency after the 2010 season, when the pickings will be better. Frankly, I think the Hermida move signals those same intentions this year by the Sox. Theo is already on record when he took the job saying that he trys to build a team that can make the playoffs 4 of every 5 years. 2010 may be one of the years they don't make it.
It does seem like a lot of the moves Theo has made over the last couple seasons were good financial moves (even if they weren't all great on the field) and it all seems to be lining up for the free agent market in 2010.
It will be difficult to watch a mediocre 88-win season, but if there is some indication that they are reloading for the long haul that will definitely make the rebuilding more palatable.
I do think that if the Red Sox sign Jason Bay and Ortiz hits like the post-slump Ortiz of 2009 that the Red Sox will be good enough to win the Wild Card again.
Lowell
Ortiz
Martinez
Beckett
That's got to be what, $40 million right there? I'd imagine the Sox are going to try to work an extension for Beckett and the same thing for Martinez. No such luck for Ortiz and Lowell, especially Ortiz at his current rate of pay. So if the Sox do extend Martinez and Beckett, they will have something leftover from the $25 million or so that they won't be paying to Lowell and Ortiz to do the extension AND pay for a free agent after 2010. Trade away Lowell this year and there's ten to twelve million available (maybe only 3-4 million if they eat some contract) for 2009. I think the Sox have some room to spend this offseason.
I don't think Holliday would be bad in Fenway Park. He might actually do quite well at Fenway with its limited foul ground and scant ground to cover in left field. However, the Sox want to get better in the other 81 games of the year, and Holliday is not the answer there. Adrian Gonzalez is the one who can help them get better 162 games per year.
And I think the Sox would rather pay someone like King Felix or Edwin Jackson (instead of Lackey) if they could work out a deal AFTER getting Gonzalez on the team. If the Sox are out of bullets after getting Gonzalez, I think Lackey would be perfect for their starting staff.
Lackey / Beckett comp
<< <i>Interestingly enough, if you go to Lackey's page on baseball-reference.com, Lackey's career numbers are most similar to Josh Beckett's.
Lackey / Beckett comp >>
that settles it, let's get Lackey and Halladay with John Henry's money, we owe it to ourselves
2. We need a slugger over at first. I'd like to see Youk permanently moved to third with Lowell as a DH, and papi unfortunately needs to go. But at first we need a sure shot 30/100 guy. There is a kid down at AA ball, Lars Anderson, who shows a lot of promise with his bat. But I feel he needs another year to develop. Someone like Adrian Gonzalez whould be the perfect fit.
<< <i>There is a kid down at AA ball, Lars Anderson, who shows a lot of promise with his bat. But I feel he needs another year to develop. Someone like Adrian Gonzalez whould be the perfect fit. >>
I don't disagree. But if we bring in Gonzalez (current contract is through 2011) what then? Anderson is ready, still have a gold glove @3B, 1B and a promising player on the bench? I know Lowell will be gone by then and we'll have someone else filling the DH role - I don't want to move Anderson - he is very promising.
I like Bay and I wouldn't mind seeing him back in LF, but he's not the type of player worth hamstringing your club's future for (i.e. like what happened with JD Drew).
"Red Sox weigh options for Lowell -- 11:02 p.m.
The Red Sox not only are shopping third baseman Mike Lowell but also are willing to pay $6 million of his $12 million salary for next season, according to major-league sources.
One rival executive, however, says he would be surprised if a team was willing to pay Lowell even $6 million.
Lowell, 35, has appeared in only 113 and 119 games, respectively, the past two seasons. His right-hip issues have limited his range and he ranks as one of the worst defensive third basemen in the majors, advanced metrics say.
While Lowell remains productive offensively, he benefited greatly from playing at Fenway Park last season, posting a .932 OPS at home and .713 OPS on the road.
The Red Sox will need to trade Lowell if they acquire Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in a trade and move Kevin Youkilis from first to third.
The Sox also could look to replace Lowell even if they fail to land Gonzalez, perhaps by signing a free agent such as Adrian Beltre.
Beltre, 30, is coming off an injury-marred season but rates as one of the game's top defensive third basemen. His career OPS, when adjusted for league and park, is only slightly lower than Lowell's."
<< <i>Dare we dream? The Sox are making a push to trade for perennial ace, Roy Halladay. The price is being reported as Clay Buchholz/Suchholz and Casy Kelly. >>
The Sox would do that only if they could get Halladay to sign an extension of 3-5 years
BTW- Im still FREAKIN' HEATED about last season
It's about time you chimmed in on this thread..........as far as still being ticked - you must have seen a loss in the playoffs coming. They played below average down the stretch and just didn't seem to be playing in sync with each other. Having won it all twice seems to have softened the annual heart-ache I used to go through. Especially the pain of 03. Spring will be here soon enough for us to see the green grass, hear the crack of the bat and the pounding of the mitts. I can hardly wait already.
<< <i>Hey Paul,
It's about time you chimmed in on this thread..........as far as still being ticked - you must have seen a loss in the playoffs coming. They played below average down the stretch and just didn't seem to be playing in sync with each other. Having won it all twice seems to have softened the annual heart-ache I used to go through. Especially the pain of 03. Spring will be here soon enough for us to see the green grass, hear the crack of the bat and the pounding of the mitts. I can hardly wait already. >>
I know Im being a sore loser but to see the Yankees win it really annoys the crap out of me, actually what almost annoys me more is Theo Epstein & co the way they been handling this team the past two seasons. In '08 it was obvious we needed a bit more than what we had to make it, same with this year yet basically nothing was done to push us over the top- yea I knew we didnt have what it took so I wasnt "let down" per say because I didnt have that expectation that we were going to win it, I read in the Herald that Theo expects BIG THINGS out of Papi next year? Are you freaking kidding me? Are we going to count on Lowell this year too? Varitek? I know we cant have a stud in every position but these guys are washed up, and will not get us where we need to be. I know the salaries we owe these guys will make it tough but something needs to be done. Im completely OK with getting rid of some of the farm to get guys like Miggy Cabrera, Holliday or Halladay, and by the way I hope we dont sign Bay to a huge contract because I dont believe he will continue to produce at the level he did last year.
And yes our 2 titles does help, I guess Im just dissapointed at the failure to take advantage of the oppurtunity we might have had the past two seasons.
<< <i>I want Miggy Cabrera & Roy Halladay in Red Sox uniforms this upcoming season, and I want Lowell gone.
BTW- Im still FREAKIN' HEATED about last season
So am I -- if Pap did not blow that game, I think they would have come back to win the ALDS -- Francona did as well, which is why he was in utter shock after losing Game 3.
I know the numbers maybe say trade him, but I think there is a decent chance Lowell will have a season in 2010 close to what he did in 2007, as his hip should be fully healed. I don't think they should move him if they cannot get Adrian Gonzalez, and I DON'T want Beltre. I know it's business to consider moving him, but I don't like how Red Sox fans are trashing Lowell after all he did for the team -- and he tried his best to play (and played hurt) with those injuries. If it were JD Blew, he would have played 60 games each year in 2008 and 2009 instead of 120.
I would rather they move Papi than Lowell. I think Lowell would hit .300 at DH, and I think there is a good chance Papi will suck the ENTIRE year instead of April and May. But it will probably be much harder to move Papi unless they find a sucker (and, unfortunately, the Mets are in the NL).
I'm still in favor of losing Papelblown too. Have been for at least the last two seasons
<< <i>I'm with Barndog on Miguel Cabrera. He put up huge offensive numbers last year, but I would be really concerned about two other huge numbers: his $ and his lbs. >>
No need to be concerned, his weight has always been an issue yet he is still one of the most consistent hitters in the majors, yea he got drunk & argued with his wife at the end of last season big deal..
Compare him to big Tex of the Yankees, we would be getting pretty much the same type of hitter except a better avg.
Again Halladay + Miggy = far better chance at a World Series!
<< <i>the Jays have just thrown a monkey wrench into Boston's "back up plan" for SS by signing Alex Gonzalez to a one year contract. Sure hope Theo has a replacement in mind...not that ANYONE available will be as good a fielder. >>
No worries -- Jed Lousy is poised for a break-out season!
<< <i>
<< <i>the Jays have just thrown a monkey wrench into Boston's "back up plan" for SS by signing Alex Gonzalez to a one year contract. Sure hope Theo has a replacement in mind...not that ANYONE available will be as good a fielder. >>
No worries -- Jed Lousy is poised for a break-out season!
optimism can be humorous!
as is typical with Pedroia, he says he can do it better than Jeter
"When the idea of moving back to shortstop was floated to me, I welcomed it," Pedroia said. "I'm excited. Tell Derek [Jeter] to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can."
If Pedroia does move to SS for the season, that could open the door for bringing Dan Uggla in to play 2nd base. I had already read rumors about the potential of the Sox signing Uggla to play 3B or LF for them anyway.
<< <i>boston.com says the Sox just signed Scutaro (two years plus option) pending a physical. scuse me if I'm not excited. >>
Agreed. Just the latest overpaid bust at shortstop - I would rather they kept A-Gon (yes, Toronto is better off now). Theo should delegate shortstop decisions to Jed Hoyer.
<< <i><<"When the idea of moving back to shortstop was floated to me, I welcomed it," Pedroia said. "I'm excited. Tell Derek [Jeter] to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can.">>
Awfully big talk for a guy whose best ever offensive season amounts to what Jeter has averaged over a 14 year career. >>
Not surprising at all. When you are 5'6" on a good day, you need a lot of self confidence just to even make it to the Big Leagues.