Who Will the Red Sox Target for 08/09 FA? Who Will They Trade?

[nickagneta]

Many scouts in baseball fear Sabathia will be the next Colon, throw out a part of his body and never be able to recover because he's so fat and out of shape. It could be a pretty big risk to give Sabathia more than 3 years because only the Lord knows how big and fat and out of shape he will be during the entirety of the contract and how log e will last. Colon went from Cy Young winner to bum in 6 monthes time.

Texiera is a much better investment if you are a team that is going to invest over $100 million on a guy.

[Tr1boy]

texeira rumors are getting big. I don't think epstein really believes he has a chance to get him though. Mainly to drive up the price and hurt the yanks wallet. By the end of all of this texeira will prob get 25 million per year and that is a ridiculous price for him or matter of fact anyone in the league.

I have come to the conclusion that IF we had the same team he had when we faced tampa and had everyone healthy we would have gone to the world series.

Biggest need for the redsox is to get a catcher to replace tek and if the russell martin rumors are true, that would be a gift from santa. (we would get a more than decent catcher who can also hit)

[MBz]

Well, Boras came out and said he wants Posada money and years for Tek.  So adios Tek, not going to happen.  4 years...50 million dollars?  He is not even CLOSE to being worth that much.  Looks like we'll have a new catcher next year.

[yall hate]

texeira rumors are getting big. I don't think epstein really believes he has a chance to get him though. Mainly to drive up the price and hurt the yanks wallet. By the end of all of this texeira will prob get 25 million per year and that is a ridiculous price for him or matter of fact anyone in the league.

Biggest need for the redsox is to get a catcher to replace tek and if the russell martin rumors are true, that would be a gift from santa. (we would get a more than decent catcher who can also hit)

Ned Colleti (Dodgers GM) has already come out and said that he is not available.  So there goes that rumor.

I actually dont think Texiera at 25 mill a year is that bad. I still dont think he is a good fit, and I would be very hesitant to give him that kind of deal without some sort of Lowell deal already agreed to, because you simply cant have lowell, youk and tex on the same team.  but realistically, a 6 year 150 million deal or 5 year 125 for tex isnt that bad.



Edit:
Boras can claim whatever he wants to claim to the media, but there is no team in the world that is going to give Posada money (which was too much when they gave it to him) to Tek.  no chance.  I still think This is just a game of chicken and that Tek said to Boras get me a deal with the sox and only the sox (Apparently, at the last contract negotiation, Boras was under orders to get the best deal he could, but only from the sox)

[Redz]

texeira rumors are getting big. I don't think epstein really believes he has a chance to get him though. Mainly to drive up the price and hurt the yanks wallet. By the end of all of this texeira will prob get 25 million per year and that is a ridiculous price for him or matter of fact anyone in the league.

Biggest need for the redsox is to get a catcher to replace tek and if the russell martin rumors are true, that would be a gift from santa. (we would get a more than decent catcher who can also hit)

Ned Colleti (Dodgers GM) has already come out and said that he is not available.  So there goes that rumor.

I actually dont think Texiera at 25 mill a year is that bad. I still dont think he is a good fit, and I would be very hesitant to give him that kind of deal without some sort of Lowell deal already agreed to, because you simply cant have lowell, youk and tex on the same team.  but realistically, a 6 year 150 million deal or 5 year 125 for tex isnt that bad.



Edit:
Boras can claim whatever he wants to claim to the media, but there is no team in the world that is going to give Posada money (which was too much when they gave it to him) to Tek.  no chance.  I still think This is just a game of chicken and that Tek said to Boras get me a deal with the sox and only the sox (Apparently, at the last contract negotiation, Boras was under orders to get the best deal he could, but only from the sox)

Yeh, the "Varitek has a .600 record as a catcher is pretty flippin' insulting to the rest of the team's contribution.

As long as teams keep ponying up for his clients the BS parade will never end.  He serves it up on a spoon and teams gobble it down (even as it makes them gag).

[Tr1boy]

texeira is not worth 25 mill a year. Tell me how you came to that fact? He will also be looking for 7 years plus deal.

Its not good to hear that martin won't be avail and i aint really suprised.

Not sure why redsox org is really keen to get one of the three texas catchers avail in addition

[Redz]

texeira is not worth 25 mill a year. Tell me how you came to that fact? He will also be looking for 7 years plus deal.

He's worth whatever someone's willing to pay him, and it sounds like that's the ballpark price.

[Chris]

Not sure why redsox org is really keen to get one of the three texas catchers avail in addition

Not sure I understand what you mean here.  Are you saying they should be interested in the Texas catchers, or shouldn't?

[yall hate]

Not sure why redsox org is really keen to get one of the three texas catchers avail in addition

Not sure I understand what you mean here.  Are you saying they should be interested in the Texas catchers, or shouldn't?

I think he is saying they shouldnt be. 

I think they should be (if the price is right).  Texas has three young, catchers who look incredibly promising (salty, ramirez, teagarden).  If the Sox get one, it isnt so that they are the starting catcher on opening day.  It is so that they are the starting catcher in a year or two...for many many more years.  Obviously it is risky trading for prospects, especially at a position that has inflated value due to scarcity, but if the price is right, I would be all for them trading for potentially the catcher of the future.



As for Tex, he is worth 25 million in this market.  I still stand by my belief that I am not sure he is the best fit for the sox due to the logjam, but he is there type of player.  excellent defensively, power hitter, patient hitter, etc...

[Tr1boy]

I look at any three of the texas catchers and its funny how any of them is supposedly better than dusty brown or even kottaras.


Also 8 year 160 is the most i'd pay for texeira and if the yanks want to flex their financial muscle they can.

anyone hear anything else going on lately other than the texeira and catching situation news?

[Roy Hobbs]

anyone hear anything else going on lately other than the texeira and catching situation news?

The Sox are interested in a couple of Japanese pitchers,  Kenshin Kawakami and Junichi Tazawa.

The Sox also have interest in Kenshin Kawakami, a 33-year-old righty for the Chunichi Dragons who went 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA last season. Kawakami is a Hiroki Kuroda-type pitcher with a cut fastball and good curveball who could man the No. 4 or 5 spot in the Sox rotation.

Boston reportedly is the front runner to sign right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, from Japan. Tazawa, one of Japan's top amateur pitchers, told the Japanese pro teams not to draft him because he wants to play in the big leagues.

[yall hate]

I look at any three of the texas catchers and its funny how any of them is supposedly better than dusty brown or even kottaras.

Also 8 year 160 is the most i'd pay for texeira and if the yanks want to flex their financial muscle they can.

Both Brown and Kotteras are widely regarded (by scouts, scouting agencies, teams, etc...) as having the potential to be solid back up Catchers.  thats best case projection.  All three of the Texas catchers are regarded as having the potential to be starting catchers.

Max Ramirez, as a 23 year old in AA this year hit: 354 with 17 hr and 50 rbi's.  (he spent some time at A, some at AAA, and some in the big leagues, but AA primarily)

Taylor Teagarden as a 24 year old in AAA this year hit: 225 with 7 homers and 16 rbi's.  not great.  BUT, in 16 games in the big leagues this year, he hit: 319 with 6 homers and 17 rbi's.

Jarrod Saltalamachia as a 23 year old in the big leagues this year hit 253 with 3 homers and 26 rbi's. 

Of the Three, it seems like Ramirez is the best, but there is no doubt that all three have been impressive in their minor league time and are all young.  All have hit over 300 at some point in the minors.

Dustin Brown, who is 26 (already older and with no MLB experience compared to the others) hit 290 with 12 homers and 55 rbi's.  That is his highest avg, highest homer total, and highest rbi total.  Maybe he turned a corner, maybe not...

Kotteras, as a 25 year old hit 243 with 22 homers and 65 rbi's at AAA.  He also struck out 110 times!!  The 22 homers was easily his most ever, and he has never hit anywhere near 300.

I guess only time will tell.  Certainly there is a dearth of young catching talent, and simply looking at the stats I have provided is not the best way to determine success chances.  But there is no doubt that those three are all considered significantly greater prospects then our youngish catchers.

If 8 160 is the best you will go for Tex then you dont have a shot.  IIRC, he turned down a 5-140 deal already.  I also dont want to give him a 8 year deal.  I would prefer something in the 6 year range.  Due to the great scouting and young players, this team has the ability to pay (overpay) for luxuries...

[yall hate]

Boston reportedly is the front runner to sign right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, from Japan. Tazawa, one of Japan's top amateur pitchers, told the Japanese pro teams not to draft him because he wants to play in the big leagues.

supposedly, the Braves have made a major league offer to Tazawa with a bonus in the range of 4-5 million.  If they believe he is truly something special, based on his age, I feel like the sox should pony up and beat that offer.  They certainly have the cash, and acquiring young pitching is hard enough.  I guess it just depends on what they really think of the kid (because obviously money isnt an issue, 5 million signing bonus is the equivalent of a first round pick in the first half of the round...)

[Tr1boy]

fair enough. I checked out their minor league stats and salty had pretty good minor league numbers like you said.

Texas is rumored to want bucholz or bowden though

would u do it if tek doesn't comeback??

either catching is definitely a premium position or the redsox haven't drafted properly

[Chris]

fair enough. I checked out their minor league stats and salty had pretty good minor league numbers like you said.

Texas is rumored to want bucholz or bowden though

would u do it if tek doesn't comeback??

either catching is definitely a premium position or the redsox haven't drafted properly

I would have a real tough time giving up either of those pitchers for an unproven Catcher (and I wouldn't go near Salty, who is terrible defensively). 

I would be much more interested in offering someone like Lowrie, and either a lower level starter, or someone like Bard.    I think Bowden and Bucholtz are both going to be top of the rotation starters, and young Catchers are so hit or miss.