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

[Chris]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

[Redz]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

Chris, maybe not to the same degree, but he'd be a really tough sell at this point.  You also had the factor of Florida who was desperate to unload ANY and all salary, whereas the Sox have been known to eat large portions of a contract to get rid of someone they didn't want around any more (and I don't think they'd ever handle Lowell like that)...Mostly I do agree with you I guess...I think his biggest value is right here with the Sox and I doubt they'd trade him regardless of what happens with Texeira.

[crownsy]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

Chris, maybe not to the same degree, but he'd be a really tough sell at this point.  You also had the factor of Florida who was desperate to unload ANY and all salary, whereas the Sox have been known to eat large portions of a contract to get rid of someone they didn't want around any more (and I don't think they'd ever handle Lowell like that)...Mostly I do agree with you I guess...I think his biggest value is right here with the Sox and I doubt they'd trade him regardless of what happens with Texeira.

playing that out then redz, Assuming they make the signing, who comes of the bench/ gets traded?

Tex is a great 1B, and a below average RF.

Youk of course plays 1B and 3B

Lowell is strictly a 3B

Someones got to go in that scenario.

[Redz]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

Chris, maybe not to the same degree, but he'd be a really tough sell at this point.  You also had the factor of Florida who was desperate to unload ANY and all salary, whereas the Sox have been known to eat large portions of a contract to get rid of someone they didn't want around any more (and I don't think they'd ever handle Lowell like that)...Mostly I do agree with you I guess...I think his biggest value is right here with the Sox and I doubt they'd trade him regardless of what happens with Texeira.

playing that out then redz, Assuming they make the signing, who comes of the bench/ gets traded?

Tex is a great 1B, and a below average RF.

Youk of course plays 1B and 3B

Lowell is strictly a 3B

Someones got to go in that scenario.

Lowell would take on a lesser role for sure.  He could be rotated in as Youk takes a day off at third, or Youk moves over to first to spell Tex at first...Move Tex to DH against lefties here and there.  Lowell could easily get 50 starts and be a bat off the bench.  I worry about Papi's health.

It's not ideal, but these things have a way of working themselves out (as the cliche goes).  Lowell's too valuable a teammate to just boot him out the door. 

[crownsy]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

Chris, maybe not to the same degree, but he'd be a really tough sell at this point.  You also had the factor of Florida who was desperate to unload ANY and all salary, whereas the Sox have been known to eat large portions of a contract to get rid of someone they didn't want around any more (and I don't think they'd ever handle Lowell like that)...Mostly I do agree with you I guess...I think his biggest value is right here with the Sox and I doubt they'd trade him regardless of what happens with Texeira.

playing that out then redz, Assuming they make the signing, who comes of the bench/ gets traded?

Tex is a great 1B, and a below average RF.

Youk of course plays 1B and 3B

Lowell is strictly a 3B

Someones got to go in that scenario.

Lowell would take on a lesser role for sure.  He could be rotated in as Youk takes a day off at third, or Youk moves over to first to spell Tex at first...Move Tex to DH against lefties here and there.  Lowell could easily get 50 starts and be a bat off the bench.  I worry about Papi's health.

It's not ideal, but these things have a way of working themselves out (as the cliche goes).  Lowell's too valuable a teammate to just boot him out the door. 

you really think he's going to be ok with going from a world series MVP to alex cora's role of platoon player off the bench?

I find that hard to belive. It would be nice, but very hard to belive.

[Redz]

I think the redsox should do the honorable thing right now and try to get lowell moving. I have been thinking and in no way can these three guys co exist together especially with the issue of sharing time. Also it is sort inefficient to pay three guys starters money yet one of each will sit down for at least 30 plus games in the year.

Its out in open the sox want teix, likelyhood teix is coming here and with youk bound to get a good long deal after teix, its a good thing to start shopping lowell now.

Worst case scenerio if we trade lowell(for a catcher hopefully or a really good utility guy, 4th outfielder or proscpects) and somehow teixera doesn't even come here, we still can sign other 3b/1b free agents or in my opinion i would love to give lars anderson a shot at first moving youk to 3b.

out of all this process i do feel bad for our 2007 world series mvp mike lowell

The only way anyone would take Lowell at this point is if it was in a similar deal to the one where he came to the Sox in the first place.  He's got to be considered damaged goods after last season and he's in the middle of a hefty contract.  They might have better luck moving him if he proves healthy, but who the hell's going to want him right now?

Maybe the Sox could throw Beckett in 

I disagree.  When the Sox traded for Lowell, the reason he had no value was because people thought he was done.  It wasn't injuries really.  His production plummeted, everyone was talking about a slow bat, and there were even whispers of how he had fell off the edge when they started steroid testing. 

Now however, I think teams look at him differently.  Sure, his value is going to be low because of the injury, but it won't be THAT low.  I think we would just be looking at getting either a couple middle of the road prospects, or a role player or two for him, rather than a blue chip prospect...but we won't have to put anyone else with him to get another team to take him.

Chris, maybe not to the same degree, but he'd be a really tough sell at this point.  You also had the factor of Florida who was desperate to unload ANY and all salary, whereas the Sox have been known to eat large portions of a contract to get rid of someone they didn't want around any more (and I don't think they'd ever handle Lowell like that)...Mostly I do agree with you I guess...I think his biggest value is right here with the Sox and I doubt they'd trade him regardless of what happens with Texeira.

playing that out then redz, Assuming they make the signing, who comes of the bench/ gets traded?

Tex is a great 1B, and a below average RF.

Youk of course plays 1B and 3B

Lowell is strictly a 3B

Someones got to go in that scenario.

Lowell would take on a lesser role for sure.  He could be rotated in as Youk takes a day off at third, or Youk moves over to first to spell Tex at first...Move Tex to DH against lefties here and there.  Lowell could easily get 50 starts and be a bat off the bench.  I worry about Papi's health.

It's not ideal, but these things have a way of working themselves out (as the cliche goes).  Lowell's too valuable a teammate to just boot him out the door. 

you really think he's going to be ok with going from a world series MVP to alex cora's role of platoon player off the bench?

I find that hard to belive. It would be nice, but very hard to belive.

ubuntu? 

oops wrong sport

maybe your right, I just see Lowell as a "do whatever's best for the team kinda guy"

and I'll also say that this is the very reason I'm not overly excited about Texeira.  I like the team the Sox have.

[yall hate]

assuming Tex is signed, Lowell would be held onto until spring training/after spring training when he could reestablish himself.  Although, there was a report a little while ago that they had already determined they could trade him if it came to that (meaning thye had called around and established that there are trades they would like)

[nickagneta]

Francona would never allow Lowell to wollow on the bench as a bench player for a couple of reasons.

1. Francona is a players manager and he knows Lowell wouldn't want to do that and Francona respects Lowell as much or more than any other player on that roster. He'd have Theo move him for that reason alone.

2. There's no way that Francona's utility infield is going to be able to play only one position. No way whatsoever. Francona will be lobbying for a second baseman/shortstop type of guy who would give him the most flexibilty to give all the infioeld guys rest.

[yall hate]

Thankfully, it appears that we are at the end of the line with this crap.

Teixeira Announcement Expected Today
By Tim Dierkes [December 23 at 10:33am CST]

According to Thom Loverro of the Washington Times, "there will be an announcement today regarding the future of free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira."  Loverro says there are strong indications the Red Sox will be the victor, though it's unclear whether those indications are based on inside information.

We learned from Roch Kubatko yesterday evening that the Nationals upped their bid to $178-184MM over eight years (Jim Williams says $178-183MM).

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[yall hate]

As the Mark Teixeira decision looms here's what the switch-hitting first baseman might be thinking about:

Major League sources indicate the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox appear to be the finalists pending a last-minute New York Yankee offer -- always a possibility.

The Nationals are offering 9 years at $180 million.

The Red Sox have not appeared to change their offer of 8 years at around $170 million.

You can see the Nationals are willing to give Teixeira $10 million additional dollars, but the Red Sox' average annual value is about $1 million per year higher. This could obviously be changing by the minute, but that's where it appears to be at present.

Washington is closer to home. Boston is the better team.

We may have a decision by today.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

If those are the two final offers, it will be very tlling about Tex if he takes the Washington offer.

[Bankshot]

Just heard on ESPN that the Yankess are swooping in at the final moment with another offer.

[yall hate]

Just heard on ESPN that the Yankess are swooping in at the final moment with another offer.

yea?

ESPN.com is reporting that the yankees are hoping that Scott Boras brings the final offer to them and they may match it, but i havent heard or read anywhere that they are making an offer. 

[crownsy]

Just heard on ESPN that the Yankess are swooping in at the final moment with another offer.

uh huh.

I'm sure scott boras had nothing to do with that rumor now that his bluff was called 


"uh yea... the Mabase Martians(10 TP's for getting this referance,  I can think of 2 mabey 3 people i think might have a shot at getting it without google. honor system rulez people) have also bid 200 million, sources close to the negotiations, who are totaly not scott boras, say."

[Nerf DPOY]

For all the complaining about Teixeira being all about the money I ask; What should he care about? It's not like he should have any allegiance to any particular fanbase or ownership. The "love" he's been shown from the fans and various organizations goes only as far as his bat can continue to take him.

Look at our own "Fenway faithful". Thay booed David Ortiz in the playoffs. DAVID ORTIZ! Just ask Bronson Arroyo his thoughts on the pros and cons of signing the hometown discount.

Myself? In Teixeira's shoes, I would probably go for the most money/years at the cost of playing on a crummy team. Consider me the Shawn Marion of Celtics Blog. I really do hope the Sox sign Tex, though. I have a number of trade ideas on how to ship that dead weight Mike Lowell out of town.  

[crownsy]

For all the complaining about Teixeira being all about the money I ask; What should he care about? It's not like he should have any allegiance to any particular fanbase or ownership. The "love" he's been shown from the fans and various organizations goes only as far as his bat can continue to take him.

Look at our own "Fenway faithful". Thay booed David Ortiz in the playoffs. DAVID ORTIZ! Just ask Bronson Arroyo his thoughts on the pros and cons of signing the hometown discount.

Myself? In Teixeira's shoes, I would probably go for the most money/years at the cost of playing on a crummy team. Consider me the Shawn Marion of Celtics Blog. I really do hope the Sox sign Tex, though. I have a number of trade ideas on how to ship that dead weight Mike Lowell out of town.  

you have to consider more than salery though. Endorsment deals for a terrable team playing in a non-baseball market are not worth as much as being a star of one of the top 5 teams in baseball.

also, its deadspin and all but...

http://deadspin.com/5116936/teixeira-announcement-may-be-just-minutes-or-seconds-away