Sox continue to slide in off season -- Rays sign Pat Burrell

[SShorefan 3.0]

The D Rays joined the Yankees as both teams add a big bat to their respective line ups.  The Rays signed Pat Burrell (who averages 30+ homeruns a year) to a two year deal.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

The D Rays joined the Yankees as both teams add a big bat to their respective line ups.  The Rays signed Pat Burrell (who averages 30+ homeruns a year) to a two year deal.

This isn't a big deal. Burrell is alright, but not really a balance of power shifter, certainly not on the same level of Teixeira. Also, ask Phillies fans if Burrell is the key to postseason success. A .250 average with 86 RBIs? A nice signing, sure, but easy on the "continuing the slide" talk. Where would we have put him?? Trade Mike Lowell for Pat Burrell? No thanks.

[Celtic]

Doesn't bother me at all, was never crazy about him, and he is getting old.

[SShorefan 3.0]

adding 30+ homeruns to both the Yankees and the Devil Rays line ups is a big deal considering the Sox line up has an injured Lowell and a questionable Ortiz as the anchors.

[Rondo_is_better]

Our lineup is quickly becoming the weakest one in the AL east.

We have like zero power. You can't win off of good pitching alone; you need to be able to get some sort of cushion from your offense.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

adding 30+ homeruns to both the Yankees and the Devil Rays line ups is a big deal considering the Sox line up has an injured Lowell and a questionable Ortiz as the anchors.

I agree Teixeira is a bigtime addition to the Yankees. However, Burrell is simply not. You can't look at this stuff as if in a vacuum. You recommend we sign Burrell and move Lowell, Youkilis, or Ortiz?? I hope not. I'll even throw in Pedroia and Bay for comparisons sake.

Burrell- .250, 30 HR, 86 RBIs, .364 OBP
Bay- .282, 31 HR, 101 RBIs OBP .370
Youkilis- .312, 29 HR, 115 RBIs .390 OBP
Pedroia- .326, 17 HR, 83 RBIs .376 OBP
Ortiz- .264, 23 HR, 89 RBIs .369 OBP- Even in a really down year, he's got Burrell in 3 of the 4...

Again, the balance of power is not a whole lot different here.

[Donoghus]

I never wanted Burrell on ths Sox.  Didn't think he'd be a good fit for that lineup.  The fact that he signed with a division rival makes it a little tougher to take, though.

[SShorefan 3.0]

adding 30+ homeruns to both the Yankees and the Devil Rays line ups is a big deal considering the Sox line up has an injured Lowell and a questionable Ortiz as the anchors.

I agree Teixeira is a bigtime addition to the Yankees. However, Burrell is simply not. You can't look at this stuff as if in a vacuum. You recommend we sign Burrell and move Lowell, Youkilis, or Ortiz??

 

Where did I recommend that we sign Burrell and move 3 Sox players?  I don't think Burrell is a fit for Boston, but you have to look at what Tampa needed and they needed a run producer.  Take the 3 year average and Burrell is 11th in homeruns (31) and Teixeira is 10th (32). 

Tampa went out and addressed a problem with a real solution for them.
NY went out and addressed two problems with a bevy or solutions for them.
On the other hand......
The Sox have an age and injury issues at the power spots (3/4) and a huge gap with production from the catcher and no solid back up for when JD needs his month + off.  So what have they done?  The swapped Cash & Bard, got rid of the best back up outfielder in baseball for a reliever and signed an injured pitcher.

I'd say looking at the three contenders 2 of the 3 addressed issues core to them and the 3rd, our beloved Sox have not.

[yall hate]

Obviously this hurts the Sox.  Burrel is a plus for the Rays so it necessarily weakens the Sox.  But that being said, Burrel is not as good as he used to be, and playing in the AL East, his numbers will likely continue to slide further.

The Sox offense obviously looks like it could use an upgrade, especially when looking at what there rivals have done, but the bottom line is there really arent any openings on their roster (with the exception of Catcher, and their arent any good options anyway), and very few of the FA's available are upgrades over what they have. 

I was very pro signing Texiera, but that being said, if the organization has faith that Lowell and Ortiz come back better and healthier, along with further improvement for jacoby, then the offense WILL be better. 

I g=uess we will just have to wait and see.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

adding 30+ homeruns to both the Yankees and the Devil Rays line ups is a big deal considering the Sox line up has an injured Lowell and a questionable Ortiz as the anchors.

I agree Teixeira is a bigtime addition to the Yankees. However, Burrell is simply not. You can't look at this stuff as if in a vacuum. You recommend we sign Burrell and move Lowell, Youkilis, or Ortiz??

 

Where did I recommend that we sign Burrell and move 3 Sox players?  I don't think Burrell is a fit for Boston, but you have to look at what Tampa needed and they needed a run producer.  Take the 3 year average and Burrell is 11th in homeruns (31) and Teixeira is 10th (32). 

Tampa went out and addressed a problem with a real solution for them.
NY went out and addressed two problems with a bevy or solutions for them.
On the other hand......
The Sox have an age and injury issues at the power spots (3/4) and a huge gap with production from the catcher and no solid back up for when JD needs his month + off.  So what have they done?  The swapped Cash & Bard, got rid of the best back up outfielder in baseball for a reliever and signed an injured pitcher.

I'd say looking at the three contenders 2 of the 3 addressed issues core to them and the 3rd, our beloved Sox have not.

First, I was just pointing out it doesn't make sense to complain about Burrell in that he would not fit in here. Looking at the Sox lineup, there is no position we could put him in. If we were to sign Burrell, someone in the Ortiz/Youkilis/Lowell/Bay/Drew group would need to be moved realistically, a move that would be sideways at best and more likely counterproductive.

However, your points about addressing the issues make a lot of sense. I do think you are selling Penny a little short, but the crux of the argument is right. The only thing to say to it is the Sox may not be done yet. I would like to see the catching situation addressed, but how would they begin to address the power issues? The market isn't too great right now for either power bats or good catchers (who are tough to find anyway), and it looks like they are going to really try to shore up the pitching staff and pen to get wins that way.

Overall though, gotta be careful of the rat race mentality... Do what's best for the team because it's best for the team, not because opponents have addressed needs and the team feels it has to keep up. That's how reactionary and desperate deals get done.

[Tr1boy]

I personal don't underestimate burrell as a hitter. His OBP throughout the years have been high even though his avg sucked. Its because he walks a ton(which is in comparison almost good as a single). This also indicates that he sees a ton of pitches that helps tire pitchers out.

Sox could have signed him to what tampa (did) as well they should have looked into giambi both signed both less than they are actually worth in the market

We sign guys like smoltz and badelli but that still doesn't shore up the need for another run producer

[Nerf DPOY]

I personal don't underestimate burrell as a hitter. His OBP throughout the years have been high even though his avg sucked. Its because he walks a ton(which is in comparison almost good as a single). This also indicates that he sees a ton of pitches that helps tire pitchers out.

Sox could have signed him to what tampa (did) as well they should have looked into giambi both signed both less than they are actually worth in the market

We sign guys like smoltz and badelli but that still doesn't shore up the need for another run producer

Where do you think Burrell would fit on this team? A fourth outfielder?

I like the Sox approach this offseason. Throw a bunch of pitchers at the wall and see who sticks. I loved the Crisp/Ramirez trade, and see the merit in not making any of the possible long-term financial commitments that they were rumored to be considering. I would have liked getting Sabbathia, but that contract obviously has the potential to be a disaster.

A little OT, but I like what Oakland did this winter. Cust/Holliday/Giambi isn't a shabby 3-4-5. They could take the west, as the LAA have taken a few steps back.

[Tr1boy]

He could be your 4th outfielder in rf(cozy green monster), play some 1b, dh, pinch hit etc. And if he plays one of each position on rotation giving others guys rest, can still give you 15-20 home runs, 70 + rbi's. You can't say that for a utility guy that kind of production isn't welcomed.

[Donoghus]

He could be your 4th outfielder in rf(cozy green monster), play some 1b, dh, pinch hit etc. And if he plays one of each position on rotation giving others guys rest, can still give you 15-20 home runs, 70 + rbi's. You can't say that for a utility guy that kind of production isn't welcomed.

You think Pat Burrell can cover all that ground in RF at Fenway?? Plus, $8 million a year for a 4th OF is just nuts.

Regardless, its a moot point now but that would've been a scary sight.