Red Sox trade for Bonser and the off season on the cheap continues!

[nickagneta]

The Red Sox today made another ground breaking, earth shattering, world beating trade today trading the rights of that famous player to be named later to the Twins for the rights to Boof Bonser.

Who? Yeah, that's been a common question around here lately. I said a month ago that the Red Sox would go on the cheap this year and sure enough the Winter Meeting have come and gone for the Sox and we have the following acquisitions to add to our roster:

Marco Scutaro
Max Ramirez
Ramon A. Martinez
Scott Atchison
Fabio Castro

We have also re-sign Kason Gabard, traded away Mike Lowell and $9 million, and are rumored to be interested in such fabulous free agents as Coco Crisp, Adrian Beltre, Aroldis Chapman and have had their interest cooled significantly on Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, Miguel Cabrera and Doc Halladay.

Listen, I understand that I expected this. I understand what Theo is doing and that he wants to give the guys late in their contracts one last run before jettisoning them and starting with a new core next year when the free agent market might be rich in talent and the Sox will be rich in spending money. I get that.

It doesn't mean I have to like it or that I am going to enjoy watching the Red Sox finish behind the Rays and out of the playoffs this year. The Sox pitchers had better have about 4 guys have career years next year if we are to compete because I don't see this team scoring a lot of runs and I see a whole lot of 3-2 or 4-3, 4-hour losses in the schedule.

[Donoghus]

I've mentioned it before.  This has been shaping up as a "transition year" for sometime.  Sometimes, you need to take a step backwards to go forward.  They might still make a run at the wild card but I really think this team is waiting until next offseason to make a splash. 

I just hope Theo doesn't make another ridiculous man-crush signing.  Please no Beltre for 4 years at $13 million. 

[Roy Hobbs]

If the Sox sign Beltre, how would that be cheap?  Additionally, they're in talks to re-sign Jason Bay.  Also, of course, wouldn't the cheaper route have been to resign Gonzalez, rather than bring in Scutaro? 

The Sox might not be going all-out, but I don't think they're being overly thrifty, either.

[yall hate]

The Red Sox today made another ground breaking, earth shattering, world beating trade today trading the rights of that famous player to be named later to the Twins for the rights to Boof Bonser.

Who? Yeah, that's been a common question around here lately. I said a month ago that the Red Sox would go on the cheap this year and sure enough the Winter Meeting have come and gone for the Sox and we have the following acquisitions to add to our roster:

Marco Scutaro
Max Ramirez
Ramon A. Martinez
Scott Atchison
Fabio Castro

We have also re-sign Kason Gabard, traded away Mike Lowell and $9 million, and are rumored to be interested in such fabulous free agents as Coco Crisp, Adrian Beltre, Aroldis Chapman and have had their interest cooled significantly on Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, Miguel Cabrera and Doc Halladay.

Listen, I understand that I expected this. I understand what Theo is doing and that he wants to give the guys late in their contracts one last run before jettisoning them and starting with a new core next year when the free agent market might be rich in talent and the Sox will be rich in spending money. I get that.

It doesn't mean I have to like it or that I am going to enjoy watching the Red Sox finish behind the Rays and out of the playoffs this year. The Sox pitchers had better have about 4 guys have career years next year if we are to compete because I don't see this team scoring a lot of runs and I see a whole lot of 3-2 or 4-3, 4-hour losses in the schedule.

Chapman is looking at a lot of money for an unproven player (i.e., not a cheap move).

Beltre would not be a cheap move in any way shape or form.

They are still very much interested in Bay (and have consistently been saying they prefer him to Holliday - which makes a LOT of sense)  they supposedly offered something around 4 years, 60 million.  so far the highest offer for him we have heard from was today, the mets, 4 years 65 million.  what do you want them to do, come in and offer 75?  that isnt how negotiations work, you know that. 

Gonzalez hasnt been made available.  period.  until there is something other then media speculation, he isnt available.

Roy Halladay has nothing to do with financial cost, but prospects.  two completely different things.


Boof Bonser is going to be a mop up guy/back of bullpen.  these are the kind of deals they make EVERY year.  they arent trumpeting him as a number 2 starter.  Additionally, they traded a PTBNL or Cash, meaning nothing.  he may not even make the team.

[nickagneta]

If the Sox sign Beltre, how would that be cheap?  Additionally, they're in talks to re-sign Jason Bay.  Also, of course, wouldn't the cheaper route have been to resign Gonzalez, rather than bring in Scutaro? 

The Sox might not be going all-out, but I don't think they're being overly thrifty, either.

I honestly don't see them signing either beltre or Holliday or Bay. I don't see a multi-year, multi-tens of millions of dollars contract being given out this year.

My guess is they go after Nick Johnson or Dan Uggla for a cheap/short years infield fix and then sign a platoon outfield to share time with Hermide in LF.

And that, my friend, would be an off season on the cheap with a total payroll probably lower than last years. They are not going to extend themselves to long year or big bucks to any player this off season.

[Donoghus]

I think the Sox will continue to kick the tires on several trade targets but if the asking price is too much, I certainly see them going the quick stop-gap route as well as trying to resign Bay.  Then, come mid-season, once again visit the trade route.

This team is not, all of a sudden, going to drop to 4th place next year but I don't see them closing the gap on the Yankees much unless done via the trade route going into 2010.

[Donoghus]

If the Sox sign Beltre, how would that be cheap?  Additionally, they're in talks to re-sign Jason Bay.  Also, of course, wouldn't the cheaper route have been to resign Gonzalez, rather than bring in Scutaro? 

The Sox might not be going all-out, but I don't think they're being overly thrifty, either.

I honestly don't see them signing either beltre or Holliday or Bay. I don't see a multi-year, multi-tens of millions of dollars contract being given out this year.

My guess is they go after Nick Johnson or Dan Uggla for a cheap/short years infield fix and then sign a platoon outfield to share time with Hermide in LF.

And that, my friend, would be an off season on the cheap with a total payroll probably lower than last years. They are not going to extend themselves to long year or big bucks to any player this off season.

But is it necessarily being "cheap" when they're just not that fascinated with this offseason's crop of free agents?  I'd rather see them stand pat then overpay for some talent whose contract we'll be shaking our heads at in 6 months.   I don't necessarily think that as being cheap as opposed to just being fiscally responsible.

[xmuscularghandix]

Them trading Lowell shows that they're clearing space to go get someone. It's not even past the winter meeting, There hasn't been ANY serious FA signings.

[Roy Hobbs]

If the Sox sign Beltre, how would that be cheap?  Additionally, they're in talks to re-sign Jason Bay.  Also, of course, wouldn't the cheaper route have been to resign Gonzalez, rather than bring in Scutaro? 

The Sox might not be going all-out, but I don't think they're being overly thrifty, either.

I honestly don't see them signing either beltre or Holliday or Bay. I don't see a multi-year, multi-tens of millions of dollars contract being given out this year.

My guess is they go after Nick Johnson or Dan Uggla for a cheap/short years infield fix and then sign a platoon outfield to share time with Hermide in LF.

And that, my friend, would be an off season on the cheap with a total payroll probably lower than last years. They are not going to extend themselves to long year or big bucks to any player this off season.

That's fine, but it seems like you slantedthings a bit in your initial post.  Beltre would not be a cheap signing, and the Sox are heavily linked to him.  Similarly, the reports have been fairly uniform that we're interested in bringing back Bay.

If Marco Scutaro is our biggest off-season acquisition, I'll agree with you that Theo chose to go cheap.  However, until that point, I'm not going to jump to any conclusions.

[nickagneta]

The Red Sox today made another ground breaking, earth shattering, world beating trade today trading the rights of that famous player to be named later to the Twins for the rights to Boof Bonser.

Who? Yeah, that's been a common question around here lately. I said a month ago that the Red Sox would go on the cheap this year and sure enough the Winter Meeting have come and gone for the Sox and we have the following acquisitions to add to our roster:

Marco Scutaro
Max Ramirez
Ramon A. Martinez
Scott Atchison
Fabio Castro

We have also re-sign Kason Gabard, traded away Mike Lowell and $9 million, and are rumored to be interested in such fabulous free agents as Coco Crisp, Adrian Beltre, Aroldis Chapman and have had their interest cooled significantly on Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, Miguel Cabrera and Doc Halladay.

Listen, I understand that I expected this. I understand what Theo is doing and that he wants to give the guys late in their contracts one last run before jettisoning them and starting with a new core next year when the free agent market might be rich in talent and the Sox will be rich in spending money. I get that.

It doesn't mean I have to like it or that I am going to enjoy watching the Red Sox finish behind the Rays and out of the playoffs this year. The Sox pitchers had better have about 4 guys have career years next year if we are to compete because I don't see this team scoring a lot of runs and I see a whole lot of 3-2 or 4-3, 4-hour losses in the schedule.

Chapman is looking at a lot of money for an unproven player (i.e., not a cheap move).

Beltre would not be a cheap move in any way shape or form.

They are still very much interested in Bay (and have consistently been saying they prefer him to Holliday - which makes a LOT of sense)  they supposedly offered something around 4 years, 60 million.  so far the highest offer for him we have heard from was today, the mets, 4 years 65 million.  what do you want them to do, come in and offer 75?  that isnt how negotiations work, you know that. 

Gonzalez hasnt been made available.  period.  until there is something other then media speculation, he isnt available.

Roy Halladay has nothing to do with financial cost, but prospects.  two completely different things.


Boof Bonser is going to be a mop up guy/back of bullpen.  these are the kind of deals they make EVERY year.  they arent trumpeting him as a number 2 starter.  Additionally, they traded a PTBNL or Cash, meaning nothing.  he may not even make the team.

1.) I never mentioned Gonzalez

2.) Trading many prospects for Halladay would mean an instant extension of 5 years and $100 million, that's expensive, as is giving up prospects that if they pan out ala Ellsbury, Lester, Pedroia, Papelbon, Youkilis, Bard, and Delcarmen means many years of cost certainty. It's not like the Sox have a bad recent record of developing All-Star level talent. Their prospects are held in high regard around the league and especially in their front office, where they understand, in order to sign long term free agents to big bucks, it is important to have cheap youth on the roster and in the system.

3.) Signing Beltre and Chapman might look expensive but Chapman will go about the same amount of money as a high first round draft pick, which is how he should be looked at because he won't be major league ready for a while. $15 million on a high first round pick is about the price of doing business. Beltre won't be cheap, but I also don't see it happening. Like the Holliday and Bay talk, I think it all a smokescreen.

[nickagneta]

If the Sox sign Beltre, how would that be cheap?  Additionally, they're in talks to re-sign Jason Bay.  Also, of course, wouldn't the cheaper route have been to resign Gonzalez, rather than bring in Scutaro? 

The Sox might not be going all-out, but I don't think they're being overly thrifty, either.

I honestly don't see them signing either beltre or Holliday or Bay. I don't see a multi-year, multi-tens of millions of dollars contract being given out this year.

My guess is they go after Nick Johnson or Dan Uggla for a cheap/short years infield fix and then sign a platoon outfield to share time with Hermide in LF.

And that, my friend, would be an off season on the cheap with a total payroll probably lower than last years. They are not going to extend themselves to long year or big bucks to any player this off season.

But is it necessarily being "cheap" when they're just not that fascinated with this offseason's crop of free agents?  I'd rather see them stand pat then overpay for some talent whose contract we'll be shaking our heads at in 6 months.   I don't necessarily think that as being cheap as opposed to just being fiscally responsible.

I agree with you. I think it would be fiscally responsible to sit back a year, hope the pitchers can carry them and try like hell to sign and hope like hell Carl Crawford, Doc Halladay, Joe Mauer, and Albert Pujols actually hit free agency.

But, cheap is the way many, many, many fans are going to perceive this off season if we come away with our big acquisitions being Scutaro, the Ramirez boys, Bonser, Nick Johnson and Coco Crisp.

[yall hate]

1.) I never mentioned Gonzalez

2.) Trading many prospects for Halladay would mean an instant extension of 5 years and $100 million, that's expensive, as is giving up prospects that if they pan out ala Ellsbury, Lester, Pedroia, Papelbon, Youkilis, Bard, and Delcarmen means many years of cost certainty. It's not like the Sox have a bad recent record of developing All-Star level talent. Their prospects are held in high regard around the league and especially in their front office, where they understand, in order to sign long term free agents to big bucks, it is important to have cheap youth on the roster and in the system.

3.) Signing Beltre and Chapman might look expensive but Chapman will go about the same amount of money as a high first round draft pick, which is how he should be looked at because he won't be major league ready for a while. $15 million on a high first round pick is about the price of doing business. Beltre won't be cheap, but I also don't see it happening. Like the Holliday and Bay talk, I think it all a smokescreen.

I misread with gonzalez.

trading prospects (massive amounts since it is in the division) is not necessary.  if he isnt traded you can get him a year from now for simply a boatload of money rather then a truckload of money and prospects.  I am sure they have a standing offer for Roy, however they arent going to bid against themselves.  especially when it is toronto that needs to trade him, not the other way around.

Chapman initially was pegged to get DiceK money.  it has since come off that and dropped to Stephen Strasburg money.  yes that is first round pick money, but to be accurate, it is the most money ever paid to a draft pick.  so you are talking about a lot of money for a guy who isnt ml ready.

as for beltre, bay, well, we'll have to see as time goes.  time will tell

[nickagneta]

Now I feel like a dink. I just went to boston.com to check something out and saw this article from Dan Shaughnessy:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/10/fans_shouldnt_buy_red_sox_bridge/

That I agree with Shaughnessy makes me sick to my stomach a bit. Sorta like that feeling you get from checking out this chick's backside only for her to turn around and find out it's a dude.

[Roy Hobbs]

Now I feel like a dink. I just went to boston.com to check something out and saw this article from Dan Shaughnessy:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/10/fans_shouldnt_buy_red_sox_bridge/

That I agree with Shaughnessy makes me sick to my stomach a bit. Sorta like that feeling you get from checking out this chick's backside only for her to turn around and find out it's a dude.

For the first 1/3 of that article, I thought he was being tongue-in-cheek.  Nope, just the same old Shaughnessy.

[nickagneta]

si.com's Jon Heyman tweeting that Minaya and the Mets offered Jason Bay 4 years and $65 million and that Bay wants a fifth year. Here's the link:

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/6542811674

If it is going to take 5 years and $80+ million, there's no way Theo signs Bay and if Bay signs for something in that territory there's no way Boras has Holliday sign for less. I'm thinking a LF of Hermide/Reddick/Crisp is looking more and more like a reality.  Yuk!!