Red Sox 2010

[Cman]

Just because the Yankees have Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia doesnt guarantee anything.

... and fortunately Texas is getting in on the bidding for Cliff Lee -- maybe that will keep him away from the Yankees.

[LB3533]

Why Theo doesn't want to pair up Lester and Lee is beyond me!

[Donoghus]

Why Theo doesn't want to pair up Lester and Lee is beyond me!

$$$$ and Lee's age.

[Fafnir]

No pitcher at age 32 is a sure thing. Add onto that the fact that Lee only became a big time pitcher three years ago and I'd be nervous about signing him.

[Rondo2287]

No pitcher at age 32 is a sure thing. Add onto that the fact that Lee only became a big time pitcher three years ago and I'd be nervous about signing him.

Absolutely agree, I thought I was the only one who saw an issue with giving a guy with such a small body of work that much money. 

question, who gets more all star seasons out of their new extensions, lee or crawford?

[Greenbean]

No pitcher at age 32 is a sure thing. Add onto that the fact that Lee only became a big time pitcher three years ago and I'd be nervous about signing him.

Absolutely agree, I thought I was the only one who saw an issue with giving a guy with such a small body of work that much money. 

question, who gets more all star seasons out of their new extensions, lee or crawford?

100% Agree.

I love the Cliff Lee of the past 3 years. He has been fun to watch especially in the post season. If he hadnt tripped up in the World Series, maaayyybbbeeee I would say Cliff Lee is worth the money he is going to get. I mean it was almost surreal how he was dominating post season play and making it look easy. However this guy is only 3 years removed from being demoted to AAA during Cleveland's run to the ALCS. Granted he bounced back and became absolutely dominant, but his stuff hasnt changed. His control has. Who is to say that control wont leave him again? I look at Cliff Lee like i look at Jayson Werth. They have not proven enouhg to get the money they will.

I just hope Lee goes to another team besides the Yankees so I can root for him to continue his success. It is a pretty cool story and he is a pretty unique guy so I would hate to boo the crap out of him in pin stripes.

[Greenbean]

The way I see it, they offered both V-mart and Beltre Arbitration, I think they are both gone.  If they Yankees sign Cliff Lee it really doesn't matter who is in our lineup, we are toast. 

So when the yankees get lee, I think it makes sense to save our money for a couple of years, take our 5 first round picks from other teams signing v-mart and Beltre and build up our system. 

Then in a couple of years, cliff and CC will be old and not as good and we will be able to beat them with our crop of young contract controlled players and will also be in a strong position to sign free agents or trade those young players for stars.

Or, in a couple of years, the yankees will be spending money on the next big name FA pitcher, like Lincecom, or David Price, or whatever 27 year old stud from a small market team looking to get a big deal.

We cant just change our philosophy over night. We have the money so we need to spend it. We also have a great farm system.

The Sox have a great system in place IMO. They wont commit to older players for alot of years, but they do target guys they like and make sure they get them. They are not always right, but still it is a better approach than throwing money at every FA out there IMO.

At the same time they develop their prospects and give them a shot at the big league level. They have proven they can do both. Why go small market when they have the means to go get players they need. The Boston Red Sox cannot and will not sit on money. No one in Boston will accept major holes in a lineup with the hope that 5 draft picks will turn into the next great offensive team.

With VMart gone, I dont think they have to sign Beltre. What i do think is they need to replace 2 bats in their lineup. Hopefully they can get Carl Crawford, and swing a deal for Adrian Gonzales.

This is obviously a dream scenario but they have both the funds and the prospects to get both deals done.

Just because the Yankees have Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia doesnt guarantee anything.

Consider this lineup.

Jacoby
Pedroia
Crawford
AGone
Youk
Papi
Drew
Scutaro
Salty/VTek

That lineup is sick. It can happen.

Almost there...

I cant believe this dream scenario came to fruition.

Form like Voltron baby!

I honestly didnt think it was possible, but you called it and i am psyched!  TP

Hey even a blindly optimistic squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

[Chris]

Joe Blanton to the Sox?  It was reported as a done deal about an hour ago, and now they are saying its not done (Edes is saying it probably isn't happening). 

Its an interesting idea.  By itself, it doesn't make much sense at all, since Blanton is an incredibly mediocre pitcher making $8+ million per year for 2 more years.  However, if they are able to get him for other overpaid extra pieces (Cameron, Scutaro), and then send off Dice-K in a separate deal to either get a prospect or two, or perhaps a reliever or SS, then it could make sense.

My personal theory is that this is all because they are sick of Dice-k.  Blanton and Dice-k are very similar pitchers.  Neither pitch a ton of innings, and both are pretty mediocre in general, with the potential to be much better than they are.  But, they have clearly been annoyed with how Dice-K works out, etc., and perhaps they are just ready to move on. 

As for Blanton, there is also the connection with their new pitching coach, who came from Oakland, and perhaps put in a good word for him based on their years together with the A's.

Either way, the transformation of the Sox continues.

[Jeff]

with you there Chris - I'm thinking the Sox have the ability to absorb costs so they can always deal Dice-K or flip Blanton (while eating some or most of the salary) to a team willing to give up players or picks

[Mike-Dub]

If the Sox ae looking at pitchers looks to me like Dice-K is on his way out.

[Cman]

If the Sox ae looking at pitchers looks to me like Dice-K is on his way out.

Or they are trying to scare him into good behavior?  He's basically never been the same since pitching in the 2009 WBC.

[Mike-Dub]

If the Sox ae looking at pitchers looks to me like Dice-K is on his way out.

Or they are trying to scare him into good behavior?  He's basically never been the same since pitching in the 2009 WBC.

Could be. 

[Rondo2287]

Mulitple reports say that the sox just signed bobby jenks to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal.  A little rich for my blood but he is a hard thrower and has a great ground ball ratio.

[Chris]

Mulitple reports say that the sox just signed bobby jenks to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal.  A little rich for my blood but he is a hard thrower and has a great ground ball ratio.

Interesting signing.  I think a trade of Papelbon just got much more palatable...although I still expect them to keep him, and just use Jenks to lessen the load at the back of the bullpen.

I like this signing.  It is always a crapshoot with these bullpen guys, but Jenks has nasty stuff when he is on, and could be huge.

[Rondo2287]

Mulitple reports say that the sox just signed bobby jenks to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal.  A little rich for my blood but he is a hard thrower and has a great ground ball ratio.

Interesting signing.  I think a trade of Papelbon just got much more palatable...although I still expect them to keep him, and just use Jenks to lessen the load at the back of the bullpen.

I like this signing.  It is always a crapshoot with these bullpen guys, but Jenks has nasty stuff when he is on, and could be huge.

Literally