CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 12:26 AM) He had 2 really solid years, a handful of average years, and 1 really bad year. The dip in velocity certainly is concerning though. 3 MPH is a big drop off which means he either is hurt, or he changed his mechanics and lost speed, and maybe it's something he can change back to. It would be much easier to hate him if he had been losing 0.5-1.0 MPH each season for the past few years. The sudden big drop is confusing. It was a mechanics caused by injury thing: From Paul Hoyne , Northeast Ohio Media Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ In September of 2013, with the Indians driving toward a wild-card appearance, Masterson strained his left oblique muscle. He came back at the end of September and pitched out of the bullpen. In spring training this year Masterson's ribcage area was still tender, but he never told the Indians. He was the opening day starter, leader of the staff and trying to get a contract extension. Randy Rowley, Masterson's agent, said the injury caused a change in his mechanics, which led to soreness in his right knee. Masterson didn't talk to the media about his sore knee until late June. When he did, he said he'd been dealing with it since his second start of the season. In September, after the trade to St. Louis, Masterson had an MRI on his right shoulder and it showed an impingement. The Cardinals gave him a cortisone shot. Rowley said Masterson is finally healthy. If he is and he can pitch back to his 2014 form, the team that signs him will get a 30-year-old proven starter who until last season had pitched 180 or more innings in four straight seasons. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ I am usually suspicious of injury stories after the fact because , much like a lawyer, an agent trys to limit the perceived damage and spin it in a way that puts his client in a better light. "It was just a series of bad decisions guys based on how much I care about you all. It had nothing to do with I was headed towards free agency and had turned down a 3/$45M offer and was seeking $17M per year." Naive and team oriented is a lot better than greedy. All that being said, he might be the ideal candidate for a 1 year contract to re-establish value and re-enter free agency But he will not likely come cheap with so many teams inquiring on him. Expect somewhere around $10M for him.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 27, 2014 -> 09:13 PM) This is a 2-pitch pitcher who lost 3 mph on his main pitch last year, all while pitching like s***. There are a bunch of pitchers I'd like to try before him. Preach it brother.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 02:13 PM) Given that price tag, the Sox either feel they have their money committed elsewhere more appropriately right now or they really did not like what they saw from Tomas. That is a seemingly incredibly reasonable price tag. Oh I don't know about that. Just imagine giving Tank that kind of contract.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 09:18 AM) Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 9m9 minutes ago Jon Garland, Geoff Blum and Tadahito Iguchi have been added to the list of 2005 World Series champion team member attending SoxFest, '15 Lest we forget Iguchi's 3 run bomb in the 2005 playoffs against Boston http://m.mlb.com/cws/video/v36935789/2005-...tadahito+iguchi or his wild 2 HR 7 RBI in the 8th and 9th against Houston in 2006 ( solly no video ). He continued to play in Japan, even last year. Here's a video of a walk off grany. The full AB and the crowd singing and chanting the entire AB just amazes me. All this info courtesy of SSS http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/11/27/729...tadahito-iguchi

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 06:12 AM) Bradley Jr can't hit and would cost us something decent...getting a guy like Victorino isn't a move to make any time soon because you'd obviously like a more long term option, but he's certainly not a bad stop gap option if other plans fall through. I mean we did just sign a 34 year old DH to a 2 year deal...Victorino for 1 year can't seem like too bad of an idea, especially if he costs us little to nothing in a trade. $13M salary is a huge cost.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 11:22 PM) http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/1...g-spending-ways Putting 2 and 2 together, Bradley, Jr., Cespedes and Victorino are the most likely to move. Cespedes will cost a starting pitcher, so forget that idea. So it's down to Bradley, Jr., and Victorino. Bradley, Jr., and Eaton in the same outfield would be taking a page out of the Royals' book, but not really "dreaming" big. Victorino would be the smarter addition, if there's anything still left in the tank at this point. Bradley Jr. over Victorino any day. Old broken down OF's are a step in the wrong direction. At least Bradley, Jr. has youth , wonderful D which the Sox need badly and speed and the "potential " to hit. Still rather try to pry Holt loose. Maybe he'd cost less than JBJ despite having great value to the Red Sox as a super-utility guy. On that team he will get nowhere near the amount of AB's he had last year. Maybe in a humanitarian gesture the Red Sox let him go to realize his potential rather than keep him as the supersub.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) Could be a big name pitcher . The lineup already is better with a full year of Avi and LaRoche so it's not like a huge name is necessary at the remaining positions, just a nice little upgrade would do just fine. A more talented roster , if you will, rather than the stars with the stiffs. It's the starting rotation that could have the biggest impact name added to it. Besides KW likes being interviewed and coming up with quotable stuff. The Sox really have nothing to trade with unless Hahn dips into the minors and that would be counter-productive to his original plan. To futhur illustrate my point about more talent in the position players , the Sox hitters had a cumulative 15.5 WAR. Our top players were: Abreu 5.5 Eaton 5.2 Alexei 3.0 Flowers 2.3 Gillaspie 1.5 Beckham 0.6 Semien 0.5 Sierra 0.5 Others below 0.5 but still in positive territoy were Dunn, DeAza and Phegley. The Sox had 8 players either mostly in bench roles or injured for most of the season (Garcia) who either didn't provide enough hitting to offset their bad fielding or enough good fielding to offset their bad hitting or were bad at both. You'll also notice 4 players in postive WAR are no longer with the team (Beckham, DeAza, Dunn and Sierra ). Melky Cabrera had a 3.1 ,Brock Holt a 2.1, Michael Saunders 2.4 playing half a season . Rasmus had a 0.9 despite a bad season of hitting but enough defense to somewhat overcome it. I hold out hope that Avi Garcia has a positive WAR in him when he becomes the hitter he should be and improves enough defensively. Adam LaRoche had a 2.2 which will be hard to duplicate being another year older past his prime and mostly DH'ing but it's a start towards adding more talent to the roster. I'd feel much more comfortable with the Sox having a 20 WAR amongst the position players which means better defense and better offense. The Tigers, Royals and Giants all had 20.2- 20.5. A 4 WAR guy who plays good D and hits well would be wonderful but a 3.0 would still be a huge boost to this lineup. Melky has ranged from 3.1 to 4.7 in 3 of the last 4 years. Saunders best was his 2.4 in his limited playing time last year but is entering his prime. Rasmus had a 4.6 as recently as 2013 and generaly has ranged from 1.5 -3.6 in 4 other years is also entering his prime but we are aware of his problems. The Sox were outscored by 100 runs last year and only have a "Big Two" in Sale and Quintana. A serious contender needs a "Big 3" at the very least. Rodon could be that player but chances are it won't be 2015. Another quality SP and closer will have the biggest influence on wether the Sox contend in 2015. Right now the next move(s) need to be high quality pitching.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 07:36 PM) I don't think it'll be any of those guys, quite frankly. Mr. Kenny Williams is on record right now stating that when our roster is finally completed, Sox fans will be able to "dream again" about returning to the postseason. With the two, maybe three, remaining big holes to fill in LF, RH starter, and maybe 3B, I don't think adding any of those four outfielders really moves the needle to get us dreaming about anything. Whoever they get for that corner outfield spot is going to be a bigger name than any of those four guys you mentioned. I mean, think of it: you add one of those four guys to play left, then you sign one of the second tier RH starter free agents. Would that get you dreaming about anything, other than maybe a triumphant return to having a .500 ball club? It just doesn't add up. I don't know how they're going to pull it off, but I think they have a splashy move coming our way, maybe even two, that will genuinely have us all excited about our chances both in 2015 and beyond. But again, I don't think it involves the likes of Rasmus, Saunders, or certainly Holt. Maybe, just maybe, Cabrera, but even he, I don't think it's going to be him, either. Could be a big name pitcher . The lineup already is better with a full year of Avi and LaRoche so it's not like a huge name is necessary at the remaining positions, just a nice little upgrade would do just fine. A more talented roster , if you will, rather than the stars with the stiffs. It's the starting rotation that could have the biggest impact name added to it. Besides KW likes being interviewed and coming up with quotable stuff. The Sox really have nothing to trade with unless Hahn dips into the minors and that would be counter-productive to his original plan.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) Please, anything to get Leury Garcia back to AAA. Actually, I'd prefer Holt to Danks or Saladino as well. But at what cost for "Zobrist Lite"? I was looking at his MiL stats too and in 2012 at AAA for 95 AB's he hit .432 . Can't call him Zobrist lite because he's not a switch hitter , he's LH but since he hits LH's well it's almost like he's a switch hitter. I know you called him that because of his D versatility though

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 07:19 PM) I'm not all that interested in a jack of all trades. Semien can do that. But if he can play a full time outfield, a young OF like him is what I think the Sox need. They can be had cheap, could develop, as the Sox build. We THINK Semien is capable of that but a sure way to upgrade is to get 1 or 2 WAR from reserves and getting rid of negative WAR players ( Viciedo). The Red Sox would be wise to sell high on him. He may never approach what he did last year again but I'd like to find out with him in a White Sox uniform . A crowded OF is exactly how the Sox grabbed Eaton and it now applies in Boston. He won't get a chance to start in Boston and at his age (26) he should be given a chance to find out if he is legit. http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/69622576/v344...riple/?c_id=mlb Single off Danks that Eaton missed a shoestring catch that turned it into a triple.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 06:55 PM) HOlt's kind of interesting -how's his D? I'd take a flyer on Bradley Jr too. However a)I don't think he comes that cheap and b)the odds are he's another Danks/Wise and I've had enough of that. The Fangraphs hilites were all on D plus that 2 War has to mean he had some defensive prowess also . Looks like he was best at SS and RF but since he played so many positions getting a grasp on his D is difficult. But is he the player from the 1st half or the 2nd half when pitchers probably made adjustments to him ? He had never played OF prior to his use by the Red Sox. He had a walkoff hit against Guerra July 9th http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/28898650/v344...right/?c_id=mlb The Red Sox announcers we're saying the "legend of Brock Holt continues because he was just making all kinds of plays where ever they put him and hitting well.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 06:34 PM) Just want to point out that heavy right handed hitting lineups do not always work out against a left handed starting pitcher. Also, the Sox have been starved for quality left handed bats. The only left handed bats that have shown signs of life on a daily basis are Gillaspie and Eaton. The Sox have added LaRoche but could use another left handed hitting outfielder ( preferably with some pop) which is why the names of Ethier, CarGo and Crawford have been mentioned/ rumored. LaRoche is the lone power bat from the left side at the moment and seeing as how the Sox have a gaping hole in LF it makes sense the Sox would look for a left handed bat for LF. Melky, Rasmus and Saunders. I'm also adding Brock Holt to the list (See my post in Red Sox OF's thread for more in depth on him)

QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 05:56 PM) I find it odd that the Sox haven't really been linked to a RHSP despite everyone saying they are looking for one. Waiting on Maeda? The domino's have to start falling . All the big signings have been posiion players so far. It will be sorted out .

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 24, 2014 -> 11:19 PM) By my count, the Red Sox have 9 outfielders..... Cespedes, Castillo, Hanley, Victorino, Nava, Craig, Bradley Jr., Betts, Holt Their starting rotation is a mess. I can't imagine with this wild spending spree that they don't just go for broke (sound familar? Beckett, Gonzalez, Crawford) and bring back Lester or even add Scherzer. I'd like to see the Sox target Betts to play LF. Even though it may be a slap in the face, I'd like to see us offer Montas + a lesser prospect for Betts. Maybe Montas + Beck. I think Betts would be an awesome fit for this team as he just turned 22, he hits for good average (.346 in 99 games in AA-AAA, .291 in 51 ML games), hits for decent power (11 HR in AA-AAA, 5 in ML), steals a lot of bases (33 in AA-AAA, 7 in ML), walks MORE than he strikes out (61 BB, 50 K in AA-AAA, 21 BB, 31 K in ML), and plays CF and 2B, meaning he should be able to play a good LF for us. I mean, he's a super impressive player who absolutely dominated baseball at age 21. Combine AA-AAA-MLB numbers last year, and he hit about .320 with 16 HR, 40 SB, 42 2B, a 400+ OBP, and he still has 6 years of team control left. I mean, he'd be a pretty phenomenal get, in my opinion. It would probably cost us a LOT more than Montas + Beck if it wasn't for the fact that the Red Sox have so many damn OFers already, and it's certainly possible they will clear other guys in order to KEEP Betts. But I wish Hahn would really press Cherington and try and dangle some of our pitching prospects for him. Surprised no one has said anything about Brock Holt. Extremely valuable . Plays every position except pitcher and catcher. LH, hits and runs well 26 years old. Good option for OF full time, back up CF , 3B, SS, in case of injury. SS by trade I think but so is Boegarts . Heck he might be a good option if Alexei is traded or if Gillaspie's season was a fluke. 2014 Games By Position: PH (1), 1B (8), LF (8), CF (10), 2B (11), SS (12), RF (35), 3B (39) He is what we are hoping Semien becomes , a 2 WAR jack of all trades with starter upside. I've been touting Saunders and many have echoed that sentiment but I'd be pleased as punch with Holt. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/brock-holt-leak-plugger/ Fangraphs highlights of him in various positions. He set the world on fire the 1st half of the season. 2nd half not so much. It wasn't long ago that he was thought to be organizational filler so he may come cheap despite his 2 WAR . BTW he also hit LH's better than RH's . Came in 8th in ROY voting.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 05:08 PM) Won't give up a second round pick, but will give up quality prospect(s) for a 1 year player? Just throwing names out there. How we acquire them is not up to me nor did I suggest we would give up prospects for them. Brock Holt is a good utility type player LH 26 years old. Maybe would be a good regular. Played all over the diamond for the Red Sox. Maybe he get's squeezed out. 2014 Games By Position: PH (1), 1B (8), LF (8), CF (10), 2B (11), SS (12), RF (35), 3B (39)

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 25, 2014 -> 12:24 PM) I think that you have certainly established the argument that we need left-handed hitters. I think we all agree. I like that LaRoche addressed that, and I think we're fortunate that we're actually in a market where left-handed power is less expensive than right-handed power. As for Ethier: the idea of him makes sense, but his cost is truly prohibitive. I think he's popular on here for people who assume he'll come with salary relief, but we need to remember that if he does, he'll cost us talent. The only way we get him "free" is if we take the money. To me, there was room for one high-money, one dimensional acquisition for left-handed power, and that went to LaRoche. I think if we eat another $10-15m on Ethier, we're going to find ourselves hard-pressed to make the pitching upgrades we need to make for the team to have a fighting chance at a WC berth in 2015. All of that said, the next biggest priority behind pitching has GOT to be a left-handed LF, IMO. I just don't know that Ethier is the answer. Which is why Melky is ideal . That way he can be in the lineup against LH and RH thereby limiting the effectiveness of a LH reliever. Seems to me though that Hahn is doing his damnedest not to give up that 2nd rd pick . Maybe another SH like Zobrist (FA 2016) ,Dexter Fowler ( FA 2016) or Angel Pagan (FA 2017) coming back from injury could be options.

He'll endorse ANYTHING !!

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 07:48 PM) That means 3 year, $12M per year. That's why I said IF .Most people would've phrased that 3/36 or put the PER year in there.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) .287 avg .346 obp 25 homers...guy quietly put together a great year I really wonder what Semien would do if given the LF job based on his 2nd half call up. Seems to me he's capable of 20HR and a good OBP. Trouble is we didn't see him in the OF at all after that call up even though he got time in the OF in the minors after he was sent down.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 04:26 PM) The Dodgers thank you and are trying to hold back their laughter. So is McCarthy's agent if 3years $12M means only $4M a year. He'll easily get double that.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) Look at Diaz' splits last year, at AAA: http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?playe...ing/2014/MINORS That was very good production vs. RHP, for a SS. If he is a good defender, he should definitely be in the mix, if Alexei is traded. Used to be a switch hitter, might've given up on it but yes horrid against lefties. Very good against righties.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) This is the best info on his defense that I can find: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/gett...-loving-gloves/ It's from last month and states: " has a plus arm he used to lead Pacific Coast League shortstops in assists (325), putouts (156) and double plays (70)". I'm guessing being as big as he is 6'4" 220 he doesn't quite have the range to be an elite SS as he was -17 below league average for assists. There may be other factors such as a pitching staff that doesn't induce ground balls. Big arm though but also seemed like he makes a decent amount of errors, usually 20+ playing full time. This is all just a deduction from the stats on my part.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 02:03 PM) This is all speculation, but Diaz is 30 I think, had a brief stint in the majors a few years back..he's a AAA player. And we know that L Garcia can field the position so I don't see Diaz with any real chance. If Semien can handle the position defensively, fantastic. I thought Sanchez was a SS more than a 2B. Maybe I'm wrong there. 25

Do Joe Savery ,Logan Kensing and Juan Diaz count as our next move ? BTW Diaz is a SS http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/4194...spring-training from over a year ago but tells you some things about him. Big guy for a SS cannon arm. Precursor of an Alexei trade ? Spent last year in the PCL (AAA) http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_...ameType=%27R%27

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 23, 2014 -> 08:28 AM) All the reports I've read said they would prefer to trade Kemp simply because they should be able to get a good return vs what would most likely be a salary dump/bad contract for bad contract deal when it comes to trading Ethier/Crawford. I think Kemp gets traded and it wouldn't shock me if it's to the White Sox....It also wouldn't shock me if some other team comes along and offers up better than the Lexi+ package we would have to offer. I don't know man. Losing Hanley and Kemp would really zap their RH power and would (temporarily) leave them with the all LH OF of Pederson, Crawford and Ethier .Van Slyke is RH. Pretty much only Puig and ancient Uribe would have any RH pop.