beck72

A few things: *Bart Hernandez is his agent. Not sure who he's represented. *Jose Arangure considers him an elite prospect, and should get more than 4 yrs, $10 mill. that Cuban shortstop Adeinis Hechevarria signed w/ the Blue Jays last year, and the 4 yr, $8.2 mill Jose Iglesias signed with the Red Sox in '09. http://twitter.com/jorgearangure/status/42680797672640513 I'm not sure if the Sox have the money. But this is the kind of investment they should make for the top of the order hitter they need.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 19, 2011 -> 02:50 PM) isnt the (hopeful) plan to have Mitchell replace Pierre? If the price is right, there should be room for both. And with Mitchell's injury, that set his development back. Mitchell was raw to begin with and hasn't had any time in the minors. Best case, might be mid 2012.

Didn't see this mentioned anywhere, but 22 yr old Cuban OFer Leon'ys Martin is a free agent and negotiating with teams now. Seeing how the Sox may have to replace Pierre in 2012, Leon'ys Martin sounds like a possible replacement for him. In the 08-09 season, Martin had a .498 OBP, with 78 BB's in a 90 game season. The Sox don't have anyone with that skillset [speed, OBP, lead off type hitter] close to the bigs. We all know the connection with Alexei and Dayan. Not sure what other teams would be in the bidding, that would help a young Cuabn defector like him feel comfortable. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10253 http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/03/leon...-mlb-teams.html

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Mar 12, 2011 -> 04:32 AM) We have Teahen who can play 3B (awfully, of course), and we have Vizquel who can play SS, 3B, and 2B. I don't see why we need a 3rd backup infielder. Whereas we have only have 1 backup OF in Teahen, who isn't that great out there either. I think having Vizquel pretty much makes Lillibridge's versatility moot. Go with Milledge. That. Lillibridge won't need to play the IF with Vizquel.

If you look at who the best player is, regardless of position, [though you ultimately have to compare them to their peers at their respective positions] I went with Danks.

I wouldn't want them to deal him. In the short term, it may hurt them. Yet the young talent they could get in return could stock them for the next 5 years at a few key spots, would probably be better for the Twins in the long term. Kind of like the Tigers Granderson deal for Austin Jackson. It seemed like a sell off. Yet it helped them get younger and better.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 22, 2011 -> 04:26 PM) Bah, his hitting will come around, in fact he probably doesn't have that much to learn in Charlotte, it's the fact that we've spent 2 years and we still haven't gotten him used to a defensive position that bugs me. That's on Dayan though-he's played 3b mostly in the minors-some 1b. Yet it's not like he's been ready defensively or offensively enough to stick in the bigs, and the Sox haven't found him a spot. If he can't play major league 3b defense, he doesn't have much value for the sox. But I still think it's early for the kid. If he can be serviceable in the OF, ala Quentin, he could still stick with the Sox.

I definitely see Dayan starting the year in AAA and getting time in the OF. Depending on how Quentin, Dayan and the sox do, it could then lead to trading Carlos. The only way the sox would trade Carlos in season would be if they were out of it, Dayan showed ability in the OF, and Carlos could bring a decent return. But I'm not sure if Dayan could better Carlos' defense. I don't see a Rios, Dayan and Carlos OF in 2012. One of the two won't be with the sox after 2011.

I could see if Soriano signs for less up front cash, and more in years 2 and 3. Teahen could be sent packing, ala Linebrink. That might save $1.5-2 mill.

Ozzie needs to shut Oney up. Or Ozzie needs to keep his mouth shut regarding player issues and keep things in house. KW, Ozzie and Coop could have responded to Jenks' comments with a simple "We gave him opportunities, it didn't work out", "we tried to help Bobby", or taken the high road and let the comments slide. If half of what Oney posted was true, Jenks has enough crap to deal with. And the players in the Sox org. and management know what's up. No need to air the dirty laundry. I'm sure Kenny and Jerry are pissed at this garbage from Oney and something needs to be done. It hurts the Sox unnecessarily, and other players won't want their issues brought up in public if they can avoid it [like signing elsewhere as a free agent].

Isn't Tony Pena the guy most likely to take over for Peavy until he's ready? Esp, coming from Spring Training, Pena will be stretched out. He's not ideal. But then he'd go to the bullpen [hopefully] when Peavy is healthy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 03:10 PM) The only reason they signed those deals was that they were getting their last 2 arbitration years guaranteed, and both of them get paid like $13 million in those years. John Danks has already gotten through the equivalent of the first 2 years on those contracts. Based entirely on comparison with those contracts, it'd take well more than $14 mil a year to extend him at this point. That's the difference between signing when you're 4 years away from FA and signing when you're 2 years away. Those 2 signed those deals when they were in the same spot Danks is now--2 years from free agency. It was basically a 2 yr extension. It makes sense for Danks to sign an extension now [to get $40 mill. in his pocket]. And he'd still be in line to be a free agent at 29--good enough to sign a 6, 7 year max deal.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 03:41 PM) Clearly, there's no good reason for him to ink a contract right now that pays him less than MB. You're arguing that he'd make less than MB in the hypothetical world where he signs a substantially below market extension, which he has no reason to do. If he's a $17 million pitcher, and could well be a $20 million a year pitcher if he pulls off a really good year once out of the next 2 years, there's no reason for him to sign a $12 million a year extension. I'm not arguing his value compared to Mark. What I'm saying is he could sign an extension similar to what Grienke did in 2009 and Josh Johnson did last year, that bought out the last 2 years of arb. They both signed 4 yr, $39 mill deals, that had low first and 2nd years, with bigger 3rd and 4th years. Grienke- $3.75 mill. $7.25, $13.5 and $13.5 Johnson- $3.75 mill. $7.75, $13.75, and $13.75. Whether Danks does or not, who knows. But all that money is guaranteed now, before he gets a chance to get hurt and delay or never have that big payday.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 02:06 PM) Really, no it isn't. If he gets to the FA market right now, no injuries, he's probably a $17-ish million a year pitcher. I'm saying if the sox signed him to an extension now, he'd be making less than Mark. Not his value as a FA. What I'd expect is the sox to use the money from MB and attempt to sign Danks to a deal after 2011. Though Danks would then be wise to wait for the big payday after 2012.

The Sox don't have to and won't trade Danks. He's the replacement for Buehrle. Give him the type of contract that pays him what he's worth and it'll still be less than what MArk is making this year. His durability and stuff make him a prime guy to build around rather than trade.

QUOTE (wsgdf_2 @ Dec 22, 2010 -> 10:15 PM) I'd like to see Sale used similarly to how the Twins used Johan for two years when they broke him in. Get him as many important innings as you can without making him a full time starter. Let him spot start and work from the pen, but when you bring him in from the pen put him in important high leverage spots and let him go a couple of innings. If there's a tight spot in the 6th - bring in Sale and leave him there until the 8th. Get 100+ innings out of the guy. I wouldn't be totally against using him as the closer - but I think you can get more out of him if used creatively and I also fear his success as closer would peg him into that role permanently. Just my 2 cents. Good points. With Sale eating innings like that, the sox though would need another LHP for the pen, as Sale wouldn't be available many times, needing an extra day off. That means Thornton and Crain would be looking as the options as closer.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 03:39 PM) You misinterpreted what I said. Of course the overall team is going to have to perform. But a healthy, productive Peavy makes what should be a good team into one that can legitimately challenge for the AL pennant, assuming, of course, the rest of the team performs. There's no upside with guys like Danks, Floyd and Buehrle. They are what they are. You just hope they can match that. A good to great Jake Peavy adds a whole nother element. Yeah, I thought you were saying the Sox season kind of rested on Peavy's shoulders. I agree with the bolded part. As long as a few question marks get answered in the sox way--like a healthy Quentin sniffs his 2008 year; Beckham, Jackson, Crain, Sale and Santos are consistently solid; and most of the vets-I include Danks and Gavin--have career avg. years, then a healthy Peavy takes the team to a whole new level.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 03:10 PM) I can't think of a time recently that our overall success as a team was so tied into one player being healthy and performing like they're capable. If we get the Peavy we're all praying for, we can run with anybody. That includes the Red Sox. The guy is that talented. His 1.75 ERA last June is sufficient evidence of that. I think Peavy is a key certainly. But the sox winning the Central has more to do with the offense, defense and bullpen being above average and doing it's job than Jake being healthy. The Starting Pitching of Mark, Floyd, Danks and Jackson could keep the sox more than competitive.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 02:36 PM) There is a lot of stress on the lat during throwing. It is the primary internal rotator of the shoulder. so when the arm is coming forward it is provding most of the power. That being said it isn't a stabilizer of the joint which is why it isn't under the same type of stress as the rotator cuff which needs to hold the joint together and slow the arm down during the follow through. The challenge for the rest of the rehab will be to strengthen the muscle that was dormant for months. That takes time but is just a prcess that will happen but you just aren't sure of the time frame with regards to getting the "stuff" back on the pitches. I'm confident it will happen in time for the season or at least early in the season but that will be the only limiting factor. Thanks for the medical view. I know that's your background. So, would you say we could look for less MPH, movement on his pitches early on, as the muscle regains strength? Also, how likely is the muscle to become "unattached" again? Isn't that the unknown, as pitchers haven't had this type of injury before?

I'm cautiously optimistic. Esp. as the doctors say Jake can go "full-bore" in Feb. I'd be more concerned if the injury was to his shoulder or arm. There's less stress and torque on the lat muscle for Peavy pitching. Yet the fact that no pitcher has had this injury before raises alarm bells. And questions about if he can come back and for how long. That doesn't even take into account a possible injury to his elbow or arm if he overcompensates for the lat injury. Oh well, it's the season of hope, right.

I think it's a big addition. And the sox didn't need to trade anyone to get him.

I could see one piece of the bullpen added with a swap of bad contracts. Like Teahen for Mike Gonzalez of the O's who's owed $6 mill for 2011. Not ideal. But it could save a few bucks and get some competition for the bullpen.

I don't see the sox making a deal with Mark involved that makes the sox stronger--that's even if a team would even give talent that would be near Mark's. His salary will come off the books next year so unless he takes a pay cut, it's STL or somewhere else. He's given the sox great consistency, solid production. But they can't afford him.

This has all the makings of a classic non-trade. Few teams will give up what Carlos potentially is worth, so the Sox hold onto him. Yet even if the Sox hold onto him and Carlos has another bad, injury riddled 2011, the return this off-season would barely have been worth it. Even a decent year by Carlos will likely be an "upgrade" over whatever any other team would have trade for him. And the possibility remains that he can come close to his 2008 year. I've talked myself into it--Kenny, keep Carlos. And have a late inning defensive specialist ready in the 7th inning to take over for him.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Dec 11, 2010 -> 03:02 PM) I think we gotta give TCQ one more year to see if he can get his head straight, as the 2008 version would make our offense pretty sick. I realize that was a while ago but again I think we should give him one more year, seems he will be 100% starting spring training with no nagging injuries. If we've gone this far why can't we just spend another 3-4 million on two halfway decent relievers who have some experience under their belt? It seems silly to spend all this money on PK, Dunn, etc and then start the season with a few minor leaguers working out of the pen.... The thinking seems to be if Carlos can be traded for a somewhat proven bullpen arm + other players [probably prospects not that far away from the bigs]. The sox will probably find that Carlos isn't going to get the return they need and will keep him. If anyone would be expendable, IMO, it's Viciedo. Esp. as the two spots talked about, 1b and DH, are wrapped up for the next 3, 4 years. He's too valuable as a trade chip to stow away in AAA as insurance should one of those 2 big guys go down.