With McCann to the Yanks, Ruiz to the Phillies, Navarro in as the starting catcher for the Jays, Rangers set on Soto as the catcher, and if the Red Sox end up with Salty, how many realistic options does AJ have? I know the Marlins are also in on Salty so I guess maybe they would be front-runners with AJ living in Florida?

AJ back to the Sox makes way too much sense...except for the inexplicable backlash from a weird part of our fanbase.

If there really are only a few teams interested, f*** it let's make AJ an offer and let Josh and Tyler duke it out in ST to platoon with AJ. Not like we couldn't use a LHB in the lineup anyway.

Seriously! Playing him literally blocks no one, there is no one in the minors coming up. If he was in a strict platoon with Flowers or Phegley, it would be effective. Him on a one year deal (or one year plus option) would be much better than going 4-5 years with Salty. And with a deep draft this year, maybe we end up taking a good catcher in the first couple rounds. It would also be great not giving up anyone from our system to fill the need.

Edited December 3, 201312 yr by chisoxfan310

Didn't Robin have beef with A.J. while he was here? If so, I don't see any way in hell he's coming back.

As much as I loathe AJ, I wouldn't mind bringing him back just for the purpose of flipping him at the deadline when out of contention. Use him as an inevitable trade chip.

Edited December 3, 201312 yr by DirtySox

Seriously! Playing him literally blocks no one, there is no one in the minors coming up. If he was in a strict platoon with Flowers or Phegley, it would be effective. Him on a one year deal (or one year plus option) would be much better than going 4-5 years with Salty. And with a deep draft this year, maybe we end up taking a good catcher in the first couple rounds. It would also be great not giving up anyone from our system to fill the need.

Absolutely what I'm thinking too!

 

Didn't Robin have beef with A.J. while he was here? If so, I don't see any way in hell he's coming back.

Who cares? This is about the Sox and not Robin. Robin only coaches the players Hahn gives him to coach and that's it.

Who cares? This is about the Sox and not Robin. Robin only coaches the players Hahn gives him to coach and that's it.

Lol...this is only about what's best for the team. You can't have players openly questioning the manager's decision-making in front of other teammates. It can create rifts in the clubhouse and effect the manager's ability to effectively lead his team.

Lol...this is only about what's best for the team. You can't have players openly questioning the manager's decision-making in front of other teammates. It can create rifts in the clubhouse and effect the manager's ability to effectively lead his team.

 

Yep.

 

Also, I believe Bucket implied that many of his teammates had issues with him. It was around the time Reed plunked him last year. Part of me would like him just so he could be traded at some point next season and part of me doesn't want that douchebag anywhere near the clubhouse.

As much as I loathe AJ, I wouldn't mind bringing him back just for the purpose of flipping him at the deadline when out of contention. Use him as an inevitable trade chip.

 

That's really the only reason to sign him.

Lol...this is only about what's best for the team. You can't have players openly questioning the manager's decision-making in front of other teammates. It can create rifts in the clubhouse and effect the manager's ability to effectively lead his team.

I know, you're right but I have to admit Robin leaves me scratching my head a lot so I guess I can see where AJ would be coming from. AJ does know the game pretty damn well.

I know, you're right but I have to admit Robin leaves me scratching my head a lot so I guess I can see where AJ would be coming from. AJ does know the game pretty damn well.

Going 63-99 the year after AJ leaves, should be an indication of who likely won that argument or "beef". Robin really is not manager material and AJ seems to be getting better with age. (At least offensively)

Yep.

 

Also, I believe Bucket implied that many of his teammates had issues with him. It was around the time Reed plunked him last year. Part of me would like him just so he could be traded at some point next season and part of me doesn't want that douchebag anywhere near the clubhouse.

From a pure numbers standpoint, he might be an ok stop-gap assuming age doesn't finally catch up to him. However, I just think if you're going to add a veteran on a short-term deal he has to be a good clubhouse fit. I don't know if the rumors are even true, but if A.J. was doing what Bucket implied then it's a no-brainer that you don't bring him back IMO.

I know, you're right but I have to admit Robin leaves me scratching my head a lot so I guess I can see where AJ would be coming from. AJ does know the game pretty damn well.

Don't disagree on that, but he still can't be undermining his manager in front of teammates. It's simply a headache and risk not worth taking on a stop-gap player.

Going 63-99 the year after AJ leaves, should be an indication of who likely won that argument or "beef". Robin really is not manager material and AJ seems to be getting better with age. (At least offensively)

 

 

Don't disagree on that, but he still can't be undermining his manager in front of teammates. It's simply a headache and risk not worth taking on a stop-gap player.

Agree with ya both here so let's just fire robin!

Going 63-99 the year after AJ leaves, should be an indication of who likely won that argument or "beef". Robin really is not manager material and AJ seems to be getting better with age. (At least offensively)

 

Aj leaving did not cause the 63 win season. Unless you somehow believe things like AJ leaving caused Paulie to smash his arm on the wall in a fit of sadness, which caused him to hurt his wrist, or that De Aza was so distracted by AJs absense that he was constantly thinking of him, leading him to miss balls in CF and get picked off of bases....

Aj leaving did not cause the 63 win season. Unless you somehow believe things like AJ leaving caused Paulie to smash his arm on the wall in a fit of sadness, which caused him to hurt his wrist, or that De Aza was so distracted by AJs absense that he was constantly thinking of him, leading him to miss balls in CF and get picked off of bases....

Both of those things happened to me, so yeah.

 

But back to your hate fest & enjoy the free swinging garbage back there.

Red Sox

AJ reunited with Jake. That should be interesting.

AJ reunited with Jake. That should be interesting.

 

I bet Peavy just kicked the side of that stupid boat that he bought from the parade.

 

That clubhouse will keep AJ in check though. I feel like he would have run roughshod over Ventura and the White Sox clubhouse.

Both of those things happened to me, so yeah.

 

But back to your hate fest & enjoy the free swinging garbage back there.

 

 

AJ isn't a free swinger?

AJ isn't a free swinger?

That's exactly what I was going to say.

 

For some reason if you acknowledge A.J. is a flawed player (poor defender, free swinger, s***ty teammate) then you're a hater and don't appreciate what he's done for the franchise.

Yes, AJ is a free swinger, just like pretty much everybody else the Sox have right now. Yet, somehow, he seems to make it work for him better than most.

 

Still, I don't think I'd sign him right now, but if we get to late January, the catching situation hasn't improved, and he's still available, then sure give him a 1 year deal.

Never would have thought Boston would sign him.. not because of the clubhouse "issues" but because of their own traditional philosophy with hitters.

No surprise. AJ is really good buddies with Big Papi from their Minnesota days. The myth that everyone hates AJ will continue.