Its official.... Red Sox, Dodgers Complete Nine-Player Blockbuster A Look At The Prospects Headed To The Red Sox Two upside #2 arms, and two role players. Seems about right for waiving the white flag and dumping salary as the goal. Its a fresh start, lets see how it rebuilds, and how the remaining vets feel.
Here's a look at some of the reaction to today's mega-deal.. I would say these are pretty on point...and the future is unknown so "now" is the proper focus, the collateral damage is just as unknown.
Even now the trade looks stupid on the Dodgers end. The prospects the Red Sox received are just gravy. The fact that they got rid of both Beckett and Crawford is unfair. Gives me hope that the Marlins can trade Bell, Buck and Nolasco.
I agree, it's insane that the Sox not only got rid of all those contracts, barely had to pay anything AND got prospects back. Why on earth would LA do that? It's unreal if you think about it. If one of us even joked about something like that on these boards we'd get laughed at and forced to watch FinYank work out at the gym while BigDog sits next to you talking about how he used to watch Cy Young pitch to Ty Cobb when he was younger. Seriously if I'm a GM of another team don't you have to call the Dodgers up and see if they want your highest paid players? Even if it's just to bust balls?
I wouldn't be surprised if he's dealt this offseason. He's a FA after the 2013 season and is a Boras client. Will be looking for big money but would he be worth it?
Now its all about what they do moving forward. I can see why folks are thrilled to get rid of contracts and admit mistakes on players, etc. But judging LAD will have to wait till playoffs and see how it goes, but they improved for sure too.
Well, like Ray Finkle said, you just know CC, Gonzalez, and Beckett will return to form. Just like Hanley did for them and Youk did for Chicago. If that happens, they're tough to beat.
I was out all night, checked my phone around 9 pm, saw the Sox were up 9 to 3. Checked the phone at around 10, saw Gonzalez hit a 3 run HR in his first at bat then saw the Sox/Royals were tied at 9 and then just started laughing to myself. You just knew that was going to happen. Again, I hope Gonzalez, Beckett and Crawford do well and I suspect they all will but this trade just isn't about 2012, it's for 2012 and beyond.
By the way I'm surprised at how many writers love the trade for the Sox, starting to make me a little nervous (not really but strange, usually you get one or two that take the Sox over the coals but everyone loves it and are now Ben Cherington's biggest fans).
Aceves was suspended 3 games for going nuts in Valentine's office on Friday night after Bailey got the save chance instead of him. Good for Valentine and Cherington to take action and trying to change how things are in the clubhouse. And really Aceves? You've been awful lately.
When you look at the interview of Gonzo, Beckett, and Punto when they first arrived in LA, they facial expressions is nothing but relief, and utter excitement..... Things must be hell in Boston...
I think for Beckett he absolutely needed a fresh start (ditto for Crawford). I'm sure things were tough on Gonzalez, especially the past 24 hours of just not knowing if he was going to be dealt, etc. and now he's playing back home. Plus playing on a contender must be nice too. But yes I'm sure Boston is hell on earth right now. Of course part of the reason it may have been hell could have been those guys too (not saying they're a problem or THE problem).
More Sox love..... http://sports.yahoo.com/news/10-deg...etween-players--ownership-still-poisoned.html
Things can't and won't be fixed over night but I think it's incredibly important for John Henry to make a public statement that Ben Cherington is his GM and is the one running the team. Next I think they should simply dump Valentine as soon as possible, whether they truly want to wait until the end of the year or do it today, it has to be done simply to wash their hands of the past 2 years. I don't think Lucchino is going anywhere but I do think he's a problem. Theo was able to gain Henry's trust and able to fight off Lucchino to gain control of the team, hopefully Cherington can do the same as I think Lucchino does more harm than good. By the way Buster Olney and Keith Law's blogs over the weekend were very good breaking down the trade.
Two very good articles on the trade: From Jonah Keri: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8306109/financial-concern-window-comes-new-dodgers-regime From Michael Silverman who details how the trade came about: http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1061155865&position=1 Interesting that the Dodgers originally the Dodgers were working on a deal for Beckett on 7/31 but he got hurt (shockingly) and then the Dodgers approached the Sox about Gonzalez and when they were told no, the Dodgers said they wanted John Lackey along with Beckett and Gonzalez but the Sox said no again and it wasn't until the Dodgers asked for Crawford that got the Sox interested. Reading the article, again a good read, it sounds like the Dodger decision makers treated this deal like they were playing fantasy baseball with little worry about the future of their organization.
Great to see the small market Red Sox win 2 games in a row!!!! Wonder if Matsuzaka has any trade value after today's performance?
Does the Dice-man even pitch in the majors next year or go back to Japan. I don't see a big payday out there for him, maybe Seattle throws a few bucks his way? I am surprised they aren't letting Iglesias play, everyone knows Aviles is a backup. See if they need to pine about having Lowrie back.
I'm sure teams will give be looking to sign him. No reason an NL team doesn't offer him at least a 1 year deal, I think he'd be good there, especially in a big ballpark (maybe the Dodgers?). I can't see how any team would offer him a big contract but he'll get work in the MLB if he wants it. I agree about Iglesias especially after Valentine wanted him to start the year with the team. I think word is Iglesias is still a little beat up from running into a catcher a few days ago at Triple A and needed some rest. But you're right, Aviles is what he is (and isn't very good) no reason why Iglesias, Lavarnway and Kalish shouldn't be playing everyday from now until the season is over.
hahah thats amazing, simply amazing, that like saying if this were to occur..... I will take some Vicodin (a doctor would say no), and I want some rum with it too (again the doctor says no), I dont want to sleep either (doctor says get some sleep), and lastly I want the keys to my car, and I am not wearing a seat belt (doctor makes the trade)
Seriously the Dodgers need a 3rd basemen....can the Yankees just put A-Rod on waivers.....take a shot!!
It's unreal. I mean again I get why the Dodgers would want Gonzalez but they were playing with a power position here. You have the Sox desperate trying to dump some contracts, don't you at least say to the Sox either we're paying for 95% of the contracts and all you get back is Loney because of need a 1B or if you want prospects you have to pay anywhere from (throwing out random numbers here) 30 to 40% of the money owed? Don't you at least have to ask or try to play hardball here? I'm almost disappointed the Sox didn't ask for more or offer up Lackey too to try and get another prospect. It feels like the Dodgers would have said yes to anything. The whole thing is just funny, I still can't believe it happened.
I'm being 100% seriously here, if I were a GM of another team I would absolutely call up the Dodgers and see if they wanted one of my overpriced players for nothing as long as they pick up the contract. I mean what do the Marlins have to lose to call up the Dodgers and ask them if they want Heath Bell or for the Angels to call and offer Vernon Wells or the Mets with Jason Bay etc.
The prospect thing is the killer.....for the money paid out who should get nothing in return....maybe a few throw in's.....we are talking about 1/4 of a billion dollars of bad burden....
wait I am hearing something very interesting.....going to find the article and head over to the Yankee thread....this if I can find is mindblowing...