Well Michael Bourn got 4/48 at age 30, with a vesting option to make it 5/60. Although I do think Bourn is the better more consistent player but Ellsbury probably has more upside still. The pros for Ellsbury is that he plays CF and did show the ability to hit for power. The cons are he's not a great defender, doesn't have a great arm, has been hurt for a lot of his career (even if it was fluke injuries), hasn't hit LHPers well, his 30 and no one truly knows what kind of player he really is. It this point, if Ellsbury doesn't turn his season around it will be a great debate to see if the Sox even offer him arbitiration since there's no way he'd be worth 12.5 million and he might accept it with hopes he rebounds the next year. I do think there will be a market for him, again because he's a true CFer, but he's not getting a big deal unless he just goes insane until the end of the year. If he doesn't then I could see him signing on a 1 year deal, assuming the Sox don't offer him the contract then that team wouldn't lose a pick, with a club to re-establish his value. I was actually thinking about it the other day but between Ellsbury, Drew, Saltalamacchia and Bailey the Sox have some tough decisions on whether to offer these guys arbitiration of not after the season. But it's all way to early to debate for now but having 4 extra picks would be nice.
Depends on the arbitration number as well, last year it was 13-change million.....assuming it goes up a little it call it 14M flat.....Sox really going risk paying that to Salty? Bailey too? those guys arent worth that imo.....Drew I wouldn't even pay 14 for either...I mean they have the flexibility for one year but that is a pretty big risk IMO.... Elsbury I would offer and let Boras do his ego man fit and they will deny and you have your draft pick....it worked beautifully with Soriano last year....
I'm not sure if the arbitration number goes up. I don't think it would otherwise in 5 years or so it would be close to 20 million. I think the figure stays the same until the next CBA. But I could be rong. Assuming all 4 players have typical years I would absolutely offer arbitration to all 4. The demand will absolutely be there for all 4 players since we're talking about a SS, C, CP and CFer. None of them at worth 14 million a year but I think all 4 could get multi-year deals from other teams. The demand for even an average catcher or SS is extremely high and teams ALWAYS overpay for "proven closers". And what's the worst that can happen if they all accept? The Sox can always trade him to other clubs and even if they keep them they can afford it. Again this discussion is a bit premature as the season is far from over and they can always underperform or get hurt etc. But I do believe that if all 4 guys have the seasons they're are all capable of there will be a lot of demand out there for their services.
The Sox being able to absorb those contracts for one year is what makes it work, if this were NY they couldnt offer all 4 if they plan on sticking to the 189 model....56M for those 4 guys is way to much cash but again worth the risk for the Sox to get back draft picks and in the end it is only 1 year if they choose to accept it....I get the positions are a premium positions just not so sure the players are....If the Yanks paid 14M for Andrew Bailey I would be pissed... Premature sure, but fun to talk none the less!! Baseball is one sport I almost like the offseason better than the regular one ahahaah
Russell Martin got a 3 year deal from the Pirates last offseason, the demand for even an average catcher is high. Saltalamacchia could probably get a deal similar to Martin's. But just taking pure money out of the mix, teams will be lining up to try and sign him because again the demand is just so high. Ditto for Stephen Drew, he's a good player when he's healthy and the demand for even an average SS is very high. Teams again would be after him. Bailey is a good pitching, when healthy, and we all know how teams jump at RPers especially closers. Bailey will easily find a multi-year deal. The only player with a question mark is Ellsbury. I'd be pretty confident that both Bailey and Drew would reject the offer and test the market. Not sure about either Ellsbury or Saltalamacchia.
When healthy is the key, I guess it all depends what they are looking for money wise too.....If Drew wants a multi at 10M per then year he will reject it, if he expects like 13-15 no he shouldn't BUT it really doesn't matter once he rejects it... Dude I think the surefire guy that rejects it is Elsbury because of Boras regardless of the stats this year.....I think Salty accepts he and Fenway go good together, and 13M is a nice penny....he hasnt been very good outside of Fenway....but again it doesnt matter where he goes after he rejects (from your point of view) Martin got a 2 year I believe no?
The multi-year deal is more important than then the dollar amount per year. None of them will get a contract for 13 million or more like they would with arbitration but they would absolutely reject it if they could get multiple years. No players wants to go year to year especially when they're still considered to be in their primes.
5 in 540 plate appearances, 500 at bats, yup. Surprised CHB hasn't brought up PEDs with Ellsbury yet....
Well since you mentioned PED's.... http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ellsbja01.shtml If this was not a Red Sox player wouldnt you find his 2011 season a little out of the norm?
So what? Baseball is like that, flukey at times. Roger Maris' 1961 season was out of the norm too, you think he was using PEDs? And this has nothing to do with him being a Red Sox. My question to anyone is, let's say he was taking PEDs in 2011, why didn't he put up the same type of numbers in 2012 (at least similar power numbers when he played since he was hurt most of the year) or even this year? You think he just took PEDs in 2011 and stopped? It was probably just a fluke season for him when he was fully healthy.
Well see. I don't think their SPing is good enough. But hey I'm rooting for them to do well though because of Tito. Also hoping if the Sox can't win the WS they do and Swisher wins the MVP in each round just to see FinYank freak the hell out.
Apparently so, at least here anyway. Thankfully the media hasn't started it up (yet). I do wonder if that shoulder injury is bugging him ala Adrian Gonzalez.
He looked good for the first 2 innings, just got unlucky by a 120 foot blooper that was placed perfectly, then he simply lost control of the strike zone. Maybe it was just an effect of throwing so many pitches the start before but he's slowly starting to worry me a bit. Not that I don't think he can handle the AL but because he's usually a control guy that pounds the zone and all of the sudden that has stopped.
Has to be...or he could be feeling a little pressure of having to perform in a walk year.....I doubt it though...
Could be because of the walk year, might be putting too much pressure on himself. Could be because the team has faced a lot of LHPers and he's had like only 5 extra base hits off of them in forever. Could just be a random slump. Only he knows.
Oh man, imagine if the WS Game 7 came down to Nick Swisher or Austin Jackson facing A.J. Burnett or Ian Kennedy with the game on the line in extra innings?
I will drive a car through your house for jinxing this Fink!!! dude check this out.. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...-koji-uehara-high-powered-high-104250956.html
Haha I saw that live and nearly pissed myself due to laughing. Koji's dugout celebrations are the best. And kudos to Victorino for the look on his face after it happened. It's weird to see a Red Sox team that looks like they might actually like each other.
Alfredo Aceves is back! Or at least in the Sox clubhouse. Wonder who's heading to the DL or getting released. Seriously though, the guy is a wacko but is an upgrade as a multiple inning RPer/emergency starte than Clayton Mortensen is. Hopefully he's motivated after spending some time in Triple A.
Iglesias and Aceves up. Interesting. Sox will probably make another move this weekend to call up another INF or OF as carrying 13 pitches doesn't make much sense. Best guess JBJ will be back soon. Also Sox recalled David Ross from the DL and sent Lavarnway back to the minors.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bradle000jac .333/.424/.473/.897 1 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB in 16 games, 10 BB vs. 17 Ks
Bradley his hit well since he was sent down, which is a good sign. Garin Cecchini is the guy, I have been watching, he is pounding the ball at Salem. Good win by the Sox, loved the Francona meme about pitching to Pedroia.
Cecchini is probably the 3rd baseman of the future, I bet he'll be up to Double A by July. Also Christian Vazquez is looking really good this year too. He's also been known as a strong defensive catcher but he's actually hitting too.
Probably pitches per outing. Probably taking it extra cautious with him due to his injuries the past few years. But if he can ever stay healthy the talent is there. Nice to see him finally rebounding after a few tough years. I know the Sox have an organization rule that if any pitcher throws 30+ pitches in 1 inning he's automatically out of the game after/if he finishes the inning.
Everyone loves a great comeback. Nice to see Ellsbury come through, maybe this will turn things around for him.
Yeah that was a big win for the team yesterday. Ellsbury has been swinging the bat better as of late too.
Alright guys, posting this in here cuz I treat the red sox and yankee threads as general baseball talk most of the time. Im in an extremely deep fantasy baseball league and I need some advice. I have Wade Davis, who has not pitched well this year outside of a couple starts, however I just feel like hes to talented for his current production, so he will get better. However, hes really struggled with his command, so maybe not. I picked up Ted Lilly while he was injured and stashed him on my DL. So I am thinking of just dropping Davis and activating Lilly. Do you believe this is a good move? And follow up, Wade Davis has had decent stats against Texas, and hes facing Texas @ Texas, while Lilly is facing LAA @ LAA. Should I start Lilly and drop Davis? Or wait for Davis to start and continue to stash Lilly. If Davis has a good start, I MAY be able to trade him. Maybe not though... Ill hang up and listen to your answers...
Really you have to choose between those two? I think Lilly is the safe choice due to home ball park, league and the pitcher's parks in the NL West. But Davis has the upside potential, like you said. Lilly there is a big injury risk with him but you probably know what you're getting with him in terms of ERA, WHIP, etc. I'd probably lean towards Lilly, if it's not a keeper league, since he's the safer choice. I just don't think I trust Davis enough as a starter right now.
