I know Fin wants you guys to sign Shields because he doesn't think he is that good, I think you guy SHOULD sign him. He would fit nicely for what you guys are trying to build.
The postseason stuff is nonsense and a non issue to me but the only reason why I'm not super crazy about Shields is he's 33 years old and I'm guessing he'd get a 4 or 5 year deal which isn't too exciting also I think he'd give up a lot of HRs in Fenway. I guess I'll hold out judgment until I see what his contract would be there. On the plus side he's a work horse, thrown over 200 innings in 8 straight years, and is apparently a club house leader and really good with young pitchers, which is something the Sox could use since Lester and Lackey are gone.
1 year 9 million dollar deal. I like this move by the Sox, potential bounce back year for Masterson, if he does well could get a pick for him, if he stinks he's gone. Beat reporters are reporting that the Sox still aren't done making moves.
Don't understand this one at all. They could have kept Butler for 1 year at what 11 million and instead sign Morales for 2 years at 17?
Me either - They screwed the pooch on Lester and now have filled their rotation with Laptops and #3 or #4's. Lose power with Cespedes trade, shove an aging ss in LF who may or may not hit and completely forgot about the bullpen. At this point the Yanks and the Sox are cellar dwellers. I think fan graphs has us as both 82 win teams. Pathetic, for that kind of money. I hope - hope the yanks dont go after Scherzer, this is a tear down until 2016 at the earliest. Let's play the kids and see where we are next year.
Anyone else think the Haren trade to the marlins is a bit... ahem, Fishy? He told them he would retire if traded away from the west coast. SO the dodgers send them 10 mill and he walks.
Haren was actually quite good down the stretch last year. Other than Kershaw, he was L.A.'s best pitcher in August/September.
I don't know why you don't think Hanley won't hit. He's hit everywhere he's played, including putting up big numbers in pitchers parks his whole career. If you want to knock him for his health that's at least a legit argument but him moving from the NL to the AL as evidence he may not hit when he's a career .300/.373/.500/.873 hitter is kind of silly. Yeah they lost Cespedes power but replaced it with Hanley who has a higher career SLG% and actually gets on base and is the better hitter, so I'd say they upgraded in LF. The Sox also upgraded at 3B big time as well. As far as the pitching staff, I've stated in earlier posts today that it seems like the Sox are loading up on guys that pitch a lot of innings and get a lot of ground balls, which with 3 elite defenders at 1B, 2B, and 3B helps big time with the run prevention. With offense being way down the past few years I don't think it's a big issue if a team doesn't have a "true ace". Regarding the bullpen, I wouldn't say they forgot about it, it's still only December 11th, they need to get a LHP and probably another RHP. Of course can always slide Workman (who I believe will be in the pen), Ranuado and/or Barnes to fill a pen role. Also have Heath Hembree from the Peavy trade that can take up a spot too. Bottom line is Sox still have plenty of minor league depth and MLB depth and money to spend to make some more moves, which I'm sure they will still do. I'm actually surprised you guys are up in arms about the Yankees (lack of) moves so far. After Scherzer and Shields there aren't a lot of FA pitching options available and I'm not sure they have a lot in their system to make moves with their minor leaguers.
As the resident Dodgers fan, I am obviously intrigued with these moves. The Gordon/Haren trade to Miami made sense on its own as I liked that young pitcher being in the rotation, but then filling your now 2nd base position with a short term, better option than Dee, was a great flip. I don't like the Kemp to Padres trade as a stand alone deal. I have to think that this is the front end of a bigger deal, either for Hamels, or clearing room for someone like Shields, Scherzer. Friedman is giving L.A. flexibility going forward. The outfield will be Puig, Pederson and Ethier/Crawford assuming neither is traded. 2/3rds of that outfield is young and under L.A. control for a long while. Corey Seagar will be the long term shortstop and I assume Grandal behind the plate. They need another arm for the rotation and the bullpen, but the way this team is constructed, it will give them room to operate going forward.
Jonah Keri's take on the Sox moves: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/b...s-cespedes-trade-wade-miley-justin-masterson/
I had a feeling this guy was coming back. Would have really liked Lester back, for 20 over 6 years it's crazy not to commit, also considering you had to trade prospects just to get a consolation arm.
They are probably thinking Kuroda comes back ( i dont think he will). We have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. Perhaps a possible Zimmerman or Cueto trade. The Yankees can afford to extend either and i would rather go that route then some stupid 7-8 year 200 million dollar contract for Scherzer. On the Red Sox they said they were going with the youth movement. Then said they were not. Yes they got pitchers now but Masterson and Porcello are only under control this year. Joe Kelly is bleh and i dont think Miley is that great either. With the payroll flexibility they have and the young talent i would be even the biggest fan boi Red Sox fan was expecting bigger moves.
Care to throw a little friendly wager on Hanley's line this year and how many games he plays? I'm certainly not up in arms about anything. I have no idea what the yankees are up to, im in wait and see mode. just hoping that if indeed they are going to throw money at scherzer, there better be other moves, otherwise it makes no sense. The yanks are not one pitcher away from winning it all. Hoping Headley signs, but thats all really. I tend to think the yankees get hosed when they call about trade scenarios, so i dont bother being upset by it. I also think since Panda scored his contract he's going to go back to be FAT! That dude has no motivation, i think he'll eat himself out of that position soon. Listening to fans cry about him out her SF for the last 4 or 5 years. Not sure Big Papi is going to be a good influence on him.
You honestly think the Yankees have enough to get either Zimmerman or Cueto? The Sox are still going with a youth movement, have Bogaerts, Betts and Vazquez pencilled in as starters while every member of their starting staff are under 30 (minus Buchholz). I think Miley will be better away from Arizona, the park and defense hurt him, see the results McCarthy had with the Yankees and think Miley can give the Sox that. Yes Porcello and Masterson are on 1 year deals but why is that a bad thing? The Sox could try to extend Porcello and if not offer him a QO at the end of the year and get a pick, ditto for Masterson if he rebounds. I'm not a huge Kelly fan either, his best role is probably a swing man. I still think the Sox make a few more moves before ST starts.
I think they are clearing the decks for Shields. Thats a nice rotation. I hate the Kemp trade, basically think the padres sent a box **** back to the dodgers, but it did clear funds.
I think when Hanley plays he will hit, there's really no reason not to expect it. Especially moving to Fenway and out of Dodger Stadium and Miami's. The issue is him being healthy. Just curious what kind of line do you think he will put up? Sandoval's weight is definitely worrisome. Just hoping he will be able to stay at 3rd for the first 3 years.
Im thinking Papi has what one maybe 2 years left? Panda will transition to first. Hanley .283 .359 .460 .360 134 ish?
Twins signing Ervin Santana for 4/55 is pretty terrible. Don't think it's worse than giving Nolasco 4/49 last year though.
I think its a slight rebuild without calling it that. God knows Yankee fans would be rioting if they thought the Yankees were going to rebuild.
I mention those two because they are the top two left. Although i doubt the Reds move Cueto until the trade deadline now. They cant fully blow up that team... Yet. Yes i think the Yankees have what it takes to trade for Zimmerman who has this year left and has so far turned down extension offers with the Nats. Hamels is pretty much a Dodger minus Amaro trying to pull his best Amaro and ****ing this up.
FWIW Fangraphs updated their 2015 projections after all the transactions yesterday and the Red Sox are now projected to lead the AL East by 3 games and has the Sox over the Nationals for highest combined WAR by 2.0. In fact Steamers projection has the Sox as the 6th best SP rotation in baseball next year as of right now: http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=SP Not that that either should be looked at as anything but is interesting. I do people are underrating Miley and Porcello a bit. Not saying they are great or anything like that but they are solid pitchers who will help and are obvious upgrades to what the Sox had on Wednesday. Here's also an article about the Sox stockpiling groundball pitchers: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/do-the-red-sox-have-a-ground-ball-fetish/
I think you're crazy to think the Yankees have enough in the minors to pull off a Zimmerman deal, even if it's a 1 year rental, but I guess stranger things have happened, we'll see.
TB traded Matt Joyce to the Angels for RHP Kevin Jepsen. I like the trade for TB, Jepsen is a solid RP.
That sound you hear is bombs being lobbed at A-Rod via his own GM......this should be fun.... http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/12...olidifying-himself-as-a-tremendous-dh-for-us/
I like the trade too. Never really studied any of the Yankees swings outside of Beltran, Ellsbury and Headley. Based on those 3 and the contract just signed, Headley would be at the top of my list.
Its good and bad but mostly bad imo. I'd rather have a GM handle things in private instead of with the media. Its a little bit "Bobby V-ish".