Now that Hamilton has signed will Texas and the Sox do a big trade?

 

No because Ells in a walk year is more valuable than a handful of maybes.

Unless Elvis Andrus is in the discussion.

Interesting...........  At least with Hamilton gone, there might be some trade action coming !!

Passing on the top free agents , then trying to improve through trades , is just not a good plan.  Ben will be fleeced by the Nolan Ryans and Billy Beanes. The team will get worse and worse.  Minor league prospects are just that. Minor league prospects. You will never compete with the best teams by fielding a bunch of " kids."

In response to dgalehouse's comment:

Did you really think Hamilton was the answer? No way. Give this new team a chance. They can't get any worse. They can only go up from last season. And when would you suggest giving kids a crack at playing, when they reach into their 30's?

In response to dgalehouse's comment:

Yeah right, and lets apply this insightful logic to the Tampa Bay Rays.

http://blog.masslive.com/redsoxmonster/2012/10/jacoby_ellsbury_is_he_going_to.html

This post has been removed.

In response to antiqueman1's comment:

I think they should just let as many kids as possible have ever chance to start out of spring training next year.  If somebody proves they are ready in spring we should not keep them in minors just to keep control of them longer..  if they turn out to be what we think they could be we resign them while under control like Pedroia and Buchholz and lester..

I think that this team needs another starting pitcher (Maybe Matt Garza for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Brandon Jacobs and Brandon Workman? and then have Ross and Lavarnway split the catching duties), a utility infielder and a utility outfielder and they are pretty much set for 2013.  Outside of the high dollar players, what is wrong with this roster?

 

THE 2013 BOSTON RED SOX

 

LINEUP:

1) Jacoby Ellsbury - CF

2) Dustin Pedroia - 2B 

3) David Ortiz - DH 

4) Mike Napoli - 1B

5) Will Middlebrooks - 3B 

6) Shane Victorino - RF

7) Johnny Gomes / Ryan Kalish - LF 

8) Jarrod Saltalamacchia - C

9) Jose Iglesias - SS

 

BENCH:

1) David Ross - C

2) Pedro Ciriaco- SS

3) Gomes/Kalish - OF

4) Daniel Nava - OF

 

STARTERS:

1) Jon Lester

2) Clay Buchholz

3) Ryan Dempster

4) John Lackey

5) Felix Doubront

 

BULLPEN:

1) Alfredo Aceves

2) Franklin Morales

3) Craig Breslow

4) Andrew Miller

5) Koji Uehara

6) Junichi Tazawa

7) Andrew Bailey

 

Dallas paper article Thursday about signings:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20121213-ex-rangers-starter-ryan-dempster-joining-napoli-uehara-on-the-red-sox.ece

How about Ellsbury and Lavrnway for Elvis Andrus?

In response to titletownfan's comment:

They wouldnt part with him for 3 years of Justin Upton. I dont think 1 year of Ells and a guy who hasnt yet proved he can succeed in MLB yet will do it.

The best chance of getting something for Ellsbury would be trading him to a team that could re-sign him.  Nobody is going to give you much for a one year rental.  Just not going to happen.

In response to Bigpapa1977's comment:

We need to look at it this way:

(1) Trade Salty and start Ross at catching duties - With Farrell who knows pitching and Ross a good communicator with pitchers, and also plays more defensive is a safer way to go then an offensive catcher.

(2) Dempster - is a pitcher who can pitch innings so would be good for the fourth or fifth spot

(3) Berkman - is a consistent 1B player and a switch hitter who can be signed for one year this will not hurt the Sox but help

(4) The Team - is a mix of vets with dug out positive attitude with young kids still learning the ropes in the big leagues

(5) Coaching/manager- will definetly be a positive factor and run this team with efficiency

If the Sox trade Salty then can slide Napoli into the catching position when need be and put berkman on 1B

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia SS

Napoli 1B

Papi DH

Victorino RF

Middlebrooks 3B

Gomes LF

Ross C

Iggy SS

Ciriaco can be 3B 2B and SS ( still get plenty of playing time being a back up)

Kalish, Nava and Sands  (spring training will give the coaching staff the answer who will get the shot to play OF when the time arrives.)

With Berkman signed: the batting line up can be switch with Napoli catching the odd game

Ells CF , Ped 2B, Napoli C, Papi DH, Victorino RF, Middlebrooks 3B, Berkman 1B, Gomes/Kalish LF  and Iggy/Ciriaco

 

I think Berkman wants to be more than a PT player, which is what hed be as this roster is currently constructed.

having cherrington work a trade is a little scary dont you think

In response to baddad's comment:

He worked the players involved in the Gonzo trade, so No Im not worried.

I dont understand why people here act like BC is some rookie. Hes been in every part of this organization for 15 years. From scouting and development to the front office. I think he has a better idea of things and knows MUCH more about whats going on in MLB than people give him credit for. It amazes me that some think they know more or could do a better job...

In response to southpaw777's comment:

Well , the fact is that Ben has been G.M for one year. In that year , the team fell apart. Worst Sox team in years. 93 losses and a last place finish. Mega trade with L.A. to free up payroll. Now , how is that money being spent ? On a collection of mediocre veterans ?  Under the premise that we are going with short term contracts and hoping that the kids will make the difference in the years to come.  Is that really viable ?  I know it is not easy for Ben. He most probably is not being given the freedom to spend that Theo had , but he is the G.M. , and has to be held accountable for the performance of the team.  Right now , this roster is not as good as when Ben took over. Will his supporters still be okay with another last place finish ?  Results are what matters. That is what some of us are trying to say. 

The franchise is a complete mess. 

 

Ellsbury will be traded for terrible value in return - watch and see.

Well , the fact is that Ben has been G.M for one year. In that year , the team fell apart. Worst Sox team in years. 93 losses and a last place finish. Mega trade with L.A. to free up payroll. Now , how is that money being spent ? On a collection of mediocre veterans ?  Under the premise that we are going with short term contracts and hoping that the kids will make the difference in the years to come.  Is that really viable ?

In fairness to Cherington it's his job to undue what was a flawed roster he inherated from the legend that was Theo Epstein and the disfuction that was the front office since the infamous gorilla suit episode. In order for his to reconstruct, he had to first deconstruct and in the process, freed up the capital and moved players that we're not seen as part of the solution.Like it or not, we the fans need to give the guy a little rope...it's not like he has a major league baseball players catelog with shiny new toys and parts for sale to rebuild the team over night...

As for how the moneys saved in the LA deal are being spent, it appears to me that prudence is the word of the day. The only two impact players that were on the market, both came with warning lables attached. Instead what he's done is sign dirt dogs AKA baseball players to short term deals in the interest of remaking the team with an eye on finding palyers that are complimentary with the goal of the results being greater than the sum of the parts...A team if you will...

So let's recap, the Sox have just about closed the book on three Ex Rangers: KojiU, Demp & Nap. and one former Dodger/Phillie, Vic and Gomes.

Spent roughly $50 M for this year. By my calculations Ben has $35-45 left to spend.

The best pitcher left is Sanchez and the best position players are Bourn and Swish and the best closer Soriano. Let's say you signed Sanchez, Soriano and Swish and traded Lester and Ells then signed Bourn you would come in on budget.

Now what would your lineup look like:

Bourn, Pedroia, Swish, Ortiz, Nap, WMB, Vic, Salty and Ciriaco

Bench--Gomes, Gomez/Sands, Nava/Kalish and Iggy/Figgins

Pen: Soriano, Miller, Koji, Morales, Melancon, Aceves, Bailey/Breslow

Rotation: Sanchez, Dempster, Buch, Lackey, Doubie

BenC could do this by Monday if he worked the weekend.

In response to Schumpeters-Ghost's comment:

       Whiny is back.

In response to Beantowne's comment:

Beantowne, Very well said and right on the $. One of the best explanations I've seen posted on this board. Just take a look at the signings and there is [2] things common in all of them. Each of these guys has been viewed as a high character guy. This only goes to show the disfunction that was the RS clubhouse last yr. And they were all signed to short term deals that shows that Ben is serious in what he preaches, in getting RS back to developing the core of the team from within. After seeing what average mlb talent is getting on FA market Pagan / Upton / Victorino this would be the proper direction to go, not to mention the cost of quality starting pitching these days.