Red Sox 2012/2013 Offseason Thread

[BSN07]

Originally Posted by Palodios

I read that the other day as well, but it sounded like it was a hypothetical, and not based on any facts or knowledge of the insurance policy. I thought that insurance companies simply don't insure players after 3-4 years of a contract because they'd almost always get burned.

I believe the insurance policy kicked in and covers like 75% of the deal is he misses a full season due to injury. Or something like that. Regardless I believe Arods contract will count against the LT until it expires. I'm not sure what would happen with a buyout if it came to it.

[mvp 78]

No way would the Dodgers give up Kershaw. He's an absolute stud though. I'd give up a metric fuck-ton for him.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think the Dodgers are exactly in the 'trading away stud starters' mode right now.

[jung]

I would not think ARod has a single reason to consider a buyout of his contract.

[Bellhorn04]

Surely they can reassemble ARod into a DH at least.

[example1]

Originally Posted by SoxFanForsyth

My guess is that the sox make a major acquisition via a trade.

I think it's going to make massive waves because its going to be for someone who nobody ever thought would be available.

Whether its for Gerrit Cole, perhaps Trevor Bauer, a 3 way deal for David Price, blow away the Dodgers for Clayton Kershaw, I'm not sure, but I'll tell you what, they're going to land a monster pitcher.

Highly unlikely, at least the Kershaw or Price part. No way the Rays do a trade that results in the Sox getting Price. Gerrit Cole or Trevor Bauer would be really exciting options, but would take a lot to acquire. Would the Sox be willing to move Middlebrooks + or Bogaerts + for one of them?

As valuable as young pitching is, aren't hitters who can hit 30+ HR consistently actually rarer in this post PEDs environment than a pitcher who can post a 3-something ERA? Not saying both of them are definitely 30+ guys, but they could be. Middlebrooks would have hit 32 in a 162g spread last year.

It really may just be an issue of waiting for Barnes, Webster and or De La Rosa to come up.

[jung]

It is hard for me to accept the notion that we are beyond the PED era. Seems to me they are still snaggin' people at a pretty alarming rate with a system that has more holes than swiss chess. I do think we are seeing a resurgence of dominant pitching and that the numbers we are seeing from the batters box side of things are more a reflection on the general quality of the pitching and the general sparsity of hitters making solid plate appearances.

[example1]

Originally Posted by jung

It is hard for me to accept the notion that we are beyond the PED era. Seems to me they are still snaggin' people at a pretty alarming rate with a system that has more holes than swiss chess. I do think we are seeing a resurgence of dominant pitching and that the numbers we are seeing from the batters box side of things are more a reflection on the general quality of the pitching and the general sparsity of hitters making solid plate appearances.

I'm pretty sure that the overall number of runs scored is not randomly associated with the reduction of some of the more hardcore PEDs out there. Stimulants, obvious steroids, etc., created superhuman athletes. I agree that there are probably PEDs still in the game, but they are different kinds and the results are different.

[jung]

Most definitely different PED's but they may not be all that less effective considering what the game has become.

Players now struggle more than ever with recovery...recovery from the double header, recovery from a night game when they are faced with a day game, recovery from arduous travel schedules and recovery from injury. Recovery is precisely what many of this generation of PED's addresses offering faster recovery, more complete recovery allowing players to go out and on the field with 100% of their capability intact as opposed to some number less than 100%. If we go back to the comments AGons made it would appear that just the travel schedule can be arduous enough to create issues for players.

In addition, we have no idea what they might be using because the one thing the MLB testing is not is comprehensive...it is just not.

I suspect that at this point a very high percentage of players are using something probably even multiple somethings. Now that these guys are onto more sophisticated formulas that don't result in bulking up, that tip off no longer exists. I would believe almost without question that there is a much higher percentage of players using something than there has ever been before. The $ incentive is simply to high, the test regimen is simply to incomplete and frankly the league and certainly the players association prefer not to know. That is not what they say, but if that were not the case, their positions would not be so obviously flawed. On the one hand we have MLB resisting improvements to a program of testing that is porous and flawed and a PA that avails itself of every opportunity to call for an end to testing instead of demanding improvements to testing.

[seabeachfred]

Originally Posted by example1

I think the pump is primed for a move like this as well. The interesting thing is that is sounds like Seattle is the leader in the clubhouse at three years and maybe 25m per. If Texas were to sign Greinke (fingers crossed) they would likely be out of the running. The biggest concern for the Sox with Hamilton is the length of contract he's asking for. If the Sox biggest competition for him is already at 3 years then they can jump in with a bigger AAV and make it happen. At 3 years that would be a tolerable acquisition; 4 years, maybe; anything longer, no thanks.

If the Red Sox are really interested in Josh Hamilton they had better not dither. Everything now seems to point to the Yankees suddenly getting into the mix and if they do he will end up in the Bronx. This is their MO and they have done this before. They feign no interest, watch other teams feint and fake and then blow by them. I believe Hamilton needs to be signed as soon as possible IF the Red Sox are really interested in him because you better believe that with A-Rod gone they could use a LH power man and Josh would be devastating in their ballpark. IMHO the Red Sox have no more time to lose on this.

[Marqui]

GordonEdes
Red Sox offered pitcher Ryan Dempster a two-year, $25 million deal and were turned down, according to source

[jung]

Well now isn't that interesting. I wonder if the Sox haven't finally revealed something about how they process their possible pitching options.

I suppose I could see how Dempter would turn that deal down. Might not sound like enough to come over here and get clocked. Sort of suggests that Dempster is smarter than the Sox are when it comes to pitching.

I don't understand not taking a shot at some of the guys that were out there for one year deals only to try to hang Dempster around their necks for two years. It does sort of sound like something they would do....unfortunately.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by Marqui

GordonEdes
Red Sox offered pitcher Ryan Dempster a two-year, $25 million deal and were turned down, according to source

This doesn't inspire much confidence.

[Lucienbel]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

This doesn't inspire much confidence.

Hopefully they just decide that's the best deal they'll give him and call it a day on him.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox "would be expected to jump in" on Kyle Lohse if he was willing to accept a three-year contract, writes ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes.* We heard during the Winter Meetings that the Red Sox and Angels were both interested in Lohse.

This is also uninspiring.