Lets be honest. Who cares about 2014. What are the moves that we make for 2015?
Not have WMB on next years team would be a good start
My predicted roster:
Rotation -- Lester/Hamels/Kelly/Buchholz/RDLR
Bullpen -- Koji/Tazawa/Miller/Mujica/Layne/Barnes/Workman
Outfield -- Castillo, Cespedes, Betts
Infield -- Napoli, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Sandoval, Russell Martin, Ortiz
Bench -- Nava, Victorino, Vazquez, Holt
The starting pitching is reloaded. The lineup will be much deeper with acquisitions of Martin and Sandoval.The bullpen won't provide many new faces, but adding Workman and Barnes to the mix will be a big boost for the team, since they seem far more productive in that role.
Isn't Russel Martin getting kind of old to be considered for the Sox starting catcher? Won't it take a multi-year contract to sign him?
The Sox will resign Miller and have two lefty specialist in the pen?
I like both moves but I'm not so sure that either will happen.
Martin could be pricey. He's only 31, surprisingly, but he's by far the best option on the market. Considering the Red Sox spent 10 million on AJ this year, they might be willing to do 30-40 million on him. I'd also love the Red Sox to pursue Carlos Ruiz who is pricey but gets on base. Maybe Hamels + Ruiz for Swihart + others makes sense.
Miller isn't a lefty specialist. RHH have been hitting to a .396 OPS against him this season. If you want to put that into perspective, when Miller is pitching against righties, they hit like Jackie Bradley.
My projected 2015 roster (additions in bold):
SP: Lester - Shields - Buchholz - Kelly - RDLR
Bullpen: Koji - Taz - Miller - Layne - Workman - Badenhop - Webster
C: Vazquez; Soto
1B: Napoli; Craig
2B: Pedroia
SS: Bogaerts; Holt
3B: Beltre **Give up Eduardo Rodriguez OR Henry Owens + Ranaudo + Cecchini
LF: Cespedes; Holt
CF: Castillo; Betts; Victorino; Holt
RF: Betts; Victorino; Holt
DH: Ortiz
Lineup:
Betts, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Beltre, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Cespedes, LF
Napoli, 1B
Bogaerts, SS
Castillo, CF
Vazquez, C
What? You can't possibly be serious. Not every prospect is going to go Mike Trout on the league.
You should check this out.
https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/stat...51660542025728
The Phillies are in desperate need of salary relief, and the Red Sox have some extra money. I am toying with Hamels, Papelbon, and Carlos Ruiz for Swihart, Eduardo and Trey Ball.
Beltre has arguably been a top 5 player in all of the MLB since his time with the Red Sox, so I doubt the Rangers trade him at a reasonable price.
Why would the Red Sox want Papelbon back? That has trouble written all over it.
Shit on Martin!!!!! We have our best prospect Blake Swihart only a year or so away from giving us a solid catcher who switch hits with power and projects as a solid hitter as well. He must not be blocked. Let Martin go elsewhere----and let's hope the Red Sox don't keep making mistakes in personnel. Betts must stay and they must find a spot for Holt. The latter needs to be in the lineup. AND BRADLEY MUST GO....FAST!!!!!!