Boston Red Sox Thread

[BigRedLedbetter]

Love Darren Oliver (Ranger fan here).....future pitching coach if he wants to be...knows his shit

[elliseamos]

But hey, at least if they trade him there's a chance he'll sign as a free agent since the Sox won't technically be trying to re-sign one of their own.

Earning $15 million to throw 0 pitches? No problem.
Earning $0.5 million for one season to make up for it? UNACCEPTABLE!

You're scratchin' my itch, Mr. Pritchard. I'm thinking this parallels the storyline of Clemens and Pettitte going from NY to Houston. Beckett joins the Sox as a hired gun to win a WS with the homegrown lefty kid (Lester). Beckett goes to LA, Lester follows him. Only time will tell if Lester comes back to Boston to pitch until he's 40. Maybe Beckett will show up in the owners box a few years from now too!

[numbers]

It's pretty obvious to me that they never had any intention of re-signing Lester. They might as well get something for him, but it's still stupid. I was kind of with them on this until I thought about it more and I realized that clay Buchholz will be their #1 next year.

so are you assuming Lackey's gone too?

If they blow this thing up, even if Lackey stays, I'd be surprised if he doesn't retire rather than play for league min next year.

It's definitely a douche move... sort of like what Darren Oliver's agent tried to do a couple years ago by threatening retirement unless he got an increased salary. If you don't want to meet the terms of the contract, don't sign the contract that includes the clause.

Earning $15 million to throw 0 pitches? No problem.
Earning $0.5 million for one season to make up for it? UNACCEPTABLE!

Yeah it's pretty loathsome.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Orioles reportedly close on a deal for Lester if the O's include Bundy or Gausman.

[elliseamos]

up until recently, i've been a big believer/fan of doubront. he's still only 26 and he's lh. i understanding waiting on compensation to ensure that you've got the 40-man roster spot for Workmen to start tonight, but i feel like no matter what the return, the cubs got a good deal here.

[BigRedLedbetter]

up until recently, i've been a big believer/fan of doubront. he's still only 26 and he's lh. i understanding waiting on compensation to ensure that you've got the 40-man roster spot for Workmen to start tonight, but i feel like no matter what the return, the cubs got a good deal here.

I wouldn't close the door either on Doubront though he has struggled. Agreed Cubs are making some good moves this year. Farm is freakin stacked.

[MattA75]

So anyone wanna take bets on how the team smears Lester after he's been out of town for a couple of days?

[elliseamos]

So anyone wanna take bets on how the team smears Lester after he's been out of town for a couple of days?

chicken'n'beer will be in paragraph 1.

[numbers]

So anyone wanna take bets on how the team smears Lester after he's been out of town for a couple of days?

I was thinking this today, I can't wait to find out about what a lowlife he is from the Globe.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Yahoo is reporting Lester to the A's almost a done deal.

[Norah]

Sox get the cuban centipede.

[MattA75]

Olney is saying on twitter that he's eligible for FA after 2015, but then links to baseball reference, who shows it as after 2017

Anyone know why he wouldn't have to serve the full six years before hitting FA?

[Norah]

he's a free agent after 2015 a lot of these older International signings have clause in the contract that get rid of the arbitration years

[MattA75]

LOL'ing at twitter and the baseball writers who seem to think draft pick compensation was ever going to matter to a team bidding on Lester in the upcoming offseason

[numbers]

I don't like the trade, but I'm a big cespedes fan.

[Green Habit]

I don't like the trade, but I'm a big cespedes fan.

My brother, who's an A's fan, doesn't seem to be happy with the trade either.

[elliseamos]

i like the trade (as much as i'd like any trade in this situation). they get a rhh major-league outfielder (i picture lots of guys thrown out at home next year) with plenty of pop (fenway will help his OPS+) plus the compensation pick the team would have gotten when Lester signed elsewhere (when not if, he's not coming back to Boston).

40 man now has 1 open slot, with at least 3 guys still to be dealt (Lackey, Miller, Drew).

[BigRedLedbetter]

Miller has a lot of value. I'd love for my Rangers to sign him to a nice little 3 year deal next year. Good lefty out of the pen. Lefties only hitting .150 off of him and he has good enough stuff to get righties out. Good fit for SF or the Angels. His splits are alarming though.

[elliseamos]

he's a free agent after 2015 a lot of these older International signings have clause in the contract that get rid of the arbitration years

not to mention he can't be stephen drew'd as he is ineligible for a qualifying offer.

therefore the sox need to sign him longer term.

which likely won't happen so, short of another trade (where they will get nothing near the value of Jon Lester), the sox get cespedes for a year.

[BigRedLedbetter]

With Lester, Gray, Shark and Kazmir that is a damn tough 1-2-3-4 come postseason especially if the A's have home field.

If Cespedes is in fact a FA at the end of 2015 (I saw conflicting reports too) the A's would have no shot at resigning him.