MLB

[Norah]

I think the Red Sox should sign Lester, Shields, and McCarthy. Give Lester whatever he wants, Sheilds at 5/100, and McCarthy at 3/whatever.

[Norah]

I'd like to see Sandoval as well but I'm growing more wary of him with every day we are further removed from the WS.

[BigRedLedbetter]

I think the Red Sox should sign Lester, Shields, and McCarthy. Give Lester whatever he wants, Sheilds at 5/100, and McCarthy at 3/whatever.

I could see them landing Shields and Lester or Scherzer.

I do like the idea of Pablo in the AL so he can DH sometimes. I'd the the Rangers to sign him but he is a bit our of our price range I think. He'd be a great fit. He can DH for a year or two and take over at 3rd when Beltre is gone/retires.

[numbers]

Basically what chud said is what I want also, though I don't think McCarthy is necessary.

Then there's what I really think they'll do...

Shields, shark, chase headley

[Norah]

I think the Red Sox should sign Lester, Shields, and McCarthy. Give Lester whatever he wants, Sheilds at 5/100, and McCarthy at 3/whatever.

I could see them landing Shields and Lester or Scherzer.

I do like the idea of Pablo in the AL so he can DH sometimes. I'd the the Rangers to sign him but he is a bit our of our price range I think. He'd be a great fit. He can DH for a year or two and take over at 3rd when Beltre is gone/retires.

I wish Sandoval was a little better in the regular season for the price he'll command. But the main thing that worries me is his power numbers are trending downward ala Pedroia. I'd put up with the former if the latter weren't true.

[Norah]

Basically what chud said is what I want also, though I don't think McCarthy is necessary.

Then there's what I really think they'll do...

Shields, shark, chase headley

McCarthy isn't necessary, he's just a personal favorite of mine. But besides that, he's proven he can pitch well in the AL East and would be great at the back end of any staff that had some elite arms at the front.

[@SkitchP]

I'd the the Rangers to sign him but he is a bit our of our price range I think. He'd be a great fit. He can DH for a year or two and take over at 3rd when Beltre is gone/retires.

So you want the overweight 3B to just go ahead on DH for 2 seasons, just in time to hit his thirties, and THEN return to the field? Pandas probably got 2 usable years of defense left. Sandoval is a good hitter- but he is basicallya tick above replacement level as a DH as far as hitters go- and thats NOW. I mean hell, his OPS was a respectable .739 this year. Good, but not worth stashing at DH so he can be a defensive liability 2 years from now.

[Norah]

Actually five years might be too much for a 32 year old James Shields.

[numbers]

There isn't a chance in hell they sign Lester, as much as we may want them to. McCarthy is definetley a decent option to consider once that reality sets in.

[Norah]

I'd the the Rangers to sign him but he is a bit our of our price range I think. He'd be a great fit. He can DH for a year or two and take over at 3rd when Beltre is gone/retires.

So you want the overweight 3B to just go ahead on DH for 2 seasons, just in time to hit his thirties, and THEN return to the field? Pandas probably got 2 usable years of defense left. Sandoval is a good hitter- but he is basicallya tick above replacement level as a DH as far as hitters go- and thats NOW. I mean hell, his OPS was a respectable .739 this year. Good, but not worth stashing at DH so he can be a defensive liability 2 years from now.

This is why I've cooled down on Sandoval.

[Norah]

There isn't a chance in hell they sign Lester, as much as we may want them to. McCarthy is definetley a decent option to consider once that reality sets in.

Since McCarthy is only going to go for about 3/36 it'd be foolish not to sign him.

[@SkitchP]

Basically what chud said is what I want also, though I don't think McCarthy is necessary.

Then there's what I really think they'll do...

Shields, shark, chase headley

McCarthy isn't necessary, he's just a personal favorite of mine. But besides that, he's proven he can pitch well in the AL East and would be great at the back end of any staff that had some elite arms at the front.

For someone so dismissive of the sportswriter traditional stats, I cant believe you're saying "proven he can pitch well in the AL east".

A. thats silly to begin with.
B. The AL east was garbage this season
C. He pitched a third of a season of essentially mop up time. I think he'll be fine, but "proven" is a bit strong.

[numbers]

6 years for Sandoval is a fools errand, although I do like him a lot.

[Norah]

Basically what chud said is what I want also, though I don't think McCarthy is necessary.

Then there's what I really think they'll do...

Shields, shark, chase headley

McCarthy isn't necessary, he's just a personal favorite of mine. But besides that, he's proven he can pitch well in the AL East and would be great at the back end of any staff that had some elite arms at the front.

For someone so dismissive of the sportswriter traditional stats, I cant believe you're saying "proven he can pitch well in the AL east".

A. thats silly to begin with.
B. The AL east was garbage this season
C. He pitched a third of a season of essentially mop up time. I think he'll be fine, but "proven" is a bit strong.

I know I cringed when I hit submit.

[@SkitchP]

There isn't a chance in hell they sign Lester, as much as we may want them to. McCarthy is definetley a decent option to consider once that reality sets in.

Since McCarthy is only going to go for about 3/36 it'd be foolish not to sign him.

See, I think McCarthy is the 'This Guy Could Be a Bargain!" guy of the winter, that some GM will end up going crazy for to jump the gun. I bet 3/42, or even 4/56.

[numbers]

Proven in the AL East is a real thing that does matter, but it applies way more to Shields than McCarthy.

[Norah]

There isn't a chance in hell they sign Lester, as much as we may want them to. McCarthy is definetley a decent option to consider once that reality sets in.

Since McCarthy is only going to go for about 3/36 it'd be foolish not to sign him.

See, I think McCarthy is the 'This Guy Could Be a Bargain!" guy of the winter, that some GM will end up going crazy for to jump the gun. I bet 3/42, or even 4/56.

Heyman disagrees with you.

[Norah]

Proven in the AL East is a real thing that does matter

I'm somewhere between you and Skitch on this.

What I should have said is "he went to NY and didn't fall apart like a basket case, so therefor he should be able to handle Boston".

[BigRedLedbetter]

I'd the the Rangers to sign him but he is a bit our of our price range I think. He'd be a great fit. He can DH for a year or two and take over at 3rd when Beltre is gone/retires.

So you want the overweight 3B to just go ahead on DH for 2 seasons, just in time to hit his thirties, and THEN return to the field? Pandas probably got 2 usable years of defense left. Sandoval is a good hitter- but he is basicallya tick above replacement level as a DH as far as hitters go- and thats NOW. I mean hell, his OPS was a respectable .739 this year. Good, but not worth stashing at DH so he can be a defensive liability 2 years from now.

Who knows how he will age? Could always trade Beltre as well or DH Beltre in 2016.

[numbers]

If the top 3 all sign and one of the expected big spenders on pitching(Bos, Chc, NYY, etc)is left without anyone, I could easily see McCarthy getting 4 or even 5 years.