MLB

[Norah]

Overpaying happens. Like the moves - gives them more options via trades. Sign Lester.

This isn't really a value/contract thing for me. I just don't want Hanley Ramirez anywhere near my ball club.

[numbers]

In Hanley's defense, the two atmospheres he has known in MLB aren't exactly great breeding grounds for clubhouse leaders.

[philpritchard]

Seeing how the rest of the AL East responds should make for an interesting couple of months.

[Norah]

In Hanley's defense, the two atmospheres he has known in MLB aren't exactly great breeding grounds for clubhouse leaders.

That's no excuse and you know it.

[@SkitchP]

In Hanley's defense, the two atmospheres he has known in MLB aren't exactly great breeding grounds for clubhouse leaders.

That's no excuse and you know it.

The plus side is, you guys have a clubhouse cancer outfielder who has never played OF playing one of the trickiest LF in the game and a pudgy 3B with very little power, and its only costing 40 million a year!


Things are looking up in Boston!

[@SkitchP]

Spoiler: show

While I think these contracts are a bit much, its not like they are crazy outside the market prices. And Hanley when healthy is a very good ballplayer. Sandoval I am not as sold on, for reasons previously discussed, but he's still an upgrade over Willie Middlebrooks and should help improve the club in the short term.

[Norah]

I'm actually pretty conflicted about these signings, and I don't disagree with a lot of what you're saying. I do like that the Red Sox went out and got two of the better bats on the open market, and weren't too afraid of risk (which I think is a direction they were in danger of going too far in the post gonzalez/crawford world). I'm thrilled we're presumably moving on from Will Middlebrooks, and when the Panda really pushes himself, he can be a great player.

With that said, I'm really concerned about the OPS decline over the last three years. I'm glad we didn't go six years on him, but we're going to be rethinking third base in just a couple of years with the way things are trending now. And switching him to first or DH when his defense takes a dive won't be worth it if he can no longer drive the ball.

I like Hanley's upside, but I really really don't like his downside. He's one of the better hitters in the game when he plays, but he's always injured. And there's a lot of talk that his injuries are exaggerated because he's a diva bitch player who doesn't always want to play. I'm really scared that he's going to end up like Carl Crawford. And it seems that everyone in the Dodgers clubhouse is really glad to be rid of him, and I don't want the Red Sox to go back to having the toxic clubhouse they had a few years ago. I'm just glad it's only a 4 year deal. It only turns into a 5th year if he's good.

At the end of it though. because the contracts aren't really that egregious, I guess I'm glad the Red Sox have the balls to go after some of the better players available over this and next year's FA market. And I'm more hopeful now about signing Lester than I was at the start of the offseason. And now there are rumors that the Red Sox are talking to the Nationals about Cespedes. If Jordan Zimmermann comes to Boston I will be ecstatic.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Cespedes and some prospects to the Nats for Zimmerman makes a lot of sense.

Would not be shocked if a package headlined by Mookie Betts is offered to the Phillies for Hamels or the Red for Cueto. I think these signings are being done to stockpile players so you can trade for some pitching. Just an outsiders take.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Kinda looks like Papi's chubby little brother.

[numbers]

I don't want to get rid of Betts, if Cespedes and prospects other than betts and Owens can get Zimmerman, I'd be thrilled. I wouldn't be opposed to trading Napoli and signing a cheap LH 1B to platoon with Craig at first.

RF Betts
2B Pedroia
DH Ortiz
LF Ramirez
3B Sandoval
1B Craig
SS Bogaerts
CF Castillo
C Vazquez

[Norah]

Yeah I don't want to get rid of Betts either.

[numbers]

I'd like to see Lester, a trade for Zimmerman/Cueto, and Andrew Miller. If you can't make the trade for one of those guys, trade for Shark and then sign McCarthy.

[Norah]

Sign Lester, trade for Zimmermann or Cueto, and also sign McCarthy.

[numbers]

I want Miller to backstop Uehara, to me that's as important as the third starter.

[Norah]

I would agree with that.

[numbers]

None of the things you and I are advocating for are outrageous or unrealistic, I really hope they follow this path. I still have some doubts about the legitimacy of their pursuit of Lester.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Agreed trading Betts would not be a good idea. That kid has it.

[Norah]

Agreed trading Betts would not be a good idea. That kid has it.

He's the only guy we have that can play CF that isn't named Jackie Bradley Jr.

[BigRedLedbetter]

McCarthy would not be a bad back end of the rotation guy.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Agreed trading Betts would not be a good idea. That kid has it.

He's the only guy we have that can play CF that isn't named Jackie Bradley Jr.

I know you are not a fan of JBJR. I think he still has some upside. Someone will want him.