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Post by Zig on Oct 3, 2014 7:13:24 GMT -5
Red Sox take note: Phillies decide to trade HamelsOctober 3, 2014, 6:15 am Let the Hot Stove League begin. According to reports out of Philadelphia, the Phillies -- looking for prospects to rebuild their barren farm system -- have made the decision to trade Cole Hamels and that they see the Red Sox as perhaps the optimal landing spot. That being the case, we can assume the Red Sox' offseason strategy has come into much clearer focus. Hamels, who turns 31 in late December, is the top-of-the-rotation left-hander Boston desperately needs, and he's signed to the type of contract the Sox wanted to give Jon Lester: He makes $22.5 million for each of the next four seasons, with a team option for 2019 (of either $20 million, or $24 million if Hamels reaches certain vesting options in 2017 and '18). So the commitment is only $90 million guaranteed, and $114 million maximum. There's no free-agent pitcher of Hamels' caliber on the market who would come nearly that cheap, and whom the Red Sox would only to have to commit to through age 34 . . . which no doubt makes him Target First, Last and Only on Boston's winter wish list. The problem is the other cost: Minor-league prospects. It's not the Sox don't have them, but do they have what Philadelphia needs? The Phillies are said to be looking for a catcher, a third baseman and an outfielder. The Red Sox do have a catching prospect available (Blake Swihart; the assumption is they don't want to part with Christian Vazquez), and maybe they could talk the Phils into taking Will Middlebrooks off their hands as the third baseman. But they're not overloaded with outfielders, and the Phillies will probably be after Rusney Castillo (who shouldn't be available) or Mookie Betts (who might be, at the right price). According to the Philadelphia report, Theo Epstein's Cubs are also hot on Hamels, so it's not a slam dunk. Still, Hamels -- talented (a 2.46 ERA in 30 starts in 2014, a lifetime record of 108-83 with a 3.27 ERA), affordable and still relatively young -- would be the biggest piece of the Red Sox' offseason puzzle, and the Sox will no doubt do all they can to make it work. Stay tuned. www.csnne.com/boston-red-sox/red-sox-take-note-phillies-decide-trade-hamels |
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Post by Zig on Nov 11, 2014 9:24:46 GMT -5
Report: Exec Predicts Red Sox Will Re-Sign Jon Lester November 11, 2014 8:59 AM BOSTON (CBS) — The free agent market is open in Major League Baseball, and one of the best arms available is Jon Lester. The former Red Sox ace is coming off one of the best seasons in his nine-year career, going 16-11 with a career-best 2.46 ERA in 32 starts between Boston and Oakland. When he was sent to Oakland for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline the Red Sox brass made it clear that they would be open to a Lester reunion in the offseason, but with a new philosophy of not locking in a pitcher over 30 years old to a long-term deal, it seemed that was just a pipe dream. But according to ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes, one MLB executive thinks the Red Sox will break away from that newfound philosophy to bring their former ace home again: Few things invite more skepticism than the suggestion that the Boston Red Sox will re-sign free-agent pitcher Jon Lester. Given where the market for elite starting pitching is headed, and the fact the Sox offered Lester only four years and $70 million this spring before trading him in July, that skepticism is well-placed. But Monday night, a well-connected baseball executive who has had conversations on the subject with the Red Sox, predicted that Boston will indeed re-sign Lester, and may make an exception in Lester’s case to their pledge not to offer a long-term deal to pitchers north of 30 years old. How high would the Sox go, and for how many years? The executive said he did not rule out a six-year offer for at least $20 million a year. The Red Sox need at least one top rotation pitcher this offseason, and given his familiarity and success in eight seasons with Boston it makes sense that Lester could be GM Ben Cherington’s top target. Lester went 6-4 with a 2.46 ERA for the A’s following the trade, and Boston fans know all they need to know about the two-time World Series champ. Though he turns 31 in January, not many would argue against giving Lester a long-term deal to bring him back to the front of Boston’s rotation. boston.cbslocal.com/2014/11/11/report-exec-predicts-red-sox-will-re-sign-jon-lester/ |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 9:43:07 GMT -5
Things for Sox looking up. Jolly good.
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Post by Zig on Nov 11, 2014 9:52:21 GMT -5
Things for Sox looking up. Jolly good. probably a pipe dream but I'd love to get Lestah back |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 9:56:48 GMT -5
Nah, why not? The Red Sox got plenty of money and love for him.
The stupid Braves aint gonna offer nobody no big loot of money so they will probably not improve much that way. Thank God for our outstanding farm system.
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Post by Zig on Nov 12, 2014 18:04:46 GMT -5
Teams calling Red Sox about Deven Marrero's availabiltyNovember 12, 2014, 4:45 pm PHOENIX -- The Red Sox have a glut of outfielders and a long list of promising starting pitchers. But as the club meets with teams here at the General Manager meetings, one of the most asked-about prospects in the organization is shortstop Deven Marrero. Marrero has always been considered an elite defender at his position, but the former No. 1 pick has been slow to develop his offensive game. In half-a-season at Triple A last year, he hit just .202. But Marrero has had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League this month, hitting .320 (through games played Monday), and that has created a surge of interest from teams looking for shortstops. Said one rival talent evaluator: "He's shown some things (in the Fall League). I don't know that he's ever going to be an 'offensive shortstop.' I don't see a lot of power. But the way the game is now, that's not necessarily a mark against him.'' "There's always been interest,” said general manager Ben Cherington. “These things have a way of working themselves out, but guys who can play that position at a high level and produce a little offensively, those are valuable guys, they're good bets to have good major-league careers, so we kind of like having them.'' Cherington may like having Marrero, but the fact is, there doesn't seem to be a spot for him in the near future. The GM reiterated the team's intent to have Xander Bogaerts as its shortstop in spring training, eliminating any suggestion that the Sox could, again, move Bogaerts to third while having Marrero at short. The presence of Dustin Pedroia, in the middle of a long-term contract, at second and Mookie Betts waiting in the wings if something were to happen to Pedroia, closes off another potential infield opening for Marrero. If Marrero could hit even a little bit at the big league level, there could be plenty of interest. The San Francisco Giants have won two World Series in the last three years with Brandon Crawford, who hit .248 in 2012 and .246 this past season, at short. "He's a shortstop with really good defensive skills who's got some ability with the bat,'' said Cherington of Marrero. "I think a great question (as the game transitions to lower-scoring) is, what becomes more valuable: The offense, or the guy who prevents runs? I don't know. I think the fact that he's made the offensive gains that he has is really encouraging. He's a good baserunner, too; he puts the ball in play. He does some things that give him a chance to be a productive offensive player in the big leagues.'' www.csnne.com/boston-red-sox/teams-calling-red-sox-about-deven-marreros-availabilty
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