BlackSox13

Well guys, I've pretty much said all I have to say on Masterson. I just don't agree with spending 12M on him, that's all.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 03:32 PM) It's like a read option. You go in looking for one thing (contention), but if it isn't working out, you have an easy backup plan. This model of "contending while rebuilding" makes a ton of sense for a lot of reasons. Chiefly, you're trying to dodge service time AND wean guys into a full season of innings anyway. It doesn't hurt to throw some innings at a veteran and see what you have, particularly when you can then trade him to give your system even more prospects. I understand what you're saying, I just don't agree with spending 12M on him. I COULD see it if the Sox were contenders but not where they currently stand.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) Ya but they think they can be contenders. If you sign Masterson for 12 mill, you still have plenty of money to work with to fill some of the other holes on the team. If he's back to his '13 form, you have an elite rotation(including Rodon here of course) and a pretty decent chance to contend. If he still sucks, he's gone after one year, no harm. Of course they say they can be contenders, isn't that what they are supposed to say? There's an aweful lot of holes to fill in one off season. Hahn has already said they are not going on a free agent spending spree but they can bring in higher salary players via trade. That's great but that will cost prospects and will the Sox have enough quality prospects to bring in a few hitters to help the offense? I would rather spend that 12M on a player that can help the Sox long term, not for just one year. For a team like the Sox that have so many holes to fill. Masterson is the finishing touch the team signs after they have the other pieces in place to make them a contender.

If the Sox are not legit contenders I see no point in Masterson out side of doing like the cubs and trade Masterson at the all star break in which case the money will very much matter to the team trading for him. Just my opinion but if the Sox are not going to be contenders then let Bassitt take that spot in the rotation and get him some more innings at the MLB level to see what he can do.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 11:12 AM) Nothing there that hasn't already been said here a dozen times. Yup, Levine spewed the same crap last week. I swear these writers read this site to get insight for future articles.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) What's the amount needed for the QO status this year? Gotta be close to $15 large. Yup. Last I read it was speculated to be about 15.1M. As for Masterson. If he does get 12M, I hope its not with the Sox. No way in hell Masterson is worth that. I would give him 8M and offer an additional 1-2M in performance incentives.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 6, 2014 -> 12:21 AM) I understand what you are saying, last wk a poster, I can't remember who, said that DV was too old to improve his hitting and DV is 25. Heyward would be interesting if the price is right. I will be honest and this is what bugs me. at what point does a players stop developing? I think that's entirely up to the player. Most players would seem to develope right up to their peak around the age of 30, give or take. Truth is, its a gamble on projected upside. One thing is for sure, teams will guess right on some and wrong on probably most. Sometimes it takes a change of scenery/ coaching staff for a player to get over that hump, sometimes a team needs a change of players and other times s*** just doesn't work out, again that's the gamble. Swisher is a decent example. The guy hit pretty well in a pitchers park out in Oakland and he projected well when factoring in the Cell being a hitters park and batting in a lineup with PK and Thome. Oddly enough it just did not work as planned despite his power numbers still there but his batting average and walks took a dive.

Just looked at the schedule for Monday. Nats vs Giants at 4pm. Fister vs Bumgarner Nats have their work cut out for them, s***!

Well said Sox pride. I love how a playoff team with the worst record can sweep the team with the best. Ya just never know. Friday night, KC at Baltimore. I'm guessing Shields vs Tillman?

Pitching, speed and defense can carry a team a loooong way! I'm not a Royals fan, tho I was a huge George Brett fan as a kid, but I would like to see the Royals in the ALCS. That said, once the ALCS starts, GO ORIOLES! Do for Earl!!!

QUOTE (daggins @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 08:39 PM) RE: Cargo - One, he will be 29 in a few days, so saying he is 28 is a bit dishonest. Two, he has had some very bad injuries of late, the kind that sap speed and range. The kind that could seriously affect his defensive game, and even his swing. Three, he has had a substantial uptick in his K rate over the last two seasons. Four, he has the aforementioned alarming home/road splits. Five, he is owed 16, 17 and 20 million over the next three seasons. Basically, no. Agreed with all of this. If the Sox are going to take on that kind of salary, it would be for a middle of the order bat to hit behind Abreu and CarGo is not that bat.

I think this was posted for amusement purposes and not to spark a discussion on if Sale should actually be traded. The article was written by a day dreaming fan of a team that just finished a horrible season, it happens. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Yikes! Off Santiago no less! Santiago is still struggling with the strike zone I see.

Santiago is pitching for the Halos now. Royals up 3-1 in the 3rd. Could the Royals pull off a sweep?

And the AL Central winners are swept from the playoffs! Way to represent! Hey Detroit. Speaking of representing, the Royals are up 2-0 in their series. Ouch! Glad to see the Tigers exit so quickly. Good job Orioles!

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 04:53 PM) no, it is just his opinion and you and Joshua has a point and believe me when I say this a valid opinion. I would never have known about Heyward unless I read this thread. Reread his comments and then go have a look at Heyward's stats and bio. In fact, here you go... http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/...a01.shtml?redir I don't care that he and I disagree, its the lame ass excuses being made. 25 years old does not mean he will not get better or is too old, 98 k's in 649 at bats is not "too much", Heyward playing in 149 games in 2014 is not being injured too often. Joshua even said Heyward would turn 26 by the start of the 2015 season which was bulls***. I could respect the opinion if Joshua just simply said he was not interested, fine. But he's throwing random nonsense out there and they are nothing more than excuses with no sense or credibility at all. There is a wonderful tool known as google search and very user friendly. Rather than throwing out nonsense, wouldn't it be better to look it up first? No offense LDF, I stand by my trolling comment.

Thank you for sharing this. IMO, Danish and Montas would have ranked above Hawkins. Not sure I understand that one.

Good job Cruz, just need the Baltimore pen to hold up and the Tigers are swept from the playoffs.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 04:37 PM) when the sox went to sox out Abreu, the sox was in the beginning of rebuilding. the sox org, esp KW did not know that much about Abreu. it was there that KW call JR after the showcase and raved about him JR trusting KW and his excitement and over bid even to KW surprise. it was during this season and all the other players did the sox org realize they had players to compete. so in essence, if other teams realize how great Abreu was, do you think that the sox would have outbid for his services? My point to Joshua in all this is he's talking like Heyward is old and wont improve but yet the Sox took a chance on a player with no MLB experience and 2.5 years older. Heyward has shown what he is capable of and at only 25 there's no reason to write him off. That is just trolling.

This is a Boston fan doing some day dreaming and there's nothing wrong with it but the fan forgot one thing. The Dodgers probably have more to offer with Pederson, Seager, Urias etc. If the Sox were to trade Sale, I would hope it was with the Dodgers.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Oct 5, 2014 -> 11:14 AM) Abreu was more of a pressing need, and he is the type of player that the Sox would normally not be able to get. This has to be the lamest excuse ever. Now I know you're trolling. The Sox need a middle of the order lefty bat, better defense in RF and are looking for core players are in their early to mid twenties, that's Heyward. Its academic.

f***ing Nat's, wtf!!! Oh well, come on Dodgers.

All the more reason to trade Heyward provided the Sox were given a window on an extension like they did with Garcia from Seattle. Waiting until Heyward hits free agency allows many other teams to compete for him as well as allows Heyward a chance to rebound in 2015 to rebuild his value and drive up the price in FA.

Zimmerman owning the Giants right now on 78 pitches through 7 innings with a 1-0 lead. Go Nats!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 4, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) The flip side is that guys often play better at home regardless of where it is, so there's several separate effects we have to untangle. Carlos Gonzalez does not seem likely to be a .160 hitter if he's put in the AL, do you agree? I would say he's probably better than a .160 hitter with any team. He may not put up MVP caliber numbers outside of Coors, but there's still some upside there. The question is...how would he actually play out of that park. I'll agree it's a concern there but it's not "he's a .160 hitter outside of Colorado" dramatic, or at least I'd be stunned if it was. I agree that he would likely hit better than .160 so I guess the question is, how much better? Plus, that salary of his is beyond horrible. The Rockies would have to send ALOT of money with CarGo, ALOT!