Free Agent Targets

[iamshack]

Right, most of us agree that we could use Cespedes -- but if we weren't willing to pay for him when he was desperate and his market was suppressed, what makes you think we'll pay for him now that he's older and his market is about to be massively inflated?

 

And, conceptually, we all agree we need a C, a CF, and a bullpen arm or two -- but that's kind of the point of this thread: look at that list and see if you can find those guys.

 

Catchers

 

Alex Avila (30)

Drew Butera (34)

Jason Castro (30)

Hank Conger (29)

A.J. Ellis (36)

Ryan Hanigan (36)

Nick Hundley (33)

Chris Iannetta (34)

Jeff Mathis (34)

Dioner Navarro (33)

A.J. Pierzynski (40)

Wilson Ramos (29)

Wilin Rosario (28)

Carlos Ruiz (38) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (32)

Geovany Soto (34)

Kurt Suzuki (33)

Matt Wieters (31)

 

It's Wilson Ramos, who is coming off a serious injury, and then nothing. Which means Ramos is going to make way too much.

 

Center Fielders

 

Peter Bourjos (30)

Michael Bourn (34)

Yoenis Cespedes (31) — can opt out of remaining two years, $47.5MM on current contract

Coco Crisp (37)

Rajai Davis (36)

Ian Desmond (31)

Dexter Fowler (31)

Carlos Gomez (31)

Tyler Holt (28)

Austin Jackson (30)

Jon Jay (32)

Alex Presley (31)

Logan Schafer (30)

Drew Stubbs (32)

 

Total jack. Cespedes isn't even a CF. Ian Desmond?

If it were me, I would sign Avila and Navarro and platoon them, and then add a good defensive CFer like Austin Jackson...

[Eminor3rd]

If it were me, I would sign Avila and Navarro and platoon them, and then add a good defensive CFer like Austin Jackson...

 

Haha exactly! Exactly. That's basically the extent of what the Sox can do with free agency if they decide to stay competitive. And you'd need some serious shrewdness to do something substantial via trade without totally gutting the system.

[Bob Sacamano]

Dodgers were looking to move Ruiz in the next couple days to not have to pay out his 2017 season. Maybe we can buy low on him and he can at least be the right-handed bat in a platoon?

[caulfield12]

The thing is that Anderson and Morneau both produced beyond expectations and they weren't even close to the Indians without 3 of their Top 7-8 players.

 

1. Lindor

2. Kluber

3. Brantley

4. Miller

5. Kipnis

6. Salazar

7. Allen

8. Carrasco

9. Carlos Santana

10. Jose Ramirez

[Eminor3rd]

The thing is that Anderson and Morneau both produced beyond expectations and they weren't even close to the Indians without 3 of their Top 7-8 players.

 

1. Lindor

2. Kluber

3. Brantley

4. Miller

5. Kipnis

6. Salazar

7. Allen

8. Carrasco

9. Carlos Santana

10. Jose Ramirez

 

Not sure what the point is here, friend

[fathom]

The thing is that Anderson and Morneau both produced beyond expectations and they weren't even close to the Indians without 3 of their Top 7-8 players.

 

1. Lindor

2. Kluber

3. Brantley

4. Miller

5. Kipnis

6. Salazar

7. Allen

8. Carrasco

9. Carlos Santana

10. Jose Ramirez

 

Morneau was mediocre

[caulfield12]

Not sure what the point is here, friend

 

Balta made the point about pushing prospects up too quickly.

 

Everyone (myself included) was concerned about the adverse consequences for Anderson...at any rate, he has become one of the keys to the future, but it still doesn't matter without a catcher, CFer, DH, fifth starter or dominating bullpen.

 

On the pitching side, Fulmer obviously struggled, but at least they didn't force up Burdi as well just to give the fans someone to be excited about.

 

 

We thus head into 2017 with the same long list of needs as 2016 but not nearly as many good fits...which will invariably force Collins, Burdi, Hansen, etc., to be put on expedited paths to the big leagues.

 

This is especially the case with no major league catchers at the top of the pipeline. They're not going to give Kevan Smith the job unless they trade Sale and Quintana...which would likely return a defensively-gifted catcher anyway.

Edited November 4, 2016 by caulfield12

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

If you're doing a full rebuild, why give sign a vet like Davis and give him at bats and playing time? Give that to a young prospect who's trying to prove himself. We might get a late bloomer.

 

Because you can potentially trade him to a contender in need of some OF depth in July. A lot of teams that rebuild do that.

[ChiSox59]

Right, most of us agree that we could use Cespedes -- but if we weren't willing to pay for him when he was desperate and his market was suppressed, what makes you think we'll pay for him now that he's older and his market is about to be massively inflated?

 

And, conceptually, we all agree we need a C, a CF, and a bullpen arm or two -- but that's kind of the point of this thread: look at that list and see if you can find those guys.

 

Catchers

 

Alex Avila (30)

Drew Butera (34)

Jason Castro (30)

Hank Conger (29)

A.J. Ellis (36)

Ryan Hanigan (36)

Nick Hundley (33)

Chris Iannetta (34)

Jeff Mathis (34)

Dioner Navarro (33)

A.J. Pierzynski (40)

Wilson Ramos (29)

Wilin Rosario (28)

Carlos Ruiz (38) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (32)

Geovany Soto (34)

Kurt Suzuki (33)

Matt Wieters (31)

 

It's Wilson Ramos, who is coming off a serious injury, and then nothing. Which means Ramos is going to make way too much.

 

Center Fielders

 

Peter Bourjos (30)

Michael Bourn (34)

Yoenis Cespedes (31) — can opt out of remaining two years, $47.5MM on current contract

Coco Crisp (37)

Rajai Davis (36)

Ian Desmond (31)

Dexter Fowler (31)

Carlos Gomez (31)

Tyler Holt (28)

Austin Jackson (30)

Jon Jay (32)

Alex Presley (31)

Logan Schafer (30)

Drew Stubbs (32)

 

Total jack. Cespedes isn't even a CF. Ian Desmond?

 

Desmond is going to get a QO. He's likely out.

[Lip Man 1]

Sports Illustrated this week had their list of the Top 10 free agents this season:

 

Here is the order:

 

1. Cespedes (Best fit according to SI: Phillies)

2. Chapman (Nationals)

3. Encarnation (Red Sox)

4. Jansen (Dodgers)

5. Turner (Dodgers)

6. Trumbo (Blue Jays)

7. Desmond (Orioles)

8. Ramos (Angels)

9. Fowler (Nationals)

10. Reddick (Astros)

 

Mark

Edited November 5, 2016 by Lip Man 1

[Donaldo]

They are going to rebuild and try to contend at the same time.

 

If you try to rebuild and contend at the same time, you will fail at both.

 

In other words, that's EXACTLY what I expect out of this front office.

[hi8is]

If you try to rebuild and contend at the same time, you will fail at both.

 

In other words, that's EXACTLY what I expect out of this front office.

Say hello to the last 4 years. They've gotta do something different this year. They've got to! Right? I mean... there gonna do something different... please tell me they'll do something different!!!

[BigHurt3515]

Sports Illustrated this week had their list of the Top 10 free agents this season:

 

Here is the order:

 

1. Cespedes (Best fit according to SI: Phillies)

2. Chapman (Nationals)

3. Encarnation (Red Sox)

4. Jansen (Dodgers)

5. Turner (Dodgers)

6. Trumbo (Blue Jays)

7. Desmond (Orioles)

8. Ramos (Angels)

9. Fowler (Nationals)

10. Reddick (Astros)

 

Mark

 

What is SI smoking? Why would Cespedes go to Philly of all places?

[GGajewski18]

I am very curious to how the market will respond to Luis Valbuena. He's an intriguing guy.

 

I agree, I like him as a DH

[2nd_city_saint787]

Because you can potentially trade him to a contender in need of some OF depth in July. A lot of teams that rebuild do that.

 

Yep. If you go back and look at the Cubs off seasons at the start of their rebuild under Theo/Jed, it is filled with signings of mediocre older players....In fact their early off seasons have kinda looked KW-esque.

[Lip Man 1]

What is SI smoking? Why would Cespedes go to Philly of all places?

 

The story said "The dark-horse Phillies could land a center piece for their rebuild and level a devastating shot at their NL East rival."

 

Mark

[Balta1701]

The story said "The dark-horse Phillies could land a center piece for their rebuild and level a devastating shot at their NL East rival."

 

Mark

I kinda like that move for them. They have CF covered and moving Cespedes back to CF is a poor move by whoever makes it, they look pretty weak at the corner OF spots, and they're basically out from under Howard's extension so their commited payrolls for the foreseeable future are all well under $100 million when we know that org can afford a lot more based on the fact that their opening day payroll 2 seasons ago was $180 million. Maybe they set a price limit and someone bids more for Cespedes, but man, $80 million in available funds would make Cespedes easily affordable.

[Dam8610]

I'd try to get Cespedes, Ramos, and Walker unless going full rebuild.

[daggins]

Here are some of the FA I feel the Sox will pursue, in ascending order of likelihood to sign:

 

Cespedes - 1/25 chance - Yo is the prize of the offseason, and he is likely to get a fat 5 year deal. Look for the Sox to be heavily outbid by the likes of the Rangers, Giants, Angels, etc.

 

Josh Reddick - 1/20 chance - Interesting name, and would add a left handed bat to a lineup that (still) needs it.

 

Dexter Fowler - 1/18 chance - Would be an excellent signing, but he is going to get a lot of money. I could see him getting the Hunter Pence contract (5/90). Still think another team signs him.

 

Wilson Ramos - 1/15 chance - The ACL tear likely torpedoed his chances at getting a QO, but he's best catcher on the market, and those guys get paid.

 

Ian Desmond - 1/10 chance - I would be anything he is the Sox top choice of FA right now, even with the QO. Competition will be strong for his services though.

 

Pedro Alvarez - 1/8 chance - Had an OK season, lefty power, probably available on a 1 or 2 year deal.

 

Michael Saunders - 1/8 chance - LH bat, OF, pretty young. I would be ok with this.

 

Carlos Gomez - 1/3 chance - Come on, this is so perfect a value signing. It's not mutually exclusive to, say, an Ian Desmond signing either, since both can play multiple spots.