espn says the sox are in need of a leadoff hitter

[2nd_city_saint787]

Because his value is at an all-time high, he seems injury prone, and some have questioned his ability to play CF.

 

I get he was very solid as our leadoff hitter last year, but I think there's a case for moving him now while his value is still high. Also, OF is our deepest position in terms of depth in the minors and we have a couple guys who will be knocking on the door in the next season or two.

 

Having said all this, I'm not necessarily advocating trading him. I just think you have to gauge his value, and if even a single GM thinks he's close to an elite leadoff hitter and is willing to pay a premium for him, you move him in a heartbeat and worry about your own leadoff guy later.

 

Unless they're looking at Bourn or Ichiro (the rumored guy they've wanted for 5 years?) it doesn't make much sense to trade De Aza.

[VAfan]

This thread begs the question of "what do the Sox need the most?" I would say it's not just in acquiring bodies. This is what we need the most in order to be a team that could finish 20 games over .500.

 

Because of Flowers' great arm I won't say the Sox's biggest need is catcher.

 

1.) we need a third baseman who can hit and is able to field better than Youk, who was no Brent Morel with the glove.

2.) We need Floyd and Danks to be healthy all year long. The re-signing of Peavy means we do not have to acquire another starter if my first sentence comes true.

3.) We need Viciedo to emerge as a special hitter while repeating the year he had with the glove. We won't win anything with him being the Viciedo of last year.

4.) We need a reliable righthanded reliever, somebody named Joaquim Soria, although I realize that ship has sailed. Somebody just like Soria. Gotta get one. We also could use a reliever NOT NAMED Crain and Thornton, to become RELIABLE. I think our closer is fine for 3-4 more years until his arm falls off, the malady affecting most all closers.

5.) We need Beckham to hit better. There are too many nights our big boppers have pop-up-itis or strikeout itis. We just have to have a decent hitting second baseman to be legitimate contenders.

 

Those are my list of needs for the team. I think they are fair.

 

I'll add a few to this list.

 

6. We need Paul Konerko to stay healthy and hit like the monster he was early in the year, not the declining out-maker he was the second half.

7. We need Adam Dunn to hit his weight -- .285. Ok, that's not going to happen. I'll take .240, with the same power and walks as last year. I'd also like Robin to drop him to 5th.

8. We need Rios to repeat his 2012 performance.

9. We need Jose Quintana to repeat his pre-All Star form (4-1, 2.04 ERA), not his post-All Star form (2-5, 5.01 ERA).

10. We need to replace Matt Thornton in the pen. He's 6-15 the last two years, with 8 blown saves. If we played .500 in the games Thornton decided last year, we would have ended the season tied with the Tigers.

[max power]

I'll add a few to this list.

 

6. We need Paul Konerko to stay healthy and hit like the monster he was early in the year, not the declining out-maker he was the second half.

7. We need Adam Dunn to hit his weight -- .285. Ok, that's not going to happen. I'll take .240, with the same power and walks as last year. I'd also like Robin to drop him to 5th.

8. We need Rios to repeat his 2012 performance.

9. We need Jose Quintana to repeat his pre-All Star form (4-1, 2.04 ERA), not his post-All Star form (2-5, 5.01 ERA).

10. We need to replace Matt Thornton in the pen. He's 6-15 the last two years, with 8 blown saves. If we played .500 in the games Thornton decided last year, we would have ended the season tied with the Tigers.

If #9 happens, I'll s*** bricks. You want the guy to have (almost certainly) the best ERA in baseball. All he needs to do is keep the sox in games, not be roger clemens. I know his style his clemens like btw, but that era is.

Edited December 8, 2012 by MAX