2014: TWTW or TPSM or TPWM

[Marty34]

So we're going to eat $40 million for a few prospects, essentially? That's ridiculously stupid.

 

That destroys the whole point of acquiring prospects instead of just signing proven players.

 

Not at all. What free agent are you going to pick up for $40M over the next two years that makes the Sox a contender?

Edited August 12, 2013 by Marty34

[Marty34]

With where we are now, I really like the idea of going after Morales. We simply have a gaping hole at 1b next year. Konerko shouldn't be brought back even if he wants to come back. Morales on a 2-3 year deal fills that hole and he can move to DH if we ever get someone to fill that role

 

Add at least 1 bullpen arm. Maybe 2, if we need a lefty also (although we have a bunch of candidates who could fill that role).

 

Any young guy you're giving up on...you give up on him because of what you know and no other team does. You give up on him because of how he's taking to coaching.

 

 

 

Oh, and find a new manager who can make these players look like they care about playing again, the way they did in 2012. Would rather lose games with guys who look like they care than this comedy of errors.

 

Morales does nothing for this team except eat ~$50M in payroll. He'll be a bad contract by mid-2015.

 

[Marty34]

I suggested this in another thread:

 

Go very hard after one big name free agent from this list: McCann, Cano, Choo, Ellsbury (there may have been one or two more I listed)

 

Offer them a 4 year deal that is insanely front-loaded, as in $25M or more for the first year but then only $10M or so the rest of the years.

 

It might convince them to come here when other teams will inevitably be offering longer deals, but it handcuffs the payroll in 2014 when there's a lot of money to spend and little hope of winning anyway. Then, the Sox still have plenty of money to spend in 2015 and beyond to lock up younger players and/or sign another free agent.

 

The Sox don't dabble at the top end of the free agent market (for good reason.) Terrible idea given where this team is talent wise.

[caulfield12]

Except for Greinke and Josh Hamilton?

 

Sorry Marty, had to...but we can be buddies now, I agree with 60-65% of what you're saying these days...well, not about Viciedo.

[Marty34]

Except for Greinke and Josh Hamilton?

 

Sorry Marty, had to...but we can be buddies now, I agree with 60-65% of what you're saying these days...well, not about Viciedo.

 

Perhaps you've seen the light. I've been saying it all along, btw.

[iamshack]

Not at all. What free agent are you going to pick up for $40M over the next two years that makes the Sox a contender?

C'mon, Marty...you can't go around paying $40 million for prospects unless they are absolute blue chippers, and no team is going to give up two or more of them so they can acquire BJ Upton.

 

This just isn't realistic.

 

I get what you're saying, but I think it would be extremely difficult to find that deal, and then even more remote that such a deal would actually work out for you...

[Marty34]

C'mon, Marty...you can't go around paying $40 million for prospects unless they are absolute blue chippers, and no team is going to give up two or more of them so they can acquire BJ Upton.

 

This just isn't realistic.

 

I get what you're saying, but I think it would be extremely difficult to find that deal, and then even more remote that such a deal would actually work out for you...

 

There are a lot of moving parts with this strategy, but what does a Kendry Morales signing accomplish? If the Sox have a payroll floor for next year make good use of it by getting prospects who might be on the next good Sox team.

[iamshack]

There are a lot of moving parts with this strategy, but what does a Kendry Morales signing accomplish? If the Sox have a payroll floor for next year make good use of it by getting prospects who might be on the next good Sox team.

Oh I agree about signing veterans at this point, unless its a guy that's still young and fits our needs perfectly.

 

But there's no reason to just throw money away! I like HH's idea of front loading deals if we really need a place to spend the money.

[caulfield12]

Oh I agree about signing veterans at this point, unless its a guy that's still young and fits our needs perfectly.

 

But there's no reason to just throw money away! I like HH's idea of front loading deals if we really need a place to spend the money.

 

 

 

 

Of course, that flies in the face of every Sox contract written since the Schueler days....with money deferred as long as possible to compete in the short-term.

 

The funny thing is that agents might not like it because they'll be complaining about inflation protection in the future (when the contract value comes down) and/or that the contract's no longer fair or advantageous to their client with market conditions shifting...like an adjustable rate mortgage but as a baseball contract.

[caulfield12]

There are a lot of moving parts with this strategy, but what does a Kendry Morales signing accomplish? If the Sox have a payroll floor for next year make good use of it by getting prospects who might be on the next good Sox team.

 

 

What assets besides Sale, Santiago, Quintana and Reed are left?

 

You can't be arguing Alexei Ramirez will net us "good" prospects after arguing for 2+ years he was an approaching bad contract...or approaching albatross contract status with Dunn and Danks.

[Quin]

Come on. Do you seriously think AZ would ever consider that?

 

Owings is blocked and the Dbacks apparently want a closer.

 

So really, it'd be Reed. But then I'd need more than Owings.

[caulfield12]

Is he a better CFer than DeAza?

 

That's all I need to know...wasn't Eaton another name being thrown out there earlier this year (not sure if any of the DBacks' names were realistic).

[Quin]

Is he a better CFer than DeAza?

 

That's all I need to know...wasn't Eaton another name being thrown out there earlier this year (not sure if any of the DBacks' names were realistic).

 

No, but Owings is a better SS than De Aza.

 

If it's Reed going for Owings though, you need another B prospect thrown in. No Sergio for Molina crap.

[cabiness42]

The Sox don't dabble at the top end of the free agent market (for good reason.) Terrible idea given where this team is talent wise.

 

The Sox don't dabble at the top end of the free agent market because those guys usually get 6+ year deals, and the Sox are right never to offer that.

 

Thus, the suggestion to insanely front-load a contract to try and convince a top end free agent to take a shorter deal. Loading all the money into 2014 does not take away the Sox payroll flexibility for 2015-17, which is their best window for winning as things stand. McCann might be the best target because as a catcher he's less likely to get other offers for more than 4 years.