Non-Pirates Baseball Thread

[ville5]

Expos to sign Haren.

[MWB]

Red Sox close to signing Victorino. Gotta say, I'm kind of surprised the direction they're taking. Napoli and Victorino are both solid, but not great. I thought they'd either go all out with a big trade and/or signing (which they still may) or really reload. Seems to be in between so far.

[columbia]

My cynical side says that the spoiled Red Sox fans will not tolerate them intentionally tanking for a reload, so they have to put up the pretense of doing something (instead of scrapping it for a few years).

[Rocco]

13M/year for a guy who wasn't all that good last year? Yeah, MLB's only problem with its economic model was the Pirates signing draft picks.

[Troy Loney]

My cynical side says that the spoiled Red Sox fans will not tolerate them intentionally tanking for a reload, so they have to put up the pretense of doing something (instead of scrapping it for a few years).

Red Sox had to purge, they had a stale clubhouse. I think that Beckett is completely toxic and that was a major addition by subtraction. Also Crawford was doomed to never be anything in Boston. They had to give up one good player with an expensive contract to get rid of two excessively overpaid veterans. Maybe Lackey will turn it around, but he's really the only crap loose end that probably needs to be expunged.

Their lineup looks pretty strong, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Middlebrooks, Victorino, Napoli. If Bucholz comes back healthy that gives them a nice one-two punch with Lester. I think they'll hang around their division this year.

[columbia]

Well, I was referring to fan perception after The Great Trade. I think that most Sox fans would understand that one....but to simply watch them slide further would probably not be accepted.

[MWB]

“@Buster_ESPN: One team guesstimated early in offseason that Victorino could be a good value buy at about $6-7 million on a one-year deal #explodingprices”

[MWB]

My cynical side says that the spoiled Red Sox fans will not tolerate them intentionally tanking for a reload, so they have to put up the pretense of doing something (instead of scrapping it for a few years).

Red Sox had to purge, they had a stale clubhouse. I think that Beckett is completely toxic and that was a major addition by subtraction. Also Crawford was doomed to never be anything in Boston. They had to give up one good player with an expensive contract to get rid of two excessively overpaid veterans. Maybe Lackey will turn it around, but he's really the only crap loose end that probably needs to be expunged.

Their lineup looks pretty strong, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Middlebrooks, Victorino, Napoli. If Bucholz comes back healthy that gives them a nice one-two punch with Lester. I think they'll hang around their division this year.

Sox have a ton of question marks right now. I think 2012 Buchholz is closer to what he really is than 2010 version. Ellsbury has had one great year, one okay year, and injuries. Ortiz can't last forever. For them to contend next year they need a lot to break right.

[thehockeyguru]

“@Buster_ESPN: One team guesstimated early in offseason that Victorino could be a good value buy at about $6-7 million on a one-year deal #explodingprices”

Have the Red Sox learned nothing? 3yrs 39M for Shane Victorino? Thats a joke for a 32yr old OF with diminishing skills.

[Mr. Colby]

Apparently the Rangers want Justin Upton bad. Like, giving up Jurickson Profar bad. That would be so dumb.

[Kraftster]

Revere to Phillies? Very pleased about that as a Ben Revere owner.

[Mr. Colby]

Phillies gave up Worley AND Trevor May, wtf?

[Kraftster]

May wasn't all that impressive last year but that does seem like a good return for the Twins -- a better return than what they got for Span probably? Although Meyer has the highest ceiling of those three probably, right?

Revere seems like a legitimate player, though, and should be cheap for a while yet. Where will the Phils use the money they have saved from last year's payroll? Surely not just Michael Young.

[Kraftster]

I really hope Hamilton does not land in Seattle. Eww (as a Hamilton fantasy owner).

[Mr. Colby]

Revere is like the 2nd coming of Juan Pierre, which is to say he's good but nothing special

[Idoit40fans]

Apparently the Rangers want Justin Upton bad. Like, giving up Jurickson Profar bad. That would be so dumb.

I'm not sure any move to get Justin Upton is dumb.

[ulf]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Source: #Rays will send James Shields and Wade Davis to #Royals for Wil Myers and other prospects.

[Rocco]

Torn between wanting to applaud the Royals for rolling the dice and thinking the Royals have no idea what they are doing.

[ulf]

Mike Montgomery and Odorizzi also going to Tampa.

[Troy Loney]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/312/ian-kinsler

I think it's time to stop lauding the Rangers as the greatest organization in baseball in history. They'd rather shift Kinsler off second base instead of swapping one of their shortstops, I somewhat understand the reluctance to deal Andrus because Profar is still a prospect, but if your so in love with this blocked prospect, you should go ahead and move the guy who is blocking him.

They let Wilson walk, to turn around and blow $100M on Yu Darvish. I think they're rotation decisions have been questionable at best, and now it seems they're starting take a similar mindset to their position players. They had just an absurd pool of talent after the Braves trade and the deal for Hamilton. They're closing their window in my opinion.

[MWB]

Yanks to sign Youkilis, pending physical. Not too thrilled about that one.

[columbia]

He'll hit .230, but a total warrior in doing so.

[ulf]

left side of the yankees infield is quite sprightly.

[MWB]

He'll hit .230, but a total warrior in doing so.

But he'll hold his bat in such an effeminate way that it cancels out all warrior traits.

[columbia]

I was too subtle in my condescension.

I truly loathe him as a baseball player.