Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe asked baseball executives which team has more work to do between the Red Sox and Phillies. The general feeling was that Boston has more work to do than Philadelphia, even though they'll have more payroll room to work with. One AL executive, however, sees both teams returning to prominence sooner rather than later. “Both of these teams, I predict, will be back at the forefront of their respective divisions in no time. The Red Sox made a sensational, dream-come-true deal with the Dodgers, and now they have so much payroll flexibility that they’re the envy of baseball. They can shape that team any way they want," said the exec. Here's more from Cafardo..
- Despite the turmoil in Boston, Cody Ross is still high on the organization and hopes to return next year, Cafardo writes. Ross came to the Red Sox on a one-year, $3MM deal last year but could fetch a contract in the neighborhood of Josh Willingham's three-year, $27MM pact.
- Corey Hart of the Brewers is always an interesting name for teams looking for an outfielder or a first baseman, but he won't be happy if he's traded from Milwaukee. The Brewers passed on trading Hart prior to the deadline despite significant interest from other clubs.
- There could potentially be seven managerial openings this winter with the Astros, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Indians, Phillies, Padres, and Rockies possibly looking to shake things up. While San Diego's Bud Black is a well regarded manager, the Padres' new ownership may look to install their own hire.
- After getting fired from the Astros, Cafardo writes that Brad Mills will be atop the managerial lists this winter along with Terry Francona, Jim Riggleman, DeMarlo Hale, and Joey Cora.
I love Cody Ross the way he is, and coming here he’s played his all and done well, but he is not worth 9 million a year. I’ll pass on that thank you.
Willingham has a 3-year, $21M – that’s $7M/season, not $9M, so the number was wrong anyway.
And he’s not even worth that much either. I say sign Cody Ross to a two year deal at $10 million. That’s a smarter deal.
An $18-21 mil 3 year deal sounds feasible to me.
Why? Who are we going to spend on that giving him a two or three year deal at 9M that will hold them back from getting. Overpaying for him, Ortiz and a couple other pieces on SHORT deals would not be the absolute worst thing going forward, while they have the money. Now, if they think Kalish is more qualified than so be it, save a boatload of cash and give him a shot. Ross is a scrappy player, like Youk was for us, like Pedroia still is for us. That’s what this team was built on in the early 2000s. Not star power. Scrappy players that just get the job done and work harder than anyone in the game.
Yeah, those early 2000s teams definitely didn’t have any stars like Manny, and Pedro, and Schilling, and Nomar, and Damon.
Sign someone to a one year deal and wait for the kids to develop, or sign someone who actually makes sense on a multi-year deal, don’t sign someone to a multi-year deal who shouldn’t get one just because you have the extra money now.
My point was not like the teams of the past 5 years or so. It’s been about adding a star and not a player who fits them better. They had a few stars in the early 2000s, but nothing like the last few years. It simply hasn’t worked.
The only difference is that the stars on recent Red Sox teams have almost all been home grown stars as opposed to players from outside of the organization like they were in the past.
‘Stars’ from 2004 and how they were acquired:
Nomar – draft
Pedro – trade
Schilling – trade
Manny – free agent
Damon – free agent
Ortiz – free agent
‘Stars’ from recent years:
Pedroia – draft
Youkilis – draft
Lester – draft
Papelbon – draft
Ellsbury – draft
Gonzalez – trade
Beckett – trade
Crawford – free agent
(Lackey? Are we going to call Lackey a star? Because he wasn’t really heralded as one at the time – he was simply the best of a week class)
I guess we could go back to trading for stars and signing them as free agents instead of drafting them.
They should have traded Ross when they had the chance. He’ll probably ask for a deal around $7/8 mil for multiple years. I think he’s been great this year, but I don’t see his value getting much higher than it is now.
Why would the Brewers trade Hart anyways. He’s a solid MLB player on a team that has a chance (yet slim) to win this year and a great chance to win next year if they find a relief pitcher or 2.
Brewers have no shot this year. 4 teams ahead of them for that last wc slot
Blue Jays looking to shake things up? The only rumours I’ve heard have been that Boston want Farrell, not the Toronto wants to move him on.
Just what is wrong with the Red Sox BP? Cafardo must be looking at bard, who they can do without. Atchison will be back, Mortenson, Tazawa, 3 lefties in Miller, Breslow and Hill. Aceves can go the long route if he is still around and Bailey to close. They have Carpenter and Wilson.. BP is the last area needing help.
Interesting thought on using Middlebrooks as the 1b and Ciriaco at 3b. could be very risk with both still unproven and neither is pitch selective at all, same with Aviles. That would make 3 (4 with Salty) in the IF who swing at everything.
If Ciriaco is our starting 3B… Ugh.
Cecchini has an outside shot at making it in a couple of years. kind of a boggs type who has hit for doubles power so far, but has hit for excellent avg. stolen almost 50b this year also at Greeneville. We will see and also.. they could just switch Bogaerts to SS with all the SS the organization has stacked up from AA down.
He’s better at SS
backup SS*
Well, this year he’s been killing the ball. And not only that, he runs and plays hard. I’ll take him over Aviles any day.
so would i, but they’re actually pretty much identical players. aviles has more power; ciriaco has more contact ability. neither can take a walk or handle the position everyday
time to let iglesias prove he can’t handle it either. at least his defense will be fun to watch
If Brendan Ryan can make a career of it, I don’t see why Iglesias can’t.
RS bullpen should be fine. It struggled a bit this year with bailey and bard not in it. But if they are healthy with a few solid guys around them it is fine. They need to worry more about their starting pitching.
Although it is interesting that if Aceves hadn’t lost any of his games then they could be at 71 wins.
It struggled early then came around and has done really well.
Did Cafardo seriously suggest moving Middlebrooks to first and using Ciriaco at 3B?! That’s nonsensical, Ciriaco would be a useful utility player, but he’s nothing more than that, and if he’s your starting 3B you have serious issues. Plus, Middlebrooks is an above average defender at 3B, and while his bat plays well at the position, it would be merely average for a 1B.
The thought of having players who swing at everything was what struck me 1st and then?? Middlebrooks never played 1st, would have to go to W/Ball to learn, then stick someone comparable to Emilio Bonifacio at 3b (not a pretty thought btw) only this guy hasn’t even played half a season of MLB ball, isn’t your typical 3b and swings away?
i was being nice in the post was thinking maine when addressed it..
I’ll scream if Boston gives Cody Ross 3 years, 27.
Willingham is a WAY better player than Cody Ross. More power, better OBP, etc. Both defensive liabilities. Terrible comparison.
Gotta’ disagree on the defensive end. Hammer is atrocious. it’s why ross played CF and Hammer was relegated to LF when they played with the Fish.. Hammer has bad range, gets bad reads, just in general a poor OF and don’t EVEN want to see him attempt to play RF.
Now.. Ross isn’t much of a CF, but when he, Hammer and Hermida all were with the Fish? ross was the best OF amongst them by far and he got “stuck” by default playing the position, tho Ross is a better corner OF and would eventually get better at fenway’s RF if they would leave him there and stop moving him around. That is one of the toughest in the game to learn.
Ross has routinely misread fly balls and has been at best below average in right. He’s a liability, without question.
Just because someone is below average at a tougher position doesn’t mean he’s a worse defender. Willingham is average-ish in LF, Ross is average-ish in RF and can even cover CF on occasion.
My point is – Willingham is far superior offensively and makes 3/21. Ross starts at 5 a year, at best. Anything more is a gross overpay.
That might be your point now, but it wasn’t your point before you edited your comment not to say that Willingham is superior defensively.
Huh? I never edited my comment. I said they were both defensive liabilities when I first posted…
The Padres new ownership group have said that Garfinkel, Byrnes and Black are going nowhere. I think yo have to fill the rosters with decent players before you can really know how good a manager he is and that is what Byrnes is on his way to doing.
It would be a major shock if the Phillies were to get rid of Manual after one unsatisfactory season, and a bit unfair as well.
Manuel has been making bone-headed decisions for years. The Phillies won’t really have an opening though, if they cut Charlie loose. The answer is in AAA. Ryne Sandberg deserves to be the Phillies manager in 2013. I don’t think it will happen until 2014 though & if Sandberg goes to another team in 2013, they might riot in Philly.
Why would Phillies fans riot over losing a AAA manager who’s been passed over for an MLB gig 3 years in a row (including in one franchise where he was both established AND a living legend)? Is there tons of proof out that there Sandberg has a noticeable WAR? Perhaps the fact that he has no history with the franchise beyond being traded -out- of it?
Incidentally, how many major “chemistry” problems have the Phillies had since Manuel took the helm? How many players saying they wanted to leave? How many top-flight free agents have -come- to Philly since then (some on smaller contracts than they could have gotten elsewhere)? In fact, how many losing seasons have the Phillies (still the losingest franchise in baseball, albeit due to some terrible years in the ’20s and ’30s) since Manuel has been here?
I’m not saying he’s the best manager in history (although you might be able to make the argument for -franchise- history), but his managerial style has not only kept anyone from pulling a Scott Rolen (on a team that’s full of pretty extensive egos), it’s also attracted other players -to- Philly, which is something that hasn’t happened since…
It’s time for charlie to step down and let the new era of Sandberg in!!
I don’t dislike Sandberg. I think he would make a good candidate to replace Charlie. I wouldn’t even be upset if that happened in 2013.
But what evidence do you have that Sandberg would be an overall improvement over the guy who’s been in charge of the team as they went from (literally) worst to first?
That would be none. No evidence.
Exactly so.
It’s funny how people say now he is making bone head moves in the midst of a losing season but every other year he was a great manager. LOL
Actually, there are a pretty good number of Phillies fans who have felt that Manuel made the wrong moves frequently over the past few seasons. These are generally the same people who say that the Phillies won in -spite- of him, not because of him.
Mind you, I don’t see them offering back the trophy…
The Bosox may have payroll flexibility, but what free agent worth his salt would want to go to that soap opera, particularly with Boston’s stifling media?
Sure the Sox have a bunch of $$$$$ now, but the off-season free agent market is terrible. Unless they package up some kids and take salary dumps from other teams, the Sox aren;t going anywhere. Nobody is really worth what they’re asking. Ellsbury—$20 mil? You’ve got to be kidding. $12M tops—and even that’s a gift. One very good year doesn’t equal $20Mil in anyone’s mind, except Boras’.