So there are a lot of threads out there with various ideas on trades, rumors and who should run the team. I thought it might be interesting to give people a chance to say what they would do to improve the team. I'm sure it ranges from a complete over-haul ("Everyone but Pedroia must go") for some and some minor tweaks ("Even with all the problems, this team won 90 games) for others. Figured this would be a good place for people to say what they'd like to see done. If this thread is inappropriate to start, my apologies as it's my first attempt at starting a new one, but I thought this might be a good exercise for people. We know what went wrong, lets try to fix it.
Now that Cherrington is officially in place, next step is a manager, and I'm going with Dave Martinez from Tampa Bay as my pick.
Trades that I'd make:
Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Reddick and Oscar Tejada to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Youkilis allows them to move Uribe to a middle infield position or cut ties with Loney at first base. Tejada is in there to sweeten the deal, as a quick look at the Dodgers top prospects from Sickles (admittedly going into last year) doesn't show much in the infield. This is a complex trade, but we've just gone through a complex season. The Dodgers are able to get three core players under control for several years (for the cost of two) and get some cash relief off their books.
John Lackey, Jed Lowrie, Alex Hassan, and Alex Wilson to San Diego for Chase Headley. On top of being awful, Lackey is also now damaged goods. He's going to "cost" a lot to get rid of. Lowrie has flexibility and is cheap for them, while being able to potentially play any infield position, likely 2b as Hudson is a free agent. For them, Darnell becomes their third baseman. In this scenario, we are also subsidizing Lackey down to a $6M a year pitcher for SDP.
Free Agents: Mark Buehrle to a 3yr, $45M contract. The peripherals scare me, but he is here to be the 4th pitcher, and has enough of a track record where I think the success mitigates the predictive stats. Ryan Madson as closer, 3yrs, $18M would be a significant raise for him and far cheaper than Papelbon. He's pitched in a high pressure environment in even more of a hitter's park than Fenway. He should also come much cheaper than other closer options out there. Resign Ortiz to DH. 2yrs, $20M, triggered third year option based upon 500AB in 2013 season.
Cots currently has the Sox at $126M for 2012 obligations. With these moves you bump up to $164.5M (I'm assuming raises of approximately $1.5M each for Ethier and Kemp, and $750k for Headley. I don't know if this would mean that you also get to remove about $6M from Lackey's salary or not - if so, that would move it down to $158.5M). Assuming we pick up Scutaro's option that moves the team to $169.5M / $164.5M. The Luxury tax has gone up by approximately $8M each year, so lets assume that for 2012 it moves up to $186M. That would leave the Sox between $16.5M and $21.5M before hitting that limit - I do not know the salary components for several pieces, including Saltalamacchia, Aviles, McDonald, etc, but would assume those numbers would add up to between $3M and $5M. This resultant number would have to be included (and removed from the Luxury Tax buffer).
Lineup
Scutaro SS, Pedroia 2b, Gonzalez 1b, Ethier RF, Kemp CF, Ortiz DH, Headley 3b, Crawford LF, Saltalamacchia C
Bench
Aviles, Kalish, Lavarnway, McDonald, Sutton or Spears
Rotation
Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Buehrle, Doubront
Bullpen
Madson, Bard, Aceves, Atchison, Morales, Jenks
Well, that's what I'd do. Feel free to pick apart what I've suggested and what I've missed, or agree with it. Just also include what you would do as an alternate solution. If this is not the place for this type of thread, please feel free to remove. Have at it.
Now that Cherrington is officially in place, next step is a manager, and I'm going with Dave Martinez from Tampa Bay as my pick.
Trades that I'd make:
Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Reddick and Oscar Tejada to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Youkilis allows them to move Uribe to a middle infield position or cut ties with Loney at first base. Tejada is in there to sweeten the deal, as a quick look at the Dodgers top prospects from Sickles (admittedly going into last year) doesn't show much in the infield. This is a complex trade, but we've just gone through a complex season. The Dodgers are able to get three core players under control for several years (for the cost of two) and get some cash relief off their books.
John Lackey, Jed Lowrie, Alex Hassan, and Alex Wilson to San Diego for Chase Headley. On top of being awful, Lackey is also now damaged goods. He's going to "cost" a lot to get rid of. Lowrie has flexibility and is cheap for them, while being able to potentially play any infield position, likely 2b as Hudson is a free agent. For them, Darnell becomes their third baseman. In this scenario, we are also subsidizing Lackey down to a $6M a year pitcher for SDP.
Free Agents: Mark Buehrle to a 3yr, $45M contract. The peripherals scare me, but he is here to be the 4th pitcher, and has enough of a track record where I think the success mitigates the predictive stats. Ryan Madson as closer, 3yrs, $18M would be a significant raise for him and far cheaper than Papelbon. He's pitched in a high pressure environment in even more of a hitter's park than Fenway. He should also come much cheaper than other closer options out there. Resign Ortiz to DH. 2yrs, $20M, triggered third year option based upon 500AB in 2013 season.
Cots currently has the Sox at $126M for 2012 obligations. With these moves you bump up to $164.5M (I'm assuming raises of approximately $1.5M each for Ethier and Kemp, and $750k for Headley. I don't know if this would mean that you also get to remove about $6M from Lackey's salary or not - if so, that would move it down to $158.5M). Assuming we pick up Scutaro's option that moves the team to $169.5M / $164.5M. The Luxury tax has gone up by approximately $8M each year, so lets assume that for 2012 it moves up to $186M. That would leave the Sox between $16.5M and $21.5M before hitting that limit - I do not know the salary components for several pieces, including Saltalamacchia, Aviles, McDonald, etc, but would assume those numbers would add up to between $3M and $5M. This resultant number would have to be included (and removed from the Luxury Tax buffer).
Lineup
Scutaro SS, Pedroia 2b, Gonzalez 1b, Ethier RF, Kemp CF, Ortiz DH, Headley 3b, Crawford LF, Saltalamacchia C
Bench
Aviles, Kalish, Lavarnway, McDonald, Sutton or Spears
Rotation
Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Buehrle, Doubront
Bullpen
Madson, Bard, Aceves, Atchison, Morales, Jenks
Well, that's what I'd do. Feel free to pick apart what I've suggested and what I've missed, or agree with it. Just also include what you would do as an alternate solution. If this is not the place for this type of thread, please feel free to remove. Have at it.
