MLB’s free agent signing period is now underway and there are lots of potentially franchise-shaping decisions for Theo Epstein to make between now and the time the Sox report to Ft. Myers for spring training. Should they sign Mark Teixeira? Will he add another starter to the rotation? Is there bullpen help available? Is another Japanese import on the horizon? Will he re-sign the team captain, and if not who will he find to replace Tek behind the plate? Can he unload Julio Lugo? What to do with Mike Lowell? Is Coco going to return as a fourth outfielder? Is Jedi Masterson going to be a starter or a reliever? Can he be enticed to part with top prospects like Buchholz, Bowden or Anderson? As you can see there is plenty on Theo’s plate at the moment, and in this week’s edition of Top 5 you are being asked to put yourself in his shoes. If you were Theo Epstein, what would be your Top 5 priorities this off-season?Monday, November 17, 2008
Top 5: Theo's Off-Season Priorities
MLB’s free agent signing period is now underway and there are lots of potentially franchise-shaping decisions for Theo Epstein to make between now and the time the Sox report to Ft. Myers for spring training. Should they sign Mark Teixeira? Will he add another starter to the rotation? Is there bullpen help available? Is another Japanese import on the horizon? Will he re-sign the team captain, and if not who will he find to replace Tek behind the plate? Can he unload Julio Lugo? What to do with Mike Lowell? Is Coco going to return as a fourth outfielder? Is Jedi Masterson going to be a starter or a reliever? Can he be enticed to part with top prospects like Buchholz, Bowden or Anderson? As you can see there is plenty on Theo’s plate at the moment, and in this week’s edition of Top 5 you are being asked to put yourself in his shoes. If you were Theo Epstein, what would be your Top 5 priorities this off-season?
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MY TOP 5.....
5)Bullpen help - I'd like to see them get a lefty specialist at the very least. Ideally I'd like to see them sign Fuentes from Colorado, but there are some closer openings that may pry him him another direction.
4)Mike Lowell situation - Simply needs to figure out where Lowell is in terms of health and readiness. And, if he is ready, do they keep him or not? This is going to be a huge decision, and possibly a huge undertaking depending on which direction he goes.
3)Deal Julio Lugo - What needs to happen here (Lugo goes) is a no-brainer, but who wants him and how much of his contract will we have to eat to make it work? Or what kind of contract will they need to take back to offset it? Important to not just rid themselves of Lugo but not handcuff themselves in the process.
2)Catcher - This is the one position they do not have a starter even penciled in for '09 at the moment. Do they keep Tek? If so, for how long and how much? I say offer 1-year @ $9m or 2-years @ $16m. Do not go beyond that. But if they do not sign Tek they need to figure out what they will do behind the plate.
1)Sign Tex! - For all of the reasons listed in Free Agent Friday and elsewhere on the site. This is the one move that could alter the course of the franchise. No matter what happens with the other "big" decisions it will not be a make or break call...this one could be.
5. Tek- its prety much up to Tek, what will he accept as an offer.
4. Lowell- Is he gonna be able to play. if they sign Tex, they need to deal Lowell if he plans on coming back.
3. Bullpen- they need to keep Masterson as a RP, but Oki, Masterson, and MDC cant do it alone. I gave a list in a previous post.
2. Tex- sign him, sign him
1. Lugo- bye bye Julio thanks for wearing the Sox uniform, but you wont be missed by fans.
another priority would be a SP. I think it will really depend on what they see from Buchholz in the winter league, he needs to show something then they need to decide if they keep him or trade him.
1) Sign Tex = trade lowell
2) Trade lugo for veteran pitcher - I love the idea of adding robertson or willis. Gives us a decent 4/5 starter.
3) Trade Coco - Trade for Saltemachia.
4)Re-sign Tek for 2 years - Re-sign tek with idea that he would mentor saltemachia. His call only for the right money though and not more than two years.
5)Bullpen - Find bullpen help. Middle relievers...
#1 Trade Coco Crisp for relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez (KC).
I have just realized for the first time that having two players named Tek and Tex could get confusing.
I like the crisp deal in terms of getting a young reliever, but I had hoped he would be used to get a catcher from the rangers.
If we can trade lugo to the tigers for either willis or robertson I think those two trade will have been great moves in terms of providing depth to our pitching staff.
Now all we need to do is sign TEX.
Danny, you should leave a free agent conversation at the top of the site as this will be an on going chain.
Dave, "Off-Season Movement" will be updated weekly so it will always be on the front page of the site.
From what I hear the Rangers are looking for to trade one of their catchers it will take MUCH more than Coco. The asking price for Salty to Boston would be Buchholz from what I can gather.
However, this trade opens up the possibility of Masterson returning to being a starter, which opens up dealing Buchholz...so this deal could help us get a catcher from the Rangers in a chain-reaction sort of way.
Upon further review I'm going with your suggestion Dave...
I am not that crazy about have Tex on this team. It would be nice if we signed him but personally I would rather keep calling players up from the farm who have been groomed the way the sox want.
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