Looking at the Outfield Situation in 08 and beyond

[Boston's Future]

This is an interesting situation. Currently our OF's are Bobby Kielty, Eric Hinske, Manny Rameriz, JD Drew, Coco Crisp, Brandon Moss, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Going into 2008, Jacoby Ellsbury has to play. I dont' see JD Drew going anywere, because not a lot of teams will take his salary. Plus I'm willing to give him a chance next year. I wish Manny would go, but he won't. So he's got one year left, and then he's gone. I think Crisp will be traded because his bat is too poor. Ellsbury will be starting in center next year. His glove and speed are as good as Crisp's, and he can actually hit the ball. Now the Sox could go nutty and sign a free agent OF this offseason, like Torri Hunter or Andru Jones. If they do that Manny would have to go. So the Sox could have Jones in Center and Ellsbury in Left. Thats pretty sick. Keep Brandon Moss as a solid 4th OF option. Hinske is iffy. If we do keep Manny, we would need a replace for him in 09, so the Sox HAVE TO KEEP ELLSBURY. Anyone know any free agent OF's in the 2009 offseason?

[NH_soxfan14]

Not so fast my friend. They might keep coco and jacoby next year together because coco can be injury prone and jacoby has had problems with his wrist. So they might just platoon Crisp and Ellsbury which personally i wouldn't like.

[Boston's Future]

The prospect of having Crisp and Ellsbury in the same OF is enticing, all that speed and great defense. Have Ellsbury bat leadoff and Crisp bat 9th, that would be nuts.

[sunshinekids99]

And that outfield would have zero power. It's either Ellsbury or Crisp for me. And at this point it's got to be Ellsbury. Try and put Crisp in a package for a first or third baseman if you can't get Lowell back. If not maybe you can get a good reliever by moving Crisp.

[Chach]

Ellsbury wrist injury is an isolated incident. Coco increased his trade value by becoming a gold glove caliber CF and a team looking to get a CF on the cheap would be a nice fit. Ellsbury is likely to start in CF with Kielty playing the 4th OF role like he is doing now and Brandon Moss is supposed to be playing some first in the Dominican this winter so he'll take Hinske's role of playing everywhere. Either of those guys are good enough to step up and fill in short term for any injuries to anyone in the OF. mahalo
~Chach~

[Boston's Future]

Andru Jones hit the free agent market. Any interest in him if we traded Crisp and Manny?

[Basketball Jesus]

God no. If you dump on Drew for sucking ass at the plate, Jones is no better.

[sunshinekids99]

No I'm very happy with Manny Ramirez.

[Bleeding Green]

JD Drew finished the year incredibly strong. His numbers on the season don't look so bad.

Crisp's defense is far too valuable to just get rid of him. There are lots of options for next year.

Manny (LF), Crisp (CF), Drew (RF), Ellsbury (4th) probably being the easiest.

Of course, I'd love to trade Ellsbury or Crisp for one of Chase Headley or Kevin Kouzmanoff. The Padres have a hole in CF after this year and the Red Sox have a hole at 3B after this year. Perfect fit for both teams. Crisp or Ellsbury would look amazing roaming around in PETCO's huge CF and Headley/Kouzmanoff could take over pretty well for Kouzmanoff.

I haven't seen Kouzmanoff at third, but I've heard he's pretty terrible there. 22 errors in 136 games certainly backs that up. But Youkilis is pretty good at third so maybe just move him to third and Kouzmanoff to first.

[Boston's Future]

No I'm very happy with Manny Ramirez.

ummmm why? Both guys struggled offensively last year, but at least Jones has got decent speed and plays gold glove defense.

[Chach]

Are you seriously equating Manny's season with Jones? Did you bother to look up Jones' stats? He hit .222. Now average is certainly a bad way of measuring players but that is horrible and the fact that his average was only .311 is atrocious. You've got 26 HRs and fading defense in CF and that's about it. While Manny is certainly putting up the God like offensive production of the past, his numbers were heads and shoulders above Jones.

Not only that, but Manny is signed for one more year whereas Jones would requires a Gary Matthews Jr level mistake contract to sign. mahalo
~Chach~

[sunshinekids99]

-= original quote snipped =-



ummmm why? Both guys struggled offensively last year, but at least Jones has got decent speed and plays gold glove defense.

He's a better player than Andruw Jones that's why. And Jone's gold glove defense seems to be behind him.

[HeelSox]

Boston's Future...you do realize that Manny's OPS was better than Lowell right?...so much for "struggling" offensively

[Mahorn at the 4]

In 2008, Ellsbury will be the CF, period.

Why?
1- his bat, energy and speed will make the lineup much better. He is a ballplayer that is an excellent athlete. Crisp is an excellent athlete that plays baseball. There is a difference.

2- Crisp's trade value will never be higher. He should win a gold glove and there are CF hungry teams out there, like Minny and Atlanta. Once Hunter and Jones get overpaid, there will be a market for Covelli. He3 will be a hot name at the winter meetings. Expect him to be dealt prior to Santa's visit.

Manny, on the other hand, will likely stay. But, if a team desparate for a bat and/or a splash like the NYM or LAD, then I think Theo would listen. But, I expect Manny to play next year here. His 2009 option may even get picked up if he has a strong 2008.

IMO, this is the OF plan for 2008.

[justin27s]

Do you pull the trigger on this deal?

Coco
Buccholz
minor leaguer

to MINN

for

Johan Santana

It'd straighten up the outfield situation a bit, and a Beckett-Santana-Dice-K rotation looks unreal.

Buccholz's loss would hurt though.

What do you guys think?

[Chach]

Sub in Ellsbury for Coco and make Justin Masterson the minor leaguer and you've got a deal that Minny would accept. Anything less than that is silly.

And no, I wouldn't take that. If Johan were under control for a few years or the market wasn't **** insane, maybe I would pull the trigger but he is going to cost $20 million a year for 6-8 years, so well into his 30s when he is well past his prime, for some guys who are going to be potential all stars and be extremely cost controlled for the near future. I mean you're looking at paying $15 million total for Buchholz over the life of whatever deal Santana signs and when you consider that Santana will be on the decline over the next 6 years while Buchholz is his peak, it's sort of silly to trade for Santana unless you have a short window to win. But with all the young players we are bringing up through the system, our window is wide open and it would be foolish to mortgage half the future for Santana. mahalo
~Chach~

[greenbeans]

08 outfield: -LF Ramirez -CF: Ellsbury -RF: JD(ugh) Drew -4th OF: Moss

and damn do i hope they sign Manny to an extension even though thats just a pipedream most likely

[Boston's Future]

Why the hell would the Sox extent Manny? They have been trying to unload his contract for forever now! After next year its good riddance!

[sunshinekids99]

Depends what the free agency market has at that point. Or what they can get in a trade.

If none of that is as good as Manny, then picking up his options seems to make sense. Although given his age who knows what Manny can bring next year, so there is real no reason to worry about the following year now.

[HeelSox]

Good Riddance to one of the most dominant right handed bats in league history....christ future, I've begun to believe that you'd be dissapointed with a world series ring just because we won it in 5 instead of 4.

I've come to the conclusion that you either hate on the sox and jump on every bandwagon going to get conversation started, or you're mentally (Please Use More Appropriate Word).