Big trades for Red Sox

[CJFusco]

It looks like the Red Sox are already whipping out the big guns to prepare for the 2004 season.

The new manager will almost certainly be Terry Francona.

Oakland A's ace closer Keith Foulke (43 saves, 2.08 ERA) recently spent the day with Sox GM Theo Epstein (the man who signed Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, Todd Walker, and Bill Mueller for next to nothing). Foulke is, of course, a free agent.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/news/bos_news.jsp?ymd=20031124&content_id=608173&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

The biggest news, however, is that, barring any unfortunate developments, the Red Sox 1-4 starting pitchers will be

Pedro Martinez
Derek Lowe
Tim Wakefield
and CURT SCHILLING!?!?!

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/news/bos_news.jsp?ymd=20031124&content_id=608009&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

if only baseball season could start tomorrow...

[DonDavis]

I know Schill is going to leave AZ and that sucks. However, if he goes to Boston and they win it all??? THAT WOULD ROCK! The Sox should have won this year.

And I can hear it now... "Curt Schilling leaves AZ and is unhappy." If that is said, it's wrong. There are many factors at play with where Schilling goes. His family being the biggest (IMO). His wife recovered from skin cancer and living in the Phoenix area and its 340+ days of sunshine per year isn't ideal for them. They have taken lots of precautions for their kids when it comes to playing outside. I have really enjoyed watching Schill pitch for the Diamondbacks. Don't want to EVER see him in pinstripes

[Moses]

The curse is real.

Look at Schilling's #'s since his WS appearance. Very average. Yet Boston may sign him for big $.

Epstein is supposed to be a savvy Billy Beane protege, but all that money in Beantown is just too tempting.

Foulke? Great year. He won't put up numbers like that again.

If Theo doesn't succeed in buying his Championship "Yankee-style" he will look like just another butthead with a checkbook.

[CJFusco]

"
Epstein is supposed to be a savvy Billy Beane protege, but all that money in Beantown is just too tempting."

I don't think he would sign Schilling if there was any doubt about his health... and Schill's #'s have not been "average" - they have been lower than what we expect from Schilling, but you could also say that about Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, etc over the past couple years.

Theo is a big Sabermetrics advocate, and this is proven by the offensive team he has put together for the money. This is also proven by the fact that the Sox are currently trying to unload Dan Duquette's Manny Ramirez contract because as good as Manny is, he's overpaid. Now, ANYBODY would love to have Manny Ramirez in their left field (or batting fourth in their order), but Theo is willing to part with him because he, quite honestly, isn't worth the money. That's why I don't believe all these "A-Rod to Boston" rumors - A-Rod is a great player, but not worth the money.

The overbearing philosophy of Sabermetrics is the best value for the money - i don't think that Theo would jump into Schilling's contract if he didn't honestly think that it was worth it.

[Moses]

Originally posted by CJFusco
"

Theo is a big Sabermetrics advocate, and this is proven by the offensive team he has put together for the money...The overbearing philosophy of Sabermetrics is the best value for the money - i don't think that Theo would jump into Schilling's contract if he didn't honestly think that it was worth it.

Sorry to break it to you, but the RedSox are appear to be advocates of "Steinbrenner-metrics" rather than "Sabermetrics".

The Sox have shown absolutely NO financial restraint. They sniffed a Championship last year and came up short so the wallet is now open wide. This Boston teams management is now doing a pathetic Yankee imitation. Trying to buy a World Series. If they succeed they will get get all the respect they deserve.

Note: 2002 MLB team payrolls.

[Moses]

Originally posted by CJFusco
and Schill's #'s have not been "average"

Man was I wrong! Schilling had a 2.95 ERA last year whichs puts him at #2 in Boston behind Pedro's OBSCENE 2.2 ERA. So even after his "decline", he is still among the elite hurlers in the league. (Oops!)

[CJFusco]

"Sorry to break it to you, but the RedSox are appear to be advocates of "Steinbrenner-metrics" rather than "Sabermetrics". "

Yes, I think that the Red Sox do show Stein-esque tendencies, but who's to say that they aren't getting the value for their money, with the exception of the deals that Duquette made before Theo took the reigns (eg Manny). The deals that Theo HAS made so far (Millar, Mueller, Ortiz, Walker) have been phenomenal production-for-the-money coups. Although I don't think that anyone could have predicted that all four of those players would end up having career years in 2003 (as would Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek), but who knows? Maybe chock that up to "team chemistry?"

"Man was I wrong! Schilling had a 2.95 ERA last year whichs puts him at #2 in Boston behind Pedro's OBSCENE 2.2 ERA. So even after his "decline", he is still among the elite hurlers in the league. (Oops!)"

Yes. We are excited about this in Red Sox nation. Of course, your counter-argument could be that he went 8-9 last year (with that 2.92 ERA), but he can't be blamed for lack of run support. One thing that the Red Sox do very well is score runs. A main concern is injury, but I don't think that it will be a major concern because his only injuries in the past few years have been a broken hand and apendicitis - no torn ligaments, sprained/pulled muscles. That is good news.

[DonDavis]

The more I think about it, the more I like Schill going to the Sox. As you all know, he can bring it! And he really takes care of himself. I think he would feed on the run support of No-mah and the gang. Seeing him every 5th day has been great and I would love to see him in AL East and help Boston get that Championship.

That would be a dream vacation for me. Go to Boston and a world series game? Count me in!! That is if I could find ANYONE in Bean town willing to sell a ticket. I would imagine it would cost a pretty penny or 2.

[DonDavis]

hmm...Appears to be a go! Look out Boston...here comes Schilling!!

[Moses]

I gotta think this makes the Red Sox the AL top dog. Just hope they beat the Yankee$.

[Big Ed]

Now we can only hope that Pettite decides to return home to Texas and play for the Astros. But I doubt it.

Acquiring Schilling is the most exciting off season news that I could have imagined.

[CJFusco]

all is good in Red Sox nation