Sox not spending? We aren’t buying

I hope that I am wrong and I hope that Cherington has a big picture plan in mind. But, I am a bit concerned about an apparent lack of direction (the "vision thing"). Realizing that he is still trying to get his sea legs as GM, I am a little concerned about this guy's vision. Is he committed to the 'Sox farm system? Does he have in place good scouts to find tomorrow's superstars, particularly in the international markets? Will he avoid the free agent signing busts of Drew, Lackey, Clement, Renteria, et al?



Sox not spending? We aren’t buying

Reports that RHP Oswalt to Cardinals

As much as I would like to see another starter added to the roster, I am not disappointed with this news.  Committing millions to a pitcher with a history of back problems would have been risky.  After all, we have over $20M sitting on the shelf this season in the salaries of Lackey and Dice-K.

So where can those “unexpecteds’’ show up on the Red Sox?

From the Boston Globe ---

Is Daniel Bard excelling as a dominant fourth starter possible? Will Andrew Miller emerge as a solid fifth starter? Is Felix Doubront the guy from the farm system who finally emerges? Or will Junichi Tazawa or Alex Wilson be that guy?

Could Bobby Jenks put his physical woes behind him and effectively take Bard’s spot as the lights-out set-up guy in the bullpen? Does Ryan Sweeney put his game together to be that lefthanded-hitting guy who goes the other way, tattoos the wall, and plays a solid right field?

Does Ryan Lavarnway emerge as the catcher, unseat Saltalamacchia, and never look back?

Who among Aaron Cook, Vicente Padilla, and Carlos Silva will surprise you?

If nothing else, we have learned over the years, a team can never have enough pitching.  A blown out elbow here, a pulled groin there, and before you know a once-deep rotation on paper is only 2-deep as to quality starters.  I like the mantra "stockpile arms" cause you never know.

Scutaro's trade to free up $6M

Reports are that Cherington wants now to pursue Oswalt.  Given his back history, this could be rolling the dice.  I like Oswalt and teports are that he would agree to 1-year deal.  We will have to wait and see. 

Lots of Uncertainty - Part 3 - Help on the way?

The trade to get Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres cost the Sox its top 3 prospects, including Casey Kelly their top pitching prospect.  Josh Reddick is gone, Ryan Kalish has been injury prone, and future SS Jose Iglesias does not seem to be ready for major league pitching.  Felix D and Ryan Lavarnway could be called upon in 2012. 

The current list of top prospects looks good on paper but could be a few years from arriving at Fenway. 

The loss of Pap to the Phillies will net some good draft picks in June but those players selected will not show up in Spring Training immediately and won't be ready to contribute for a few year. 

The bottom line on the farm:  talent is there but not ripe enough for picking yet. 


http://www.soxprospects.com/

Lots of uncertainty - Part 2 - Who's Gone

Not bringing back 'Tek concerns me.  His veteran presence and handling the pitching staff are those intangibles that don't show up in the boxscores and are not readily evident to fans.  His biggest negative has been an inability to throw out base stealers.  To me, that does not cancel out his intangibles.

Pap's departure creates a big hole and much uncertainty.  Couple that with Bard's desire to start and the hole looks even bigger. 

J.D. Drew - good riddance.  $70M for a clutch hit in the 2007 World Series -- was he worth it?

Will Wake return?  I think he still has value to the team given his interchangeability between the bullpen and starting. 

Tomorrow:  any help coming from the farm?

Scutaro talks signal that Cherington isn't done

Scutaro talks signal that Cherington isn't done

Trading Youk to free up money for another starter seems like a good move. Youk has been injury prone past few years.

Lots of uncertainty -- Part 1 -- injuries

Jenks - surgery - won't be ready for opening day (set up man)
Crawford - surgery - won't be ready for opening day (2011 bust)
Kalish - surgery - won't be ready for opening day (heir apparent to RF)

Season has not started and the injury list also contains key players.

Tomorrow: who's gone since last fall's "Great Collapse".