Teixeira a luxury or a need for the Sox?

[scaffolds]

With the Rays more experienced and with the addition of Price not to mention of a very talented farm system, the Yankees having signed Sabathia, Burnett and perhaps Sheets or Lowe the Red Sox as it stands TODAY it could be in danger of missing the 2009 play off. Could finish third in the AL East with the hitting it has now. This team needs a clean up hitter, a hitter that could protect Ortiz and would hit in front of Bay. At the end of 2008 Youkilis who had a CAREER YEAR was the Sox clean up hitter, but Youkilis isn't the answer, Teixeira is the answer, Texeira is a NEED for the Sox, a type of a hitter that will allowed Ortiz to see that he could hit, that other wise he won't.

Most of the talk i have seen or heard has been that if the Sox would sign Teixeira they would had to trade Lowell. I disagree, a smart organization will sale HIGH (The Coco Crisp trade is an example of this) not when the market is down. Like i said before Youkilis is coming from a CAREER YEAR the time to take advantage of it, Youkilis is 30 yrs and made 3 Millions in 2008, which means he would double that in 2009 (Not longer the cheap Youkilis that he was a few years ago, like his supporters claim that he was) in addition the Sox with Teixeira ar first and Lowell at third would better deffense, better range, than if Youkilis would had been at third base.

[efin98]

Pure luxury player.

[mg050369]

Tex is the best fit for this organization. A young, switch hitting gold glove carrying slugger to pair with Ortiz. However, if it's going to cost 8 years or more, over $20M/year and potentially include a NTC and opt out, I think they should pass. The front office has built a top flight organization by paying the right price. If Tex isn't in the works, I would look at the following alternatives:

Dunn - Not a switch hitter or defender Tex is, but should come much cheaper, gets on base and hits home runs that wouldn't require draft compensation. I would primarily play him at 1B and in LF (Fenway only) when Bay is out of the lineup. #3 thru #6 would be Ortiz, Youk, Dunn and Bay. Sign Baldelli and you have 5 (or more accurately 4 1/2) outfielders.

Giambi - sign him to a cheaper one or two year deal.

Not being tied to a ridiculously high Tex contract allows for greater payroll flexibility to re-up internal options, future free agents and salary trade dumps from other teams. I also think that Lowell should only be dealt if it nets a decent return (we also forget he has a NTC). Other moves to make:

Baldelli - 4th outfileder, platoon with Drew.

Catcher and veteran middle infielder - I won't rehash all those internal, free agent and trade options.

#4 Starter - Smoltz is my first choice. Masterson fills the role until Smoltz returns, giving Gonzo a 6 week audition in the pen. Penny is my 2nd choice, if it's a cheap one or two deal. Sheets is the third option, assuming he's relatively healthy and can be had for a reasonable two year deal.

Springer - I kick the tires on him, ink him if it can be for one year for no more than $4M.

To summarize, I don't see Tex as an absolute need because I wouldn't give him a contract that could haunt the Sox down the road. If he can't be had at the right price, save and spend the money elsewhere.

[Boston Boxer]

Pure luxury player.

i do not think it is a pure luxury as we have too many "ifs" in our line up.

Can Ellsbury bounce back from a down year?
Is Ortiz healthy and can he bounce back from a bad year?
Will Lowell be health coming back from injury?
Can Drew stay health and if so, can he be productive like last year when he carried the team in Papi's absence?
Can Jason Bay continue to play well?
Will Tek, if re signed, hit above .200?

we have a lot of ifs in this line up, so while i will not say Tex is a need, it would sure be nice to have and we dont have to give up any young players for him...just money. And that money does not come out of my pocket, so why not go get him.

[YOUgodofwalks]

Tex is the very definition of a luxury. We have every position filled and have a good offense. Here's a little breakdown of the past 5 seasons offensive production.

Red Sox rank in runs scored in MLB

2008-3rd
2007-4th
2006-9th
2005-1st
2004-1st

We, as Sox fans have become accustomed to having a very good offense. But, we don't NEED to be in the top 5 of runs scored almost every year, it is not require to win. Proof being in the same time period as above, the years the Sox did not win the World Series the winner was ranked 9th in 2008, 14th in 2006 and 13th in 2005 in runs scored. I agree the offense would be better with Tex, but if we assume the current Sox offense goes down from several career years last year we drop down to somewhere around 7-9 in the MLB in runs scored? In no way can I accpet we need Tex to have any chance of winning.

[Evangelion]

Tex is the very definition of a luxury. We have every position filled and have a good offense. Here's a little breakdown of the past 5 seasons offensive production.

Red Sox rank in runs scored in MLB

2008-3rd
2007-4th
2006-9th
2005-1st
2004-1st

We, as Sox fans have become accustomed to having a very good offense. But, we don't NEED to be in the top 5 of runs scored almost every year, it is not require to win. Proof being in the same time period as above, the years the Sox did not win the World Series the winner was ranked 9th in 2008, 14th in 2006 and 13th in 2005 in runs scored. I agree the offense would be better with Tex, but if we assume the current Sox offense goes down from several career years last year we drop down to somewhere around 7-9 in the MLB in runs scored? In no way can I accpet we need Tex to have any chance of winning.
You are aware Manny Ramirez was on the team in 04-08, right?

[Dogdaze]

Teixeira is more of a luxury then a need at this point. But considering that the Rays greatly improved and the Yankees were not that far behind last year, and have already improved their pitching I believe signing Tex would be a wise decision to help the Sox compete in 2009 and beyond.

While I believe the Sox offense is solid going into 2009, I also believe there are legitimate concerns regarding Papi and Lowell and to a lesser extent a few other players such as Drew. Tex would be a luxury but he'd also be insurance in the event Lowell, Papi and a few others can't hit as well as they had in past years.

While I'm optomistic Papi and Lowell will make full recoveries and hit well, coming back from injuries and with age creeping up on them, there's just no gaurentee they will be as reliable and productive as they had in past years.

Lowell turns 35 in February and Big Papi just turned 33. While this isn't terribly old in baseball years, some players in their mid thirties start to decline so signing a 28 year old with good offensive skills helps for our future offense as well as giving us a boost for our current offense. So I think signing Teixeira would be a wise move.

[scaffolds]

How many runs a team has a scored in a year or how many runs a team average per games is sometimes miss leading, as the Red Sox showed in 2008 where they where high in both categories, however it struggle to score in a lot of games and made very average pitchers look like a future Hall of fame candidates when facing them. If the red Sox are going to be contenders in 2009 and beyond they need to take care of the clean up hitter. A hitter that will hit behind Ortiz and in front of Bay, again Youkilis isn't the answer.

[TheBeginningWasTheEnd]

Texiera isn't a need by the Sox, nothing for the Sox is a need, but he is a useful player and something which for the Sox would be helpful.

[Boston Boxer]

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2b
Tex 1B
Ortiz DH
Youk 3b
Drew RF
Bay LF
Tek C (i think he will re sign)
Lowrie SS

That is an AWESOME line-up

[Dirt Dog]

^ That's the lineup I hope for as well.


Right now...Tex is a luxury. Looking down the road...he's a need. Bringing in a gold glover at 1B and a switch-hitting lethal bat for years to come would be huge and he would be the bat our lineup would be built around. I could see Tex becoming the face of the future of this franchise.

Make that call Theo.

[bakes781]

ITA with Dirt Dog. The Red Sox don't have any holes at the moment, but we have to look at the future of this offense. We have several vets who are on their last leg & many young bats who's potential is still years away. So we need a guy in his prime that can produce at a high level consistently.

I don't agree with trading Youk. I think you platoon Lowell at DH against lefties.

[KCGHOST]

I think the Red Sox need to very carefully evaluate Youkilis. To me he is a guy,like Varitek, that you end up overpaying for the last four years of his career because you overvalue his "intangibles".

I don't know about giving anyone an 8 year contract. That's a long time.

[scaffolds]

For those who aren't a believer that signing Teixeira is a NEED, the Red Sox front office doesn't agree with you. According to baseball people with a strong knowledge in the negociations the Sox have made a strong move to finalize the signing, A Sox line up with Texeira in it would allow them to have a strong defensive minded catcher (perhaps resigning Tek) without the burden of hitting and a younger catcher (more than likely Dusty Brown) as the back up.

[mg050369]

For those who aren't a believer that signing Teixeira is a NEED, the Red Sox front office doesn't agree with you. According to baseball people with a strong knowledge in the negociations the Sox have made a strong move to finalize the signing, A Sox line up with Texeira in it would allow them to have a strong defensive minded catcher (perhaps resigning Tek) without the burden of hitting and a younger catcher (more than likely Dusty Brown) as the back up.

I don't dispute that Tex provides great value and would be a great fit. However, I wouldn't (and I suspect the Sox FO wouldn't) give him a ridiculous contract that restrict their payroll flexibility.

[Boston Boxer]

I think the Red Sox need to very carefully evaluate Youkilis. To me he is a guy,like Varitek, that you end up overpaying for the last four years of his career because you overvalue his "intangibles".

I don't know about giving anyone an 8 year contract. That's a long time.

i am not sure i understand your post. who said we would give Youk an 8 year contract? right now, Youk is THE best player we have in the line up so i dont think we are overvaluing him at all.

[scaffolds]

i am not sure i understand your post. who said we would give Youk an 8 year contract? right now, Youk is THE best player we have in the line up so i dont think we are overvaluing him at all.

The issue is that Youkilis is coming out of a carreer year. Pedroia is the player the Sox will build up the team around not Youkilis.

[Evangelion]

The issue is that Youkilis is coming out of a carreer year. Pedroia is the player the Sox will build up the team around not Youkilis.
Pedroia not exactly a player you would build a team around. I consider a player like A. Rodriguez, A. Pujols, M. Ramirez, H. Ramirez, D. Wright, E. Longoria and others while young or in their prime as players you build a team around. Pedrioa had a great year last, but I do wonder if he can produce those type of numbers each and every year. If the team signed Teixeria, then Teixeria would be the player the team builds around since he's at his peak and 2 years younger than Youkillis, has estiblished being a good player for a number of years while Youkillis and Pedrioa had one career year. Not saying neither can never match that production again, but we'll have to wait and see. Teixeria is established after 5 straight years of production.

Still, I agree, if you were going to build a team around a player on the current Red Sox club, it would be Pedroia, not Youkillis. Not to mention I don't believe most people are aware how old Youkillis is, which would be 30 in 2009.

[Imgran]

He's a luxury. You can win without him. He does help a lot though.

The Red Sox are going into the season with one of the best corner infields in the game with or without Teixeira. Lowell and Youk, and a solid backup 1B like Bailey, is really just about all we need.

If we do sign Teixeira it will be difficult to see Lowell move on after what he's done for us over the last 3 years. We could very easily have won the World Series last year if he was in the playoff lineup and healthy.

I expressed this at the time: I wish he had rested when he first got hurt instead of aggrivating his injury and not getting treatment. If he'd been treated when the problem first showed up it might not have required surgery and maybe he might have been in the lineup for the postseason. With Lowell, not Kotsay, in the lineup I have a hard time believing we would have lost to the Rays.1

With Lowell probably returned to health going into next season I don't think Teixeira represents a vast upgrade. A few more HR's and RBI's and a significantly higher OBP is the extent of it.

Please don't buy the we need to replace Manny BS. In case you've forgotten we have this player named Jason Bay.

We also have this player named Lars Anderson who oozes upside and destroyed AA last year. I have every confidence in Lars to develop into at least 80% of what Teixeira is and to be able to serve as a starting 1B at need by the middle of the coming season. In 8 years when Teixeira is 26 Lars will be in his prime. I know you don't ordinarily build around a prospect that hasn't come up yet but Lars is a bit different just because of how special what he's doing and how young he's doing it is. You've got to make room for him.

[Dirt Dog]

Per Boston Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1139583&srvc=sports&position=0)...

In an e-mail to the Boston Herald yesterday, Red Sox owner John Henry, while not mentioning Teixeira specifically, said the team would rule out guaranteeing a 10-year deal to any free agent. "The Red Sox effectively had a 10-year deal with a player determined not to live up to his contract," Henry wrote, referring of course to Manny Ramirez. "A lot can change over 10 years, for both sides."

Even 7-8 yrs is still a long time but at least there's some sort of common sense out there. If the Sox want him then I guess they're going to up the money and not the years.

[bakes781]

I don't like the idea of giving an opt out, but maybe giving 7 year deal with a a player option for an 8th would be ok?

[scaffolds]

I don't dispute that Tex provides great value and would be a great fit. However, I wouldn't (and I suspect the Sox FO wouldn't) give him a ridiculous contract that restrict their payroll flexibility.

Mg there's no doubt that this is a big contract, hower unlike some posts in this thread the Sox FO is concerned about this line up and its production, its a opinion that is well share in the baseball industry. The suggestion that Adam Dunn could be an option, i don't agree with it, first of all while Dunn has big time power, he strike out way too much, its defensive liability and its not a good idea of having a straight (instaed of a switch hitter) a left handed hitter behind Ortiz.

Earlier in this thread I pointed out that its good busisness to sale high, specially when a player its coming out of carreer year and that trading Youkilis would be to the best interest of the organization if they sign Teixeira and Lowell its healthy, well that may happen or not, time will tell, but what its likely to happen is that the organization isn't going to offer Youkilis a long contract, but more likely a 3 yr/21-22 Millions contract that will take him away from the arbritation years into free agency, which at that time as a 33 yrs the organization will decide what to do.

The Tought that signing Teixeira wll block Lars Anderson, isn't true. Anderson will be going back to Portland this Spring, Anderson its about two years from being ML ready, which will be the time that Ortiz contract will be up. A 35 yrs Ortiz (end of the contract) with knees and wrist issues beside a bad body isn't likely to be resigned and Anderson (whose defense isn't near to Teixeira) will replace him as the DH for the time being

[bakes781]

What do you think the number ultimately will be & what is your cut off point?

My offer would be 7 years $154 mil with an option for an 8th year at $26. That would work out to $22.5/year.

[mg050369]

Scaff, I respectfully disagree with you on two minor points. First, regarding Dunn. I agree he's not as good a fit as Tex. His bat and D aren't as good. He is a lefty, however, I would bat him 5th between Youk and Bay. Second, he does strikeout a lot but I think that can sometimes be an overstated stat as you can just as easily ground into double play as a move a runner along. He is an OBP and HR hitting machine. Given the choice between Tex at 10 years and $200M and Dunn at 3 and $40M (I'm not sure what the final numbers will be on either), I would go with Dunn.

Second, if Lars progresses as he has, I would argue you he's a year away. Give him nearly a full year at AA, a cup of coffee at AAA and have him on speed dial in '10 if you need to fill a DL need at 1B or DH. I do agree that you don't worry about potential excesses. It's no different than saying we have too many starting pitchers. First, it's a nice problem to have. Second, it's usually shortlived and takes care of itself.

[Dirt Dog]

What do you think the number ultimately will be & what is your cut off point?
I would want to know what Tex is looking for as for as numbers....total # of years, total salary or salary/yr or all the above and go from there.

The Nationals offered him 8yrs/$160m ($20m/yr) and the Angels offer should at least be right there as well. If I really wanted him I would offer somewhere around 7 yrs/$170m ($24/yr). I know that's a little much, but I could see the Sox even offer him more....another year and $10-15m more.

We'll find out soon enough...

[BradSOX24]

20M a year isn't a problem thats what they were paying Manny a year. This team has kept there pay roll around the same number for about 5 years. They have improved the defence and the pitching and have been contenders every year. Many other team have increased there payroll dramaticly and have not competed. (Mets, Tigers) Tex over all is a luxery but one that the Red Sox can afford and it would certaily help but is not required. They will be compettive with or with out him.

[scaffolds]

What do you think the number ultimately will be & what is your cut off point?

My offer would be 7 years $154 mil with an option for an 8th year at $26. That would work out to $22.5/year.

Without the 8th year included this deal doesn't get done, the word that i have heard is 184 Millions in a 8 years contract.

[HDH]

I think the biggest problem in Boston will be SS and the heath of the OF rather than 1B-3B. Although Texiera is an upgrade, he's not a need and may not help balance the lineup. I see the BoSox lineup needing a RH bat in the 4 hole to maintain the balance it once had.

In addition, they need some more LH pitching.

[Boston Boxer]

I think the biggest problem in Boston will be SS and the heath of the OF rather than 1B-3B. Although Texiera is an upgrade, he's not a need and may not help balance the lineup. I see the BoSox lineup needing a RH bat in the 4 hole to maintain the balance it once had.

In addition, they need some more LH pitching.

SS is being filled nicely by 2nd year man Jed Lowrie. The outfield is in fine health with the only question being JD Drew. We will get a 4th OF to fill in and give JD a break every now and then, so not really worried there. Tex is a switch hitter, so we will have that RH bat in the middle of the line up every so often...i think we have great balance if we sign Teixeira.

Keep in mind, we are not done in FA yet either...more pitching could be on the way.

[SwissRedSoxFan]

I said it earlier this Offseason and I will keep saying it:

I think the so-called experts of ESPN, FOXSPORTS etc. are wrong by saying: "Mark Teixeira is a great fit for the Red Sox. They have to get it done."

I say: The Red Sox don't need Mark Teixeira. If he could play catcher or shortstop, he would be a "great fit". By adding Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox would have to move Red Sox Gold-Glover Kevin Youkilis to third, don't think he would have liked it and it would have been a bad signal. Plus they would have traded Mike Lowell or David Ortiz to another club.

Theo Epstein would have lost much of his status. He convinced Red Sox icon and 2007 World Series Gold Glove Winner Mike Lowell to take a much lesser contract ( 3y/37Mill; Phillies offered 4y/52 MILL) to play with them. And after a year he would have rewarded him with a trade. No way!

So what I'm saying: By signing Teixeira, you add big talent and have to move big talent.

I would have expected, they would have moved Lowell. So they move

Lowell=.280 avg/.345OBP/20HR/90RBI/Gold Glove Defense/2 years contract for 12.5 Mill$

to get

Teixeira=.290 avg/.370OBP/30HR/120RBI/Gold Glove Defense/8 years contract for 25 Mill$!

Difference: a bit OBP and avg, 10 HR and 30 RBI's for 12.5 Mill$ more and moving a Gold Glover (Youkilis) to another position.

That does make NO sense! Remember: The Red Sox were, after they traded Manny to LA the best team in winning percentage and runs scored!

In two years, the contracts of Lowell and Ortiz will come to an end. Lars Anderson, (Manny said of him, that he never saw a player with more opposite-power) will come to the bigs (he is likely to begin this year @ AA Portland). He will take one of their place in the lineup. If we believe what scouts are saying about him, he should be at least a Teixeira-power-threat with massive OBP and average and likely clearly lesser defense. Thats the best and cheapest transition.

Red Sox freed up some money: 20 Mill(Ramirez) and 10 Mill(Schilling). They have the money and they are going to spend it in another offseason for a GREAT FIT. I love how intelligent Epstein is doing business.

[csanchez29]

With the addition of C.C. and Burnett by the Yanks and the possible addition of Manny, how anyone can call Teix a luxury for the Red Sox is hard to understand. Papi and Lowell are not getting any younger. I agree that we should not overpay and do what Boras wants the team to do which is to offer a lot more money than it's necessary. But the front office should do everything within their grasp to sign this guy.

[Silver Blaze]

This whole thread is now rendered a moot point with Texiera in pinstripes for the next eight years.

[Boston Boxer]

I said it earlier this Offseason and I will keep saying it:

I think the so-called experts of ESPN, FOXSPORTS etc. are wrong by saying: "Mark Teixeira is a great fit for the Red Sox. They have to get it done."

I say: The Red Sox don't need Mark Teixeira. If he could play catcher or shortstop, he would be a "great fit". By adding Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox would have to move Red Sox Gold-Glover Kevin Youkilis to third, don't think he would have liked it and it would have been a bad signal. Plus they would have traded Mike Lowell or David Ortiz to another club.

Theo Epstein would have lost much of his status. He convinced Red Sox icon and 2007 World Series Gold Glove Winner Mike Lowell to take a much lesser contract ( 3y/37Mill; Phillies offered 4y/52 MILL) to play with them. And after a year he would have rewarded him with a trade. No way!

So what I'm saying: By signing Teixeira, you add big talent and have to move big talent.

I would have expected, they would have moved Lowell. So they move

Lowell=.280 avg/.345OBP/20HR/90RBI/Gold Glove Defense/2 years contract for 12.5 Mill$

to get

Teixeira=.290 avg/.370OBP/30HR/120RBI/Gold Glove Defense/8 years contract for 25 Mill$!

Difference: a bit OBP and avg, 10 HR and 30 RBI's for 12.5 Mill$ more and moving a Gold Glover (Youkilis) to another position.

That does make NO sense! Remember: The Red Sox were, after they traded Manny to LA the best team in winning percentage and runs scored!

In two years, the contracts of Lowell and Ortiz will come to an end. Lars Anderson, (Manny said of him, that he never saw a player with more opposite-power) will come to the bigs (he is likely to begin this year @ AA Portland). He will take one of their place in the lineup. If we believe what scouts are saying about him, he should be at least a Teixeira-power-threat with massive OBP and average and likely clearly lesser defense. Thats the best and cheapest transition.

Red Sox freed up some money: 20 Mill(Ramirez) and 10 Mill(Schilling). They have the money and they are going to spend it in another offseason for a GREAT FIT. I love how intelligent Epstein is doing business.

well, you got your wish...i guess we will see now just how great the Sox are

[Evangelion]

well, you got your wish...i guess we will see now just how great the Sox are
Is he aware how poor 2010 FA class is?

[locke40]

As a Yankee fan, I would have hated to see Teixeira go to the Sox. I'm glad we got him. I wonder what number he'll choose.

[scaffolds]

The signing of Teixeira by the Yankees isn't the end of the World for the Red Sox, just makes them the third ranked team in the American league East, it also takes away the need of signing Varitek.

[Dirt Dog]

The signing of Teixeira by the Yankees isn't the end of the World for the Red Sox, just makes them the third ranked team in the American league East...

Really....says who? :think:

[scaffolds]

You have to be not fan, but a a fanatic, or maybe something else in order not too see that both the Yankess and Tampa bay have a better club in paper than the Red Sox.

[Evangelion]

You have to be not fan, but a a fanatic, or maybe something else in order not too see that both the Yankess and Tampa bay have a better club in paper than the Red Sox.
You're underestimating the Red Sox and overestimating the Yankees and Rays dramatically. You have to be a fanatic to believe the Red Sox are clearly the better team, but to say you're a fanatic if you believe Boston is the better club on paper doesn't seem fair at all.

[CajunSlugger]

I still believe both Boston and Tampa bay are better teams than the Yankees.

[SwissRedSoxFan]

I still believe both Boston and Tampa bay are better teams than the Yankees.

Me too. Steinbrenner has absolutely no idea how to do intelligent, professional baseball-business.

[scaffolds]

You're underestimating the Red Sox and overestimating the Yankees and Rays dramatically. You have to be a fanatic to believe the Red Sox are clearly the better team, but to say you're a fanatic if you believe Boston is the better club on paper doesn't seem fair at all.

The Rays gave the Red Sox (even with Manny for more than a half of a season) fits in 2008 and not only eventually beat them head to head, but beat them in AL championship series.

The Rays have not only very few question marks (perhaps the closer and the RF being the only ones) in additon they will be more experienced in 2009 and their farm system is one of the tops in the game.

The Yankees also always plays the Sox very competetive, while they have question marks with the starting pitchers Wang, Burnett (health) their only other question mark would be the return to health of Posada and the signing of Teixeira would be the edge breaker

The Sox have the most question marks of the three teams, they have holes at catching (even resigning Tek) as his hitting, specially his long left handed swing is a weakness and at short stop.

There are questions with the starting pitching Beckett (velocity lost) Wakefield and Buchholz. there are other questions mark,

Ellsbury is he going to be the on base machine that he was in 2007 or the hitter who swing for the fences and hit lazy fly balls like he did in 2008.

Ortiz, how his wrist is going to repond? How is he going to respond not having Manny to protect him? Is Ortiz going to be Pull happy hitter and keep hitting grounders to the left hand side of the infield like he did in 2008?

Youkilis has a carreer year in 2008, Which Youkilis will show up in 2009? the one of 2008 or the one of 2006 and 2007 were he hit around 280 ave, 15 HR and 75 RBI? The Red Sox don't have a clean up hitter, one who could protect Ortiz. The kind of protection that Teixeira would had give them.

Jason Bay is a very good player, but he isn't Manny.

JD Drew isn't going to play hurt. how many games is he going to miss because he is hurt? what kind of production the Sox are going to get from Drew?

Lowell. well the question is how well he will respond from the hip surgery. However he's the best third baseman on the team.

In conclusion, no matter have much it bothers me to say,that at this time (i understand that the off season isn't over and that the regular season isn't going to start tomorrow) are the third best team out of the three.

[SwissRedSoxFan]

This article explains it all...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3793282&name=Neyer_Rob


My concern now is, how to motivate the brave Mike Lowell. He is doing everything to get healthy and the Red Sox wanted to trade him if they had aquired Teixeira. Also Youkilis not wanting a contract-extension. That are things we should be concerned about.

It would have been better we completely styed out of the Teixeira-sweepstakes....Because now we have real problems.

[Boston Boxer]

This article explains it all...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3793282&name=Neyer_Rob


My concern now is, how to motivate the brave Mike Lowell. He is doing everything to get healthy and the Red Sox wanted to trade him if they had aquired Teixeira. Also Youkilis not wanting a contract-extension. That are things we should be concerned about.

It would have been better we completely styed out of the Teixeira-sweepstakes....Because now we have real problems.

can we close this thread. It is old news and you are sounding like a broken record. I doubt Lowell will need any help getting motivated to play. he is a professional and know how baseball works. Enough of this garbage.

[Dirt Dog]

You have to be not fan, but a a fanatic, or maybe something else in order not too see that both the Yankess and Tampa bay have a better club in paper than the Red Sox.

The Yankees are not head-and-shoulders above the Sox nor the Rays. Yankees improved themselves but not drastically. They basically swapped Mussina and Pettitte (34-23, 3.96, 404 IP) with CC and Burnett (35-20, 3.51, 474 IP)...that is if Pettitte doesn't re-sign. The Yankees improved in the IF with Tex but their OF leaves a lot to be desired and couple that with Matsui and Posada coming off of surgery doesn't make them the team to beat on paper or on the field. We'll find out...

[scaffolds]

The Yankees are not head-and-shoulders above the Sox nor the Rays. Yankees improved themselves but not drastically. They basically swapped Mussina and Pettitte (34-23, 3.96, 404 IP) with CC and Burnett (35-20, 3.51, 474 IP)...that is if Pettitte doesn't re-sign. The Yankees improved in the IF with Tex but their OF leaves a lot to be desired and couple that with Matsui and Posada coming off of surgery doesn't make them the team to beat on paper or on the field. We'll find out...

I don't agree, CC and Burnett are better than Mussina and Pettite and he may be back, Posada is a question mark, Damon is the LF not Matsui and thats assuming that Manny won't sign with the yankees