Red Sox reach agreement with Beltre

[BigWeiner]

ESPN.com's Buster Olney believes the deal will be worth between $10-$10.5 million annually, which seems like a lot to give a player who hit just .265/.304/.379 and eight home runs in 2009. That said, he's an elite defender and the Red Sox have made shoring up their defense a priority this offseason. SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that deal is likely for two years.

[BigWeiner]

Wayne? $10 million for Beltre? What do you think?

[wayne1218]

It's time to buy a Yankee Hat. I'm sick to my stomach with the moves this team has made. This guy is the biggest POS going - the steroids.

[BigWeiner]

I know what the hell, he hit 49 hr's on roids, but really nothing since. 8 hr's last year

[savage1]

As an old time Sox diehard, I haven't been pessimistic in years as I am now about the team's chances this year.
Overall I think the moves they made so far make them a weaker team and not a stronger one.
Imo the only reason that they were able to stay in first place last year until the All Star Game was because of their 8-0 start against the Yankees(we all know what happened after that during the second half of the year when the Yankees turned the tables on them) and because of their dominance at Fenway.
They certainly will be lucky just to break even against the Yankees during the first half of this season this season, and without the big bats, their record at Fenway is going to suffer I don't care how good one thinks Lackey and the pitching staff is;you can't count on trying to win 2-1 and 3-2 games at Fenway.
No the team is not going to finish in the basement-there are still some very good players left however; however, just being competitive is not enough for Red Sox fans.
In short, I think that if ARod and Teixeira have years anything close to last year, the Sox's chances of catching them will be zilch, and that there only hope will be via the Wild Card, where they will have plenty of competition.
My predicition is that by the All Star Game this year, they will be trailing the Yankess by around ten games and that there will be plenty of pissed off Sox fans.
ps IMO Beltre is mediocre at best;I am glad it is the Sox's $10 million and not mine!

[BigWeiner]

The Yankees who were better already, now have Vazquez and Granderson. The RedSox have Beltre instead of Bay. Supposedly the RedSox are rebuilding, but you can't rebuild if you're one of the big salary teams in my opinion. You may never catch the Yankees for 10 years. They should've signed Holiday and traded for Gonzales, that was their only hope.

[savage1]

The Yankees who were better already, now have Vazquez and Granderson. The RedSox have Beltre instead of Bay. Supposedly the RedSox are rebuilding, but you can't rebuild if you're one of the big salary teams in my opinion. You may never catch the Yankees for 10 years. They should've signed Holiday and traded for Gonzales, that was their only hope.

I don't know about 10 years but it may be a while.
The Sox still do have one of the best minor leagues around.

[BillMill71]

The Yankees who were better already, now have Vazquez and Granderson. The RedSox have Beltre instead of Bay. Supposedly the RedSox are rebuilding, but you can't rebuild if you're one of the big salary teams in my opinion. You may never catch the Yankees for 10 years. They should've signed Holiday and traded for Gonzales, that was their only hope.

I thought the Lackey signing was ok, and a prelude to the Gonzalez trade for them.

Sign Lackey
Sign Cameron
Sign Scuturo
Sign Beltre
Sign Holliday

Trade Ellsbury and Bucholz for Gonzalez

P Staff

Beckett
Lester
Lackey
Dice K
Wakefield

Line Up

Pedroia 2b
Scuturo SS
Youkilis RF
Gonzalez 1B
Holliday LF
V Mart C
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Cameron CF

Drew and Lowell rotate in and avoid injury

Seems pretty good to me

[savage1]

I thought the Lackey signing was ok, and a prelude to the Gonzalez trade for them.

Sign Lackey
Sign Cameron
Sign Scuturo
Sign Beltre
Sign Holliday

Trade Ellsbury and Bucholz for Gonzalez

P Staff

Beckett
Lester
Lackey
Dice K
Wakefield

Line Up

Pedroia 2b
Scuturo SS
Youkilis RF
Gonzalez 1B
Holliday LF
V Mart C
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Cameron CF

Drew and Lowell rotate in and avoid injury

Seems pretty good to me

I wouldn't trade Ellsbury.
They are going to need speed, and with the accent on pitching and defense, they figure to be involved in some tight games this year.
Ellsbury can make the difference by getting on base and quickly getting himself into scoring position-that could make the difference is some of these what figure to be close games this year.
I would trade Bucholz for a good player who can hit, but I say keep Jacoby unless the deal is just overwhelming.
ps I don't think Ellsbury has reached his potential yet and will get even better than he is during the next few seasons.

[ctt8410]

His defense alone keeps it from being a disastrously bad signing. I guess the question is whether you think last year's injuries were a result of steroid use or just unlucky because he's still only 30 years old and he's a good hitter when healthy (In 2008, he was a .290 hitter on the road with an .862 OPS) that's played most of his career in a pitcher's park. Of course the best part of it for the Red Sox is that it's a one-year deal. If he really is damaged goods then you're not committed beyond this year.

[savage1]

His defense alone keeps it from being a disastrously bad signing. I guess the question is whether you think last year's injuries were a result of steroid use or just unlucky because he's still only 30 years old and he's a good hitter when healthy (In 2008, he was a .290 hitter on the road with an .862 OPS) that's played most of his career in a pitcher's park. Of course the best part of it for the Red Sox is that it's a one-year deal. If he really is damaged goods then you're not committed beyond this year.

Even an injured Mike Lowell is better than that guy-wasted money.
I can hear the boos coming already by Mid May.

[ctt8410]

Not at 3rd base. You still have Lowell, but he's 35 and he's a DH.

[BigWeiner]

Forgot about Lackey, he's good, if his arm holds up.

[savage1]

From my perspective too many unproven players at least in Boston have arrived and two very good players in Jason Bay and Mike Lowell are gone.
The chances of all the new faces blending in well at least this season are not great at least as far as being a WS contender goes.
Hope I am wrong, but right now as it stands, I see about a 86-90 win season and out of playoffs.

[kbsooner21]

Even an injured Mike Lowell is better than that guy-wasted money.
I can hear the boos coming already by Mid May.

LMFAO! Savage still over Lowell's nuts.