eepstein0 {l Wrote}:Shredder {l Wrote}:buconvict {l Wrote}:
I don't think there is any way the Red Sox trade Westmoreland. He's probably the one untouchable in their system.
I think for Adrian Gonzalez, Westmoreland is very tradeable. I don't think anyone is untouchable in that scenario, it'll just be the number of prospects.
I'm weary of five-year pitching contracts but you probably can't sign a top starter for less than five years nowadays with the Sabbathia, Burnett, Zito and other contracts. I don't think they'll extend Beckett because not only will be be a free agent after next season, Halladay (unless he extends with the Phillies) will also be a free agent. There are probably some other pitchers available then too.
Signing Lackey means two big things for me: Buchholz is now available in an Adrian Gonzalez trade and that signing a big bat will not be as high a priority. I'm with that. While Holliday and Bay are the best hitters available this offseason, I don't think either are truly elite. We've seen Bay down the stretch and in the postseason the past two years. As good as he's been, he's not worth what he wants. Harold Reynolds on MLB Network now is saying that the Sox aren't really out with Bay and he makes some good arguments based on how much money they had in the Teixeira hunt last year.
I really don't want to see them sign Beltre. He had that one big homerun year and has been average offensively since. Whatever defense he has can be found in other third basemen.
God Adrian Beltre is bad. Please No?
Adrian Beltre is quite good, actually.