Plympton91 said:
They're basically hosed. They're just going to have to hope they hit the prospect lottery and be patient. It looks like they have another top 10 draft pick in their near future, maybe 2. Hopefully they'll do a better job with this one than the last one.
I wouldn't say that at all. The FO just needs to identify the best values to fix their OF needs. They're out there to be found.
Examples:
1. Rusney Castillo, 26 year old Cuban defector who just got permanent Haitian residence and OFAC approval. He's supposed to have plus-plus speed but there is doubt as to whether he's a full time guy or a very good 4th OF. Winning the bidding on what will likely be a lower cost Cuban defector like this, giving him a month in AAA, and then having him up in the majors by mid-August if the OF is still a ramshackle mess is one way to start patching the holes.
2. Yasmani Tomas, 23 year old Cuban defector in the process of getting citizenship and OFAC approval. Probably not signing until this off-season. Supposed to have huge natural power. Splashing the pot on him wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
3. Internal options. Both Cecchini and Middlebrooks are expected to work in the OF at AAA. Only one of them can be the every day 3B, assuming Marrero doesn't bump Bogaerts over to 3B permanently sooner than expected. I could see Middlebrooks as a guy who clicks if moved into an OF position where his good athleticism and strong arm make him an average or better defender,and where he finally stays healthy in a less physically abusive defensive role. Options like these guys with Betts and Bradley still working on breaking through, and some dark horses like Alex Hassan (who is starting to hit again in AAA) and Bryce Brentz (who this spring showed the ability to hit at least borderline ML pitching) give an acceptable talent pool to address a need or two, just not all three OF positions.
4. Free agents. After last off-season I think a lot of players will be quicker to take the qualifying offer, and as a result I think fewer teams will actually offer them to mid-tier FAs. That means guys like Colby Rasmus, Melky Cabrera, Norichika Aoki, and Michael Cuddyer are unlikely to get them (maybe Cuddyer and Cabrera). I'd expect the Orioles to opt out of Nick Markakis' $17.5M option with a $2M buyout. And it's probably 50/50 that the Rangers do the same with Alex Rios. Then you have guys like Chris Denorfia, Nate Schierholtz, and Tyler Colvin who aren't having good 2014s and do not have the track record to get multi-year offers in 2015 who could also be worthwhile sleepers. On top of that we have a few interesting non-tender candidates, probably the most interesting would be Peter Bourjos who hasn't hit for shit since moving to the NL and the Cards have a crowded OF as it is.
5. Trade. I think you can get something done here if you're the Red Sox because of all the pitching. If they want Stanton they could probably walk away the winners without completely gutting the farm. Personally, I think they should really be kicking the tires on Allen Craig. He hasn't hit this year (I'd bet it's lingering issues from the Lisfranc, which would make him a strong bounce back candidate in 2015). They need pitching and middle infield help at the ML level. They have OF talent blocked by Craig right now. His deal long term is very good if he bounces back. I'd think a Peavy + Herrera + $3.5M (half of Peavy's remaining salary for the season) would be an attractive little offer to help them free up some space. The Rockies need to make a decision on Dickerson and CarGo because they're both really just LFers. They both also have pretty legit home/road splits for Colorado players however, so some cause for concern. They'll want young pitching however and the Sox have got that to deal.
The options are out there. Personally I'd like to see something like signing both Castillo and Tomas, trade for Allen Craig during this season, and sign Tyler Colvin in the off-season (he'll only be 29 and when he's played a full season he's been a >.800 OPS guy) as the 4th OF. Let Gomes go, trade Nava for what you can get. Betts and Bradley battle for CF with the loser going to AAA as the shuttle rider. The ML OF would be (left to right) Craig, Betts/Bradley, Victorino with Castillo and Colvin as depth. The AAA OF would be Tomas, Betts/Bradley, Hassan/Brentz. If Craig is unobtainable he can be replaced with one of the Colorado guys, Stanton, Nelson Cruz (if the Sox decide to spend some money and draft picks on FA signings), Cuddyer, Rios, or Markakis depending on where they view good value to be had.
The front office simply needs to be aggressive about resolving it. They have been too passive on all the young Cuban talent coming in to baseball the last few years and need to start using all the financial muscle they're supposed to have to gain those young cost controlled guys available outside the bounds of the draft or international signing pool.