Masterson didn't sing to pitch out of the pen. CB, JM are not signed past this year. they have three kids they probably think can start in 2016. The options here remain endless
Luis Taint said:I've be unwilling to give up X or Owens, but If that's what it takes to get Cueto, do it.
On the planet where you can extend Cueto. If Sox think they have a reasonable shot to extend him I'd give up X in a second for Cueto.BCsMightyJoeYoung said:
And that, IMO, is insane - on what planet is one year of Cueto worth someone like X?
Owens I can see a case for
Rough Carrigan said:One story was that Masterson spent the whole year trying to pitch through a rib injury.
NJ_Sox_Fan said:On the planet where you can extend Cueto. If Sox think they have a reasonable shot to extend him I'd give up X in a second for Cueto.
P'tucket said:IIRC, Masterson was looking for a starting spot, so it doesn't seem likely he'd sign for a BP slot.
rodderick said:
Cueto would get at least Lester money. If you're willing to give him that, plus deal X, why not just resign Lester?
You can add Kelly to that list as well, over 50% every year of his career.LesterFan said:Miley, Porcello, Masterson. All have groundball rates over 50%
ivanvamp said:
They tried, but failed. So that ship has sailed and how they're here.
Cueto is better and younger?rodderick said:
Cueto would get at least Lester money. If you're willing to give him that, plus deal X, why not just resign Lester?
He was terrible for one year. Working backwards, in 2013 he was solid, 2012 meh, and 2011 fantastic. It's not terribly unusual for very good pitchers to lose their way for an extended period of time. Even Lester spent a full 12 months in the wilderness before late 2012. The trick with Masterson is that his track record suggests his mechanics (or health, but most of the speculation is about mechanics) come and go for extended periods, so the Sox have to be able to correct something that the Indians couldn't, or couldn't keep corrected. MIller and Lester are both guys who very recently pulled it all together under Farrell and co. So from that, you'd think there's a decent chance, albeit with no guarantees. If he's even halfway good, they could possibly talk him into a pretty effective relief role. And if he sucks? All they gave up was a little money.Why Not Grebeck? said:Masterson was cover-your-eyes bad for Cleveland. The Cardinals thought they could fix him, so they brought him in at the deadline and tried. He was even worse.
If his problems were health related or Farrell can fix his mechanics, we're looking at a very solid #2-#3 for a season who you feel confident about in the playoffs. He was very very good for the two years previous to 2014.
If he's the 2014 version, it's a sunk cost. You don't want walk-the-park Masterson in your bullpen - he was like a worse Carlos Marmol out there.
chrisfont9 said:He was terrible for one year. Working backwards, in 2013 he was solid, 2012 meh, and 2011 fantastic. It's not terribly unusual for very good pitchers to lose their way for an extended period of time. Even Lester spent a full 12 months in the wilderness before late 2012. The trick with Masterson is that his track record suggests his mechanics (or health, but most of the speculation is about mechanics) come and go for extended periods, so the Sox have to be able to correct something that the Indians couldn't, or couldn't keep corrected. MIller and Lester are both guys who very recently pulled it all together under Farrell and co. So from that, you'd think there's a decent chance, albeit with no guarantees. If he's even halfway good, they could possibly talk him into a pretty effective relief role. And if he sucks? All they gave up was a little money.
If I recall it is also no longer allowed to assure a player of now qualifying offer either, so should Masterson rebound the Sox would have serious leverage over him next winter.fuzzy_one said:Relatively low money and a one-year deal for a guy who's been very good recently (just not 2014)? Yes, please.
Even if he's average, they win. And nothing in Masterson's deal protects him from bullpen, trade, or DFA if he can't recover his form.
I like this a lot.
mikeford said:Posted a .910 OPS against vs LHH last year.
That means basically all LHH's are Miguel Cabrera against him.
Can't say I'm a fan of giving a guy 9.5 million dollars when he appears only suited to be a ROOGY.
mikeford said:Posted a .910 OPS against vs LHH last year
mikeford said:That means basically all LHH's are Miguel Cabrera against him
mikeford said:Can't say I'm a fan of giving a guy 9.5 million dollars when he appears only suited to be a ROOGY.
kieckeredinthehead said:Was hoping that maybe the huge power he gives up to lefties in Fenway might be mitigated, but...
InsideTheParker said:My concern with this signing stems from the negative remarks by Francona about Masterson's attitude that someone posted somewhere in Sosh in the last couple of days. What, I wonder, occasioned his saying something like that?
InsideTheParker said:My concern with this signing stems from the negative remarks by Francona about Masterson's attitude that someone posted somewhere in Sosh in the last couple of days. What, I wonder, occasioned his saying something like that?
I read the stories when it was first published. Masterson is deeply religious and the story suggested he often has difficulty reconciling playing baseball instead of doing charitable work in God's name. "God gave you this amazing gift son, use it to make loads of money and use that to help so many more people" is a simple way to look at this if I were wrestling with this dilemma. .I think however this statement was a last straw for Tito in trying to find a way to turn him around and I don't think it's really all that applicable at this time. If he wanted to be a missionary, he could do that right now, but he instead signed a contract to continue playing baseball.InsideTheParker said:My concern with this signing stems from the negative remarks by Francona about Masterson's attitude that someone posted somewhere in Sosh in the last couple of days. What, I wonder, occasioned his saying something like that?
foulkehampshire said:
There are things to like with the GB%, track record of durablity, and the K/9. I'd be less skeptical if there was clear evidence that the velocity loss and crappy results were injury related and correctable.
mikeford said:Posted a .910 OPS against vs LHH last year.
That means basically all LHH's are Miguel Cabrera against him.
Can't say I'm a fan of giving a guy 9.5 million dollars when he appears only suited to be a ROOGY.
This is interesting. Maybe he's unhappy pitching on Sunday?67WasBest said:I read the stories when it was first published. Masterson is deeply religious and the story suggested he often has difficulty reconciling playing baseball instead of doing charitable work in God's name. "God gave you this amazing gift son, use it to make loads of money and use that to help so many more people" is a simple way to look at this if I were wrestling with this dilemma. .I think however this statement was a last straw for Tito in trying to find a way to turn him around and I don't think it's really all that applicable at this time. If he wanted to be a missionary, he could do that right now, but he instead signed a contract to continue playing baseball.
Maybe he Christian Koufax, or Shawn Greene? I jest because I truly believe this was a last ditch desperation move by Tito to get him going in a different direction. He may have been miffed by the whole scene, expressed his dissatisfaction and that's why he was traded? I don't know, but I do suspect the story is a non factor now and never was a real issue.InsideTheParker said:This is interesting. Maybe he's unhappy pitching on Sunday?
That's fine but they're up against the cap and they just used $10 million on Justin Masterson. How is that not underwhelmingDetts said:You can never have too much pitching.
Would you rather have Workman start in a pinch?
This is just a 'depth/hope he gets better/oh well if he doesn't because it is a one year contract' move. And based on the Sox experience with him, he won't be a cancer if he doesn't get to start.
Clearly he can't be a full year starter, there's just no way they ramp up his innings that much.Rudy Pemberton said:Joe Kelly's IP by year:
2010: 103
2011: 132
2012: 107
2013: 124
2014: 97
He's 26 years old, so he's not a kid or anything, but how many innings could he be expected to throw next year? Does it make sense to be conservative with him?
Rudy Pemberton said:Joe Kelly's IP by year:
2010: 103
2011: 132
2012: 107
2013: 124
2014: 97
He's 26 years old, so he's not a kid or anything, but how many innings could he be expected to throw next year? Does it make sense to be conservative with him?
NoMugsy's Walk-Off Bunt said:Are we really under the impression that Masterson is the last starting pitcher BC will be bringing in?
See this thread. We have to accept roster flexibility is very high on their priority list.
Playing Devil's Advocate here:
Instead of spending $10MM on Masterson, why didn't we just offer Lester $10MM more over 6 years?
Probably would have got it done.
benhogan said:Playing Devil's Advocate here:
Instead of spending $10MM on Masterson, why didn't we just offer Lester $10MM more over 6 years?
Probably would have got it done.
BCsMightyJoeYoung said:
Its getting rather hard to keep up .. the point still stands though. Although it's unlikely they would deal Ceuto now.
Or maybe they are only willing to go that high on Masterson because it is a 1 year deal and they don't expect to be giving out 23M a year to another player at this point.benhogan said:Playing Devil's Advocate here:
Instead of spending $10MM on Masterson, why didn't we just offer Lester $10MM more over 6 years?
Probably would have got it done.
benhogan said:Playing Devil's Advocate here:
Instead of spending $10MM on Masterson, why didn't we just offer Lester $10MM more over 6 years?
Probably would have got it done.
Whoa big fella, settle down.The Boomer said:
Gamble more than $200 million for 6 years of Lester, if the Sox could afford this as you believe,