New Poll Question:
Who is more important for the Red Sox to extend past their current contracts?
- Jason Bay
- Josh Beckett
It’s very likely that both JB’s could end up staying in Boston past their current contracts, but if you were held feet to the fire and forced to choose just one right now, who would it be?
As always, new poll is up to the right…vote away and argue it out in the comments.
Previous Poll Results:
With Smoltz ready, Buchholz antsy and Daisuke struggling, where do the Red Sox turn?
Not a big surprise here and as per usual, the Fire Brand community was on the ball on this one.
i went with JBay. pitchers can be so much more fragile than position players. a guy like Bay with his track record of being in the line-up consistently, who continues to mash in Boston… gotta go with Bay, especially with the organizational depth we have at pitcher.
I had to think about that one for all of 2 seconds. Ask yourself, which is harder to find, a corner OF with thunder in his bat and average baseball skills in every other facet of the game, or a 29 year old true no.1 starter with ice in his veins and a stunning postseason resume? I can think of a handful of guys the Sox could replace Bay with, but Beckett is a one of a kind talent.
In reply to the first comment, I don’t put much stock into the “organizational depth” argument. I find it far more likely that a pitcher in the organization switches to the OF and becomes the next Jason Bay than any of them become the next Josh Beckett.
I chose Bay because Beckett has a team option that can be exercised. Therefore we have one more year of Beckett, where as with Bay we have to make a decision at the end of THIS season. Plus, the pitching down below is more comforting…
Good points from all above…
I had to go with Bay. He and Youk are the anchor of the lineup with Lowell hurt and Ortiz on the decline.
Ted, I’d be curious to hear who you would sign to replace the leading RBI man in the AL… I don’t think it would be as eay as you think.
Is an ace like Beckett hard to come by? Yes. But with Buchholz and Bowden in the minors, and an option open for Beckett – the answer to this question is JayBay.
Leading the league in RBI’s speaks more for the rest of the lineup than it does for Bay. One can’t drive in those who are not on base. How about Jermaine Dye. His slash stats are just as good or better across the board, and I think he could be acquired without too much trouble. Josh Willingham offers most of Bay’s production and could also be had, and cheap. Choo from Cleveland has a Bay-like bat and is better in the field and on the bases.
Beckett’s option only ensures he won’t be a Yankee for a year and a half, not long enough if you ask me. Bowden should not even enter this conversation. I predict he will never crack the Sox rotation for more than a spot start.
Also, is not the essence of the question “which guy would you keep if you could have only one?” Obviously Bay is an impending free-agent and Beckett is not, so to keep them both Bay would have to be extended before Beckett. No poll question is needed to figure that out.
Sorry, Bay wouldn’t HAVE to be extended before Beckett, but Bay’s extension is the more pressing matter.
Also, old friend Johnny Damon’s numbers could replace Bay’s quite adequately.
The point isn’t that either one is easily replaceable; that’s why it’s a tough question. But I go with Beckett; he’s younger, he’s a solid-to-outstanding #1 or #2 starter, and those are the rarest commodities in baseball. The second-rarest are middle-of-the-order sluggers.
Yes, pitchers are more potentially fragile — but given modern advancements in training, exercise and medicine, the sudden breakdown of an established pitcher has become much less frequent.
And while I love having Bay on the team, I am a bit concerned about signing him to a long-term deal: he does have the dreaded “old player’s skills” — power, great batting eye, and not much speed or defensive ability. (His defensive metrics are downright terrible, in fact.) Look ahead five years: Beckett is more likely to be a winning player than is Bay.
I’m not saying I wouldn’t re-sign him; but I’d be a bit concerned about anything more than a three or (at most) four year deal.
5 years ahead? I wouldn’t lock either of them up for five :) Beckett 3, Bay 4. And if Beckett wants four or more, then I let him walk, depending on how the younger pitchers are performing, etc.
Walt, the “old player skills” comment is dead on. And Joe, I figure both of them will require 5 to resign, but Beckett deserves that commitment. Look at his smooth delivery, how easy he makes 95 mph look. If any power pitcher will retain his best stuff into his age 35 season it’s him. 3 years is insulting unless they offer him 20 mil per.
No matter how good Buchholz’s stuff is, and I love the guy, he’s going to go through the growing pains associated with learning to pitch in the majors. We will need our ace to achieve all this club is capable of over the next 5 years.
I dont really want to give 5 years to a pitcher unless there are a couple team options in there.
The good news is that Theo doesn’t have to choose, just sign them to a deal that each will accept. Most of us would be comfortable with Beckett extended 2010 – 2014 + options to age 35. Most of us would be comfortable with Bay at 2010 – 2014 + options to age 36, as he would be DH by that time. I’m always uncomfortable with making these choices, as the reality is we need them both even as the kids make their appearances. There are few equivalent talents out there, and there are even fewer who have their dirt dog mentality. Rather than let them walk and try to replace them, why not keep them on the roster and then sign equally good players to augment them. In this case more is more.
What I really hate is that there really isn’t anyone good in free agency to replace Bay with next offseason. Crawford would be fine, but the Rays will pick up his option. Holliday is a bit younger and obviously a better defender, but his offense has struggled a bit. Of course, we have a great minor league system, and could always use that to acquire someone.
But that said, this isn’t solely about resigning Bay, a topic in which I’m sure will get many more posts dedicated to it later this season. For now I voted for Beckett. Simply because when Beckett is on, he’s a true ace.
Beckett hands down. While Bay would be hard to replace next year, the farm system could replace him *somehow* with a suitable bat for a couple of years with a suitable bat, or with a LT replacement and proven #1 Aces like Beckett are fewer than 5 in the game, period. Easy call..
I love Bay. But I have to vote for Beckett. When he is on, he is absolutely dominating. He is an Ace, and a big game pitcher. The guy you want to have in october. Like Joe, I’m reluctant to give a 5 year contract, though.
On the other hand, if we lose Bay next year, that’s another reason to trade for a big bat. Because he are gonna leave a big hole in the lineup, and the markett will be thin. The prices of Bay and Holliday are probably gonna be in an all time high.