It’s a gamble, but which reclamation project is the best investment for the Sox this offseason?
- Justin Duchscherer
- Kelvim Escobar
- Ben Sheets
Of these three, who will be back in form in 2010, and who will have a Mike Tyson style comback?
Previous Poll results:
If it was down to these four, which left-fielders would you like to see play the line at Fenway in 2010?
- Marlon Byrd (54%, 243 Votes)
- Garret Anderson (27%, 124 Votes)
- Randy Winn (12%, 56 Votes)
- Fernando Tatis (7%, 29 Votes)
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Duchscherer has shown 3 key things – (i) he can be successful in the AL, (ii) he can play a swing role between the rotation, spot start and the bullpen and (iii) he will do it with a smile. He's an injury risk, but his financial cost will reflect that. Although I'm glad we did the trade getting V-Mart, sending Masterson to CLE hurt the pitching flexibility.
When Duchscherer is healthy and on, he's very, very nasty.
And he and his 'stuff' are best suited, with Harden & Sheets are going elsewhere, to swap off with Wake in the roles you suggest. He is an old Sox farmhand and there is a pleasing symmetry to bringing him back. He could play an important support role for the Sox rotation and bullpen for years as guys like Richardson, Tazawa, Doubrant, Kelly start arriving, and fill in for Wake when he finally retires. The only other suitable alternative is Bedard, who would be great on the Sox, but I suspect someone other than Theo will grab him too.
Bedard will likely be more expensive than we're looking to spend
i think duscherererererer is the 'safest' investment of the three. sheets has the highest ceiling but also the longest history of issues.
i vote JD.
I'm going to go with none of the above, and suggest a run at Troy Glaus.
Glaus would be interesting, but I doubt Theo wants to be in another injury situation like he had this year with Lowell. I'm not entirely sure why we're considering Beltre other than his glove – he has power but is inconsistent at the plate.
I think the most interesting move is Max-Ram – maybe he becomes the catcher of the future with V-Mart moving to 1B or FA (and we get a compensation pick).
Where has all the love for Lowrie gone to? Are there THAT many questions about his wrist's health?
Out of the 3, Ben Sheets
No Bedard?
I was actually surprised when I saw only ten people had voted Escobar…Did everyone forget that Sheets is asking for $12 million? Not happening at least not from the Sox. I'd be happy with either Duchsherer or Kelvim, but honestly I would prefer Esco, as he could be an absolutely dominant 4th or 5th starter, Ducsherer to me is more of a long relief spot starter type and will likely cost around the same as Kelvy…
Then, pick up Duke for the Pen as swingman, and get Kelvim into AAA to assume the role Harden was to have played, sharing time with Wake. The Pen must replace Wagner/Saito/Masteron with someone. Soriano is gone. Richardson looks like the real thing. Duchscherer. Let's face it, Theo must have SOME money to spend besides paying Texas to take Mike (awful move) and paying Beltre much too much. He may as well spend it on good pitching.
Escobar has been very successful in the past, both starting and in the pen. Boston is apparently at the top of his list and I don't think he'll demand the big money that Sheets (who has, admittedly, better stuff) will be demanding and neither is he the injury machine that the Duke of Hurt tends to be. Kelvim, if he can pass a physical, represents the most balanced option. Hell, if we need to trade Papelbon, we can even make Escobar the closer while Bard continues his development process. Go get him, Theo.
Beyond Bowden & Bard, and the new pickups of Atchinson, Manuel, etc., the Sox are not deep in either the Rotation or the Pen. The Sox desperately need depth. As Sheets has serious suitors at $12M, I suggest, for not much more, signing two of Duchscherer, Bedard, Escobar to work with Wake at #5, and be #7 in the Pen.
Whoever is least healthy starts on the DL. Part of the deal. The healthiest become #5 & #7. It is plausible that all will be injured in 2010, so the goal is to keep two of them healthy at a time into November. It is equally plausible that as a 3-man unit they could combine to deliver 50+ quality starts and 70+ quality innings of long relief from April into November. Pretty great value from 3 guys coming off injury seasons, for about $16M.
I'd also consider Wang for second half depth if he is non-tendered, and T.Buchholz for the Pen.