Do we need to get a "big" bat?

[greenbeans]

Whether through trade or fa it doesnt matter, but do you think we can roll with the current setup of four no.5 hitters(Bay,Drew,Youk,Lowell) or do we need to get a legit cleanup guy this offseason?

and any ideas of players to go after that aren't Teixera or Matt Holliday?

Just for the sake of argument let's say the Cubs sign Manny would you be open to getting Soriano?

This will be an interesting offseason no doubt

[Basketball Jesus]

Trade Lester for Prince Fielder straight up. Do it. Do it now while Lester's value has never been higher.

[Prophet_C]

F that. No way we trade Lester.

I think we need a big bat. Papi is declining and so is Lowell. Drew is injury prone and besides that we don't have much power. The only guy that is increasing his home runs is Youk and let's hope he can continue that trend. Bay will give us about 30 which is solid but we need more homers out of our outfield.

[Celtics_Champs]

Reports have us linked to Texiera.

Holliday...nah.
Soriano...I don't see it.

I say sign texiera. Eat lowells contract.

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Ortiz
Tex
Youk
Bay
Drew
Lowrie
Tek (2 years 12 million)

And on the bench you have lowell.

[sunshinekids99]

I say sign Tex and move Youk to left. Then move Bay for pitching/prospects. We've won with far worse defense in left field. While I have nothing against JBay, he is no Tex.

[Prophet_C]

I really don't see us signing Tex. We're aren't going to eat Lowell's contract and I want to keep Youkillis in the infield.

[greenbeans]

Anyone know where I could find the list of next offseasons fa's? that might help narrow down the choices.

edit: and after a whole 30sec of looking http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2001/0 ... gents.html\

Kind of a sad list. the only name that jumped out at me was V. Martinez, but there's a 2010 option

[Basketball Jesus]

Seriously: Prince Fielder. The Brewers were rumored to be shopping him for pitching with a purported Cain-for-Fielder deal fizzling out. Why not Lester for Fielder straight up? I mean I like Lester and he’s a fan favorite and inspirational figure but his peripherals and minor league history suggest he’ll be nothing more than a good-not great pitcher. Why not move him for one of the best power hitters in the league, bad-body career arcs be damned.

Hell, if that ain’t your bag; do it a package involving Buchholz or Bowden. I’m sure the Brewers would still bite if the price was right.

The Sox would be prudent to not get into a dick-waving contest with the Yankees for free agent hitting talent. The Yankees have a good chunk of change to spend this offseason and you know, with their needs, they’re going to make a hard charge at Teix.

[Celtics_Champs]

Aren't fielder and Ryan Howard being quietly shopped? Contracts or something like that.

If that was the case, I would go after Howard.

Lester for Fielder, sure, good deal, but I don't see the sox making a move like that.

winter meetings can't come soon enough.

[Basketball Jesus]

Eh, Howard’s four years older, more expensive, and, if this season was any indication, he’s already hitting his decline. If he comes at a discount, yeah, sure, I’d give it a thought but if the Phillies want a comparable package to what the Brewers would want for Fielder, you take Fielder without question.

[Celtics_Champs]

Don't get me wrong I like Fielder. But how is his defense? I still think ortiz has 2 maybe 3 more years of production...that might be just me. So he fills the DH role. Can fielder go out there and play first everyday?

[Prophet_C]

Bucholz or Bowden and I'd do that deal. No Lester though.

[Basketball Jesus]

Don't get me wrong I like Fielder. But how is his defense? I still think ortiz has 2 maybe 3 more years of production...that might be just me. So he fills the DH role. Can fielder go out there and play first everyday?

Quick eyeballing, but Fielder’s defense seems to be comparable to Howard’s: Rate2 and RAR both suggest they’re below-average defensively so you’re pretty much comparing bats when comparing Fielder and Howard.

[HCYanks]

Eh, is the league still at the point where a pitcher with a flashy one-season ERA can be used as bait to get something more valuable? Prince could be a superstar if all goes well and still has three years of arbitration to go before hitting free agency, Lester probably isn't getting better than he is now, and Dave Littlefield isn't running the Brewers.

[sunshinekids99]

I'd rather not move Lester for Prince. I'm all for a Clay, Bowden, and prospects move tho.