Seems to me the Sox can outbid anyone else except the Yanks who I doubt are going to go after him.

Boston has a baseball team? Just kidding, they will be back as good as ever to be a thorn in the Yankees side. The two best teams in baseball reside in the AL East. When's spring training start?

Yanks don't want him, so there really is not that much of an issue here.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:19 AM ET  11.07 by Pickle_T.Johnstone

Yanks don't want him, so there really is not that much of an issue here.

why wouldn't the Yanks want him?
they're current OF is not even remotely Stacked....
Swish- good guy, great year, but not a 'star'
Mekly/gardner- adequate
LF ? Damon ? I mean, clutch hitter- but he's awful in the field

I absolutely HATE the Red Sox but, I think it would be awesome to play in a place like Fenway and you are loved by your fans. I think he will re-sign with the Sox, I would hate for him to go to NY.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 10:34 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

why wouldn't the Yanks want him?they're current OF is not even remotely Stacked....Swish- good guy, great year, but not a 'star'Mekly/gardner- adequateLF ? Damon ? I mean, clutch hitter- but he's awful in the field

I predict the Yankees will go after either Bay or Holliday. Bay is proven in the AL East so I think he's more valuable to both the Yankees and the Red Sox. They will not let Matsui walk and stand pat in the outfield. I just can't see that happening no matter what they say.

The Red Sox have no choice but to sign either Bay or Holliday if they want any chance at keeping pace with the Yankees.

The Red Sox should absolutely re-sign him.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 10:34 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

why wouldn't the Yanks want him?they're current OF is not even remotely Stacked....Swish- good guy, great year, but not a 'star'Mekly/gardner- adequateLF ? Damon ? I mean, clutch hitter- but he's awful in the field

Totally agree, and even though there's been recent news indicating NY's not interested in Bay I don't buy it. With luck he'll end up back in Boston.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 10:34 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

why wouldn't the Yanks want him?they're current OF is not even remotely Stacked....Swish- good guy, great year, but not a 'star'Mekly/gardner- adequateLF ? Damon ? I mean, clutch hitter- but he's awful in the field

All signs point towards resigning Damon to play some left and DH on occassion. But, all signs pointed towards them not going after Texiera last year too and they swooped in at the last minute.
Some of this might depend on how they feel about Austin Jackson coming up and splitting time with Damon, Gardiner and Melky between left and center with some DH at bats for Damon.

But, Jackson has not shown any power.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 10:46 AM ET  11.07 by CardsFan2

I predict the Yankees will go after either Bay or Holliday. Bay is proven in the AL East so I think he's more valuable to both the Yankees and the Red Sox. They will not let Matsui walk and stand pat in the outfield. I just can't see that happening no matter what they say.The Red Sox have no choice but to sign either Bay or Holliday if they want any chance at keeping pace with the Yankees.

Another guy who's going to be looked at is Abreu-
I personally can't stand the guy-
but he had a real solid year at only 5 mil.....
he's going to get a better deal this year (IMO)
but will still be cheaper than Bay or Holliday

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 11:09 AM ET  11.07 by Justin Cyder

All signs point towards resigning Damon to play some left and DH on occassion. But, all signs pointed towards them not going after Texiera last year too and they swooped in at the last minute. Some of this might depend on how they feel about Austin Jackson coming up and splitting time with Damon, Gardiner and Melky between left and center with some DH at bats for Damon. But, Jackson has not shown any power.

Yeah...I would say that the Yanks primary FA want
would be another starter.....
you can't expect Pettite to duplicate this past season-
and the Joba/Hughes saga will likely not change....again
Wang ? 2 lost years might simply be it for him-

That being said- with what 40+mil or so coming off the books-
they can sign a top pitcher and top hitter and still be under
last years payroll.....

It's good to have owners that are willing to do ANYTHING to win

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:12 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

Another guy who's going to be looked at is Abreu-

I don't mean for the Yanks- I mean fo the Sox-

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:12 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

Another guy who's going to be looked at is Abreu-I personally can't stand the guy-but he had a real solid year at only 5 mil.....he's going to get a better deal this year (IMO) but will still be cheaper than Bay or Holliday

Abreu signed with the Angels for 2 years and 19 million unless that deal fell through

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 11:16 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

Yeah...I would say that the Yanks primary FA wantwould be another starter.....you can't expect Pettite to duplicate this past season- and the Joba/Hughes saga will likely not change....againWang ? 2 lost years might simply be it for him-That being said- with what 40+mil or so coming off the books-they can sign a top pitcher and top hitter and still be under last years payroll.....It's good to have owners that are willing to do ANYTHING to win

These owners (And by that I mean Hal) actually expect the payroll to stay the same or go down and Cashman is obscessed with playing the players he drafted. I have a feeling they are going to do very little. Here is what I see.
(1) Molina out and Cervelli to back up Jorge and play about 50 - 60 games.
(2) Matsui out - Damon and Posada to DH with other guys getting half a day off (A Rod, Tex, Jeter) at DH now and then.
(3) Joba to start with no innings limit. Proves he's a reliever eventually.
(4) Hughes to start with an innings limit resulting in a Joba like disaster.
(5) Petitte back on a one year deal.
(6) Wang in the rotation backed up by Gaudin types along with either Hughes or Joba.
(7) Misc left fielder (Henski, Duncan, Austin Jackson, Melky) to see who sticks if any.

Not all of this will work out and at the trade deadline or earlier the Yanks will pick up a free agent or two where needed.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 11:16 AM ET  11.07 by jgb

That being said- with what 40+mil or so coming off the books-they can sign a top pitcher and top hitter and still be under last years payroll.....It's good to have owners that are willing to do ANYTHING to win

Quite a few guys salary's are probably going up so I would say only about 25 million will come off at the most and Damon will get 10 or 12 of that.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

I think Bay's righthanded stroke suits Fenway a lot better than Yankee Stadium.... kind of like Jrs small johnson suits farm animals better than women.....

That's not nice, despite being accurate.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

I think Bay's righthanded stroke suits Fenway a lot better than Yankee Stadium.... kind of like Jrs small johnson suits farm animals better than women.....

Beckett was mentioning how much he likes Bay's right handed stroke. Thats why he always sits next to him on those long flights to the west coast.

Could they resign Bay? They just may. But they'll have to pay. Thats what I say.

Bay will stay in Boston, no doubt.

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