If I Were in Ben Cherington's Shoes

The title of this post says it all. I love to play General Manager throughout the whole year and do so so often, sometimes to the displeasure of my wife, that I tend to think I know what could fix this team. In this post, I will try to give logical reasons on how to help this team win in the future, and even possibly as early as next year. This is not a complete list, just the things that I would do first-and-foremost.

Free Agency

1. Re-sign David Ortiz. Here is the caveat- There is no way I would give him the money he wants. I have no problem having him in Boston for two more years, but not at $14-15 million/year. More like a two-year contract worth $22 million. He's taking a pay cut, yes, but he gets the stability he wants. If he doesn't like it, let him walk with no qualifying offer. The last thing the team needs in this rebuilding phase is another year of Ortiz complaining about respect and how he still wants a two-year contract.

2. Re-sign Cody Ross. Ross showed a lot of promise in his year with the team, and up until Raul Ibanez's post-season heroics, was the best bargain in baseball. Ross has made it clear that he loved the atmosphere in Boston. In addition to his affinity for the town, he was a great presence in the clubhouse. I would offer the slugger 2 years (possibly even 3) at an average annual salary of $10-$11 million.

3. (If his option is not picked up) Sign "Big Game" James Shields. The guy would completely solidify Boston's staff. In his final start of the year at home, Shields walked off the field looking like he was holding back tears. Is this a symbol that he knows he will not be back with Tampa? I would go as high as 6 years with a total salary of $93 million if he hits the market.

4. Offer Brandon McCarthy a contract of 4 years with a total salary of $40-$45 million. He may have injury problems, but he is a heck of a pitcher, and before his concussion, was the player I wanted Boston to add at the deadline this past year.

5. Mike Napoli is very intriguing to me. I would not pay a king's ransom for the guy, but I would kick the tires. Because of his down year, interest may be slim/not what he was hoping for. In that case, it may be possible to get him in Boston on an Adrian Beltre deal (1 year for $10 million with a player option for a 2nd year) to help boost his value. Mike Napoli absolutely rakes at Fenway (in his down year of 2012 he hit .462/.500/1.231/1.731 with 3 HR & 8 RBI). If it would take a multi-year deal, something in the range of 3 years/$36 million. Nothing more than that.

Trade Ideas (obviously if one player is traded in one scenario, the others aren't applicable. I'm listing this in order of my preference).

Scenario One: Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Kalish, Mauro Gomez, Stolmy Pimental, and Pat Light for Tim Lincecum and Hunter Pence.

Lincecum will be entering the final year of his contract which will pay him $22 million. Hunter Pence is arbitration eligible for the final time in his career and should net a 2013 contract in the range of $12-$14 million. According to reports, the Giants will be listening to offers on Lincecum, so why not see if a deal can be struck. Everyone knows the Giants biggest hole is offense. That's where the package starts. In Ellsbury, San Francisco gets their lead-off hitting, base stealing, center fielder. Ellsbury would be the centerpiece of this proposal, and the parts thrown in would have to be enticing. In addition to Ellsbury, I would also include Ryan Kalish (who was once regarded a top prospect, but whose stock has fallen in Boston), Mauro Gomez (whose power numbers could be a welcome addition to San Francisco), Stolmy Pimental, and Pat Light. Kalish has lost his prospect status, but in the 3 other pieces included, the Giants receive 3 of Boston's top 25 prospects.

Scenario Two: Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Garin Cecchini, Drake Britton, Alex Wilson and Brian Johnson for Justin Upton, Tyler Skaggs, and Brad Ziegler.

Hear me out on this deal. It may seem odd for Boston to deal 2 of their stars plus 4 of their top 15 prospects, but in return the team gets a star to man right field for the next 3 seasons at a very team-friendly contract. Skaggs is the number 2 prospect in Arizona's system, and could very well replace Xander Boegarts as Boston's number 1 prospect. I have always liked Brad Ziegler and decided that I wanted him in as part of this trade to help Boston's bullpen.

Scenario Three: Allen Webster, Mauro Gomez, Ryan Sweeney, Jeremy Hazelbaker, and cash for Ike Davis and Jason Bay.

Ike Davis is a power-hitting 1st baseman who would help solidify Boston's infield, whereas Jason Bay would be taken on as pure salary relief for the cash strapped Mets. By shedding the remaining dollars on Bay's contract the Mets would now be free to extend David Wright and R.A. Dickey. They would be getting a nice package centered around Allen Webster, who was the centerpiece in Boston's own salary dump with the Dodgers. The team will also receive power hitting first baseman Mauro Gomez and outfield prospect Jeremy Hazelbaker who burst onto the scene this year between AA Portland and AAA Pawtucket. Ryan Sweeney is basically a throw-in. He can play all 3 outfield positions and will hit for a very respectable average. 

*Elvis Andrus has been omitted from my trade scenarios due to the fact it would take way too much to pry him from Texas, and I like Xander Boegarts' upside more.