Dempster to the Red Sox

[Urban Cohorts]

Ryan Dempster has signed with the Red Sox. A 2 year deal worth $26.5 million.

I really like this signing by the Sox. Even if Dempster pitches like he did in Texas they only have him for 2 years. And it doesn't look like the Sox will be that competitive anyways. This sure beats using Lackey in the rotation.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources ... --mlb.html

[kab21]

There's no reason for the Red Sox not to spend their money on 2-3 yr contracts like Napoli, victorino and Dempster but I don't think Dempster will be liked in Boston after he gets beat up by the AL East. He's kind of the wrong pitcher in the wrong place similar to Burnett but it's only 2 yrs.

[A Fleshner Fantasy]

I don't get what the Red Sox are trying to do. Look at the rest of their division. It's not like signing guys like Dempster and Napoli are going to get them into the playoffs. Best case scenario, they rise to mediocrity, but in all likelihood, they get last in the division anyway. This is simply a waste of money.

[Izenhart]

I don't get what the Red Sox are trying to do. Look at the rest of their division. It's not like signing guys like Dempster and Napoli are going to get them into the playoffs. Best case scenario, they rise to mediocrity, but in all likelihood, they get last in the division anyway. This is simply a waste of money.

They were in too big of a hole to fix it all with the free agents that were out there this offseason. Unfortunately for Boston they can't just sit on their hands and go into 2013 expecting a 70 win season, promising to fix things later. The fans here won't put up with it. They are doing what they can to retain the casual fan base so that when they do have the opportunity to land another big FA (like Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling at the time they were signed) it will turn them from contenders to favorites.

Pitching is the main problem right now, question is what is left besides emptying the farm in a trade? And would that even make sense right now?

[GiantsFan14]

I don't get what the Red Sox are trying to do. Look at the rest of their division. It's not like signing guys like Dempster and Napoli are going to get them into the playoffs. Best case scenario, they rise to mediocrity, but in all likelihood, they get last in the division anyway. This is simply a waste of money.

They were in too big of a hole to fix it all with the free agents that were out there this offseason. Unfortunately for Boston they can't just sit on their hands and go into 2013 expecting a 70 win season, promising to fix things later. The fans here won't put up with it. They are doing what they can to retain the casual fan base so that when they do have the opportunity to land another big FA (like Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling at the time they were signed) it will turn them from contenders to favorites.

Pitching is the main problem right now, question is what is left besides emptying the farm in a trade? And would that even make sense right now?

Ya, Boston is doing fine. They aren't a small market team that is just gonna sit on their hands until the prospects are ready. They need to put people in the seats without committing too much money to giant contracts that are going to hurt them down the line. A few 2-3 year deals to keep the team afloat is pretty much what they should be doing to accomplish that.

[bigh0rt]

I actually think Dempster could be a decent value fantasy guy in Boston. I'll draft him if people are down on him for sure, just like last season, albeit in a different situation.

[kab21]

I actually think Dempster could be a decent value fantasy guy in Boston. I'll draft him if people are down on him for sure, just like last season, albeit in a different situation.

A hitter's park in the AL East. Dempster might be underrated but this is an awful combination.

[MashinSpuds]

They need to put people in the seats without committing too much money to giant contracts that are going to hurt them down the line.

This is very true. However it makes me wonder, as a Boston fan and nearby citizen, if Napoli, Victorino, Dempster, and now Drew are that much more enticing for casual fans to go sit in one of those seats given the prices. (shrug) Fans of baseball, yes, fans of marquee players, eh.