Should the Sox go for broke?

[Transmogrifier]

Alright... most of you know that Pedro, Lowe, Varitek, Nomar, Ortiz, Mueller and Trot Nixon are all free agents after next season.

There's a lot of talk in Boston about trading Nomar and trying to rebuild in stride.

But should the Sox try to resign who they can, and otherwise not trade any players? Should they go for it all? Spend 10 million on a front-line starter to go between Lowe and Pedro, get a cheap replacement for second, get some bullpen help and go for broke?

It might be the time to do it, but if it fails, the team will only get draft picks in return (not that bad, considering the horrible farm system...).

[Madison]

I admit that if I was an owner, I'd be a little spending happy. I'd try to keep all of them and sign a big pitcher this year. Either Colon or Millwood. I'm not crazy enough to spend what it would take to get both of them, but if they were to get one or the other, then it certainly increases their chances of winning next year.

I'd consider moving Manny if I could get a team to take enough of his contract. That would free up the money for one of the starters. It won't be easy to do though.

If the right deal came along for Nomar or Pedro, I just might have to pull the trigger on it. Definitely depends on the deal though.

[Absolutely Adequate]

I think, personally, it depends on the Yankees. They are not nearly as strong as they've been in the past. If they go out, spend another fortune then Boston cannot keep up and should trade. If, though, they don't go off and sign every major free agent, then I'd say go for broke. A ring would make everyone forget Grady Little so fast it would make your head spin.

[Transmogrifier]

Well, Pedro is a 10-5 player, so he'll be hard to trade. And while I understand trading Nomar, who are we going to get to fill in? Sign Tejada? We traded away our shortstop of the future in Freddie Sanchez, and while we have one of the best third base prospects in the game--on base machine Kevin Youklis--we don't have a SS to step up.

So I'd love for Theo to get the OK to bring in Colon or Millwood, or trade for Vazquez, resign who he can, but not trade just to get something back.

With one more frontline starter and some bullpen help, I think we can do better.

[Transmogrifier]

A ring would make everyone forget Grady Little so fast it would make your head spin.

A ring would make us forget the last 85 years. But Boston will burn.

[nsulham]

Keep Pedro, keep Nomar. If Nomar doesn't like Boston, tough schit. Let him play out this last year then let him walk. However, if there's a match out there (I've heard Anaheim, LA?) then send him packing, SO LONG as the Sox get some pitching in return and can find a reasonable SS. Probably can't get Miggy but maybe Matsui?

Tell Manny "We tried to trade your ass but NOBODY wants you. Take a cut in pay and you'll get your trade." If it takes eating some of Manny's contract to get a deal done, do it, but don't get suckered into eating too much or taking another huge contract in return.

Try as hard as humanly possible to get either Colon, Millwood, Vazquez or another front-line guy to wedge between Pedro and Lowe.

Add a couple bullpen guys with whatever's left over and the Sox should be in good shape.

And this is all off the top of my head so don't blast me if some points don't add up.

[Madison]

Speaking of the bullpen, get LaTroy Hawkins. I missed that in my earlier post.

[Swinger]

I think the Sox should build up for a dynasty.

[ramble2]

A ring would make everyone forget Grady Little so fast it would make your head spin.

A ring would make us forget the last 85 years. But Boston will burn.

You want the Sox to go for broke?

Try and trade Nomar to LA or ARI in exchange for Brown or Schilling. Agree to pay for part of Nomar's salary, if that's what it takes to get Schilling. Then go get A-Rod. Take the hit for next year's salary, then let most of your free agents walk after next season to get the payroll back down around $100 mil. Hell, even let it fall down to $60 - $70 mil by surrounding Manny and A-Rod with rookies and cast-offs.

Even if A-Rod and Manny's salary restrict any major signings for the next 5 years after next season, and you have to devastate the farm system to get A-Rod, so what? If the Sox can pull off a World Series victory, then you'll have at least 5 years good grace with the fans - if not 85 years.

[Transmogrifier]

A ring would make everyone forget Grady Little so fast it would make your head spin.

A ring would make us forget the last 85 years. But Boston will burn.

You want the Sox to go for broke?

Try and trade Nomar to LA or ARI in exchange for Brown or Schilling. Agree to pay for part of Nomar's salary, if that's what it takes to get Schilling. Then go get A-Rod. Take the hit for next year's salary, then let most of your free agents walk after next season to get the payroll back down around $100 mil. Hell, even let it fall down to $60 - $70 mil by surrounding Manny and A-Rod with rookies and cast-offs.

Even if A-Rod and Manny's salary restrict any major signings for the next 5 years after next season, and you have to devastate the farm system to get A-Rod, so what? If the Sox can pull off a World Series victory, then you'll have at least 5 years good grace with the fans - if not 85 years.

The only way we can get Arod is if we dump Manny's salary. We can't have 45 million tied up in two players. I think our best shot is to sign a top tier pitcher and go from there.