At this point, what team would Fielder go to?

[Singleton]

I'll go with a dark horse candidate: the San Francisco Giants. They're ready to win now (again) and have an obvious need.

[VeveJones007]

These matches say you're lying...

Huh? I listen to Chicago Sports Radio every day and the hosts quote reliable sources that turn out to be right all the time. Just recently they had Ozzie out on the South Side well before it was reported.

I could go back and provide more examples, but if you don't believe me, it's fine. I'm not just pulling this stuff out of thin air if that's what you're thinking.

EDIT: Oops, maybe the problem was that I wrote Zambrano's name in the first line rather than Fielder's...

[GoldGlove21]

I just don't see that happening. I do think Lowrie could have been a viable option at third if healthy, but I do agree with you about the health issues. I'd say Youk to DH and an acquistion (trade/FA) for third base is more likely (assuming that's the route they go). I thnk Theo will be pulling out all the stops this year. I don't see a rookie third baseman or Scutaro there. We will see.

The pitching was terrible for Boston in the month of September and tha is the main reason why they missed the playoff's. If the Red Sox are going to spend on the offensive side it is going to be for a guy like Fielder. Their offense was plenty good enough to win them a championship so yeah, a young 3B that is inexpensive and money spent on upgrading a starter might make a lot more sense IMO. If I am looking to upgrade a team I am going to focus on the weakness which was pitching, not hitting.

[GoldGlove21]

The pitching was terrible for Boston in the month of September and tha is the main reason why they missed the playoff's. If the Red Sox are going to spend on the offensive side it is going to be for a guy like Fielder. Their offense was plenty good enough to win them a championship so yeah, a young 3B that is inexpensive and money spent on upgrading a starter might make a lot more sense IMO. If I am looking to upgrade a team I am going to focus on the weakness which was pitching, not hitting.

The Sox will have plenty of money coming off the books (approx 30 mil) with Ortiz and Drew alone to sign Fielder and acquire pitching. Plus they have another 6-10 mil potentail in smaller contracts with guys like Varitek/Scutaro/Wakefield etc, Plus another 9.5 mil on Papelbon, who I'm gonna guess Theo (being the astute GM I think he is) is not going to pay bigs bucks to retain as closer. In short, they'll have plenty of money available to accomplish multiple goals. I doubt they'll push their luck banking on Ortiz's continued production. That would be something we would do. Run differential is run differential. Not sayng they won't be outbid by a team like the Nats to a point it doesn't make sense, but they'll be in on Fielder imo.

I could see the Red Sox in play for Fielder especially considering the whole Ortiz thing. Maybe they go with Fielder and a quality starting pitcher, but I think they address the pitching first as it was the most pressing need. Run differential is not always equaled out by scoring more runs. Maybe in terms of making the playoffs, but once you are in the playoffs it is usually pitching that carries a team to a championship. That being said, the Red Sxo could easily have enough funds for Fielder and one of the better starters on the market.

[CA-ORIOLE]

The pitching was terrible for Boston in the month of September and tha is the main reason why they missed the playoff's. If the Red Sox are going to spend on the offensive side it is going to be for a guy like Fielder. Their offense was plenty good enough to win them a championship so yeah, a young 3B that is inexpensive and money spent on upgrading a starter might make a lot more sense IMO. If I am looking to upgrade a team I am going to focus on the weakness which was pitching, not hitting.

Run differential is run differential. I don't think they can (or will) rely on Ortiz to produce as he did last year and would guess he becomes a FA.

They will look at all aspects of the team, including defense.

[CA-ORIOLE]

That being said, the Red Sxo could easily have enough funds for Fielder and one of the better starters on the market.

I agree with this. Just depends which way they go and they usually go with the best player.

[El Gordo]

I'll go with a dark horse candidate: the San Francisco Giants. They're ready to win now (again) and have an obvious need.

Yes, they need Jose Reyes at SS.

[Scrat1]

Maybe something like a trade for David Wright if the Mets make him available.

Would you rather give up the pieces it would take to sign Wright or sign A. Ramirez?

[Stotle]

Would you rather give up the pieces it would take to sign Wright or sign A. Ramirez?

Would want to know what my pro scouts said after sitting on him for a few weeks (I did not watch much Mets baseball this summer). If I'm Boston, my guess is I'd rather give up one good prospect and one complimentary piece for Wright than have to commit to Ramirez for four or five years.

[El Gordo]

The Cubs are in a holding pattern waiting to see what happens to Theo. He could end up being their GM. Sux have to pick up his option by the 8th. Cubs finances are questionable.

"A source with first-hand knowledge of the Cubs’ purchase deal and debt structure says it involves enough annual burden that fans shouldn’t count on the Cubs going after any big free agents for two or three years." That wasn in June. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/5763413-419/cubs-debt-situation-figures-to-affect-free-agent-plans.html. Who knows how things have changed, or what Theo might do. If he leaves Boston I doubt their first order of business is to go after Fielder.

[VeveJones007]

The Cubs are in a holding pattern waiting to see what happens to Theo. He could end up being their GM. Sux have to pick up his option by the 8th. Cubs finances are questionable.

"A source with first-hand knowledge of the Cubs’ purchase deal and debt structure says it involves enough annual burden that fans shouldn’t count on the Cubs going after any big free agents for two or three years." That wasn in June. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/5763413-419/cubs-debt-situation-figures-to-affect-free-agent-plans.html. Who knows how things have changed, or what Theo might do. If he leaves Boston I doubt their first order of business is to go after Fielder.

You must be lying, too.

[Stotle]

The Cubs are in a holding pattern waiting to see what happens to Theo. He could end up being their GM. Sux have to pick up his option by the 8th. Cubs finances are questionable.

"A source with first-hand knowledge of the Cubs’ purchase deal and debt structure says it involves enough annual burden that fans shouldn’t count on the Cubs going after any big free agents for two or three years." That wasn in June. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/5763413-419/cubs-debt-situation-figures-to-affect-free-agent-plans.html. Who knows how things have changed, or what Theo might do. If he leaves Boston I doubt their first order of business is to go after Fielder.

Off the books this year:

Ramirez - $12.6 MM (14.6 this year minus 2 MM buyout)

Fukudome - $14.5 MM

Pena - $10 MM

Grabow - $4.8 MM

About $40 MM there

Off the books next year:

Dempster - $14 MM

Zambrano - $19 MM

Byrd - $6.5 MM

Marshall - $3.1 MM

About another $40 MM there

Money committed for 2013 - $28.8 MM

[Fan4Life]

Off the books this year:

Ramirez - $12.6 MM (14.6 this year minus 2 MM buyout)

Fukudome - $14.5 MM

Pena - $10 MM

Grabow - $4.8 MM

About $40 MM there

Off the books next year:

Dempster - $14 MM

Zambrano - $19 MM

Byrd - $6.5 MM

Marshall - $3.1 MM

About another $40 MM there

Money committed for 2013 - $28.8 MM

Sounds like a landing spot for Pujos.

[El Gordo]

Sounds like a landing spot for Pujos.

Sure sign Pujols and that leaves you with 10M for every thing else you need, including two top end SP's, provided their debt situation allows them to stay around 120M in payroll.

[Sports Guy]

Off the books this year:

Ramirez - $12.6 MM (14.6 this year minus 2 MM buyout)

Fukudome - $14.5 MM

Pena - $10 MM

Grabow - $4.8 MM

About $40 MM there

Off the books next year:

Dempster - $14 MM

Zambrano - $19 MM

Byrd - $6.5 MM

Marshall - $3.1 MM

About another $40 MM there

Money committed for 2013 - $28.8 MM

And don't be surprised to see Zambrano end up with Guillen in Florida.