Sox should be patient and see how the market plays out. Ross won’t get a big offer from anyone and liked playing here. He’ll be back at a salary the Sox can live with if they’re patient.

face market value: 3 years for 18mil-thats 6 mil for 3 years thats not much for the sox to hand out!!! 

Defense has gone downhill. He does not hit against quality pitchers and has a tough time with a breaking pitch. He hits well against med to bad teams and has streaks with them. Should not be a rush with him or Ortiz unless they yprade to a playoff team.

Otherwise use money to build the bridge.

Another stiff, fits in well with a last place team. they should sign him for 10 years

Herein lies the problem …. when the Sox “displayed” disciplined” spending in 2003 / 2004 …. big market teams spent for stars and small market teams simply did not spend. NOW, everyone is looking for a bargain — or at the very least, if they spend big on a guy, they want it for short years. Not saying the Sox have to spend anywhere near the luxury tax figure, but until they “discover” the next “new” way to evaluate and obtain players, they need to leverage the payroll they have — meaning they might have to spill a little when it comes to contracts. Look, for the next 3 years, they would have a really hard time getting there payroll back to the 175 mil neighborhood… so an extra mil or two a year on a player that they want is worth it as long as the year term is limited.

Joey baby, come on back home and help mommy clean get down these basement stairs so I can clean your sticky underwear.

he was a disaster in the field and sometimes above average with the bat. let him walk

Ross had offensive moments at Fenway but was not consistent. Sometimes he disappeared. On the road Ross was below average. Only average in the field. Need to be careful with this signing.

Ross will always be a player best suited for a complementary role. He his streaky and undisciplined. However last year with all of the injuries he was forced to be THE power hitter in the lineup and he was exposed. But the Red Sox need a high energy good clubhouse guy. They also need right handed power. If they can find some discipline in other positions like 1b and LF, then Ross would fit right in. Never say no to right hand pull power hitter in fenway. NEVER

Nice analysis. If Ross is affordable he’s a good fit for Fenway.

To me 2013 is a big question mark. For the past few seasons the Sox could count on offense but not pitching. Now I’m not sure they can count on either.I think the Sox should think like a small market team, with high risk/high reward free agents, but use their financial muscle to get the guys they really want, overpaying in money but not years. Stay flexible, and see what the farm system brings. (That’s part of the reason I’m in favor of letting Ortiz walk for a draft pick.) They’ll need glue to keep a team like that together, and Ross has the baseball and interpersonal skills to help.The forty man roster is a consideration, of course; they’ll have to trade some relievers. But roleplayers like Ross are certainly useful while they figure out what they have. Ross should have a small enough contract that he’s tradable, even if they have to eat a bit of money.

But if he wants an unreasonable contract, let him walk.

And if he were to walk, BJ Upton is a 1 year deal guy who would fit your description. Plus he is a right hander who pulls for power. could catch lightning in a bottle

His fielding leaves a lot to be desired, he looks at time like a bull in a china shop, can really clank em at times, sometimes he’ll make that extra hard catch look nice.  I wouldn’t be in a big rust to sign him.

This is the make or break it year for Ben, if he flops this year, the whole FO has to be thrown out, a fresh start will be needed, Lucchino was to blame for getting Valentine, and he gets to continue to muddle up everything, not right at all, why are we stuck with a bumbling part owner?

Good post,I agree

I hate hearing of players working on their value. Don’t talk business. It’s awful character.

Upton would be intriguing, if he’d really accept a one year deal. Could be a Beltre/Martinez kind of move, with pick at the end of the season.

Speaking of which, hidden in a recent Fangraphs column Dave Cameron comes up with one interesting strategy for teams with cap space – sign and trade a la the NBA:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/a-quick-walk-through-the-new-hot-stove-rules/

Basically, the Sox could sign an expensive free agent, eat salary, and flip him for prospects. This might even help with the roster crunch, as the Sox could receive non-forty-man players in return, or even throw in some of their AAAA guys for a better deal. I think Cherington could do much worse than pioneer this idea this season. Anyone have his ear? ;)

Seriously, though, I’d love to see smart reporters like Speier sketch some scenarios… it would be an antidote to all of the “trade the farm system for King Felix” columns I’ve been reading on other sites.

Our farm system wouldn’t get felix’s left arm. But a sign and trade would be interesting but they still seem keen to the idea of atleast looking half-way competitive in 2013

He can’t hit right handed pitching well enough to offer him a 3 year deal…he was brought in to platoon with Sweeney–which he was doing–until Sweeney went all “Larry Holmes” on his locker and broke his hand.  He’s a platoon player/4th outfielder.  Let him check the market.  He’ll find out.  Unless Miami opens up their checkbook like idiots again.