Red Sox Sign Nomar Garciaparra
The Red Sox will hold a press conference today to announce the signing of Nomar Garciaparra to a minor league deal, at which point Garciaparra will announce his retirement according to Boston.com.
Garciaparra's career has officially come full circle. What started out as a magical, hall of fame type career, broke down amid rumors and constant injury. Garciaparra had some amazing seasons, but he lacked any kind of durability and fell way short of any Hall of Fame bid.
As a Red Sox fan, it was so satisfying to see the them draft, groom and succeed with Nomar. His rookie season (first full season) left me thinking he could do anything. He followed up 1997 with 3 ridiculous seasons only to have injury strike. He came back in 2002 and 2003 with 2 good seasons, but never approached his 1997 - 2000 levels.
Prior to the 2004 season, the Red Sox offered Nomar a 4 year, $60mm deal which he turned down. A bad decision on his part as Nomar made a total of $32,283,394.00 the following 4 seasons. And of course he was traded in the summer of 2004 amidst much animosity.
Garciaparra played his best baseball in Boston and I think this is why he is "coming home." I think it is a fitting end to his career and I believe this will be the final step in winning back the fans, many of whom feel he let the Red Sox down in 2004. Here was my take when the 2004 trade went down: July 2004.
Welcome back Nomar.
Comments
I don't think he is hurting for $$ considering who he married.
It's pretty sad that of the four amazing shortstops who all emerged at the same time (Jeter, A-Rod, Nomar and Tejada) only one is on his original team and only one has never had his name associated with PED's.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 10, 2010 11:56 AM
|
I think it's good for the game when players go back to their old teams to officially retire with them. Nomar was and always will be a part of Red Sox Nation.
Posted by: Dylan Murphy | March 10, 2010 05:05 PM |
I've always thought this was a very classy way to leave the game and it was nicely handled by the Sox owners - bravo guys.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 10, 2010 07:48 PM
|
does papi give him a golden needle instead of the watch..
Posted by: bornwithpinstripes | March 10, 2010 11:15 PM |
Good to start a season with a win esp against the Yanks, even better with a 5-1 come from behind.
Posted by: Jeffry Mcclave | April 5, 2010 01:58 AM |