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Ahh, Lou Gorman.  Indeed what would we do with Willie McGee?  I mean,  having talent on the team is only good if that talent has a position, right?  Wrong.

Please forgive Lou, he made that quote when baseball was simpler than it is today.  And there was certainly less media/fan scrutiny back then given there wasn't an internet.

I mention Gorman's comment because the Red Sox are rumored to be heavy in the the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes.  That's a good thing, right Lou?  With Mike Lowell the expected everyday third baseman next year, Kevin Youkilis the everyday first baseman and David Ortiz the DH.  Just what would we do with Mark Teixeira?

I'll tell you what you'd do with Mark Teixeira, you'd play him everyday, that's what you'd do.  I believe given cost and upside potential, Mike Lowell would be the casualty in this scenario.  I don't think there is any chance he accepts a diminished role as he does have another chance at a contract after the 2010 season.

The biggest question with Lowell is how much longer he wants to play and does he want to play for a good team?  If the Red Sox were able to sign Teixeira, Youkilis would move back to 3rd.  If Lowell where willing to learn the first base position, he could be the primary back-up at the corners and DH.  Youkilis missed 17 games in 2008, Ortiz 53 and Teixeira missed 5.  That would have been 70 starts right there for Lowell.  Mix in a few scheduled off-days and maybe that's 80 starts.

But let's be serious, if the Red Sox sign Teixeira, Lowell is most 95% likely a goner.  Great teammate, good player but just not as good as Mark Teixeira and he probably doesn't consider himself a back-up at this point.

Teixeira would give Boston a gold-glove fielder, a superior bat in the line-up and a switch-hitter to boot.  He is a fantastic player and reportedly just as good a person.  Boston will have to empty the bank to get him which is interesting as the Red Sox just finally removed themselves from one of, if not the longest contracts they ever offered in Manny Ramirez's deal.

Let's set our APBA line-up, shall we, assuming a Teixeira signing:

cf - Ellsbury 

2b - Pedroia

dh - Ortiz

1b - Teixeira

3b - Youkilis

lf - Bay

rf - Drew

c - Fisk or Bench

ss - Lowrie

Obviously a Teixeira acquisition adds depth to this line-up.  With Ortiz, Teixeira, Youkilis, Bay and Drew, you'd have 5 guys that can flirt with a .400 OBP.  That would be very tough on opposing pitching and would make for some very long games.

So while we try to garner excitement on the happenings with the Red Sox, Yankees and baseball in general on this site, the fact is, nothing is happening right now.  NOTHING.  This off-season has produced 1, 2, maybe 3 official signings?  I can only name the Jeremy Affeldt signing off the top of my head.  It's been very boring in fact.

With Teixeira saying he'd like to get something done before Christmas and CC Sabathia saying he'll take his time, things aren't likely to change any time soon.  Snore.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

WEEI - 850 AM in Boston has redone their website and now has blogs covering the local sports teams.  On one of those blogs, Rob Bradford, formerly of the Boston Herald, reports that the Red Sox have made an initial offer to Jason Varitek for 1 year at an undisclosed amount of money.

Bradford does not mention when this offer was made.

Of course if this is true it could mean any number of things.  1.)  Perhaps there is no market for JV if the Red Sox think this is a good starting point.  2.)  If Scott Boras really thinks JV deserves Jorge Posada type money (heck, Posada doesn't deserve Posada type money), then it is clear Varitek won't be re-signing with Boston.  The possibilities go on.

Another piece of news from MLBTradeRumors.com has links to reports tat the Red Sox winning the bidding war for Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa.  MLBTR also reports on the Varitek story.  I haven't a clue if Tazawa is/will be worth the attention.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Reports have it that Coco Crisp has been traded to the Kansas City Royals.  Of course this is in lockstep with my prediction that Crisp would be trade before training camp...training camp 2008.  So I was 10 months too early in my prediction.

SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Red Sox will get reliever Ramon Ramirez in return.  This is good for Crisp as he'll have a legitimate chance to start in his contract year (the Royals do have an option, but they probably don't have the resources to exercise it).

As for the Red Sox, they get a middler reliever who posted a 3-2 record in 71.2 IP with 57 H, 31 BB, 70 K for a 2.64 ERA and a 1.128 WHIP.  Not bad.  He is just 26 and only has 2+ years of service.  He is basically a strikeout per inning guy (146K's in 156.2 IP).

I'm not sure how long Ramirez will be in Boston as he may be included in another deal, but if he were to stay, he'd could take Justin Masterson's spot should Masterson re-join the rotation.

This opens up a bench spot for the Red Sox and essentially gives Jacoby the full time CF job.

Other news:  Both 3rd base coach Demarlo Hale and bench coach Brad Mills will be with the Red Sox as neither was chosen to lead the Seattle Mariners next season.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Poor Evan Grant, columnist for the Dallas Morning News.  Grant has admitted making a mistake in leaving Pedroia off his MVP ballot.

From Boston.com:

"I think the best way for me to sum it up is, in retrospect, obviously I was wrong," Grant said by phone. "My colleagues all, and people I respect an awful lot, thought Dustin deserved to be in the top 5. I had him on my ballot in some scenarios as high as No. 1 late into September. When I looked at the numbers that to me mattered most, OPS and batting average with runners in scoring position, he just didn't stack up with Youkilis at all. He was a laggard behind the others who had great years in the American League. Is it an error of omission that he's left off my ballot entirely? You could say that."

That's fine and good, but that issue I see here is that Grant had Pedroia #4 as recently as September 20.  Call it September 21st as his article was posted on the DMN at 11:57 CST, or 12:57am, 9/21 EST.

The key here is that Pedroia did nothing to drop 7 spots (or more) to fall out of Grant's top 10 list in that last few games of the season.  My take is that Grant just simply forgot about Pedroia.

We've all done it, right?  When discussing top players or best skills in any sport, inevitably we forget an obvious choice.  And that's fine, we're just human.  But to try and suggest others had a better OBP, etc. is a bit off.  I'm thinking he is attempting to, well, keep his membership with the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).  By the way, why isn't it BWAA, was baseball really "base ball" back in the 1920's?

If his fellow BBWAA members read that he admitted omitting Pedroia by accident, he'd be off the team quickly, no?  Just ask ESPN's Rob Neyer and Keith Law about those making decision at the BBWAA.  They are a prickly bunch.

No matter, Grant has found himself in a position he probably didn't intend to get himself into, but like John Hammond said in Jurassic Park, "I don't blame people for their mistakes, but I do ask that they pay for them."

And pay for it he will.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 08:24 AM | Permalink

You heard it here last!

Dustin Pedroia became the 10 Red Sox to win the AL MVP award today.

The good news for the Red Sox is that they have a good 2b on their team.  The bad news is that he isn't yet arbitration eligible and the ability for them to affordably sign him was just lessened.

Some notes of interest:  Pedroia failed to get a vote from one of the writers, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.  Basically Grant found 22 better players than Pedroia in the AL.  That is remarkable.  I say that not because Pedroia was that good rather how can opinions vary so greatly?

Kevin Youkilis finished 3rd overall.  That too will cost the Red Sox.  Youkilis is in for a big raise on his $3mm deal.

No other news that I can see regarding free agent signings or trades.  Stay tuned.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In what is probably more posturing than statement of fact, Hank Steinbrenner announced that the Yankees have indeed made an offer to CC Sabathia, but also plan on making offers to AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe.

Why does this matter?  It probably doesn't as even if the Yankees do offer all 3 contracts, it isn't likely all 3 will sign, but it would mean their prices all just went up.  Which brings me to this news item from Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin.

Melvin went public with his confusion behind the Yankees reported offer to Sabathia.  "It sounds like they're overbidding.  If the speculation is true that we've offered CC $100 million, why would you offer $140 million? Why wouldn't you offer $110 million?"

Good question Doug.  Obviously no one knows who bid what except Sabathia himself, but it doesn't make too much sense.  If the Yankees decide to put their best bid forward, fine, but I'd be surprised to see Sabathia sign the reported Yankee offer but rather a further enhanced offered later on.

I've wonder why this happens all the time.  Both Alex Rodriguez signings baffled me as it was reported that no other team was even close.  The Red Sox signings of JD Drew and Julio Lugo also stuck me as overdone.

While acknowledging that much of what we hear during negotiations as fans turns out to be rubbish, there are often nuggets of fact surrounding the dealings.

Free agency isn't eBay where you can automatically win a bid by hitting a certain price.  These are real world business dealings and it seems foolish to throw Ft. Knox at a player when a local bank would do.

Melvin does fail to mention one important thing, the Brewers offer is for 5 years and the Yankees for 6, but still, the Yankees offer is more in years and more in average annual compensation.  Why not just go with 6-years and $120mm?

Chew on that for a bit.

Red Sox notes:  The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo is reporting that the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are considering a Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.  Lugo is in the middle of a 4 year, $36mm deal while Willis has 2 years left on a 3-year $29MM deal ($10mm in '09 and $12mm in '10).  Robertson is in the final of his 3-year, $21.25mm deal ($7mm in '09 and $10mm in '10).

Now Lugo wasn't good in 2008, but he wasn't terrible.  His .352 OBP has to count for something.  For the most part, it was an overly forgettable, injury shortened season for him.

As for Willis, where do I start?  He fell off the cliff he was so bad.  In the Majors, he was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA in 24 IP.  He allowed 18 hits and 35 BB!!!  What?  35 BB in 24 IP?  He also pitched about 56 IP in the minors last year with a 4.50 ERA.  He was at class A Lakeland and AAA Toledo and allowed a 4.50 and 4.55 ERA respectively.  So even in the minors against A-ballers he was shaky.

I don't know if Willis has anything left, but if the Tigers take all of Lugo's salary, I'd say make the deal because the Red Sox seem to have settled on Jed Lowrie and taking a gamble on Willis and having it pay off is better than taking a gamble on Lugo and having it pay off.

As for Robertson, he too was bad.  He pitched 168 IP in the Majors with a 6.35 ERA, 218 H and 62 BB.  Simply miserable.  Robertson has never been as good as Willis, so I would say a Lugo for Robertson makes no sense as even if Robertson reverts to form, his form wasn't really good in the first place.

Makes you understand why the Tigers were do bad last year.

Lastly, ESPN has a report on Red Sox almost suspending Manny Ramirez a week before he was traded.  I'm tired of this story and can't wait for Manny to be someone else's problem.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Well that bell you heard at midnight was the start of free agency in Major League Baseball.  Or it was last call at whatever pub some of you booze-bags were drinking.  Either way, you can expect the rumors to start flying.

For Red Sox fans, there is no real indication what they are going to do.  For C.C. Sabathia, I think you'll see the Red Sox mentioned if and only if there appears to be no one competing with the Yankees for his services.  Basically they'll get involved only to drive up the price and only if needed.  If the Yankees immediately big 6-years at $150mm, then mission already accomplished.

I think the same applies with Mark Teixeira although I would not be surprised to see a sincere push by the Red Sox.  Obviously you have the corner infield positions manned already, but Teixeira is a better hitter than Lowell or Youkilis (from a career standpoint, not necessary based on just 2008).

The Yankees trading for Nick Swisher is a head scratcher a may signal a lack of interest in bidding for both Sabathia and Teixeira.  Swisher has good power and obp, but his lack of batting average is starting to bring down his obp and he might just be depth at this point, as Peter speculated yesterday.

Derek Lowe to me makes sense assuming he isn't looking for $15mm a year.  Lowe has a proven track record of being able to play in Boston.  He has made it known, if we are to believe reports, that he would love to play in Boston.  At 35, he isn't likely to be the same pitcher he was 10 years ago, but he has never had a major health issue since being a full time starter.

The Red Sox have salary to play with, even in this economy.  I see them adding bench players and maybe 1 major free agent signing, but that is all.

More to come as news hits.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

or some other MLB team...or retire.

Yes, I'm trying to start trouble.  For what it is worth, the San Diego Padres formally withdrew their offer (reportedly of $4mm) to Hoffman today.  That means he will either sign with another team, or retire with the $59 million or so he has earned* as a Major Leaguer (*not including endorsements).

What is crazy in any of us taking about Trevor Hoffman is that he is the younger brother of former Red Sox Glenn Hoffman who retired 19 years ago, yes, 1989.

Trevor Hoffman is the all-time MLB leader in saves and has managed to pitch effectively into his 40's (albeit 40 years old thus far).  The Padres, influenced greatly by their owner's marital difficulties, have decided to off-load talent, led by the assumed trade of Jake Peavy.  Oddly, the Padres did exercise the option of Brian Giles.  Maybe the Giles deal was so they can trade him later, but he is now a 10/5 player and making a bunch of cabbage.

Back to Hoffman, if he is really done in San Diego, he'd make great sense in Boston.  Obviously the first issue for him coming here would be to address the fact that he'd be a set-up guy and not the closer.  Jonathan Papelbon has that job locally.  Hoffman hasn't won a thing in San Diego and perhaps he'd consider the thought that Boston would give him at least a decent chance of going all the way in 2009.

For those thinking I'm being sentimental in signing an old dude, consider the stats:

2008:  48 G, 3 W, 6 L, 30 Sv, 45.3 IP, 38 H, 8 HR, 9 BB, 46 K, 3.77 ERA, 1.04 Whip.

Not bad numbers at all.  In fact, if you look at Boston's primary set-up pitchers, you will find that Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima were probably a bit better, but didn't keep runners off the bases as well as Hoffman.  After Delcarmen and Okajima, who did the Red Sox rely on?  Justin Masterson?  Sure, but he might well be a starter in 2009.  Who else?  Javier Lopez was good, but not in the same role being a lefty specialist.

I guess my take on this is that the Red Sox have a deep connection with the Padres with Tom Werner, former owner, Larry Lucchino, former President and Theo Epstein and therefore a connection with Hoffman.  If he were to sign with Boston I'd think it a good move.  A veteran who could show Manny Delcarmen not to issue walks and the rest of the Red Sox bullpen how to handle relief duties.

Oh, and what if Jonathan Papalbon were to need some time off?  Hoffman makes sense.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

ESPN is reporting that The Colorado Rockies have agreed to ship Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's with finishing details still being worked out.

I'm just fine the Red Sox didn't get Holliday, not that they were ever mentioned as a contender for his bat.  While Holliday is a fine hitter and just entering his prime, his home/road splits are a concern:

2006 - 2008 splits

Home - .361/.430/.669 - 869 G, 62 HRs, 219 RBI

Road - .296/.370/.486 - 908 G, 33 HR, 120 RBI

Holliday will most likely get himself a very rich contract (not with the A's, but with someone), but his split make it far too big a gamble to make it worth it.  Holliday did close the gap between home/road this year, but there is too much to be concerned with those splits.

Oakland will let him play out 2009 and then let him sign a mega-deal with another team a year from now only to get handsomely rewarded themselves with a first round pick and a supplemental pick.  The conclusion Billy Beane answered in making this deal was whether the players he gives up are worth more or less than 1 year of Holliday and 2 great picks.  Obviously he thinks Holliday and 2 great picks is the better package.

It's like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry dated the woman who looked good sometimes and ghastly other times depending on the lighting.  Which Holliday are you getting?  We shall see.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 05:05 PM | Permalink

Back to baseball for a moment.  There has been very little news of the Red Sox in on any moves or deals.  The general theme so far this off-season has been that the Red Sox are in good shape and were one game away from making it back to the World Series.

That's all fine and good, but I would be stunned if Theo Epstein and co. decide all that is needed is a catcher.

If it were up to me, I'd address catcher, evaluate Mike Lowell's health and consider trying to upgrade there, granted his deal is a major roadblock in that regard, and see if any of the other positional starters can be improved.

As for the pitching staff, the bullpen and bottom of the rotation need work or at least attention.

I would be surprised if the Red Sox go back into regular season play in 2009 without at least 1 significant trade or free agent signing.  Varitek to me is not a major signing at this point in his career, by the way.

Anyway, what little news there is for the Red Sox involves Epstein getting a new 3-year deal with the Red Sox that was done "a few weeks ago."  I suppose this is big news, but not a surprise.

The Red Sox and Scott Boras are in the feeling out stage on what it will take to re-sign Varitek.

Apparently Mike Timlin and Sean Casey are not coming back.

All members of the coaching staff except Luis Alicea are coming back.  No word on why Alicea was dismissed.

MLBTradeRumors.com says that the Red Sox are a natural fit for Japanese League player Kenshin Kawakami.

The Red Sox are expected to be players for Mark Teixeira, although not front-runners, but it is expected he will take his time picking a team. 

Lastly and of greatest interest is that Sean McAdams, now of the Boston Herald, is reporting that the Red Sox lead in the chase for highly touted Japanese amateur Junichi Tazawa.  Tazawa's story is much different from most Japanese players in that he has not turned pro and was not drafted by any of the Japanese League teams because he told them it would be a waste of their time (or as it was reported, they respected his decision to pursue a MLB job).

Instead, he has managed to bypass the "posting" process and is available as a free agent to any MLB team.  Obviously with no professional experience, he is no more or less risky than a draft pick is here, but there have at least been some good things said about him.

Of course, one player that isn't available yet is Yu Darvish.  That kid can pitch...

News as it arrives...or as I get to it.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:29 PM | Permalink