SB Nation - Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox's 2010 Season May Be Over Before It Starts

Randy Booth — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:05:13 -0000

Red Sox fans, I'm going to tell you something that you might not want to hear. You might cringe at what I'm telling you. But it's something everyone has to hear and, perhaps, has to accept:

The Red Sox's 2010 season might already be a lost cause.

Yeah. I'm serious.

Marc Normandin, a Baseball Prospectus writer and former ringleader of the Beyond The Boxscore cult, was scratching his head about all the reports regarding the Red Sox recently. Why are they going after Jason Bay? Why aren't they going after Matt Holliday?

And then it all came to him:

The Sox front office also seems more optimistic about the 2011 market than the 2010 one, for a few reasons. The ones they discuss specifically are the fact that David Ortiz and Lowell will be free agents, so they can get their contracts off of the books, opening up their budget and some roster spots. This also screams that they are in the market for a new designated hitter and third baseman, but will wait until their current ones take their leave.

[...]

Why would they do this? Why would they sign someone who is so obviously not fit for the position, especially as he ages and becomes more expensive? The answer may lie in that 2011 market, as left fielder Carl Crawford will be a free agent (assuming the Rays don’t lock him up to a deal, and they may let him walk due to their own prospects and budget). The Sox may be looking to sign Bay long-term, not as their future left fielder, but as their present left fielder and future DH. Having a bat like Bay’s at DH would allow them to shore up their defense, which would in turn improve their pitching, which would improve their record…see where I’m going with this? They would be squeezing runs and wins out of everywhere they can in order to keep up with New York this way.

You know? I think he may just be on to something.

Of course, the biggest hitch of them all is if Carl Crawford is actually available come next winter. If the Rays are smart -- and we know they can't be all that dumb -- they're going to try their hardest to bring Crawford back. Crawford, who has been in Tampa Bay since his big league career started in 2002, can pretty much do everything you want out of a baseball player. His defense, though, may be his biggest asset -- at least for the Sox.

Crawford's +17.5 UZR/150 last season in left for the Rays was seventh best in baseball. No, not seventh best for left fielders, but seventh best UZR/150 for all fielders. He was the highest-ranked left fielder and second-ranked outfielder (Franklin Gutierrez - 27.1 - is just straight filth). There's no doubt his success could translate well to Fenway Park and playing The Monster.

Another key to this scenario is the Red Sox not bringing back Mike Lowell. Which is likely. Actually, it's not likely at all if he is traded to the Texas Rangers soon -- which is a rumor. I'm not really buying the rumor right now, but at least it's being discussed (if he is traded, Adrian Beltre would be a Red Sox faster than you can say "Beltre throwing from his knees from short left field ... OUT!").

The downside to waiting until 2011 is that there's not a huge market for good third basemen. Anybody want Eric Chavez? Just kidding. If Beltre were to be available next year, we could have a nice match on our hands, but that is unlikely.

One more thing worth pointing out: Joe Mauer is a free agent in 2011. As long as the Twins don't extend his contract, he will be the No. 1 free agent on the market. If the Sox were to try and nab Mauer (Victor Martinez's current contract expires at the end of the season), it'd be a pretty penny to pay for both Mauer and Crawford. The Sox could have the money for both, but would they really want to shell out that kind of cash?

What say you, Sox fans? Is it worth it for the Red Sox to save money, resources and prospects in 2010 and just aim for the sky in 2011? Or do you think the Sox can stay competitive and try to win every season? Do you buy any of this at all? Is Theo just holding his cards close to his chest?

Whatever the future holds, it's going to bright ... at some point. But that point may not be 2010.

Winter Meetings, Day Two Recap: A Slow Day For Red Sox

Randy Booth — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:00:28 -0000

by Steven Senne - AP

This photo is no way related to the winter meetings ... except it's Theo. That's the only relation. So it works.

View full size photo »

Remarkably, day two was even slower than day one.

Just get Theo's take on it:

"Yesterday was probably more productive than today," Epstein said. "Today has been more of a day of follow-up on the ideas of yesterday and we haven't made a heck of a lot of progress. We're still working at it."

After the jump, I'll update you on some of the happenings.

ALL THE RUMBLIN' ('CAUSE THERE JUST WASN'T MUCH PERIOD)

Full Count " Red Sox claim the ‘other’ Ramon Ramirez

Another pitcher named Ramon Ramirez (potentially) in the Red Sox system. How fun!

Tigers wanted Ellsbury or Buchholz

If the Sox were to acquire Curtis Granderson, it would have taken Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Buchholz. And we can all say "no thank you" at the same time.

Jason Bay Rumors: Tuesday: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Your guess is as good as anyone's when it comes to where Jason Bay will land before 2010. The Mariners seem to have no interest in the slugger while the Angels consider themselves "longshots." The Red Sox, still, no matter how hard some people on this blog try, are in talks with Bay.

Texas Rangers Blog - A quick wrapup from Tuesday - ESPN Dallas

The Rangers have shown interest in acquiring Mike Lowell. Really? I didn't think they wanted another poor defensive third baseman. One tends to be enough. However, it all seems like a longshot.

Boston Herald's Silverman on Sox's interest in Soriano

In other trade news, Rafael Soriano, after accepting arbitration, is willing to be traded. However, it doesn't seem the Sox are interested in trading for Soriano. If he was a free agent, that would have been a different story.

Washington Nationals Sign Pudge Rodriguez. - Federal Baseball

Somehow, Pudge Rodriguez is still going. Good for him. Maybe he'll be the first pro catcher to call a sign for Stephen Strasburg.

Winter Meetings: Pirates set to sign Crosby

The were rumors that Bobby Crosby could be a Red Sox, but that was before the Marco Scutaro signing. I wish I could say "Good for the Pirates," but I think it's more fitting to say "Good for Crosby" who is still seeing time in Major League Baseball. Keep collecting that paycheck, Bob!

Peter Gammons To Join NESN

Randy Booth — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:34:14 -0000

More photos » by Charles Krupa - ASSOCIATED PRESS

1 day ago: Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, right, talks with baseball analyst Peter Gammons prior to a MLB baseball game in Boston, Friday May 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Peter Gammons is coming home:

Baseball writer and longtime ESPN and Boston Globe baseball analyst/reporter Peter Gammons has agreed to a multiyear deal to join NESN as a regular studio analyst, reporter and online contributor.

[...]

Gammons will serve as a NESN studio analyst and reporter for over 50 of the network’s hour-long pregame and postgame shows and as co-host of Red Sox Hot Stove and Red Sox Spring Break LIVE. He also will make regular contributions to NESN.com.

"I’m a New Englander who wanted to be Jackie Jensen," Gammons said. "I started out at the Boston Globe and wrote about Jerry Remy when he was at Somerset High School. I was lucky enough to be there for the Munson-Fisk fight in 1973 and The Sixth Game and the '78 playoff, and when my local cable company wouldn’t put NESN on our system I signed the override petitions.

"NESN has given me the opportunity to come back to my roots and once again be part of my neighborhood, and I am truly excited about it. During the 2007 World Series, Matt Holliday said that what differentiated Fenway Park from any other stadium is that fans don’t react, they anticipated, and that creates a tension unlike any other audience in sports. It is a great feeling to be back with that audience."

A fantastic move by NESN. Peter Gammons must be ecstatic about all of it. He gets to cover the Red Sox day in and day out. For him, nothing can really be much better.

Curtis Granderson To The Yankees Might Mean A Lot For The Red Sox

Randy Booth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:50:08 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

1 day ago: FILE - In this June 11, 2009 photo, Detroit Tigers' Curtis Granderson watches his two-run home run off Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Chicago. A person familiar with the negotiations says the Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks are nearing agreement on a three-team trade that would send Granderson from Detroit to New York. The Yankees would trade right-hander Ian Kennedy to Arizona, and lefty reliever Phil Coke and outfield prospect Austin Jackson to Detroit, the person said on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet final. Detroit would deal pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks, and Arizona would send pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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I used to like you, Curtis Granderson. Now I don't know how I feel. You're a Yankee, dude. A Yankee:

Curtis Granderson is the Yankees’ new center fielder, coming over from the Detroit Tigers in a three-way deal that also included the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal, which is pending approval of medical records, will send outfielder Austin Jackson and reliever Phil Coke to Detroit and starter Ian Kennedy to Arizona.

The Diamondbacks will also receive starter Edwin Jackson from the Tigers, who will also get starter Max Scherzer and reliever Daniel Schlereth from Arizona.

The acquisition of Granderson, who turns 29 in March, gives the Yankees a younger alternative to Johnny Damon, 36, who is a free agent. The Yankees have no interest in giving Damon a three-year deal, but they were comfortable with a three-year commitment to Granderson, who is owed $25.75 million through 2012.

No doubt, Granderson is a really good player. He's going to give the Yankees another good bat and a pretty good outfield glove, too.

But the bigger question is: what do the Red Sox do now? In my opinion, nothing has to happen.

Will Carrol, aka The Injury Freaking King, tweets the following question:

Do red sox have to answer the granderson deal? Some are saying yes and quick and big.

Theo Epstein doesn't play the game of "let's make a move because the Yankees made a move." He's over that. He's past that. Theo Epstein builds the Boston Red Sox team to how he sees is the best fit. He builds them for 95 wins or more to get into the playoffs. He's not going to spend a lot of money or give up a lot of talented prospects just because the Yankees have made a move. Essentially, he's bigger than the rivalry.

With that said, WEEI has a few ideas for what the Sox could do to counter the Yanks' move (WEEI also mentions the Sox contacted the Tigers about Granderson, but soon found out they didn't have a solid match):

The effort to deal Granderson (and Edwin Jackson) offers fairly compelling evidence that the Tigers are indeed in a cost-cutting phase. That being the case, it is natural to wonder whether the team might make Miguel Cabrera available.

To date, according to a major-league source, there is no evidence that the Tigers are dangling the hitter extraordinaire (Cabrera hit .324 with a .396 OPS and .942 OPS, all among the best marks in the American League last year). Moreover, given Detroit’s interest in receiving major-league ready pieces — and, especially, position players — the possibility of a deal that might send Cabrera to the Red Sox seems far-fetched at this point (and that is without considering the concerns about the first baseman’s weight and off-field indiscretions).

Of course, there remains the possibility that economic realities at some point might force the Tigers to deal a player who has six years and $126 million remaining on his contract. But for now, there hasn’t been evidence that Detroit is looking to move the four-time All-Star.

I used to be a big fan of the Cabrera to Boston idea. Then all that "off-field indescretions" stuff popped up and he became tainted. No doubt he is an amazing baseball player. He's naturally gifted and has potential to go down as one of the best ever. But what kind of baggage does he bring to the team? Maybe Theo & Co. think they could whip him into shape -- mentally and physically -- ala Bill Belichick. I'm all for it if that's their gameplan.

Cabrera's bat in the middle of the Sox's lineup would be amazing. Part of me thinks it would be reminiscent of Manny Ramirez's days in Boston. Unfortunately, that means both the good and bad of having Manny in Boston.

As nice as it sounds, just because Granderson is in New York doesn't mean Cabrera has to be in Boston.

But I'm not 100 percent against it, either.

Poll

With the Yankees' acquisition of Curtis Granderson, do the Red Sox need to counter with a big signing or trade?

Report: Red Sox After Jason Bay, But Not Matt Holliday

Randy Booth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:29:41 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

2 months ago: St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday looks up at the scoreboard as he towels off in the dugout during the fifth inning in Game 3 of the National League division baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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According to FanHouse's Ed Price, the Red Sox will be going after Jason Bay, but not his left field counterpart Matt Holliday:

#RedSox have told people if they don't get Jason Bay they will not spend on Matt Holliday. And word is #Mariners pushing on Bay

The offseason has just become very interesting if this is true. If the Red Sox don't get Bay or Holliday, who is the answer? Jeremy Hermida maybe? Maybe a trade? Maybe Mike Cameron in center field and Jacoby Ellsbury in left?

Boy, I sure do love the hot stove.

Peter Gammons Leaving ESPN After Winter Meetings

Randy Booth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:22:37 -0000

In what is probably the biggest news of the winter meetings so far, ESPN has announced that Peter Gammons will be leaving the company at the conclusion of the week:

Said Gammons: "My decision to leave ESPN and move on at this point in my life has been conflicted. I owe a great deal of my professional life to ESPN, having spent more than half of my 40 years in journalism working for the network, and the choice to move on was made with nothing but the strongest feelings for the people with whom I worked. ESPN gave me a great deal more than I gave it, and will always be a huge part of who I am."

This is a huge shocker. Gammons's life really seemed to be baseball and, from all reports, he really loved it. He's one of the best that sports writing will ever see and whatever he does in the future, I wish him the best.

Tuesday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:36:15 -0000

by Matt Slocum - AP

Today's Frosty Mug is so full, I didn't even have time to caption this picture of Randy Wolf.

View full size photo »

Some things to read while evening out the teams.

It turned out to be a pretty active first day of the Winter Meetings. The Brewers were the talk of the late night rumor mill, based on reports that they're close to signing a three year deal with Randy Wolf (also noted in Rumorville). Tom H. says the deal is rumored to be in the $25-27 million range, and is also quantifying the amount of smoke surrounding it.

With that said, the deal mustn't be done yet, because Arn Tellem, who represents Wolf, is meeting with the Mets this morning. Jon Heyman says the Mets aren't willing to offer Wolf a three year deal.

Is this the move you were hoping for from the Brewers? I'd be happy with it at this point, as long as the price isn't much above $27 million. There's always some risk involved, but this is almost certainly a better deal than, for example, the four year deal Joel Pineiro is seeking.

Wolf might not be the only starting pitcher the Brewers acquire this week. They've reportedly discussed a deal with the Mets that would send Corey Hart to New York for John Maine, a former student of Rick Peterson who has missed most of the last year with shoulder issues (FanShot). It's unclear how much fire is behind this smoke, but the Mets are also rumored to be discussing a similar trade with the Angels, with Juan Rivera taking Hart's place.

The Brewers also added a little depth to their middle infield yesterday, claiming shortstop Luis Cruz off waivers from the Pirates (FanShot). Cruz played seven positions (everything but pitcher and catcher) last season in AAA, but has virtually zero ability with the bat (a .274 OBP in AAA last season), and Adam McCalvy confirmed the move was made for minor league, not major league depth. The Brewers don't have a true shortstop prospect in the minors above Brent Brewer and Josh Prince, neither of whom played above A-ball last season.

The Brewer bullpen suffered a blow yesterday, as Mark DiFelice underwent surgery to repair damage to his labrum and rotator cuff, and will miss the entire 2010 season (FanShot). DiFelice is 33 and undergoing his second major shoulder procedure, but intends to try to pitch in the majors again in 2011, telling Adam McCalvy "I don't want it to end like this."

This raises the stakes a little bit in the search for additional bullpen help, but the Crew won't be getting said help from Rafael Betancourt. Late in the day yesterday it was reported that the Brewers were unlikely to lure Betancourt away from a return to the Rockies. I haven't seen it confirmed, but I'm pretty sure he accepted arbitration late last night.

Looking back at a rumor from the weekend, In-Between Hops has come out against a Jeff Suppan-for-Juan Pierre deal, fearing the extra $4 million in salary the Brewers would have to take on would make it difficult for them to sign a pitcher like Randy Wolf.

And, looking back even farther, Dave Allen of FanGraphs has a look at the pitch-blocking ability of Gregg Zaun. Ken Macha is making me crazy: I should see this as a positive, but instead I see it as the excuse that might be used to keep an underperforming/overused Zaun in the lineup and a more deserving catcher on the bench.

In the minors, Brewerfan.net has a new Power 50 up. It's always interesting to see how guys move up and down the charts during the offseason. This edition's big gainers were Kentrail Davis, Jake Odorizzi and John Axford, with Hernan Iribarren, Chris Cody and Max Walla losing significant ground.

And around here, we're looking for your help to select a Brewer All-Decade Team in a series we're calling Making Your '00 Face. That link will take you to the voting for first base, where Prince Fielder has opened up what will likely turn out to be an insurmountable lead. Voting for second base will open at 4 pm today.

Around baseball:

Braves: Reliever Rafael Soriano has accepted the team's offer of arbitration.
Cardinals: Have agreed to a one year, $7.5 million deal for Brad Penny, pending a physical.
Nationals: Signed Ivan Rodriguez to a two year deal worth $6 million, acquired reliever Brian Bruney from the Yankees for a PTBNL, and released reliever Saul Rivera.
Pirates: Signed reliever Vinnie Chulk to a minor league deal.
Rangers: Acquired pitcher Clay Rapada from the Tigers for a PTBNL or cash.
Red Sox: Signed pitcher Fabio Castro and re-signed Kason Gabbard.
Rockies: Released outfielder Matt Murton, who is expected to spend 2010 in Japan.
Tigers: Re-signed Adam Everett to a one year deal, and signed reliever Brad Thomas, who has spent the last two seasons pitching in Korea.
Twins: Carl Pavano has accepted the team's arbitration offer.

The Rule 5 Draft is on Thursday, so I'm almost done burying you in links like these: Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times and Lisa Winston of MiLB.com have a look at several players who recently played in the Arizona Fall League and were left unprotected in the draft.

Competition is heating up in the market for Edwin Jackson. One report yesterday had the Tigers receiving 12 offers for his services. I guess that's what you get when you put a pitcher who threw over 200 effective innings last season and is due about $5 million on the market.

Speaking of pitchers the Brewers might be interested in, Justin Duchscherer declined the A's offer of salary arbitration.

I think most of us will be happy to see these former Brewers sign elsewhere, and keeping one of them in the division would be a double bonus: Jason Kendall is reportedly drawing interest from the Royals, and Braden Looper has expressed interest in pitching for the Cubs.

In case you were wondering, Keith Law has an explanation of how the Winter Meetings, usually held in a warm vacation spot, ended up in Indianapolis. The cold temps and snow haven't kept people from exchanging some tidbits of info you probably would never have known without the internet (and might not have missed):

There was apparently a small tiff between Scott Boras and new Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog over comments Herzog made about Matt Holliday, a Boras client.
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't shoot anything while out deer hunting with Bobby Cox last week.
Former D-Back, Indian, Ray and Ranger Nick Bierbrodt, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2004, is a ttempting a comeback.
New Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous is battling a cold this week, so he's not shaking anyone's hand.
Speaking of the Blue Jays, radio reporter Mike Wilner has an annoying ring tone and left his phone in the media workroom yesterday.
Craig Calcaterra brought an airport card to the meetings, making him one of the few writers not reliant on slow internet service.

And, of course we're all having fun this week, but Paul DePodesta has a reminder for all of us that many of this week's rumors will be just that, and not to get too worked up over them. Of course, no one ever gets too worked up around here, right?

Away from the meetings, here's a strange story. After months of investigation, Major League Baseball has concluded that new Twins prospect Miguel Angel Sano, who claims to be 16, is somewhere between 16 and 18. Sano also recently changed his name to Miguel Jean. If he turns out to be Miguel Tejada in disguise, the Twins will probably be very upset.

On this day in 1991, Brewer reliever Julio Machado was arrested for murder after shooting a passenger in a car that had just been involved in an accident. Machado was later found guilty and served 12 years in prison.

I don't have any Brewer birthdays today, but it is a Woot-off day, so there's that.

Drink up.

Winter Meetings, Day One Recap: Red Sox Make Minor Moves

Randy Booth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:00:51 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

2 days ago: Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona listens to a question during a news conference at the baseball winter meetings in Indianapolis, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Day one of the winter meetings has come and gone with a few splashes here and there. The big three (Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey) have yet to move, but there's a lot of buzz surrounding potential new teams.

Oh, yeah. And Brad Penny is still too overpaid for 2010.

RED SOX RUMBLINGS

Full Count " Reports: Red Sox sign Castro, Gabbard

More minor moves. Castro is a "sign and see" type, where he's shown decent production at the minor league level, but hasn't pitched in the bigs since 2007. Gabbard, as we all know, was re-acquired last season from Texas but struggled once he went to the Sox. Actually, he struggled before that, too. This re-signing is probably just a last-ditch effort to see if he can give the Sox anything.

Twitter / Michael Silverman: Red Sox are one team that ...

The Red Sox are not interested in going after Detroit's Edwin Jackson, who will most likely be moved this offseason.

Jason Bay will not accept Red Sox’ arbitration offer | Boston Red Sox | projo.com | The Providence Journal

No shocker here. We knew he would do this about 12 months ago. I'm pretty sure he could make a tad more money in free agency. With that said...

Bay remains Sox's top priority | redsox.com: News

Really? To quote Theo, Bay is "one of" the team's priorities. There have been multiple reports: some say the Sox really want him back, others saying they'd rather go after Matt Holliday. But who really knows? There's also reports about Bay, that the Mariners are going hard after him (or not) and the Angels are really interested (or not). Who knows what is actually true? My bet: he stays with the Sox. Four years, $17M with a good amount of incentives.

Twitter / Jayson Stark: Hear Seatt has Nick Johnso ...

The Red Sox are interested in OBP-machine and injury-prone first baseman Nick Johnson. One question: where does he fit on this team? Oh, and the really important question: how much?

Full Count " Duchscherer’s agent, Red Sox meet

Justin Duchscherer wouldn't be a bad pickup for the Red Sox, barring his knee and depression is taken care of. He doesn't want to be in the 'pen either, though

Tim Wakefield, Daniel Bard want to see Jason Bay stay - BostonHerald.com

Your standard "find a teammate that likes the guy trying to get a contract" story. I'm sure they could find more, but there isn't a more interesting duo than Wake and Bard. We also find out that Bard follows offseason transactions closely (because he doesn't know if he'll get traded) and Wake doesn't (because he knows there's not a shot in hell he is traded).

NON-RED SOX RUMBLINGS

Shortstop Adam Everett re-signs with Tigers | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

My shortstop preference has gone back to his homeland a.k.a former team the Tigers. The deal is worth $1.55. That is absolutely peanuts for one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball.

New York Yankees trade Brian Bruney to Washington Nationals for draft pick

FIRESALE! OK, but not really.

Twitter / Ed Price: Hearing #Brewers closing i ...

Randy Wolf is close to signing with the Brewers. Depending on the money, this is a good pickup for the Brewers. He's going to be effective and not cost nearly as much money as John Lackey, one of only a handful (if that) of better starting pitchers that are in free agency.

Minor League Update -- 12/7/09

Ben Buchanan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:10:14 -0000

Columbian Winter League

Reynaldo Rodriguez: .280/.347/.440

-Numbers improving again.

Dominican Winter League

Jose Capellan: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K – 3.86 ERA, 8:21 K:BB, 1.76 WHIP

-Good god, it keeps getting worse!

Mexican Winter League

Robert Coello: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 K – 2.58 ERA, 43:21 K:BB, 1.16 WHIP

Puerto Rican Winter League

Aaron Bates: 6-17, 2 2B, 2 BB, 3 K -- .314/.385/.457

Ken Roque: 1-4, 2 K – .273/.273/.273

Venezuelan Winter League

Yeiper Castillo: .2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K – 3.18 ERA, 6:8 K:BB, 1.50 WHIP

Leandro Marin: .1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K – 10.80 ERA, 4:3 K:BB, 2.40 WHIP

Casey Kelly Chooses Pitching

Jason McLeod Heads to San Diego

Red Sox Resign Kason Gabbard

Kason Gabbard is rejoining the Sox' minor league system per NESN's Neil Keefe. Gabbard suffered through a truly horrendous year where he could not find the strike zone, allowing 54 walks in just over 50 innings in the minors. Gabbard once seemed like a legitimate back-of-the-rotation starter, which is presumably what the Sox will be trying to get him back to.

Hey, if David Murphy doesn't get much better, the Gagne trade doesn't look quite as awful.

Red Sox Sign Fabio Castro

Ben Buchanan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:55:22 -0000

via www.cbc.ca

View full size photo »

It looks like the Sox are taking a depth approach to replacing Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito, as they signed yet another reliever in LHP Fabio Castro.

Castro, 24, has a 3.30 ERA over 43.2 innings with the Rangers and Phillies, last pitching in the majors in 2007. Last year, in AAA, Castro managed only a 4.49 ERA with mediocre peripherals. While Castro has made all but 1 major league appearance out of the bullpen, he's spent his last few years starting in the minors.

Castro is likely to join a large group of pitchers trying for a spot in the Sox bullpen in spring training, including Scott Atchison, Robert Manuel, and Dustin RIchardson.