SB Nation User Blog: ltrain2

The 2009 Off Season's Impact On The Future

ltrain2 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:23:21 -0000

by Elise Amendola - AP

Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, right, and manager Terry Francona are concerned with much more than just the matters related to 2010's team.

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The Red Sox, beleaguered by talks of a 'bridge period' earlier this off season, caught fans slightly by surprise with their recent flurry of activity within the MLB's Hot Stove Market. Marco Scutaro's arrival in Boston may not have warranted much commotion given the nature of his contract (the length in particular), but the lucrative 5-year deal awarded to pitcher John Lackey has some questioning the exact direction that general manager Theo Epstein is taking the club and the future of pitcher Josh Beckett in particular.

After a very quiet beginning to the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox designated nearly $25 million for next season's payroll with the additions of Mike Cameron and John Lackey alone, moves that will certainly effect those that subsequently follow -- both this season as well as the next.

What does this mean for the likes of Josh Beckett and Victor Martinez, both with expiring contracts, especially considering the addition of Lackey and the potential free-agency of catcher Joe Mauer? With over $50 million in expiring contracts coming off the books following this season, how will management approach the free-agent class of 2010, considered by many to be one of the deepest of its kind in relation to available impact players? If this season is still considered a bridge to the future, then what can fans expect to see from the front office at this time next year?

At the moment, Boston's payroll is hovering around the $170 million dollar mark for the 2010 season (which includes the money owed to former shortstop Julio Lugo). The following players are in the final year of their current contracts; David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Julio Lugo -- contracts that total $55 million. Assuming that Boston doesn't restructure any of the deals involving the aforementioned players, that gives management a large sum of financial freedom to address the incoming class of free-agents, a group that boasts talent trumping that which is offered in this year's crop.

Many have likened the situation to that which resulted in the Red Sox's 2007 World Series Championship. Prior to that season Epstein spent nearly $210 million ($209.1 to be exact) in acquiring J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo, and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Again, with the assumption that none of the following players are awarded new deals during the upcoming season, here's a look at the free-agent class of 2010: Joe Mauer, Carl Crawford, Lance Berkman, Cliff Lee, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Carlos Pena, Brandon Webb, Jayson Werth. It's a safe bet that someone like Jeter will be retained by the Yankees, but even that scenario leaves a slew of All-Star caliber talent available for the taking.

Similar to last season when the Yankees cleared themselves of nearly $70 million in contractual commitments that led to the signings of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, and ultimately a World Series Championship, Boston will find themselves in a very enviable position heading into next year's Hot Stove action.

It's a safe bet that Boston decides to let the contracts of Varitek and Lowell expire, but what about Josh Beckett and Victor Martinez?

After the signing of John Lackey, Theo Epstein immediately sent a text message assuring Josh Beckett that the addition of Lackey will in no way effect Boston's interest in re-signing him. However, we've seen this before, and nobody can blame Beckett for remaining skeptical regardless of how convincing Epstein may have appeared. After acquiring Curt Schilling in 2003, management sent a similar message to then staff-ace Pedro Martinez, who also found himself entering a contract year at that time. Martinez was not a member of the Red Sox in 2005 as management was never able to work out a deal to retain the right-hander, leading many to question Beckett's future in Boston. John Lackey received a 5-year deal worth $82.5 million dollars this off-season, raising speculation as to how serious the team is about keeping Beckett. It's hard to ignore the likenesses between Lackey and Beckett as pitchers, and with Lackey receiving a contract similar to that which Beckett is expected to command; did Boston simply sign Lackey to replace Beckett upon his departure? The situation is eerily similar to that which led to the end of the 'Pedro era' in Boston.

Victor Martinez is considered a very valuable commodity amongst the Red Sox's lineup. Martinez's ability to play both catcher and first base at a high level makes him just that much more appealing to the Red Sox, who currently owe him just under $8 million this season, making him widely considered one of the best bargains in baseball. However, there has been a lot of discussion recently surrounding the potential trading of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox by the San Diego Padres. If that happens, how will it effect the way in which Boston approaches Martinez's expiring contract? With the versatile slugger likely to command big money in the open market, will Theo then shift his focus to Joe Mauer, assuming that he isn't re-signed by Minnesota this season? With Gonzalez coming to Boston in this scenario, Martinez's ability to play first base becomes less relevant in relation to addressing the team's need for a catcher. It's no secret that Theo loves the type of player that Mauer embodies, and with good reason, as Mauer is regarded as one of the best all-around talents in baseball. Martinez is an ample catcher, but Mauer is a great one. Couple that with the upgrade that Mauer would represent offensively as opposed to V-Mart and it's not a stretch to assume that the Red Sox would rather utilize a good sum of that newly available $55 million on the former MVP/All-Star/Batting Champion/Gold Glover [Mauer].

On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that there has been some speculation that the Red Sox may plan to invest in both Martinez and Mauer, shifting Victor to first base and affording them a more than acceptable option behind the plate on days that they would decide to rest Mauer. Obviously this scenario becomes more likely in the event that Adrian Gonzalez is not acquired via trade.

Another key element that makes Martinez less of a necessity is the availability of Lance Berkman and Carlos Pena next off season, both viable options to fill the void at first base in the event that Boston is unable to retain Martinez. Similarly, Beckett's contract demands may become less appealing given the pending free-agent status' of pitchers Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb and the newly acquired Lackey.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz may also find their time in Boston heavily influenced by the free-agent class of 2010 and the moves made to this point in 2009. Both players have been mentioned in discussions surrounding potential trade scenarios involving Adrian Gonzalez. Does Ellsbury become more expendable with Werth and Crawford being available next season, as well as the recent signing of Mike Cameron? Does Buchholz become easier to part with given the potential signing of Aroldis Chapman and the potential free-agency of both Lee and Webb?

Every move that management makes from here on out must be calculated and will be heavily dependent on other deals that are or are not completed. For instance -- the addition of Lackey aside, even the situation at the catcher position effects the likelihood that starting pitcher Josh Beckett remains with the Red Sox.

Joe Mauer is believed to be in line to receive one of largest contracts in baseball history from whomever he decides to sign with. Therefore, if Martinez opts to explore free-agency and Boston decides to make a push for Mauer, it becomes less likely that they do so successfully while still being able to afford Beckett. Again, John Lackey's signing plays a major role in this as well. It's easier to let Beckett go and pursue Mauer with Lackey locked up for five seasons, and harder to justify retaining Beckett with the same thing in mind.

Going full-circle, it's easier to let Martinez walk with the addition of Gonzalez. In the event that Gonzalez is acquired, it becomes more feasible that Boston goes after Mauer, letting Martinez go and possibly making a concerted effort to retain Beckett.

It is still my belief that the Red Sox are pushing hard to acquire Adrian Gonzalez. In a previous article listed here, I explain that the Red Sox's moves to this point lead me to believe that Gonzalez is the most important player currently on Boston's radar. For one, signing Aroldis Chapman could help justify trading a young pitcher like Buchholz. Also, given the Red Sox's payroll commitments for 2010 and their still-glaring need to acquire a power-hitting corner infielder, the friendly nature of Gonzalez's contract for the next two seasons makes him the most appealing option for Boston if they truly desire an impact player to fill that void while still remaining within the $170 million dollar payroll goal set by Epstein.

However, the Gonzalez trade would be a blockbuster-type deal and is anything but a certainty. In the event that no progress is made in relation to Gonzalez, I think that Boston will shift their attention away from Beckett for the time being and make Victor Martinez their primary focus this season in terms of restructuring any of the expiring contracts. Talks with Martinez will likely correspond with the progress made by Minnesota in retaining Mauer. If it appears that Mauer will re-sign, Martinez should become priority number one in Boston. In the event that Mauer and the Twins cannot find common ground, the Red Sox will assess how badly they want to pursue Mauer, whether it be via trade or during the 2010 off season.

The point being that the signing of John Lackey, as well as any move made from this point on, does more than impact the future of Josh Beckett and the outlook of next year's club. Each move shifts the potential makeup of the roster for years to come. The job of a general manager is one of the most stress-inducing positions in sports for a reason and is not for short-sighted individuals. You can bet that Theo Epstein and the rest of the front office are making every move during the course of this off season with the next one in the back of their minds.

Poll

Who will most likely be a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2011?

Top Moments '09: No. 8 - Papelbon's Payback

ltrain2 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:27:51 -0000

by Michael Dwyer - AP

Jonathan Papelbon, who thanks to OTM's memorable moment #8, is the Boston Red Sox's all-time saves leader.

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OTM COVERAGE: Randy Booth's recap of the Red Sox's memorable moment #8 of 2009

GAME RECAP: 07/01/2009 - Baltimore Orioles 5 Boston Red Sox 6 (11 innings)

Less than 24 hours after the Baltimore Orioles had completed the greatest comeback in the history of their franchise at the hands of the Red Sox, coming from 10 runs behind using just their final six outs, Boston got themselves a little redemption in a similar fashion.

Just one game prior to the events that led to OTM's #8 moment of 2009, the Orioles staged a 10-run comeback stunning the visiting Red Sox at Camden Yards, leaving closer Jonathan Papelbon still searching that elusive save that would leave him alone atop the franchise's list of career saves leaders.

Watching this game, I remember for a short-period of time almost rooting for the Orioles as they closed the once insurmountable gap, impatient and excited about the opportunity to see Papelbon become the Red Sox's all-time saves leader. After the game, I felt guilty, regretful, and somewhat responsible for what had transpired. Needless to say, the game for which this article is based on was a relief for not only Papelbon and the rest of the Red Sox, but myself as well.

The Red Sox had to enter the game with a little bit of a hangover-effect, and despite having their ace Josh Beckett slated to start, the first inning seemed to be a continuation of the last few innings from the nightmare that occurred the night before. After the Sox left Dustin Pedroia stranded in the top half, lead-off man Brian Roberts did his job by drawing a walk and advancing into scoring position via a theft of second base, ultimately scoring on a Felix Pie RBI-single. 1-0 Orioles after one (sigh, I thought we were playing Baltimore?).

Inning number two was accompanied by more anguish, in both halves of the frame. In the top, the Red Sox were again victimized by a struggling offense and added another zero to the scoreboard. Luke Scott wasted no time in adding to the lead starting off the bottom of the second, blasting the first pitch that he was offered from Josh Beckett over the center field wall to make it 2-0 in favor of Baltimore.

Boston would finally get on the board in the third, albiet adding just one run, only to continue the trend that was evident to this point. 'Anything you can do, we can do better,' seemed to be the home club's motto in the beginning of this particular contest. And that they did scoring two runs in response to Boston's one by way of a Nick Markakis 2-RBI double. 4-1 now, Orioles continuing their domination.

Baltimore would add yet another run in the following inning, making it four straight frames in which Beckett surrendered at least one run, and bringing the two teams to the 5-1 score that would remain until the 9th.

The top of the ninth began with the Orioles' decision to remove Bergesen (8 inngings, 1 run, 6 strikeouts, 0 walks, and only two base-runners advancing past first base) in favor of reliever Jim Johnson. This is where everything started to go wrong, or right depending on where your allegiance lies in relation to these two teams.

Johnson proceded to walk Dustin Pedroia, serve up a 2-1 fastball that Kevin Youkilis sent into the seats, then take a walk to the dugout giving way to George Sherrill. Sherrill started off in a positive way, striking out David Ortizfor the first out, but that's about where his success ended in this outing. Ellsbury singled with one out, Bailey and Varitek both drew walks, and with the bases loaded pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli plated two with a single knotting the score up at 5-5. After walking Drew, Johnson exited much to the appreciation of Orioles fan everywhere, and new pitcher Danny Baez got Pedroia to foul out ending the inning.

After a rather uneventful following inning and a half, the Red Sox offense struck again in the 11th. Ellsbury led off the inning with a double, subsequently moving to third on a Bailey sacrifice fly. In steps defensive wiz and always potent offensive threat Julio Lugo. Sure, maybe a little too much credit awarded in the previous sentence (or a lot depending on how strong your grip on reality is), but during this particular at-bat you wouldn't know it. Lugo shocked the world, mainly the fans who watched him play with the Red Sox on a regular basis, by coming through with what would eventually become the game-winning RBI single.

Lugo's hit in the top half of the inning set the stage for Papelbon's most notable save to this point in his career, number 133, surpassing former Red Sox saves leader Bob Stanley.

Papelbon and the rest of the relievers involved in this game were the biggest reason that Boston was able to come back and get the victory (sorry, Julio). After Beckett turned in a sub-par outing, the first four frames in particular, Red Sox's pitchers retired the game's final 24 hitters to give the offense a chance to complete the epic comeback.

All-in-all, this game was memorable for several reasons. One, Boston completed an impressive come from behind victory, made even more notable by the previous night's events. Also, the 24 straight retired by the Boston pitching staff to end the game was astonishing to watch. But most of all, this game's significance lies with Jonathan Papelbon and his place in the Red Sox's record books.

Poll

What will you remember most regarding OTM's memorable moment #8 from the 2009 season?

Top Moments '09: No. 9 - The Roller Coaster Ride At Fenway

ltrain2 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:18:21 -0000

Mike Lowell celebrating his game winning 3-run home run against the New York Yankees 04/25/09.

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OTM COVERAGE: 0157H7's postgame recap of the Red Sox's memorable moment #9 of 2009
GAME RECAP: 4/25/09: New York Yankees 11 Boston Red Sox 16

What list of this nature would be complete without a good old fashioned Yankees vs. Red Sox matchup? And how can it get any better than a game featuring 27 total runs scored, a six-RBI night from the recently departed Mike Lowell, five lead changes (the last of course being the best), and a battering of newly acquired Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett?

Yes this game had it all, ultimately resulting in what was Boston's ninth straight win at the time -- second straight over the struggling Yankees (Boston would go on to sweep New York in the 3-game set at Fenway).

The Yankees began a night that was initially billed as a pitcher's duel between former Florida Marlins teammates Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett by jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the top half of the 4th inning, thanks in large part to Robinson Cano, who blasted a 2-run home run in the third frame and followed that up with a 2-run double in the fourth (both at the hands of Beckett) to produce the Sox's 6-run deficit.

However, the Sox's bats wouldn't let the Yankees off the hook that easy, something that became the theme of the night when everything was said and done.

Boston's offense awoke from their early game slumber in a big way during their half of the fourth inning. After Pedroia, Youkilis, and Drew filled up the bases, Jason Bay got the scoring started with an RBI single. Varitek wasted no time in continuing the onslaught slugging a grand-slam off of a now visably shaken Burnett.

Beckett settled, albiet temporarily, in the fifth by tossing a scoreless frame (quite the feat on this particular night). Burnett's half of the inning, however, failed to go as smoothly. Jacoby Ellsbury homered to right field to erase the once six run lead even quicker than it was created. With the score knotted at six runs a piece, Bay again came through big, this time knocking a double that plated both David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis. Somehow, after being down 6-0, the Sox found themselves up 8-6 heading into the sixth inning. Believe it or not, it gets even more ridiculous from here.

In possibly the worst way possible, the Yankees managed to tie the game at 8-8 in the top half of the sixth. Once iconic Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon homered scoring Yankees captain Derek Jeter, quickly destroying the small lead that Boston had worked so hard for. Without recording an out in the sixth, Beckett's night was finished. Final line: Ugly.

Boston would again grab hold of the lead in their half of the sixth following a David Ortiz sacrifice fly that scored Nick Green. Heading into the seventh inning: Yankees 8 Red Sox 9.

By this point, you should be able to guess what happens next. If you guessed that there would be yet another lead change, then it's safe to assume that you've been doing a bang-up job paying attention so far. Good work. This time, the Yankees' runs came via a rare error from second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Berroa and Gardner both scored as a result of the play as the Sox handed the lead back to New York, 10-9.

With the star of the previous game Jason Bay standing at the plate in the seventh, the Yankees decided to intentionally walk him and take their chances with Mike Lowell. Not the right move on this night. Lowell proceded to hit a 3-run blast Over The Monster (a little self-promoting there, forgive me) giving the Red Sox a 12-10 lead. A lead that, despite the trend leading up to this point in the game, actually managed to hold up.

Cano made things interesting in the eighth by cutting the lead to one with a solo home run, his second long ball of the game, but that would be all the runs that New York would accrue on this night. Pedroia added and RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, subsequently followed by Mike Lowell's bases-clearing double, bringing us to our final score of 16-11.

Just writing this game summary has given me a splitting headache.

After the game, Bay put it best:

"It was one of the more unbelievable games I've been involved in as far as back and forth," said Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay. "It was a little bit of everything, and the bullpen again held and we got some timely hits."

Interesting facts from the Red Sox's victory over the Yankees

The six run comeback was the largest since 1968, when Boston came back after being down 9-3 to beat New York by a final score of 11-10.
Lowell started the game 0-3 with two strikeouts, stranding five baserunners, only to finish with six RBIs (the most for any Red Sox player against the Yankees since Carlton Fisk circa 1973).
The 27 total runs was tied for the fourth most scored in this rivalry at the time.
The game's two starting pitchers, Beckett and Burnett, both surrendered eight runs. The first time since 1987 that both starters in a Yankee-Red Sox matchup allowed eight or more runs. The two that accomplished the feat prior to this game? Tommy John and Roger Clemens.
Mark Teixeira became the first Yankee to register five walks in a game since Roger Maris did it back in 1962.
A total of twelve pitchers threw a combined 385 pitches, managing to retire the side in order just twice (once for each team).
The 4 hours and 21 minutes that it took to complete this game is tied for the sixth-longest non-extra inning affair in baseball history. The top two on that list belonging to, of course, the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

John Lackey's Signing: The Potential Ripple Effect

ltrain2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:50:42 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Is Adrian Gonzalez, pictured here, the next big name acquisition to be announced by the Boston Red Sox following the recent signing of free agent pitcher John Lackey?

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In what can surely be considered an understatement; the Red Sox's recent off-season activity has the Major League Baseball community buzzing, namely the population that makes up 'Red Sox Nation.'

On Monday, following reports that discussions surrounding re-signing Jason Bay had soured, the Red Sox proceeded to sign the top available starting pitcher via free agency, John Lackey, to a 5-year deal. The arrival of the former Angels' ace in Boston has been dissected in a bevy of ways since news broke earlier today by nearly every media outlet, each offering their own unique opinion on the situation. Some suggest that Lackey represents a reallocation of the funds originally intended for Bay. However, I don't believe that there is enough emphasis being placed on the big picture as a result of the acquisition, and the subsequent sequence of events that may potentially follow.

While some may argue that because Jason Bay is no longer an option, the Red Sox may have simply taken their money and invested in another big ticket free agent instead. If that were the case, wouldn't it have been more intelligent to focus on someone like Matt Holliday or Adrian Beltre to help fill the holes that Boston has both defensively and offensively, rather than acquire a starting pitcher? While there's no denying that the depth in regards to the starting rotation was a point of emphasis for management heading into the off-season, it seems rather narrow-minded to use such a large sum of financial resources to fill that void while continuing to ignore the ones at third base and left field.

Is it possible that Mike Cameron is set to be Jason Bay's replacement, especially given the defensive upgrade he represents, and that they simply used the money that they saved by not going after Matt Holliday on the combination of Cameron and Lackey? Sure, it's not a farfetched theory by any means. However, after much deliberation on the topic, I have come to the conclusion that there may be more to the Red Sox's recent acquisitions than what is evident on the surface.

One piece of information that slipped through the cracks today, which is understandable given the more notable moves made, is that the Red Sox made a two year contract offer reportedly worth $15 million dollars to left-handed Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. Chapman, a 21 year-old starting pitcher with a fastball that consistently touches triple-digits, could offer a bit of foreshadowing into the Red Sox's plan of action in relation to their void at third base.

The $80-85 million dollar contract awarded to Lackey is what originally made me look into the potential reasoning behind extending $15 million to Chapman who, like Lackey, is a starting pitcher. No, Chapman would not likely be added to the MLB-level rotation come opening day, but there are still some flags being raised by Boston's pursuit of the young talent. Why continue attempting to accrue starting pitching depth with a hole still evident at not only the third base position, but in the lineup as well?

Consider this; the addition of Lackey now gives Boston six viable options for their rotation, as it stands now, heading into 2010. With Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buchholz, and Wakefield, a once seemingly questionable rotation has become more than formidable, arguably the best in baseball. Where does extending a $15 million dollar contract to a young, unproven, prospect-type pitcher make sense given the Red Sox's glaring needs elsewhere?

It would not only make sense, but it would actually appear rather brilliant in its creativeness, if the plan of action was to turn around and begin shopping the attractive young talent that is Clay Buchholz. Buchholz, known for his devastating arsenal of off-speed pitches as well as his limitless potential, seemingly finds himself immersed in nearly every trade discussion involving the Red Sox the last few years. So why stop now?

One reason that Theo Epstein has been reluctant to move Buchholz to this point is that it is difficult to find a young starting pitcher with that much potential without having to develop internally, as they did with Clay. This is where Aroldis Chapman becomes relevant to this discussion.

Matt Holliday had been the center of rumors regarding the Red Sox's planned route in the event that Bay could not be retained. However, recent reports (especially coming from Holliday's agent, Scott Boras) suggest that signing Holliday would require a deal exceeding that in which Jason Bay is commanding at the present time. Boras has been rather vocal in his opinion that Holliday is a more valuable asset than Bay to an interested team. Having said that, and assuming that Adrian Beltre is now out of this off-season's budget limit, it's hard to imagine that the Red Sox are left with many options to plug third base via free agency. It's also safe to assume that management is left unsatisfied with Cameron replacing Bay if it means that someone like Casey Kotchman is going to take over the first base duties, with Youkilis moving to third base in this scenario (also making the assumption that moving Varitek back behind the plate full-time, while shifting Youkilis to third and Victor Martinez to first, is not a realistic option).

All of this leads me to believe that the Red Sox next plan of action is to begin gauging interest from teams regarding the aforementioned Clay Buchholz.

With the potential signing of Aroldis Chapman, moving Clay Buchholz could become more justifiable to the Red Sox. Essentially, the Chapman signing may simply be a case of replacing one young pitching prospect with another, allowing Boston to utilize Buchholz's trade-appeal and acquire the corner infield-bat that they so desperately need.

San Diego could potentially be a player in any discussion pertaining to Buchholz. The Red Sox have discussed the availability of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez with the Padres recently, but to no avail, citing Boston's hesitation to move Buchholz as a main reason. Reports, prior to the Lackey signing, made it appear as though no progress was being made on that front. Padres general manager Jed Hoyer reportedly requested a combination of Buchholz and either Casey Kelly (a pitching prospect widely considered untouchable in such discussions) or outfielder Ryan Westmoreland.

One interesting aspect of negotiations is that Jason McLeod, a former Red Sox scouting director, is now employed by Hoyer. It has been said that both have a detailed understanding and admiration of the Boston system.

While the Red Sox still expected to retain Jason Bay, it was understandable for Epstein to be adverse to the idea of unloading Buchholz, especially given his opinion that the rotation (even with Buchholz) lacked depth. Also, because Bay was still an option at that point, the need for an offensive upgrade was slightly less glaring. With Bay and Holliday now out of the mix, and the potential signings of both Lackey and Chapman, the attention has to be redirected back to the original need for offense at one of the corner infield spots left vacant by Mike Lowell's departure (still pending). A platoon of Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida is probably not the caliber of replacement in left field that Boston entered the off-season with in mind, but acquiring someone such as Adrian Gonzalez would have to help alleviate any concerns regarding offensive potency that may still linger.

As I implied earlier, San Diego is very interested in Clay Buchholz, even going as far as insisting his presence in any potential package offered by Boston. If Chapman is signed, Buchholz immediately becomes more expendable, and Gonzalez that much more appealing. Boston's interest in Chapman has been evident for some time, is it possible now that his addition could represent the subtraction of Buchholz? Clay's availability has to increase exponentially in the event that the Red Sox land Chapman.

It is starting to appear as though Theo Epstein has been underestimated in his approach this off-season all along. His lack of activity seems to have directly corresponded with the progress made in re-signing Bay. As soon as the discussions began to break down, Theo started making moves. My feeling is that he has had this plan in his back pocket the whole time he was in talks with Bay and his representatives, and is only now beginning to deploy it.

One fact remains certain, Boston's needs a power-hitter to compliment their lineup following the departure of Jason Bay. With Cameron and Hermida joining J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury, completing a respectable core of outfielders, the most obvious place to fill that void remains at one of the corner infield spots.

It's hard to imagine a better solution than someone like Adrian Gonzalez.

Red Sox Acquire Boof Bonser From Twins

ltrain2 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:36:25 -0000

Boof Bonser - Acquired by the Boston Red Sox (12/10/09)

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The Red Sox began Thursday by acquiring pitcher Boof Bonser from the Minnesota Twins in return for cash and a player to be named later.

According to wbztv.com:

The 28-year-old Bonser was on the way out in Minnesota, designated for assignment earlier this week after pitcher Carl Pavano agreed to go to arbitration with the team.

Not exactly a Halladay-esque acquisition, and it certainly doesn't figure to ignite the baseball world's interest, but a noteworthy trade nonetheless.

Bonser was 18-25 with a 5.12 ERA during his time with the Twins, but missed all of last season due to surgery on his pitching shoulder.

Hopefully this isn't the last news reported on this front today.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Red Sox Edition

ltrain2 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:12:44 -0000

You are Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.

You have recently completed a trade, pending approval from commissioner Bud Selig, that sends veteran third baseman Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers in return for catching prospect Max Ramirez. You now find yourself with yet another void to fill, this time at the "hot corner." Your arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, have just acquired the multi-talented center fielder Curtis Granderson and are linked in discussions for one of the most talented pitchers in all of baseball, Roy Halladay. Fans are growing impatient with every deal made at the winter meetings that doesn't involve you, and opportunities to patch your teams weaknesses are growing slim. What do you do?

Sign Adrian Beltre as Mike Lowell's successor (go to bullet point A)
Package some of your prospects and pry Adrian Gonzalez away from San Diego (go to bullet point B)
Package a few prospects and steal Miguel Cabrera away from Detroit (go to bullet point C)
Sit idly by and hope that everything works out on its own (go to bullet point D)

A. Ah, you have chosen to sign former Seattle Mariner Adrian Beltre. You have replaced one former Gold Glove Award recipient with another at the third base position. Last season, despite being sidelined for approximately six weeks, your new addition put up respectable numbers. The 30 year old still has some seasons left in him, and assuming you signed him to a Scutaro-type contract, you're only going to need him for a brief bridging period. You likely paid a rather high price for the free agent that has been linked to several other suitors, but you got your corner infield spots addressed. Aside from Beltre's suspicious 2004 season (not even going to go there), your new 3B seems like a safe bet to produce Lowell-like offensive numbers and provide a slight upgrade on the defensive side of the ball from the often-injured Lowell. You decided to steer clear of that blockbuster move, but you've made a wise and safe choice nonetheless, Theo.

B. Congratulations! You have just acquired one of the most prominent left-handed bats in all of baseball, Adrian Gonzalez. Your new 27 year old first baseman forces you to move Kevin Youkilis over to third base, but you now have Gold Glovers literally littering your infield. Fielding prowess aside, Gonzalez gives you a powerful left-handed bat that you can build your lineup around for years to come. Coming off of a career year at the plate, your new trade acquisition fills your need for both a corner infielder as well as a power hitter. The guy's defense makes your pitching staff better and his bat positively influences all of those around him in the lineup. You didn't just upgrade your first base position, you made your whole team better. Bold, smart, and you've made a strong statement to your fans and team that 2010 isn't going to be a conservative effort.

C. Great move. You have taken advantage of a few recent occurrences and snagged Miguel Cabrera away from the Detroit Tigers. After the Tigers dumped both Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson, you knew Cabrera was available. Everyone has their price, and after Detroit acquired a slew of highly touted prospects in the deal with New York and Arizona, Cabrera's asking price went down a bit as Detroit became relatively content with their farm system. Sure, you had to take Dontrelle Willis off their hands as part of the deal, but you find joy in taking players and attempting to re-mold them, especially pitchers. In Miguel, you received a player who reminds most of Manny Ramirez in his prime, both on and off the field. However, you decided to take the good with the bad, and ride this guy in the middle of your order for many years. Nobody doubts Cabrera's talent or work ethic, they're both Hall-of-Fame caliber, if you can only avoid any off the field transgressions. Succeed in that, and you have made potentially the biggest splash of the off-season. You're team is again feared, and your fans are more than content. Your job is done here.

D. You have decided to do nothing. 2010 is going to be a bumpy ride, one that will be filled with many unhappy, I told you so fans. You had better hope that 2011 free agent class that you've been day-dreaming about treats you better than the one that preceded it.

Poll

Which adventure did you choose?

Bridge Period: The Rich Man's Rebuilding Stage

ltrain2 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:09:56 -0000

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

16 days ago: Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein faces reporters during a news conference held to introduce newly-signed Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro at Fenway Park, in Boston, Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. After cycling through seven shortstops since the middle of the 2004 season, the Red Sox announced on Friday that they have given Scutaro a two-year deal with a club option for 2012. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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The Boston Red Sox, according to general manager Theo Epstein, find themselves in a "bridge period."

Does this mean that Boston is taking themselves out of the running for any blockbuster type acquisition? Not necessarily. However, don't expect to see someone such as Clay Buchholz suiting up for any other team in 2010 as a result of a major trade.

Per usual, the Red Sox have been linked in discussions surrounding nearly every available big name on the market this off-season. From trade talks involving perennial Cy Young Award candidate Roy Halladay, to the pursuit of re-signing now free agent Jason Bay, it comes as no surprise that Boston is the topic of much speculation in regards to potential moves. Make no mistake about it -- the Red Sox are certainly in the process of testing the waters, even inquiring about former Tigers lead-off man Curtis Granderson prior to the recent blockbuster trade that sent the speedy centerfielder to New York [Yankees]. However, if you're part of the ever-expanding population of 'Red Sox Nation' that is growing increasingly restless awaiting Theo's first big move, recent reports and comments suggest that you lower your expectations.

In an interview session earlier this week, Theo Epstein made this comment regarding Boston's off-season activities:

“We talked about this a lot at the end of the year, that we’re kind of in a bridge period,’’ he said. “We still think that if we push some of the right buttons, we can be competitive at the very highest levels for the next two years. But we don’t want to compromise too much of the future for that competitiveness during the bridge period, but we all don’t want to sacrifice our competitiveness during the bridge just for the future. So we’re just trying to balance both those issues.’’

There it is, the term "bridge period." Translating Theo's remarks shouldn't be too difficult; the Red Sox are looking to improve, but not at the cost of their highly regarded young talent. To a certain extent, the 2010 season is already being viewed as a rebuilding stage for the Boston Red Sox. With a relatively shallow pool of available free agents and an unwillingness to "sell the farm" to complete a blockbuster trade, it's clear where the front office stands in relation to next year's expectations.

This "bridge period" has been likened to that of the seasons that followed the 2004 title. The Red Sox, thanks to a still-strong core of young players, will more than likely still contend for a playoff spot in 2010. However, with the way that this off-season is shaping up, it is hard to imagine Boston being considered a serious World Series threat heading into the season based on off-season activity.

Sacrificing the 2010 season, for lack of better phrasing, may seem like a difficult concept to accept. However, there are several reasons why Theo's lack of "knee-jerk" reactions, as he refers to them, is actually something that should induce excitement rather than anguish. The following two reasons are the most important.

ETA: Not quite yet

The main point of emphasis behind this particular situation is not sacrificing the current crop of young talent that Boston has. Not too long ago the Red Sox seemed to be sprouting impact players from their farm system at an unparalleled rate, and while 2010 doesn't figure to have quite that same effect, it's the years directly following that should create excitement in Boston. Theo & Co. are very proud of what they've managed to accomplish through the past few drafts, and with good reason, as his farm system is now widely regarded as one of the most effective in baseball. At this point in time, however, the majority of Boston's top prospects remain a year or two away from contributing on a regular basis. There is a log-jam of 19-22 year old prospects in the system right now, all of whom figure to be impact players by the time that they ultimately reach Fenway Park. It is in this that makes Epstein hesitant to unload a package of prospects for someone like Roy Halladay.

2010-11 Off-season

The potential free agent list for the 2010-11 off-season is staggering to put it mildly. As it stands, barring any contract restructuring and/or trades, next season's free agent class looks to more than make up for this season's in terms of available big name players. In no particular order, it looks like this- Lance Berkman, Carl Crawford, Roy Halladay, Derek Jeter, Cliff Lee, Joe Mauer, Carlos Pena, Mariano Rivera, Brandon Webb, Jayson Werth. Now obviously it's hard to imagine someone like Derek Jeter not re-signing, but that still leaves a bevy of impact players at Boston's disposal. The most intriguing name in that mix is Joe Mauer, who is widely regarded as one of the best all-around players in the game today, at one of the most difficult and important positions at that. Victor Martinez's contract expires following this coming season, and it's been made more than obvious that the Red Sox plan to make a concerted effort to land the 2009 American League's Most Valuable Player. Following the recent trade of Mike Lowell and the expiring contracts of both David Ortiz and the aforementioned Martinez, the door will be open for the Red Sox to be major players in next year's market -- a market potentially deeper in talent than any seen in the previous decade.

All things considered, Theo has it right here. There's no reason to burn up assets heading into this season in an attempt to appease the fan base given the combination of available talent next season via free agency, and the stockpile of prospects in the system just a short period of time away from contributing on a high level in the MLB. Theo has shown that he is in fact still committed to contending in 2010 by signing Marco Scutaro, actively pursuing Jason Bay, and moving Mike Lowell opening the door for a potential Adrian Beltre signing.

However, Red Sox fans expecting to see someone like Roy Halladay pitching in the top half of an inning at Fenway Park anytime soon, are sure to be disappointed.

Why moving Pedroia to shortstop just makes sense

ltrain2 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:48:39 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

2 months ago: Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick steals second as Boston Red Sox's second baseman Dustin Pedroia looks to the umpire in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the American League division baseball series Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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There has been an enormous amount of speculation surrounding the Red Sox's plans on how to best address the void at the shortstop position in recent days, a void that has been plaguing them since the dramatic downfall of the once iconic Red Sox, Nomar Garciaparra.

Early this off-season, much of the rumors pointed towards the seemingly inevitable signing of free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro to take over the middle infield duties alongside Dustin Pedroia. With such a shallow pool of available shortstops at the moment via free agency, Scutaro, who is coming off a career season with the Blue Jays (.282/.379/.409), has quickly become regarded as the most highly sought after player at his position this off-season. I, myself, am not buying into Scutaro being the answer that the Red Sox are searching for, and apparently I'm not alone in this thinking. Forget the fact that Scutaro, prior to 2009, was a career sub .260 hitter with a fielding percentage of .977 at the shortstop position. The fact of the matter is that the former Blue Jays shortstop, recently turning 34 years of age, had posted mediocre numbers in the seasons prior to last and appears to be yet another beneficiary of a career season entering free agency. Scutaro's 2009 numbers, in comparison to his career totals, look eerily similar to those of Julio Lugo circa 2006 in the same regard. A 2006 season that prompted the Red Sox to sign Lugo to a lucrative deal that benefited only Julio's bank statement.

Assuming that the thought of signing another Lugo-type shortstop caused Boston's front office to collectively shiver in disgust, Theo and Co. seem to be attempting to get creative in the way that they go about attacking this whole shortstop epidemic.

Enter Dustin Pedroia.

Recently, reports have surfaced suggesting that the Red Sox brass has approached the diminutive second baseman with the idea of moving him back to his collegiate position, that being shortstop. Casual baseball observers may not be familiar with the prowess displayed by Pedroia during his time manning shortstop for the Arizona State Sun Devils. After beating out Ian Kinsler for the starting spot at ASU, ultimately forcing the future Rangers' star to transfer to Missouri, Pedroia went on to accrue All-American honors at the position. After being drafted, Pedroia turned in 42 errorless games at shortstop in the minor leagues before being moved to second base to make room for Hanley Ramirez. The former rookie of the year even still takes ground balls at shortstop during the season. Pedroia himself is not only welcome to the position swap, he has actually done a bit of lobbying for the change through the media. Pedroia was quoted as telling ESPN's Peter Gammons:

"They've asked me if I think I could play shortstop, they've put it out there, and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, 'Can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."

Reading that particular quote is interesting to say the least. It seems as though Pedroia begins his verbal thought process restraining his eagerness to attempt the transition. However, by the end of it, Pedroia comes off sort of giddy, almost as though he wanted to end the interview on the spot and force Gammons to accompany him to the nearest baseball diamond for infield practice. The fact remains that Pedroia can accomplish such a transition, and as you just read, he'll be the first to inform you of that.

However, the benefits of a move such as this go beyond simply filling the hole at shortstop. By doing so internally with an already proven commodity (without having to reach into their pockets), this allows the Red Sox to then shift their focus on nabbing one of the available free agent second baseman, a market significantly deeper than that of the its shortstop counterpart. What this does is create more, potentially cheaper, options for the Red Sox.

Rather than being presented with a 34 year-old Marco Scutaro as the most attractive middle infield acquisition option, the Red Sox now have the choice between Orlando Hudson and Placido Polanco. Not to mention reports that the Marlins and Reds have made Dan Uggla and Brandon Phillips, respectively, available to potential suitors. For the sake of comparison, let's single out Brandon Phillips from that bunch (I choose him because to me, he is the most appealing option from the previously mentioned group of second baseman). As stated earlier, Scutaro, six years older than Phillips, experienced a career season in 2009. Phillips on the other hand, had by his standards, just a solid season a year ago. While most of Scutaro's numbers were career highs, Phillips had a season pretty consistent to that of his 2006, 2007, and 2008 campaigns. That being said, here are the statistics:

2009 Season                 BA    OBP    SLG     R        H     2B    3B    HR    RBI    SB    FPCT

Brandon Phillips         .276   .329    .447    78     161    30     5      20      98     25    .988

Marco Scutaro            .282   .379   . 409    100   162    35     1      12      60     14     .984

At first glance, you wouldn't be wrong in pointing out that these are relatively similar numbers. However, aside from having a slight edge in OBP and runs scored, Phillips is the smart play here. Not only has the younger Phillips shown more consistency the past four seasons and offers a significant advantage in the power game, he also represents a threat on the base paths, a characteristic that the Red Sox have come to hold in high regard in recent years.

The question then becomes whether the Red Sox would be better off signing Marco Scutaro or putting together a deal to acquire Brandon Phillips. Both come with their own aspects of negativity. In signing Scutaro, a Type-A free agent, the Red Sox would be forced to surrender compensatory draft selections to Toronto. While on the other hand, assuming that the Reds are shopping Phillips in an effort to cut down on salary commitments, the Red Sox will likely have to surrender a package of prospects to Cincinnatti in order to pry Phillips from the Reds.

In my opinion, the Red Sox's most intelligent move would be to, in fact, shift Pedroia to shortstop and make a move on Brandon Phillips. Phillips, assuming no restructuring would be done to his contract prior to arrival, would be under contract through 2011 commanding around $19 million during that span. If not Phillips, I'd say it's hard to argue against the general idea of at least moving Pedroia over to shortstop in an effort to expand Boston's free agent options, regardless of who they would eventually sign from that group.

If Pedroia is more than willing, and judging by his comments I think it's safe to say that he is, to make the move then I don't see any reason not to explore this option more in depth. Not only does it create more options for Boston via free agency, but it will also finally put a stop to the seemingly neverending search for a reliable and impactful starting shortstop from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. I think I speak for all Red Sox fans when I say that this would be a welcome change from what we've reluctantly grown accustomed to.

Poll

Of the players mentioned in this article, who do you want to see acquired by the Red Sox this off-season?

Marco Scutaro

28 votes

Brandon Phillips

150 votes

Orlando Hudson

57 votes

Dan Uggla

102 votes

Placido Polanco

55 votes

392 votes | Poll has closed

Game Story: Dream Streak Ends At 11...

ltrain2 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:50:15 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

7 months ago: Boston Red Sox pitcher Javier Lopez watches the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians won 9-8 in the ninth inning on an error by Lopez in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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The offense continued its assault on American League pitching, but it wasn't enough on Tuesday night to overcome the defense's blunders as the Red Sox fell to the Indians 9-8. Brad Penny gave up 7 runs in his 2.2 innings of work, however only 4 were earned. Errors by Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo (what was that?!) allowed Cleveland to stay in a game that they had no business being in, which ultimately proved costly in the end.

The offense, which averaged almost 8 runs a game over the course of their 11 game winning streak, again banged out an impressive amount of hits and runs with 8 and 14 respectively. Pedroia had three hits pushing his average up to .309, and Julio Lugo was back in a big way with 2 hits including the clutch go ahead RBI single in the 7th.

What a game for the bullpen yet again. Equally impressive as the offense's numbers over the course of this winning streak has been the pen's contributions. The final line for Jones, Okajima, Saito, Ramirez and Lopez: 6IP, 1ER, 5K. Jones was the most impressive coming in for a struggling Penny and eating up 2 1/3 allowing only 1 hit and striking out a pair of Indians.

With the Sox up 8-7 following Lugo's RBI single in the 7th, Saito entered the game and left a fastball over the plate that Mark DeRosa didn't miss. DeRosa, who has hurt the Sox so far in this series, sent the ball well over the left field wall.

Despite receiving multiple late inning leadoff walks as gifts from Cleveland pitchers, the Red Sox entered the bottom frame in the 9th in an eight all tie. DeRosa (who else?) led off the ninth with his fourth hit of the night and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Francisco. Lopez would get a HUGE strikeout on Grady Sizemore, but that's where the luck would end. Asdrubal Carbera walked to the plate with two outs and hit a ground ball to Youkilis who made a great play, made the flip to first ~~and sent the game into extra innings~~ only to have it dropped by Lopez (who was charged with the error). DeRosa came around scoring the winning run and ending the Sox impressive 11 game winning streak.

Make no mistake, this is not a game that the Red Sox should have lost. Although their offense put up enough runs to win on any other night, they also stranded 11 runners and missed numerous opportunities for big innings, especially late in the game.

No time for crying over spilled milk (or baseballs in Lopez's case). Big Jon Lester on the hill tomorrow against Fausto Carmona, time to start a new streak heading into the big showdown against those pesky Rays.

Know Your Enemy: Cleveland Indians

ltrain2 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:54:36 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

8 months ago: Cleveland Indians Grady Sizemore, right, is congratulated by teammates Ben Francisco, left, Trevor Crowe (26) and Kelly Shoppach after hitting a grand slam against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning of the Yankees home-opening baseball game on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Yankee Stadium in New York. It was the first regular season game at the new stadium. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Heading into the series against Boston the Tribe are 7-12, good enough for dead last in the division, albeit they are only 3.5 games back. Cleveland finished last season right at the .500 mark and right in the middle of the AL Central. After trading away C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers mid-season, the Indians failed to ride the left arm of eventual Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee into the post-season. Despite another solid season from stud outfielder Grady Sizemore (33 HR/90 RBI/38 SB), the offense struggled overall. Aside from Lee, no other Indians hurler managed double digit wins.

C.C. is gone leaving the Indians with a lot of questions regarding their starting rotation. Cliff Lee was great last year, but is off to a rough start thus far in 2009. Pitching is what is hurting this team right now, and that's not good news for Cleveland given how hot the Sox's bats are. One pitcher that is not hurting this Indians club so far is Aaron Laffey. Laffey, through 3 starts, is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA. If he can control his walks (10 in less than 19 IP), he could be a solid contributor to this staff in 2009.

From an offensive standpoint the Indians are looking much better than last year's version of the club. Cleveland's 102 runs scored are good for 7th in the MLB (Boston is 4th with 109). How are they doing it? Power is definitley one of the factors as they are 4th in the league with 25 through 19 games (Boston is 5th with 24). Victor Martinez looks to be a force again (.397 with 5 long balls) and of course Grady Sizemore continues to abuse pitchers with his combination of speed and power. Sizemore has 6 HR and 18 RBI already to go along with 3 base thefts.

STRENGTHS

Versatility on offense. This team can hurt you with power as I stated earlier, but they also have that element of speed that keeps them from becoming too one-dimensional or predictable. They are 4th and 12th in the MLB in home runs and stolen bases through 19 games respectively.

WEAKNESSES

Pitching, pitching and pitching. Only two teams have a worse ERA than Cleveland's 5.98 (one of those two teams is the Yankees...just had to include that). The Indians staff has walked 82 batters to this point, tied with Milwaukee for highest in the league. They've also given up the fourth most HRs in the entire league.

INDIANS' KEYS TO SUCCESS IN 2009

This ball club needs to get better starting pitching. Laffey has been great, but Lee needs to return to his Cy Young Award winning form if they want to have any chance to compete in a division that is relatively deep and even. The bats are fine, but as we've seen time in and time out, pitching wins ball games. A 5.98 ERA is not going to get that done.

HOW THE SOX CAN BEAT THEM

As you can probably predict after reading the above, the Sox just need to abuse the starting pitchers early and take advantage of this struggling staff. The bats are hot in Boston, and that should continue against Cleveland. There's no reason to think otherwise. Cleveland will feature a rotation of Lee, Reyes and Carmona. Lee is 2-4 with a 5.13 ERA against Boston in his career and he was touched for 5 runs in 7 innings in his start last year against the Sox. Carmona has faired equally poorly against the Red Sox in his career going 1-4 with 2 blown saves during his time out of the 'pen. Reyes has yet to face Boston. If Boston can cool off Martinez and keep Sizemore off the base paths there's no reason to expect this 11 game winning streak to be halted any time soon.

Poll

How will the series against Cleveland effect the current winning streak?

It will come to an end tonight.

6 votes

It will stop after a 12th consectutive win.

7 votes

It will stop after a 13th consectutive win.

3 votes

Here comes another sweep...

27 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed