Josh Beckett, Red Sox Expected To Meet About Contract
by Randy Booth on Nov 3, 2009 7:53 PM EST
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PrintJosh Beckett, his agent and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein are expected to talk contract with Beckett within the next couple of weeks:
Josh Beckett, who was in Boston to be honored for his commitment to Children’s Hospital, told WEEI.com that he and his agent, Michael Moye, are planning to meet with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein in the coming weeks to discuss the . pitcher’s future with the team.
"We’re just letting things die down a little bit," Beckett said. Beckett is entering the last year of his contract with the Red Sox after having his option for the 2010 season vest thanks to making 28 starts in ‘09
This is sort of surprising to me considering Beckett already has his money for 2010 and it seems too early to talk about 2011. Theo has more important things to worry about -- like a left fielder. Or a shortstop. Or just making that offense thump a little bit more. Beckett can't wait a little bit.
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It's going to be a tough pill to swallow
But I see Theo letting Beckett walk after this year. I just don’t envision Theo giving Beckett $17-18 mil a year over 6 years for his age 31-36 seasons.
by Gnick on Nov 3, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions
he is not worth a 4-5 year contract.
Pitch him till his arm falls off next summer and then say goodbye. If we for some reason are not in contention @ the deadline deal him.
VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010
They'll Work Something Out.
Seeing as how Wake will more likely than not be gone and Matsuzaka and Buchholz remain works in progress. So that would leave Lester, Buchholz/Matsuzaka, _, _, and let’s not get into speculating what the bullpen will look like after next year. With the numbers Josh has put up, get him wrapped up sooner than later. Closer he gets to FA, the higher the price.
by Christopher B on Nov 4, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
We're keeping Wake.
He’s one of the best deals in baseball, period.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
Evan Longoria says hello.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
"One of."
That’s not even a deal, it’s a f’n train robbery.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
Agreed. I Should Have Clarified...
… that I was thinking 2011-12. At this point, isn’t he just trying to claim a few club records?
by Christopher B on Nov 4, 2009 2:50 AM EST up reply actions
Beckett should be done in Boston.
He’s gonna want ace money when he’s not pitching like an ace. Money that could better be spent on, say, a good catching FA in 2011.
But money is coming off the books.
Ortiz, Lugo, Varitek and Lowell will clear almost $40M. Drew will be coming off a year later. But I think you are right that he will demand ace money, now or after next season. So let’s see what he does next year and then decide.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
Link in Filter on the subject.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
I like Josh Beckett, I do
And a lot of that has to do with us sharing the same first name (which is probably why I’d love to see us get Josh Johnson, but that’s another matter entirely).
If he wants to take a below-market deal again like his last extension (although not obviously for so little money, a bump up would be in order, but still keeping it below market) then for sure I’d bring him back. His problem has always been consistency.
But if he saw Burnett’s contract last offseason and the contract Lackey will probably get as starting points for his next contract, I’m afraid I’d have to let him walk or, lord help me for saying this, see if you can’t flip him for a package that would help form the core of a King Felix deal. Yes, the net gain next year wouldn’t be entirely huge, but it would pay dividends down the road. Okay, that’s my crazy rosterbation thought of the day.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Nov 4, 2009 1:51 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
That last line deserved a Rec.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
Is It Wrong...
… that every so often I enjoy watching Josh get so worked up he’s on the verge of having kittens?
There’s a percievable difference. Tito gets aggravated. Lester vents. Paps did dropkick a cooler in a blown ‘08 save. Then, there’s the official BoSox NRA liason.
Keep Him
We need to make sure we work out a deal. No matter what anyone says he is the Ace of the team. When he pitches like he can he is unhittable. Lester will be the Ace in the future but right now its Beckett
Because he'd be pandering to the bigger ego.
Who started game 1 of the ALDS? Who’s got the better numbers? Who’s better?
Lester is the ace. Making contract decisions based off of arbitrary definitions gets a team in trouble fast.
by Ben Buchanan on Nov 4, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
I agree, but that could change next year due to player performance
Lester and Beckett are both elite starters. Let’s not get hung up on who is the “ace.” If Beckett doesn’t want crazy money, the Sox would be crazy not to re-sign him.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 4, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
Yea i payed attention. Lester had more rest, and Beckett had been struggling near the end of the season. Lester had two days more rest and was more consistent at the end of the season. Is it really a bad thing that we are arguing the ace anyways. Sign Beckett back and we can have 2 elite pitchers
Beckett isn't elite.
He’s “very good”
Lester’s numbers are better than Beckett’s right now. Beckett has fallen off since ‘07 and is clearly more of a #2 than a #1 at this point. I’m not saying we can do better, I’m just saying that with all the ridiculous pitcher contracts being signed of late, I don’t think we’re going to get good value. I think he’s gonna be looking for 5/85 or something.
by Ben Buchanan on Nov 4, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Beckett is only one of three pitchers to have a WAR of 5.0 or better in each of the past three years
Sabathia and Halladay are the other two pitchers. Sure, Lester was better this year—and he’s younger. But Beckett was better in 2008, and he has been pretty consistent the past three seasons.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 4, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Lester was better last year too, actually.
But he’s not been a top-10 guy since 2007, and quite frankly seems to be hitting his decline early. His K/BB is down, his HR/9 is up, and he’s giving up a ton of line drives. Not ace stuff from a guy who’s gonna want ace money.
No, Beckett was better in 2008
Beckett – 3.24 FIP 8.88 K/9 1.76 BB/9
Lester – 3.64 FIP 6.50 K/9 2.82 BB/9
Beckett’s stats this year were very similar to Lester’s stats last year, although Beckett had a better K-rate and BB-rate: 3.63 FIP 8.43 K/9 2.33 BB/9. Lester had a great 2009, but his numbers really were only slightly better than Beckett’s last year: 3.15 FIP 9.96 K/9 2.83 BB/9. Lester struckout more batters and walked more batters.
I’m not sure about Beckett’s “decline.” I do agree, however, that re-signing him—like every Sox personnel move—depends on the money and years.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 4, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
The only pitcher over 31 I'd give multiple years to is Roy Halladay.
VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010
there is something to be said for a veteran
as long as they don’t keep him longer than he is useful- I’d probably be skeptical of more than say 3 years with an option for a 4th.
I’ve heard both Lester and Buchholz say that having him there is both a huge inspiration for them and they’ve been able to learn a lot from him.
Plus, he’s a seriously kickass pitcher. Maybe if he stops pitching well we could DH him? he looked pretty good at bat earlier this year :D
Which is when we'll be signing him for.
He’ll be about a month away from 31 at the beginning of the first season of his next contract.
by Ben Buchanan on Nov 4, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
If he'd be willing to sign a 3 year/$14m per year deal I'd definitely do that
Maybe even with a 4th year team option to entice him. He’s worth that, even in his 31-33 years I’m guessing. There are times where he pitches like a true ace alongside Lester, but others where he just seems fatigued and unable to get hitters out. If he’d sign a deal as a good #2, I’d do it and I think Theo would too. If he wants a Burnett/Lackey deal, then no, you let him walk and take the picks or work something else out.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Nov 4, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
No way he signs for 3yr/42mil. I’m thinking closer to 5/90 is what he’ll be looking for. I’d be alright with 4yr/70mil and maybe a mutual option for a fifth year at $18 million or so.
by Gnick on Nov 4, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
I can't see Beckett taking less than Burnett.
Burnett got five years, $82.5 million last year, at age 32. Probably not a great deal on the back end, but that’s the “market” rate. If we don’t give it to him, someone else will.
I’d probably do 5/90. He’s a workhorse, never really had arm or shoulder issues, and has the potential to win 90 games over five years. (ya, ya, wins don’t matter, except in the standings)
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Agreed about Beckett.
And pitcher wins don’t actually matter in the standings. Team wins are the most important stat in the game, but pitcher wins do little to show how a pitcher contributed to those team wins.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
Exactly.
I’m not about to predict his 2013 FIP, but estimating he could win @ 18 wins means I think he would still be a valuable contributor to our team.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
That would be an insane pace, even for Beckett.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
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