And ... call it: the Red Sox offseason is over
by Randy Booth on Feb 4, 2009 11:27 AM EST
in News
33 comments
"I don't think there's anything left."
"OK. Call it."
"February 4th, 2009."
"It led a good life, but this Red Sox offseason is done."
Yup, so I'm killing the offseason right now. I am saying that the hot stove is closed, shut down and MIA until October 2009. We're done, folks. Nothing else to see here. Just mosey along now, ya' hear?
There's nothing left to do. The last remaining piece of the 2009 World Series puzzle has been inserted (his name is Brad Wilkerson*) and now it's time to wait for pitchers and catchers to report to Fort Myers, Fla. Which, by the way, is next Friday the 13th.
Oh, it is so, so close.
Can anyone really believe it? It seemed like just yesterday Dustin Pedroia was crowned the American League Most Valuable Player. It seemed like 40 minutes ago when the Red Sox came back from seven runs down to defeat the Rays in an elimination game of the ALCS. And now it's all almost back.
Let's reflect on this offseason. Here are the most significant moves, in order:
Nov. 19, 2008: Acquired RHP Ramon Ramirez from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for OF Coco Crisp.
Nov. 28, 2008: Acquired RHP Wes Littleton from the Rangers for a player to be named or cash. He had been designated for assignment on Nov. 20.
Dec. 3, 2008: Signed 2B Dustin Pedroia to six-year extension.
Dec. 4, 2008: Signed RHP Junichi Tazawa to a three-year contract.
Jan. 2, 2009: Signed C Josh Bard to a one-year contract with a club option for 2010.
Jan. 8, 2009: Signed free agent OF Rocco Baldelli, who had been with the Rays, to a one-year contract. Designated RHP Charlie Zink for assignment.
Jan. 9, 2009: Signed RHP Brad Penny to a one-year contract. Sent RHP Charlie Zink outright to Triple-A Pawtucket. He had been designated for assignment on January 8.
Jan. 10, 2009: Signed RHP Takashi Saito to a one-year contract with a club option for 2010.
Jan. 13, 2009: Signed RHP John Smoltz to a one-year contract. Designated RHP David Pauley for assignment.
Jan. 15, 2009: Re-signed OF Mark Kotsay to a one-year contract. Designated RHP David Aardsma for assignment.
Jan. 16, 2009: Signed INF Kevin Youkilis to a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year.
Jan. 31, 2009: Signed C Jason Varitek to a one-year deal with a club/player option for 2010.
Feb. 3, 2009: Signed OF Brad Wilkerson (deal pending).
It's been active, to say the least.
Let's put the offseason in a nutshell:
- Nailed down the right side of the infield for many years to come.
- Signed a bunch of pitching depth.
- Low-risk, high-reward all over the place.
In my opinion, the biggest two moves were signing Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. To me that was much bigger than signing a very over-paid Mark Teixeira. Yes, I couldn't get through this post without saying the MT name. I'd much rather spend (much less) money on two home-grown talents like Pedroia and Youkilis than buy a soon-to-be stale bat like Teix.
Other big signings, but not as big, include John Smoltz, Brad Penny and Takashi Saito. Smoltz and Penny will anchor the bottom end of the rotation while Saito could be an amazing setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. All three signings, for me, are grade A in terms of talent and money involved.
Smaller signings, but still important, were bringing back Mark Kotsay and signing Rocco Baldelli. Kotsay will be a greath 5th outfielder/backup first baseman while Baldelli is already a fan-favorite as the 4th outfielder. Once again, very solid signings to increase the depth on this team.
The jury is still out on a few moves. What role will Josh Bard serve? Will he even make the team? How good will Ramon Ramirez be moving from pergatory to baseball heaven? Brad Wilkerson ... ? Wes Littleton ... ? Both could do something, but most likely won't.
All in all, this was a very good offseason. However, depending on how the low-risk, high-reward deals end up, this could be an amazing offseason. It really could change the way the Red Sox do deals while in the Theo Epstein era. No more big deals for the Sox. All farm system, all the time.
Now it's your turn. What was the best move of the offseason? The worst? The 'ehhhh'? Make sure to grade the offseason in the poll as well.
0 recs |
33 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Everyone thought it was a bad offseason because we couldn’t sign Teixeria. Now we have Saito, Penny, Smoltz and some others added to the pitching squad. We already got three back-up outfielders who could bat for 8th or 9th. It would be hard for opponents to stay focused with Drew, Bay and Lowell in the middle. Don’t forget our kids in the farm system.
by GreenGrizz on Feb 4, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
As we've all been saying,
this team will be awesome if all injury concerns go right. If Lowell and Papi are healthy we won’t need Tex. Theo gave us a bunch of pitching depth so we’re not relying on any young guys, but he also didn’t commit long term to anybody (a la the MFY). He shored up the bullpen, so no question marks there and he took care of the bench. So how about a nice young catcher…
by BTLove on Feb 4, 2009 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Young Catcher
Best-case scenario, all of our pitchers are healthy and effective this season. We would then be overloaded with SP (Becks, Lester, Dice, Penny, Wake, Smoltz, Bucc, JMast, Bowden) while the Texas Rangers may be inept in that area as usual. (Kerry Wood = ace? ha!) Rather than trading away one of our best young pitchers, we could send them an older pitcher and a mid-level prospect for Teagarden/Salty at the deadline. Thats the only way I can see a deal for a new catcher happening between now and next winter.
by Schulz on Feb 4, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Texas has more young SP talent in the minors than
Boston by a long shot. With several having ETA’s of late 2009 or early 2010. Why would Texas want any old SP, when they have plenty of guys that can give them league average innings waiting in the wings.
Texas will get prospects or front end pitching if they make any deal. Anything else would be counter productive to the rebuilding plan they started in 2007. If you think an older pitcher will be the only way a deal gets done, I am sure Texas will find other trading partners for their surplus. It is not like Posada is guaranteed to come back behind the plate, or the Mets won’t need a better starting C, or the Marlins need another cost controlled guy, or …
I would like to see a young catcher brought in, but I highly doubt that Texas is going to drop there demands just to make a trade. They have no reason to.
FYI Kerry Wood is the closer for Cleveland.
by laxtonto on Feb 4, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes and no.
Yes Texas has great pitching coming through the system, and yes, if they’re just rebuilding, there’s no need to trade a prospect for a few months of veteran pitching.
But given the state of the AL West, I wouldn’t be shocked if Texas finds itself competitive this year, especially if they sign Sheets. (what’s up with that, btw?) If the Rangers are 3 games out in late July, would you rule out Salty for a healthy Penny?
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Feb 4, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly what I was thinking
Their offense was very good last year, and there’s no reason to think it won’t be equally dangerous again. Mid-season, they might find themselves one #2 SP away from contention. That’s where a Brad Penny comes in. If healthy, he’s cheap, and effective. I don’t think we could pull of a Penny for Salty deal straight up, but if we sweetened the package a little, it could happen.
by Schulz on Feb 5, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Losing Bradley hurts.
I think they should sign Dunn. He could DH and hit clean-up for the next five years.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Feb 5, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
People get out of sorts about Dunn's Ks
But the guy has a high OBP and OPS, and mashes 40 HR annually. He’s a member of the Three True Outcomes batting club: HR, Walk, or K.
I think the Rangers should sign Dunn to replace Bradley.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 5, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agree, but I think also some people get carried away with “routing for the underrated”. He’s definitely good, but some people rate him too high just because they think others don’t rate him high enough (if that makes sense).
Example, someone suggested we should sign him….no offense to him, but I would take Youk over him or even a healthy Lowell over him, and as far as other teams go, Manny and Abreu are both still available, and both are better in my opinion.
Remember, a walk can only move other runners one base, and a K has no chance of moving a runner (where as a ground out or pop out can). True some people take those facts and value them way too much, but lets not go the other way and pretend that a high OBP is just as good as another player with high BA and high OBP
Funny side note, when you say “..mashes 40 HR annually”, he literally does. He’s hit exactly 40 in all of the past 4 season, how odd is that?
by Realistic on Feb 6, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A few points for consideration
All things considered, including salary, I would take Youk over Adam Dunn as well. Youk plays excellent defense at two positions and is incredibly consistent in each AB.
I think Manny is superior to Dunn as well, but he’ll cost roughly double Dunn’s salary. Is Manny worth two Dunns? You’re paying a high premium for an extra little edge, which makes sense for the top-tier teams, but not for mid- and low-market clubs.
Dunn would be an excellent add for more than 2/3rds of all AL clubs.
PS: a K is also preferable to a GIDP.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 10, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"Texas has more young SP talent in the minors than"
That might be true, but Clay and Lester both project to be better than any guy in the Rangers system.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 4, 2009 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not entirely sure about that.
Neftali is ill. Klaw has him at number 4, behind Weiters, Price and Heyward.
Klaw ranked the Rangers system as #1 overall.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Feb 4, 2009 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Neftali is sick
But I still think Buch and Lester will be better. Ask me again in 10 years.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 5, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
RIP Offseason
you were quiet, you didn’t go for glitz or headlines, you just played within your means and did what you could to make those around you better
you are in a better place now and we are all better having known you
cheers
"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott
by Jeff Clark on Feb 4, 2009 12:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
In the tradition of the University of Wisconsin, I give the offseason an AB. The grade may be revised upward if the Sox win the World Series, Tek learns to make contact better than an aging Rob Deer, or if the MFY’s ratio of salary to wins exceeds 3,000,000:1 (because who wouldn’t love that?).
by RSNexile on Feb 4, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
ONE BIG MISTAKE
I’m ok with the Sox not getting Tex, but they will regret not getting Adam Dunn. With all the injury concerns and age coming into play they are going to lack the power they need to put them over the top. Dunn gives you 35 to 40 homers guaranteed. Lowell and Tek may be loyal, but the last time I checked loyalty doesn’t get you runs!!!
by jdmaddox on Feb 4, 2009 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Depends on Cost...
I’m not in favor of signings for signings’ sake, but I wonder what kind of a contract lands Dunn at this point?
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Feb 4, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Where would we play him?
Those numbers come from a full season starting (mostly) every game. We have no spot to put him at.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 4, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't want to play Dunn anywhere but DH,
and we have a pretty good one of those.
by BTLove on Feb 4, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dunn has terrible defensive skills.
The only place you can play him and not get burned is DH. From what I’ve read elsewhere, he’s a butcher in the OF, and at 1B.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
by 0157H7 on Feb 4, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
One the addition side, we did fair, BUT
on the ejection side, well we did not get rid of 2 big drags, Lugo (Grrrrr, I shudder to think I may have to watch him more)) and yes Tek. However, we did manage to get rid of Crisp and belatedly, Manny , so that should help a lot!
This all comes under the heading of “Must take the bad toys away from the manager so he does not get hurt playing with them.”
by NG on Feb 5, 2009 8:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Oh geez, I forgot one, and the biggest bad toy of all,
Wrenfield, oh make that Wakefield!
by NG on Feb 5, 2009 8:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty Good
The BoSox are taking chances, but that’s okay because they already have a solid core of players. Smoltz, Penny, Wilkerson, Saito…all risks, but with possible high rewards.
According to these anagrams Dice-K is a Stud and An American Kamikazi: http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/02/man-games-roar-more-anagrams.html
We Should Be GM's @ http://pabaseball.blogspot.com
More Hardball @ http://morehardball.blogspot.com
by GMCarson on Feb 5, 2009 8:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well, yes, yes he is.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on Feb 5, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oops
I apologize for my oversight.
We Should Be GM's @ http://pabaseball.blogspot.com
More Hardball @ http://morehardball.blogspot.com
by GMCarson on Feb 5, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, no problem
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on Feb 5, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
papi's wrist
baseball is about health every year. going into season’s with injury questions is always bad news.
if we stay healthy or get the right help at the right time, no reason to think we won’t be rocking in october again.
http://www.backtobeantown.com
by beantown33 on Feb 5, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
average.
I rate it average. Yes, the depth is nice. However, as pointed out above, we still have a carcass for a catcher, we are still carrying Lugo and I would’ve liked another young starter. Regular posters here know I am ensconsed in the never enough pitching camp, but I would’ve preferred guys younger than me(I’m married and have 5 kids so that should be a good indication)
I like Dunn and think he should be signed. I am not sold yet on Lowells fitness coming back and Papi is a mystery right now. Drew may also have down time again. Either way, you’d find 400 PA’s for Dunn somewhere and the .500 Slg and .380 OBP he brings would be most welcome.
by sydneysox on Feb 6, 2009 12:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
There weren't any young pitchers available
And the Sox have young pitching in their system. Besides, Lester, Beckett, and Dice-K are under 30. The Dunn issue has been talked to death. Adding a bad defensive LF/1B/DH makes no sense, especially since the Sox have Bay in LF, Youk at 1B, and Papi at DH. You aren’t going to bench those guys to work Dunn into the line-up. Dunn wants to start. He isn’t going to sign with the Sox to be insurance against injuries to three core players. Also Dunn isn’t JD Drew insurance, as he cannot possibly play RF in Fenway.
It would have been nice to upgrade at catcher. However, acquiring a young guy like Salty or Montero might not have been an improvement in the short-term. Texas is asking too much for Salty if they want Buchholz. Lugo, at $9 million, is an expensive bench player. But, I’d bet he’s better than most of the utility IF in the AL.
It’s a long season. If Lowell or Papi struggle (or if there’s an unforeseen injury to another player), I’m sure Theo will acquire someone. There are always impending FA/salary dump players available in June or July.
Theo did what he could. Sure, he didn’t get Teix. But he shored up the rotation, the pen, and the bench. The Sox have depth. All teams have questions going into the season. I don’t think Boston has any more than New York (in fact, I’d say they have fewer). Theo didn’t do anything spectacular this off-season, aside from slight upgrades. I’d give his efforts a B. Not every off-season can be like 2002/2003, where the Sox got Papi, Mueller, Millar, etc., or 2003/2004 (Schilling).
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Feb 6, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
