Roster-Related Stuff

by crabchowdah on Jul 15, 2009 7:13 PM EDT

First off, congrats to the AL for winning Series home-field advantage (again). Of course, I don't particularly like how the All-Star game determines home field, but that's not what this post is about. (Personally, I'd prefer if I could just root for an entertaining game instead of having it really matter who wins, but again, that's not the topic at hand)

Basically, I'm bringing up some points about the Red Sox roster. Here's our active roster as of now (via redsox.com):

Active Roster
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	60 Daniel Bard	R/R	6-4	200	06/25/85
	19 Josh Beckett	R/R	6-5	220	05/15/80
	17 Manny Delcarmen	R/R	6-2	205	02/16/82
	31 Jon Lester	L/L	6-2	190	01/07/84
	63 Justin Masterson	R/R	6-6	250	03/22/85
	37 Hideki Okajima	L/L	6-1	195	12/25/75
	58 Jonathan Papelbon	R/R	6-4	225	11/23/80
	36 Brad Penny	R/R	6-4	230	05/24/78
	56 Ramon Ramirez	R/R	5-11	190	08/31/81
	24 Takashi Saito	L/R	6-2	215	02/14/70
	29 John Smoltz	R/R	6-3	220	05/15/67
	49 Tim Wakefield	R/R	6-2	210	08/02/66
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	16 George Kottaras	L/R	6-0	185	05/10/83
	33 Jason Varitek	S/R	6-2	230	04/11/72
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	50 Aaron Bates	R/R	6-4	230	03/10/84
	22 Nick Green	R/R	6-0	180	09/10/78
	11 Mark Kotsay	L/L	6-0	205	12/02/75
	23 Julio Lugo	R/R	6-1	175	11/16/75
	15 Dustin Pedroia	R/R	5-9	180	08/17/83
	20 Kevin Youkilis	R/R	6-1	220	03/15/79
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	5 Rocco Baldelli	R/R	6-4	200	09/25/81
	44 Jason Bay	R/R	6-2	205	09/20/78
	7 J.D. Drew	L/R	6-1	200	11/20/75
	46 Jacoby Ellsbury	L/L	6-1	185	09/11/83
	Designated Hitters	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	34 David Ortiz	L/L	6-4	230	11/18/75

What's clear is that Aaron Bates will be sent down soon for someone. We also know that Buchholz is most likely going to make a start and that Lowrie and Lowell are coming back soon. So, barring injury, I'm assuming that Buch will just make one start and go back to Pawtucket. I'd been wondering if Beckett and Wakefield not pitching in the all-star game would have an effect on if he starts, but it looks like his start will still happen. (More insight into all of this here).

Another issue is who will make room for Lowrie and Lowell when they come back, which may be this weekend. My guess is that Buchholz will make his start and then be sent down to make room for Lowrie or Lowell (this is my assumption because I don't think all 3 would be on the roster at the same time). Essentially, I'm saying that Bates will be sent down, Buch and maybe one of Low/Low get called up, and then Buch gets sent down for Lowrie or Lowell, depending on how their recoveries are going. So ultimately, Lowell will most likely be in Bates' roster spot and Lowrie will replace a shortstop. According to Rotoworld, Green will probably be sent down unless Boston gets rid of Lugo somehow.

One last thing- I just don't see the Red Sox winding up with Roy Halladay. Despite the Yanks' interest in Halladay, the Red Sox aren't desperate for a starter, so I don't think he would solve any major problems or fill any holes, even if getting him would keep him away from New York.

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DFA Lugo

That is all

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 15, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously.

Maybe Omar or Moore has another episode and claims him. If not, I’d rather pay him to stay away than pay him to cost us wins, like he is now, according to FanGraphs.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 15, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoever stays is going to get a lot of playing time

At least at first, Francona is planning to use a strict alternation plan at SS—so whoever sticks around is going to play a lot. Given how much they’re using Green, it doesn’t seem to make any sense that they’re going to do a Green-for-Lowrie exchange. Particularly if Lowell is hurt, having someone more players who can play 3B will be better than Lugo, who can’t really play any defensive position.

by lone1c on Jul 15, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

This.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 15, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

This what?

"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 Jul 16, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Means "I agree."

Same as +1

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 16, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Good post, chowdah.

The roster was copied and pasted, right? Weird that it kept the formatting.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 15, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not 100% familiar with roster rules so a question:

who will we option to make room for Buch? The only pitchers with options left are Bard, Masterson and Lester? Can we option Lester for one game (while keeping him in the dugout) to make room for Buch, or will we have to option one of the bullpen guys (who we might need)?

Obviously Bates gets sent down for Lowell, but it will be interesting to see if we finally pull the plug on Lugo. I think its time. Can Green even be sent down without being made available to other teams? I think he would have to pass through waivers in order to be demoted. So just DFA Lugo and get it over with already.

"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

by BTLove on Jul 16, 2009 4:40 AM EDT reply actions

Just read up on roster rules.

And I’m pretty sure that both Lester and Green are out of options. So for Friday, we’ll most likely have to be without Masterson (or Aaron Bates if we’d rather have the pitchers) for a game.

And Nick Green cannot be optioned without passing through waivers. The way that works is a team puts the guy on waivers and if another team claims him, the original team can either withdraw the waiver request and keep him on their 25 man roster or let the claiming team take the guy. So we might test waivers with Nick Green, just to see if he’ll get through, but again, I say just get rid of Lugo. He is worthless and below replacement level. I’d rather have someone that can field coming off the bench at this point anyway.

"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

by BTLove on Jul 16, 2009 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions

More likely Bates -> Buchholz -> Lowell.

That way you don’t have to make as many moves affecting your ability to call up players if needed.

by lone1c on Jul 16, 2009 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Yup

And Lugo will likely be gone to make room for Lowrie. Green is more versatile, and has been far better defensively at SS. Furthermore, the Sox will almost definitely lose Green if they try to sneak him through waivers. I can’t imagine anyone taking Lugo and his salary for next year. It’s also obvious that the Sox view Green as the better SS. He has been the starter for most of the season.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 16, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Waivers can be cancelled

However, the cost is that the player has to stay on the roster for the remainder of the year.

I suspect that a trade for Lugo might be engineered such that the Sox pay, oh, about $6-7MM/yr of Lugo’s salary in exchange for a prospect or two.

by lone1c on Jul 16, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

They can DFA Lugo and still work out a trade

As he is likely to clear waivers. They can also come up with a phantom injury to put him on the DL.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 16, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Phantom?

Couldn’t we just break one of his toes or something?

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 16, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Have to make it look like an accident.

Perhaps slip on a banana peel affixed to the clubhouse floor using some chunky peanut butter.

by lone1c on Jul 17, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Mmm... PB and banana sandwich...

What were we talking about?

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That seems unlikely to happen.

All Lugo talks before were salary-dump trades. “I’ll take Dontrelle if you’ll take Lugo.” etc. etc.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 16, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

According to FOXSports

The Sox are “desperately” trying to deal Lugo. I’m shocked.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 16, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

The "money" quote (forgive the pun)

The Red Sox, facing a roster bind as they prepare for the returns of shortstop Jed Lowrie and third baseman Mike Lowell, have informed teams that they are willing to assume virtually all of shortstop Julio Lugo’s remaining salary in a trade, according to a major-league source.

Any suitor will do at this point. Heck, I think at this point Epstein would even consider giving Lugo to the MFY’s as a stadium-warming present just to get him off the roster.

by lone1c on Jul 16, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions