Sox Claim Cristian Guzman off of Waivers

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:03 PM EDT Comment 34 comments

It's unsettling how long it took to find a good shot of Guzman fielding. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Don't get too excited yet, folks (assuming you were going to at all), this is far from a done deal, but Nick Cafardo of the Globe is reporting that the Sox have at least started the process of accquiring Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman.

Essentially, for the Red Sox to have any chance at him, the entirety of the NL as well as every team in the AL with a worse record than the Sox would have to pass up on him. Then the Nationals would have to decide whether to trade him or simply release him to the Red Sox, or pull him back if they can't work out a satisfactory deal.

Guzman is a slightly below average fielding SS with a .770 OPS. He barely ever walks, but hits well for average and has some reasonable doubles power. He is signed for $8 million through the end of 2010, making it unlikely that other contending teams like the Rays or Rangers will attempt to block them, lest the Nationals let him walk and stick them with an unexpected bill.

This move comes close on the heels of Jed Lowrie's injury, and given that Guzman is signed through 2010, it seems likely he would be the starter next year as well.

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My only thought on this is that Nick Green is 8-for-his-last-64

Striking out in nearly 30% of his ABs. It would be nice to have someone who’s putting the ball in play, at least, around 85+% of the time, much less one with a BA over .300.

Wish he had the OBP and fielding, too, but you take what you can get if you can get it, ya?

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree…anything would be an improvement and there does not seem to be any better options at the moment. I would think in part it depends how deep the sox coffers are because I would not want it to significantly impact the amount of money we have for signing FAs this coming winter.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Theo and co. can look past one year of payroll.

Our only name next year is Jason Bay. It’s a pretty depleted market overall, and we’ve got a ton coming off the books after 2010 already.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In fact, for 2010:

David Ortiz: 12.5 million
Victor Martinez: 12 million
Jason Varitek: 5/3 million
Josh Beckett: 12 million
Victor Martinez: 7.6 million
Julio Lugo: 9 million

That’s nearly 55 million off the books. We’ll probably want to resign Beckett, and we’ll have to get a catcher (now what catcher could POSSIBLY be on the market that year), but otherwise we’ll have quite a bit of money to play around with depending on how our prospects turn out.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see another Tex like bidding war in 2010 for Mauer with the MFY.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really.

The Sox have no shot at him. Either he stays in Minnesota or New York signs him. In an open bidding war, the Sox will lose every time.

"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 Aug 9, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

Between A-Rod, Sabathia, Burnett, their new LF coming into next year (*Cough*Holiday*Cough*), that’s a ridiculous amount of long-term committed money. Their pocketbooks aren’t entirely endless. And with Jesus Montero coming up through the system, the Yanks will see this as one of the places they’re able to keep costs down.

A-Rod: 30 million
Sabathia: 23 million
Teixeira: 22.5 million
Burnett: 16.5 million

That’s 4 guys eating up nearly half their payroll. They don’t have the young talent in many places to build cheap.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also don’t the Yankees have two highly regarded catching prospects in their system that might be ready by then? That plus their payroll could disuade them from trying too hard.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Aug 9, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Posada is also locked up for 2011 for 13 mil

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hot damn

A catcher already locked up for big money. Even better!

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cano at $11mm

Swisher at $9mm
Marte at $4mm

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will also be interesting to see how the Yanks handle Jeter.

His contract is up in 2010 and I bet he will want to keep playing till he’s at least 40.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really depends entirely on Jeter.

I could see 2/30

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The last 2 years the MFY have committed 3/4 of a BILLION dollars for 5 players

What’s another $150M to those guys?

by dsharp on Aug 9, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree as well.

The Twinkies HAVE TO resign Mauer. He is Minnesota. Their fans will burn their new stadium to the ground if he signs with the Sox or Yankees. That might mean they don’t sign Morneau long term, but I don’t think he’s as beloved as Mauer, so it would be forgivable in the eyes of the fans.
Additionally, despite what every scouting service says, the Yanks still see Montero as a catcher and are determined to leave him there.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Aug 9, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless Mauer wants to stay a Twin....

First Morneau is already locked up till 2013 making 14 mil a year starting next season. If they sign Mauer for the amount of money he is going to want (or should want) one would think that too much of the Twins 60 mil payroll would be dedicated to two players.

Mauer is going to go to a big market team with a long term contract. Hitting catchers of his quality are too rare for him to stay with a team like the Twins.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They do have to.

And he probably wants to. But Morneau hasn’t hidden his frustration with the organization for not improving the team tremendously at the trade deadline each year when they are within grasp of competing and has hinted that some players may have a difficult time agreeing to re-signing knowing they aren’t competing.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Aug 9, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want Mauer

to stay in Minnesota. It would make things less complicated.

Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)

by crabchowdah on Aug 9, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, they drive the price up.

Whoo.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 10, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...after writing that I just took a glace at the 2010 FAs and there is really not that much.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2001/05/2010-free-agents.html

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's an improvement, but that's not saying much.

Green is an adequate backup, but I don’t trust Lowrie’s hitting as a starter, either. If only Lowrie could stay healthy and show us his pre-’08 injury hitting again…

At $8 Million, Guzman is overpriced, considering that we have to shoulder Lugo’s $9M the rest of this year and next. That’s a lot for a SS position to a starter whose an average fielder and a fairly good, but not very good, hitter.

I’m guessing he’ll hit ahead of Veritek in the order and whoever’s subbing for the injured Bay/Drew/Baldelli (you-pick-it) and Kotchman. He doesn’t get on base enough to lead off, and he strikes out too much to bat second, which are the spots he hits in at Washington.

by dsharp on Aug 9, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is he fast? Can he steal?

That could be a plus because God knows Tito manages this place like we are AL champs in OBP/OPS club.

I don’t like his money though.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Aug 9, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No he can't.

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its sad really

Nick Green looked like a god send for much of the first half (i know you all remember that walk off curved around pesky). He was hitting and fielding well. Now it seems as if he’s crapped out, his average is dropping rapidly and he is getting some untimely errors. That’s a shame because our rotation was great when he was working.

by qthaballa on Aug 9, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whats sad is...

that you guys have been reduced to looking at not only the 2010 FA’s but more interestingly, the Yanks payroll/roster for 2010 as well. I’m not here to bash but this makes me laugh. We’re a week into August & i know you guys have a run left so as a long time Yankee fan im happy, but not stupid enough to believe that this race is over just yet. Still, it warms my heart to see BRS fans giving up so early. And wasn’t this article about claiming Guzman off of waivers?? lol

by PinstripesSince'78 on Aug 9, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, I guess Yankee fans have no ability to multitask.

Tunnelvision much?

by Ben Buchanan on Aug 9, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Explains their lack of a farm system until recently.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Aug 9, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, thats a pretty contrived "insult" dude.

I’m almost certain that fans have no bearing on a farm system, could be wrong though. Plus, outside of Hanley, I don’t see many ex RS prospects from the old regime tearing it up. Both teams are relatively new to relying on the farm.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Aug 9, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Solidly "Meh" about this whole thing

It’s true he’d be an upgrade over Green/Woodward, but wow is that a lot to pay to someone who probably won’t be THAT much of an upgrade. If it was just for this year I’d be all for it, but next year too?

I’m guessing J.J. Hardy would never make it to us through waivers, eh?

by South Coast Ghost on Aug 9, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

...

It’s Cafardo.

Well, I'll appreciate for you to keep my zingers outta your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Aug 9, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

(I’m overly excited because I liked him as a Nat)

Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)

by crabchowdah on Aug 9, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I hope he gets to participate in a pennant race.

Seems like a win-win for both teams. You guys get a contact hitter whose aggressive and plays almost decent defense. We get some salary off of our hands to sign Strasburg. We probably need one of your middling prospects as well, though, to pass it off on the fan base and help our Interim GM keep his job. I’d give you some cash for a prospect, but we’ll see what the Nats do.

by souldrummer on Aug 9, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We could have avoided this SS problem a long time ago...

We shoulda kept Orlando Cabrera. The guy lit a fire under the team when he showed up in ’04. Wish we could find someone to do that. As opposed to the team spontaneously combusting.

by Sophist on Aug 10, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs