Red Sox Considering Rod Barajas As Victor Martinez's Replacement
by Jared Stegall on Nov 25, 2010 8:00 AM EST
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox are reportedly targeting free agent catcher Rod Barajas, as an option to replace Victor Martinez, who earlier today officially signed with the Detroit Tigers.
The Red Sox had been seriously considering signing John Buck in anticipation that Martinez would leave, but he signed with the Marlins very quickly during the GM Meetings in Florida. The Sox have also been targeting fellow free agents Miguel Olivo and Yorvit Torrealba as possibilities behind the plate.
Barajas spent time last season with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers after he was traded there following the July 31st trade deadline. Barajas was able to put up solid power numbers in New York before being traded.
Barajas performed ok when he was shifted to part-time duty with the Dodgers:
Barajas, who turned 35 in September has similar numbers to the likes of Buck, Olivo, and Torrealba and is very high on the Red Sox radar. With Victor Martinez gone to the Tigers, the Red Sox may consider the 35-year old for a platoon partner with fellow catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Barajas has a career OPS just under .700, but he was able to hit 17 total home runs last season and add 47 RBIs. However it should be noted that Barajas' caught stealing percentage fell to 34%, 15 points lower than his 2008 season with the Blue Jays.
He could be a very cheap, offensive power threat, but could be risky choice as a good defensive catcher, which is why they let Victor Martinez walk so easily.
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Read this this morning.
Nearly put my fist through a wall. Salty/Barajas? Maybe they’ll let us bat the pitcher instead.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Frightening, isn't it?
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 25, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
Ugly offensive numbers
I’d rather bring back Tek on a one year deal. Napoli is still my choice, platooning with Ortiz and catching anywhere between 40-100 games depending on how well Salty plays.
I don't like Barajas
He throws well and has power but he swings at absolutely EVERYTHING! He is one of the easiest outs in baseball. Watching him with the Mets last years was bad enough, I don’t think I could stand watching him on the Sox. I am really missing George “rhythm” Kottaras right about now.
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He didn't throw well last year
On both the Mets and Dodgers, Barajas threw out 15% of runners. That’s worse than VMart—and he’s 35-years old.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 25, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
EXACTLY.
Our big plan to replace VMart is to get older and suckier?
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Who's available after the short term deal?
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Carlos Santana?!?!
I don’t know, and Santana had to have major knee surgery..
I have many faults, and one of them is not knowing the good catching prospects.
I am not wild about Barajas as well, but I am all for a defensive replacement, even though I will go crazy when the catcher strikes out on a breaking ball with RISP against the MFYs and Burnett is pitching.
And you won't go crazy
when Barajas is throwing out even less runners than Vic?
I guess my largest complaint is that we look like we are going to have to suffer through a black hole at catcher this year…and I see no reason that we won’t have to suffer through a black hole for the forseeable future.
Remember before we picked up VMart, and we’d all be going batshit because Varitek was swinging at anything at his shoulders or higher?
It’s about to get worse and for longer.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I always been in the theory..
that as long as the Catcher is a very good defender they get a alot leeway with their hitting. The problem is it screws up games when the catcher is a known out with RISP, much like Varitek was in 2008 and 2009.
Second, catchers have to be looked at as short term players, because there is too much stuff from one inning that wreck a catcher for the entire years, like foul balls off their helmets, jammed fingers, broken maple bats, etc. Why I never wanted Mauer because of his contract and duration. If a catcher is a good hitter like Mauer or Martinez, then they should be moved..
As much as Victor Martinez has gotten flack, his bat will be missed. I hope he does well in Detroit, but they need pitching more than they need Victor.
Olivo
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by Marisa Ingemi on Nov 25, 2010 9:53 AM EST via mobile reply actions
One of the few people Olivo is actually preferable to.
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by Ben Buchanan on Nov 25, 2010 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
+1
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 25, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
why dont they just resign tek?
i think he and salty could make a good team, plus the whole mentoring thing…
Martin or Napoli
either is fine with me. All these other guys in conversation not so much, including Tek!
by German Red Sox Fan on Nov 25, 2010 11:39 AM EST reply actions
I lean toward Martin..
However, the Dodgers are not the most rational organization at this moment, and I think negotiating with a lunatic asylum would be easier or equal to the the monkey house known as the Dodger Front Office.
Rather Have 'Tek and Salty
Than Barajas and Salty…well okay I don’t much like either, but you get my point.
If Napoli or Martin can be had in a trade, then I’m all for that.
Otherwise Olivo (shudder) or Torrealba are more preferable than Barajas.
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Soto!
Exposito/Reddick/Doubront/Rizzo for Soto/Fukudome. Use Fukudome as a 4th OF until the deadline where you flip him for a reliever or a “prospect” and use Soto as the catcher of the future.
If I was your math homework I'd be really hard and you'd be doing me on your desk.
I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.
I don't think that is what it would take.
IMO, we’d need to add Kelly to the deal, maybe replacing Doubront, or possibly replace Reddick with Ells or Kalish. If we didn’t want to trade Ells or Kalish, then we could maybe add somebody else. The reason I say this is because Exposito is probably a backup at best, and Reddick has been extremely inconsistent lately. I think Rizzo is one of the better 1B prospects, so that helps. Doubront is a nice piece, but I don’t see him as a top of the rotation starter. The Cubs don’t really have a lot of star power in their system, so that’s what I expect they would want for Soto.
embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
by BoldandBrash on Nov 25, 2010 9:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And I'd be fine with giving that up for Soto.
He’s a young, good-hitting, good-defending catcher.
If I was your math homework I'd be really hard and you'd be doing me on your desk.
I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.
by TheLoneDavid on Nov 25, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
I beginning to think
That Martin will be the best bang for the buck
by brogshan on Nov 25, 2010 8:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I agree.
If he’s non tendered, he could possibly end up being very cheap. If he ends up being terrible, then we didn’t lose much money, and we could then play Salty more to see if he’s better.
embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
by BoldandBrash on Nov 25, 2010 9:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I want no part of Barajas.
I would rather have Salt and Tek. My take on this is that Theo probably want to get a catcher before they’re all gone, and then pursue a catcher like Martin/Soto/Napoli/Iannetta. Getting Barajas and one of those listed would give us a starter and a backup, allowing Salt to start in AAA. This may not be the most economical but it’s still probably cheaper than Vic.
embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
by BoldandBrash on Nov 25, 2010 9:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I would not be thankful
For Rod Barajas
Wait 'til next/this year?
"Laser show. So relax."
by nuthinboutnuthin on Nov 26, 2010 12:03 AM EST via mobile reply actions
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