Recapping The Red Sox: Varitek, Beltre, Papelbon, Non-Tenders, Oh My!
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2010 12:52 AM EST
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PrintWith the most recent news that the Red Sox non-tendered both of their recent bullpen acquisitions in Taylor Buchholz and Andrew Miller (wait, what?), it seemed like the last 24 hours were as deserving as any other of a recap post.
The whole sequence starts as it just ended, with non-tender news...
As the date changed last night, it came out that the Red Sox would not be offering Hideki Okajima a contract, likely ending the reliever's tenure in Boston. No surprise there, since the former set-up man had lost most of his effectiveness last year, getting knocked around the park with regularity.
From there, things were mostly quiet until, suddenly, the Sox re-signed catcher Jason Varitek. While the deal falls on the right side of sentimentality, it raises a number of questions as to whether or not the Sox will have a real answer behind the plate next year, or if they'll be forced to roll the dice with Saltalamacchia.
The next player to steal the spotlight was Adrian Beltre, who was the subject of a sudden flurry of contract rumors with the Athletics. The big offer that had previously been debunked was back on the table (if not, perhaps, with the exact same figures), and Beltre was supposedly within hours of signing. Not long after this information came out, word that Beltre had named Boston as his preferred landing spot emerged. If there's any case where more news does not make for more clarity, it's Adrian Beltre.
The one bullpen winner of the night turned out to be Jonathan Papelbon. While his spot on the team is still not absolute, the idea that the Sox might non-tender the under-performing closer was shot down, and the next round of Papelbon arbitration angst began in semi-earnest.
Aside from the small news of Brandon Duckworth's signing, all that was left was the completely baffling decision to non-tender Taylor Buchholz and Andrew Miller (per Scott Lauber). Having acquired both players relatively recently, the Sox' decision to just as quickly kick them to the curb made little sense. I had especially liked the idea of Taylor Buchholz getting a chance to return to form in Boston. While it's too early to say for sure what's going on, I think SoxProspects' Chris Hatfield put it best when he tweeted "Until another shoe drops, poor job by Sox."
So where does that leave us now? For a lot of news, there's not a lot of good to be had. The Sox can consider at least 12 million more of their dollars accounted for in the budget, with only a bigger question at catcher and inconsistent, declining closer to show for it. Meanwhile, two of their potentially cost-effective options in the bullpen seem to have flown the coop. While they made the right decision with regards to Okajima, batting .200 isn't even acceptable on the field, much less in the front office.
Things are starting to heat up, and so far, the Red Sox have failed to really inspire any confidence in their offseason wheelings and dealings. While that other shoe could drop at any time now, and make everything from the non-tenders to the Varitek signing make sense, for now, we're left scratching our collective heads.
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I'm almost speechless
The Buchholz, Miller decisions have completely blown my mind….. I hope I see something inspiring within the coming week because I’m totally lost with management at this point……
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
Agreed on the Miller and Buchholz non-tendering.
Disagree completely on the losing faith in the management part. That is nuts. Almost as nuts as the Sox letting these two go loose after nothing.
I didn't say "lost faith"
But I definately no longer plan on trying to understand all their moves. Just when you think you know Epstein’s next move he hits one to deep left……….
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
I agree with this!
Very Very poor offseason so far. Mr Epstein, I’m not impressed by your perfomance!
by German Red Sox Fan on Dec 3, 2010 3:53 AM EST reply actions
you missed the 2 words: SO FAR?
signing Varitek for 2M on the same day Martin gets non tendered is simply stupid
by German Red Sox Fan on Dec 3, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
you missed 2 things
Signing Varitek does 2 things. A it Keeps the capt of the team around another year to be a coach – player in his finally year. It also MEANS that Varitek will end his career as a Red Sox.
It’s the same situation with the Yankees with Deter and Rivera. We know that is no one in hell the Yankees will or can let either of them leave via free agency. Both will retire wearing pinstripes.
Lastly, Who says they still won’t go after Martin?
True
But who says they won’t go after Martin and assign him to the minor leagues until healthy enough?
that would be cool
but there are reportedly 5 teams pursuing him. I’m pretty sure at least one would give him a major league contract. Probably any of them would
Martin appears to be let go
because he look like he has a very serious injury, possibly career ending. He had a pretty serious injury to his hip socket, whether it is a hairline fracture or torn labrum. I would be really hesitant in signing Martin without a thorough medical exam by the Sox Medical Staff, and a third party to look at Martin’s medical records for a second opinion.
What the F&%$ is going on?!
That’s my initial reaction. Non-tendering Miller and Buchholz is baffling considering they haven’t thrown a pitch in uniform yet, maybe we worked them out already and they just didn’t show enough, I don’t know. Maybe in the last week Theo realized where he was going to pour his money, into the bullpen, considering the vast amount of arms available. I have no idea but these moves meant something.
But the thing is, it’s still early in the offseason and really Victor is the ONLY free agent of consequence to the Sox to have signed anywhere. Werth, Crawford, Lee, RPs A-Z, Upton, Adrian Gonzalez, Beltre, potentially available catchers, third basemen or outfielders, all still there. Theo hasn’t really started yet, and he WILL start because by my count we’re missing either a 3B or a utility infielder, a probably 4th OFer (or starter) and half a bullpen, one way or another those holes WILL be filled and we have plenty of ammunition, prospects or cash, to get it done.
Hold tight, the ride hasn’t even started yet.
"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 Dec 3, 2010 6:16 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
It looks to me like they're clearing room on the 40-man roster.
Someone’s coming soon.
Crawford? Werth? Upton? A-Gonz? Martin?
Pick Two.
Upton and...
SOTO!
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.
But then why go with these guys? Why add Tek?
Why are Matt Fox, Brent Dlugach, and Jordan Parraz still on ahead of Taylor “I could be your f’ing setup man” Buchholz?
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Buchholz confuses the hell out of me
Miller, I remember Theo was saying that him and Curt Young were going to be talking and working together through the offseason. Perhaps that didn’t go well.
FA Signings
Since a trade for Upton or AGon would require at least 1 MLB player, not just prospects, that does not seem to be the motive.
But FAs.
After the Rule 5 draft they can rearrange the roster some more. But right now they need to protect their top prospects.
simul justus et peccator
yeah but his point was
we have guys on the 40 man roster with a lot less potential than either of those guys who could easily have been dropped instead. Unless they intend to drop those guys and sign about 10 free agents.
Sox making room on the payroll
in order to make a big purchase.
something is in the works
this wasn’t a screw up.
baseball is anticipation
(thx dsharp for the piggyback)
They already had tons of room on the payroll without dropping these minimum contracts.
Unless payroll is dropping drastically.
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or if there is going to be a lot of purchases
they aren’t publicly mentioning anything about a decrease in payroll.
i doubt that is a concern – but you never know
but you are right suggesting how much is gained with these drops.
i like to think theo is loading up.
missing the post season gets folks motivated
ben - assuming we sign beltre and one of crawdaddy/werth ($32m 2011?)
where does that put the 2011 payroll (approximately of course)?
If you subtract Okajima, Miller, and Buchholz (~$4.75m)
And add ’Tek’s $2m and $32m for Beltre and an OF.
You’d be fast approaching $170m, maybe around there, depending on how some guys do for arb.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 3, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
right now, they're at about 115
after signing tek and picking up atchisons option.
so let’s say $15 million in arbitration between ells and pap (that’s very generous)= 130
Plus $32 million= $162
The could spend about $11-12 million on the pen and be right about where they were last year after doing those.
Looks like they are clearing some room on the roster
Possibly with an eye on some signings close at hand. I absolutely believe re-signing Varitek means they will not pursue an alternative to Salty behind the plate. Jarrod admires Tek a ton and Tek is the perfect guy to get Salty’s catching up to the ML level. I think they are feeling there is little chance that Martin, Innetta or another attractive option becomes available.
The non-tenders do make me wonder if Boston is going a different direction with their bullpen building though. I had thought they were trying to assemble a collection of up-side plays and seeing who could actually deliver. If they are walking away from those guys, where are the arms coming from. Maybe it is a trade that is in the works not just signings.
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Theo loves to play
throw-the-relievers-into-spring-training-and-see-what-cheapies-can-make-it-through. However, everyone knows just how bad the pen was last year and I think he’s pretty much in a corner where he needs to fill a spot or two with a pretty big name (for a reliever)
I can't imagine that Taylor Buchholz and Andrew Miller would have cost much...
Since they were non-tendered, that means the Sox can’t sign them till March or so, right? If not, perhaps they non-tendered Miller with the idea they’ll sign him to a minor league contract since he was out of options….
No I'm pretty sure non-tendered they can still be signed whenever
Unless that’s a rule I don’t know/have forgotten about.
I know Hisanori Takahashi was released by the Mets
and I looked it up, they couldn’t resign him till May 15th. But I don’t know how being released compares to being non-tendered.
yeah outright release is different than a non-tender
Japanese pitchers get that built into their contracts so that they can hit free agency, but non-tendering doesn’t have the same rules apply.
The thought on Miller could make a lot of sense
Bring him over, get him to know the coaching staff, explain to him that we think he has a lot of potential and can have success, but we want to be able to redevelop him in our system for a bit first, then offer him a contract making about what he would make anyways. It could make some sense.
Well in the grand scheme of things
You can (and most GMs routinely do) construct a bullpen basically from scratch, so it’s not a huge loss. I do think they’re planning something. It’s not like the Sox are the Marlins…Varitek is signed to 2MM dollar deal, who cares? They can still get Martin or make a trade and stick Salty on the farm or waive him or whatever, it’s not like he’s earned a shot.
I think these are little moves that are being blown out of proportion because basically all the info we fans have is past stats and conjecture while the front office, at least a proven front office like Boston’s, undoubtedly considers all that and more. So it makes for conversation fodder, but I think it’s premature to assume Theo is losing his mind.
I don't believe for a second that Theo is losing his mind.
But I do believe I may lose mine, trying to figure out where he’s going with things this off-season!
I have to believe Theo is doing all this with some sort of Master Plan™ in mind. His record is not perfect, but overall he’s been a pretty competent GM based on the results. And obviously, in his business sometimes it is best to keep the details of that plan mum. So I don’t expect him to call up Ben and tell him to relay a detailed explanation of all the moves so that it can be shared with all of us starving hotstove fanatics on OverTheMonster.
We’ll figure it all out at some point, but as of this moment? Man, I am totally freaking lost in the dark!
I'm so confused right now too
I haven’t had much time to read the news recently so I just scroll through the headlines on here, but I was happy to see Varitek resigned and surprised that we non-tendered Okajima.
Theo is setting up an interesting week for Baseball Winter Meetings, so maybe he has a plan (even though you never know with him). I feel like every off season with Theo becomes more and more confusing. Not saying that Dan Duquette didn’t make his fair share of interesting moves (but I was also too young to understand) My baseball memory begins around 1997/when Clemens was dealt to the Jays.
maybe at the time of the miller & buch acquisitions
theo was unclear about papelbomb’s future in boston.
paps future was decided only a couple of hours prior to non-tenders.
coincidence? or conspiracy?
I don't think his future was really decided then
Theo seemed pretty clear weeks ago that he was gonna be tendered.
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