The Boston Redsox Thread

[thehatfield]

Okay, thanks. So he gets at least $1.5 million no matter what, and if he takes his option he'll technically be making $3.75 million but netting $5.25 million for next year, right?

Hypothetically speaking, if the Sox said yes to the $7.5 million is Foulke then bound to the club and his part of the "mutual" option is void? In other words, he wouldn't be able to opt-out for $3.75 million could he?

[thehatfield]

Foulke's gone free agent:

November 10, 2006
Foulke to go free
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff
Keith Foulke has decided to test the free-agent market, turning down an option to stay with the Sox for $3.75 million.

The Sox had declined their team option on Foulke earlier this week, which guaranteed the closer a $1.5 million buyout. He could have an additional $3.75 if he had opted to stay in Boston.

Instead, he will go on the free agent market.

"I know a lot of guys who say it isn't about the money but Keith just backs that up,'' his agent Dan Horwits said. "He wants to pitch closer to home and hopefully he will have that chance."

Foulke, 34, makes his off-season home in Arizona.

Foulke had 32 saves in 2004 when the Sox won the World Series but his numbers fell off in the last two season as he was bothered by a knee and elbow injuries.

Any thoughts on winning the Daisuke Matsuzaka auction, as reported by ESPN?

[Joshv02]

Press conference re Matsuzaka tonight (from the Seibu side). I'm not gunna write anything until that happens

[mh2365]

Hopefully (this is wishing for a lot)

1) rumors are true and the Sox won the bidding

2) he and the gyroball are as good as advertised

3) his arm isn't worn from pitching so much

[thehatfield]

Alex Cora staying in Boston for 2 years:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...2006&fext=.jsp

[Papi 54]

Gonzo signed with the Reds for three years, which means the Red Sox will be looking for a new shortstop next year. Julio Lugo seems the most likely option, but I have also heard rumors that the Red Sox have been in contact with Texas regarding a Manny-for-Young swap. I think a three-way trade would make the most sense. Maybe Manny and some middle-tier prospects to the Angels for Santana and Otsuka. Then flip Santana and Otsuka to the Rangers for Young. I actually would rather have Teixiera, move Youkilis to third, and trade Lowell for pitching. That's less likely though.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Manny trade for Santana and Figgins. Spin Santana and Wily Mo Pena to the Astros for Berkman and Lidge.

Coco Crisp, CF
Julio Lugo, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Lance Berkman, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Chone Figgins, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mark Loretta, 2B

Ken Huckaby, C
Alex Cora, IF
Eric Hinske, 1B/OF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Carlos Pena, 1B

Curt Schilling
D-Mat
Josh Beckett
Jonathan Papelbon
Tim Wakefield

Brad Lidge
Mike Timlin
Kason Gabbard
Manny Delcarmen
Abe Alvarez
Craig Hansen

[mlyons]

Isn't Loretta gone?

[mh2365]

Hey Papi 54 .. where is Lester in your roster? Is he not playing this year because of the Lymphnoma?

[Joshv02]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Isn't Loretta gone?

THAT's the most unrealistic point??

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by Joshv02

THAT's the most unrealistic point??

Well, that and having two players in left field simultaneously.

[QuestGAV]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Well, that and having two players in left field simultaneously.

It makes more sense if they move to P. Rico.

[thehatfield]

The globe is reporting Alex Gonzalez to the Reds - $14-15 million over 3 years.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...e_for_catcher/

[Lastplaneout]

SI is reporting that the Sox and Drew are getting close to a deal that will easily eclipse the one he walked away from in LA.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...rew/index.html

Personally, I don't like it. Unless the Sox are into buyer's remorse, this just isn't the offseason to be gambling on an outfielder with lots of health question marks. In fact, re-signing Trot is sounding more and more tempting all the time- he could turn out to be a bargain and the Sox wouldn't lose a first-round draft pick.

[Splitter24]

Originally Posted by Lastplaneout

SI is reporting that the Sox and Drew are getting close to a deal that will easily eclipse the one he walked away from in LA.

Personally, I don't like it. Unless the Sox are into buyer's remorse, this just isn't the offseason to be gambling on an outfielder with lots of health question marks. In fact, re-signing Trot is sounding more and more tempting all the time- he could turn out to be a bargain and the Sox wouldn't lose a first-round draft pick.

Not to sound rude, but Trot Nixon has averaged 95 games over the last three seasons. And his RC/27 over the last four seasons are in an alarming state of decline:

2003: 8.66

2004: 7.32

2005: 5.66

2006: 5.02

2007: You don't want to find out

I love Trot. but he turns 33 in April and isn't the type of player who has the broad-based skill set that lends itself to aging well. Heck, he's barely half the player over the last two seasons that he was in 2003. If he opens the season as Boston's starting RF, then I'd be pretty worried about the Red Sox front office.

[Lastplaneout]

Originally Posted by Splitter24

Not to sound rude, but Trot Nixon has averaged 95 games over the last three seasons. And his RC/27 over the last four seasons are in an alarming state of decline:

2003: 8.66

2004: 7.32

2005: 5.66

2006: 5.02

2007: You don't want to find out

I love Trot. but he turns 33 in April and isn't the type of player who has the broad-based skill set that lends itself to aging well. Heck, he's barely half the player over the last two seasons that he was in 2003. If he opens the season as Boston's starting RF, then I'd be pretty worried about the Red Sox front office.

I agree with everything that you're saying here. Clearly, Trot isn't the a long-term solution in RF for the Sox, but I would rather have him as a cheap stopgap for a year than have the front office sink a huge amount of money into a long-term contract with Drew (who isn't exactly a sure bet to play 150 games either).

With the market as it is, Trot might be able to convince some poor GM to give him 21 million over 3 years. However, if we could get him to accept arbitration or take a one year deal, I would be all for it.

[QuestGAV]

Originally Posted by Lastplaneout

With the market as it is, Trot might be able to convince some poor GM to give him 21 million over 3 years. However, if we could get him to accept arbitration or take a one year deal, I would be all for it.

I don't think Trot is going to accept a one-year deal in this market any more than Drew is willing to take 3/$33. Drew is the better player and the better choice for the Red Sox.

[Lastplaneout]

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

I don't think Trot is going to accept a one-year deal in this market any more than Drew is willing to take 3/$33. Drew is the better player and the better choice for the Red Sox.

You're probably right. I just don't like the idea of the Sox chaining themselves to player who is a serious injury risk and whose value is considerably inflated in the current market (not to mention the loss of a first-round pick).

[CommishJoe]

I just read the article about the Sox signing that Japanese reliever, and this info was there:

The Red Sox also moved closer to signing free agent outfielder J.D. Drew. The sides are in the drafting stages of a $70 million, five-year contract that is likely to announced next week, a person familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

Thought you might be interested.

[thehatfield]

If I heard correctly (and I think I did) ESPN radio just said the Sox are all but certain to offer Trot arbitration.

[Astros33Resurrected]

Originally Posted by Papi 54

Gonzo signed with the Reds for three years, which means the Red Sox will be looking for a new shortstop next year. Julio Lugo seems the most likely option, but I have also heard rumors that the Red Sox have been in contact with Texas regarding a Manny-for-Young swap. I think a three-way trade would make the most sense. Maybe Manny and some middle-tier prospects to the Angels for Santana and Otsuka. Then flip Santana and Otsuka to the Rangers for Young. I actually would rather have Teixiera, move Youkilis to third, and trade Lowell for pitching. That's less likely though.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Manny trade for Santana and Figgins. Spin Santana and Wily Mo Pena to the Astros for Berkman and Lidge.

Coco Crisp, CF
Julio Lugo, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Lance Berkman, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Chone Figgins, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mark Loretta, 2B

Ken Huckaby, C
Alex Cora, IF
Eric Hinske, 1B/OF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Carlos Pena, 1B

Curt Schilling
D-Mat
Josh Beckett
Jonathan Papelbon
Tim Wakefield

Brad Lidge
Mike Timlin
Kason Gabbard
Manny Delcarmen
Abe Alvarez
Craig Hansen

Santana and Pena for Lide and Berkman?Man we would be fools not to do that!