Boston Red Sox 2009-10 Offseason Thread

[Tony M]

I guess we'll be stuck with Varitek for next season as I can't see the team taking the $5m option on him, but he's surely going to exercise his $3m option as he'd not get that on the free agency market.

We need to re-sign Bay without a doubt.

Thankfully I don't think much is needed in the starting department (Beckett, Lester, Buchholz and Matsuzaka as the 1-4 with Wakefield probably being the #5 sharing the duties with Tazawa) and the 'pen is stacked.

Bay, Ellsbury and Drew across the back should be a fairly consistent outfield next season, but we need a proper backup catcher with some offensive clout. I think the idea of rotating C-1B-3B should be continued as it takes the pressure off Lowell's injury proneness and gives Martinez a break from catcher every so-often but that does leave Kottaras and Varitek as the backup catcher choices unless Dusty does a good job at ST

[mlyons]

Honestly, I think Varitek is a perfectly acceptable choice as a backup at catcher, as long as he can be convinced that he's not a full-time starter anymore. Look around the majors and I don't think you'll find too many teams with a better backup at catcher than that.

[Tony M]

Originally Posted by mlyons

as long as he can be convinced that he's not a full-time starter anymore.

I think that will be one of the biggest problems. Varitek would prefer a full time role over a backup role.

[Walkoff]

Epstein 'answers' some questions right away here:

Theo Epstein and Terry Francona just did a 40-minute autopsy on the season. The highlights:
• Epstein said he expects John Farrell to be back as pitching coach. When Cleveland asked for permission to speak to Farrell about their managerial vacancy, Farrell told Epstein his desire was to stay in Boston. This might be the most significant development of the day.
• Houston asked to speak with first base coach Tim Bogar and bench coach Brad Mills about their managerial opening and were given permission. There is a large field for that job. It's also not a great job given the impatience of owner Drayton McLane.
• Epstein said it was safe to "pencil in" Clay Buchholz for the 2010 rotation.
• They want Tim Wakefield back and the expectation is he would make "some" starts. Wakefield's surgery is expected to be later this week.
• Victor Martinez is the catcher, period. As Epstein said, that was the expectation when they traded for him. "He's about as good as it gets," the GM said. As for Jason Varitek, discussions will be held.
• Epstein termed the Jason Bay negotiations unusual in that the team wants the player back and the player wants to come back, yet no deal has been reached. The Red Sox could well make a deal before Bay enters the market. But history suggests that any player who gets this close to free agency usually takes the opportunity. It's difficult to get a gauge of your worth until there's a market for it. Given the lack of depth in the market, Bay could drive his price up.
• Epstein said that 2010 could be the last chance for the core players to "make a run" before significant changes are made. While the Sox do not have many MLB-ready players in AAA, they have prospects who could be ready by 2011.
• Epstein said it was possible that Alex Gonzalez could be back at shortstop. But he spoke highly of Jed Lowrie and the need not to lose faith in young players. Still, as Epstein said, Lowie has yet to prove he can stay healthy in the majors.

It seems like dramatic changes are not in store. He seems to want Wakefield in a spot-starting role with Buchholz in the rotation. I do not think a Beckett deal is out of the question, but I think Epstein likes his chances with a current rotation of Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Buchholz, and another signing. Lowrie will get another shot at shortstop if he is healthy, but I still can see a guy getting brought in who can play both of the left-infield positions (a la Chone Figgins) to rest Lowell and Lowrie while Youkilis and Martinez do 1B. Martinez being our premiere catcher is a bit scary, as I think he lends himself to being a 1B moreso.


Theo is being realistic. Ortiz and Lowell's contracts are immovable. The free agency market is very thin and Bay will command obscene money. I feel like 2010 and 2011 will be rebuilding years. 2010 will be the last hurrah for Beckett, Lowell, Varitek, Ortiz, and Drew. Then, in the 2010 offseason when over $40m comes off the books, Epstein can pick and choose what he wants to do in free agency. I think this team will still compete with a few tweaks, but a trade is never out of the question. It's time to reload but there isn't a lot of bullets on the table.

[stevebydac]

I have a feeling that Theo is looking at next year as a re-tooling year. We're looking at the last years of Ortiz, Lowell, Varitek and Wakefield I think. They can't really improve much through free agency this offseason. My guess is that they hope a minor leaguer or two emerges for 2011 and they can sign a big free agent or two next off-season.

Unless they surprise me and make a dramatic and costly trade for someone like Gonzalez, Ramirez or Hernandez, they'll have a tough time making the playoffs next year.

EDIT: I basically just repeated what Walkoff said. Smart guy, that Walkoff.

[myasu]

Originally Posted by stevebydac

smart guy, that walkoff.

"

[Purple Cowboy]

Some news today:

Picked up option on Victor Martinez.

Declined option on Alex Gonzalez.

Signed Tim Wakefield to two-year extention.

[myasu]

Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

Some news today:

Picked up option on Victor Martinez.

Declined option on Alex Gonzalez.

Signed Tim Wakefield to two-year extention.

And no team option for Varitek.
I think Varitek will take his player option though.
Also, Wakefield actually got the raise.
He will earn $5M/year for the next couple.

[hayesb26]

not sure, but thought it was 5M per year if he achieves performance escalators? something much cheaper base salary, correct?

[Splitter24]

Yes. $3.5 base in 2010, $1.5 base in 2011. All with Games Started escalators that will kick bonuses to pay him real money if he's healthy.

[myasu]

Originally Posted by Splitter24

Yes. $3.5 base in 2010, $1.5 base in 2011. All with Games Started escalators that will kick bonuses to pay him real money if he's healthy.

You are right, Splitter24.

[Purple Cowboy]

With the news that Tek is back for next season, George Kottaras was released. Apparently he was out of minor league options and instead of trying to float him on waivers they just cut him.

[Purple Cowboy]

Some rumblings that the Sox have asked Pedroia to play short next season.

EDIT, now on the Red Sox blog at the Globe:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...pedroia_1.html

[myasu]

Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

Some rumblings that the Sox have asked Pedroia to play short next season.

EDIT, now on the Red Sox blog at the Globe:

Report: Pedroia would be fine with move to short - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

Red Sox are said to be close to signing Scutaro.
I respect Pedroia for volunteering, though...

[Purple Cowboy]

Yup, looks like it's just about done:

According to baseball sources, Marco Scutaro has agreed to a two-year deal with an option and needs only to pass a physical for everything to be official.

Once the Sox received a first-round pick as compensation for losing free agent Billy Wagner to the Atlanta Braves, they were willing to give up their pick as compensation to Toronto for signing Scutaro.

[TribeFanInNC]

Seems to me I would have a hard time getting excited about this. Granted, the other choices were not good (Adam Everett, are you listening?). But I would think the Red Sox would be above this. Getting a potentially undervalued MI seems to be more a Cleveland- or Oakland-type play.

I could be proven wrong though. I haven't seen much of Mr. Scutaro lately. Maybe he'll be fine. We'll see.

[stevebydac]

The 2010 Red Sox Strategy: Confuse The Enemy

Boston now has TWO relief pitchers named Ramon Ramirez.

The Boston Red Sox claimed right-hander Ramon Ramirez off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Ramirez appeared in 11 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season and pitched to a 3.65 earned run average. Shortly after the season, though, Tampa claimed him off waivers before releasing him earlier this month.
Boston, of course, already has a relief pitcher named Ramon Ramirez on its roster.

"Who's pitching?"

"Ramon Ramirez."

"Didn't we just knock him out of the game?"

"Yes."

"Well how can he be pitching now? Isn't that against the rules?"

"Yes."

"But Ramon Ramirez is pitching?!?!!"

"Yes."

[Tony M]

And apparently Lackey has signed a 5 year deal with Boston...

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by Tony M

And apparently Lackey has signed a 5 year deal with Boston...

It's the kind of deal you expect out of a team that's retooling and trying to be cheap......

[Tony M]

Originally Posted by stevebydac

The 2010 Red Sox Strategy: Confuse The Enemy

Boston now has TWO relief pitchers named Ramon Ramirez.

"Who's pitching?"

"Ramon Ramirez."

"Didn't we just knock him out of the game?"

"Yes."

"Well how can he be pitching now? Isn't that against the rules?"

"Yes."

"But Ramon Ramirez is pitching?!?!!"

"Yes."

They'll have to use the year of birth in the box score to differentiate, much like Wikipedia do...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram%C3%...er,_born_1982)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram%C3%...er,_born_1981)