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Yes, the turkey was delicious and it is always great to spend Thanksgiving with friends and family, but I have to admit my mind turned to baseball quite often this weekend.  I sat and wondered exactly what does CC want if $140 million isn't enough and should we take his silence as a polite hint to move on?  I wondered if Phil Hughes' impressive Arizona performance should lead us to pencil him in the rotation for 2009.  I wondered when the hot stove is finally going to yield some news.

It seems like we have a giant game of chicken right now.  CC and Tex and the top players available and everyone is waiting for them to sign.  When that happens, other things should fall quickly into place.  It is just a matter of that happening.  One thing that will occur tomorrow and may get things moving a bit is the arbitration deadline.  Teams have to decide if they are going to offer arbitration to players.  If they don't they won't get draft picks as compensation when those players sign with other teams.  So, I imagine some teams are waiting out that deadline and might make some moves soon.  (On a side note, the Yankees should offer arbitration to Mike Mussina.  I know that he is retired, but remember what happened with Roger Clemens and the Yankees didn't get any compensation because they didn't offer him arbitration assuming he was truly retired.)  

Whatever happens, let's hope for some news soon, this is way too boring!   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am sure some people were upset to hear that the Angels might be jumping into the CC sweepstakes and I am sure some people were upset to hear that Andy Pettitte is trying to become a Dodger.  Before you let it spoil your turkey tomorrow, think about the context.

The Angels need offense not pitching (though every team could use pitching on some level) and the best offensive player on the market wore their jersey last season.  The problem is, he is repped by Scott Boras and Boras is starting the negotiations with demands of 10 years and $200 million.  The Angels aren't going to pay that, nobody is probably going to pay that, but Boras is willing to wait.  Boras always waits when he has a big fish like he did with Beltran a few years ago.  So, what can the Angels do to start making Tex nervous?  How about making noise about CC?  I could be totally wrong about this, but I view this as a negotiating ploy more than anything.  

And the same thing with Pettitte. Is he really going to uproot his life and family and head to LA?  I doubt it, but absent an offer from the Yankees you can understand why he would want to create some urgency on their part.  

Anyway, considering it is 5:20 on the East Coast, I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that the hot stove is off for the Thanksgiving weekend.  I think it was in 1998 that Bernie Williams signed on Thanksgiivng Eve, but that is the only time I recall free agency news at that time.  Hopefully, we start to see some movement next week!

And to all of you, thanks for your readership and Andy and I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 05:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Ahh, Lou Gorman.  Indeed what would we do with Willie McGee?  I mean,  having talent on the team is only good if that talent has a position, right?  Wrong.

Please forgive Lou, he made that quote when baseball was simpler than it is today.  And there was certainly less media/fan scrutiny back then given there wasn't an internet.

I mention Gorman's comment because the Red Sox are rumored to be heavy in the the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes.  That's a good thing, right Lou?  With Mike Lowell the expected everyday third baseman next year, Kevin Youkilis the everyday first baseman and David Ortiz the DH.  Just what would we do with Mark Teixeira?

I'll tell you what you'd do with Mark Teixeira, you'd play him everyday, that's what you'd do.  I believe given cost and upside potential, Mike Lowell would be the casualty in this scenario.  I don't think there is any chance he accepts a diminished role as he does have another chance at a contract after the 2010 season.

The biggest question with Lowell is how much longer he wants to play and does he want to play for a good team?  If the Red Sox were able to sign Teixeira, Youkilis would move back to 3rd.  If Lowell where willing to learn the first base position, he could be the primary back-up at the corners and DH.  Youkilis missed 17 games in 2008, Ortiz 53 and Teixeira missed 5.  That would have been 70 starts right there for Lowell.  Mix in a few scheduled off-days and maybe that's 80 starts.

But let's be serious, if the Red Sox sign Teixeira, Lowell is most 95% likely a goner.  Great teammate, good player but just not as good as Mark Teixeira and he probably doesn't consider himself a back-up at this point.

Teixeira would give Boston a gold-glove fielder, a superior bat in the line-up and a switch-hitter to boot.  He is a fantastic player and reportedly just as good a person.  Boston will have to empty the bank to get him which is interesting as the Red Sox just finally removed themselves from one of, if not the longest contracts they ever offered in Manny Ramirez's deal.

Let's set our APBA line-up, shall we, assuming a Teixeira signing:

cf - Ellsbury 

2b - Pedroia

dh - Ortiz

1b - Teixeira

3b - Youkilis

lf - Bay

rf - Drew

c - Fisk or Bench

ss - Lowrie

Obviously a Teixeira acquisition adds depth to this line-up.  With Ortiz, Teixeira, Youkilis, Bay and Drew, you'd have 5 guys that can flirt with a .400 OBP.  That would be very tough on opposing pitching and would make for some very long games.

So while we try to garner excitement on the happenings with the Red Sox, Yankees and baseball in general on this site, the fact is, nothing is happening right now.  NOTHING.  This off-season has produced 1, 2, maybe 3 official signings?  I can only name the Jeremy Affeldt signing off the top of my head.  It's been very boring in fact.

With Teixeira saying he'd like to get something done before Christmas and CC Sabathia saying he'll take his time, things aren't likely to change any time soon.  Snore.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

WEEI - 850 AM in Boston has redone their website and now has blogs covering the local sports teams.  On one of those blogs, Rob Bradford, formerly of the Boston Herald, reports that the Red Sox have made an initial offer to Jason Varitek for 1 year at an undisclosed amount of money.

Bradford does not mention when this offer was made.

Of course if this is true it could mean any number of things.  1.)  Perhaps there is no market for JV if the Red Sox think this is a good starting point.  2.)  If Scott Boras really thinks JV deserves Jorge Posada type money (heck, Posada doesn't deserve Posada type money), then it is clear Varitek won't be re-signing with Boston.  The possibilities go on.

Another piece of news from MLBTradeRumors.com has links to reports tat the Red Sox winning the bidding war for Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa.  MLBTR also reports on the Varitek story.  I haven't a clue if Tazawa is/will be worth the attention.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Yes, I am sad to report that I root for the Knicks, as thankless an endeavor as there has been in sports recently.  But, you can't change teams, as much as they continually drive you nuts.  So, Friday was a pretty good day for me as the Knicks finally showed they have a clue and made some moves that may result in LeBron James showing up in New York in 2010.

Now comes word that the Knicks' moves may help the Yankees land CC Sabathia. Could the Knicks finally have done something right and helped another New York team in the process?  It seems impossible, but maybe. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The papers today contained all sorts of stories that warmed my heart.  The best pieces of news?  First, the Yankees are not going to give A.J. Burnett a five-year deal (let's hope they stick to that) and second, the Yankees might bid for Mark Teixeira.

I have said before that I think the pitching market adds up to CC and everyone else.  If you get CC you add a great pitcher to your staff and it is stupid to overspend to add Burnett or Lowe at that point.  Besides, how much more do they offer you than  Andy Pettitte who you can bring back for less and on a one-year deal?  If you don't get Sabathia, making a panic move and throwing boatloads of money at Burnett and Lowe just prevents you from moves down the road.  The Yankees have to be very careful and I would prefer they just try and get CC and leave it at that.  A rotation of Sabathia, Wang, Joba, Pettitte and Hughes isn't too shabby.  

And that brings us to Mark Teixeira, who is the best bat on the market.  The Yankees are losing two big pieces of their offense with Abreu and Giambi almost certainly gone.  You can expect a better year from Cano and probably expect better production from the catcher spot.  (Though you have to remember Posada is coming off of surgery and is a risk).  Pretty much everyone else in the lineup is beyond their prime years except for A-Rod and that means they are more and more unlikely to repeat their 2008 #'s.  The Yankees scored 789 runs last year and will struggle to do so again without some upgrades to the offense.  Mark Teixeira is that upgrade and if they somehow walked away with him and Sabathia this offseason, they would have done an excellent job.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

According to Foxsports.com, Mike Mussina is going to retire. 

Not really a shock and I think this helps the Yankees out.  Moose would have wanted to come back for multiple years and at age 40, that is not a good risk to take.  Plus, despite their performances in 2008, I would still rather have Pettitte in '09 than Moose.

I will blog more on this later, but for now I am off to a hockey game.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Reports have it that Coco Crisp has been traded to the Kansas City Royals.  Of course this is in lockstep with my prediction that Crisp would be trade before training camp...training camp 2008.  So I was 10 months too early in my prediction.

SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Red Sox will get reliever Ramon Ramirez in return.  This is good for Crisp as he'll have a legitimate chance to start in his contract year (the Royals do have an option, but they probably don't have the resources to exercise it).

As for the Red Sox, they get a middler reliever who posted a 3-2 record in 71.2 IP with 57 H, 31 BB, 70 K for a 2.64 ERA and a 1.128 WHIP.  Not bad.  He is just 26 and only has 2+ years of service.  He is basically a strikeout per inning guy (146K's in 156.2 IP).

I'm not sure how long Ramirez will be in Boston as he may be included in another deal, but if he were to stay, he'd could take Justin Masterson's spot should Masterson re-join the rotation.

This opens up a bench spot for the Red Sox and essentially gives Jacoby the full time CF job.

Other news:  Both 3rd base coach Demarlo Hale and bench coach Brad Mills will be with the Red Sox as neither was chosen to lead the Seattle Mariners next season.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Poor Evan Grant, columnist for the Dallas Morning News.  Grant has admitted making a mistake in leaving Pedroia off his MVP ballot.

From Boston.com:

"I think the best way for me to sum it up is, in retrospect, obviously I was wrong," Grant said by phone. "My colleagues all, and people I respect an awful lot, thought Dustin deserved to be in the top 5. I had him on my ballot in some scenarios as high as No. 1 late into September. When I looked at the numbers that to me mattered most, OPS and batting average with runners in scoring position, he just didn't stack up with Youkilis at all. He was a laggard behind the others who had great years in the American League. Is it an error of omission that he's left off my ballot entirely? You could say that."

That's fine and good, but that issue I see here is that Grant had Pedroia #4 as recently as September 20.  Call it September 21st as his article was posted on the DMN at 11:57 CST, or 12:57am, 9/21 EST.

The key here is that Pedroia did nothing to drop 7 spots (or more) to fall out of Grant's top 10 list in that last few games of the season.  My take is that Grant just simply forgot about Pedroia.

We've all done it, right?  When discussing top players or best skills in any sport, inevitably we forget an obvious choice.  And that's fine, we're just human.  But to try and suggest others had a better OBP, etc. is a bit off.  I'm thinking he is attempting to, well, keep his membership with the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).  By the way, why isn't it BWAA, was baseball really "base ball" back in the 1920's?

If his fellow BBWAA members read that he admitted omitting Pedroia by accident, he'd be off the team quickly, no?  Just ask ESPN's Rob Neyer and Keith Law about those making decision at the BBWAA.  They are a prickly bunch.

No matter, Grant has found himself in a position he probably didn't intend to get himself into, but like John Hammond said in Jurassic Park, "I don't blame people for their mistakes, but I do ask that they pay for them."

And pay for it he will.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 08:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Interesting story here in Newsday about the Red Sox supposedly being "fully engaged" on A.J. Burnett.  We know that Toronto has offered 4-years and $54 million, so I think he signs for at least 4/$60 and probably more.  Considering his injury history and overall numbers I am not desperate to see him in a Yankees' uniform anytime soon. 

Obviously, any pitcher with a brain is going to wait until Sabathia signs and sets the market.  The risk for the Yankees is what happens if Sabathia goes somewhere else?  I imagine they would then turn around and make Burnett and probably Derek Lowe gigantic offers and that would be a big mistake.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You heard it here last!

Dustin Pedroia became the 10 Red Sox to win the AL MVP award today.

The good news for the Red Sox is that they have a good 2b on their team.  The bad news is that he isn't yet arbitration eligible and the ability for them to affordably sign him was just lessened.

Some notes of interest:  Pedroia failed to get a vote from one of the writers, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.  Basically Grant found 22 better players than Pedroia in the AL.  That is remarkable.  I say that not because Pedroia was that good rather how can opinions vary so greatly?

Kevin Youkilis finished 3rd overall.  That too will cost the Red Sox.  Youkilis is in for a big raise on his $3mm deal.

No other news that I can see regarding free agent signings or trades.  Stay tuned.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

In what is probably more posturing than statement of fact, Hank Steinbrenner announced that the Yankees have indeed made an offer to CC Sabathia, but also plan on making offers to AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe.

Why does this matter?  It probably doesn't as even if the Yankees do offer all 3 contracts, it isn't likely all 3 will sign, but it would mean their prices all just went up.  Which brings me to this news item from Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin.

Melvin went public with his confusion behind the Yankees reported offer to Sabathia.  "It sounds like they're overbidding.  If the speculation is true that we've offered CC $100 million, why would you offer $140 million? Why wouldn't you offer $110 million?"

Good question Doug.  Obviously no one knows who bid what except Sabathia himself, but it doesn't make too much sense.  If the Yankees decide to put their best bid forward, fine, but I'd be surprised to see Sabathia sign the reported Yankee offer but rather a further enhanced offered later on.

I've wonder why this happens all the time.  Both Alex Rodriguez signings baffled me as it was reported that no other team was even close.  The Red Sox signings of JD Drew and Julio Lugo also stuck me as overdone.

While acknowledging that much of what we hear during negotiations as fans turns out to be rubbish, there are often nuggets of fact surrounding the dealings.

Free agency isn't eBay where you can automatically win a bid by hitting a certain price.  These are real world business dealings and it seems foolish to throw Ft. Knox at a player when a local bank would do.

Melvin does fail to mention one important thing, the Brewers offer is for 5 years and the Yankees for 6, but still, the Yankees offer is more in years and more in average annual compensation.  Why not just go with 6-years and $120mm?

Chew on that for a bit.

Red Sox notes:  The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo is reporting that the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are considering a Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.  Lugo is in the middle of a 4 year, $36mm deal while Willis has 2 years left on a 3-year $29MM deal ($10mm in '09 and $12mm in '10).  Robertson is in the final of his 3-year, $21.25mm deal ($7mm in '09 and $10mm in '10).

Now Lugo wasn't good in 2008, but he wasn't terrible.  His .352 OBP has to count for something.  For the most part, it was an overly forgettable, injury shortened season for him.

As for Willis, where do I start?  He fell off the cliff he was so bad.  In the Majors, he was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA in 24 IP.  He allowed 18 hits and 35 BB!!!  What?  35 BB in 24 IP?  He also pitched about 56 IP in the minors last year with a 4.50 ERA.  He was at class A Lakeland and AAA Toledo and allowed a 4.50 and 4.55 ERA respectively.  So even in the minors against A-ballers he was shaky.

I don't know if Willis has anything left, but if the Tigers take all of Lugo's salary, I'd say make the deal because the Red Sox seem to have settled on Jed Lowrie and taking a gamble on Willis and having it pay off is better than taking a gamble on Lugo and having it pay off.

As for Robertson, he too was bad.  He pitched 168 IP in the Majors with a 6.35 ERA, 218 H and 62 BB.  Simply miserable.  Robertson has never been as good as Willis, so I would say a Lugo for Robertson makes no sense as even if Robertson reverts to form, his form wasn't really good in the first place.

Makes you understand why the Tigers were do bad last year.

Lastly, ESPN has a report on Red Sox almost suspending Manny Ramirez a week before he was traded.  I'm tired of this story and can't wait for Manny to be someone else's problem.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are Andy and Peter's predictions for where the Top-10 free agents will end up.  As always take this with a grain of salt.  (We used Keith Law's rankings on ESPN.com to determine the list) 

For the top free agent, Mark Teixeira, we both see him returning to the California Anaheim Orange County Greater Los Angeles Area Angels.  The Yankees and Red Sox remain possibilities, but remote ones.

Andy - Angels

Peter - Angels

Both of us agreed again on CC Sabathia ending up with the Yankees.  Money talks and the Yankees clearly are going to spend it here.

Andy - Yankees

Peter - Yankees

And we were in agreement on Manny Ramirez returning to the Dodgers.  Manny will definitely take the highest check, we just couldn't see any other team giving him that.

Andy - Dodgers

Peter - Dodgers

Our first difference of opinion came on AJ Burnett.  Andy sees him heading to Texas noting that Texas always seems to make the wrong move with pitching.  Peter sees him heading back to Toronto, just with a bigger check in his pocket.

Andy - Rangers

Peter - Blue Jays

We agreed again on Derek Lowe with both of us seeing him heading back to Boston.

Andy - Red Sox

Peter - Red Sox

On the subject of Rafael Furcal we both saw him heading to the Bay Area, just to different teams.  Peter saw him heading to the Giants and Andy had him heading to the A's.

Andy - A's

Peter - Giants

Adam Dunn also divided out opinion with Andy sending him to Toronto and Peter seeing the Nationals getting him.

Andy - Blue Jays

Peter - Nationals

For Ryan Dempster we both saw him heading back to the Cubs, but with the proviso that if they trade for Jake Peavy, they won't make the move.

Andy - Cubs

Peter - Cubs

While Andy sees Milton Bradley returning to Texas, Peter has him going to Toronto.

Andy - Rangers

Peter - Blue Jays

And that brings us to the final player, Oliver Perez.  Andy has him returning to the Mets while Peter swallowed hard and predicting that Perez will be a Yankee next year.

Andy - Mets

Peter - Yankees

What do you think?   

Posted by yankeesredsox at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Well that bell you heard at midnight was the start of free agency in Major League Baseball.  Or it was last call at whatever pub some of you booze-bags were drinking.  Either way, you can expect the rumors to start flying.

For Red Sox fans, there is no real indication what they are going to do.  For C.C. Sabathia, I think you'll see the Red Sox mentioned if and only if there appears to be no one competing with the Yankees for his services.  Basically they'll get involved only to drive up the price and only if needed.  If the Yankees immediately big 6-years at $150mm, then mission already accomplished.

I think the same applies with Mark Teixeira although I would not be surprised to see a sincere push by the Red Sox.  Obviously you have the corner infield positions manned already, but Teixeira is a better hitter than Lowell or Youkilis (from a career standpoint, not necessary based on just 2008).

The Yankees trading for Nick Swisher is a head scratcher a may signal a lack of interest in bidding for both Sabathia and Teixeira.  Swisher has good power and obp, but his lack of batting average is starting to bring down his obp and he might just be depth at this point, as Peter speculated yesterday.

Derek Lowe to me makes sense assuming he isn't looking for $15mm a year.  Lowe has a proven track record of being able to play in Boston.  He has made it known, if we are to believe reports, that he would love to play in Boston.  At 35, he isn't likely to be the same pitcher he was 10 years ago, but he has never had a major health issue since being a full time starter.

The Red Sox have salary to play with, even in this economy.  I see them adding bench players and maybe 1 major free agent signing, but that is all.

More to come as news hits.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Jon Heyman is reporting the Yankees have acquired Nick Swisher from the White Sox.  The final trade is still being worked out, but it sounds like Wilson Betemit and Jeff Marquez are in the deal.

Swisher played all three outfield spots in Chicago last year and first.  He is signed through 2011 with a club option for 2012 and is 27.  The downside is Swisher hit .219 last year and had an OPS of .742.  Bill James projects him next year at .240/.359/.451 which the Yankees would definitely take. 

The interesting thing is what this will mean for the team.  Swisher would be a nice bat off the bench and an occasional spot starter.  If the plan is to put him in at first for 150 games or so, I am not as thrilled though I could come around to liking it.  But, this move gives the Yankees some options.   

UPDATE: The Yankees have announced the trade officially, Betemit, Marquez and Nunez (the guy they got from Washington for Gonzalez) for Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira.  That also means they cleared a guy off their 40-man roster with this move. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 05:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

It's official, Damaso Marte will be back for quite awhile.  The press release doesn't mention money, but the reports I have read elsewhere say $4 million a year.  That seems like too much to pay in my mind and I don't love this singing  I don't know why the Yankees didn't just exercise their option and pay him $6 million this year and free themselves of him after 2009.  Or, let him walk and get the two draft picks he would have garnered as a Type A free agent.  Marte will be solid in the pen in '09, but I worry about 2010 and 2011.  On the plus side, they have a solid lefty in the pen for next year.

I suspect this move is being done so the Yankees didn't let Tabata walk out the door for only Xavier Nady.  Tabata might be a star, but I doubt he would have become one in the Yankees' organization and that trade was a not one I would spend time regretting.  It was the right move at the time, the Yankees didn't know that Joba would go on the shelf two weeks later. 

The bullpen is now pretty set.  Marte and Rivera will be joined by Bruney and Veras.  Barring a surprise move, the last couple of spots will come from some combination of Robertson, Ramriez, Coke, Giese, Aceves and Rasner. 

Less than 36 hours until the free agent window opens, fasten your seatbelts. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

or some other MLB team...or retire.

Yes, I'm trying to start trouble.  For what it is worth, the San Diego Padres formally withdrew their offer (reportedly of $4mm) to Hoffman today.  That means he will either sign with another team, or retire with the $59 million or so he has earned* as a Major Leaguer (*not including endorsements).

What is crazy in any of us taking about Trevor Hoffman is that he is the younger brother of former Red Sox Glenn Hoffman who retired 19 years ago, yes, 1989.

Trevor Hoffman is the all-time MLB leader in saves and has managed to pitch effectively into his 40's (albeit 40 years old thus far).  The Padres, influenced greatly by their owner's marital difficulties, have decided to off-load talent, led by the assumed trade of Jake Peavy.  Oddly, the Padres did exercise the option of Brian Giles.  Maybe the Giles deal was so they can trade him later, but he is now a 10/5 player and making a bunch of cabbage.

Back to Hoffman, if he is really done in San Diego, he'd make great sense in Boston.  Obviously the first issue for him coming here would be to address the fact that he'd be a set-up guy and not the closer.  Jonathan Papelbon has that job locally.  Hoffman hasn't won a thing in San Diego and perhaps he'd consider the thought that Boston would give him at least a decent chance of going all the way in 2009.

For those thinking I'm being sentimental in signing an old dude, consider the stats:

2008:  48 G, 3 W, 6 L, 30 Sv, 45.3 IP, 38 H, 8 HR, 9 BB, 46 K, 3.77 ERA, 1.04 Whip.

Not bad numbers at all.  In fact, if you look at Boston's primary set-up pitchers, you will find that Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima were probably a bit better, but didn't keep runners off the bases as well as Hoffman.  After Delcarmen and Okajima, who did the Red Sox rely on?  Justin Masterson?  Sure, but he might well be a starter in 2009.  Who else?  Javier Lopez was good, but not in the same role being a lefty specialist.

I guess my take on this is that the Red Sox have a deep connection with the Padres with Tom Werner, former owner, Larry Lucchino, former President and Theo Epstein and therefore a connection with Hoffman.  If he were to sign with Boston I'd think it a good move.  A veteran who could show Manny Delcarmen not to issue walks and the rest of the Red Sox bullpen how to handle relief duties.

Oh, and what if Jonathan Papalbon were to need some time off?  Hoffman makes sense.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

ESPN is reporting that The Colorado Rockies have agreed to ship Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's with finishing details still being worked out.

I'm just fine the Red Sox didn't get Holliday, not that they were ever mentioned as a contender for his bat.  While Holliday is a fine hitter and just entering his prime, his home/road splits are a concern:

2006 - 2008 splits

Home - .361/.430/.669 - 869 G, 62 HRs, 219 RBI

Road - .296/.370/.486 - 908 G, 33 HR, 120 RBI

Holliday will most likely get himself a very rich contract (not with the A's, but with someone), but his split make it far too big a gamble to make it worth it.  Holliday did close the gap between home/road this year, but there is too much to be concerned with those splits.

Oakland will let him play out 2009 and then let him sign a mega-deal with another team a year from now only to get handsomely rewarded themselves with a first round pick and a supplemental pick.  The conclusion Billy Beane answered in making this deal was whether the players he gives up are worth more or less than 1 year of Holliday and 2 great picks.  Obviously he thinks Holliday and 2 great picks is the better package.

It's like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry dated the woman who looked good sometimes and ghastly other times depending on the lighting.  Which Holliday are you getting?  We shall see.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The GM meetings are essentially over and the Yankees haven't done a lot.  The biggest moves are with the coaching staff where Tony Pena is now the bench coach (good), Rob Thompson is now the third base coach (we'll see) and Mick Kelleher is now the first base coach (sounds like he will be a good addition)

The Yankees also declined the options of Carl Pavano and Jason Giambi, not any shocks there.  But, they have not declined the option on Damaso Marte yet.  I assume that means they are trying to negotiate a new deal with Marte, which is a bit of a surprise, but we will see how it shakes out.  

At this point we are a week away from the real action of the offseason, the opening of free agency.  Starting November 14th the market is open and all indications are the Yankees are going to make CC Sabathia a HUGE offer.  I am on board with trying to sign Sabathia, but the other names and ideas out there worry me.  Signing any pitcher to a long term deal is a risk, signing one like AJ Burnett with his injury history or Derek Lowe at his current age, are much bigger risks.  The rumors will fly all over the place the next week, we won't know much until after the 14th.

UPDATE: The Yankees have declined the option on Marte.  He is a type A free agent and I would rather have the draft picks when you consider who the Yankees might sign this offseason.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

I would like to take this moment to point out that the Yankees have reached the World Series during every Democratic Administration since Woodrow Wilson.  Twenty of their twenty-six titles have come with a Democat in the White House and they haven't won with a Republican there since Eisenhower. 

So, expect a trip to the Fall Classic sometime in the next four years.  Then again, maybe it's more about the team on the field and not the person in the White House.  Hmmm...

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Back to baseball for a moment.  There has been very little news of the Red Sox in on any moves or deals.  The general theme so far this off-season has been that the Red Sox are in good shape and were one game away from making it back to the World Series.

That's all fine and good, but I would be stunned if Theo Epstein and co. decide all that is needed is a catcher.

If it were up to me, I'd address catcher, evaluate Mike Lowell's health and consider trying to upgrade there, granted his deal is a major roadblock in that regard, and see if any of the other positional starters can be improved.

As for the pitching staff, the bullpen and bottom of the rotation need work or at least attention.

I would be surprised if the Red Sox go back into regular season play in 2009 without at least 1 significant trade or free agent signing.  Varitek to me is not a major signing at this point in his career, by the way.

Anyway, what little news there is for the Red Sox involves Epstein getting a new 3-year deal with the Red Sox that was done "a few weeks ago."  I suppose this is big news, but not a surprise.

The Red Sox and Scott Boras are in the feeling out stage on what it will take to re-sign Varitek.

Apparently Mike Timlin and Sean Casey are not coming back.

All members of the coaching staff except Luis Alicea are coming back.  No word on why Alicea was dismissed.

MLBTradeRumors.com says that the Red Sox are a natural fit for Japanese League player Kenshin Kawakami.

The Red Sox are expected to be players for Mark Teixeira, although not front-runners, but it is expected he will take his time picking a team. 

Lastly and of greatest interest is that Sean McAdams, now of the Boston Herald, is reporting that the Red Sox lead in the chase for highly touted Japanese amateur Junichi Tazawa.  Tazawa's story is much different from most Japanese players in that he has not turned pro and was not drafted by any of the Japanese League teams because he told them it would be a waste of their time (or as it was reported, they respected his decision to pursue a MLB job).

Instead, he has managed to bypass the "posting" process and is available as a free agent to any MLB team.  Obviously with no professional experience, he is no more or less risky than a draft pick is here, but there have at least been some good things said about him.

Of course, one player that isn't available yet is Yu Darvish.  That kid can pitch...

News as it arrives...or as I get to it.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This site tries to bring together Yankee and Red Sox fans, so getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on something should be easy, right?

Ok, maybe not, but one thing I hope everyone, no matter what your political bias is, does tomorrow is vote.  It doesn't matter what the weather is, or what else you have to do, just go and vote for someone or something.  And, if you have a young child take them with you.  I will take this moment to thank my Mother for always taking me with her when she voted and making me aware of my right to cast a ballot every year. 

If you are unsure of the issues in your particular area, try the League Of Women Voters website, particularly this link. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)