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Not too much news to report on in Red Sox land (I refuse to acknowledge the concept of Red Sox Nation...go on, check, I've never said it).

Outstanding issues:

- back-up catcher - Prediction: Doug "Queer Eye" Mirabelli
- another bench guy - probably a 1b/3b type with some pop ideally.
- bullpen - With 6 "starters" and 4 relievers under contract, the Red Sox will probably add another bullpen arm. If Tavarez gets traded, they'll need 2.
- Will he or won't he? Is Johan coming to Boston? Not sure. If he does come, it'll probably necessitate adding additional players as it'll cost a starter and everyday player to be sure.

This has been a crazy December. There was tons of news on Johan Santana, but very little else. Now that the Santana news has slowed down, the local papers have had little to no news on the Red Sox.

There is one issue worth mentioning. Jim Rice is in his 2nd to last year of eligibility. He was my favorite player growing up and of course I think he is Hall of Fame worthly (bias admitted).

While this is nothing more than a collection of names who think Rice is HOF worthy, it is nice to see. Sign this petition if you agree with Rice's HOF candidacy.

Rice was a power hitter and hit for average (if that matters to anyone). He reminds me a bit of Don Mattingly in that he had some great years, but maybe not enough of them. Rice had more good years than Mattingly, but I think Mattingly had more great years than Rice if that makes any sense. Mattingly had a great 1984 - 1987. Rice had a great 1977 - 1979. Neither player walked that much but instead relied on their ability to get on base via the hit. For me, it was the fact that Rice was able to continue hitting into his 30's that makes him HOF worthy. He was one of the best hitters from 1977 - 1986. Mattingly was one of the best hitters from 1984 - 1989. Sorry for the rambling paragraph here, but I was just jotting down thoughts about both Mattingly and Rice and didn't care as much for sentence construction.

You can make an argument for both, but I think Rice does deserve a spot. This is probably his best opportunity as there are no marque names on this year's list and the steroid issue has really made voters re-think things. Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe is finally giving Rice a vote. If Shaughnessy can change his mind, perhaps others can too. Good luck Jim and Happy New Year everyone.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Reader note: The following is based around an email exchange between former Red Sox catcher Joe Oliver and Boston Herald writer Jeff Horrigan. In other words, this is Horrigan's story.

Boston Herald writer Jeff Horrigan posted this on the Boston Herald's Clubhouse Insider. For those not interested in reading it yourselves, it is an email exchange between Horrigan and former Red Sox catcher Joe Oliver.

If we are to believe Oliver, he never used steroids. His reaction to the Mitchell report is interesting. He poses the following:

- What if he, and/or other non-steroid users were to file charges against MLB for not doing anything about steroid use in baseball?

Oliver also expresses his anger and frustration for working his arse off and barely hanging on to MLB life all the while competing with others that cheated. Just what rights does Oliver have? Just how much does he expect from MLB? Certainly he has a right to be mad. I would be. A level playing field is the ideal afterall, but how do we police the level playing field?

While I certainly feel for Oliver and his frustration and for all others that tried to play the game the right way, I think Oliver has to look at his own union as well. Maybe he understands this and Horrigan didn't disclose that part of the exchange, but regardless, MLBPA is just as much responsible in my mind.

This thing is a mess.

Some links and notes of interest:

I missed one player on the list who was in the Red Sox organization, but never had an appearance above A+ ball: Mike Spinelli.

Jose Canseco says Alex Rodriguez should be on the Mitchell report. It is probably ones first thought to dismiss anything Canseco says, but after his book came out, he entered a bizarro kind of existance. He is still a baffoon, but what he said would happen, did happen. So to ignore his claims entirely would be foolish, but still, it's Canseco we are talking about.

Roger Clemens and David Justice are the 2 biggest names thus far to deny the claims made by the Mitchell report. As I suggested yesterday, Mitchell's report had a fair amount of documentation, but also had witness testimony. That testimony is only worth what you think it is worth. Are those spilling the beans to be trusted?

ESPN asked a sampling of Hall of Fame voting writers for their opinions on whether or not they intend to vote for Roger Clemens for the HOF. I am stunned by some of the replies. Or better yet, the lack of clarity in the face of the evidence against Clemens and Barry Bonds.

Providence Journal writer Steve Krasner (who has a vote) said this:

"Yes, I would vote for him on the first ballot. If, as Brian McNamee says, he started using steroids in 1998, he already had 213 wins, four Cy Youngs and a 3.00 ERA at the time. Without the steroids he wouldn't have won 350 games, but I do think he would have been a double-digit winner for many seasons, boosting his win total close to 300, and he was a dominant pitcher, unlike some other pitchers who might have racked up a lot of wins.''

What I wish we could hear/read from Krasner is if he intends to vote for Bonds. Using his logic (which I don't agree with), Bonds too would have been a lock for HOF at the time he started using steroids. I fully expect to find some documention that Krasner is on the record as saying he will vote for Bonds for the HOF. If not, he is either a moron or perhaps worse (you know what I mean).

ESPN's Peter Gammons had a table in one of his recent posts which showed Bonds' stats prior to his steroid use prior to the 1999 season. Here they are:

Games: 1898
At-Bats: 6621
Home Runs: 411
At-bats per HR: 14.9
OPS: 966
Stats Gammons didn't include for same time period:

Runs: 1364
RBI: 1216
SB: 445
MVP's: 3

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What do these players all have in common?

Manny Alexander
Roger Clemens
Jeremy Giambi
Josias Manzanillo
Chris Donnels
Mo Vaughn
Mike Lansing
Kent Mercker
Mike Stanton
Eric Gagne
Brendan Donnelly
Jose Canseco
Steve Woodard
Paxton Crawford

They all played for the Boston Red Sox at some point in their careers and all were named in today's Mitchel Report.

Chad Allen - Spring Training Invitee in the early 2000's.
Larry Bigbie - Red Sox called off trade for Bigbie July 2005 (for Kelly Shoppach and Adam Stern) in an almost deal that still makes Colorado Rockies management mad.

Allen and Bigbie were also named. While neither actually played for the Red Sox, both came very close.

It is unfair to suggest that all those listed played for the Red Sox while using steroids or HGH, but the report named an alarmingly high number of former Red Sox players. I was stunned. Peter said in one of his posts today that he didn't think there were that many ex-Red Sox players, but I disagree. Before I continue, Mitchell's report is just that, a report on what Senator George Mitchell (ME) found during his investigation. Players are likely to cry foul, like Roger Clemens has already, and they have that right as none of these players has been found guilty in a court of law.

That being said, many of the guys wrote personal checks to individuals who cooperated with Mitchell and the federal government, so the evidence is strong, don't you think?

While Roger Clemens has already denied using steroids, his name is by far, by far the biggest name on the list outside of Barry Bonds. As Peter said today, if Bonds is considered the best offensive player of his time, then Clemens certainly has to be considered the best pitcher of his time. News of his using steroids is a bombshell. It means MLB has had its 2 best players of the last 20+ years labeled as cheaters, again, like Peter already said.

I'm not ready to say that because all players were doing steroids that it was an even playing field, but I am left wondering just how I feel about this. I am bummed, but it was so rampant that I'm not certainly how, if at all, it will impact my enthusiasm for the sport. This needs to sink in a bit more I think.

By the way, if I missed anyone that played on the Red Sox, please let me/us know. And if any of these guys (on my list or the Mitchell report) has been found guilty in a court of law, also let me/us know.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

The Red Sox left Nashville without Johan Santana, but ESPN's Buster Olney reports "that the folks in position to have insight into the Johan Santana talks strongly believe that the Twins and Red Sox will eventually work out a deal." Olney references Mark Christianson of the Star Tribune as saying the Twins prefer a deal surrounding Jacoby Ellsbury and not Jon Lester.

I have no idea at this point if this deal will get done, but I think I can be forgiven for dreaming of a starting rotation that looks like this (Buster Olney also had a Red Sox rotation projection):

SP - Beckett
SP - Santana
SP - Matsuzaka
SP - Schilling
SP - Lester/Buchholz/Wakefield

That looks good. If/when Schilling is done after 2008, either Lester or Buchholz steps in full time. Same can be said for Wakefield.

If the Red Sox do trade Ellsbury, perhaps they will still deal Coco Crisp and focus on Japanese League star Kosuke Fukudome who today declared his ententions of playing in the Majors in 2008. Some say Fukudome isn't an ideal fit in CF, but his bat projects to be superior to Crisp's. A long shot though as Fukudome is expected to get at least $10mm a season based on what I've read.

I will be happy with Crisp in CF because of his defense, but he really needs to find his stroke again and give the Red Sox a 2004 or 2005 like performance with the bat. Could those 2 seasons really have been a fluke? Or did his finger injury in 2006 really set him back this much?

Anyway, the most newsworthy post, but something to keep our interest in the Hot Stove League as things have slowed to a crawl.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 03:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

2008 represents Manny Ramirez's 8th season with the Boston Red Sox and it marks the end of his 8-year, $160mm deal. The Red Sox hold options for both 2009 and 2010 at $20mm each.

It got me thinking just what are the Red Sox going to do after 2008? We all remember the Red Sox front office putting Manny on irrevocable waivers after the 2003 with no team claiming him. At the time, the Red Sox were content to let any MLB team have Manny, contract and all for nothing in return. Times sure have changed. Somewhere along the line the Red Sox FO felt Manny proved a value after all (maybe it was those 2 World Series Championships), Manny learned to love Boston and certainly the Boston fanbase proved willing to ignore most of Manny's idiosyncrasies.

With Manny's base contract up after next year, what are the Red Sox going to do? If I am Theo Epstein, it's simple. Exercize the 2009 option. Assuming Manny has a productive year, it's a no-brainer. If Andruw Jones can get $18.1 per year with a .724 OPS, certainly Manny's .881 OPS is worth $20mm (hold your comments, I know Jones brings more to the table defensively, but if I mentioned that, it makes my argument look weaker, so pipe it).

Of course it isn't as simple as that seeing as Manny is coming off his worst season since 1994. Manny missed 35 games and hit only 20 home runs and saw his slugging % drop to a career worst .495 (he had a .302 slg in 1993 in only 53 at bats, his first year in the Majors.).

The warning signs are there. It wasn't as though he just had his overall production numbers reduced by the same % of games missed, the largest concern was that slg % drop. Manny had a terrible April, found his grove in May, June and July, then scuffled again in August before missing most of September due to injury. The average and obp remained solid enough, but again, no power. Add to it Manny will be 36 in May 2008. Power hitters generally don't stay power hitters past their mid-late 30's unless their name is Barry Bonds and they use flax seed oil.

So here's the deal. If Manny posts decent numbers in 2008, take the option year. If he struggles, let him go and see if you can sign him to a smaller deal. It really is a win-win. If he does well, you have an all-star in LF for 2009. If he doesn't, you have $20mm to spend on a replacement. The trouble with that is it isn't easy to find another Manny Ramirez.

Addendum: Eric Gagne declined arbitration with the Red Sox and instead signed a 1-year $10mm deal with Milwaukee. Gagne just got a taste of the High Life, yes, the Champagne of Beers. Gagne was terrible to be kind with Boston and somehow got a 66.6% pay raise to sign with Milwaukee. Small market ownership will never cease to amaze me with their stupidity. Dear Milwaukee, have fun being bad again. You made a nice run in 2007, but lost your minds (collectively) by signing a reliever who was really bad for 3 of 7 months in 2007 to a 66.6% raise. That is some good business. Perhaps a reading of Moneyball is in order when it comes to closers.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Day 3 of the Winter Meetings and Johan Santana is still a Twin. The Twins were expected to get back to the Red Sox with a decision either way on whether they would accept 1 of 2 offers from the Red Sox for Santana.

I'm beginning to think this deal will not happen. Why? Well there are reports that the Twins are actively engaging other teams about Santana which makes me believe they aren't satisfied with either Red Sox offer. ESPN's Keith Law said on ESPN News this am that the Twins have reached out to the Mets, Dodgers and Angels to see if they could put together a better offer.

If I'm the Red Sox, I think it is time to look at ways other than Santana to improve (as if they haven't been all along). The Twins are stalling for a better offer. This is good new/bad news because the Red Sox are in a position of power here, but there is nothing to say the Twins might simply end talks and keep Santana for themselves. The public decree by Hank Steinbrenner that the Yankees were out of the running has probably has something to do with this situation.

The StarTribune.com is suggesting, however, that despite Hank's public declaration, the Yankees have not told the Twins they are out of it.

With all of this in mind, they Red Sox might let out a giant sigh of relief if Santana gets trade elsewhere or doesn't get trade at all as the volume and quality of prosects they are offering would be a big price to pay. Maybe the ideal situation would be for Santana to land in Los Angeles. If he were a pitcher for the Dodgers, that would mean the Red Sox would see him in the regular maybe once every 3 years or in the World Series.

Peter and I have discusses this a bit off-line and agree that no matter which teams gets Santana, that team will be fired up to get such a talent, but the cost is so high both in terms of talent and money, that if the Red Sox don't get Santana, it's not exactly as if they are going to be left with a weak team. They have a pretty good rotation already, all of whom are signed for $10mm per year or less, and with Jon Lester, Clay Buccholz and some of the other young arms coming up route 95, they might just have talent for the next few years. Same can be said of the Yankees. One of the Yankees fans made this point on our comments section that if the Yankees do not get Santana, they start the year with a rotation that went 51-25 to send the season in 2007. Not too bad.

Regardless, the Twins are starting to drag their feet and business can't be done by the Red Sox if they are in a wait mode. Time to do your business Minnesota or get off the pot. Quit jerking the Red Sox around (or shame on the Red Sox for allowing themselves to get jerked around).

Other meeting news: The Red Sox will approach Jason Varitek about a contract extension. It is hard to believe that JV is in the last year of his deal and even harder to believe that I think this would be a great idea. I think a 2 year, $20mm offer is more than fair. His bat has dropped off, but he is still a great defensive catcher and can call a pretty good game.

The Red Sox are shopping Julian Tavarez who reportedly wants to start for someone in the National League.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATE: The Boston Herald is saying the Twins were satisfied with Lester's medical records paving the way for an agreement. But, the Herald also notes that potentially 2 different packages are on the table that the Twins can pick from. The article doesn't make one feel that a deal is a definite, but rather a hurdle has been cleared.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported overnight that the Red Sox have emerged as the front runners to land Johan Santana. The biggest clue Olney provided is that the Minnesota Twins asked to look at the medical records of Jon Lester.

If the Twins have settled on Lester as opposed to Jacoby Ellsbury, expect the deal to be Johan Santana in exchange for Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie, Coco Crisp and either Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden.

Also expect the Red Sox to get together with Santana's representatives to start work on a contract extension. 72 hours is generally the window of time alloted for such things.

Red Sox fans, please understand that the Red Sox aren't a team that will sign just any deal. If Santana's reps want too much money and/or too many years, don't be surprised to see the Red Sox say "no thanks." In other words, should the Twins accept the Red Sox offer, the job is only half done, so don't get your hopes up.

Here is the take of some other media outlets, none of whom seem quite as sure the Red Sox/Twins deal is a lock.

Fox Sports' Ken Rostenthal characterized the situation as the Red Sox are back in the hunt, but not necessarily the lead dog.

SI.Com's Jon Heyman says that the Yankees and Twins are at in impasse and the Twins asked the Red Sox to present an offer centered around Jon Lester. If Hank Steinbrenner is to be believed, the Yankees should no longer be in the running.

Hank's word will be tested if you believe what Tyler Kepner of the New York Times reported this morning, that the Yankees/Twins deal has a "flicker of life."

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

ESPN is reporting that the Red Sox have agreed to include Jacoby Ellsbury in a trade for Johan Santana. As part of that concession, they have also told the Twins they will not include both Ellsbury and Jon Lester in any deal. It's either/or.

As George Constanza once said "the dance continues."

This decision to offer up Ellsbury makes my stomach turn a bit. Like Peter said, you don't know what a prospect will turn out to be until years later, but I just don't like this idea. I'm hoping Theo Epstein is playing poker here and is pulling the bluff of the century. No matter what their intentions, the Red Sox have to stay in this process. As the ESPN article points out, if one of the two teams, (Bos or NYY) pulls out of the running, the Twins will have effectively lost their leverage. In order that the Yankees don't get Santana for a song, the Red Sox are obligated to stay in the running.

If the Red Sox are serious and the Twins accept their altered offer, get used to Coco Crisp in CF for the next 2 seasons. Not a horrible thought from a defense and base running standpoint, but not so great from an offensive production standpoint.

ESPN says they expect Santana will be dealt within the next 72 hours. If the Red Sox "lose" expect they to be a major player for Danny Haren.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

The Boston Globe reported today that the Red Sox have agreed to a 1 year, $3mm deal with reliever Mike Timlin.

Timlin will be 42 when camp breaks, but he has managed to remain productive in recent years. I say every year that this is Timlin's last, but he keeps coming back. Somewhere back in 2006, I lost faith in Mike Timlin and really haven't gotten it back completely. His World Series game 4 appearance did restore some of my faith (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K) but just how long can Timlin keep this up?

His 2007 regular season stat line was fine, but I just get an uneasy feeling when he enters a game.

As Peter mentioned in his last post, the Yankees have reportedly decided to offer Philip Hughes (if nec) in any potential Johan Santana deal. That probably puts them as the best possible position to get Santana. I hope the Red Sox are not intent on offering up either Clay Buchholz or Jacoby Ellsbury.

I mentioned this in a comment on Peter's post, but ESPN's Buster Olney theorized on Friday that perhaps both the Red Sox and Yankees hope the other team "wins" the Santana sweepstakes as the cost is just so high.

Winter Meetings start on Monday!

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)