Red Sox Inquire On Armando Benitez
One trade tidbit I missed, assuming it was printed elsewhere: the Red Sox recently inquired about the availability of Giants closer Armando Benitez. As you know, the Marlins were interested earlier this winter.
According to John Shea, Benitez still needs a lot of work to improve his velocity and location (and his location was never that great). Not that Benitez is any great shakes, but I can't see how the Giants think they have a surplus of relievers. They really don't have anyone who can take care of the ninth inning; I wouldn't be surprised to see Tim Lincecum closing by June.
As for the Red Sox, Benitez is the ninth sounds like a disaster in the making. Maybe no more so than Joel Pineiro, but I don't see the point. I suppose it'd be a reasonable gamble if Boston only needed to cover his salary.
Wasting Lincecum's arm in the pen would be a shame, even at closer.
Posted by: xxxJamesxxx | March 12, 2007 at 01:29 PM
It wouldn't be a waste, it'd be a way to break him in without burnout at season's end.
Posted by: RotoAuthority | March 12, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Maybe it's just me, but I really don't see him as a reliever. From all the reports on him, and his very small sample size in pro ball, his command comes and goes. Do you want a closer coming in and walking 4 guys because his mechanics are out of whack? That type of thing is much easier to correct for a starter, as a rough inning doesn't end his day, unless it's really rough.
I understand the theory of breaking guys in by using them in the pen, and I know Earl Weaver had success doing it, but I wonder what it does to the arm. By all accounts, Lincecum is very regimented and in a routine, and that routine involves starting games. What if his arm reacts poorly to pitching on back to back days?
To me, his stuff is too good to risk it. He probably deserves to be starting in the Giants rotation on opening day, and if not then, when the first injury occurs.
Posted by: xxxJamesxxx | March 12, 2007 at 04:18 PM
OK as a Sox fan, I have to ask:
Why hasn't anyone picked up on Dustin Hermanson? I think he'd be a better fit than Benitez. Granted he's still not a good fit, but he'd be better than Benitez.
I think the Sox are OK where they are. If Pineiro isn't the spectacular 9th inning guy the Sox have dreamed of, then we still have Timlin, Donnelley, and Tavarez that could be capable closers. Who knows? The closer-by-committee could work this year!
Posted by: bamabosoxfan | March 12, 2007 at 05:52 PM
I believe Hermanson was picked up by the Reds a couple of weeks ago.
Posted by: Ankur | March 12, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Hermanson signed a minor league contract with the Reds.
Closer by committee only works if you have a bunch of real good relievers. Timlin is solid, but is really old. Tavarez? He's good if there's a bench clearing brawl. Donnelley is ok, but he's not a shutdown reliever.
Posted by: xxxJamesxxx | March 12, 2007 at 06:04 PM
xxxJamesxxx you obviously do not know about Lincecums rubber arm. He has thrown 120 pitch games in college and came back to close the next day. And he declines to ever ice his arm. The guy is a freak.
We have no more room in the rotation for him now but there is a good chance Morris or Ortiz will have a meltdown. I would rather have him in the pen as closer and pull a Paplebon with him.
Posted by: ZeeGerman | March 12, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Oh I know about his rubber arm. But, from what I read, he didn't pitch the next day, he was closing games on Sundays after starting on Fridays. I don't know that the "Papelbon thing" is going to work. It's in line with the Earl Weaver way of thinking, and it has worked in some cases, but it's also failed in others.
I simply think his highest value comes as a starter, and the best way to keep him healthy long term is to use him in the rotation, pitching every 5 days. Get a guy with a good fastball and little else and let him close, Timmy's stuff is too good.
Posted by: xxxJamesxxx | March 12, 2007 at 08:13 PM
Thanks I wasn't sure about Hermanson. MLB.com still has him listed as jobless on their free agent tracker.
I still think people will be surprised by Pineiro. I think we'll be ok. And if not, then Papelbon has said that he would "do what the team needs him to do."And there's always Matt Clement to come back as a 5th starter.
Posted by: bamabosoxfan | March 12, 2007 at 09:59 PM
I think the Red Sox need a closer, but there's got to be better options out there than Benitez. How about Jorge Julio, Derrick Turnbow, or Dan Wheeler? Those guys could be had if the price was right(no matter what the Brewers say). I expect a better move from the Red Sox. Do you think the Dodgers would trade Saito and hand the ball over to Broxton if the Sox give a sweet offer?
Posted by: royaldaddy | March 12, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I think Benitez can be a wonderful pick up for the red sox and would fit well with them. Specially at a cheap price too.
Posted by: Baseballfan79 | March 13, 2007 at 07:34 AM