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Theo Epstein WEEI Interview: Crisp, Santana

By Tim Dierkes [February 26, 2008 at 8:36am CST]

WEEI recently posted an interesting interview with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. Epstein was frank with his answers and didn't duck questions. A few points of interest:

Epstein observed a "horrible free agent market, bereft of talent." The one surplus he noted was center field, which he feels resulted in the lack of a trade market for Coco Crisp (the best defensive center fielder in the game last year, according to Epstein). Epstein said he learned his lesson with Jay Payton and does not want to be forced to trade Crisp as he was Payton. He won't deal Crisp from a "position of weakness." Michael Silverman believes a team will have to have its center fielder significantly injured for a market for Crisp to develop. Or, a prospect like Felix Pie or Colby Rasmus will have to prove not ready or be traded.
As for Johan Santana, the Red Sox were "in it, with limits." Epstein said he left the Twins with two solid offers, but Bill Smith wanted a package that would've been "completely irresponsible." He felt that Boston's offer was better than that of the Mets.

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Comments

Unless the offer included Lester AND Ellsbury, the Red Sox were never "in it"! The Twins were never, ever going to take Crisp instead of Ellsbury.

What is intriguing though: did the Red Sox come around and offer BOTH Ellsbury and Lester but, they could not agree on the minor league players?

There was a report here in the Twin Cities in the heat of the negotiations that the Red Sox and Twins were actually dickering about the "other" players involved who were not neccessarily Masterson and Lowrie as widely believed.

Posted by: bernie | February 26, 2008 at 10:41 AM

HAHAHA your too funny. Lester AND Ellsbury? What are you from the funny farm? If a future all star CF and a solid #2 or 3 starter was not good enough for the most overrated pitcher in years than I'm GLAD we didn't get Santana. Screw him.

Posted by: jondogg1985 | February 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Solid number 2 or 3? Maybe number 3 on the red sox, but not on a team with a good rotation, and certainly not solid. I don't think he is the one from the funny farm.

Posted by: Grant77 | February 26, 2008 at 02:44 PM

I think the Twins were holding out for Lester and Elsbury, and I also think if they had been offered, squabling over the "other" players would go down as one of the all time biggest blunders. One more thing, I know it's often over-used and no one in either organization wants to admit it, but I think keeping him off of the MFYs, was their main objective. And therefore, their only real need to up their offer, was to keep him from the pinstripes. Once the Mets seemed ready to make the deal happen, the Sox had no reason to up the ante. As long as he's leaving the AL, that's almost as good as getting him in the trade. And I don't see him as the most overrated pitcher in years. Ask the fans in NY if he's more overrated than say... Carl Pavano was.

Posted by: Quintananana | February 26, 2008 at 02:52 PM

jondogg1985 ... Santana is overrated, "the most overrated pitcher in years" and yet Ellsbury is a future All-Star and Lester is a solid #2? Who's overrating who?

I'm duly impressed that you can project Ellsbury's 116AB's into a future all star. And I'm sure you have your reasons for suggesting that a pitcher who has posted a ML ERA of 4.68 is a #2. If Lester were pitching for a team like the Angels he wouldn't have a spot in the rotation. Tell me again how he is a #2?

But your most egregious offense is calling Johan overrated. What exactly is it about the guy you don't like? His WHIP too high? Doesn't K enough batters? Doesn't pitch enough innings or stay healthy enough for you? Johan has been the most dominant pitcher in the game for the past 4 years. He's still young and is moving to the NL. They guy is in a class by himself. That's not hype - that's reality. Note - I'm neither a Twins or Mets fan. But I sure can see talent and Johan is just dripping with it.

Posted by: bjsguess | February 26, 2008 at 03:24 PM

I'm certainly not going to criticize the Twins over this move. I'm glad they sent Santana over to the Mets instead of the Yankees. I just hope for the GM's sake that the guys he traded for actually do pan out. If they turn out to be busts, he would be killed for passing up on better top end talent offered to him.

Posted by: SierraM | February 26, 2008 at 03:33 PM

"for the most overrated pitcher in years"

Actually he's historically one of the most dominating pitchers in recent memory.

He's led the AL in ERA twice and finished 2nd and 7th the other two times.

He's been in the top 5 in wins twice, leading the AL once and being runner up once as well.

He's finished in top 3 in winning percentage three times.

He's led the AL in WHIP every single one of the last four seasons, which is incredible.

He led the league in K/9 three straight seasons, and finished 3rd in 2007.

He was in the top 2 in innings from 2004-2006, and finished 6th in 2007.

He led the league in adjusted ERA for three consecutive seasons from 2004-2006. He finished 9th last year.

He is clearly one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball, and is still currently in his physical prime at 28 (almost 29) so there is no reason to think he'll slow down, especially when moving to the easier league.

He is definately not underrated, and is in fact probably in the top 5 pitchers of the last 20 years, with Clemens, Maddux, Pedro and Randy Johnson.

Posted by: scribbletone | February 26, 2008 at 06:54 PM

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Theo Epstein WEEI Interview: Crisp, Santana

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