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From Buster Olney's blog today:
Scouts and officials with other teams say the Red Sox have been actively making inquiries about catchers.
Kevin Cash is Tim Wakefield's personal catcher, for now. Not sure on their knuckleball-handling skills, but here are some other backstops who may be available: Gerald Laird, Michael Barrett, Ramon Hernandez, Bengie Molina, Humberto Quintero, Brayan Pena, and Jeff Mathis. However, Laird may be off limits and Barrett isn't known for his defense. Molina and Hernandez are signed through '09.
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I think you can blanco to the list too. Decent D and cheap - think he is signed thru 09 as well. Cash and a prospect for Blanco? Cubs are sticking with Soto and can always bring up Hill to back up.
Posted by: touchmymonkey | April 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
no, they'll wait until Mirabelli signs with a team, then trade Buccholz and Lowrie to get him back ;)
Posted by: el clash combo | April 04, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Looking for a catcher as in a back up who is better than Cash? Or looking for a catcher as in an heir apparent to Varitek?
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | April 04, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Although not likely, Jed Lowrie is blocked by Pedroia. I wonder if he could be had for Ramon Hernandez is some sort of deal.... not likely I suppose.
Posted by: Orioles13 | April 04, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Start wearing purple, I don't know the answer to that question. Could be either, I guess.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | April 04, 2008 at 11:08 AM
There are multiple articles saying the Cubs are grooming blanco to be a manager, although probably of a minors team...not to mention K. Hill is awful offensively. Blanco is the backup, and unless the Cubs were really impressed with an offer, he isn't going anywhere. I think Barrett makes the most sense, unless they are trying to get something for the future. If that was the case, I would talk to the Cardinals about B. Anderson, who is blocked by Molina.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | April 04, 2008 at 11:26 AM
If they need someone to catch Wakefield, resign Mirabelli.
If they're looking for a catcher to take over for Varitek, draft well Boston. Or be prepared to give up Bucholtz AND Lowrie. Anyone know when Tek's contract ends?
Posted by: la16 | April 04, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I think Laird would be a good fit for the Sox. Boston has the prospects that would interest JD, it's just a matter if they want to shell out what he'd ask for.
Posted by: BrianTX | April 04, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Isn't the Tek done after this season ?
Personally, i think the Red Sox should trade Lowrie to the Jays for Thigpen, or even Diaz.
This idea isn't actually based in reality, its mostly because Lowrie would be awesome to have in Toronto.
Posted by: BaseBallz | April 04, 2008 at 11:42 AM
For you idiots suggesting we trade a great SS prospect for a C like Thigpen im sorry, you really need to learn your facts. And for people who think the Sox will trade Buchholz for catcher, just wow....not only do the Sox have atleast 2-3 more years from V-Tek but they can easily a) draft some1 or if they do indeed trade prospects actually get a good catcher, maybe Jeff Clement or if they decide to keep him sign Johjima...jeez trading Buchholz for a C...just plain hilarious
Posted by: Soxfan017 | April 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Varitek's contract is up at the end of the season. He made Boras work out a deal with the Sox after 2004 and would expect the same after this season.
That said, they definitely need someone to take over when Varitek is done. I'd thought George Kottaras was supposed to be that guy, but this makes it seem like that may not be the plan anymore. There are only so many catchers with experience catching the knuckleball - including Varitek, by the way - so it's curious they would be casting the net for others when Cash did it last year. I just hope they don't make another stupid trade if Dougie signs with another team. If I were a GM, I'd offer Mirabelli a contract just to see if Theo twitches again. And I'm a Sox fan!
Posted by: cmac1973 | April 04, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Soxfan, don't go overvaluing Lowrie just yet. Hitting is great, glove needs to get up there and still popular opinion is he'd be better at second, though he is winning over scouts.
Personally I think a Lowrie/Anderson trade would work out nicely. As in catching prospect Bryan Anderson from the Cards. Anderson is a couple of years off and Tek isn't done yet. And the Cards seem to have no faith in Ryan as their future shortstop.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | April 04, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Soxfan017, you really need to get back to your hooked on phonics if you can't tell when someone is being sarcastic, because until you have confidence in your reading skills you shouldn't go calling people idiots,
i qualified my Thigpen statement with,
"This idea isn't actually based in reality"
Not based in reality, as in it will never happen in reality, only in ones dreams. Subtle clues if you know what to look for.
And, the Mirrabelli trade for Bucholz and Lowrie post was a little bit more complicated:
"they'll wait until Mirabelli signs with a team, then trade Buccholz and Lowrie to get him back ;)"
see that ";)" thats a wink, as in i know this is a silly proposal, so i will wink to show people that i am kidding.
Also, he was playing off what happened last time the BoSox let Mirrabelli go.
All stuff i don't expect you to know since you've missed such obvious indicators of the authors' intentions with their posts, so i just though i'd point this stuff out, since the world doesn't need another ignorant soxfan.
Posted by: BaseBallz | April 04, 2008 at 12:30 PM
This makes us Tribe fans feel a little better about the Crisp for Shoppach/Marte trade, even if Marte isn't panning out.
Posted by: mharr | April 04, 2008 at 12:42 PM
The D-backs' Miguel Montero will be off the 15-day DL very shortly (broken finger)...he's got good power and is a decent defender
Posted by: dbacksbuzz | April 04, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Yeah, some people are taking things way too seriously already. I'd imagine the team is looking for an heir apparent to Tek, as his contract is up after this year and Cash has seemed to handle Wake pretty well so far (based on watching them in spring training).
I've been hoping they'd bring in Tek's replacement soon, not that I don't love Tek, but he is getting older and losing some of his offensive abilities. I'd love a guy like Taylor Teagarden, but I'd imagine the cost would be too much in terms of prospects, esp. with Salty taking reps at 1B.
I would also think Lowrie is not going to be trade bait. I'm not sold on Lugo and I think if he has another season like he did last year, Lowrie will be given a chance at the job.
Posted by: Papelboner | April 04, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I don't think the Jays would have any use for a mediocre 2B prospect considering they already have Hill there.
Posted by: Grant77 | April 04, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I don't think the Jays would have any use for a mediocre 2B prospect considering they already have Hill there.
Posted by: Grant77 | April 04, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Umm... Salty is in AAA playing C. Teagarden is in AA playing catcher. Neither are gettng reps at first.
As far as trading for Teagarden, be ready to break the bank at postions Texas isnt deep at already. So it would have to be high end pitching, high end OF, and highend 3B.
Lowrie or Anderson would make little sense to go to Texas. Davis and Andrus are rated as high or higher than those 2.
As far as Laird, hes got value but he dosent get in front of enough balls in the dirt and has a high wild pitch and passed ball rate. He definately would be out as far as catching wake.
I would wait and see if Laird's bat comes around, and if so he could be a compreable replacement for a FA Varatek.
I personally believe that tek is on a sharp decline, which tends to happen to C at the end of their careers offensively.
Posted by: laxtonto | April 04, 2008 at 02:07 PM
All of the names listed are veteran guys. I think the Sox focus is more on catching prospects. They've made it clear that that is a priority.
Posted by: sugarshane024 | April 04, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Convert Aaron Bates back to catcher!
Posted by: jaywest05 | April 04, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Agreed it must be a prospect they are after. Tehre are just not many catchers out there who have proven they can catch a knucleball and provide improved offense every 5 days. That being said I doubt the Sox are freaking out...they have a few potential options, I think Wagner is going to be a very respectable major league catcher. Everyone was raving about his defense this spring and while his #'s were inflated from playing in Lancaster last year he draws a very good deal of walks and does not strike out too much. He won't be an allstar but I could see him being as good as Tek defensively or close (Tek is a great game caller, is not great at throwing runners) and being league avg at the plate w/better on base avg then the majority of catchers.
Posted by: Jared78 | April 04, 2008 at 02:34 PM
What about the new and improved H. Quintero, whom the Astros recently DFA'ed? He plays good D, and has a great arm. He also lost a lot of weight during the offseason and upped his offensive potential. Plus, he'd come pretty cheap.
Posted by: thered86 | April 04, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Cash players half decent defense and can catch the knuckleball.
The Sox then have former top prospect for the Padres George Kottaras whose defense has improved, and just exploded offesively in the second half of 07 and spring 08 - back to the levels that made him a top prospect.
The Sox system is fairly deep at catcher.
And anyway, they will sign Tek to an extension so it isn't the time to find a replacement. So young prospect would EVER play enough as his backup to justify the pickup, they would just sit on the bench. The only way if could work is if they traded Youk and split 1B between Moss and a young catcher in 09, which won't happen.
Posted by: quintjs | April 04, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Mathis may well be a good fit for the Sox, if they offer the Angels something worth trading him for. He is top-tier defensively, which makes him perfect for Wakefield and his bat looked to be coming around last year before a late slump. He is made expendable by Napoli's bat and plus, though not as good as Mathis, defense. The only issue is that Ryan Budde is really not a full time MLB backup.
Posted by: AA | April 04, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Boston should send Coco Crisp to San Diego for Michael Barrett... and hell, why not Colt Morton?
Posted by: helloelan | April 05, 2008 at 08:26 PM