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« White Sox Make Offer To Bobby Abreu? | Main | Tigers, Verlander Avoid Arbitration »
Red Sox To Sign Brad Wilkerson
TUESDAY, 2:36pm: WEEI's Alex Speier says the Wilkerson deal is done pending a physical. He could earn as much as $2.5MM if he hits all his incentives (Tony Massarotti says $1.5MM).
MONDAY, 11:03pm: MLBTR has learned tonight that the Red Sox have signed outfielder Brad Wilkerson to a minor league deal with roster and playing time incentives. Wilkerson, 31, hit .220/.308/.326 in 309 plate appearances for the Mariners and Blue Jays in 2008. The Ms signed Wilkerson last year for $3MM but designated him for assignment before May.
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Good move to add OF depth, which is extra important when JD Drew is your RFer.
Posted by: drchstrpunk | February 02, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Yet another depth signing. Can't really complain, although my excitement over this definitely ranks around the same as the Nick Green signing.
This will be, of course, the year where a record low number of Red Sox players land on the DL, thus negating all of these minor signings.
Posted by: kevinb | February 02, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Good signing.
Quite frankly, he's a 6th or 7th outfielder depth-wise with good pop and league average defense with a strong arm.
Important signing? No. Will he make the Opening Day roster? No. But he's better than replacement level and it's nice to stack your AAA team up with guys like this. Especially when you're counting on Rocco Baldelli and JD Drew for major playing time.
Posted by: Josh Amaral | February 02, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Wow, those first two comments just solidify the ignorance of MLBTR readers. Every team makes these kinds of moves to add depth to their lineup, and to criticize them makes you look like an idiot. Guaranteed your team has made a similar move.
Posted by: PJH | February 02, 2009 at 11:47 PM
And the first two comments I was referring to were deleted, hmm.
Posted by: PJH | February 02, 2009 at 11:58 PM
I'm not quite sure I understand the logic behind the signing although given the economic climate in baseball, there must not have been a better deal out there for Wilkerson.
I think he only makes the Red Sox roster if there's an injury.
Posted by: Ian | February 03, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Man, Wifferson has fallen far.
Yeah. It's a low-risk signing, but why Wilk? He's shown no resemblance to his former self the last 2 seasons. Part of which he was in Texas with the best hitting coach there is. Aren't there better options out there for everyone? Even at a minor league deal with incentives in this market?
Posted by: mtex | February 03, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Another good low-risk signing by Theo, I envy Red Sox fans.
Posted by: astralpanda | February 03, 2009 at 12:27 AM
This is low-risk, but not much of a reward. This is a case of a team just needing to fill out their AAA roster. Those numbers from last year don't merit a spot on the 25-man roster unless he can regain some form.
Posted by: Jeff Levy | February 03, 2009 at 01:21 AM
Can't really see anything bad with this depth sign. Doesn't show an awful lot of in Baldelli's overcoming his health problem's being one and Wilkerson is a RF pretty much by nature in case Drew goes down for an extended period, thus not much in Chris Carter and Bailey either? Wilkerson has really seemed to hit the tubes over the last couple of seasons, maybe he can get some of his power bat back to some extent, but this guy looks like one of those extreme far reach type guys now.
Posted by: johns | February 03, 2009 at 01:32 AM
If he's signed cheaply, I'd say this is a fine deal. The AAA team can use a little help, I suppose.
If he signed for much more than league minimum, I'm a little more hesistant to praise Epstein. Sure, it's a low-risk depth move, but the Red Sox don't need depth badly enough to overpay for it, and Wilkerson was pretty awful last year. Not that they should go out and get Anderson or Abreu or anything, but if you're paying for a guy who's right around league-average, that's how he better be being paid.
There's no link here, and the story only mentions roster and playing time incentives, so its probably safe to assume that he signed very cheaply, making this a good signing.
-JM
Posted by: jagteq | February 03, 2009 at 02:31 AM
Boston was really interested in Wilkerson prior to the 2008 off season as a 4th OF type before he went to Seattle and maybe they see something regarding his swing that they can fix.. Dunno, he looked pretty awful with the bat few time I saw him last season, but like several people said, it can't really hurt, with the exception of guys like Van Every, Carter and Baily who just got shoved down an extra notch.
Might also look for Van Every to be the guy DFA's when Tek is put on the 40 man roster with Wilkerson now officially available to take his spot and play the OF now.
Posted by: johns | February 03, 2009 at 03:53 AM
I remember when he was all right with the Nats...he was a good guy, best of luck to him in Pawtucket.
Posted by: DCSportsGuy | February 03, 2009 at 06:30 AM
Leave now so you can get a good spot for the parade.
Posted by: yankeegirl49 | February 03, 2009 at 06:49 AM
I remember that Theo coveted Wilkerson about 4 or 5 years ago. I guess he always gets his man eventually.
It is a decent depth move, but with Baldelli and Kotsay, it's hard to see him get any playing time.
Posted by: Gstill45 | February 03, 2009 at 07:14 AM
I think this is a good signing for the red sox,in 04 he hit 32 home runs
Posted by: redsoxfan17 | February 03, 2009 at 07:31 AM
Yeah, nothing more than AAA depth at this point and a potential fill-in if one of the Sox OF gets hurt (JD Drew anyone?). I like the move, Theo has liked Wilkerson for a little while now and after nearly getting him last year, Theo gets his man and gets him on the cheap. He's a long way from those 32 homers he hit in '04, but you can't complain with a signing like this. If he doesn't work out, it doesn't really matter.
Posted by: Papelboner | February 03, 2009 at 07:38 AM
Wow. NY and Boston fans, you just can't leave it alone for one single topic, can you? LOL.
As a Padres fan, I guess I have no real understanding of a long-running baseball rivalry... We don't win enough to be anyone's rivals. However, it amazes me that this anger and hate and aggressive behavior has to come out so often... I love it!
Can I, in all humility, participate? I'm picking Tampa Bay again!
Posted by: tomfromsd | February 03, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Tim - how are you getting these low-level scoops these days? Persistence? The site's rising prestige? Pictures of Theo Epstein doing despicable things to small animals?
Posted by: messerbh | February 03, 2009 at 09:29 AM
haha why are so many good natured banter posts being deleted?
anyway, this is more than JD Drew depth signing.
If any of Drew, Jacoby, Bay, Baldelli, Kotsay, Youk, or Lowell ends up on the DL.
Wilkerson becomes the new Kotsay, and Kotsay starts.
Posted by: jimithin9 | February 03, 2009 at 09:35 AM
Jim..I was wondering the same thing. It was good natured banter..nothing personal and nothing too serious.
Posted by: yankeegirl49 | February 03, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Lowell is still hurt, so if Youkilis has to play 3rd early on this gives the Sox another option, plus better OF depth. Kotsay's health and durability is in question, too.
The guy can play all three OF positions fairly well, plays a very decent first base, and if he regains any kind of form, it will be a great signing.
Posted by: GrandePdre | February 03, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Good signing? Hardly. If the Red Sox signed me to be their sixth or seventh OF would it be a good signing? Just because he's on sale doesn't mean he's worth owning. Take it from a Seattle fan: Wilkerson is fully Washed-Up.
Posted by: rudolf | February 03, 2009 at 12:24 PM
This will be, of course, the year where a record low number of Red Sox players land on the DL, thus negating all of these minor signings.
Posted by: kevinb | February 02, 2009 at 11:25 PM
That would be a good thing though, right?
Posted by: grandmasterb | February 03, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Good signing to add depth. Brad can play 1B and all oufield spots, but strikes out too much to be an everyday guy.
Posted by: Tomahawk368 | February 03, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Honestly as a Ranger fan I was thrilled to see Wilkerson leave. I was frustrated every time I saw him play. Enjoy Red Sox Nation. I like ya'll, but he is absolutely terrible to watch play.
Posted by: Rett Davis | February 03, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Did Tim break this story? Tony M seems to indicate that...
Posted by: nickfit | February 03, 2009 at 03:38 PM
The upside with Wilkerson of high OBP is certainly worth it. If he could somehow bang out a .240 or .250 average he'd be well worth the $$.
Posted by: CubbyFan23 | February 03, 2009 at 04:43 PM
boston still will be in 2nd place this year garbage team
Posted by: derek jestophatingter 26 | February 03, 2009 at 05:13 PM
haha my earlier joke comment got deleted.
In all seriousness, I guess it's a good move. Red Sox have a lot of OFs but most of them are injury risks. You never know about Ellsbury and Baldelli's health is a concern and you can count on JD getting hurt.
Nothing wrong with adding depth, even to AAA.
Posted by: Umair | February 03, 2009 at 09:27 PM
wow...i just looked at this story... it linked me to you... and you just update it...damn
Posted by: dc | February 03, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Pitching wins pennants, not spare outfielders. Sox have an abundance of both.
Posted by: hawkny | February 06, 2009 at 09:29 AM