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Cafardo's Latest: Mauer, Red Sox, Glavine

By Nat Boyle [March 8, 2009 at 9:52am CST]

With every Sunday come rumors from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:

Cafardo asks Tom Glavine whether he'd consider another year if 2009 is a success. Glavine didn't say no: "I'm not prepared right now to say. It would take a lot of good things to happen this year to consider playing next year. Last year, I didn't think I'd be sitting here this year, so I guess you never know."
Nomar Garciaparra had placed a call to the Red Sox front office inquiring about their potential interest.
If he hits free agency, Joe Mauer is expected to receive offers in the $20-25MM range and "The Sox are expected to be front and center." Mauer is signed with the Twins through 2010. He'll make $10.5MM this year and $12.5MM in 2010.
Dusty Baker thinks Barry Bonds would still be a top hitter in the league. Says Baker, "He's one of those guys that will be able to pick up a bat when he's an old man and still get a hit."
Andruw Jones is 4 for 18 with 10 strikeouts to start spring training.
Scouts agree: George Kottaras would clear waivers if designated for assignment, meaning the Red Sox may not have to deal the catching prospect.
Cafardo would make the Clay Buchholz-Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade right now.

Comments

nomar to yankees? i dont know if it has been talked about since the injury to arod.

Posted by: pvilly131 | March 08, 2009 at 10:06 AM

He kinda was just signed, and I doubt the Yankees want to give up ANYTHING for a stopgag.

Posted by: venn177 | March 08, 2009 at 10:14 AM

"nomar to yankees?"

He signed with the A's this week.

25M for Mauer seems excessive, even for a great hitting catcher. That kind of money is usually reserved to top power hitters.

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | March 08, 2009 at 10:14 AM

25M for Mauer would be way too much.

Posted by: Mowses | March 08, 2009 at 10:17 AM

The Tigers signed Pudge in 2004 and the most he made with them was a little over $12MM. There is no way Mauer is even worth $20MM. He may not be able to play catcher in a few years. Isn't he about 6'7''?

Posted by: Rob M. | March 08, 2009 at 10:21 AM

That's why Cafardo is writing about it and Epstein is doing it. Doubt you trade a potential ace for a catcher regardless of need.

Posted by: indybucfan | March 08, 2009 at 10:21 AM

"Cafardo would make the Clay Buchholz-Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade right now."

The problem is I am not sure Texsa makes that deal now. Salty has came into camp raking and has shown a huge improvement behind the plate. I have a bad feeling the whole RedSox Catching Saga will end up biting them in the ass when everything is said and done in the end.

The interesting thing bout it is that Teagarden might be more available now than beforehand.

Posted by: laxtonto | March 08, 2009 at 11:24 AM

lol at pvilly...

25 for Mauer WOULD be way to much, but that is the way this market works. The very good players get the massive amounts of money that no player deserves. Then the above average players are stuck making 5 mil for one year.

Posted by: B3NG4L | March 08, 2009 at 12:56 PM

25M is way too much for Mauer. We have maybe 3-4 players in the league making over 20M a year and I don't see him being up there with ARod, Texiera, and Manny. The only teams willing to pay that much money have players locked for the next few years. Drop his pricetag down to around 16-18M a year and you got yourself a good chance at a deal.

Posted by: ATLmcgriff | March 08, 2009 at 01:20 PM

I could very easily see Mauer getting 20-25MM if he were to hit FA.

I'd be more concerned with guaranteeing a catcher years than money. High annual salary, fewer years.

Posted by: melonis rex | March 08, 2009 at 01:32 PM

"25M is way too much for Mauer. We have maybe 3-4 players in the league making over 20M a year and I don't see him being up there with ARod, Texiera, and Manny"

I'd put Mauer over Teixeira and Manny any day.

Just look at the positions they play.

Posted by: melonis rex | March 08, 2009 at 01:33 PM

"George Kottaras would clear waivers if designated for assignment, meaning the Red Sox may not have to deal the catching prospect."

One word: Marlins. Backup John Baker.

Posted by: melonis rex | March 08, 2009 at 01:56 PM

Actually melonis many reports have john baker starting this season with the marlins so i doubt hes on the block rite now

Posted by: nyankss27 | March 08, 2009 at 02:59 PM

"Actually melonis many reports have john baker starting this season with the marlins so i doubt hes on the block rite now
"

Baker wouldn't be traded.

I meant claim Kotteras as a backup catcher to John Baker.

Posted by: melonis rex | March 08, 2009 at 04:26 PM

Baker wouldn't be traded.

I meant claim Kotteras as a backup catcher to John Baker.
___________

Sorry melonis thanks for clearing that up for me but dont they already have mike rabelo that could be a backup? he was in the willis cabrera trade and i thought he would be a starting catcher by now if you could get back to me on that it would be great. thanks

Posted by: nyankss27 | March 08, 2009 at 04:32 PM

I am kind of hoping the Sox keep Kotteras as the B/U catcher. He has experience with the knucker (Zink in AAA) and swings a decent bat anyway, plus his defense is not that bad and his arm is clearly better than either Tek or Josh Bard's.

Posted by: johns | March 08, 2009 at 05:37 PM

I'm with you on this johns. I'd love to see Kottaras in for backup catcher. I'm not too thrilled about Bard. I don't see him as a substantial upgrade over Tek.

I'd love to see Mauer with the Sox. $25 is kinda a joke. I'd have have to guess he's worth $10-13/year.

Posted by: Umair | March 08, 2009 at 07:25 PM

Mauer definitely gets more than $10-13 mil. I could easily see him getting around $20 mil, especially if you get the Yanks and Sox involved. Great defensive catchers who can hit like Mauer can are few and far between.

Posted by: ilikebaseball | March 08, 2009 at 08:01 PM

I'd put Mauer over Teixeira and Manny any day.

Just look at the positions they play.

Thats the thing. Who is more likely to get injured on any one play, a 1B/LF or a catcher?

the catcher can get hurt in their stance, get run down at the plate, get hit by a fiul ball, or get hit with a bat. the 1B/LF can hurt a hammy or quad, but they dont have the numerous numbers of ways to get hurt. thats why you dont see any $20-25M catchers, but ample number of 1B/LF.

Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | March 08, 2009 at 08:52 PM

I just laugh at Mauer at 20-25 mil. Honestly, if Mike Piazza were reincarnated as a youngster, he MIGHT be valued at 20-25 mil with all the inflation in contracts prior to this offseason. And if that did happen it would be 2/40 with a 3rd team option for 22 mil.

Bottom line is look at the guys who got money. Teix (30+ homers 110+ rbi) Manny (30+ homers, as much as 165 rbi) Arod (50+ homers as much as 155 rbi)

Mauer 10 homers and 85 rbi?

I would honestly pay Mauer a similar salary to Kevin Youkilis.

The highest paid catcher is Jorge Posada who in his prime was a great hitter. He got paid at the end of his career and got $15MM. That was considered overpaid. Mauer won't possibly get more than 10-13MM a season. There is no logic to it.

Want some premier catchers to compare? Bengie Molina, Yadier Molina, Jorge Posada, Russell Martin.

It will take a line of:
.320+ av
28-32 homers
110+ rbi

if he wants to land that kind of a deal. and he will have to accept 3-4 years.

Posted by: Santana/Beckett FTW | March 09, 2009 at 12:57 AM

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Cafardo's Latest: Mauer, Red Sox, Glavine

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