Odds & Ends: Jaramillo, Varitek, D'Backs

Say it ain't so Joe...

I don't think the Red Sox should resign varitek. He doesn't hit that well and he dosen't throwout many base stealers. Kevin Kouzmanoff might be a good fit in boston also.

imagine if the sox were to sign figgins to play left... he could give Reddick another year to develop, and be another alternative to spell Lowell. Then next year take over for Lowell at 3rd and give Reddick a shot. The next big move would be to trade for Reyes while his value is down. Can someone imagine our run totals if we had Reyes, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Figgins, Youk, V-Mart as our 9,1,2,3,4,5?!?!?! MY GOD

Boras is lying. Theo is not going to talk to him. He said that he is going to talk to Varitek not Boras. The Red Sox ownership said that they are not going to deal with Boras again. The fact that they didnt draft any of his clients is telling me that they are done dealing with him.

"The Cubs ought to target Kiko Calero from the right side and Joe Beimel from the left side."

Totally agree with this.

Calero and Beimel are both solid, proven relievers with decent stuff that shouldn't expect more than a year, maybe (!) two, at a relatively low salary.

I'd much rather go after those kinds of guys than fork up the extra cash and picks to sign bigger name guys like Dotel, Gregg, and Grabow.

"I don't think the Red Sox should resign varitek. He doesn't hit that well and he dosen't throwout many base stealers. Kevin Kouzmanoff might be a good fit in boston also."

It may not be an option for the Red Sox as Varitek holds a 3 million player option. The team has a 5 million option, which clearly they will decline.

Maybe they will negotiate a buy out but I can't see why Tek would take it when he can guarantee himself 3 million.

" The Red Sox ownership said that they are not going to deal with Boras again."

I think that would be impossible for either side. Boras is a 'can't live with him, can't live without him' agent. RS ownership comments were no doubt justified but also spoken out of frustration. Some point down the road the two will tango again.

Varitek is absolutely worthless at this point. If he is stubborn, he'll probably try to find a full time position on another team otherwise exercising his $3M option would equate to a massive severance package. I respect what he's given the team but he's a glorified back up and really more suited to coaching duties now.

the red sox done with boras? dont see any team effectively not dealing with him and still contending. he controls way too much young talent. for a reminder: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/scott-boras-cli.html

i can feasibly see them letting tek, drew, and maybe even dice-k walk after their current contracts without attempting extensions. but i dont see ellsbury going anywhere anytime soon.

Its pretty sad when the Astros think that the long time 1st base coach who is one of the most popular guys in the organization is thought to be a problem. What a shame. I hope whatever ever manager is hired brings him back on just to shove it back in ownerships face. It just shows you how low the organization is falling when you tell Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuz that his services as a coach are no longer needed. I would think that the way the organization is now that they would want his leadership even more.

Dear Rudy,

Please come fix me.

Love,
Giants' Lineup

_______________________________________________________________________

Dear Giants Lineup,

I would love to come to San Francisco. I have helped a few players who use to have a Bay Area connection in the past.

Love,
Rudy

Just poking fun...

"I'd much rather go after those kinds of guys than fork up the extra cash and picks to sign bigger name guys like Dotel, Gregg, and Grabow."

Me, too. I hope the Cubs don't over spend in the pen (no pun). Although, there is a move that would be an expensive gamble. Trouble is, Hendry has gambled too much recently. I am not saying this is something Hendry should do, But Wagner might be an interesting sign if a team can afford giving picks (if Theo offers arbitration) and the contract. Again, Hendry needs more clear cut moves this offseason, but I don't buy it that Wagner is done yet.

There are some names out there could benefit several team needs without costing a whole lot. The list is not going to sizzle, but there are some solid guys available.

"Although, there is a move that would be an expensive gamble. Trouble is, Hendry has gambled too much recently. I am not saying this is something Hendry should do, But Wagner might be an interesting sign if a team can afford giving picks (if Theo offers arbitration) and the contract. Again, Hendry needs more clear cut moves this offseason, but I don't buy it that Wagner is done yet."

Damn, this is pretty surprising, because when I was thinking of the one reliever that I would be okay with Hendry spending more than $3-4M on, it was Wagner.

He's got tons of experience as an elite closer, and he was flat-out dominant in his return with the Red Sox.

If he'll take a reasonable one-year deal that guarantees him the closer's job, like maybe 1/6 plus incentives, then I definitely wouldn't be opposed to that.

Wagner, Marmol, Guzman, Marshall, Caridad, Heilman and Patton/Stevens/Gaub could make up a pretty good bullpen.

Samardzija turns 25 in January, and the Cubs need to stop switching him between the rotation and the bullpen. Keep him in AAA the entire year, let him develop better command and offspeed stuff, and hope that he can join the 2011 rotation. If he can't, then give up on him as a starter, and groom him to be one of Marmol's presumed set-up men.

I can't believe that they spent $10M and gave a NTC to an amateur pitcher that they would spend two years shuttling between the MLB bullpen and the AAA rotation, after already having him spend two years in the lower minors.

Jaramillo may well be a fine hitting coach but most of the players getting mentioned as successes under his watch have had their greatest success while they were juicing. No doubt the Cubs need a shakeup for their offense but the hitting coach isn't necessarily going to cause them to start hitting. Better hitters do that. Neyer has a good post today about this, how much affect does a coach (pitching, hitting) really have at the major league level. I say bringing him in can't hurt but it's not a panacea. When I think back to the jokes that were Dusty Bakers coaches and how much I wanted them to get new, better coaches I can't help but think that Jaramillo will help. If I put that aside though and think about it without bias I have to think that coaches are a bit overrated and often scapegoats for lazy general managers.

Jaramillo, please come to Atlanta and help TP get fired. Please oh please oh please come here.
We will need you until Chipper retires.

The reason I tossed out Wagner as a possibility is because I am not sure what he would want on a deal. If Wagner's demands were close to within reason, I would say yes.

Yes, Hendry needs to get creative. I think he can do it. He can have a very good offseason. He NEEDS a very good offseason. I guess we will know more what the Ricketts family wants after their organizational meetings soon.

I would love to see Joe Torre in Atlanta

ok, the diamondbacks need a secondbase man. i think doug davis would be great to bring back, probably not going to happen though. the braves are trying to trade a starting pitcher. the dbacks did have scouts on tim hudson when he was returning from his injury. i think huson would be a tremendous pick up! bullpen wise, they need a veteran guy like Octavio Dotel and another veteran. but i think they need a secondbase man, a veteran like Placido Polanco. then jackson can play first. Parra can play left. i want eric brynes out of arizona like everyone else! trade Chris Snyder, and give the job to Montero, and have Jon Hester as your backup. I wan Ryan Roberts to return as a backup as well.
PITCHERS:
Webb
Haren
Davis
Hudson
Scherzer

BULLPEN:
Gutierrez
Vasquez
Zavada
Qualls
Dotel
Schlereth
(another veteran)

STARTERS:
Cather: Montero
First: Jackson
Second: Polanco
Short: Drew
Thrid: Reynolds
Left: Parra
Center: Young
Right: Upton

Backups:
Hester
Allen
Roberts
Ryal
Abreu