It's clear to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that the collapse of last September bothered some Red Sox players more than others. While some are using it as fuel for motivation, others seem eager to leave it in the past completely. Former Braves manager Bobby Cox told Cafardo that he preferred the latter. "The way I looked at it, you let it go both ways. If we win the World Series, I’d say enjoy it but time to get ready for the next year. Every season is different. I don’t think there should be carryover either way," Cox said. Here's more from Cafardo..
- Major league sources say that Ian Kinsler should average $13-$14MM over five or six years once his deal is done. While he and the Rangers couldn’t come to terms by Opening Day, it’s not out of the question that something gets done during the season. Brandon Phillips of the Reds should be in the Dan Uggla range – about five-years for $60MM. Dustin Pedroia's six-year, $40.5MM deal with the Red Sox now looks like bargain as it goes through 2014 with an $11MM option for 2015.
- When asked if he would consider managing again, Cox didn’t give a resounding no. "I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m done," he said. But he added, “I miss it. I miss it every day." While Cox has deep ties to Dodgers president Stan Kasten, he said he would not consider going back to being a GM. Cox is signed to be an adviser for the Braves through the 2015 season.
- When asked about Johnny Damon remaining on the open market, one AL GM was perplexed and suggested that the Rays, Indians, Orioles, and Tigers could all use him.
- Cafardo's "all-free agent team" features right-hander Roy Oswalt, Damon in center field, Hideki Matsui as DH, Vladimir Guerrero in left field, Magglio Ordonez in right, catcher Ivan Rodriguez, first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Aaron Miles, shortstop Felipe Lopez, third baseman Casey Blake. Oswalt tops the rotation alongside Javier Vazquez, who he notes has not officially retired. Cafardo also lists Mike Gonzalez and Arthur Rhodes as the top relievers available.
- Mark Prior’s throwing sessions have looked decent, according to major league sources, and he may be getting ready to throw for teams soon.
- Nationals pitcher John Lannan remains in limbo as he pitches in Triple-A, but as injuries mount his trade request may be heard. The left-hander is only 27 and could fit on many staffs as a fourth or fifth starter, but his $5MM salary is an obvious hurdle.
6 ABs into the season and Kinsler had already hit for the cycle, pay him.
Someone explain to me how the Tigers could use Damon?
What are the chances Bobby Cox returns to the Braves dugout by this year’s All Star Break if the club really tanks?
cox needs to be on stand by. freddi may be gone sooner that later
Cafardo’s “all-free agent team” features right-hander Roy Oswalt, Damon as DH Hideki Matsui as DH, Vladimir Guerrero as DH, Magglio Ordonez as DH, catcher Ivan Rodriguez, first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Aaron Miles, shortstop Felipe Lopez, DH Casey Blake.
Someone explain to me how the Orioles could use Damon? Or the Rays?
Rays: As Mascot
Orioles: As chef for the new restaurants at the park.
That restaurant actually looks pretty good. I don’t Damon messing that up.
Damon is not coming back to Tampa A) We don’t have a spot for him B) He trashed the team when we signed Scott. Cya, Johnny
“Cya, Johnny”
Heeeeerrrrrrreeee’sss Johnny! (Followed by the sound of water swirling down from a certain object) Damon’s career path is headed down a wrong path now come April. It’s on the old Flusharoo path now and even good old Cafardo seems to be trying to drum up support where none exists.
Damon has burned bridges before, joeybw, and it may be coming back to haunt him. Although the Red Sox have no real use for him, he trashed the fans when they booed him as a Yankee (like he didn’t see it coming), then nixed a deal from the Tigers a few years ago, not wanting to play in Boston. It always catches up.
Is Carfardo his new agent? I thought Damon was a Boras client. Maybe Carfardo is working for Boras on the side.
I thought Jon Heyman was his agent.
Perdroia’s contract was ALWAYS a head-scratcher. Loyalty is one thing- chopping off those extra couple of million to avoid a round figure average salary or something, but Pedroia basically gave the red sox a $40-50MM discount, especially considering how early into his career he signed that deal.
The game misses you Bobby Cox.
Ernie Johnson, Pete Van Wieren and Skip Carey also.. IMO? One of the best announcer groups ever. They had the median between slight homerism and knowledge of the game melded together into one and nobody today (to me) told better stories of times past than Ernie Johnson.
Edit: Hawk Harrelson is close (IMO) telling stories of times past, mainly because he will almost invariable recall one from his days as a Red Sox player and something about Yaz, but many are repeat stories he has said before on the air, funny and interesting nonetheless.
Have a fear that when Hawk retires there will be no more of this “breed” as Boston it seems does not want “The Eck” Dennis Eckersley on the air FT since Remy came back and he seems to be the only other former LT player who does that many times.
Bobby, please consider it. The Braves could use that sense of quiet confidence, sprinkled with that motivational fire you provide. Nothing personally against Fredi, but there are just some concepts he hasn’t grasped yet.