In his new column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo takes a look at the Tampa Bay Rays, and their desire to recapture their 2008 success. Within the piece, Cafardo also offers up some hot stove nuggets….
- The Red Sox are serious about keeping Mike Lowell's bat around, but if they do decide to move him, the Twins "could be a major suitor." They've had interest in Lowell in the past, which would likely be renewed if the Sox paid most of the $12MM he's owed.
- Ron Mahay turned down a minor league contract offer from the Red Sox. It sounds like he's looking for a deal that would guarantee him a spot on a major league roster.
- The Angels intend to give free agent addition Hideki Matsui a shot in the outfield, despite his knee problems. Yankee officials still don't believe that he'll be physically able to play in the field.
- Cafardo writes that Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and Orioles president Andy MacPhail are two names at the top of the list of candidates to replace Bud Selig as baseball's commissioner after 2012.
Mets should offer Mahay and Biemel the same offer and see who jumps first.
I think the Mets would be better off with Beimel.
I think the Mets would be better off with Beimel.
Mets should offer Mahay and Biemel the same offer and see who jumps first.
Matsui already said his knees arent 100% this spring training, he was a full time DH last year and he still needed his knees drained 3-4 times- putting him in the OF is a DL stay waiting to happen
Totally agree.
The question really is, if Matsui is physically capable of playing the outfield, should he? His defense is simply not that good. It increases his injury risk.
Maybe once every week or two to give someone a day off at DH would be OK. But anything resembling regular playing time will come back to haunt the Angels.
That too, even if he is able to play his defense was bad a few years ago so doubt it magically improved. Better off just DHing him, and letting whatever OF they have on their bench playing to give Abreu/Hunter/Rivera a rest.
Matsui already said his knees arent 100% this spring training, he was a full time DH last year and he still needed his knees drained 3-4 times- putting him in the OF is a DL stay waiting to happen
A month or two ago they were willing to eat 9m to move Lowell, now they’re “serious” about keeping him. Come on, any rational person can see it’s just Theo trying to get some leverage back so he doesnt have to eat all of Lowell’s contract.
In an interview, Theo was talking about how he was going to use that 3M to get another corner infield bat off the bench and since the trade didn’t happen, they didn’t get another guy so they are going to use Lowell in that position. But yeah, you’d have to think if they get could get something out of it, they’d jump at the chance to trade him.
But is Lowell going to be happy as a bat off the bench? He’ll only get time when Ortiz sits versus a tough lefty, or if Ortiz is just dreadful and they bench him instead; or if Beltre/Youk get hurt.
Yes I know they say he’s a great team guy, but he also made a big deal about playing TOO much before hitting the DL last year, then after he was complaining he wasn’t playing enough. Now he’s going to play once a week? I think he’ll be gone by opening day
You’re right. I don’t know, I love Mike Lowell but some of his comments have struck me as a little bitter for someone with the reputation of a great team guy. I mean, I don’t blame him, he just wants to play. But unless he becomes a real distraction, I don’t see him getting traded unless Theo gets what he wants out of it.
I think Theo is just trying to rebuild his value via transparent media quotes. There is absolutely no room or use for Lowell on the team (as it stands now). $25M for the DH position is insane. Though even if he is traded it’ll still be $20M+ at DH as Theo will have to eat 75% of his contract.
Will be interesting to see who’s tearing the cover off the ball in the first month – Ortiz or Lowell.
A month or two ago they were willing to eat 9m to move Lowell, now they’re “serious” about keeping him. Come on, any rational person can see it’s just Theo trying to get some leverage back so he doesnt have to eat all of Lowell’s contract.
I think I would make a better commissioner than bud selig.
Andy mcphail would be a good choice.
I’m going to take Larry Lucchino on this one. I just can’t see the enthusiasm in McPhail anybody know what I mean?
I’m going to take Larry Lucchino on this one. I just can’t see the enthusiasm in McPhail anybody know what I mean?
I think I would make a better commissioner than bud selig.
Andy mcphail would be a good choice.
You’ll get the commissionership from Bud Selig when you pry it from his cold, dead hands. He isn’t going anywhere.
Didnt he already announce he was stepping down after they sign a new CBA?
He said in 06 he would retire in 09, but then negotiated a contract extension in 08.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Didnt he already announce he was stepping down after they sign a new CBA?
Lucchino should do a good job, I really hope Selig actually does resign, its time for change. I dont know how guys like Mahay expect to find good money still.
Lucchino should do a good job, I really hope Selig actually does resign, its time for change. I dont know how guys like Mahay expect to find good money still.
Yeah, a guy in Lucchino with a past of creating controversy and dubbing “Evil Empire” would make a good overlord of the league.
I’ll take McPhail, Please.
– dubbing “Evil Empire”
Dont take it so personally Vmmercan – it’s a meaningless term between two competitors that benefits both teams. The ‘bitter’ the rivalry the more income BOS and NYY generate.
I cant vouch for Lucchino’s validity as a businessman but he knows how to build a brand. Obviously winning 2 WS helps but you should see some of the inane revenue streams the FO has developed. He managed to squeeze even more money and interest in a team already saturated in fandom. Cant see how the rest of the MLB owners would frown upon that in a Commissioner.
I’d just prefer not to have one of the most powerful owners (Henry) who has dipped into ownership of some other franchises before, along with a guy like Mitchell, who has worked for the Sox before, along with a guy like Hoyer being another GM and a guy like Luccino being the commissioner at once.
At some point it becomes a conflict of interest and I don’t just mean for the Yankees.
Larry doesn’t seem like a guy with a clean track record rivalry of no rivalry. No doubt since he’s in the current generation of Sox Front Office he is likely a good businessman though. The Sox have really turned around their franchise in terms of profit and foresight.
Matsui wasn’t a great outfielder with two good knees. The Angels are asking for trouble if they put him out there.
Ha the Twins adding Lowell to the lineup would just make this offseason too good to be true.
What are the Red Sox looking for in return? I don’t see them getting a whole lot back for a 36 year old coming off thumb surgery.