Here are some interesting tidbits courtesy of Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com:
- The Red Sox wanted to acquire then Mariners starter Erik Bedard so badly that they tried to trade for the lefty while he was still on the disabled list in July. Fortuitously, Bedard threw a simulated game at Fenway Park when the M's were in Boston on July 23, shortly before his return from the DL. So, the Red Sox had a good chance to scout him before making an offer to Seattle and consummating the eventual trade.
- Offseason negotiations between impending free agent David Ortiz and Boston "will not necessarily go smoothly," opines Rosenthal. The Red Sox will want to limit the years on a new deal for Papi, while the DH will seek a multiyear pact and a raise on his $12.5MM annaul salary.
- Rangers lefty Mike Gonzalez, acquired last week from the Orioles, could be a huge pickup for Texas, which lacks a lefty killer in its bullpen.
- Texas was serious about acquiring Lance Berkman from the Cardinals, but the Big Puma didn't want to be a rental player for the second consecutive year, according to Rosenthal, and St. Louis wanted to retain the veteran slugger in hopes of re-signing him this offseason.
He doesn’t want to be a rental player? I’m sorry but he doesn’t have much of a career left and the Rangers have a serious chance at making it to the World Series again (I don’t think they will but they could). Besides it would have only been one month. (an extra month if and when the Rangers make the playoffs).
People like to assume that winning a World Series is the only goal of every player. It isn’t. Berkman is clearly happy playing in St. Louis, and there’s no reason to think that team won’t contend going forward. Some players don’t like to move around.
Also, at .281/.398/.550 this year, it’s tough to believe that he “doesn’t have much of a career left.” His body could break down again next week, but who knows? He’s still a very skilled hitter, and he may end up with 3 or 4 solid years left.
He’s 35 years old. You expect him to have 3 to 4 solid years left?
and it should be the goal of every player. It’s not like he’s played his entire career in St. Louis and wants to finish a Cardinal. I can’t understand fan bases that would root for a player who’s satisfied with being anything but a World Champion… but hey, it’s St. Louis.
There’s plenty of reasons to believe the Cardinals won’t contend btw. Like Pujols possibly leaving, the Manager running future stars out of town, etc.
Who are you to say what a player’s goal should be?
Seriously. I mean that. You really don’t have a right to dictate *why* a person does what he does for a living. Your externalizing your own goals/virtues onto someone else.
Some players play for the money. Others play for comfort. Some end up in a place they enjoy playing, and choose to stay there.
If a player was on *your* favorite team, and he turned down a trade to a contender because he wanted to stick with the team he was on, would you question his heart, or would you champion his loyalty? If Lance Berkman is happy being a St. Louis Cardinal, I don’t understand what’s not to respect about that. Is that somehow less noble than signing with the Yankees/Red Sox/Phillies the first chance you get because you want to win?
Lance Berkman had a couple down (by his standards) years, but now he is rejuvenated and playing fantastic baseball. If he wants to stay where he is, good for him.
There are plenty of coaches, managers, and owners who, if you don’t want to be the best, don’t want to have anything to do with you. It SHOULD be the goal of EVERY player in EVERY sport to be the best. Players who just play for the money are either some of the best at their position (again, being the best), or are just barely getting paid in today’s standards.
He’s 35 years old. You expect him to have 3 to 4 solid years left?
and it should be the goal of every player. It’s not like he’s played his entire career in St. Louis and wants to finish a Cardinal. I can’t understand fan bases that would root for a player who’s satisfied with being anything but a World Champion… but hey, it’s St. Louis.
There’s plenty of reasons to believe the Cardinals won’t contend btw. Like Pujols possibly leaving, the Manager running future stars out of town, etc.
Your point was invalid the moment you started typing. Lance Berkman chose the Cardinals over the Rangers in the off season because he believed the Cardinals would have a better shot at making it to the post-season/World Series. He said so himself. He’s just trying not to be the guy who jumps ship when greener pastures come around.
Sorry, but there is no way I give Papi a raise. 2 year deal with vesting option for third at 10-12mm per. Maybe I’ll throw in an incentive or two.
No way. Ortiz may be having his best year since 2007, but he’s going to be 36. I don’t expect a 46/3, but that’s probably what Papi wants. The negotiations may resemble the Jeter fiasco last winter.
hey hey…I said 10-12. I see him getting 10. His problem will be that he IS a DH! Dh trend is on the down.
It will in no way resemble the Jeter fiasco. Not even a little. The only similarity they hold is that they are beloved by their fans. The Sox will let him walk if he doesn’t bend to a price they like, not the other way around. Besides Ortiz still produces pretty damn good while Jeter…not so much. The Sox are not going to knowingly hand out a huge overpay in ANY scenario so it will not resemble the Jeter situation at all. If anything it will resemble the Pedro situation, he will want more money than Theo is willing to spend and either he will come down or he will go.
“The Sox are not going to knowingly hand out a huge overpay in ANY scenario”
true that
“The Sox are not going to knowingly hand out a huge overpay in ANY scenario”
true that
I love Papi too but I really think this year is an exception rather than what we can expect of him going forward….2 yrs / 26 with a third year club option is what we will probably see
Why would this be an exception for Papi? If you look a his career he’s been very consistent. Peeking in 2006 & 2007 and when he injured his wrist in 09′ it took him about a full calender year to fully regain his health (Which is normal for that type of injury).
he certainly won’t get better as he ages but to think another .270-.280, 30 HR season or two from him is unlikely I’d take that bet. He’d STILL be the better than any other teams DH with those numbers. He IS the best DH in the AL, no doubt about it, and he should get paid as such…and more than likely will.
With that said I do agree with the 2 year w/ an option would be the most likely scenario.
this breakout this year is not due to a recovery from a lingering injury. if you ask him, he will tell you that it’s due to working on his approach with adrian gonzalez
this breakout this year is not due to a recovery from a lingering injury. if you ask him, he will tell you that it’s due to working on his approach with adrian gonzalez
If the Sox can’t sign Papi, I wonder in the Yanks would make a run at him as a replacement for Posada.
Bedard’s done a pretty decent job with the Sox so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox tried to sign him under a heavily incentive laced deal in the offseason.
I wouldn’t be upset if they did personally. He could pretty easily be the third best pitcher on the team when he’s healthy.
Who do you put him in front of? Beckett? Clay?
Clay. If you look at their numbers Bedard has been better than Buchholz to this point (including his time in the AL East w/ the O’s). That’s not to say that Clay doesn’t have more potential, he very well may, but to this point at least I think it is pretty easy to make the case that Bedard has been better.
EDIT: I tried posting their stats but they kept coming out all frigged up. So the short version looks like this:
Bedard has averaged a 3.75 SIERA, a 3.80 FIP, and 2.45 K/BB over his last three years. Buchholz has averaged a 4.19 SIERA, 4.21 FIP, and 1.87 K/BB over his last three. FWIW Bedard in his last three years in the AL East with the O’s averaged a 3.68 SIERA, a 3.42 FIP, and 2.85 K/BB.
I like Bedard on the Sox. Because Texas has been rocking him lol
you should like just about everyone on the sox for that reason
you should like just about everyone on the sox for that reason
Try to bring back Bedard, Miller as lefties and let Wake retire then? maybe see if a spot at back of the staff is open in ST for Wake?
Makes sense.
I kind of think it depends on how much faith you have left in Lackey really. If you think he can be a reasonable #3 next year then they could slot Miller/Doubront/Weiland (or possibly Ranaudo later in the year) in as the #5 starter. If you think Lackey is going to be an overpaid #5 at best going forward then they may be best to go out and get a proven starter (maybe bring back Bedard, maybe go after C.J. Wilson etc.). I wouldn’t be too surprised to see them stick with the guys already under contract for next year (plus maybe Wake) and have Lester – Beckett – Buchholz – Lackey and a competition for the #5 spot between all those other guys.
Wasn’t Bedard their second option after Harden failed his physical though? Or were they just going for both?
From what I’ve read they were shooting for both.
Once again, Darren Oliver gets no respect.
Well that would be because, although he has a great ERA, he is terrible with inherited runners this year. Plus you can never have too many strong lefty’s in the pen.
It’s spelled annual, not annaul.
Bedard will be it in the playoff rotation at the third spot. He’s done a reasonable job and it will be interesting to see if he stays. Sox also have Miller and he has an option for 2012 but Miller has never done it at the MLB level with the consistency you would expect. His Boston tenure has shown a wee bit more positives that Detroit and Florida so he may get a long look it 2012. Hisd walks make him a fright out of the ‘pen. I’d expect him and Wake to be off the playoff roster.
Buchholz is a long shot for this year but stranger things have happened. If he can somehow give them a few trial runs before the playoffs it could keep the gawd awful Lackey on the pine.
Papi is a “Drama Queen” who will re-up with Boston after much postulating.
As grateful as I am for what Papi has done for the Sox, he’s asking for too much money.
I think that with Lavarnway and Bard, the Red Sox have the upper hand in negotiations with Ortiz and Papelbon.
I think that with Lavarnway and Bard, the Red Sox have the upper hand in negotiations with Ortiz and Papelbon.