Now that they have a new manager, the Red Sox can focus on improving their roster at next week's winter meetings. Here's the latest from Boston…
- Bobby Valentine was introduced as the Red Sox's new manager yesterday, and today he flew down to the Dominican Republic to meet with free agent DH David Ortiz according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. "I've said 1,000 times that I want to come back to the Red Sox," said Ortiz.
- Valentine's trip to the Dominican Republic will not include any kind of visit with Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes due to a schedule conflict, reports Jim Bowden of MLB Network (on Twitter).
- The Red Sox continue to maintain dialogue with agent Scott Boras about free agent closer Ryan Madson, tweets Bowden. They also had discussions with Heath Bell's agent before he agreed to join the Marlins, reports WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
- Boston's priorities (in order) are Ortiz, a closer, a starting pitcher, and a right-handed hitting outfielder tweets Bowden.
- Regardless of who they hired to manage, the Red Sox did not intend to lose hitting coach Dave Magadan according to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo (on Twitter).
I wish the Sox would put pitching a head of Ortiz in terms of importance.
I think they have, thats why Ortiz has been talking to the media over the past week.
And that’s why Bobby Valentine’s first order of business is going to the Dominican to “recruit” Ortiz right?
Ortiz apparently has had offers for over the past two weeks and yet all has been doing is talking to the boston based media for the past week, It sounds like he might not like the market. As for Bobby V. flying down to see him, Its Not Chery, or Henry or Larry L., He’s not going to make an offer he is thier to sum up Ortiz and determine his ‘role’ if any on next years team and play golf in Papi’s charity event.
Valentine is who Ortiz will be directly dealing with during the season as he is the manager. Valentine could be trying to convince him to take a lesser deal or accept arbitration.
Or Ortiz could be one of the players who reportedly voiced concerns about “someone like Valentine” being the manager and Bobby is down there trying to convince him that he’s really not that bad of a guy.
makes the most sense
“Boston’s priorities (in order) are Ortiz, a closer, a starting pitcher, and a right-handed hitting outfielder tweets Bowden.”
That sounds almost exactly backward to me; par for the course with Bowden I guess.
i’m fine with ortiz being the first priority if that means ruling him out up front
I’m not that worried about the RHH RF-er all that much. I’m more concerned about pitching, starting, closer, and general bullpen.
Yeah, that’s actually why I said almost exactly; I would put starting pitching first.
Ortiz should be the least of the Sox priorities. Not having a set DH allows for Youkilis or even Gonzalez to have a day off and just hit. Their priorities should be starting pitching, bullpen, and getting a right handed hitting OF. But then again they already dropped the ball by hiring Bobby Valentine
Agreed. Odds are Ortiz will give the Sox one last shot to sign him before he accepts another offer.
Papi has already said that he will give the Sox the opportunity to match any offer he gets before making a decision.
I like most of what you said. Starting pitching and closer/bullpen are 1a and 1b to me. And unless you’re Nostradumus one can’t tell how B.V. will be as the manager. Let’s hope for the best with him, Crawford coming around, injured players getting heathy and contributing and an immunity to the injury-bug in ’12.
I might prioritize bullpen. If you can bring in a Madson and maybe another set up guy on the cheap to go with him and Jenks at the back end, you could put Daniel Bard in the rotation.
They’d save a heck of a lot of money given the best starter on the market wants $100 million… as long as they don’t screw him up like the Yankees did with Joba.
I think that if Ortiz is allowed to walk, there’s a strong chance that Lavarnway would get a chance to be the (mostly) regular DH, with Youk getting AB’s there as well to keep him fresh.
Yeah, I think it’s pretty obvious that if the Sox DON’T resign Papi that the DH will be filled internally and on somewhat of a rotating basis.
Thye big question of the day now is………. who is gonna coach third base? Chosing the right individual can mean the difference between winning 90 games and 100 during a ful season of 162 games….
Stevie Wonder wouldn’t be much of a downgrade from the previous 3B coach.
Perhaps, if Ortiz lost 40 lbs…he could spell Gonzo at 1st once in a while.
Well, it’s easier than spelling Mientkiewicz… 🙂
This is an absolute truth!
Gonzo isn’t the sort of player that needs or wants to be rested much.
I don’t understand the Sox anymore.
with 888 comments on WEEI, i’m not confident you ever did
bringing it back….
boom. roasted.
joe nathan been signed we need to sign Madson get cuddyer sign ortiz and get a sp thats all they need and maybe bullpen help considering how much jenks pitched last year
bobby valentine ryan madson michael cuddyer and re-signing ortiz would be close to the worst possible outcome for me
Pitching should be the #1 priority. I’m hopeful that Ben has a list of starting pitchers he’s planning to inquire about.
My Targets: Dan Haren would be my #1 choice. Buehrle would be #2.
Other targets: Matt Garza, either Colby Lewis or Matt Harrison from Texas as part of a trade for Beckett. Doubrount and Alex Wilson should get a shot from the farm.
Bullpen Targets: Matt Thornton, Capps, Bailey, Cordero or KRod.
OF: Beltran, Cody Ross,
puttin’ the ‘mad’ in madmc44!
Pitching should be the #1 priority. I’m hopeful that Ben has a list of starting pitchers he’s planning to inquire about.
My Targets: Dan Haren would be my #1 choice. Buehrle would be #2.
Other targets: Matt Garza, either Colby Lewis or Matt Harrison from Texas as part of a trade for Beckett. Doubrount and Alex Wilson should get a shot from the farm.
Bullpen Targets: Matt Thornton, Capps, Bailey, Cordero or KRod.
OF: Beltran, Cody Ross,
Mark my words–> Ortiz eventually re-signs with the Sox, they sign Zumaya to setup and Madson to close, then move Bard and Renaudo to the rotation. Cuddyer is a bonus.
Ortiz – maybe, but I’m starting to doubt it
Zumaya – maybe
Madson – no
Bard – doubtful
RAnaudo – not a chance, not even a small one
Cuddyer – no, and wouldn’t be anything close to a “bonus”
Ranaundo’s ETA is more like 2013 or later..
So what’s the order of RHHOF preference? Beltran(b), Cuddyer, Cespedes, Merten depending on what they want to spend?
I still don’t understand the fascination with Cuddyer. The guy is a bad defender and a barely above league average hitter, not to mention that fact that he’s older and people are expecting him to get a 3 year deal.