The Red Sox sent Marco Scutaro to the Rockies for Clayton Mortensen and avoided arbitration with Daniel Bard earlier this evening, but now let's round up the latest from the AL East…
- The Scutaro trade freed up approximately $6MM for the Red Sox to use on an "aggressive bid" for a starting pitcher, says ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). Michael Silverman of The Boston Herald confirmed that the trade was made trade strictly for salary relief. Earlier tonight we learned that the Sox have intensified their pursuit of Roy Oswalt.
- The Red Sox are comfortable with a Nick Punto/Mike Aviles platoon replacing Scutaro, but WEEI.com's Alex Speier hears they will continue to pursue an upgrade at any position, not just shortstop.
- Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal confirmed that Mortensen does have a minor league option remaining, so the Red Sox can send him to Triple-A if they choose (Twitter link)
- Jesus Montero has arrived in Seattle following a visa/passport issue, reports MLB.com's Greg Johns. He underwent his physical today, but a formal announcement of the trade sending him from the Yankees to the Mariners isn't expected until Monday.
- We posted some Orioles notes earlier today, including a quote from GM Dan Duquette about the possibility of adding Prince Fielder.
The Sox really need Oswalt. If Buccholz and Beckett can’t stay healthy (which they never do, although Beckett was for most of the season last year), they are fighting for third place with the Jays.
Oswalt’s an injury concern too, at least 2 of the last 3 years.
That’s true. But I believe his back is fine, or else he wouldn’t come out and say he wants a one year deal to prove it, ya know?
Buch, Beckett, and Oswalt all had injury problems last year, and yet you believe Oswalt will be fine while the two B’s are gonna have DL time. That’s some flawed logic there.
He may also be saying he “wants” a one-year deal because nobody is offering him more. Ever thought of that?
I think he did think of that but believed more in what he posted EVER THINK OF THAT.
I feel better.
And now I’m confused.
they weren’t hard words don’t worry. just ignore it.
No, because he said that at the beginning of the offseason, before he even knew what people would tell them. The bottom line is, the Sox need a starter, or they might finish in 4th.
i started writing a response to how preposterous this claim is, then i just stopped because i decided you didn’t deserve a logical rebuttal.
He had to lower his asking price to one year, nobody would give him 3 years coming off an injury plagued season. He really has no choice but to gamble with a one year deal.
I don’t think he’s going to get any money anyway unless Hamels (unlikely), Cain, and Grenkie, sign extensions.
I personally think he’ll be fine, just you lost me when you, in my interpretation said: We need Oswalt because you can’t count on Beckett and Buccholz to stay healthy.
what evidence is there that he had to take a one year deal? most people were quite surprised when he announced that was what he was looking for
The fact that he hasn’t signed yet, if any team was offering him a multi-year deal he would have signed up by now.
Teams simply don’t trust him to be reliable and avoiding the DL because of his back.
A pitcher with a bad back is useless to a club that signs him.
I haven’t heard one team offering him a multi-year deal, not one.
Why is that if he isn’t an injury concern. He isn’t calling the shots, because he is in no position to do so.
The Phillies didn’t even think of resigning him even at 1 year.
I’m glad the Yankees stayed away from him and went to Kuroda, I don’t see Oswalt pitching a full season wherever he winds up with that degenerative discs in his back.
edwin jackson better take a one year deal
Unless I’m reading bad reports he started the off season seeking a multi year deal. After the deadline to offer arbitration, he announced he was seeking a one year deal.
Why would he be seeking a one year deal if the market was there for him to get two, three, or four?
that logic applies equally well to e.g. adrian beltre in 2010, but the fact that he took a 1-year deal doesn’t mean he couldn’t have gotten more. he could have, but instead of accepting multiple years at a lower salary, he went with 1-year deal and got his big money after proving himself
when it was reported that oswalt would take one-year, most baseball people were surprised. he had been seeking a 3-year deal and it was widely expected he’d get at least 2 with some kind of option. that he couldn’t get 3 at the salary level he wanted doesn’t mean he had to take 1
If Oswalt wanted to get a contract to prove his future worth he wouldnt go to the AL East or the Red Sox. He’d stay in the NL in a weaker division…..then profit. Plus his velocity is wayyyyyy down and he could potentially get rocked in the AL East. Pena/Longoria, Bautista, NYY, etc. will enjoy his presence. He’s making a poor decision if he ends up there trying to establish value
We need health as much as anyone does. According to everything I have heard Buc is going into the season healthy following a recovery from his bone bruise. With all the chicken and beer jokes (Delicious haha) Beckett might just put in that extra effort to come into the season in shape. I say we got as much a shot as team health as anyone though.
if buccholz and beckett can’t stay healthy.. blah blah blah
pitchers by nature are prone to injury. saying if 2 of 3 top pitchers of ANY team get injured they will falter is like saying hey if it rains and you’re outside, you’ll get wet.
“If Buccholz and Beckett can’t stay healthy (which they never do”
josh beckett has averaged 29 starts per season in boston. if you exclude 2010, it’s a full 30
he hurt his back in 2010 and was fully recovered and effective in 2011. his health isn’t a concern
You know, I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Mortenson becomes a trade piece for a Floyd type guy if an Oswalt deal falls through. The White Sox seem to be trying a keep respectable while rebuilding phase here and Mortenson could actually be a young, serviceable reliever for them.
I don’t know much about Mortensen but a guy who walks as many as he strikeouts is typically a mediocre player. I doubt the White Sox would consider him more than a throw in on a potential deal. He isn’t really that young anymore either.
I agree, but they’re moving guys from their pen to their rotation, so having Mortenson thrown in as a decent MLB reliever to complete at deal isn’t out of the question. It would also help the Boston who probably would want to give up as little prospect depth as possible. Not saying its likely, but Mortenson in Boston doesn’t make all that much more sense either.
Ha I def agree he makes little sense in Boston. On paper he is like our six or seventh fifth spot option (Provided of course Oswalt doesn’t sign then he is like 8th). I don’t see him in the pen either.
I’d prefer the young, healthy Gavin Floyd to the old, injured Oswalt. Although his salary is 7M, his AAV (for luxury tax calcs) is only 3.875M.
how many prospects will oswalt cost
none, but he’s old and injured.
ped/youk–where did you find that info? Link please re. LT?
I am a Floyd guy as well; I see him as a 3,4 or 5 in the rotation.
It may be that if Oswalt’s stock keeps dropping the Sox might get him for $5 with incentives and a option?
I’m starting to like the makings: Lester, Beckett, Floyd, Buch and Cook.
Keep Bard in the pen or perhaps a trade chip for a starter–it will take Bard too long to become an innings eating starter–the Sox don’t have the time to wait on that.
The luxury tax is based on a players avg annual salary. Floyd is at 15.5M/4years = 3.875M. The Sox are about 4M under the luxury tax right now, so it makes sense. Oswalt will cost 8M + a 40% tax.
Thanks.
Hey Sox fans… tell us your thought on Scutaro. What should Colorado expect to see out of him? Is he dependable for high-average low-strikeout… or was last year a fluke?
fangraphs.com
I haven’t seen him play 2 b but I think he may be strong enough to work with Tulo. He’s enjoyable to watch play; baseball smart with fair power. Hits to all fields and is pretty good in the clutch. Deceptively quick running the bases. Batted mostly out of the 9 hole but capable of leading off.
he is dependable but don’t expect too much
He was pretty decent in Toronto. Decent enough that they offered him a $6M contract after his 2 seasons with them.
he’s a great team-player. Played through injuries all year and the players liked him. He doesn’t strikeout much and walks a lot. He hits like .275+ with 10HRs and average defense.
double post- deleted
Think my last comment got eaten up- will try again.
What sort of prospects would be avaliable for Jurrjens now , if the Sox wanted to go that route? Guessing not enough to make Wren bite.
Kevin Youkilis would for Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens
Youkilis has negative value for the Braves. They aren’t going to take on Salary. They could do something salary-neutral, but would want prospects, not overpriced veterans.
if the sox wanted to go that route, they’d have sent scutaro
I think either of the SS’s you dealt this offseason might have gotten JJ.
I don’t have a ton of confidence in Pastornicky. Jack Wilson won’t be any worse then A-Gon if he fails though.
Daniel Bard for Alexei Ramirez, Gavin Floyd, and Alex Rios + 15 million
Kevin Youkilis for Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens.
New Rotation
SP Jon Lester
SP Josh Beckett
SP Clay Bucholtz
SP Jair Jurrjens
SP Gavin Floyd
Lineup
CF Jacoby Ellsburry
2B Dustin Pedroia
1B Adrian Gonzalez
DH David Ortiz
3B Martin Prado
LF Carl Crawford
RF Alex Rios
SS Alexei Ramirez
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Better defense, and pitching, less offense. Would you do it?
Even as a Red Sox fan, I am under no delusion that Daniel Bard could net that much. Even taking into account Rios’s negative trade value.
Bard can’t net that much back. And he’s overrated, too.
Totally. Bard blew games at an alarming clip and yet he is still lauded as messiah
I hope you are joking about that Bard trade.
The Daniel bard offer is laughable. I’m pretty sure chi would have to think awhile to even trade Alexei for bard straight up.
No thank you,i’d rather have JD Drew come back than do this ….
Not going to happen. The White Sox have the worst system in MLB (been hearing one of the worst in MLB he are talking history) Floyd isnt going anywhere unles there is a package of young players. I think the talks have to start with Middlebrooks.
On second thought we are talking KW here so maybe he would take that package.
Bard, Tazawa, Iggy and Middlebrooks for Ramirez, Rios, Floyd and Morel
+ $15 M.
BenC the White Sox may have some pieces the Sox can use.
Youk – the only way the Braves would have traded for him was in you wanted Derek Lowe at full salary as a swap of bad contracts.
You’re massively undervaluing JJ and Prado. Yeah, I admit to overvaluing them, but Youk for both of them, that’s more delusional then the Adam Jones rumors earlier.
Do folks realize Roy Oswalt has “TWO DEGENERATIVE DISCS” in his back.
He has been getting shot up with cortisone shots more than a race horse for years because of that back.
Best of luck getting him to stay healthy over the length of a season. This guy is bound to spend time on the DL.
Seriously I just dont understand why people think they would be getting Oswalt of 5-6 years ago. Dudes velocity is wayyyyy down and will be surprised if he can avg above 90mph this year on his fastball
Roy Oswalt was a 5.0 WAR pitcher in 2010, and had a
3.44 FIP last year; nobody is looking for him to be
the pitcher he was 5-6 years ago, just the pitcher he still is.
As long as they sign a starting pitcher like Oswalt,Jackson,Webb that’s all i care about if they get a pitcher for less money than they expected they could go after a RF which they won’t find a pitcher cheap of that caliber.