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Red Sox Sign Cody Ross

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The Red Sox have signed outfielder Cody Ross to a one-year deal, the team announced.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the agreement, and ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes reports the deal is worth roughly $3MM plus incentives (all Twitter links).  Ross is represented by SFX. 

Ross played all three outfield positions for the Giants last season and hit .240/.325/.405 line with 14 home runs in 461 plate appearances.  A right-handed hitter, Ross projects to join the left-handed hitting Ryan Sweeney in a right field platoon, though Ross could also get a few starts in left field for Carl Crawford (also a lefty bat) against tough southpaws.

The Mets, Athletics, Reds, Braves and Rockies were all connected to Ross at various points this winter, with Boston seemingly moving into the lead once they freed up some payroll space by trading Marco Scutaro to Colorado.  With Ross in the fold, a source tells Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that the Sox will still try to add a starting pitcher with the money saved from the Scutaro deal.

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Comments

      • if it’s non-zero they paid too much

        weighted average wRC+ v. LHP last 3 seasons

        cody ross 115
        darnell mcdonald 122

          • Not hardly. Anyone with a pulse is better than McDonald and what is lacking in some stats is Ross played half his games at SFG and not Fenway…

            A slight difference for any RH hitter. Ross is 2x the better defender at any OF position as well and won’t make bone headed mistakes on the field.

            • Trust me, no one likes Darnell McDonald less than I do. I was just remarking at the cited stat.

              • I gotcha.. Remember seeing here that you are not exactly a huge mcDonald fan either :-)

                Ross will end up being the best 4th OF Boston has had since Crisp left and just because Cherrington/Henry refuse to spend 8-10m for oswalt, going ahead and getting someone capable at least of filling in until CC comes back and then on the bench, plus getting some AB’s vs lefties playing RF was a very good move.

                If some of the Sox fans can’t see that (not you) then it is their own fault for having on blinders.

  7. I fully expect Ross to now be traded in hopes of allotting salary for Oswalt.

      • If you offered me one year of Scutaro at $6M or one year of Ross at $3M I’d choose Scutaro every time.

          • Still on that?

            The fact that they needed to trade Scutaro before spending the money they would save by trading him has nothing to do with whether I wanted them to actually trade him or not.

            • Oh I realize that. I just really enjoyed you trying to prove your point. With this signing it makes it look even better. :)

  11. Welcome to Boston, Mr. Ross. Now, let’s work on raising that batting average…

    • Ahh. Now I read this after I posted my comment. Although I did add Can he pitch to it.

  17. If he stays healthy this move is gonna be great…..Ross is good solid starting RF….Listen ANYTHING is better than JD Drew

    • Your comment shows how much Drew’s defense was under appreciated in right field at Fenway. Drew’s defense was good and he got some extremely clutch hits for the Sox over the years. Ross is nothing special but I guess hes better than Ryan Sweeney…

      • Drew had one grand slam in the 2007 ALCS that basically won the series. It was all downhill from there.

        • Heck, that hit was worth his salary for the year. But I do agree that people are not taking into account Drew’s defense. Right field in Fenway is considered pretty hard to defend and Drew was one of the best defensive right fielders in the game.

          • He gets jumps on balls in the air better than anyone I’ve seen, that’s for sure.

        • Drew was a top 10 outfielder from ’08 to ’10 according to fWAR.

          • Yeah, I was just talking offense. He’s a highly underrated defender. I used to have fun showing my Yankee fan friends his UZR after they insisted he was an awful fielder.

            • He was actually also a top ten offensive outfielder during that time according to wOBA (and 12th best according to wRC+).

      • Despite the fact that Sweeney has a higher career BA and OBP (although far less ABs).

      • sure he can. for the last three seasons he’s been worse than reddick was in 2011. can’t hold a candle to j.d. drew

        • Reddick and Drew aren’t on the team.  I’m talking about Sweeney and McDonald.

    • Why not?  Most hitters that go from the NL to AL show improvements because the pitching isn’t as good.  I mean look at the AL Central.  Maybe 3 good starters in that entire division.

  22. I hate these people who are harping on Cody Ross…he is a good player, he can hit 25 home runs when healthy..next move,trade the players who were competing for the RF job for some pitching or cash to sign Oswalt

      • No, Ross has more power and judging by his spray chart the Monster if going to be his new best friend… At $3M it’s not a bad deal. But we don’t need a player with potential power, the offense is good enough.

        I’d still be happier with another starter even someone who’s only a #4/#5 pitcher.

        • ISO last 3 seasons
          c.ross .171
          darnell .157

          wRC+ last 3 seasons
          c. ross 101
          darnell 97

          weighted average ISO v. LHP
          c. ross .204
          darnell .185

          weighted average wRC+ v. LHP
          c.ross 115
          darnell 122

      • Ross has been a starting OF for 4 years now.  McDonald is a 5th OF who is barely even in the majors.  Ross has a .779 career OPS

        • Yuniesky Betancourt has been a starter too, that doesn’t mean either one of them should have been.  Obviously Ross isn’t as bad as Betancourt, but the point is just because someone is starting doesn’t mean they are a good player.

          • ya I know, but my point is that Ross is waaaayyyy better than McDonald.  McDonald is hanging on the roster by a thread.

              • how is he barely better?  McDonald is a AAAA player.  Ross is a 3rd/4th OF.

                • Last three years:

                  Triple slash line

                  C Ross .261/.323/.432
                  Darnell .260/.322/.417

                  ISO

                  C Ross .171
                  Darnell .157

                  wOBA

                  C Ross .329
                  Darnell .326

                  wRC+

                  C Ross 101
                  Darnell 97

                  UZR/150

                  C Ross -4.3
                  Darnell -0.8

                  So he’s a slightly better hitter and, according to UZR, a worse fielder.  To be fair DRS likes Ross better, and TZL has them about even, so I’d call them about even defensively as well.

                  So again, he’s barely better, if at all.

      • Darnell McDonald has never hit 10 home runs in a season before. 

      • You are right, he didn’t hit 25. But he DID it 24 in 2009 and had a .790OPS. And he did hit 22 home runs the year before with a .804OPS. Is that amazing? Is is All Star quality? Nope but to say he has never hit 25 home runs when the person said he COULD hit 25 home runs and HAS hit 24 and 22 is pretty nit picky.

        • I mean thats a bit ridiculous… I’m tired of people saying Cody Ross is a 25 hr threat.  Its flat out silly.  Did he hit 24 in 2009? yea he did and that was at the peak of his career.  And yes he only broke 20 hrs twice.  Its 2012, the last two years he COMBINED to hit 28 bombs.  So please stop saying he’s a 25 hr threat.  Oh ya… and the guy is 32 this year so hes probably not getting any better… older players tend to age and see decline.

          • True, I don’t think he will hit 25hr as he will be a platoon outfielder hitting against left handers. And if he gets enough plate appearances with the Sox to get 25 something has gone wrong. HOWEVER, I was responding to the post that said “Ross has never hit 25 home runs in his career before.” While technically true, as I pointed out he has hit 24 home runs before. And to find it impossible for Ross to hit 25 home runs is kinda odd since has has almost done it before. Now if the person had said Ross will hit 40 home runs, then I would start fitting the man with a helmet, but 25 is not totally outside the realm of possibility.

            • But what you’re doing is making an assumption he can go back to a level he was at for only 2 years of his major league career. 
              The last 2 years he has hit 14 a piece so essentially you speculate that the change in scenery/park will almost double his hr count.
              You’re basically just making an unjustified opinion, sorta like if i was running around saying adrian gonzalez is going to hit 70 hrs this year.  Could he do it? Maybe… Will he most likely not.
              It just seems unrealistic for you to keep posting he is a 25 hr threat when he has never hit 25 hrs and only come close twice in his entire career…

              • I made no such assumption. And I never said that he will hit 25 home runs. All I did was say that he has hit 24 home runs. That is a fact. And I am surprised at the amount of people that wrote that he has never hit 25 home runs in his career. While technically true he has hit just one less home run in 2009. Am I saying he will do it again? No, I said as much in my previous post that I don’t want him in the line-up enough to even approach that many home runs. However, to say with incredulity that he won’t is ridiculous. As for your statement, “You’re basically just making an unjustified opinion, sorta like if i was running around saying adrian gonzalez is going to hit 70 hrs this year.  Could he do it? Maybe… Will he most likely not.” Sort of echos my statement about him hitting 40 home runs. You might want to read my posts a bit closer next time.

    • 25 HR? I wouldn’t bet on it. In which year did he hit 25?

    • 25 HR? I wouldn’t bet on it. In which year did he hit 25?

    • It doesn’t matter how many times you post on here saying Ross can hit 25 HRs, he has never done it and cant do it no matter how healthy. He is a streaky player who probably will fail harder in a tough AL East. 3mil down the toilet.

    • It doesn’t matter how many times you post on here saying Ross can hit 25 HRs, he has never done it and cant do it no matter how healthy. He is a streaky player who probably will fail harder in a tough AL East. 3mil down the toilet.

  23. The only reason to be optimistic about Cody Ross is if a rival team signs him.

    EDIT: $3 million?? Seriously? This is what we freed up our payroll for?

      • I know what it says, but that $3 million is half of the Scutaro money. That was supposed to go toward Oswalt >:|

        • technically, Scutaro’s AAV was 7.67M.  Add on the 40% tax and he costs 10.738M.  The remaining 7.738M…Oswalt.

          • You’d need to apply all those same taxes to the Oswalt contract though, as well.

              • Room, no.  They will still be taxed if they sign a 4/5 starter/Oswalt.  Why not just forget the tax altogether if you’re just going to add more payroll commitment in Ross and Oswalt, immediately after trading Scutaro for tax relief and trash?  It just makes no sense.

                • bc the tax has implications on hundreds of millions of dollars in rebates. 

                  Scutaro’s contract was almost 8M.  They only spent 3M and still have more room to spend for Oswalt.

            • When it comes down to it, Ben Cherington is playing by a ton of rules that 99% of us don’t even know about.  Apparently, if the Sox stay under the luxury tax, they can eventually get their revenue sharing back, which is like $80+M per year…Some people say John Henry is a penny pincher, but $80+M is kind of a big deal.

        • Depending on whether Boston can haggle Oswalt down a bit from 8mm or not, I’m sure they could also find a way to cut a few million more in salary to fit him as well.

          And really, I would have loved to see Epstein’s compensation figured out by now. Marlon Byrd would have been great compensation before getting Ross, but now that would make less sense. Obviously someone like Garza just won’t happen, so I’m thinking maybe a prospect plus some cash? The only reason I think of this is that if they decided that today, and Boston got some cash in it, they’d get that few mil wiggle room they’d need to bid for Oswalt.

          • Depends on what the hangup is  for the Sox to sign a starter.
            Actual dollars?  Yeah, money from the Cubs would help.

            Luxury tax dollars?  From what I have read, it looks like money included in a trade counts toward the tax, so I assume money included in compensation would count as well.  In that sense it does not help at all, assuming the goal is to get under the threshold and that they are actually capable of doing so.

      • Unless they have plans to somehow move Jenks’ contract (or some of it at least) I’m starting to think that this might mean they are leaning toward Floyd (whose AAV is quite a bit lower) instead of Oswalt.

        Could be wrong (hope I’m wrong) but that’s kinda my gut feeling.

  25. I wonder if this means McDonald will be released. Even if Crawford starts the season on the DL they can always call up Lin to be a 4th outfielder, by all accounts he’s considered to be an excellent defensive fielder.

  26. Cherington is starting to make Epstein’s boneheaded FA moves look good. $3 million for this schlub? I was assuming the Sox could hold off Toronto for third,,,maybe not.

    • He’s part of a platoon and has hit LHP for an OPS over .900 in his career.  I wanted him under $2.5M, but it isn’t really an overpay.

    • Let’s get real here. Cherington will have to try a LOT harder than this to make Theo’s FA signings look good…

  29. Haha 3million because of a good 7 game series 2 years ago. This guy would struggle getting a minor league deal otherwise…

  30. I like to be overly optimistic, especially with ex-giants players.  I think Ross will flourish in Boston and will ultimately take over full-time over Sweeny.  He’ll hit 25 bombs while batting .290-.300.  Should be pretty solid IF he’s healthy.  Oh and i hate you Boston.

    • That’s a pretty tall order given his career averages. An even steeper order when you look at 2011.

  31. People are harping on about Ross because we want starting pitchers!!! We have enough offense to make the playoffs in our our first 4 or 5 batters. Another pitcher should be a priority, not a run of the mill OF. If we miss Oswalt because of this, I’ll be preying for a new GM asap especially when you consider what has been given up. Not many would trade Scutaro for Ross straight up, I know i wouldn’t.

    • its pretty obvious that signing Cody Ross isn’t gonna stop them from getting Oswalt or Floyd. come one now.

      • actually wasnt it the redsox GM who said they were on a budget? because they are trying to get under the luxury tax mark like the yankees. i coulda sworn i heard that on hot stove last month. so if thats the case this is going to lessen their chance of getting oswalt. and do they even have the players to give up for floyd? they gave up alot in the past year for gonzalez,bailey and melancon.

        • They are on a budget, but they obviously wouldn’t have made an offer to Roy Oswalt and then sign Cody Ross instead.  They signed Cody Ross and they are still trying to sign Roy Oswalt.  Maybe they will try to trade for Floyd, who will only cost 3.875M.

  32. Rather than signing Ross they should have just signed Drew on a one year deal. Probably would of been cheaper…at least he can play defense and hopefully bounce back a bit in the offensive department. $3 million for Ross is an overpay…

    • The problem is they’re looking for a right handed hitter to platoon with Sweeney.

  35. “Free agent outfielder Cody Ross, who spent the past season and a half with the Giants, is now seeking a two-year contract, tweets David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Ross was originally looking for a three-year pact, but that was only to remain in pitcher-friendly San Francisco, according to O’Brien.”
    Sorry Cody..

  36. How about trading Carl Crawford and that massive to the Rays for Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis and their cheap contracts and pick up 50% of Crawford’s contract. And then use that luxury space savings and go get a more cost effective player in LF. Starting pitching depth is now a surplus.

    • Why would the Rays trade 2 members of the starting rotation for Crawford?  If they trade Davis/Neimann, they are gonna look for 3 prospects each.

    • Why would the Rays want Crawford back when they have Desmond Jennings?

      I like the Ross signing. Like Saltamacchia, it’s $3 mil. less the BoSawx can spend on GOOD players!

  37. Really good pick up. The guy can hit, especially in Fenway. AT&T Park is not a hitters park at all. Plus he has a good glove. Nice pickup for the Sox, i could see him as a utility player and possibly a starter if the Red Sox continue to have injuries this year like these past couple of years.

  38. Terrible signing. Cody Ross has one good playoff series and 2 HRs off of Halladay and suddenly he’s great. Give me a break. He happened to be on the best pitching team at the time. The Hitters were all Judy Hitters. I hate how they called the Cards the most improbable world series champions in 2010 when the Giants had a far worse team. No question the Giants of 2010 were the worst hitting team ever to win a World Series.

  39. Ross is not a difference maker for the Sox. It would seem that Cherrington is under the theory, throw it againsn’t the wall and see if it sticks.

  40. I guess I don’t see why there’s so much panic.  So many comments about Aviles not being able to handle short as a starter… wasn’t that the same situation Scut was in until Toronto gave him a shot?  I’ll bet that defense tightens up and his numbers will probably end up being much similar to Scutaro’s once he gets more consistant AB’s.  I think Aviles will surprise us just as Scutaro did.  Ross is a $3 mil insurance plan that covers TWO areas of need (a RH bat to platoon in RF and against a possible CC delay in return).  It’s what needed to be done.  And there’s an offer on the table for Oswalt.  We’d have heard by now if the Sox had pulled it back.  They’ll get a SP done whether it’s Oswalt, a trade for Floyd or perhaps even something else we haven’t even seen yet.  I’d wait on calling ‘bust’ trade/salary relief/Ross signing until we break camp without a 5th starter… then there might be more to say

    • The only way Ross (or another RH outfielder) doesn’t get picked up is if the Cubbies had sent Byrd as Theo comp.  But in that situation, if the Cubs don’t eat part of Byrd’s salary ($6.5mil) then it’s a wash.  I think this was the best available signing to address the outfield situation as it currently stands.

  41. You could have gotten Damon, Vlad and Matsui plus  had a couple hundred left over with 3M.

  44. I just think that Reddick was better than anybody they have in RF, and Papelbon was better than Bailey. So I think the Sox saved money with this downgrade, but that’s it. Cherrington missed the boat with his moves this winter. Yanks have had major upgrades in pitching, and the Rays will have Moore for the whole season, which looks to put them ahead of the Sox at this point on paper.

    • The Sox will get a couple of high draft picks for Papelbon as well.

  45. Despite not being great in 2011, thanks for 2010 Cody Ross and your name reversed being Ssory doc.

  46. If he can hit like he did in the 2010 playoffs for the entire year and keep up the production….the red sox will still not make the playoffs.

  47. wow, the Red Sox sure have picked up some garbage.  
    well, at least they have a couple of Series wins to last for the next 50 years

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