In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe takes a look at what we can expect out of David Ortiz's arbitration hearing on Monday. The only way the hearing can turn bad, according to one source with experience in arbitration cases, is if the Red Sox mention that Ortiz's positive test for a banned substance in 2003. However, Boston may be reluctant to go there, for risk of inviting bad feelings. Here more from Cafardo..
- The Red Sox are willing to give Roy Oswalt a one-year deal worth $5-$7MM, but the veteran remains reluctant to pitch in Boston. However, as we've heard elsewhere, the 34-year-old hasn't ruled Boston out.
- Any money that the Yankees save in a potential A.J. Burnett trade will be put toward a lefthanded-hitting DH/outfielder type, with Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon likely in that mix.
- Don't be surprised if Vladimir Guerrero, Magglio Ordonez, Xavier Nady, or Manny Ramirez wind up with the Phillies. The Phillies really want to add a righthanded hitter who can pinch hit and occasionally play the outfield. However, they’re extremely close to luxury tax territory.
- The Athletics, Orioles, and Blue Jays remain the main teams interested in Ramirez.
- Mike Gonzalez remains the most high-profile lefty reliever on the market and agent Scott Boras is hoping teams reassess their needs right before camp. The Phillies could be a fit, but they have budget concerns. The Orioles also want to add one more bullpen piece but they might not want to go down that road again.
- The lack of interest in Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez is surprising considering that the club would assume a fair portion of the $36MM left on his deal. Houston is also surprised at the lack of interest in righty Brett Myers, who would appear to be a good piece for a contending club.
- While interviewing for the Red Sox managerial job, Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont felt confident that he was going to get the nod. Lamont met with Ben Cherington and Larry Lucchino in Boston, John Henry in Boca Raton, Florida, and Tom Werner in New York City.
- After watching Ryan Flaherty in camp with the Orioles, Cafardo believes that the infielder and Rule 5 draft pick can win a spot with the club.
I’d rather the Pirates pay more and trade for Wandy than Burnett.
I agree, as long as they don’t have to give up too much. AJ Burnett is nothing but trouble and Wandy is nothing but consistent.
I would love to see Vlad in a phillies uni. While I would like to see what Manny has left, I wouldn’t want it while wearing red.
Vlad would definitely be a nice piece, but the question remains: how much would he cost to sign? Particularly with all of the other outfielders we’ve signed to major/minor league contracts.
Vlad has a great attitude and is a great clubhouse guy. With that said, I don’t think there’s anything left in the tank. Last season he was sputtering.
Enough of Roy Oswalt. Am I the only one who thinks he is going to breakdown real quick this year?
Obviously not, otherwise he’d have been signed already.
Totally agree, he will sign with the sox for 7 mil guaranteed, and when he gets off the bus for spring training his arm will fall off and he has to sit out the 2012 year 7 mil richer.
You know if the Orioles could trade for Anibal Sanchez and Wandy Rodriguez the Orioles would be legit.
I can’t see Vlad going to the Phillies only because I can’t see him sitting there on the bench just to pinch hit. His fielding days might be over, unless he’s been working out everyday in the off season. Which I doubt. He put on some weight during the 2011 season. Ordonez might be the best fit for the Phillies from that bunch. Heck, in all honesty Raul Ibanez would be the best. He should go back to Philly.
Anibal Sanchez and Wandy? Really?
Sorry to say this, but the Orioles would still be a sub-.500 team with Wandy and Anibal. Depending on which stats you prefer to use they had either the worst or the second worst pitching in the game last year, and it would do nothing to improve their mediocre offense.
How can you say that…. I mean Ryan Flaherty is coming….Ryan Flaherty is coming! He should easily assume Jake Fox’s position as ultility guy. That’s gotta be worth something.
At@ Jeff
Yes, Jeff Sanchez and Rodriguez. I mean “Why Not”
Maine Sox is right, the O’s had one of the worst staffs in baseball last year, they would improve dramtically if they could get both.
PS Maine Sox one more thing about your assertion: Orioles would still be a sub-.500 team. Have you talked to Duquette recently or at least heard him being interviewed. He stated the other week or so ago that he thought the O’s were going to be at least .500 with the current team as it stands right now. If you add Sanchez and Rodriguez using Duquette’s calculations the O’s could be vying for the Mariner-like 116 wins . Think positive, Man, Duquette certainly is! :p
Well, Duquette is touched. The last time the Orioles were .500 or better was 1997, and losing their best/most consistent pitcher (holy crap, it’s weird to be able to say that about Guthrie) and their best hitter (over the last three years) isn’t going to help them win 12 more games than last year. I feel bad for Orioles fans, I really do; this is, in all likelihood, going to be a really bad year for them.
(P.S. Yes I caught the sarcasm, I was just pointing out how unfortunately bad this year might be for the Os.)
No offense to the original poster either… But the Fish would never..Ever.. Move Sanchez this season when he is the “rock” of the rotation right after they spent all this money and JJ’s health in question.. Even with him possibly headed to FA next season.
The Fish need him too badly in 2012 to throw out 200m on 3 players and then move him… Just won’t happen..
I dunno, if the Marlins want to have a super star outfield of LoMo, AJ, and Stanton they could have that if they are willing to trade Sanchez. Plus, if the O’s throw in a starting pitcher it’s not that bad of an idea.
I think they hope that Coghlan shakes the injury bug and then goes back to his rookie form moreso than give up something they really need in sanchez.
really.. Fish fans will tell you.. Anibel has been the rock of the rotation the last 2 years and worth more than another replacement for Coghlan, who the team still has high hopes for and is still young.
Still holding out hopes Loria gets into gear and gets him signed LT as well.. They need him a lot worse than Buehrle.
Florida has Bonifacio who can also play CF in a pinch, or could probably be groomed to take over anyway and is multi talented. The fish need SP more than another bat IMO.
Seriously, Lamont?? You can barely coach 3B, let alone manage a club.
Boston did not want the Lamontroversy.
As much as I worry sometimes about Valentine, I greatly prefer him to Lamont. He didn’t appeal to me at all.
Had Valentine’s name not come up, I would have preferred Mackanin, unless someone could have coaxed Mike Hargrove out of his man cave to be in the dugout again.
Oswalt is “reluctant” to pitch in Boston? Oh, great….the Sox need another pitcher with an attitude. Shoulda gone after Jackson.
Oswalt is reluctant to pitch in Boston because he has two teams that he specifically prefers to pitch for, and because he is supposedly trying to show that he is healthy and still effective and doing that in the AL East would be a lot harder than pretty much anywhere else. That doesn’t mean he has an attitude, it means he has preferences (and just because Boston isn’t one of them doesn’t make him a bad guy) and honestly it means he’s intelligent; why pitch in Boston against the AL East when you can pitch in St Louis against the NL Central? (which would also be closer to home for him)
Not saying Roy’s a bad guy, but if his heart isn’t in Boston it ain’t gonna work. Naturally, most pitchers would prefer playing in a large park during contract year, but he has to be realistic. The C.J. Wilson deal isn’t forthcoming.
Still don’t know why the Cubs didn’t protect Flaherty.
“The Athletics, Orioles, and Blue Jays remain the main teams interested in Ramirez.”
Not any more. Over the weekend Duquette was quoted as saying that the Orioles no longer viewed Ramirez as being a fit with the organization. All of the reporters around the country can quit trying to push Manny onto us now.
“After watching Ryan Flaherty in camp with the Orioles, Cafardo believes that the infielder and Rule 5 draft pick can win a spot with the club.”
What camp is he watching? Is there a secret pre-spring training camp that I haven’t heard about? What the heck is Cafardo talking about?
I think regardless if he likes it or not, the market has been set on Oswalt at 5-6 million for one year. Wherever he signs, it is going to be about the same. Be it St Louis, Boston, Texas or wherever. He has to prove he can still pitch. Then if he still can pitch, there should be more money next year. He is going to be unhappy with his salary regardless, he might as well look at the other intangibles such as a winner, location, team members, fans , chance of staying beyond one year, etc
Houston may go in on a guy who already DH’s, to have a DH who knows the AL already, if the guy they sign works out.