Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington will focus on trying to fix his team’s pitching from top to bottom this offseason, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Since drafting Jon Lester in 2002, the only major league starting pitchers the Red Sox have developed are Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, and Justin Masterson. And while they had good luck with relievers Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard, Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden didn't work out as well. When it comes to grooming their pitchers of the future, Cafardo suggests that the Red Sox should reach out to Rick Peterson to help steer the ship. Here's more from today's column..
- If Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera doesn't have any additional fallout relating to his 50-game suspension, GMs that were asked said they would look at him as a one-year contract possibility. However, one GM noted that “If there’s competition for him, someone will go multiyear.”
- Former Red Sox left-hander Hideki Okajima is in Japan and trying to work his way back to the majors. Okajima is pitching extremely well in Japan, where many thought he wanted to stay, but he wants another shot at the majors and may get it.
- Carlos Quentin's contract is very reasonable for the small-market Padres, but they could still be open to moving him this offseason. Quentin inked a three-year, $27MM extension with the club in July that includes a $10MM mutual option for 2016.
- One veteran talent evaluator thinks many teams missed the boat on acquiring Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano. While he’s not the centerpiece of any lineup he would be a good left field option for a team seeking a righthanded middle-of-the-order bat.
- The Cubs will likely make a push for Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan, bullpen coach Gary Tuck, and possibly even bench coach Tim Bogar. However, Bogar might prefer to stay in Boston.
Can’t move Quentin. His extension included a no-trade clause.
Thought it was limited
One Cubs veteran talent evaluator thinks many teams missed the boat on acquiring Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano.
While he’s not the centerpiece of any lineup he would be a good left
field option for a team seeking a righthanded middle-of-the-order bat.
fixed.
Just stay away from Napoli Cherrington and PLEASE let Loney take his lethargic self somewhere else.
Ill take Mike Napoli. Hes always hit well at Fenway an would be a good player an guy to add to this team. Id go 2 an 20 tops but would hope for a 1 year deal which would be the best solution for us. He could man first, catch or DH. He gives us a solid power bat.
The Padres didn’t extend Quentin just to trade him a few months later. He’s sticking around. I can’t wait for the day when the only discussion surround the Padres is about who they’re going to trade and when they will trade them. Here’s to hoping the new ownership can bring an end to that cycle.
That should read, “I can’t wait for the day when the only discussion surrounding the Padres is NO LONGER about who they’re going to trade and when they trade them.”
I guess with the Red Sox playing so poorly, Cafardo must be running out of things to write about. The only way I could see the Padres dealing Quentin is if they didn’t have enough money to give Headley an extension, but with the new ownership, that shouln’t be an issue. And very shortly the only discussions about the Padres will be which prospects their dealing for that last piece of the puzzle at the deadline. GO PADRES.
I love how there isn’t any substance to the assertion too. It’s just, oh it’s the Padres, they’d probably do this for us Sox if we wanted.
The Sox really need to keep Magadan around. The players all love him, and hitting has been the one thing they’ve done consistently well for the last few years. That’s when you DON’T get rid of the hitting coach.
I agree, Karkat. If/when the Sox hire a new manager, while I’d suggest letting that guy hire his own team of coaches, I’d probably insist that Magadan is retained as the hitting coach.
I am particularly fond of getting Tim Bogar as far away as possiible
I’m a Cubs fan, so up until the recent Theo compensation stuff I didn’t really pay any attention to Nick Cafardo. Ever since then I’ve noticed his name and he’s really done nothing but annoy me. Every single article seems to have more to do with other teams than the Red Sox. Does this guy really want to work for ESPN instead of the Boston Globe or something? Go apply, Nick. And if you’re going to make claims about what teams you have nothing at all to do with are going to do, back them up with some evidence. It’s called “journalism.” Probably says it somewhere on your degree.
in his defense, he doesn’t know enough about any team – including the red sox – to fill an entire column. it’s easier to make one thing up about 10 different clubs than 10 things about boston
Cabrera is the NL batting leader. If he stays there (at the top), can they not count it, due to cheating and give the award to the #2 guy?
¨And while they had good luck with relievers Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard, Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden didn’t work out as well. ¨ I would change that ¨good luck¨ for success, you can´t attribute everything to luck…