Rocco Baldelli was forced into premature retirement at age 29, but the former Rays outfielder has adjusted well to his post-playing career. As MLB.com's Bill Chastain relates, Baldelli is acting as something of a jack-of-all-trades as a special assistant in the Rays' baseball operations department, helping the club with everything from scouting to draft preparation to Spring Training work. "I get to see everything. I really enjoy gaining a perspective on everything we're doing. … It gives you a big picture view, and during the year I get the micro view of the organization," Baldelli said.
Here's some news from around the AL East…
- Sam Fuld is keeping the Rays in "the mix" as he decides his next contract, the outfielder tells Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Would definitely be nice to be back if the opportunity is right," Fuld said, adding that he is "just waiting for the landscape to clear a bit." MLBTR's Zach Links reported last week that Fuld has been offered minor league deals from five teams, some of which have already been ruled out.
- The Yankees' plan to drastically overspend on the 2014-15 international free agent market is further explored by Scout.com's Kiley McDaniel, who explains why the Yankees are making this splash now and how they're exploiting this loophole in what McDaniel believes is a "broken" international spending system.
- There has been some speculation that the Red Sox could trade John Lackey, as the team is looking to move a veteran starter to make room for a younger arm. Trading Lackey would definitely be a sell-high move for Boston and they could command a strong return given Lackey's 2013 performance and his team-friendly contract, but MLB.com's Ian Browne doesn't "see any way the Red Sox will look to trade Lackey." That same team-friendly deal is also a boon to the Sox, Browne notes, and "barring a stunning development," Lackey will be on the Opening Day roster.
- In AL East news from earlier today on MLB Trade Rumors, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons' option for 2015 was guaranteed since he was still employed at the start of the calendar year, the Rays claimed southpaw Pedro Figueroa off waivers from the A's, and we shared a collection of Orioles notes.
The Red Sox should just move Dempster for whatever return they can get for him; a decent middle reliever or whatever. They have young pitching, a good starting nine, five guys who can play the outfield, and infield depth if they bring Drew back (which it looks like they will, for a bargain).
I’d rather they go with Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, Peavy, Lackey than deal a good starter for a return they might not even need. Unless Peavy or Lackey is going to fetch them a stud prospect or a significant return more than Dempster, I’d rather dump the weakest link and keep the better rotation.
I agree. Dempster proved his “stuff” isn’t AL East worthy. I think Peavy is much more valuable at the back of the rotation, especially as a veteran for the younger guys.
Lackey is too valuable to the Sox with that team friendly contract. I don’t see them moving him. Who’s going to give up a young arm for two years of Lackey anyway?
Seattle Mariners as they need help for veteran pitching if it takes Tyler Pike & Brandon Maurer along few other players including Nick Franklin by shipping him to a team needing second baseman.
Fuld is a perfect bench player for a contender. Detroit would be a good team. Late inning replacement who owns the field.
Money aside, the Red Sox don’t actually need to part with Lackey, Dempster or anyone else. Depth is a good thing. Keep in mind that a)it’s a lock that Buchholz will miss at least a month of 2014 b)every staff, especially Boston’s for whatever reason, seems to suffer nagging ailments to their starters and c) do the Sox really want to get to a point where they have to throw a Steven Wright or the insanely forgettable Charlie Zink on the mound as a band-aid? Besides, they’ll probably get a mid-range minor leaguer for Dempster, anyways.
I’ve been making this point for two months and no one wants to hear it! Agree 100%.
You’re looking at Brandon Workman or Drake Britton to take starts in the case of injuries. I’d rather get rid of an unnecessary sixth starter and let one of those young guys have the first shot at the rotation. Depth is great, sure, but keeping Dempster on to pitch out of the pen just seems like a waste for everyone.
Trading Lackey makes no sense, unless the Sox can truly sell high on him. From a payroll perspective, he’s no longer a major issue. From a performance perspective, he and Lester were Boston’s two rotation anchors last season. If winning is still a priority, you can’t just trade that away.
Red Sox could trade a middle relief pitcher that may not fit in w/ the team this upcoming season by keeping Lackey/Dempster/Peavy. If either goes to the Mariners w/ Napoli for Brandon Maurer, Patrick Kivelhan, Tyler Pike, Julio Morban, and Nick Franklin (before trading him to a team needing second baseman help for pitching).
How can the Jays keep Gibbons? He gets out managed on a nightly basis.