The Brewers and Pirates have scouts watching the Red Sox, with a specific focus on Mike Carp, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes in his weekly Sunday column. While it's still unknown whether Carp can handle an everyday job, he wouldn't have to fill that role in Pittsburgh, as the Bucs have been looking for a left-handed hitting platoon partner for first baseman Gaby Sanchez. Carp has received a lot of trade buzz this offseason though Boston was known to be asking for a lot in return.
Here's some more from Cafardo's latest piece…
- Sam and Seth Levinson of the ACES agency "are gaining the reputation of persuading clients to take under-market-value contracts if they’re happy where they are," which is why there is a feeling amongst general managers that Jon Lester, an ACES client, will sign an extension with the Red Sox. “If you’re a team with a big-ticket guy out there, they are the agents you want to be dealing with right now,” said one National League GM. “The teams love it. You can get something done with them." This past summer, ACES client Dustin Pedroia signed an eight-year, $110MM extension with the Red Sox that was perceived as a team-friendly deal (especially given what Robinson Cano was able to find on the open market this offseason), though it's worth noting that the Levinsons kept Pedroia fully informed of his market value and the second baseman just really wanted to stay in Boston. Lester, for his part, has also said he'd be willing to take a discount to remain with the Sox.
- Cafardo speaks to Orioles manager Buck Showalter about the team's recent signings of Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez and how the club weighed the value of the draft picks they'd have to surrender to sign the qualifying offer-rejecting free agents. Also, Showalter doesn't think money will be an obstacle in retaining key players over the long term. “I feel confident with Peter [Angelos] that when we come to him and say this is someone we want to hold on to, he’s going to find a way to do it,” said Showalter. “I don’t think our guys want to go anywhere."
- Baltimore's hiring of Dave Wallace as pitching coach "may be the best acquisition we’ve made this offseason," Showalter said. “He’s really simplified things for us. Sometimes we’re so mechanics-driven in this business.”
- "Don't believe" the Blue Jays when they say they aren't interested in Ervin Santana, Cafardo writes. He also thinks the Orioles could still have an eye on Santana even after the Jimenez signing.
- Oliver Perez seemed to be close to a new contract two weeks ago when he was weighing offers from four teams, but "nothing has transpired" since then, Cafardo writes. He opines that the Nationals and Yankees are teams who could use Perez's lefty presence in their bullpens.
Trading Carp would not be a smart move.
I think by lavanway playing first base now, carp can become expendable
Pedroia is with ACES? I didn’t know they were still around.
So basically the Levinsons are the anti-Boras.
If I were to deal Carp, I’d have to look at the Pirates, with their deep Farm System.
What are the needs? I have no idea what the Red Sox weaknesses are (don’t seem to be too many) so I’m not sure what we have to offer. For Carp, I’d imagine the Bucs wouldn’t be offering any top prospects (they haven’t for other 1B so far). Bucs have a glut of OF and relievers to offer from, along with 4th/5th starter types.
there is literally one reporter that says the orioles are interested in santana with everyone else saying no I wish the rumor would just die already
Asking for a lot in return? We ARE talking about MIKE CARP here, right?
This is what is wrong with baseball. Last offseason, the Brewers were on the verge of signing Carp. But instead, the Red Sox swooped in and stole him even though they didnt need him just because they have money to throw around. Now, 1 year later, the Sox are trying to sell him to the Brewers for an outrageous price. This is exactly why the league needs a salary cap. With out a cap, the rich get richer and the smallest market teams have to patch together teams with scraps. Luxury tax simply is cutting it anymore.
I disagree about having a salary cap. I’m not sure what happens with Luxury Tax money, but ideally I’d like to see the money be distributed among the small market teams, and have the luxury tax increased until it reaches a point of allowing for a more even playing field.
That’s not how the situation with Carp went though. He was DFA’d by the Mariners and the Red Sox were ahead in the waiver list.
Might wanna check that again bud. He cleared waivers. And I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been a situation in the last couple years that the Red Sox would be ahead of the brewers in the waiver order.
There’s nothing that says he cleared waivers, but it looks like it might have been his first DFA. In that case, the waiver rule wouldn’t be in place. The Red Sox traded for Carp, and it wasn’t some outlandish trade that would have prevented the Brewers from acquiring him.
As to your point on the Red Sox not being ahead of the Brewers in waiver order, it’s determined by worst record to best in the league the player was placed on waivers in. Seattle is in the AL so all AL teams get first crack at a player. Nevermind the fact the Brewers were 83-79 in 2012 compared to the Red Sox 69-93 record in 2012. That sets the initial waiver list.
I think the focus should be on what the Jays aren’t interested in, and that is overpaying.