In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe runs down the candidates for the Red Sox GM job. Frank Wren, who has a history with new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, is believed to be the favorite for the gig, but there are many other candidates who could be in the mix. Cafardo runs down several intriguing names, including ex-Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd. For what it’s worth, O’Dowd told Cafardo that he enjoys his current job as an MLB Network analyst and has no idea whether Dombrowski would consider him for a position. Here’s more from Cafardo….
- In addition to the Dodgers, the Giants also had interest in acquiring Red Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza after he cleared waivers, but they felt the asking price was too high, Cafardo writes. Boston acquired De Aza from the Orioles in early June and one has to imagine that the NL West clubs were drawn to him, in part, because he would have served as a highly-affordable rental. The Red Sox were on the hook for only $1MM of his salary after acquiring him from Baltimore.
- Ben Cherington probably would have picked up the $13MM option on the injury-prone Clay Buchholz, but Cafardo isn’t sure if Dombrowski will do the same. One AL GM told Cafardo that Buchholz would likely be in line for “around $15MM on a three-year deal” if he were to hit the open market.
- Cafardo doesn’t buy the theory that the Red Sox hired Dombrowski quickly in order to give him more time to trade Pablo Sandoval or Hanley Ramirez. To deal either of the struggling sluggers, Boston “would have to eat major money and that may not be in the cards.”
- Sources close to Cardinals hurler John Lackey tell Cafardo that the veteran wants to stay in the National League because he’s had an easier time pitching there. St. Louis has interest in a reunion, though not on a lengthy contract since Lackey turns 37 in October.
- Tigers adviser Scott Reid has been mentioned as someone Dombrowski could bring with him to the Red Sox, but at this time, Dombrowski has not asked permission to speak with Detroit executives. Many of those execs also received promotions after Dombrowski’s departure, so it’s not clear if they can be lured away.
- Agent Alan Nero believes there will be a ripe market for Korean first baseman Byung-ho Park. “We’re just preparing for the process right now,” Nero said. “We believe there’s going to be a lot of interest as there was with [Jung Ho] Kang. Major league teams certainly covet right-handed power.” The Red Sox have been scouting the Nexen Heroes star for most of the season and Cafardo suggests that they could platoon him with left-handed-batter Travis Shaw. Even though Park could carry a notable price tag via the posting system, that could be cheaper for the Sox than going after the likes of Chris Davis or Justin Morneau on the open market.
Other then going after a name free agent starting pitcher, DD’s past moves suggest he will do something unanticipated in media groupthink. Cafardo pretty much wrote what all the media has been writing.
More FO moves in MLB yet to come, which will bring a very interesting off-season as so many franchises are going to be restructuring their rosters.
It will be interesting to see if DD can keep his media leaks to a minimum now that he is in Boston. His moves tended to stay under the radar until they happened in Detroit.
Buchholz would get more than 3/15MM on the open-market. That is just silly to suggest such a low figure when he is coming off a great, but albeit, injury-plagued season. 5MM doesn’t buy much nowadays and at the very least, he would match Masterson’s deal last Winter. I honestly think Dombrowski picks up his option because it makes practically no sense not to. If they want, they can just trade him then (which can easily be done because of this year’s success, salary, and team option for 2017).
I saw that. I wondered if the figure was $15MM AAV.
That could be right. It is Cafardo though, so you never know.
I’m pretty sure that meant $15M a year for 3 years. $5M a year is literally nothing in today’s market, Buchholz would get way more than that. Honestly, I could see him getting 4/60-65M in the current market.
Yeah.. $5 million a year gets you Chris Capuano.. Buchholz could easily match McCarthy’s 4/$48m.. Both excellent pitchers when healthy but injury prone..
Why would Justin Morneau cost more than Park? He is injury prone, as shown again this year. He isn’t the type of player DD would would want, anyway. I also don’t see Boston winning the posting fee for Park unless they plan to play him every day.
Because Morneau is a proven bat when healthy.. He has an MVP to his name.. Park could very well turn into what everyone thought Kang would be last year.. KBO is still only equal to AA.. Some players can jump from AA right into MLB but the majority can not.. Park has to be considered nothing more than a very good prospect who raked in the minors..
I find the reaction to Cuban players and this Korean player interesting. Jose Abreu bashed in Chicago…and that turned the spicket on to MLB teams needing Cubans….same is happening now in Korea.
Has Cafardo ever been right about anything? It seriously seems like he just makes this stuff up.
I think Lackey stays with the Cardinals