Epstein On Crawford, Papelbon, Gonzalez
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Dennis & Callahan on WEEI that the Red Sox are vulnerable in certain areas, even after a successful offseason. Here's the latest from Epstein, including details on the team's pursuit of its new left fielder…
- Epstein prefers to integrate young players onto the Major League roster with minimal fanfare. Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester, for example, came up through Boston’s system and are now top starters.
- Epstein identified starting pitching depth as a possible area of weakness for the Red Sox. Boston has Tim Wakefield, Felix Doubront and Alfredo Aceves plus its starting five, but doesn’t necessarily have MLB-ready starters in the minors.
- Catching depth is another one of the team’s “areas of vulnerability,” Epstein says.
- The Red Sox didn’t expect Carl Crawford to want to sign with them, but soon realized that he wanted to stay in the AL East. It took lots of research on Boston’s part to determine its level of interest in the left fielder. “We covered him as if we were privately investigating him,” Epstein said. “We had a scout on him literally the last three, four months of the season at the ballpark, away from the ballpark.”
- The Red Sox never expected to sign Crawford as swiftly as they did, despite their strong interest in him.
- Epstein explained Boston’s approach to extensions for arbitration eligible players: “Our philosophy, which is actually a policy in writing, is if we’re going to sign arbitration-eligible players long term, we have to get one free agent year and we have to get an option for the club. Because we’re giving the player certainty. We need to be able get some of those prime years back in exchange. That makes it a fair bargain."
- It's a near-certainty that Jonathan Papelbon, who never signed an extension with Boston, will reach free agency after the season.
- Epstein says there’s “no real timetable” for an Adrian Gonzalez extension.
Quick Hits: Ortiz, Cabrera, Pujols, Astros
On this date in 2008, the Rockies signed Scott Podsednik. The Blue Jays did just that yesterday, agreeing to a minor league deal with the speedy outfielder. Here are some links for Thursday…
- David Ortiz told reporters, including Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com, that he would still like to stay in Boston long-term. Big Papi's contract expires after the season.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports suggests the Tigers should help Miguel Cabrera find a full-time mentor to keep him focused on baseball. Cabrera was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida last night.
- Adrian Gonzalez told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he hasn't set a deadline for extension talks with the Red Sox. Gonzalez says Albert Pujols' demands won't affect his discussions with Boston (Twitter link).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan points out that the Cardinals offered Pujols less money per season than Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira or, assuming he finalizes his extension, Adrian Gonzalez.
- Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe shows that the Red Sox have enough money to bid on Pujols and suggests Boston will have at least passing interest in him when he hits free agency.
- Astros GM Ed Wade tells Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle that he didn't realize just how thin Houston's minor league system was when he took over after the 2007 season.
- The Yankees have definite lingering interest in Kevin Millwood, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Buchholz Sees Lester Extension As “A Good Starting Point”
When MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith mentioned Clay Buchholz as an extension candidate last September, Ben noted that Buchholz's rotation mate Jon Lester was a close comparable. Buchholz himself apparently agrees with the comparison, as he told WEEI.com's Alex Speier that he would appreciate a multiyear deal akin to the five-year, $30MM pact that Lester signed with the Red Sox before the 2009 season, or the similar extensions signed by Ricky Romero in Toronto and Yovani Gallardo in Milwaukee.
“I think that would definitely be a base model for it — numbers-wise, security reasons, I think every player with less than three years of service time, that’s what they strive for,” said Buchholz. “I’m not saying I’m as good as Lester or I deserve what he got, but just from the other guys who signed their deal in the past year or so with the same service, I think that’s definitely a good starting point if there ever was one.”
The Sox haven't approached Buchholz about an extension this winter, and if the team waits until sometime during or after the 2011 season to explore a long-term deal, another strong season from Buchholz could make his extension more expensive than the deals signed by Lester, Gallardo or Romero. There's no question Boston can afford to extend the right-hander, but doing so sooner rather than later might save the team an extra $5-10MM on a contract. Buchholz will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season.
Cubs Acquire Robert Coello
The Cubs acquired Robert Coello from the Red Sox for minor league infielder Tony Thomas, the teams announced. The Red Sox designated Coello for assignment last week and moved closer to a deal this afternoon.
Coello led Red Sox minor leaguers with 130 strikeouts last year, before pitching in the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican Pacific League. He spent last season in the upper minors, where he posted a 3.86 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 107 1/3 innings as a starter and reliever. The Red Sox called the 26-year-old up for a six-game stint in the majors at the end of the season. The Reds drafted Coello as a catcher in 2004 and the Angels converted him to a pitcher before the 2007 season.
Thomas, 24, placed second in the Southern League in triples (11) and fourth in slugging percentage (.485) last year. The 2007 third rounder was at Double-A for the second consecutive season; he posted a .276/.338/.485 line with 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported yesterday that the Red Sox were moving toward a trade.
Red Sox Expect To Trade Robert Coello
The Red Sox expect to trade right-hander Robert Coello within a couple days, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. A few teams are interested in the 26-year-old, who was designated for assignment last week to create roster space for Alfredo Aceves.
Coello pitched in both the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican Pacific League this winter after leading Red Sox minor leaguers with 130 strikeouts in 2010. The Cincinnati Reds draft choice spent most of the 2010 season pitching for Boston's top affiliates, before appearing in six games with the Red Sox. He posted a 3.86 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 107 1/3 innings as a swingman in the upper minors.
Red Sox Notes: Papelbon, Pena Jr., Jenks
Let's take a look at some Red Sox-related tidbits from around the web..
- Earlier today, BoSox closer Jonathan Papelbon told reporters that he doesn't know why everyone assumes he won't be with the club after 2011. Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal brings us select quotes from the outspoken hurler, including his approval of GM Theo Epstein's moves this offseason.
- After starting his career as a shortstop, Tony Pena Jr. is now in camp with the BoSox as a relief pitcher, trying to make the squad as a non-roster invitee, writes Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. Pena says he tops out at 94 miles per hour but usually throws in the low 90s.
- This winter's acquisitions of relievers Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler will help to reduce Daniel Bard's appearances, but manager Terry Francona is more excited about the two reducing the number of times Bard needs to warm up in the bullpen, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
Quick Hits: Young, Papelbon, Marlins, Rangers
On this day in 1989, the Yankees re-signed Tommy John, who was 45 years old at the time. John lost seven of the 10 starts he made in '89, and was released by the Yankees on May 30th. It would be his last stint in the majors. Of course, over two decades later, the southpaw is a bigger household name than ever, immortalized as the namesake of a surgical procedure now common among pitchers: Tommy John surgery. Here are the links for Sunday, as we celebrate the return of baseball. Pitchers and catchers report!
- Jamey Newberg provides some reasons that Michael Young is unlikely to be traded. He points out that Texas doesn't match up well with contenders looking to add offense because those contending teams don't want to give up players who will help them win in 2011.
- Jonathan Papelbon doesn't know why everyone assumes he won't be with the Red Sox after 2011, tweets Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. However, in this piece from WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, Papelbon voices his desire to be the "number one guy" on free agency next offseason and says Rafael Soriano's contract helped set the bar for elite relievers.
- Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel discusses five questions about the Marlins' roster changes for 2011.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link) thinks Michael Young makes a lot of sense for the Brewers. Not only would Young represent an upgrade over Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop, but it was GM Doug Melvin who initially acquired Young from the Blue Jays in 2000. Olney acknowledges, however, that Milwaukee's minor league system has been depleted by the Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum deals, and the money situation might not work.
- It's been an up-and-down offseason for the Rangers, writes Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- The Indians view recently signed infielder Orlando Cabrera as a super utility type who could play not just second base, but also shortstop and third base as needed, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
East Notes: Millwood, Bartlett, Manuel, Jenks
Pitchers and catchers are reporting in Arizona and Florida, but up in the northeast, it doesn't feel like spring has arrived quite yet. Here are a few AL and NL East-related links while we wait for the snow to melt….
- Although the Yankees and Kevin Millwood are still talking, they have "a ways to go," tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. Yesterday, nearly 43% of over 6,300 MLBTR readers voted that Millwood would eventually sign with the Yanks.
- The Rays were close to sending Jason Bartlett to San Francisco before they worked out a trade with another NL West club, Giants GM Brian Sabean tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
- John Gonzalez of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders why it's taking so long for the Phillies and Charlie Manuel to work out a contract extension.
- The Red Sox topped baseball's list of spenders this offseason, as ESPN.com's Katie Sharp writes. Since the turn of the century, the piece notes, only the 2009 Yankees have won a World Series after having outspent the rest of the league the previous winter.
- Bobby Jenks spoke to the media in Fort Myers today, discussing his decision to sign with the Red Sox. The right-hander said he had offers elsewhere to close, but wanted to play in Boston, adding that he knows his role as a setup man and "didn’t come here to step on anybody’s toes." Alex Speier of WEEI.com has those quotes and more from Jenks.
- Mike Puma of the New York Post and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun each pose 10 questions that could shape the Mets' and Orioles' seasons, respectively. In addition to discussing how new arrivals will fit in, each article addresses the back of the bullpen. Will the Mets let Francisco Rodriguez finish 55 games to trigger his 2012 option? And will it be Kevin Gregg, Koji Uehara, Mike Gonzalez, or someone else closing in Baltimore?
- For updates all year long on the closing situations in Boston, New York, Baltimore, and everywhere else, be sure to follow @closernews on Twitter. A great resource for fantasy players, @closernews will keep tabs on injuries, ineffectiveness, overuse, and anything else that could affect which relievers are getting save opps.
Cafardo On Gonzalez, Pedro, Bonderman, Washburn
After all the drama that surrounded the Red Sox' acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez, it's easy to forget that the slugger, who underwent shoulder surgery in October, has been rehabbing all winter. While the team hopes Gonzalez will be good to go on Opening Day, "it seems silly to rush him if he isn’t ready," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. According to Cafardo, Boston's contingency plan could involve playing Lars Anderson for a couple weeks or even pursuing a free agent first baseman. Let's check out the other items of interest from the Globe's Sunday Baseball Notes….
- There's a belief that Pedro Martinez could pitch the final months of the season if, as one American League GM says, he finds "the right fit." Cafardo speculates that the Phillies could be an interesting option if they end up trading Joe Blanton.
- A National League scout says he liked the way Jeremy Bonderman was pitching toward the end of 2010. "I’m really surprised a team hasn’t jumped at him," said the scout. "But some of that is up to the player and the agent, too. If he’s asking for too much, nobody’s going to do it no matter how desperate teams are for pitching."
- There's still a chance that Jarrod Washburn, who sat out the 2010 season, could sign somewhere. However, GMs who spoke to Cafardo are under the impression that the lefty wouldn't return unless he could land a "fairly sizable" Major League contract, which seems unlikely.
Red Sox Notes: Shoda, Coello, Bishop
Don't let all that snow in Boston fool you, Spring Training is fast approaching. Here's some of the latest BoSox news out of Fort Myers, Florida..
- As we learned last night, the Red Sox are closing in on a deal with Japanese left-hander Itsuki Shoda. A major league source told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that Shoda has been invited to minor league camp and would have to win a job to stay with the organization. The figures on the deal are not yet out but Abraham writes that the cost to the Red Sox is minimal.
- Robert Coello, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday, is still working out at the Red Sox minor league training facility while he waits to hear where he might be playing baseball this season. The 26-year-old should be able to draw interest from clubs after turning in a 3.86 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 107 1/3 innings for Boston's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates as a swingman.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com profiles the story of Te Wera "Beau" Bishop and how the New Zealand softballer was discovered by the BoSox.