Red Sox Rumors

Dontrelle For Lugo?

By Nat Boyle | September 21, 2008 at 10:57am CDT

The Tigers 2009 season is going to be reliant on some bounce back candidates to do just that.

According to Jon Paul Morosi, the Tigers will need to guess which of Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Nate Robertson will bounce back. And aside from Verlander, they will more than likely want to deal one of them to scale back an already unsustainable projected team salary of $130MM.

Some speculation by Morosi: The Tigers need a shortstop and could swap Dontrelle Willis for Boston’s Julio Lugo. Both guys are signed through 2010, Willis making $22MM and Lugo making $18MM. The Red Sox have shown a willingness to take on reclamation projects in pitchers like Wade Miller and Bartolo Colon, so why not Dontrelle when they have a more favorable (and fan-friendly) option at shortstop in Jed Lowrie? The Tigers could also use the spare $4MM and the Red Sox could afford the risk. Morosi quotes Jim Duquette:

"That can be an effective way to swap players who’ve had below-average years," Duquette said, when asked about that approach. "Lugo would not be a bad player in that situation, as long as you’re not taking on any more money. It would be a break-even proposition. "You take the position player and hope that Lugo has more of a bounce-back year."

Red Sox Suspend Colon Indefinitely

By Sarah Green | September 20, 2008 at 1:31pm CDT

When the Red Sox picked up Bartolo Colon in February it was considered a pretty savvy move–low-risk (minor league deal), potentially high-reward (2005 Cy Young winner). But apparently, the hefty hurler didn’t like Boston’s recent decision to have him pitch out of the bullpen. After requesting some time off to return to the Dominican Republic to attend to "personal matters," Colon seems to have decided not to come back. The club is keeping him on the 40-man, but has suspended him indefinitely without pay.

Boston’s television announcers, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy, doubted last night that Colon would’ve been of much use coming out of the bullpen (it would take him a long time to get warm; he’d probably have to come in at the start of the inning) and didn’t see him fitting on the playoff roster. So in that sense, Colon’s decision is unsurprising. But having done a decent amount to re-establish at least minimal value this season—a 3.92 ERA in 39 innings while displaying a genial, just-trying-to-help-the-ballclub attitude—it seems strange that he’d bolt now if he was planning on pitching next year.

Boston has no plans to replace Colon, and currently have no one else who needs the roster spot.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.

Odds and Ends: Aurilia, Vazquez, Al Reyes, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | September 19, 2008 at 2:45pm CDT

Some random links for today…

McCovey Chronicles thinks Rich Aurilia would be a nice fit for the ’09 Giants.
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the Yankees never really had to give up on Javier Vazquez.
The Mets released Al Reyes; he never pitched for them. Reyes had nine saves for the Rays in April of last year, but it’s mostly been downhill since then.
Jason Varitek does not want to talk about 2009. It’s hard to see the Red Sox offering him more than one year.
RotoAuthority discusses the fantasy baseball code of honor.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Huff, Hardy, Russ Ortiz

By Tim Dierkes | September 19, 2008 at 12:18pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up.

Mark Attanasio set a dangerous precedent by firing Ned Yost. Will he interfere with GM Doug Melvin’s plans in the future?
Rosenthal considers Aubrey Huff a "highly desirable trade commodity" this winter. That begs the question – why did Huff pass through waivers unclaimed in August?
Trading J.J. Hardy is more likely than moving him to third base. Hardy is under team control for two more seasons. The Jays, Tigers, Royals, Twins, Giants, Dodgers, and Cardinals could be in the market for a shortstop. Demand certainly outstrips supply.
Rosenthal believes Rafael Furcal would be a nice fit for the Blue Jays. He agrees that GM J.P. Ricciardi is likely to return.
The Orioles might prefer affordable veterans to A.J. Burnett as they try to improve their pitching staff this winter.
Russ Ortiz wants to pitch in 2009, and he worked out for ten days a week ago. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported the workout yesterday. He says the Royals, Astros, Brewers, and Red Sox had scouts at the audition.

Odds and Ends: Cashman, Roberts, Lowe

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 11:43am CDT

Rounding up links for Thursday…

Ken Davidoff of Newsday notes which player moves were entirely Brian Cashman’s, and which came from above.
Buster Olney wonders if Doug Melvin could replace Cashman as the Yankees’ GM. Olney stresses that it’s pure speculation on his part.
Viva El Birdos asks what it would take for the Cardinals to acquire Brian Roberts.
John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press says the Tigers should sign Derek Lowe this winter. Will Lowe get a four year deal?
Bud Selig tells Ken Rosenthal the Manny Ramirez trade was completed before the deadline. Jerry Crasnick says the Dodgers have not talked to Ramirez about an extension.
Rays Index explains why the team should not trade Scott Kazmir.

Schilling Blasts Manny

By Tim Dierkes | September 18, 2008 at 8:44am CDT

Pitcher Curt Schilling sounded off on former teammate Manny Ramirez yesterday on WEEI. His comments can be found here and here. Schilling says management ultimately took a players’ vote, and they elected to have Manny traded. The public is aware of just 10-20% of Ramirez’s antics, according to Schilling.

Meanwhile, Joe Posnanski takes a look at the genius of Manny in a column at SI.com.

Heyman’s Latest: Epstein, Cano, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 5:03pm CDT

Highlights from Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com:

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio reportedly made the decision to fire Ned Yost, but GM Doug Melvin’s power is not diminished.
Theo Epstein’s new agreement is for three years.
Heyman notes "talk lately that the Yankees might consider trading Robinson Cano." Apparently Cano still has good trade value and the Yankees could fill multiple needs in a deal. Heyman says the Dodgers are interested. Cano was subject of an odd Dodgers rumor back in July. The Yanks would be interested in Orlando Hudson if they were to trade Cano.
Alex Rodriguez patched things up with Scott Boras, who he considers "a good guy."

Epstein Agrees To Extension

By Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 9:29am CDT

WEDNESDAY: Amalie Benjamin sifts through the murky statements regarding the Epstein negotiations. Regardless, it looks like he’s staying.

TUESDAY: According to Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has agreed to a contract extension. Some details still need to be hammered out though.

Epstein’s moves since winning the World Series last year:

Re-signed Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, and Mike Timlin.
Exercised options on Julian Tavarez and Tim Wakefield.
Offered arbitration to Eric Gagne; selected Bryan Price with compensation pick.
June draft picks also included Casey Kelly and Ryan Westmoreland.
Acquired David Aardsma.
Signed Bartolo Colon and Sean Casey.
Traded Manny Ramirez, Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss; received Jason Bay.
Acquired Mark Kotsay and Paul Byrd.

Odds and Ends: LaRoche, Bradley, Burnett

By Tim Dierkes | September 15, 2008 at 7:20pm CDT

Digging into today’s random links…

Joel Sherman looks at what went wrong for the Yankees this year. Did they fall too in love with their farm system?
At least six teams have called the Pirates about third baseman Andy LaRoche in recent weeks. If LaRoche pans out and Pedro Alvarez comes aboard, the Bucs could have a surplus at some point.
Craig Harris examines the rise of D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
Eddie Bajek updated the Elias rankings for the AL 1B/OF/DH category. They’re fluctuating wildly. Eddie also did catchers for both leagues; Ivan Rodriguez is headed into Type B territory. Gregg Zaun lost Type B status.
Mike Hindman conducted a roundtable asking what kind of contract the Rangers should offer Milton Bradley.
29 teams passed on Rays reliever Grant Balfour last spring. Now he has a 1.62 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 50 innings. Balfour’s been through a lot.
Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam don’t see the Red Sox signing A.J. Burnett (or any big-name free agent starter).
Padres CEO Sandy Alderson scoffed at the idea of a $40MM payroll for ’09. I never heard that figure tossed around; Buster Olney suggested the $50MM range.
Maury Brown heard a rumor that Thomas Ricketts won the bid for the Cubs.

Cafardo’s Latest: Salty, Renteria, Pudge

By Tim Dierkes | September 15, 2008 at 2:57pm CDT

Let’s take a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

The Red Sox are "intrigued" by Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (I believe they have been for some time). Jamey Newberg would like to see Clay Buchholz in a Rangers uniform, but admits the deal would have to be expanded.
The Red Sox will not have to pay the $3MM buyout on Edgar Renteria if the Tigers decline his $11MM option for ’09. The free agent market for shorstops is weak, but the Tigers will probably look elsewhere given Renteria’s .269/.318/.375 showing.
Cafardo wonders if Jason Bay or Matt Holliday will be on the Braves’ radar this winter (both are signed through ’09). You’d have to think the Sox will want to keep Bay. The Braves will have $30-40MM to spend, and Bobby Cox expects two starting pitchers to be added.
Cafardo talked to a scout who feels Ivan Rodriguez still has something left to offer despite his poor performance for the Yankees. Ideally he’d sign a one-year deal. It won’t be with the Yankees; Jorge Posada noted that Pudge is "going to have to go somewhere else."

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