With Moss Out, Wilkerson Could Be An Option For Red Sox
As Nat mentioned in an earlier post today, the Red Sox are suddenly having to figure out how to replace Brandon Moss. And in an update via the Extra Bases blog, Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo brings light to Brad Wilkerson‘s situation.
Wilkerson was waived by the Mariners last week, and has since cleared waivers. He has not given his agent, Scott Boras, any indication of his plans.
Boras, however, confirmed that the Red Sox were interested in Wilkerson this off-season. Cafardo suggests that if they’re looking for a long-term answer to their sudden roster opening, Wilkerson could be an option.
Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here.
Coco To Stay For Now
From the Sunday Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo notes that Brandon Moss’ emergency appendectomy yesterday "certainly puts the kibosh on any thought of moving Coco Crisp…" And when Bobby Kielty returns from his hand injury, Moss may be a mainstay. Cafardo notes that Moss has been impressive so far. Writes Cafardo,
"’I’ve been trying to get Moss for three years," said one assistant general manager in the American League West. "I think he’s a guy who is going to be a very good major league player. He can do a lot of things. Strong lefthanded bat. Good head for the game, but the Red Sox aren’t inclined to deal him. We’ve tried, believe me.’"
The 24 year old Georgia-native Brandon Moss (or Brandy Moss to me) has had not one but two clutch game winning hits so far this year. He’s hitting .289 with 2 HR in 21 AB.
With regards to the Coco angle, it’s apparent that staying put was the right decision for the Red Sox. They have needed the depth to cover minor injuries to J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Crisp. Crisp does not seem unhappy with the situation as a whole and Ellsbury’s production is obviously unaffected by occasional days off. Further, as pinch runners they have been late inning weapons. The Sox only problem seems to be middle relief but few teams don’t share in that dilemma, and the Sox have internal options I expect them to go to before making a deal. Eventually, you’d think they’ll have to hand the reins over to Ellsbury but for now having both is a blessing. There are certainly a lot of opinions on this – what are yours?
By Nat Boyle
Stark’s Latest: Zito, Anthony Reyes, Varitek, Inoa
ESPN’s Jayson Stark has been working the phones, and the result is his latest Rumblings and Grumblings column.
- Stark talked to an official from a "pitching-starved" team. This person said the Giants would have to eat at least $80MM of Barry Zito‘s remaining $112.5MM if they want to trade him. One scout suggested Zito’s only chance at revival is a reunion with Rick Peterson.
- The Cards’ Anthony Reyes is "eminently available." Problem is, John Mozeliak has a high asking price for the 26 year-old hurler.
- Edwin Jackson remains a hot commodity, but there’s no reason for the Rays to move him.
- How much will Scott Boras want from the Red Sox for a Jason Varitek extension? If it’s in the Jorge Posada four-year, $52MM neighborhood, there’s no chance.
- Stark informs us of a highly sought-after 16 year-old Dominican pitcher named Michel Inoa. The kid could get a signing bonus north of $1.5MM. The Astros are one club interested in Inoa.
Colon Opt-Out Pushed To June 1
Informally, Bartolo Colon has agreed to push his opt-out date from today to June 1st. His contract remains the same otherwise, according to Alex Speier.
Colon’s oblique strain basically set him back a month. He looked quite good in his one Triple A start on April 3rd. It sounds like Colon and the Red Sox want to make this work, but who will he replace in the rotation? It would have to be Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, or Clay Buchholz.
None of them are pitching badly, though Lester appears to be on the shakiest ground given his strikeout, walk, and home run rates. As far as innings concerns, Lester pitched 163 last year while Buchholz tossed 148. Even by the "30 inning increase" threshold, they’re both safe to make 30+ starts. Regardless of how they sort it out, this is a good problem for the Red Sox.
Brad Wilkerson Possibilities
What’s next for outfielder Brad Wilkerson? Two possibilities are the Red Sox and Blue Jays, according to a source. The Red Sox previously wanted Wilkerson for a bench role. The Jays may want to add a lefty bat. Not saying these two clubs are necessarily interested, but they may be possible fits as Wilkerson looks for a job.
Wilkerson, 30, is hitting .234/.323/.444 in 394 ABs since the start of the ’07 season.
Corey, Aquino Designated
The Red Sox designated reliever Bryan Corey for assignment today to make room for Mike Lowell. Also, the Orioles designated reliever Greg Aquino.
Corey, 34, has decent big league stats in 53 career innings but could never hold a job. Aquino, 30, has been done in by home runs, walks, and injuries in his career. He did manage to close for the D’Backs in ’04.
Cafardo’s Latest: Ramirez, Papelbon, Moss
Nick Cafardo spins Red Sox rumor gold in the Boston Globe.
- Scott Boras is the spur in Manny Ramirez‘s side. Cafardo interviews the Notorious One in the Boston Globe today. Says Boras, "Our plan for him is in place. If you can make a player comfortable, you have the ability to make a player play well." So far, so good. He doesn’t speculate on the reality of a contract extension saying, "I communicate with [Theo Epstein] on a number of things and I really let the decision-making be theirs. It’s rare if they haven’t thought about what their future plans are for a player."
- In that same piece, Cafardo quotes Jonathan Papelbon who is fine going year-to-year right now. He says he’s comfortable with his ability and his salary and shrewdly knows he’d rather wait for a big payday than make a concession for security when his talent could go beyond what he signs for.
- Two GMs apparently checked on the availability of Brandon Moss. If the Sox were to trade Coco Crisp, they would have no backup while Bobby Kielty is hurt, so the man I call "Brandy Moss" is not expendable at this point.
- From another source, Dan Kolb was released to make room for Devern Hansack in Pawtucket (say it with me: Puh-TUH-kit!).
By Nat Boyle
Will Salty Callup Lead To Laird Trade?
Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been called up, and GM Jon Daniels has no plans for him to warm the bench. Salty performed well at AAA Oklahoma, and when backup backstop Adam Melhuse broke a bone in his hand on Thursday, the call-up seemed imminent. However, incumbent Rangers catcher Gerald Laird has also been solid to start the season. Given the organization’s desire to get Saltalamacchia regular at-bats and the lackluster hitting of first baseman Ben Broussard, I think it’s likely that the defensively sub-par Salty will see at least some time at the "cold corner."
But with the Rangers off to an absolutely abysmal start–Buster Olney cites a scout today saying that the team looks "out of control"–we have to wonder when the Rangers will open up the treasure chest and share some of their backstop bounty with the rest of the league. As previously noted in this space, the team is expected to be sellers come July. In addition to Laird and Saltalamacchia, the Rangers also have three decent catching prospects. With catching talent so scarce, other GMs will likely come knocking sooner rather than later. Rumors about Laird have been flying to and fro since Texas acquired Saltalamacchia in the Mark Teixeira deal last summer, but Salty’s call-up means the clock has officially started ticking. Although Daniels said recently he wasn’t planning on trading Laird, I have a feeling he’s just playing hard to get. Some possible suitors? The Reds, the Mets, the Blue Jays, or the Red Sox.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.
Colon Nearing Return, Opt-Out Date
For most of March, the Red Sox looked like they made the pick-up of the winter by signing Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. While scouting reports from his winter work had him sitting in the upper 80s with his fastball, the Red Sox said he was hitting low 90s, a fine place to be for the former Cy Young winner. But after just one start in AAA, he was derailed with an oblique injury, and has been on the DL ever since.
The Sox got a bit of good news, bad news on Colon. On the positive side, he’s schedule for three side sessions, and could be back on the hill by May 5. Problem is, he can opt out of his contract on May 1 and become a free agent.
Chances are, Colon and the Sox will work on some kind of agreement that extends Bartolo’s window to opt out. The team could use the added depth, and Colon likely wants to stay with a winner. Then again, he might be able to get a guaranteed deal somewhere if he opts out.
Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog. Send along any rumors here.
Odds and Ends: Crisp, King, Sweeney
Here’s today’s linkage.
- Bobby Kielty‘s hand injury drastically reduces the chance of a Coco Crisp trade within the next month.
- Who needs a lefty reliever? The Nationals’ Ray King would like to be traded rather than head to Triple A.
- Mike Sweeney was excited about signing with the Twins last winter, but the Craig Monroe trade ended that possibility. Susan Slusser doesn’t expect the A’s to keep both Frank Thomas and Sweeney for very long.
- Joe Sports Fan ranks the seven best long-term contracts. Any additions? How about Dan Haren at four years and $12.65MM?