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Red Sox Need A Catcher

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Jason Varitek needs knee surgery, and WEEI in Boston is saying he may be out 4-6 weeks.  I’m sure Will Carroll will have the definitive word on this Wednesday morning.

In the meantime, the Red Sox are scrambling for a catcher who can hit above the Mendoza line.  They’re going to have to shop for the high-salary, waiver-passing guys.  Who’s available?

Javy Lopez is the first name that comes to mind.  Lopez wants a flat-out release, but the Orioles won’t do that.  According to the Baltimore Sun, the team would like to pass him through waivers and cover some, but not all, of his salary in a trade.  He’s only caught 20 games this year.  There’s always the possibility the Yankees put in a claim on Lopez just to thwart the Sox.  Lopez has worked with current Yankees Jaret Wright and Sidney Ponson before.

Bengie Molina was a name thrown out by Jerry Crasnick today as a possible waiver trade candidate.  Molina makes $5MM on the season and the Jays are 6.5 games back (3-7 in their last ten games).

Mike Lieberthal is in the last year of a huge contract with the Phillies.  Liebs has experience catching Mike Timlin and Curt Schilling.  As a 10 and 5 player he can reject any waiver claim.

Jason LaRue is a player the Reds wouldn’t mind sending off.  He makes $3.9MM this year and $5.2MM in ’07.  LaRue is not happy as Dave Ross’s backup.

Rod Barajas is being pushed aside in Texas, and he’ll hit free agency after the season.  He was a teammate of Curt Schilling’s for several years in Arizona.

UPDATE:  According to Will Carroll, Varitek’s procedure is minor and should keep him out about three weeks.

Carroll: Red Sox Looking At Craig Wilson, Geoff Jenkins, Moises Alou

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In his latest update, Will Carroll tell us:

"The Sox are also looking for cheap outfield help as a backup in case tests on Trot Nixon come up with a poor result. There are several names in play, including Craig Wilson, Geoff Jenkins, and Moises Alou. The question here will be price and fit. The Sox, even if Nixon is out for the year, could go with Gabe Kapler and Wily Mo Pena if the price is too high on an acquisition."

My hunch is that the BoSox go with the latter solution, but I’m surprised how little action there has been on Alou.

McAdam: Red Sox Discussing Extension With Lugo

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Via RotoWorld:

"The Providence Journal’s Sean McAdam said on WEEI radio that the Red Sox have been in contact with Julio Lugo’s agents to discuss a contract extension."

Nothing on this from the Boston Globe guys just yet.  The D-Rays are going to have to scramble if they want to get something better than a couple of compensation draft picks for Lugo.  One hour left. 

Edes: Red Sox Inquire On Kip Wells

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Check out Gordon Edes’s latest blog posting for the Boston Globe.  Through a Pirates source, Edes has learned that the Red Sox are discussing a trade for starter Kip Wells.  Wells has been decent with a 3.16 ERA this month.  He shut down the Giants last time out.

UPDATE: ESPN’s Amy Nelson says this one is on the verge of getting done.  Also, word via Sons of Sam Horn is that this deal could be for Abe Alvarez.

Olney: Red Sox Discussing Andruw Jones

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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney:

"The Red Sox and the Braves have talked about a deal that would send Andruw Jones to Boston for Coco Crisp, Craig Hansen and a prospect. But according to an executive familiar with the discussions, the Braves made a counter offer, asking for Jon Lester to be the third player."

This may be the surprise blockbuster that’s been rumored; it’s a testament to Theo Epstein that there hasn’t been a whisper of this til now.  We’ve got just 2.5 hours to go.

If I’m John Schuerholz, I’d just try to get Lester involved and not worry about the rest.

UPDATE: Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe tells us that the Andruw Jones talks are dead, and that they didn’t really go anywhere.  He says the Sox may still be in on Soriano.  He also throws Chris Young of the Padres into the mix for the first time.

Red Sox Trade Rumors

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It’s tough to get anything out of Boston these days; Theo Epstein has plugged all of his leaks.  Let’s see what we can piece together though.

According to Sean McAdams of The Providence Journal:

"Friends of the Rocket insist he’s sorry that he chose the Astros over the Red Sox."  McAdams mentions that Clemens would love a trade to Boston if it could be done without infuriating the Houston fanbase.  Also, a source of mine tells me that the Mets have inquired about Clemens.

Then there’s the possible three-way trade with the Rockies and Padres.  The Padres would get Mike Lowell, the Red Sox would get Ryan Shealy and a starter, and who knows what the Rockies would get. 

Don’t get that rumor confused with the other three-team scenario from Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe.  In that case, the Red Sox get Julio Lugo and Scott Linebrink, the Padres get Mike Lowell, and the D-Rays get prospects.      

Plus, Jayson Stark mentioned last night that the Red Sox are "making a late run at Alfonso Soriano."  He doesn’t have much more than that, but it can’t be dismissed.  Stark has also connected Boston to Jason Schmidt and Brad Lidge.

Stark: Mets, Rangers, Red Sox Inquire On Jason Schmidt

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Jayson Stark’s got a good one for us this evening over in his Stark Market.  Stark indicates that the Giants are now listening to offers for Jason Schmidt on the heels of their recent losing streak.  Apparently the Mets, Red Sox, and Rangers have inquired.

Schmidt will be a free agent after this season, and he’s said he would like to play for the Mariners.  The 33 year-old grew up in Kelso, Washington.

If the Giants really do change gears and pack it in for 2006, Moises Alou and Ray Durham could be a couple of other names that could interest teams as the deadline clock ticks away.   

Carroll: Final Offers Made On Tejada

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In his the latest Will’s Mill, Will Carroll indicates that the Astros and Angels have put in their final bids for Miguel Tejada.  He also mentions that the Astros may turn to Julio Lugo if they can’t get Tejada.  In that case they’d have to compete with the Blue Jays.  Lugo was released by the Astros in 2003 by Gerry Hunsicker.  Chuck LaMar was a bad GM, but you have to give him credit for the Lugo signing and the Kazmir deal.  Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, right?

Carroll also tells us that not much is leaking out of Boston’s front office, so reporters are left to connect the dots with info from other teams.  He leaves us with hope for some action soon enough:

"One of my best sources says the first of the Red Sox deals will happen this afternoon."

Boston Herald: Crisp In Trade Talks

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Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald and Buster Olney of ESPN are hearing the same thing: that Coco Crisp is available in trade talks.  In fact, Crisp was offered to the White Sox for a starting pitcher.  The Sox have six of ’em, so it’s anybody’s guess.  Maybe a buy low attempt on the fatigued Mark Buehrle?  Nah.

Crisp is hitting just .269/.322/.389 since returning from a broken finger and kidney stones on May 28th.  His OBP is not down because he’s drawing fewer walks – in fact, his walk rate has remained remarkably steady for years.  It’s down because Crisp’s OBP is normally driven by a .300 average and the hits aren’t quite there this season.  That’s the problem with an OBP reliant on base hits.  The culprit may be a reduction in Crisp’s contact rate.  Normally he puts the bat on the ball 86% of the time but this year he’s down to 83%.

Even an average center fielder should post a .335 OBP and .425 SLG, and normally Crisp tops that.  He’s still just 26.  Defensively, Crisp is one of the game’s best as a left fielder.  In center field, not so much.

The Red Sox seemingly wanted to keep Crisp around, signing him to a three year contract extension in April.  However, they did trade Bronson Arroyo after signing him to a contract extension.

Trade Rumor Roundup: 8 Days Left

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To begin with, this just isn’t true.  With the Kearns deal and probably Soriano trade, the 2006 deadline just can’t be classified as a dud.  That honor belongs to 2005 for sure.  The trading action never matches the buildup, but this year’s still a good one.

Read Ken Rosenthal’s latest.  The White Sox are in the Soriano game, the Rangers have interest in Luis Gonzalez, the Braves could add another reliever, Julio Lugo still might become a Blue Jay, and the Brewers look like sellers.  In my opinion, some Brewers besides Carlos Lee that could be unloaded: Geoff Jenkins, Corey Koskie, Brady Clark, and Dan Kolb.  Koskie will need to recover quickly from his concussion, however.

Still hearing that the Cubs like Willy Taveras, which would definitely fit their m.o. of players who don’t get on base.  Phil Rogers also mentions that Seattle’s Rafael Soriano is being asked about. It would be surprising to see the Mariners deal that kind of young talent.

Tons of great rumors coming from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.  He’s got a rundown of the Red Sox, all sorts of teams scouting Humberto Sanchez, and more. 

Buster Olney mentioned in his blog today that the Astros are among various teams scouting Elmer Dessens.  The Astros are also looking at Damaso Marte.

Unfounded rumor department: Could the Dodgers be after Aramis Ramirez?  Ramirez has picked a fantastic time to heat up, and L.A. has some top shelf young talent…is there anywhere Julio Lugo could go besides Toronto?  How about the Rockies?

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