Relief Moves
The Red Sox picked up 35 year-old right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly from the Angels for Phil Seibel. Donnelly’s control slipped significantly last season, but he’s had an excellent career despite a late start. He can help. Seibel, a southpaw, turns 28 in January. He was unhittable across three minor league levels for the Red Sox this year. The Red Sox also added J.C. Romero as a LOOGY option.
The D-Rays signed Al Reyes to a one-year deal. You may recall he was a fantastic reliever for the Cards in ’05 before succumbing to TJ surgery. He already threw a few Triple A innings in August so he should be 100% for spring training. I could see him as the closer at some point.
The Mets probably won’t land Akinori Otsuka, but the Diamondbacks could trade for him. On one hand, it’s scary to rely on Eric Gagne for anything. On the other hand, Otsuka’s value will never be higher. I agree with RotoWorld that Scott Hairston could be a huge sleeper in Texas. More on Hairston here.
Chan Ho Park A Closer Candidate?
Interesting note from the Boston Globe:
"A source told the Globe’s Nick Cafardo that during the Matsuzaka negotiations, Boras was trying to sell the Red Sox on signing Chan Ho Park to be the team’s closer."
It’s a smart idea, grabbing a failed starter and converting him to relief. Park currently posts mediocre strikeout rates, but it stands to reason that he could bump that up if used in one-inning bursts. Other starters who could excel in relief: Renyel Pinto, Oliver Perez, Angel Guzman, Jorge de la Rosa, Ian Snell, or Mark Prior.
Red Sox Sign Matsuzaka
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Red Sox have signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a six-year, $52MM deal with an additional $8MM in incentives. That makes him an $18.5MM player, if you are to include the posting fee. If you’re so inclined. Boston now boasts the following starting rotation:
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Curt Schilling
Josh Beckett
Jon Papelbon
Tim Wakefield
I would assume Jon Lester is the sixth man, ready to step in when needed or when he proves he’s better than Wakefield.
Yanks, Red Sox After Mike Gonzalez
Dave Littlefield should be able to extract a solid young player or two if he wants to trade the Pirates’ closer, Mike Gonzalez. George King of the New York Post writes that both the Yankees and Red Sox are interested.
King believes Littlefield might ask for Scott Proctor and Melky Cabrera from the Yankees, while the Red Sox have dangled Coco Crisp. Imagine Gonzalez as the lefty out of the Detroit pen. Gonzo would also be a big help to the Indians, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, or Giants.
Gonzalez, who turns 29 in May, was told by Pirates doctors just before Thanksgiving that he is completely healthy. In 155 career innings, he has a 2.37 ERA, 6.7 H/9, 0.52 HR/9, 4.28 BB/9, and 10.58 K/9. His control has been very shaky in recent years but his unhittable nature has compensated.
Red Sox To Make Record Offer To Matsuzaka
The Red Sox plan on making a record offer to Daisuke Matsuzaka, at least for a player who’s never pitched in the Majors.
Based on this info from Gordon Edes, I wonder if it’s a six-year, $100MM offer. It’s tough to picture the Red Sox going far beyond that dollar amount, though Scott Boras might want that amount for five seasons. Or perhaps he’s angling for $60MM over three seasons instead. We should have an idea soon. Baseball Prospectus’s Nate Silver has a system that says Matsuzaka is worth roughly $80MM over six seasons.
Matsuzaka Talks Breaking Down
The outlook is not so good for the Red Sox to sign Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald writes that talks are "breaking down." Silverman’s source places to blame on agent Scott Boras, who apparently doesn’t feel like making a deal. As Buster Olney notes, that certainly sounds like it originates from the Red Sox.
Olney also notes that the Sox will probably provide what amounts to a blank check to Roger Clemens should they fail to sign Matsuzaka. While there has been some talk of Clemens pitching for all of 2007, his agent is pushing for another shortened season.
To me that makes the Yanks more likely to be players, as by June one of Wang, Johnson, Mussina, Pettitte, or Igawa could certainly be injured. If someone had to be bumped to accomodate Clemens for one year, who would it be?
Carroll On Matsuzaka
Will Carroll has spoken to several Boston sources on the topic of signing Daisuke Matsuzaka. Those sources are said to be pessimistic about Boston’s chances at signing him. I have read the same in various Boston newspapers.
Carroll also adds that Matsuzaka will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2008 season, should he return to Japan. The bold letters are from Carroll, to help correct the misinformation that Matsuzaka would only owe the Lions one more season.
Eric Gagne To Sign Today?
Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe reports that Eric Gagne should decide whether to become a Red Sox, Indian, or Ranger today.
Edes says the odds favor the Indians and Rangers, who seem more willing to guarantee Gagne $5MM. Balking at such a request is understandable given how little Gagne pitched during the 2005-06 seasons. The Dodgers paid him $18MM for 15.1 Major League innings over that period.
Offers Made To Dotel
The Boston Herald reports that two or three offers have been made to Octavio Dotel, including one from the Red Sox. You can add the Yanks, Royals, and Indians as other possibilities. The Mets, Cards, and Indians were interested in him last year before he signed with New York.
Dotel’s agent says he will decide tonight. No word on Dotel’s merengue album.
Red Sox Rumor Roundup
The Red Sox have been kind of busy lately. Let’s round ’em up.
The team signed J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo yesterday, and the Manny talks seem dead. In case you have been living under a rock.
On the other hand, a few sources have rekindled the Manny stuff for one more day. ESPN Deportes mentions possible deals with the Ms or Dodgers, while the Boston Herald alludes to possible talks today.
Nine days left to reach a deal with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dustin Pedroia and Alex Cora will probably take care of 2B.
Best news is that Jon Lester has been cleared for spring training.