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Marco Scutaro

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Podsednik, Duchscherer

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Links for Monday…

  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that the Nationals still have money left to sign Matt Capps, assuming he wants to go there. Morosi expects Capps to decide on his next team this week.
  • In a separate tweet, Morosi notes that the Tigers are only interested in Scott Podsednik if it's a one-year deal. Detroit has no interest in Rick Ankiel.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Justin Duchscherer has received contract offers from three unnamed teams, and he expects to decide on his 2010 home within a week.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Royals are interested in free agent outfielder Brian Anderson on a minor league deal.
  • Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle sees Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney retaining starting jobs in the wake of the impending Coco Crisp signing.  Slusser suggests a possible reduced role or trade for Scott Hairston.  FanGraphs' Dave Cameron doesn't understand the move, noting that Davis and Sweeney are similar to Crisp.  Crisp's physical will take place tomorrow, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. 
  • Matthew Carruth of Lookout Landing explains that Mariners fans fully understand the dangers of Milton Bradley.  The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker reflects on Carlos Silva's time with the club.
  • Patrick Newman joins FanGraphs with a look at Japanese baseball imports and exports for 2010.  Speaking of which, new Met Ryota Igarashi would like to be Francisco Rodriguez's set-up man.

Red Sox, John Lackey Reach Agreement

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10:28pm: Ian Browne confirms that the Red Sox have an 11:30am ET press conference scheduled tomorrow to announce the Cameron signing and a second press conference at 1:30pm ET to announce the Lackey signing.

5:10pm: Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald says "no finality" on Lackey's deal tonight but the Red Sox have two press conferences scheduled for tomorrow presumably to announce the deals for Lackey and Mike Cameron.

4:52pm: The two sides are in the final stages of the agreement, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. They're working out the language of the contract, which will protect the Red Sox against a pre-existing medical condition.

2:48pm: Scratch that. Olney now says it's for $82.5MM over five years, just like the A.J. Burnett deal. There are no extras or incentives involved.

TUESDAY, 2:15pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the deal's worth $87.5MM.

MONDAY, 2:55pm: Heyman says the Red Sox and Lackey are in agreement in a five-year, $85MM deal.

1:41pm: Yahoo's Tim Brown has an Angels source who believes they're still in the running for Lackey and the pitcher has not accepted a Boston offer.  Still, SI's Jon Heyman heard a five-year, approximately $85MM figure for a Boston deal.

1:03pm: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has a source saying an agreement is "not likely" by the end of the day.

11:52am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Lackey had a physical today with the Red Sox, which is "an indication that he is close to an agreement with the team."  Rosenthal expects the deal to be in the range of A.J. Burnett's five-year, $82.5MM contract, yet the FOX reporter is unsure the Sox would guarantee five years.  If the Red Sox complete a deal with Lackey, the Angels would get Boston's #29 draft pick and the Blue Jays would be bumped to #67 or worse for Marco Scutaro.

Rosenthal also notes that the Red Sox are trying to sign Josh Beckett to an extension.  Beckett, 30 in May, is up for free agency after the 2010 season.

10:47am: AOL FanHouse's Ed Price heard from a source that John Lackey will take a physical with the Red Sox.  Price says he is "working to confirm" the rumor, but he found it Twitter-worthy.   

Gammons On Bay, Beltre, Red Sox

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Peter Gammons' departure from ESPN has become a story in itself during this busy off-season, and Gammons' media rounds continued today as a guest on the WEEI Sports Radio Network's Big Show.  A full transcript is available here, but here are some of the hot stove items that Gammons had to share….

  • Gammons said that Jason Bay "does not want to play in San Francisco, pure and simple," in spite of the fact that the Giants would be willing to offer Bay the five-year contract that he is apparently seeking.
  • The Angels won't be players in the Bay sweepstakes, as Gammons predicted they will instead spend their money to re-sign John Lackey.
  • Gammons thinks the Mariners might still make an offer to retain Adrian Beltre, though such a move might create some issues with the newly-signed Chone Figgins, who came to Seattle under the impression that he would be the new third baseman.  Gammons reported that Beltre "hates" Safeco Field.
  • Given Roy Halladay's injury history, Gammons said "it would be a disaster" for Boston to trade Casey Kelly and Clay Buchholz for Halladay and sign the Toronto ace to a long-term contract.
  • If the Red Sox don't end up with either Bay or Matt Holliday, Gammons opined that Boston could pursue a defense-first strategy for a season by signing Mike Cameron and Xavier Nady.  Or, Boston could just save their money now and stand pat until mid-season before making any trades.
  • Even if the Red Sox add another big-money starter, the team would like to keep Josh Beckett because of the leadership he provides to the younger pitchers.
  • Speaking of clubhouse leadership, Gammons said that Marco Scutaro's ability to mentor Jose Iglesias was a factor in Boston signing the former Blue Jays shortstop.  Another reason was that Scutaro had a clean bill of health, unlike Mark DeRosa, who Gammons said the Red Sox were "a little bit cautious" on signing due to his wrist problems last season.

A’s Offered Scutaro Three Years

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The A's offered Marco Scutaro three years and slightly more money than the Red Sox, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com. Oakland planned to use Scutaro at short, pushing Cliff Pennington into a utility role.

The Fox scribes say the A's are clearly "operating with a measure of financial flexibility," reminding us that Oakland assumed $1.7MM of Aaron Miles' salary when they acquired him from the Cubs yesterday. What do MLBTR's readers think about this, surprised the A's were willing to open their wallet like this?

Marco Scutaro Signing Reactions

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Yesterday the Red Sox agreed to a two-year, $12.5MM deal with free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro, with a mutual option for 2012.  The deal became official today.  The Red Sox will give a draft pick to the Blue Jays as compensation.  Let's take a look at some of the reactions around the web…

  • ESPN's Keith Law says that "with some regression, [Scutaro] will still represent a good value for his salary."  He says the loss of the draft pick "is the worst part of the deal," though.
  • ESPN's Peter Gammons has comments from former Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi praising Scutaro as "one of the best shortstops, period."
  • WEEI's Alex Speier shows that Scutaro almost can't help but be an improvement on Boston's 2009 shortstops.  In another article, Speier looks at how unique it is for Scutaro to have become a starting shortstop so late in his career.
  • Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe recalls Scutaro as a rookie for the Mets in '02, "at the center of a tug-of-war between manager Bobby Valentine and general manager Steve Phillips."

Red Sox Sign Marco Scutaro

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3:23pm:  The signing is now official, according to a team press release.  Interesting press conference note from Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe: he tweets that Scutaro said another team offered more money.

FRIDAY, 9:08am: ESPN's Buster Olney has the terms on Scutaro: $1MM signing bonus, $5MM in 2010, $5MM in 2011, and a 2012 option with a $6MM club option, $3MM player option, and $1.5MM buyout.  That makes it a two-year, $12.5MM deal – less than I thought he'd receive.

THURSDAY, 10:01pm:  The deal will include a mutual option for a third year, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald (via Twitter).

9:46pm:  Price also reports that it is a two-year deal (via Twitter).  The signing will result in Toronto receiving a supplemental pick and Boston's first rounder (#29), provided that they do not sign a higher-ranking Type A free agent who was offered arbitration.

9:37pm: The Red Sox have agreed to terms with Scutaro, pending a physical, according to Ed Price of FanHouse.com (via Twitter).

9:26pm: A report from Venezuelan outlet Lider, passed along by Jorge Arangure of ESPN Deportes (via Twitter), claims that Scutaro has signed with the Red Sox.  However, there is no additional confirmation at this time.

4:39pm: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Scutaro worked out for the Red Sox near his home in Miami earlier this week. Special assistant to the GM Allard Baird was in attendance, and it's "believed the workout helped alleviate some concerns the Red Sox had over a heel injury that sidelined Scutaro for the final two weeks of the 2009 season."

11:05am: We know the Red Sox are considering other options, including Orlando Hudson, but Marco Scutaro still interests Theo Epstein & Co. Here's the latest on the shortstop:

  • The Red Sox asked for Marco Scutaro's medical records, according to Venezuelan journalist Augusto Cardenas. Scutaro told Cardenas that he hasn't yet received a formal offer from Boston.
  • It would be a surprise to see Scutaro accept the Jays' arbitration offer, but the club is prepated to re-position Scutaro in the outfield if he accepts, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.  
  • The Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox are interested in Jamey Carroll.

Red Sox Interested In Hudson; Lowell Update

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The Red Sox are interested in Orlando Hudson, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. The Dodgers didn't offer the second baseman arbitration, so he won't cost a draft pick. Marco Scutaro, who would cost a draft pick, still appears to be a priority for the Red Sox. Presumably, Dustin Pedroia would move to shortstop if the club signed Hudson.

And Pedroia isn't the only Red Sox willing to change positions. Mike Lowell wouldn't rule out a move across the diamond to first base, though it's not something the club has approached him about. He hasn't played first base professionally since he was a minor leaguer in the late 1990's.

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Scutaro, Lackey, Bedard

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Red Sox rumors from ESPN's Gordon Edes…

  • Edes talked to Jason Bay's agent Joe Urbon, who indicated the timing of Bay's signing won't be affected by Matt Holliday.  Edes' team source says Bay remains Boston's top target.
  • Edes says Marco Scutaro "almost certainly remains at the top of Boston's list" at shortstop.  Scutaro's agent Peter Greenberg left open the possibility of his client signing before Monday's Winter Meetings.
  • One of Edes' Red Sox sources says John Lackey is not a target.
  • We knew of Boston's interest in Rich Harden and Kelvim Escobar, and Edes adds that the Sox are eyeing Erik Bedard.  Edes talked to Escobar's agent (also Greenberg) and learned that Boston is "at or near the top of" his client's list.  The righty plans to pitch in winter ball.  Escobar had labrum surgery in July of 2008.

Blue Jays Offered Two Years To Scutaro

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Talking to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian yesterday, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos revealed new information about Marco Scutaro.  Anthopoulos said "there was a time when we offered a two-year deal," but obviously the two sides couldn't come to terms.  Anthopoulos finds it unlikely that the Type A free agent will accept arbitration, but said Scutaro would be used in the outfield if he does.

Also, Anthopoulos finds it "highly, highly unlikely" that Type B free agent catcher Rod Barajas accepts the Jays' arbitration offer.  Anthopoulos said of contract talks with Barajas, "it seems the term and the dollars are far beyond what we would feel is appropriate for us."

The Blue Jays have already moved on at shortstop, while the catcher search involves trade possibilities, current free agents, and an eye on the non-tender candidates.  The Jays have draft picks next year at #11, #38, #44, #69, and #75 within the first three rounds.  It appears that they'll add two more supplemental picks and probably a first or second-rounder when Scutaro and Barajas depart.

Red Sox Ask Pedroia About Playing Shortstop

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3:09pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe learned from a team exec that the Red Sox will exhaust their free agent and trade options before turning to Pedroia at shortstop.

10:13am: The Red Sox asked Dustin Pedroia if he'd be able to play shortstop, according to ESPN's Peter Gammons.  Pedroia's thoughts:

"They've put it out there and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for Tito [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, 'Can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."

Right now it appears that the Red Sox are just considering the switch for Pedroia.  As Gammons notes, shifting Pedroia would create flexibility, allowing the Sox to pass on Marco Scutaro and pursue Orlando Hudson or even Brandon Phillips.

As you know, other offseason considerations for the Red Sox include trading Mike Lowell and acquiring a third baseman, signing Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, and a possible Roy Halladay trade.  Gammons downplays the idea of Boston acquiring Doc, saying the chances of them trading Clay Buchholz or Casey Kelly are minimal at best.

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