2008-09 MLB Hot Stove

[salsadancer7]

That would be a bad idea.

Don't trade a legit star in the making for a washed-up name player.

Well, the Red Sox for the most part have been pretty good trading partners where both or all three parties get more or less what they want. They threw out the names of Ellsbury and their #1 SS prospect, I think it was Casey Kelly for Ramirez...but the Marlins stated ONLY if they threw in Clay Buckholtz(sp) and Michael Almanzar(3b)...then MAYBE they would listen....

So....I will never say never....

 

[salsadancer7]

Define "skanky circles."

Let's say trash that usually gets scooped off the floor at a night club from too much drinking at 3:00am....but these girls and a couple of guys were in THAT STATE at around midnight....

 

[cosmo_kramer]

That would be a bad idea.

Don't trade a legit star in the making for a washed-up name player.

Who's the "washed-up" player?? I didn't see any names mentioned...

 

[CeltsHD]

Oops................I forgot about Brad Penny on the Red Sox roster.

You would have to think Penny/Wakefield would be the 4/5 starters until Smoltz comes back.

 

[HD MM]

I like both pickups A LOT!! :up

NOW the Sox better get serious about finding a catcher.

The Indians have a few extra catchers. That position is one of our few expendable areas.

Do you remember Kelly Shoppach? I think he started his career in Boston. He did very well last year in the absence of Victor Martinez.

 

[HD MM]

Oops................I forgot about Brad Penny on the Red Sox roster.

You would have to think Penny/Wakefield would be the 4/5 starters until Smoltz comes back.

Smoltz still starts? I would've thought they would've converted him to a reliever by now.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Smoltz still starts? I would've thought they would've converted him to a reliever by now.

Nope, he'll be a starter. Their bullpen is pretty well set for now...

 

[HD MM]

Where does Paul Byrd fit into the Red Sox plans? The Indians would love to have that crafty veteran back for another year.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Where does Paul Byrd fit into the Red Sox plans? The Indians would love to have that crafty veteran back for another year.

He's a type-B free agent who declined arbitration in which he would have made $8.5 million. He'll be picked up by someone, but unfortunately for him the way the market is now turning, at a lot less than $8.5 million....

 

[stmcld]

OK, back on topic:

Baldelli close to signing with Red Sox; Smoltz not far behind - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

As a Braves fan I just can not understand for the life of me how the Braves allowed this to happen. I didn't expect them to offer him a 10 million dollar contract but to be out bid with a MEASLY 5 million dollar bid plus an option makes no sense. Since Wren has taken over it seems the Braves have fallen down and can not get up!!!!

 

[HD MM]

Hoffman signs with the Brewers

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3818472"]Sources: Trevor Hoffman agrees to deal with Milwaukee Brewers - ESPN[/ame]

 

[cosmo_kramer]

After adding one role player yesterday by signing outfielder Rocco Baldelli to a one-year, $500,000 deal with incentives, the Red Sox are poised to add another soon.

Mark Kotsay, whom the Sox obtained from Atlanta last August, has agreed in principle on a one-year deal to return to the club, pending a physical and completion of the contract. Kotsay will earn $1.5 million plus incentives.

Kotsay makes sense because of his versatility, he provides Francona with another flexible defender. He did a great job at 1B last season after Youkilis had to move to 3B to cover Lowell.

Kotsay: CF/LF/RF/1B
Baldelli: CF/RF/LF
Lowrie: SS/3B/2B
Lugo: SS/2B emergency 3B/OF
Ellsbury: CF/LF/RF
Youkilis: 1B/3B

Mark Kotsay set to re-sign - BostonHerald.com

 

[salsadancer7]

Kotsay makes sense because of his versatility, he provides Francona with another flexible defender. He did a great job at 1B last season after Youkilis had to move to 3B to cover Lowell.

Kotsay: CF/LF/RF/1B
Baldelli: CF/RF/LF
Lowrie: SS/3B/2B
Lugo: SS/2B emergency 3B/OF
Ellsbury: CF/LF/RF
Youkilis: 1B/3B

Mark Kotsay set to re-sign - BostonHerald.com

To ME, this surplus of outfielders looks like they will bunch a few to make a trade somewhere down the line....perhaps a catcher? a shortstop?

 

[KCK_Halo]

Anybody see the 5 Star Academy Award performance given by Sicko, Physco Bradley at his introduction as a Cub? Tears, mama....the whole bit. We lived through his roller-coaster in L.A. and it is quite sickening. (At least in Chicago he can't allign himself with Jackie Robinson as he did when he went off the 1st time in L.A. I thought Scully was going to hit Bradley in the head with the mike when he interviewed him and he pulled the old No. 42 alliegiance!!!!) He is onstage for the faithful at Wrigley to go all-out on. And, as I've said before, I cannot WAIT till he and Sweet Lou tangle asses!!!!!

 

[CeltsHD]

To ME, this surplus of outfielders looks like they will bunch a few to make a trade somewhere down the line....perhaps a catcher? a shortstop?

That's an excellent point. Very rarely does a team carry more than four outfielders.

However, Kotsay did prove that he can play 1B in last year's playoffs. With Sean Casey gone, and Mike Lowell's health still in question, that could prove to be invaluable to the Sox.

All things being equal though, you're right. That's too many outfielders for a team to carry.

 

[salsadancer7]

That's an excellent point. Very rarely does a team carry more than four outfielders.

However, Kotsay did prove that he can play 1B in last year's playoffs. With Sean Casey gone, and Mike Lowell's health still in question, that could prove to be invaluable to the Sox.

All things being equal though, you're right. That's too many outfielders for a team to carry.

I like Kotsay...he is an EXCELLENT outfielder. I didn't see him play 1st at all....and seeing you see more Red Sox games than I do, you would know better.:up

 

[cosmo_kramer]

That's an excellent point. Very rarely does a team carry more than four outfielders.

However, Kotsay did prove that he can play 1B in last year's playoffs. With Sean Casey gone, and Mike Lowell's health still in question, that could prove to be invaluable to the Sox.

All things being equal though, you're right. That's too many outfielders for a team to carry.

An important point though is that in both Baldelli's signing and Kotsay's apparent signing they both are aware that these are platoon / backup roles. But, with JD Drew's fragility and Ellsbury's offensive funks these guys will most likely get some substantial playing time. Plus, as CeltsHD said, Kotsay will replace Casey as the primary 1B backup.

That being said, Ellsbury has been shopped around though....

 

[CeltsHD]

An important point though is that in both Baldelli's signing and Kotsay's apparent signing they both are aware that these are platoon / backup roles. But, with JD Drew's fragility and Ellsbury's offensive funks these guys will most likely get some substantial playing time. Plus, as CeltsHD said, Kotsay will replace Casey as the primary 1B backup.

That being said, Ellsbury has been shopped around though....

Could we be going from a CF platoon of Crisp/Ellsbury in '08 to Baldelli/Kotsay in '09?

 

[cosmo_kramer]

As first reported by FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have signed free-agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year contract with a team option for 2010. The Sox will officially announce the signing later this afternoon, the Globe's Adam Kilgore reports.

The deal includes a guarantee between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, according to Rosenthal, and Saito will have the chance to earn more than $7 million if he reaches all of his incentives. Rosenthal reports that Saito has already passed his physical.

Sox sign reliever Saito - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

 

[HD MM]

Indians sign Catcher, Kelly Shoppach.....

Shoppach, who was eligible for arbitration, reportedly signed a 1-year-deal on Monday to avoid arbitration. The deal is reported to be for $1.95 million. Not a hefty price to pay for a backup that led the league in home runs (21) and was fourth in RBI (55) by a catcher.

With Victor Martinez out a large part of 2008 with various leg injuries, having a capable backup is always good. Shoppach was more than capable.

If they want me to be a backup, fine. If they want to to start, fine. When I came over here from Boston three years ago, one of the reaons I was included is so they could have somone in case something happened to Victor. I couldn’t ask for a better teammate than Victor. I’m a better player for being his backup for two years. He’s helped me a lot. We’ve made each other better.

Congrats to Shoppach. He definitely earned the raise last year.