Official Free Agent Thread

[stocker323]

Right-hander Derek Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek led a parade of 10 Red Sox who filed for free agency Monday, two days after they were honored in Boston following the team's first World Series title since 1918.

 

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera and backup catcher Doug Mirabelli also filed along with right-handers Curtis Leskanic, Ramiro Mendoza and Scott Williamson; left-hander Mike Myers; first baseman Dave McCarty and second baseman Pokey Reese.

 

Leskanic filed after Boston declined a $1.25 million option, electing to pay a $100,000 buyout.

 

Thirteen Red Sox have filed for free agency since Boston won the World Series last Wednesday, and three more are eligible, including pitcher Pedro Martinez.

[papi4prez]

who do you think the red sox will go after first after jason varitek?

[DOrtiz4prez]

I think they should go for Pedro but I doubt they will go for him as their second choice.

[DOrtiz4prez]

Anyone here anything about us getting Clemens?

[YanksHater213]

No, Never

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by DOrtiz4prez@Nov 2 2004, 11:57 AM

Anyone here anything about us getting Clemens?

Clemens has said himself he's 99% retired, and he said the same thing last year, but I gotta believe with Roger, it's Houston or NOTHING.

 

Any rumor about Clemens pitching for ANY team in 2005 who DOESN'T play their home games in Houston, Texas is false until proven true by an official press conference. This guy's ultra-competitive, and Houston can flat-out dominate with a rotation of Miller, Pettite, Oswalt, Clemens... Why go anywhere else?

 

If he comes back, he'll be pitching for the Astros.

[yeszir]

Merging topics, keep free agent discussion organized in one thread please.

[Sizzlin22]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Nov 1 2004, 05:48 PM

I'd rather see the Sox offer Caberra arbitration to about 6 mil a year, then let Hanley take over. I don't see why were offering Vartiek a long term deal, when we have Kelly Shoppach in the back stop to take over. Maybe a two year contract to Vartiek, but Shoppach is a great leader, who I think can take over.

How can you possibly call Shoppach a leader when he has never seen a second of MLB play. Leading in the minors is a little different than leading in the majors. We KNOW Tek can lead he manages the pitching staff like no one else Tek is first priority. As far as Cabby goes I love the guy but if what i'm hearing is true I'll be fine with Vizquel.

[Johnny_RedSox]

i am sooooooooo glad we resigned Mueller (this guy can hit)

 

i hope we sign Pavano and bring in Ramirez slowly at shortstop

 

 

Trot Nixon.......is he finished???

 

whats the big deal with him anyways

[ahhchon]

what????? trot is far from finished.. my god..

 

i am so upset at you.

 

john

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 2 2004, 11:07 PM

i am sooooooooo glad we resigned Mueller (this guy can hit)

 

i hope we sign Pavano and bring in Ramirez slowly at shortstop

 

 

Trot Nixon.......is he finished???

 

whats the big deal with him anyways

Where do you get your info? Trot Nixon finished? He only had the game winning hit in game 4. What makes you think he's finished?

 

I heard on the radio this morning: Pedro Martinez files for Free Agency, although the Sox have exclusive rights to talk to him until November 11th. I'm sure Steinbrenner's already preparing his offer.

 

Ramirez is nowhere near ready for 2005. Word is the Red Sox want him to take over fulltime in 06 or 07, they may be more inclined to sign a Larkin or Vizquel as a stopgap.

 

Below are statistics for Vizquel, Larkin, and Cabrera for 2004

FP RF ZR BA OBP SLG

Vizquel .982 4.31 .840 .291 .353 .388

Larkin .988 4.22 .812 .289 .352 .419

Cabrera .978 4.39 .838 .294 .320 .465

 

Based on these numbers, one would deduce that in the short term, the Red Sox wouldn't be sacrificing TOO much bypassing Cabrera for someone like Vizquel or Larkin. Larkin and Vizquel are nearing the end of their careers, and Cabrera is in his prime years, so Cabrera is more valuable. After looking at these statistics, I would not be terribly upset if Cabrera signs elsewhere IF:

 

The Red Sox replace him with Vizquel or Larkin (preferably Vizquel)

AND

The Red Sox use the money saved to sign Varitek, Martinez, and either Lowe or a comprable replacement.

[Johnny_RedSox]

trot Nixon is over rated

 

yes he comes through once in a while but he always has men on base to drive in

 

lets bring back Dewey Evans

 

Nixon is over rated!!

[mosox]

It's no secret, Tek is top priority. Then offer Pedro a three year deal, if he walks the Sox go after Radke and Pavano. Then I think they go after Mirabelli just because he's the guy who works with Wakefield, plus a solid bat that gives Tek the day off a catcher needs in a long season.

They'll have to see how much Cabrera wants. I don't see the Sox going too high above the 6 mill he made this year, but they may not have a choice. Renteria will want big money, Nomar looks like a one year deal with the Cubs and Vizquel is liklely going to the White Sox. That only leaves Larkin who may be a good fit until Ramirez is ready in a year or two.

[CrespoBlows]

Originally posted by Sizzlin22@Nov 2 2004, 02:35 PM

How can you possibly call Shoppach a leader when he has never seen a second of MLB play. Leading in the minors is a little different than leading in the majors. We KNOW Tek can lead he manages the pitching staff like no one else Tek is first priority. As far as Cabby goes I love the guy but if what i'm hearing is true I'll be fine with Vizquel.

Leaders are born, and Shoppach was a born leader. Even the vetereans of AAA ball trust him.

[ahhchon]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 3 2004, 11:15 AM

trot Nixon is over rated

 

yes he comes through once in a while but he always has men on base to drive in

 

lets bring back Dewey Evans

 

Nixon is over rated!!

you officially made my s*** list.

 

how is the man overrated?

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bos/stat...ified=0&sort=22

 

look at his numbers from 03. not to mention the guys is solid defensively and destroys righties.

 

john

[Johnny_RedSox]

i am all worried that i made your s*** list

 

i just stated my opinion you piece of s***

 

who are you to tell me that my opinion is wrong

 

trot nixon is a .270 or whatever lifetime hitter you dick!!

 

thats my opinion, not yours loser

[Zenny]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 3 2004, 09:30 PM

i am all worried that i made your s*** list

 

i just stated my opinion you piece of s***

 

who are you to tell me that my opinion is wrong

 

trot nixon is a .270 or whatever lifetime hitter you dick!!

 

thats my opinion, not yours loser

Trot Nixon was one of the 10 best hitters in the American League in 2003. Trot Nixon will be one of the 10 best hitters in the American League in 2005. That's all I have to say. Anyone who doubts Trot Nixon is probably a bandwagoner who just jumped on the Sox party train after the made the Series.

[Johnny_RedSox]

SHUT UP

 

ive been a redsox fan longer than you have been born!!

 

thats my opinion, he is over rated!!

CASE CLOSED

 

thats my opinion

 

top 10 hitter??

 

what do you know

[Johnny_RedSox]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5731/career

 

look at is careerstats, he is an average player, maybe a bit above average

 

again that is my opinion

 

.280 lifetime average is not top 10 material for me!!!

 

rookie

[CalvnHobs6]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 3 2004, 10:36 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5731/career

 

look at is careerstats, he is an average player, maybe a bit above average

 

again that is my opinion

 

.280 lifetime average is not top 10 material for me!!!

 

rookie

Who has overrated him? You say he's overrated...by who? Not too many people give him credit. Look at the most significant statistic of his: his 2003 OPS. Try 4th in the AL, behind Delgado, Manny, and A-Rod. Let's compare him to other AL RF. 1st in OPS, 2nd in HR, 2nd in triples (only behind ichiro), 3rd in BA, 3rd in RBI. Weird. Top three in all those 2003 categories compared to other right fielders. But you're right, he's overrated. Instead of just leaving a link to his career stats, how about you actually look at them and then get back to me. I respect your opinion, but you haven't shown me why you think he's overrated.

[Sizzlin22]

Saying Trot is overrated could be quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

[ahhchon]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 3 2004, 09:36 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5731/career

 

look at is careerstats, he is an average player, maybe a bit above average

 

again that is my opinion

 

.280 lifetime average is not top 10 material for me!!!

 

rookie

are YOU looking at his numbers?

 

how can you deny that those numbers are not good? congrats. i've been a sox fan for 14 years. i don't care if you've been a fan longer, that's almost 70% of my life. good enough for me. for a guy who's been a fan for over 20 yrs you don't know much about baseball.

 

john

[sarasoxfan]

trot in right is a no brainer. Period.

 

I am worrried about the signings, though...

I heard nomar might go the yankees, Tek , too...

 

This is going to be wild off season.

 

I dont know about you guys, but all this s*** about what we do now that we won,.

 

I say the best thing is too win again...

 

How can anyone question Trot. I think he is underated actually.

[Johnny_RedSox]

i like trot Nixon, i just hate all this talk that was going on on a local radio show as if he was the second coming of christ

 

i like trot, but there are much better right fielders in baseball, past and present!

[sarasoxfan]

yeah, but he's a pretty good one too, and when he's healthy I think he'll have a break out year next year..

 

I just saw this on ben maller:

 

All-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra has told friends he would be open to a position change to either second base or third, which could open the way for the Yankees to pursue the free agent as a second baseman. The Yankees' top offseason priority is improving their starting pitching, but if they signed Garciaparra to play second, they would have all of the famed "three shortstops" playing in the same infield - Garciaparra at second, Alex Rodriguez at third and Derek Jeter, who won his first Gold Glove yesterday, at short. "Obviously, his preference is short, but he's open to third or second," a friend of Garciaparra's said. "He could play either one and he'd be happy to play either one. He's comfortable playing any of those positions.

 

My god, I odnt know what to make of that?

[ahhchon]

Originally posted by Johnny_RedSox@Nov 4 2004, 09:00 AM

i like trot Nixon, i just hate all this talk that was going on on a local radio show as if he was the second coming of christ

 

i like trot, but there are much better right fielders in baseball, past and present!

so you're basing your opinions that trot nixon is overrated because of a few morons on the radio? good one. base your opinion on facts. trot nixon is probably one of the MOST underrated right fielders in all of baseball.

 

in 03 he had almost 30 hr's, almost 100 rbi's and over .300 avg. he was also top 5 (i believe) in obp.

 

no doubt there are better right fielders, you also need to realize that you were listening to a LOCAL radio. the fans in boston love trot, of course they are biased. they praise him because he's good and we love him, not because they think he's the best right fielder ever.

 

on the yankees singnings:

 

it's possible that they would sign v-tek, they are looking to het RJ. the backs want posada and a pitcher, it's possible that they will trade posada and vazquez for RJ and sign tek, although i just can't see tek signing with the yankees.

 

nomar would and could sign with the yankees, just to stick it to boston. if they offer him enough he'll do it. talk about all TOTAL all star infield.. that's just rediculous and uncalled for.

 

but most likely they will not get rj because they would not sign tek and nomar will most likely play short for for the dogers or angels or cubs.

 

john

[Johnny_RedSox]

im hearing the redsox looking to shop nixon around??

[Sizzlin22]

How ironic you start a thread and all of the sudden they are shopping him around all of the sudden there shopping him around Just kidding. IF they are they better get good value you for him because I think the vast majority don't want to see him go.

[Johnny_RedSox]

haha, no to be honest with you, i like trot nixon

[ahhchon]

word is that there will be a nixon hudson trade.... as much as i hate to see it happen the trade will help us more than it will hurt us. we didn't have nixon in the lineup almost all year and did well w/o him. adding hudson into your rotation NEVER hurts..

 

such a bittersweet situation..

 

john