Jose Valentin

[yankeessuck013]

According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox are taking a wait-and-see approach to Valentin. They're waiting to see whether the White Sox are going to offer the infielder arbitration (the deadline is Dec. 7) before deciding whether to intensify their pursuit. Valentin's agent told the Herald the Sox have already expressed significant interest. David Elston said his client is intent on signing with a contender, and would be happy to sign with the Sox. Valentin could be targeted as the team's everyday shortstop, but he also played briefly as a second baseman early in his career and has logged more than 150 games at third. For the White Sox in 2004, Valentin hit .216 with 30 homers and 70 RBIs.

[Soxfan1]

I was thinking the same thing a week ago. I like valentine, but he is really old.

[Gertie]

Jose Valentin is 35. He has decent power numbers and stuff, but he's a pretty bad fielder, doesn't hit for average, and strikes out more than Bellhorn. Really, I'd rather see someone like Larkin, who is a pretty good fielder and can hit for contact than a free-swinger like Valentin.

[CrespoBlows]

I'd rather see Reese in their instead of Valetin

[elsrbueno]

I have to agree with all y'all on Valentin. I read this same statement on boston.com and I really didn't like it.

 

Valentin is not the right kind of player Boston should be looking at. He's like Bellhorn WITHOUT the walks. He hit 30 HR but he STILL only slugged .473 because of his really low batting average. And he's 35 so it's not like he's going to get a lot better.

 

I'm with Crespo-- I'd take Pokey Reese's sparkling D over Valentin's mediocre offense anyday.

 

Personally, I like the idea of signing Larkin and Reese and playing them both. Barry's not an allstar anymore, but he's solid and would be a good short-term guy since the Sox have Hanley Ramirez coming up.