New Red Sox spreadsheet

[Beckett95]

id rather see linebrink in the deal with wells than otsuka

[ksushi]

You won't. We'd need to include more to get Linebrink, and I'd rather settle for Otsuka than give up anything else.

[riverside sluggers]

According to MLB.com, the first day of the Winter meetings saw the Red Sox having hot pursuit of Aubrey who can play 1st base as well as the outfield positions.. He would being another big bat to Boston, capable of 20+ HRs and 100+/- RBIs.

 

Red Sox open shop in Dallas

Winter Meetings keeps club busy with trade, free agent talks

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

 

DALLAS -- The first day of the Winter Meetings was no time for small talk for the Boston Red Sox, a team with several hot-button issues that need to be dealt with in the coming weeks. The Red Sox got right into the meaty issues, discussing Manny Ramirez trade proposals with multiple teams, dangling left-hander David Wells between National League West rivals (the Dodgers and Padres) and gearing up for negotiations with agent Scott Boras in an effort to retain All-Star leadoff man Johnny Damon.

 

How realistic is it that the Red Sox can find a compatible trade partner for Ramirez, who is owed $57 million over the next three seasons and has the right to veto any deal? According to the Red Sox, more realistic than one might think. "A reason for optimism, I think, is accurate," said Jed Hoyer, Boston's assistant to the general manager. "Clearly, no one has stepped up to the level we want. Otherwise, we'd be closer. Yeah, there's a reason for optimism."

 

There were also indications that the Red Sox were in hot pursuit of Devil Rays outfielder Aubrey Huff, who could help cushion some of the production loss the team would suffer if it is able to deal the disenchanted Ramirez. The Red Sox and Reds had discussions as well, some of which may have involved Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey, a left-handed hitter and solid fielder who could be a good fit in Boston.

 

Bronson Arroyo, who is arbitration eligible, is a Boston pitcher the Reds have interest in. The Devil Rays could also be in the running for Arroyo if talks for Huff progress. Sox catching prospect Kelly Shoppach is another player who could entice Tampa Bay. There were also rumblings that the Brewers had discussions with the Red Sox about the possibility of acquiring right-hander Matt Clement. The Sox are said to be interested in Brewers first baseman Lyle Overbay, so there could be a match there if the Red Sox don't make a deal for Casey.

 

The fact that the Red Sox are the only team in Major League Baseball not to have a general manager has not slowed them down in the least. As of early Monday evening, the Sox had already held eight meetings with teams, mostly in the National League. "There were several interesting things that we'll have to discuss this evening, because we had a lot thrown at us today," said senior advisor Bill Lajoie, who is serving as the point person in Boston's GM-by-committee. "There's different values that we place on players that are different than other clubs. That's basically what went on today. We met with eight teams and talked about a lot players. We will regroup tonight and figure out which ones we want to pursue."

 

Lajoie and Co. will be doing all the pursuing during these Winter Meetings as Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino confirmed that the GM search would be postponed for the next few days. "We're just kind of focusing on the Winter Meetings," said Lucchino. "This is a three- or four-day marketplace. You'd like to get some business done. We are open for business." There is certainly more than enough to conduct.

 

The Boston Herald reported on its Web site Monday afternoon that the Red Sox had scheduled a meeting that would include both Boras and Damon. The Red Sox confirmed that they would meet with Boras during the meetings, but wouldn't say when, and would not say if Damon was expected to fly to Dallas. "I don't know if Johnny's here," said Craig Shipley, special assistant to the general manager. "I know Scott's here. I haven't heard, in regards to Johnny."

 

Most intriguing on Boston's plate is the Ramirez trade talks. By now, everyone in the baseball world knows that Ramirez no longer wants to play for the Red Sox. At the same time, the left fielder is a 10-5 man (10 years of service time, five with his existing team), which means he must approve any trade. Trying to deal an elite player such as Ramirez is an excruciatingly difficult balancing act for the Red Sox. The Sox know they will not get a superstar back for Ramirez. Instead, they would likely have to make a deal which lands them volume, be it either prospects or Major League players.

 

"That's a lot of offense," Shipley said. "He's an outstanding hitter. To replace him would be difficult. I think a lot of time and energy has been spent on Manny, trying to come up with a deal that is good for us and a place he would like to go." First of all, you're not going to get fair value in any way, shape or form," added Lajoie. "This is an A-1 hitter and you're not going to find an A-1 player that someone is going to give you. So, if you trade him, you will not get the value man for man. And sometimes three or four pieces don't add up to that one man. It just depends."

 

Huff, a left-handed hitter, would certainly give the Red Sox another dangerous bat. Though 2005 was a down year compared to the previous two, Huff still belted 22 homers and drove in 90 runs. The Red Sox also had discussions with the Devil Rays for Huff back in July, when there was talk of a three-way deal involving Ramirez and the Mets. Besides production, Huff, who turns 30 later this month, would offer versatility. In 2005, he started 95 games in the outfield, 18 at first base and two at third base.

 

Much like Ramirez, the desire of Wells to relocate to the West Coast is a poorly kept secret. While the Padres had been mentioned all along as the most likely destination for Wells, a San Diego native and resident, the Dodgers appear to have swooped in. A trade with the Padres would likely bring second baseman Mark Loretta to Boston. Less clear is what the Dodgers would offer Boston in a trade for the big-game lefty. Hee Seop Choi, yet another left-handed hitting first baseman, could be a possibility.

 

Lajoie noted that the situations involving Ramirez and Wells are hardly ideal, but the team is doing its best in light of the situation. "These are unusual situations with players who do not have the right to demand a trade or to ask to be traded," said Lajoie. "It's very unusual. So while we are spending time trying to accommodate these players as has been promised to them, we also have needs on the ballclub that take precedence. We will discuss those names with other teams when we go to meetings. But if they ask us what we need, we tell them what we need, not necessarily for those players. Just what positions we need."

[Sox Fan on Cape]

The next few days should prove very interesting. I'd really like us to get Huff.

[riverside sluggers]

Im with you there, SFOC

 

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Rotoworld: Agent Robert Garber said that Wade Miller, who had labrum surgery at the end of September, was told he can begin throwing Feb. 1 and could be 100 percent by the start of May. It's unclear whether the Red Sox will non-tender Miller. They may try to re-sign him to an incentive-laden deal before the Dec. 20 deadline.

 

Im just not sure if Sox should take a chance again on Wade Miller.