End is Near: Graffanino placed on Waivers

[riverside sluggers]

Sorry it had to come to this to such a classy guy. Thanks for the memories Tony G . Wont forget being at the Texas Rangers game where you really broke out as a fan favorite, belting a 3 run HR to break a 5-5 tie. Also you somehow had scored from 2nd on a frigging infield single!! Looking forward to the day that you come back to Fenway, a long standing ovation is coming your way.

 

Days are numbered: Graffanino on waivers

By Jeff Horrigan/ Red Sox Notebook

Sunday, March 26, 2006 - Updated: 12:35 AM EST

 

FORT MYERS - Tony Graffanino’s days with the Red Sox may be about to come to an end. The veteran second baseman is currently on waivers, according to sources, and will likely be traded or released by Wednesday. With interest in Graffanino believed to be tepid, the Sox may opt to release him by March 29, which is the deadline for teams to get rid of players with non-guaranteed contracts and be only responsible for one-quarter of the salary.

 

In Graffanino’s case, that would be $512,500 of a $2.05 million deal. The Sox undoubtedly are making one final effort to trade the 33-year-old, who was acquired from the Kansas City Royals last July 19. The current waivers, which are revocable, would allow the Sox to pull him back if another team puts in a claim in order to try to work out a deal. Graffanino, who lost his starting job when Mark Loretta was acquired from the San Diego Padres, is batting .182 with two doubles and two RBI in 12 games. The Sox have played him at third in several games to showcase his versatility.

[The Monster is my Mom]

Thanks for everything Tony!

[MANNYHOF24]

This is unfortunate, however baseball is a business, Thanks Tony for your great effort night in and night out, it will not be forgoten!

[Goalstopper]

Thanks Tony, you will be remembered in boston

[Varitek33]

hate to see him go..

[Cityofchampions33]

One of the few players that can make an important error and still be given a standing o, just goes to show his strong character and playing ethics. WIll miss ya Tony G, best of luck wherever you go.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

At least I got to tell him what a good job he did for us when I was at ST.

 

Bye Tony.

[GhostofMalzone]

Thanks for everything, Tony (In bocca al lupo! Amico Mio)

[Sizzlin22]

I'd say it's too bad except he would never play. I only regret they didn't hold onto him untill someone's infielder went down in the season so we could get something back for him.

[mtbykr]

You will be missed Tony! You play the game the right way, and i wish we could keep you here!

[billmueller11]

I cant believe they were not able to get somthing for a player as good as tony g.Somebody will pick him up very quick .

[TheRivernator]

WEEI is already crafting a way to make this look like a smart move. Let the snipes begin, soon Gammons will say that Tony was overratedand the sole reason the sox lost in the playoffs....

[The Monster is my Mom]

WEEI is already crafting a way to make this look like a smart move. Let the snipes begin, soon Gammons will say that Tony was overratedand the sole reason the sox lost in the playoffs....

 

 

back to stir up more trouble?:thumbdown

[riverside sluggers]

back to stir up more trouble?:thumbdown

 

Trust me, all the better to type his name in the ignore list. He's just here to try & rile us up which has worked with his cocky "only my opinion matters" attitude

[jsinger121]

Loretta is a much better player than Graffanino.....Hence the .301 lifetime batting average for Loretta to Graffanino's .260 and its only a tad bit different.

[BoSox21]

this move seems oddly reminiscent of when we dumped O-Cab for the seemingly better Edgar Renteria

 

hopefully Loretta has a better fate

[jsinger121]

Loretta is a better player....Its not even a question. Graffanino has been a part time player for basically all of his career. One of the reasons we got Loretta was because the guy can hit. Graffanino hit just last year and hes a lifetime .260 hitter. big difference from loretta's .301 career average.

[TheRivernator]

Loretta is a much better player than Graffanino.....Hence the .301 lifetime batting average for Loretta to Graffanino's .260 and its only a tad bit different.

 

Loretta is a difference maker, no doubt, but his injury history and poor numbers last yr should have warranted the sox to at least hang onto Graf to see what they had in Loretta. Plus, Graf's stock is really high right now, and if he were to take a utility position and play 45 out of the first 90 games, his stock would not have fallen all that far. Then when some team is looking for a 2b at the all star break, theo could rape them of pitching or prospects. OR, if Loretta is hurt, if AGon continues to hit like s***, or if Lowell proves he is truly this bad, they would have a guy who could easily slide into that position. He was a great security blanket to have and would have become a tradeable commodity if everything panned out for the sox. BUT, as always, it comes down to money and the sox didnt want to pay him 2 mil this yr. At 2 mil, IMHO, he was a steal and the likelihood is he would only get half of that from Boston and the other half from whomever picks him up at the deadline....

[jsinger121]

The Sox know what they have in Loretta. Hes a lifetime .301 hitter hitting .429 this spring with OPS of 1050 while Graffanino has done nothing this spring. Graff is a part time player who did nice for us down the stretch but now its time to give the job to someone who can handle second for a full year.

[TheRivernator]

The Sox know what they have in Loretta. Hes a lifetime .301 hitter hitting .429 this spring with OPS of 1050 while Graffanino has done nothing this spring. Graff is a part time player who did nice for us down the stretch but now its time to give the job to someone who can handle second for a full year.

 

You put way too much emphasis on ST. Remember two names, Jaret Wright and Benny Agbayani. Two players on opposite sides of NY who fooled their teams into relying too heavily on them after they had stellar springs. Nobody has any clue what kind of production Loretta will have after 2-3 months of baseball. Nobody knows if the surgically repaired thumb will develop scar tissue or if he will re-injure it, or if he will get arthritis in it, etc. But he is not the only question mark. Graf is so valuable because he can play all 4 infield positions and he proved he could play in Fenway, that is huge. And with the sox having 4 new starters in the IF and none of them a sure thing for anything, having Graf around would have afforded them the luxury of getting a positive offensive production from a position that had been lacking it. BTW, if you listen to Senior spin doctor Peter "I look like a troll" Gammons, even he isnt optimistic about Lowell. He even said that the sox are "secretly discussing if he is done". You know what that means, like Luca Brazi, Mike Lowell might be sleeping with the fishes soon (or playing for them again). If Lowell bombs out, Graf could play 3rd and at least be a stopgap into next season....

[mtbykr]

You put way too much emphasis on ST. Remember two names, Jaret Wright and Benny Agbayani. Two players on opposite sides of NY who fooled their teams into relying too heavily on them after they had stellar springs. Nobody has any clue what kind of production Loretta will have after 2-3 months of baseball. Nobody knows if the surgically repaired thumb will develop scar tissue or if he will re-injure it, or if he will get arthritis in it, etc. But he is not the only question mark. Graf is so valuable because he can play all 4 infield positions and he proved he could play in Fenway, that is huge. And with the sox having 4 new starters in the IF and none of them a sure thing for anything, having Graf around would have afforded them the luxury of getting a positive offensive production from a position that had been lacking it. BTW, if you listen to Senior spin doctor Peter "I look like a troll" Gammons, even he isnt optimistic about Lowell. He even said that the sox are "secretly discussing if he is done". You know what that means, like Luca Brazi, Mike Lowell might be sleeping with the fishes soon (or playing for them again). If Lowell bombs out, Graf could play 3rd and at least be a stopgap into next season....

 

If Lowell turns out to be done ( which it's looking like now - let's hope i am wrong) then i think they move youk back over to 3rd and have choi (or pick up pena) pick up time at first (if they don't trade for anyone). I just don't see Graff playing 3rd on a regular basis---although i would love to see him stay!

[ORS]

You put way too much emphasis on ST. Remember two names, Jaret Wright and Benny Agbayani. Two players on opposite sides of NY who fooled their teams into relying too heavily on them after they had stellar springs. Nobody has any clue what kind of production Loretta will have after 2-3 months of baseball. Nobody knows if the surgically repaired thumb will develop scar tissue or if he will re-injure it, or if he will get arthritis in it, etc. But he is not the only question mark. Graf is so valuable because he can play all 4 infield positions and he proved he could play in Fenway, that is huge. And with the sox having 4 new starters in the IF and none of them a sure thing for anything, having Graf around would have afforded them the luxury of getting a positive offensive production from a position that had been lacking it. BTW, if you listen to Senior spin doctor Peter "I look like a troll" Gammons, even he isnt optimistic about Lowell. He even said that the sox are "secretly discussing if he is done". You know what that means, like Luca Brazi, Mike Lowell might be sleeping with the fishes soon (or playing for them again). If Lowell bombs out, Graf could play 3rd and at least be a stopgap into next season....

Brilliant analysis! Loretta's ST numbers are irrelevant, but Lowell's are telling. Could you contradict yourself more? And, I thought Gammo was an idiot according to the Pinstriper's Guide to the Media. Suddenly, his opinion means something when he isn't giving praise? Transparency at it's best. Best, I tell ya!

[ARod2212]

back to stir up more trouble?:thumbdown

The original quote you have in your profile should read. "Vin Diesel once walked down the street with a massive erection. There were no survivors."

 

Sorry to nitpick, but that was my favorite Vin Diesel fact.

[riverside sluggers]

The Royals are close to re-acquiring Tony Graffanino. No indication if it will be a trade or Kansas City might just wait for the Sox to cut him tomorrow, which is the deadline to do so. They would just use him as utility infielder to back up Mark Grudzielanek.

 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14201109.htm

 

Im now all out to get KC tickets at Fenway Park, be one of 35000 to give Tony his deserving standing ovation.

[mtbykr]

The Royals are close to re-acquiring Tony Graffanino. No indication if it will be a trade or Kansas City might just wait for the Sox to cut him tomorrow, which is the deadline to do so. They would just use him as utility infielder to back up Mark Grudzielanek.

 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14201109.htm

 

Im now all out to get KC tickets at Fenway Park, be one of 35000 to give Tony his deserving standing ovation.

 

 

Poor Tony; for a guy i really respect, this has got to suck. To go from the bottom to boston and now back has got to be hard! Especially given the fact that he didn't do anything to deserve it, just a part of the business!

[ORS]

I heard mention of this on ESPN radio earlier. Their soundbite said he would be going to the Royals as a bench player, so he may not even be getting a starting gig. Sucks for Tony.

[riverside sluggers]

Royals claim Tony Graffanino off waivers

By Howard Ulman, AP Sports Writer | March 28, 2006

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. --Infielder Tony Graffanino was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Kansas City Royals, returning to the team that traded him to the Boston Red Sox eight months ago. "It's a place I'm going where I feel like I'm wanted and I should get decent playing time there," Graffanino said. "This wasn't a good situation for me." He batted .319 in 51 games for the Red Sox after being traded July 19, then lost his second-base job Boston obtained Mark Loretta from San Diego on Dec. 7 for catcher Doug Mirabelli.

 

Although Kansas City has second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, Graffanino thinks he should get more playing time elsewhere. But he loved his time in Boston. "It was probably one of, if not my most favorite place I've ever played," said Graffanino, who also has been with Atlanta, Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox. "I loved every minute of it, playing in that stadium (Fenway Park) with those fans."

 

Graffanino had talked with several teams after last season and was surprised when Boston offered him salary arbitration. That meant any other team that signed him would have had to give the Red Sox a top draft choice. "All the teams that were talking to me just pulled back," Graffanino said early this month. He agreed to a one-year, $2.05 million deal that avoided an arbitration hearing but was told early in spring training that the Red Sox would try to send him elsewhere.

 

"I don't know about soured," Graffanino said. "Ideally, I would have liked for something to have been different and worked out a little sooner and got me into a place where I had a chance to maybe earn a spot on a starting position, but what am I going to complain about?" He said the Red Sox didn't tell him why he wasn't dealt earlier and he didn't ask.

 

Graffanino was a solid defender until Game 2 of the AL playoffs, when he let Juan Uribe's slow bouncer on a potential double play roll through his legs. Tadahito Iguchi followed with a three-run homer for a 5-4 lead. That was the final score, and Chicago went on to sweep the best-of-three series. "I was actually excited about today because it's been a tough spring mentally and physically," Graffanino said. "I'm glad that it's over and I can move on and get a fresh start."

[mtbykr]

You will be missed Tony--a guy who loved playing here and he was always a class act!

[GhostofMalzone]

Tony goes from the penthouse to the outhouse, I'll bet The Sox put sand in the Vaseline and they probably didn't even buy him dinner.

[TheRivernator]

Brilliant analysis! Loretta's ST numbers are irrelevant, but Lowell's are telling. Could you contradict yourself more? And, I thought Gammo was an idiot according to the Pinstriper's Guide to the Media. Suddenly, his opinion means something when he isn't giving praise? Transparency at it's best. Best, I tell ya!

 

I never said that his spring training numbers were why analysts thought Lowell was done. Look at his numbers from last yr. I am only serving the opinion of the most slimy bastard on ESPN, Gammo, who just happens to be Sox spin doctor #1a next to Danno. BTW, Loretta does look great, but you cannot predict how healthy he will be....