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I like the signing. At $1.5 million it's relatively low risk. At $4.5 million max, he's a pretty cheap signing. The April rotation: David Wells Wade Miller Matt Clement Tim Wakefield Bronson Arroyo Is not bad. When Schill gets back in May, I would move whoever had the worst April to the bullpen, but if I had to pick now, probably Wakefield. BUT, Schilling Wells Miller Clement Wakefield/Arroyo Is pretty solid. If Miller gets hurt, or if Curt has problems coming back, the team's got options.

Johnson 41 Schilling 39 Wells 41 Wakefield 38 That's one OLD ass rotation.

Wouldn't put too much stock in this just yet. If it comes out on MLB.com, or ESPN.com... that's different. Right now a few guys on WEEI saying it doesn't mean much to me. Also, how will adding $16 million in payroll for the next 3 years HELP efforts to retain Tek? It will make the need for a catcher greater and give the Red Sox less money available (in theory) in order to do so.

Absolutely. This deal's been dead more than once, and it keeps coming back. I believe Arizona and New York will still try to get this done, even if they have to find yet another 3rd team in the deal. I don't blame the Dodgers for backing out, because as I'd said before I didn't see what was in it for them in the first place. We haven't heard the last of Johnson to the Yankees. I'm not saying they WILL get him, but this is by no means the end.

There's always surprises. Vlad was one of them. I say two players who could drastically alter the Sosa/Ramirez/Delgado saga are Magglio Ordonez and JD Drew. Both have injury history, but are great players when healthy. The Mets and O's COULD opt to sign one of those 2 guys instead of trading for Sosa or Ramirez. They'd cost a fraction of the $$, and not cost them players. Sosa to the O's would be pretty a good move. With his injury history, he could spend some time as DH and possibly lengthen his career.

no surprises here. Arroyo and Bellhorn were key contributers last year, the others weren't. Traber hasn't even put on a Red Sox uniform.

Nixon better not be traded. I like the idea of playing Payton vs Lefties (basically taking over for Kapler), but I really liked the idea of having Roberts on the bench. Will the Red Sox persue a replacement for Dave? Perhaps Minky or Millar could be dealt for somoene fast.

I believe the Mets will get Sammy Sosa, and here's why: The Orioles have talked to all the free agents, but have yet to land a significant one. I believe they'll try hard enough to land Delgado and maybe even Ordonez. This leaves the Mets with 2 options (they want another big bat): Trade for Sosa Trade for Ramirez Ramirez is much better, but is also a lot more expensive. Much like Alex Rodriguez last year, it will be pretty hard for Sosa to return to the Cubs, so Chicago is a more motivated to move Sosa than the Red Sox are to move Ramirez. Chicago wants to make a trade, the Mets do too. In the end, I think they'll work it out.

Or even the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies of the past few years. They've had the talent, but haven't won the games. The Yankees every year put a team full of All Stars together, but also a team full of contrasting and dominant personalities. It's a feat to get all of those guys working together well enough to field a winning team. Joe Torre is a great leader in that clubhouse. He made some incorrect choices in the 2004 ALCS, but his team WAS 3 outs from the World Series with the right person on the mound (Rivera), who just didn't get the job done. I hate the Yankees, but Joe Torre deserves a lot of credit for what he does in that organization, and the success you Yankee fans have enjoyed over the past decade.

They might too, but right now the Red Sox have 4 outfielders who are considered everyday players: Ramirez Damon Nixon Payton Will Payton accept being a bench player?

Wade Miller is worth looking into. When healthy, he's better than Clement or Pavano (in my opinion). He's no Pedro, but he'd be a decent #2 for Boston.

I really liked OC (no secret). He will do well in Anaheim, and he is quite a bit better than Eckstein. Same speed, better D, better arm, better glove. Eck's a lot better at fighting off pitches and working counts though... and is probably best suited at second because of his weaker arm.

maybe so, but there are other options. Right now, I'd take a defensive specialist catcher at a fraction of what Varitek's asking... since Zenny's right... he's SO much better at Fenway then away from it.

noooooooo. Roberts was the perfect backup outfielder. I have a hard time believing this trade is going to happen WITHOUT some other trades in the works. Jay Payton is more of an everyday guy.... won't he be pissed to be splitting time with Nixon? This might have deeper implications.... like Manny to the Mets? Stay tuned.

The holdup has very little to do with the Yankees, unless they pay most of Vazquez' salary to make things easier on the Dodgers. According to what I've read, the Dodgers need to have a few other deals in place before they can pull the trigger on this deal. Personally, I don't see LA's motivation for making this deal, at all. Shawn Green, Kaz Ishii, and Brad Penny for Mike Koplove and Javy Vazquez? Penny and Vazquez are both .500 career pitchers. Vazquez has averaged 7.7 K's per 9, and has a 3:1 K:BB ratio for his career. Penny's only got a 2:1 K:BB ratio and 6.5 K's per 9, but he's also 2 years younger. Green is overpriced but can still produce, and Koplove is mediocre at best. In my mind, LA would be stupid to make this trade.

The Mets would have to move Piazza first.... The Dodgers are a very real possibility, but would they be willing to pay more than $9 mil a year for 4 years? If so, I say they can have him.

I dont think anybody said the Red Sox could or would get him. In fact, somewhere, Doug Melvin went on record as saying basically that Sheets was untouchable at this point.

I voted yes, because I believe Matt Clement is a good replacement for Lowe, and Wells is a #3 starter at best, the Red Sox could really use a #2 type pitcher to replace Pedro. If they can do that, I think they'd be improved over last year. As it stands right now... Schilling = Schilling Wells Clement > Lowe Wakefield = Wakefield Arroyo = Arroyo It's worse than the 2004 staff because they don't have that guaranteed #2 guy. If the Red Sox could somehow obtain a #2 pitcher equal to Martinez: Schilling = Schilling (new #2) = Pedro Clement > Lowe Wells > Arroyo Wakefield = Wakefield. That would be a much improved rotation, and a good idea. So I say (long story short) if the Red Sox can get a #2 pitcher, they should do it. If not, they can stay with what they've got.

exactly. The Red Sox have the policy not to give out no trade clauses, and (believe it or not) are trying to go away from being the type of organization that provides preferencial treatment to its stars. With rules and regulations, there are always limits. The Red Sox as an organization have deemed no trade clauses bad ideas, and for damn good reason. If they stick to their guns here with Varitek, it gives them more negotiating power down the road when someone else asks for a no trade clause. If they give Varitek one now, it makes them look bad if they make an exception to the rule. At this point, it's the principle of the thing. They didn't buckle on Pedro, and they don't appear to be buckling to Varitek. It sucks as a fan because Pedro's in NY, and Varitek may walk away if he doesn't get his way, but it makes the organization stronger in the long run. I like it.

While Bosox Rule has a point (Leo Mazzone seems to get the absolute best out of pitchers), there's a big difference between John Burkett and Jaret Wright. If I were the Yankees, I'd be concerned about him and Pavano though, because Javier Vazques is far superior to BOTH of those pitchers, and he struggled with New York last year. On the same token, I don't think Clement is going to be a revelation for the Red Sox either. Assuming the Yankees get Johnson and the Red Sox sign Clement: 1. Johnson vs Schilling-- advantage Yankees. 2. Mussina vs Wells -- advantage Yankees. 3. Pavano vs Clement-- pretty close considering Pavano pitched in a pitchers park, had better defense behind him, and Clement had no run support....Considering nobody knows how either is going to adjust, I say DRAW. 4. Wright vs Wakefield -- Advantage Red Sox. Wakefield's inconsistent, but Wright hasn't proven he can be consistently good, or pitch well in the AL, or handle the NY pressure. 5. Brown vs Arroyo -- Advantage Yankees. Over his career, Brown has proven he can be a very dominant pitcher. Arroyo has pitched very well for the Red Sox, but as far as pure talent and credibility is concerned-- Brown has the advantage here. It's clear that if/when the Yankees finally get Johnson, their pitching staff will be superior to Boston's.

I don't claim to understand the entire arbritration process, but here's how I THINK it works (how it applies to Varitek): 1. The team offers arbritration Varitek had 2 choices at this point: a. Accept arbritration. If this happens, he rejoins the Red Sox for 1 year. His salary is determined by a third party after he and the Red Sox submit dollar figures. USUALLY, it's somewhere in between those two numbers. b. Decline arbritration. If this happens, there is no arbritration process, meaning the Red Sox HAVE to sign him by January 8th OR lose all rights to sign him until May 1st, which essentially means he's going elsewhere. If the team offers arbritration and the player signs elsewhere, the team gets some sort of compensation (usually draft picks) from the signing team. The level of compensation depends on the quality of the player. If the team doesn't offer arbritration, there is no compensation offered in the event that the player signs elsewhere. The Red Sox offered arbitration to all the big names (Orlando, Pedro, Lowe, Varitek), but none of them accepted. My question is this: How does that compensation system work?

Like I said before, I believe Clement for $8 mil is better than Lowe at $8 mil. Clement in my mind is a replacement for Lowe, not Pedro. It would be awfully nice to get a nice pitcher to slot in to the #2 spot... Right now: Schilling Clement Wells Wakefield Arroyo Decent. I'd feel more confident with everyone shifting down 1: Schilling (insert # 2 guy here) Clement Wells Wakefield With ( in theory) Arroyo being in a package for that #2 man.