example1

I bet John Henry would take a little embarassment for NOT spending 80m over 5 years on a guy who isn't worth it. I don't think they would actually do that, but my point is that teams get in bidding all the time. It isn't like, all things being equal, the Sox wouldn't want Burnett on their team. Of course they would, but there's a ceiling to how much they would be willing to spend and the Yankees--desperate for pitching as they are--are likely to go above that threshold.

As far as I know, until the contract is signed the Sox can back out at any point.

I think the FO would make it abundently clear to Teixeira that he will not have a hard time finding playing time. I could see your argument if you're talking about Mike Lowell, and I bet Lowell's agent would want to know how much the FO sees Lowell playing, but he's under contract so it doesn't really matter what the answer is. They could say "we're going to sit Mike all year" and he would have no recourse. The FO can sell the position to Teixeira with some simple discussion. They can offer him free 1st class plane tickets, an apartment in Boston, a personal chef, an interpreter ( ) and a number of other things to sweeten the deal.

Honestly, I still don't know what you're talking about. I do, however, see that you are telling me what to do and I don't really appreciate it. Do you think that it is possible that they handle different FA negotiations differently based on how much they actually want the player? I do. I think it makes perfect sense for the Sox to get the Yankees to sign Burnett for a shitload of money, because he is semi-fragile and could be an albatross. I think this type of jockeying actually happens all the time and that if we only discussed the "official reports" this site would be dead until something like "Sox sign Teixeira" comes across the board.

Really? Please elaborate

My sense from Masterson's stuff and build is that he would be a great 'next Mike Timlin' kind of pitcher for this team. His ability to get groundballs is critical for late-inning high leverage situations and he seems to have a really good head on his shoulders. His stuff is nasty and I certainly feel bad for anyone who has to face him once in a series for 4 pitches in an important AB in the 8th inning. That said, his frame is such that if he could be stretched out he could be a very durable innings eater, which any team could use. Remember, this doesn't have to be decided now. The Sox have him for a number of years and they can let it play itself out. If they need another starter then Masterson is a great choice. Personally, I think Buchholz's stuff is better suited to starting, as is Bowden's, but nobody can argue with Masterson's effectiveness last year. Plenty of options IMO.

Burnett is the JD Drew of pitchers. His potential is limitless but his toughness and willingness to play through pain is suspect. It feels more tolerable to me with Drew because he still manages to get into a majority of the games, but a guy with Burnett's stuff should be at 200 IP every year easily. If the Sox FO has reason to believe that 200 IP is something he can do year in and year out then perhaps I would change my mind; I don't even know why he tends to miss these games (what the injuries were), but it doesn't impress me much. I find it interesting that there are reports of the Sox contacting the agent for Burnett, and nothing but speculation about the Sox involvement with Teixeira. Given that the Yankees have been very public about their desire to have Burnett it wouldn't shock me if the Sox are mostly trying to drive up the price and distract the Yankees from their (Sox) quest for Teix. Personally I just don't see the need to get a guy like Burnett at the cost he will come at. I think they would actually be better off throwing the bank at Teixeira and then using prospects to get a guy like Peavy, or another solid Japanese pitcher when available. So many head games!

What a tremendous accomplishment for that guy, and a nice job by the voters IMO, given that his numbers weren't astounding in the traditional sense, but were very, very impressive across the board, especially for a second baseman. Congrats Dustin!

Someone convince me that I should be excited about the prospect of having Derek Lowe back. I think I could be convinced if someone makes an intelligent argument, but I'll wait. I remember being just fine with him leaving 4 years ago. His numbers in the NL did improve significantly, and last year was his best according to his ERA+ since 2000 (when he was a reliever). He also only walked 45 batters in 211 IP, and as a result had his best K/BB since 2000. He had a big drop in BB as soon as he went to the NL West, which makes me think the competition helped. I thought ERA+ accounted for those things, but that seems like a huge improvement. Anyway, I've always liked Lowe's 200+ IP, and the fact that he's a solid sinkerballer plays well in Fenway. He has had a few great seasons with the Sox and I would love it is somehow we know that we would be getting 2002 Lowe. Someone sell me on this, if you can.

I understand the sentiment, but from what I have seen as their asking prices both Lowe and Burnett would be the highest paid members of the Red Sox. Neither deserves to be and it will set a bad precident as we move toward resigning guys in the future. I think Drew at 14m already set some precident for overpayment, but for a #3 or #4 starter I just can't see going there. Make a strong run at Kerry Wood, move Masterson and Buchholz to the rotation and dont worry about Lowe or Burnett (both of whom the Yankees appear to covet too). That's just my opinion.

I might prefer Lowe over Buchholz in 2009 too, but not in 2010, 2011 or 2012, and not for 15 times the cost. A700, am I crazy here? Do you not remember pulling your hair out when Lowe was on the mound, looking all depressed and helpless as he gave up hit after hit and run after run? Discussions in 2004 about moving him to the pen, HAVING to start him in all 3 final games of the playoffs rather than wanting to start him? I had no problem seeing him go and have no problem watching him sign a nice contract with someone else.

Jesus, let's be done with D-Lowe. The grass is always greener on the other side, isn't it. I just remember his game on July 4th in 2004, when he got shelled against the Braves. Sometimes he was great, sometimes he was downright awful. Let's just move on and not talk about Lowe anymore.

Yes. He may be DH as well, it is hard to know. Replacing Giambi with Swisher is a wash, in my opinion. If Swisher placates the Yankee fans' sense of needing to add a bat, then great, perhaps their FO will move on to trying to acquire Sabathia or Burnett.

This is an absurd discussion and an absurd statement by Ortiz. There is no way of knowing whether having Manny would have given them a WS. In fact, there's no way to know whether they make the playoffs with Manny on the team. Who the hell knows? Maybe if Manny stays then something else in the universe changes and Beckett or Lester gets injured and can't pitch in the playoffs. This is just crazy 20/20 hindsight. Anyone who implies that Jason Bay is the reason this team lost is stuck on emotional rather than logical revisionist history. From what I know, Manny was driving his teammates and coaches nuts. He was a horrible leader and threatened to simply not play. Here's a guy who said "I'm not playing" and had to be talked into joining the team on the bus. Why would we even entertain thoughts about "what if" when we ended up getting a very, very good replacement for him and stand to use his salary one someone else who might fit the definition of "special player" that I so regularly hear bantied about here. I take this statement by Ortiz as being similar to Damon's statement when he joined the Yankees, something to the effect of "they have Jeter and A-Rod and now they add me to the top of that lineup, we're going to be unstoppable". It's ********. Baseball is too complex for one player to have been definitive.

Oh, that. Yeah, I guess so, but that hasn't become injuries yet and the Sox are pretty good at making adjustments if they are needed. I know his motion was a concern when he was drafted, but they've been watching him move through the system without need to change it significantly. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

What injury concerns are you talking about Kilo? He pitched 150 IP this year, and 142 IP last year.

The Sox might be able to say "Bowden is too much" and still land a catcher like Salty. I think that would be an ideal outcome. I have liked Bowden since he was drafted and I think that as he matures he may become a very durable, strong starting pitcher in the mold of John Lackey.

It's a totally benign move IMO. The A's will get a bit better but not good enough to make a difference, they will trade him in a few months and continue their cycle of not holding onto good players for very long. Unless Beane thinks that adding a bat like this will give him a shot at the WS...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/10/heyman.holliday/index.html WTF? If this isn't true I apologize, but I read it elsewhere and thought it was worth noting. hmm wonder what it took.

Agreed. Pedroia is the face of this team for the foreseeable future.

This team could go in a number of directions if they can get Martin, and depending on how they went about doing it. I would recommend trading someone other than Buchholz for Martin, sweetening the deal with someone like Bowden+ instead (who many believe will also be a very good pitcher). If Lowell is one of those pieces and and Buchholz is not, and Teixeira could be added, then I think we have the makings of a complete team for years to come: Ellsbury Pedroia Ortiz (-->Lars?) Teixeira Youkilis Drew Bay Martin Lowrie Beckett Lester Dice K Wake (future FA, Masteson) Buchholz An alternative would be to keep Lowell, not worry about Teixeira, and make a run at a SP like Burnett or Sheets or Vazquez (for Crisp+?) instead, and let them work from the lower third of the rotation where they can be coddled a bit more. Ellsbury Pedroia Ortiz (-->Lars) Youkilis Drew Lowell Bay Martin Lowrie Beckett Lester Dice-K Burnett/Sheets/Vazquez Buchholz A third alternative might be to keep Lowell, move Buchholz (who I think could absolutely get the deal done for Martin: ...imagine Billingsley, Kershaw, and Buchholz moving forward with decent FA pickups from LA's perspective...) and go after a top notch guy like Sabathia or (if they still have enough talent, and he agrees) Peavy. Ellsbury Pedroia Ortiz Youkilis Lowell Drew Bay Martin Lowrie Beckett Sabathia/Peavy Lester Dice-K Wake/Masterson/Bowden? There would be lots of choices because Martin's steady bat would add a fair amount of offense to that lineup for years to come (hopefully). The question would be whether getting that top notch starting pitcher is more valuable than the upgrade from a guy like Lowell to a guy like Teixeira. Hell, it's hot stove season--these are not likely scenarios, but it's fun to play this stuff out sometimes.

I am not shocked if the Sox go after Texiera. He's a year younger than Youkilis and is just as difficult an out with more power. Defensively, Texiera would give them phenomenal players at 1B, 2B and 3B (Youk is above average at 3B ), all of them with superior bats. I can imagine the Sox putting together a package with Mike Lowell and young pitching like Masterson, Bowden or Buchholz that would be a nice return for just about any team to fill a coveted spot; whether that be in a deal for a guy like Peavy or trying to land a coveted catcher (I think Lowell + any of those guys is too much for any of the TEX catchers.) I think that Lowell's great character allows his salary to be tacked on to a deal for prospects, as most teams would (should) be happy to add a guy like Lowell to their lineup.