TheKilo

Mike Mussina: lolz

http://www.omnivoracious.com/2009/01/the-yankee-haters-guide-to-the-yankee-years-by-joe-torre.html

http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2009/01/28/great-balls-of-fire/

Please read the thread. This was discussed yesterday.

How exactly has my tone changed? I've said all along that missing Teixeira was a failure on the part of the FO (it was, he was their #1 target and they failed to land him - that is a failure) but they still had time to improve the team this offseason in January and February. The signings of Smoltz, Saito, Penny, and Baldelli individually are not that impressive, but as a collective whole demonstrate the strategy that the FO is incorporating. These moves, in this economic climate, have the potential to bring very high rewards (especially in the cases of Baldelli and Saito) for low risk. Their dealings with Teixeira were pitiful (namely the JWH email sent out after the meeting with Texas) and even with these financially shrewd business moves they were still willing to commit around $180 million guaranteed for Teixeira - which tells me that these moves weren't their strategy all along. When you include the signings of Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis to very team-friendly extensions, I find it difficult to knock the FO for their interactions with any player named Mark Teixeira. In that aspect, I don't see how my tone has changed at all.

Well, if the economic situation continues on the path it is currently on, you will see a lot of quality players hit FA that could be available for a discounted rate (at least compared to other offseasons), including: Josh Beckett Brandon Webb Erik Bedard Rich Harden John Lackey Cliff Lee Jason Bay Carl Crawford Matt Holliday And there's no telling who could be available via trade. The Sox are going to contend this season and put themselves in good shape for the next few years with these low-commitment deals...if one of Smoltz, Penny, Baldelli, or Saito pan out it makes the investment in all of them worth it. Not getting Teixeira sucked, but it wasn't going to happen anyways and I can't find much fault in the FO's actions with any other player.

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You really think Francona, if Varitek is on this team, will have Jason in any sort of platoon role?

I think that quote has a heavy dose of sarcasm associated with it.

If Varitek is on this team he will get at least 70% of the starts, if healthy.

Yes, because it appears the good majority of RSN will have a collective heart attack if it becomes official that THE CAPTAIN isn't coming back.

Didn't Gilbert Arenas go undrafted though? He wasn't very highly regarded in college. Your overall point stands though.

Obviously. But unlike you and 95% of RSN, I am very comfortable going in to 2009 without Jason Varitek on this team. Here's the thing I don't understand. The Red Sox were prepared to offer Jason Varitek $10+ million guaranteed for this upcoming season. Varitek, through Boras or himself, felt that the market for his services would allow him to get a multi year deal at a comparable salary to what he had in 2008. He badly misjudged the market, discovering that there were no suitors for his services. So, in essence, Varitek told the Sox to go screw, messed up, and he should then be offered a contract that would allow him to reach 2008 level salary? Coming off the joke of a 2008 and this offseason so far, I see absolutely no reason why the Sox need to offer him $10 million, guaranteed or not. In my opinion, even offering him $5 million and a guaranteed second year is an overpay, but it's clear the Sox will overpay for Varitek as long as it is on their terms. The market changed 100%. When they offered him arb, it was believed there would be a market for Varitek. There isn't one. Why do they need to bid against themselves for his services? That's exactly what I'm saying, and if you connected the dots on my prior posts you would have figured that out. I ask again - why offer Varitek the same potential salary if there is no market for his services? The Sox don't have to bid against themselves, and they shouldn't. The genius comes in that (a) the Sox save face and say they tried to sign their beloved captain and ( they didn't overpay for a soon to be 37 year old catcher with no discernable offensive skills. Varitek was PH for last year and he complained to the media. Here's the thing - if he rebounds, the Sox pick up his option for $5 million and Varitek gets his coveted second year. The genius is that the Sox are covered on all fronts with this contract offer.

I question Varitek's projections because I think it gives too much credit to his flukish 2007.

To be fair, Coach K has three national titles.

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I agree, he is a Shill....what else do you expect the guy to say about Jason Varitek?

They have three right now.

Why WOULDN'T Mauer test the FA market when he's available?

Fair point. What about Varitek's 2008 makes you so convinced that Bard/Kottaras/Brown can't replicate it, given the advances in technology for scouting and pitch calling? The Sox offered arb, and no type A FA who has ever been offered arbitration has had to take a pay cut. More than likely, an arbitrator would have given Varitek a slight increase in salary. The point is they offered him A RAISE coming off his terrible 2008 and he declined it, so why should they offer the same potential salary if there isn't even a market for his services? Doesn't make sense at all - it's simple supply and demand. The Sox don't NEED a catcher right now and there is no demand for Varitek's services. WHy should the Sox outbid themselves for a guy coming off the season he had? Take the Varitek blinders off and you'll see why my argument makes perfect sense.

Why would they do that when Varitek already rejected $10+ million guaranteed?

This is a joke, right? Buchholz has the best MiLB numbers out of all of these guys and there's absolutely no reason to trade for an inferior player just to fill "a position of need". Scenario A - Sox go into 2009 with Varitek/Kottaras/Brown/Bard and all of their pitching prospects with the hope that Wagner/Exposito/etc. blossom into the "catcher of the future" Scenario B - Sox deal Buchholz/Masterson/Bowden for their supposed "catcher of the future" knowing full well that individual may not even be a catcher in three years, and have a hole in their pitching staff for not just 2009, but 2010 and beyond. Which has the better chance to be successful? Last time the Sox traded their stud prospect everyone was down on he became the best offensive player in baseball (when taking position into account). I'd prefer to not do that again. I'm just fine with a Kottaras/Bard combo this season.

What would you offer Varitek, then?

Of course not.