Wednesday, July 25, 2007
RED SOX RUMORS AND RUMBLINGS
* It becomes more likely that Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka stick around. It becomes more likely that Joaquin Benoit goes.
Benoit has turned the corner and would be a great pickup for any contender with the add bonus of being under the club’s control for next season. It would not be a surprise come this time next season to learn that Benoit has been more productive than both Gagne and Otsuka.
* “…I think the way the market is, there's a lot of teams that will take a chance on somebody for cheap, baseball cheap."
Can I get a “baseball cheap” salary, please? Anyway, I got a soft spot in my heart for Matt Clement. The guy had a tremendous first first half with the Sox. Then, he gets plunked in the head by a line drive come backer; tries to get over that hurdle and eventually goes under the knife for a crazy procedure. Clement has had some terrible luck and it is unfortunate that he is viewed as a big free agent bust around these parts.
* Anyone else concerned that high draft picks Ryan Dent, Hunter Morris, and Will Middlebrooks are not signed yet?
* A very specific rumor from the Denver Post:
The Red Sox are determined to move outfielder Wily Mo Peña and have a deal in place with the White Sox for a low-level minor-leaguer if they want it. That would create room to pursue a more versatile backup like Oakland's Bobby Kielty. Boston wants another reliever and will continue monitoring Brian Fuentes and Brad Lidge, even though both are likely to stay put.
* It becomes more likely that Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka stick around. It becomes more likely that Joaquin Benoit goes.
Benoit has turned the corner and would be a great pickup for any contender with the add bonus of being under the club’s control for next season. It would not be a surprise come this time next season to learn that Benoit has been more productive than both Gagne and Otsuka.
* “…I think the way the market is, there's a lot of teams that will take a chance on somebody for cheap, baseball cheap."
Can I get a “baseball cheap” salary, please? Anyway, I got a soft spot in my heart for Matt Clement. The guy had a tremendous first first half with the Sox. Then, he gets plunked in the head by a line drive come backer; tries to get over that hurdle and eventually goes under the knife for a crazy procedure. Clement has had some terrible luck and it is unfortunate that he is viewed as a big free agent bust around these parts.
* Anyone else concerned that high draft picks Ryan Dent, Hunter Morris, and Will Middlebrooks are not signed yet?
* A very specific rumor from the Denver Post:
The Red Sox are determined to move outfielder Wily Mo Peña and have a deal in place with the White Sox for a low-level minor-leaguer if they want it. That would create room to pursue a more versatile backup like Oakland's Bobby Kielty. Boston wants another reliever and will continue monitoring Brian Fuentes and Brad Lidge, even though both are likely to stay put.