Who Will the Red Sox Target for 08/09 FA? Who Will They Trade?

[yall hate]

Takashi Saito, reliever, free agent: The Red Sox made an offer to the former Dodgers closer earlier this winter. Saito has battled elbow issues, but the feeling of teams whose doctors have reviewed Saito's medical records is that he might be able to pitch, though not as a closer. While Saito, who will be 39 Feb. 14, won't be in demand, he might warrant a spring training invitation. Saito missed about two months for the Dodgers and was diagnosed with a partially torn tendon in his elbow, but he took an experimental injection instead of opting for Tommy John surgery and was able to make six appearances in September.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2009/01/04/the_most_improved_players/?page=5

Sox made him an offer.

[Tr1boy]

the signing of penny and smoltz could mean that bowden and bucholz are ready to be traded or they obviously they will spend another year in the minors.

I think if the right deal comes along you have to pull the trigger.

The sox should agressively offer bowden, bucholz and ellsbury to rays for hanley ramirez.

[Toine43]

the signing of penny and smoltz could mean that bowden and bucholz are ready to be traded or they obviously they will spend another year in the minors.

I think if the right deal comes along you have to pull the trigger.

The sox should agressively offer bowden, bucholz and ellsbury to rays for hanley ramirez.

The Marlins (not the Rays) told Boston bluntly that Ramirez is not for sale.

From the Globe:

The Marlins made it very clear to the inquiring Red Sox that Ramirez was not available. According to a source familiar with the talks, the Sox were quickly rebuffed and word is there was never mention of players the Red Sox could offer to entice the Marlins

This never had any shot of happening. The Marlins have Ramirez signed to a long term team-friendly contract, a dream scenario for a low-payroll club. They have no reason to trade him.

[Donoghus]

the signing of penny and smoltz could mean that bowden and bucholz are ready to be traded or they obviously they will spend another year in the minors.

I think if the right deal comes along you have to pull the trigger.

The sox should agressively offer bowden, bucholz and ellsbury to rays for hanley ramirez.

Smoltz and Penny are signed to one year deals each.  My guess is that they won't be around here in 2010.  Trading Bucholtz and Bowden away because you have two veteran pitchers right now is extremely short-sighted. Also, consider that you're not sure what you'll have with Wakefield and you still have major question marks going forward with this staff in the near future.  I don't see Theo trading those two guys away unless they are getting either a bonafide established stud pitcher in return or if the Marlins get delusional and reconsider their stance with Hanley.

[Tr1boy]

Kotsay resigns. I like that news alot.

Our team is pretty much set unless epstein has one more big move that includes trading some of his prize rookies for a significant player

[Tr1boy]

This is a 09 fa thread but i just thought it would an interest to some to take a peak at next years list.

I'm a big matt holliday fan and i'm sure he will prove to many he can hit wherever, at home, road, al league etc.

If either ellsbury or bay don' play at a high level we should agressively go after this kid. worst thing is that boras is his agent and if he performs as i expect that he could it will take a 7 year 140 million deal. It won't be pretty if the yanks get him next year. We have alot of good rookies we could also offer when the trade deadline comes

2010 Free Agents
The following players have contracts expiring or should have the six years of service necessary to become free agents after the 2009 season.

* - player whose contract includes 2010 option

Player Club
First Basemen
Carlos Delgado NYM
Ross Gload * KC
Aubrey Huff BAL
Nick Johnson WAS
Adam LaRoche PIT
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs TOR

Second Basemen
Marlon Anderson NYM
Ron Belliard WAS
Jamey Carroll CLE
Mark DeRosa CHC
Adam Kennedy STL
Omar Infante ATL
Placido Polanco DET
Brian Roberts BAL
Freddy Sanchez * PIT

Shortstops
Bobby Crosby OAK
Alex Gonzalez * CIN
Khalil Greene STL
John McDonald TOR
Marco Scutaro TOR
Miguel Tejada HOU
Jack Wilson * PIT

Third Basemen
Adrian Beltre SEA
Hank Blalock TEX
Geoff Blum HOU
Pedro Feliz * PHI
Chone Figgins LAA
Chipper Jones ATL
Mike Lamb MIN
Melvin Mora * BAL
Chad Tracy ARZ

Catchers
Josh Bard SD
Henry Blanco CHC
Ramon Castro NYM
Ramon Hernandez * CIN
Jason Kendall MIL
Victor Martinez * CLE
Benji Molina SF
Jose Molina NYY
Miguel Olivo * KC
Mike Redmond MIN
Brian Schneider NYM
Yorvit Torrealba * COL

Outfielders
Rick Ankiel STL
Jason Bay BOS
Marlon Byrd TEX
Frank Catalanotto TEX
Endy Chavez SEA
Coco Crisp * KC
Carl Crawford * TB
Johnny Damon NYY
David Dellucci CLE
Jermaine Dye * CWS
Ryan Freel BAL
Brian Giles SD
Vladimir Guerrero LAA
Matt Holliday OAK
Geoff Jenkins * PHI
Reed Johnson CHC
Andruw Jones LAD
Austin Kearns * WAS
Hideki Matusi NYY
Jason Michaels CLE
Xavier Nady NYY
Magglio Ordonez * DET
Dave Roberts SF
Gary Sheffield DET
Jason Werth PHI
Randy Winn SF

Starting Pitchers
Brandon Backe HOU
Miguel Batista SEA
Josh Beckett * BOS
Erik Bedard SEA
Jose Contreras CWS
Doug Davis ARZ
Justin Duchscherer OAK
Adam Eaton * PHI
Kelvim Escobar LAA
Rich Harden CHC
Tim Hudson * ATL
John Lackey LAA
Cliff Lee * CLE
Jason Marquis CHC
Brett Myers PHI
Vicente Padilla * TEX
Brad Penny LAD
Joel Pineiro STL
Jason Schmidt LAD
Jarrod Washburn SEA
Brandon Webb * ARZ
Todd Wellemeyer STL

Relief Pitchers
Danys Baez BAL
Joaquin Benoit TEX
Rafael Betancourt * CLE
Chad Bradford BAL
Doug Brocail * HOU
Kiko Calero OAK
Randy Choate MIL
Octavio Dotel CWS
Gary Glover TB
Mike Gonzalez ATL
Tom Gordon PHI
John Grabow PIT
Kevin Gregg CHC
Matt Herges COL
Masahide Kobayashi * CLE
Ryan Madson PHI
Ron Mahay KC
Hideki Okajima BOS
J.J. Putz * NYM
Fernando Rodney DET
Duaner Sanchez NYM
Scott Schoeneweis ARZ
Rafael Soriano ATL
Mike Stanton CIN
Matt Thornton * CWS
Jose Valverde HOU
Oscar Villarreal * HOU
Luis Vizcaino * COL
Billy Wagner NYM
Jamie Walker BAL

[Mean Gerald Green]

Next years class is weak.

Out of Holliday, Ankiel, Bay, Vlad, Carl Crawford only one or two will change teams.

The only pitcher I like that would be free to move out of those would be Hudson, and someone will overpay him.

Besides resigning Bay or replacing him with Holliday or Ankiel, I'm betting the big move the Sox make next year will be for Joe Mauer. Unless of course the Yankees decide it's a good idea to replace Posada and move Hughes and someone for Mauer, then sign a Rich Harden-type as their #5 if Ian Kennedy can't put things together.

[Tr1boy]

mauer is like cal ripkin and will be a twin for life. Don't forget also he is a hometown boy.

Usually unless management pizzed of a hometown star , he will retire with that team if he begun with them

[Mean Gerald Green]

mauer is like cal ripkin and will be a twin for life. Don't forget also he is a hometown boy.

Usually unless management pizzed of a hometown star , he will retire with that team if he begun with them

You say this so matter-of-factly...as if it happens all the time.

We'll see how he feels when he has record breaking contract offers pouring in.

[Tr1boy]

You think if teixera was drafted by baltimore, had his family visit his games frequently, they offered him a 7 year 140 (comparable to other team offers) million deal he wouldn't stay?? He couldn't also even come to show his face around the city he grew up in

Forgetting about the possible humiliation factor i remember reading somewhere that mauer stated that his dream was fullfield he is playing for his hometown. Twins will build around him and morneau

[Donoghus]

mauer is like cal ripkin and will be a twin for life. Don't forget also he is a hometown boy.

Usually unless management pizzed of a hometown star , he will retire with that team if he begun with them

There's a lot of uncertainty with the ownership in Minnesota right now. Economic uncertainty usually leads to guys walking or getting traded.

[crownsy]

You think if teixera was drafted by baltimore, had his family visit his games frequently, they offered him a 7 year 140 (comparable to other team offers) million deal he wouldn't stay?? He couldn't also even come to show his face around the city he grew up in

Forgetting about the possible humiliation factor i remember reading somewhere that mauer stated that his dream was fullfield he is playing for his hometown. Twins will build around him and morneau

There are a town of guys who had the chance to play for thier hometown and passed because of $$$, you don't know the mans mind.

We'll have to wait and see.

[yall hate]

Sox Signed Takashi Saito.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

The Red Sox have signed free-agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year contract with a team option for 2010, the Globe's Adam Kilgore learned earlier today. The Sox officially announced the signing in a press release this afternoon.

The deal includes a guarantee between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, according to FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Saito will have the chance to earn more than $7 million if he reaches all of his incentives. Rosenthal reports that Saito has already passed his physical.

The 39-year-old Saito spent parts of the last three seasons as the Dodgers closer, saving 39 games for Los Angeles in 2007. The righthander missed significant time last season with a sprained ligament in his elbow, and the Dodgers did not offer him a contract for 2009, making him a free agent. With Jonathan Papelbon cemented in the closer's role for the Sox, Saito figures to be a mid-to-late inning reliever in Boston.

Another nice, low risk, high reward type signing.  these kind of moves feel better when they are coupled with a big splash (Texiera) but that being said, if injury issues sort themselves out with baldelli and saito, and to a lesser extent Penny (and smoltz), they will have gotten some great talent on the cheap.

[Jon]

Sox Signed Takashi Saito.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

The Red Sox have signed free-agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year contract with a team option for 2010, the Globe's Adam Kilgore learned earlier today. The Sox officially announced the signing in a press release this afternoon.

The deal includes a guarantee between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, according to FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Saito will have the chance to earn more than $7 million if he reaches all of his incentives. Rosenthal reports that Saito has already passed his physical.

The 39-year-old Saito spent parts of the last three seasons as the Dodgers closer, saving 39 games for Los Angeles in 2007. The righthander missed significant time last season with a sprained ligament in his elbow, and the Dodgers did not offer him a contract for 2009, making him a free agent. With Jonathan Papelbon cemented in the closer's role for the Sox, Saito figures to be a mid-to-late inning reliever in Boston.

Another nice, low risk, high reward type signing.  these kind of moves feel better when they are coupled with a big splash (Texiera) but that being said, if injury issues sort themselves out with baldelli and saito, and to a lesser extent Penny (and smoltz), they will have gotten some great talent on the cheap.

True, and we can feel pretty good about this team if they stay healthy.  I think it was pretty obvious that had they been healthy all season, they would have easily won the World Series.  I don't say "easily" lightly either.  They almost beat out the Rays in the regular season without Lowell and Beckett and Ortiz looking like shadows of their former selves.  If they bounce back and play like they can, the Sox should be contenders again. 

[Nerf DPOY]

Yet another quality BP arm. You have to think that the Sox are, at the very least, setting themselves up for the possiblity of a trade that would include pitching going out. If Masterson spent next season in the pen, in the rotation, on the Rangers, or all of the  three I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.