Rumors on various media outlets on Wednesday evening are hinting that the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of adding two veterans to their stable of talented players.
The first rumor is that lifetime Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz will agree to a one-year deal with a base salary of $5.5 million, with allowances for another $5 million in incentives.
The second rumor is that former Tampa Bay Ray Rocco Baldelli will sign with the Red Sox as well. Terms have not yet been identified, but Baldelli was reportedly in Boston to get medical tests done already earlier this week.
The Red Sox have already signed former Dodger and Marlin starter Brad Penny to a one-year, $5 million contract as GM Theo Epstein continues to show a propensity to have more than enough starting pitchers on the roster in March. Smoltz and Penny join Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, and Tim Wakefield as potential starters in Manager Terry Francona's rotation.
The only problem with all these arms is the one position the Sox haven't filled yet: Catcher. Captain Jason Varitek is still a free agent, and the only move the Sox have made this winter was acquiring Josh Bard, who figures to be a backup.
The additions of Smoltz, Baldelli, and Penny open a number of intriguing trade candidates on Boston's roster. The most logical player to be out the door would be center fielder Coco Crisp, who has been involved in rumors to seemingly half of Major League Baseball. Young Jacoby Ellsbury has taken over the bulk of the playing time in center, while Jason Bay will be in left, and JD Drew returns in right.
Another name that might pop into various discussion is Clay Bucholz, a talented young starter who has run out of room on the major league roster. If the Sox cannot get Varitek under contract, Crisp and Bucholz might be used to acquire a new starting catcher via trade.
4 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Corey Melroe 5 months ago
Yes the most logical player to be out the door would be Coco Crisp, but considering he's already out the door i dont think they could use him as trade bait anymore. It's a common mistake the Royals trade was pretty low key, no worries.
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Jonathan Stilwell 5 months ago
If Penny's ready to go April 1st, it works out great! about the time he breaks down in June, Smoltz will be ready - and the Red Sox get a replacement for Schilling - the vet who is a big game pitcher come playoff time.
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Nate Double 5 months ago
Research, research, research my friend.
Anyways...
I love the addition of Smoltz to the roster. Even though he likely won't pitch in the majors until June he is a great addition to any lineup and any club house. A veteran presence is always welcome and don't forget that Smoltz was an excellent closer a few years back and could be a backup to Papelbon which would allow Masterson to be used strictly as a setup guy.
As the Yankees showed us last year, you can never have enough pitching.
As for the catcher issue... its not a big issue. The Sox will likely resign Varitek at their leisure and on their terms as there doesn't appear to be much of a market for him, and if not they could replace him with Gregg Zaun or a similar veteran. I'm still holding out hope that the Ranger's will still have needs come March/April and the Red Sox can land Saltalamacchia without giving up the entire farm.
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TAB BAMFORD 5 months ago
Sorry I missed on the Coco deal. He's a name that's just big enough that my coma from Oct 1-Dec 31 kept me from hearing he had left boston. My bad.
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