Boston Red Sox Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
Watching a team go from first to worst is never easy—and it's all the more painful when that team happens to be the defending world champion.
Such was the scenario that the Boston Red Sox faced in 2014, as injuries and ineffectiveness derailed any hopes the club had of mounting a successful defense of its title.
General manager Ben Cherington is going to have his hands full this winter as he tries to rebuild his starting rotation, find long-term answers at a handful of positions, including third base, and get the Red Sox back into the playoff picture in 2015.
Keep it here for the most up-to-the-minute rumblings about the BoSox, along with analysis and everything else that comes with it. While the post date will always show as October 31, simply click to the next slide to see the latest from the rumor mill.
Boston's Free Agents and Done Deals
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All the juicy rumors and analysis follow, but consider this your one-stop shop for all the comings and goings in Boston this winter, including the status of the team's free agents.
Done Deals
Oct. 30: Re-signed RP Koji Uehara to a two-year, $18 million deal
Nov. 24: Signed SS Hanley Ramirez to a four-year, $88 million deal (Analysis)
Nov. 24: Signed 3B Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million deal (Analysis)
Dec. 5: C Ryan Lavarnway claimed on waivers by Los Angeles (NL)
Dec. 10: Acquired LHP Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Rubby De La Rosa, LHP Allen Webster and IF Raymel Flores (Analysis)
Dec. 11: Traded OF Yoenis Cespedes, RHP Alex Wilson and RHP Gabe Speier to Detroit in exchange for RHP Rick Porcello (Analysis)
Dec. 11: RHP Justin Masterson signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal (Analysis)
Dec. 12: Traded RHP Myles Smith to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Zeke Spruill
Dec. 17: Traded RHP Aaron Kurcz and cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Anthony Varvaro
Dec. 19: Re-signed LHP Craig Breslow to a one-year, $2 million deal
Dec. 19: Traded 3B Will Middlebrooks to the San Diego Padres in exchange for C Ryan Hanigan
Red Sox Free Agents
RP Burke Badenhop
RP Craig Breslow (Oct. 31: Team declined $4 million option, will pay $100,000 buyout; Dec. 19: Re-signed)
1B/3B Juan Francisco (Dec. 2: Non-tendered)
RP Koji Uehara (Oct. 30: Re-signed with Boston)
C David Ross (Dec. 19: Signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs)
Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 11: Selected RHP Jandel Gustave from the Houston Astros
Allen Craig on the Move Again?
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Thursday, Dec. 18 at 3:34 p.m. ET
Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi tweets that the Red Sox are in "active discussions" with at least one team about a deal that would send Allen Craig out of Boston.
Acquired from St. Louis as part of the John Lackey trade last season, the 30-year-old struggled due to a foot injury, hitting a woeful .128 with four extra-base hits, two RBI and a .425 OPS over 29 games with the Red Sox.
While he struggled mightily in 2014, Craig was a stud in 2012 and 2013, hitting a combined .311/.364/.488 with 35 home runs and 189 RBI. That said, regular playing time isn't going to come to him in a crowded Boston outfield, so moving him now makes sense for all parties involved.
Dec. 11: Red Sox Sign RHP Justin Masterson
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The reshaping of Boston's starting rotation continues as the club has signed Justin Masterson to a one-year deal. WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reported that Masterson will make $9.5 million plus incentives.
Masterson, who began his career in Boston, struggled with his command and control in 2014, proving ineffective in both Cleveland (5.51 ERA, 1.66 WHIP) and St. Louis (7.04 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) and finishing the season walking nearly five batters per nine innings of work.
The Indians chocked his issues up to a balky knee that gave him problems all year long, while the Cardinals believed that Masterson's problems were mechanical, not physical. While Masterson's struggles continued, it's fair to say that both teams may have been correct in their diagnosis.
Yet he's still relatively young and isn't that far removed from a three-year stretch (2011-13) that saw him pitch to a combined 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while averaging 205 innings a year and make his first All-Star appearance (2013).
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Dec. 11: Red Sox Trade Yoenis Cespedes to Tigers for Rick Porcello
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Age: 26
2014 Stats (DET): 32 G (31 GS), 15-13, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 204.2 IP, 211 H, 1.8 BB/9, 5.7 K/9
Contract Status: Final year of arbitration eligibility, free agent after 2015 season
The Red Sox and the Tigers have agreed on a trade that will send right-hander Rick Porcello to Boston and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Detroit, according to Fox Sports' C.J. Nitkowski. Per CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, Boston will also send right-hander Alex Wilson and a minor-league southpaw to Detroit.
Once the Red Sox signed Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval earlier this offseason, it appeared as though Cespedes' days in Boston were numbered.
Acquired in the trade that sent staff ace Jon Lester to Oakland, Cespedes has been the subject of conflicting reports that have emerged about whether he has already worn out his welcome in Boston.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo originally reported that Cespedes was non-committal as to whether he wanted to stay in Boston for the long haul and that he had no interest in playing right field or working on his defense, the latter a necessity if you're going to play left field in Fenway Park.
Boston has disputed the report, with a team source telling Heyman the notion that coaches hate Cespedes is "totally untrue."
Whether or not those rumors were true, those reports seemed to signal that Cespedes would not be back next year. Boston made that official with this trade.
The Red Sox lost out on Lester, so they needed to look elsewhere to address their starting pitching need elsewhere. They have done so—without having to give up top prospects.
Porcello had a bit of a breakout season in 2014. He went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 2014, throwing a career-high 204.2 innings and three shutouts.
In Detroit, Porcello had the luxury of being a middle-of-the-rotation starter behind Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Boston is going to need him to have a repeat performance in order to help the team get where it wants to go.
The 25-year-old made $8.5 million in 2014 and is eligible for arbitration for the third time this winter, With Cespedes and Porcello each entering the final seasons of their contracts, the two sides decided to make a swap that benefitted both sides.
Red Sox fans can look at recent events in a positive light. Sure, the team lost out on Lester. However, the club has since been able to acquire Porcello and left-hander Wade Miley since then. To top it all off, Boston hasn't had to give up major prospects, which could set the team up for an even bigger trade if it believes the right player is available.
Dec. 10: Acquired LHP Wade Miley from Arizona
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Age: 28
2014 Stats: 33 GS, 8-12, 4.39 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 201.1 IP, 207 H, 3.4 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
Contract Status: First-year arbitration eligible, under team control through 2017
The Red Sox needed to add a young, durable, controllable pitcher to their rotation and got their man in Arizona's Wade Miley. He's coming off his second consecutive season with at least 200 innings of work and 33 starts, and he's averaged 200 over his last three, logging 194.1 innings in 2011.
While he averages nearly a home run per nine innings of work, Miley does a terrific job of keeping the ball on the ground—his 51.6 percent groundball rate over the past two seasons is the seventh-best mark in baseball.
The Red Sox got a good look at both Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster last season, and while the pair showed flashes, neither one did enough to prove that they were going to be part of the solution in 2015 and beyond.
Cole Hamels to Lead Boston's Rotation?
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Update: Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 1:40 p.m. ET
ESPN's Jayson Stark says that the Red Sox have not yet re-engaged the Phillies in talks about Hamels, noting that they're working on other things at the moment.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 10:42 a.m. ET
After flubbing their chance to re-sign Jon Lester (and that's putting it nicely), the Red Sox have turned their attention to Philadelphia's Cole Hamels.
According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Phillies have interest in a number of pieces in Boston's organization:
"Word is, the Phillies like infielder-outfielder Mookie Betts, catcher Blake Swihart, third baseman Garin Cecchini and a few other position players and pitchers in Boston's well-stocked market.
"
While Boston may not want to part with much of its young talent, they really don't have much of a choice. They need a front-line starter, and unless they're prepared to offer Max Scherzer a $200 million deal (they aren't), Hamels is the best pitcher available.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Boston isn't the only team in baseball that has a high opinion of Mookie Betts.
A baseball source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that Philadelphia loves the versatile 22-year-old, and it's not a stretch to assume that, if the two teams are going to swing a deal involving Cole Hamels that Betts would have to be part of the package heading to the Phillies.
Boston has given no indication as to whether Betts is available in potential trades or not, but with the recent additions of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, where—or if—he fits on next year's squad is anything but clear.
--End of Update--
Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 11:37 a.m. ET
While speculation has floated around for quite some time that the Red Sox and Phillies could match up on a deal for Cole Hamels, now comes word from Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that Philadelphia has been doing its due diligence on a number of Boston's youngsters.
The list of players the Phillies have been checking up on includes Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts and Anthony Ranaudo, though Rosenthal is quick to note that Betts is likely untouchable when it comes to a potential trade.
Despite having the young talent to get a deal done, Rosenthal points out that Boston may not be so quick to pull the trigger:
"Hamels included the Red Sox on his latest no-trade list, and likely would grant his approval for a deal only if they exercised his $20 million option for 2019. At that point, his contract would become less attractive - $110 million over five years.
Would the Sox part with major prospects and take all of that money? Sounds like the Phillies might need to include cash if they want a strong return.
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Whether the Phillies would be willing to eat any of the money left on Hamels' deal remains to be seen.
Dec. 10 Jon Lester Signs 6-Year Deal with Cubs
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Update: Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 1:24 a.m. ET
The Boston Red Sox did not come away victorious in the Jon Lester sweepstakes.
Lester has agreed to sign with the Chicago Cubs, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. Per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Lester agreed to a six-year, $155 million deal. Passan also reported that Boston's final offer was worth $135 million over six seasons.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 9:30 p.m. ET
It appears to be a two-team race between the Cubs and the Red Sox, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Lester has told the Giants thanks, but no thanks.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7:20 a.m. ET
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal says that the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Red Sox all have similar deals on the table to Lester—in the neighborhood of six years and $150 million.
One team indicated that they'd be willing to go seven years and $175 million, but sources tell Rosenthal that wouldn't necessarily sway Lester, who seems intent on picking the team he wants to play for and not the team that makes him the highest offer.
The saga could drag into Wednesday.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 8:45 p.m. ET
While not completely discounting the Yankees as a landing spot for Lester, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman says that there's no real evidence linking them to the southpaw.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 7:40 p.m. ET
Multiple sources have told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that the Yankees could be a late entrant into the Lester sweepstakes.
Like I said, things are getting crazy as they pertain to Lester.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 4:55 p.m. ET
Things are getting crazy.
Rosenthal tweeted that Lester had narrowed his choices down to the Cubs or Giants, a premise that Heyman agreed with.
But both ESPN's Jim Bowden and WEEI's Rob Bradford have quoted Lester's agent, Seth Levinson, as saying those reports are "absolutely untrue."
At this point, where Lester is headed is anyone's guess. Put all the teams on a dartboard, close your eyes and throw—you'd have as good a chance of being right as anyone else.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 1:39 p.m. ET
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweets that Lester is giving the Giants "serious consideration."
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Lester is expected to make a decision "no earlier than tonight, no later than tomorrow," sources tell ESPN's Buster Olney.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 11:20 a.m. ET
San Francisco met with Lester's representatives late Sunday night and, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, are hopeful of having a deal with the southpaw in the next few days.
No indication as to whether Boston owner John Henry's visit with his former ace has swayed Lester's decision one way or the other.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 9:53 p.m. ET
It looks like we've found out who the mystery team is—the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sources tell WEEI's Rob Bradford and Alex Speier two different stories—one that the Dodgers have already made an offer to the southpaw, the other that they are preparing to make a major offer in the hopes of swooping in and stealing him away from the rest of the field.
Either way, it looks as if the competition to sign Lester has just gotten that much more fierce.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 8:54 p.m. ET
Lester has met with five teams—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago (NL), San Francisco and St. Louis. Of that group, neither the Braves nor the Cardinals are believed to be serious players, leaving the Red Sox to contend with the Cubs and Giants.
But—there's always a but—both Peter Gammons and ESPN's Jayson Stark say that there's a fourth team—a mystery team—that is believed to be a serious suitor for his services.
Could it be the New York Yankees? The Toronto Blue Jays? Speculation abounds.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 1 at 1:11 p.m. ET
Lester is in San Francisco today meeting with the Giants, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, who speculates that it's really a two-team race between the Cubs and Red Sox for his services.
WEEI.com's Rob Bradford says that Lester wants to have all his visits completed before the Winter Meetings start this coming weekend.
As far as potential contracts, here's what Heyman's sources are telling him:
"Sources suggest the Cubs have bid $138 million over six years for Lester, and the Red Sox suggested at least a willingness to go to $130 million for six years, while word is the Braves, Lester's current hometown team, bid somewhat lower than that. It's possible also that Chicago and Boston will go up from there, if they haven't already.
"
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Nov. 24 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Conflicting reports are floating around when it comes to Jon Lester and a potential return to Boston.
A pair of National League general managers told Peter Gammons that Lester was close to a deal with Boston over the weekend, but both Gammons and Rob Bradford of WEEI.com say that's not the case.
That doesn't mean that the Red Sox are out of the running, with The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham tweeting that the Sox were still "very much engaged" with Lester.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8:55 p.m. ET
Per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, the Red Sox are willing to continue negotiating with Lester if need be.
Seth Levinson, one of Lester's agents, also sent an email to the station earlier in the day: “I will not comment on negotiations nor will I characterize a meeting other than to say that the Red Sox extended great respect to Jon.”
Take that for what you will.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 5:55 p.m. ET
Boston's offer to Lester is for six years and between $110 and $120 million, league sources tell Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.
Whether that's going to be enough to get a deal done remains to be seen—most estimates heading into the offseason had Lester landing a deal closer to the $140-to-$160 million range.
--End of Update--
Update: Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8:55 a.m. ET
Per Edes, the Red Sox have made an offer to Lester, putting the ball firmly in the ace's court. Terms of the offer were not divulged, and Edes' source indicated that a quick decision was not expected.
The waiting game begins.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 10:25 a.m. ET
Atlanta has jumped into the mix for Lester's services, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, who reports that the Braves have a meeting set with the southpaw later this week.
--End of Update--
Update: Sunday, Nov. 16 at 8:50 a.m. ET
According to Peter Gammons, both the Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs are set to meet with Lester next week. While many believe Lester will make a decision quickly, Gammons believes that negotiations could go into December. He also says to be leery of the Yankees, who apparently aren't out of the running.
--End of Update--
Update: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 12:08 p.m. ET
Edes reports that the Red Sox—a group that is expected to include John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino—will sit down with Lester and his agents at some point in the coming week. As he notes, neither side would be wasting each other's time at this stage of negotiations:
"By now, both sides have a pretty good idea what it will take to get a deal done. Agent Seth Levinson would not be wasting Lester's time, nor his own, with this meeting unless he had received a direct signal, from Cherington or, just as likely, Lucchino, that the Sox are prepared to make an offer that will not insult the intelligence of the parties involved.
"
While it's fair to think that Lester's agents would take Boston's offer and shop it around—a quick call to Theo Epstein in Chicago would make an awful lot of sense—it's also fair to think that Lester may be happy enough with the offer presented that he accepts it, ending any chance that he heads elsewhere.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9:01 p.m. ET
GM Ben Cherington acknowledged the team's interest in Lester while addressing reporters at the GM meetings, though he indicated that he had yet to have a conversation with Lester's representatives.
Via ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes:
"We need to add to our rotation. He's obviously a known commodity, a proven guy in our market. He's of obvious interest."
--End of Update--
Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 5:52 p.m. ET
Four months after he was traded from Boston to Oakland in exchange for Yoenis Cespedes, Jon Lester could be making his way back to the Red Sox.
Edes spoke with "a well-connected baseball executive who has had conversations on the subject with the Red Sox" that claims the team is seriously considering making an exception to their rule about offering long-term deals to pitchers over the age of 30 to reunite with their former ace.
How long-term are we talking? According to the unnamed executive, the Red Sox could be prepared to go as high as a six-year, $120 million deal.
Whether that'd be enough to lure Lester back remains to be seen, as the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a strong push to sign him and have let it be known that they're ready to spend big to improve their club this winter.
Nov. 24: Signed SS Hanley Ramirez
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Age: 30
Bats: R
2014 Stats (LAD): .283/.369/.448, 48 XBH (13 HR), 71 RBI
Contract Status: Four years, $88 million with a $22 million vesting option in 2019
Few players can produce at the plate like a healthy Hanley Ramirez can. Owner of a career .300/.373/.500 slash line, his ability to hit for average and power—along with enough speed to cause problems when he gets on base—there’s no question that he immediately makes Boston’s lineup significantly better.
Where he fits into the picture, however, remains to be seen.
He's battled injury in recent seasons, playing in more than 130 games only once since 2010 and there are legitimate questions about his defense.
He could take over at third base—but with Pablo Sandoval expected to join him shortly in Beantown that’s not really an option. Whether he winds up at shortstop or in the outfield, Boston will have to make additional moves to clear space.
If he takes over at shortstop, the Red Sox could look to deal Xander Bogaerts, whose star-caliber potential makes him an incredibly valuable trade chip. With prospect Deven Marrero expected to be ready for prime time in 2016, one year of Ramirez’s shaky defense at the position might be bearable.
The other option is to shift him to left field, a position that he’s never played. With a plethora of outfielders already in the fold, the Red Sox would need to clear out space—perhaps by trading Yoenis Cespedes—so that Ramirez has a spot in the everyday lineup.
Regardless of which position Ramirez ultimately winds up at, his ability to produce at a MVP-caliber level with a bat in his hands was simply too enticing for the Red Sox to pass on.
Nov. 24: Signed 3B Pablo Sandoval
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Age: 28
Bats: S
2014 Stats (SFG): .279/.324/.415, 45 XBH (16 HR), 73 RBI
Contract Status: Five years, $95 million (team option for sixth year)
Questions about Boston’s long-term future at third base have been answered with the addition of Pablo Sandoval, who brings Gold Glove-caliber defense and an erratic (but potentially explosive) bat with him to Boston.
The hefty third baseman offers middling power despite his size—he's eclipsed the 20-home run mark only twice over his seven-year career—but should see an uptick in his power numbers with a move to the hitter-friendly confines of Fenway Park.
His weight will always be an issue, but the option to shift him into the designated hitter spot late in the deal, after David Ortiz has retired, should make it less worrisome than it would be if he were playing the field on a daily basis.
If there’s a concern (besides his weight), it’d be that Sandoval’s numbers have been moving in the wrong direction since he posted a .909 OPS in 2011. Since then, he’s posted an OPS of .789 (2012), .758 (2013) and .739 (2014). He also saw his batting average against left-handed pitching drop significantly to a career-worst .199 in 2014, down from previous marks of .281 (2011), .299 (2012) and .270 (2013).
Perhaps a change of scenery—and a chance to work with new Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis—can get those numbers trending in the right direction. That said, Sandoval is an absolute beast in the postseason. From ESPN Stats and Information:
"Sandoval’s .344 postseason batting average is the third-highest among active players with at least 75 postseason plate appearances, trailing only James Loney’s .354 and Ichiro Suzuki’s .346.
"
He’s a .426 career hitter in the World Series and went 8 for 16 in the last four games of the 2014 series against the Royals.
All things considered, this is a good deal for Boston, which desperately needed to upgrade the hot corner before the 2015 season began and landed the top option available.
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