WEEI.com Source: Initial offer to Varitek for one year

According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, sources close to the negotiations between the Red Sox and their captain Jason Varitek indicate that the Red Sox first offer was for only one year. The dollar amount was not disclosed by Bradford's source.

If this is true, I think it speaks volumes of (a) the ongoing tenor of the negotiations and (b) the Red Sox willingness to not go longer years than two on any contract with Varitek.

I did think the Red Sox would likely try and overpay in annual dollars by a small factor to keep the deal at two years. Don't be surprised if the Red Sox final offer is in the 2 year, $22 million dollar range.

Red Sox sign Junichi Tazawa

Nikkansports.com has reported that Junichi Tazawa has settled on the Red Sox and will officially sign with them in early December. The contract is for three years. Tazawa will earn $1 million a year and start off in Double-A.

Sox offer Tazawa $6 million

Craig Shipley, the Red Sox vice president for international scouting, spent just under two hours talking to 22-year old Junichi Tazawa and presented him with a $6 million offer. It's unclear whether or not the offer is a major-league deal or not.

Sumo Lounge TRIVIA: 20 scoreless in a game

Which Red Sox pitcher holds the American League-record 20 consecutive scoreless innings in a game? (He is also tied for the AL record in most innings pitched in a game overall.)

The Next Bartolo Colon

From the likes of Wade Miller and Kyle Snyder to Bartolo Colon the Red Sox have often found value, or potential value in signing a veteran pitcher looking to right the ship after injury or at the end of their line to a one year deal and have them fill spots at the back of the rotation.

That type of insurance policy combined with an influx of youth at the tail end of your rotation has been invaluable in recent years where the Red Sox have needed their fair share of spot starts. I can remember more Julian Tavarez starts than I care to!

While the top of the rotation certainly is full of horses (Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka) and Wakefield and the young guns (Buchholz, Bowden, Masterson) provide a solid tail, injury is unpredictable. The 2008 New York Yankees are a great proof to the theorem that you can't have enough starting pitching.

Fireside Chats #28: Where the hot stove keeps us warm and we tool on Evan Grant in honor of the AL MVP

In this week's Fireside Chats podcast, Tim and Paul celebrate the coronation of Dustin Pedroia: AL MVP, look at what the trade of Coco Crisp to the Royals may signify, and talk over a hot stove.

Analyzing the Coco Crisp/Ramon Ramirez trade

Coco Crisp - Evan Brunell

This trade is excellent from the Red Sox's perspective. The Sox had a very solid bullpen last year but now add Ramirez to their corps of young, cost-controllable arms that are capable of setting up and/or closing.

This trade is the first of many dominoes that will start to fall for the Red Sox. The question is, where will these dominoes fall?

Wherever the Sox go from here, the opening salvo of the Sox's offseason was the Crisp/Ramirez trade, and it's going to impact the rest of the offseason fundamentally.

Crisp traded to KC for reliever

Boston sacrificed uber-prospect Andy Marte, acquired a few months earlier from the Atlanta Braves, but in return they received a 26 year old center fielder who averaged 15 home runs and hit a .298 clip the past two seasons as a starter. Things looked bright for the team and player.

Now, the Boston Red Sox have traded Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Mills, Hale don’t get Mariners job

Brad Mills and DeMarlo Hale will have to wait for another team. The Seattle Mariners will announce Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu as their new manager.

While we're here, what about John Farrell declining to interview with the Seattle Mariners? Have the Sox given him a handshake deal that he will succeed Terry Francona as manager?

Choose an Adventure: Manny’s Free Agency

This is some great stuff. Pat over at AOL Fanhouse unveiled a "Choose Your Own Adventure" saga involving our very own Manny Ramirez. You have the power to have him sign anywhere he wants... where will you have him sign?