As expected, Jason Varitek declined arbitration. Paul Byrd did the same, so the Sox are still likely on the hunt for a starting pitcher.
The Red Sox have been hotly linked to two players: Seattle’s Willie Bloomquist and Tampa Bay’s Rocco Baldelli.
Buster Olney would be “shocked” if Baldelli didn’t sign with the Sox. It would represent a homecoming and a possible platoonmate for J.D. Drew or Jacoby Ellsbury. He should log plenty of at-bats in Boston should this signing happen, but concern over his ability to play back to back days has led the Sox to chase a utility player. In this case, Bloomquist.
Bloomquist, 31, is overexposed as a starting player but is a solid backup who can play the infield and outfield. He has a career .263/.322/.324 line. His calling card is his versatality, which would open the Sox up to signing Baldelli and not being concerned about his ability to hold up.
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Either one would be a nice bench addition. Baldelli has considerably more upside, but is a huge injury risk. Shame that he has that mitochondiral disorder, he was once one of the top 5 prospects in the game.
Are all my Christmas wishes about to come true?
Teixeira, Baldelli, Tek replaced by Shoppach, and Lugo sent packing. Plus a chance to hold onto Bucholtz, Bowden AND Masterson. Plus all the friends and relatives of Lars Anderson who frequently post on this site may come around to see him as the future DH. Ho ho ho! Come on Santa put on your red sox and deliver!
I think Lowell has been great and Tek is my favorite Sox backstop since Pudge. But I see visions of younger, cheaper, more productive and a locked-up-for-years lineup dance in my head.
Cookies and milk for all the kids and Rumnogg for all the adults.
Evan, is the feeling they would/could sign both? I will take everyone’s word for it on Bloomquist? Seeing those OBP and slugging %s, if we get him we should start a pool on which day he hits his double. Yikes.
OJ,
If they sign Baldelli, they WILL go after a utility guy that can play both INF and OF and will probably give Jeff Bailey every shot to win the backup 1B job because he can also fill in at OF. Notice they also signed Paul McAnulty to a MLC and he is a Jeff Bailey clone.
The Red Sox could sign a homeless man off the street and he could have “versatility” too because he could go stand at every position.
Bloomquist is a terrible hitter and a terrible fielder….this rumor is a complete and utter waste of time and brain cells.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1066&position=OF#fielding
I have waiting for Bloomquist to go away for years.
All the words I hate like Gritty, spirited, and spark plug have been used to describe this worthless ball player for years. Willie Bloomquist has one extra base hit last year, just one. He struggles to slug .300.
If Bloomquist has an asset its base running. That’s no reason to sign him though. I have plenty of reason to believe that if Bloomquist had been on any other team besides the Mariners he never would have made it to the Major Leagues.
Both of these guys sound like trouble to me man. We already have one injury prone OF in Drew – hence the importance of a quality 4th OF…
Baldelli could fill in okay, but he’ll need consatnt breaks to keep the muscles healthy and if Drew needs a break or is hurt on that same day – we’re screwed.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with using Van Avery or even Lars Anderson as the 4th OF… they can’t be any worse than these guys.
Bottom Line: I miss Coco…
Bloomquist is a pinch runner more or less…don’t mind him if he can take over Cora’s role and add speed on the bench if Lugo is somehow gone….hopefully he does not get more then 100 at bats or so.
Would love to have Rocco, he has reported that his condition has improved through medicine and diet…while there is no apparent cure if he can continue to improve his energy level and play back-to-back on occasion I like it…
Baldelli sounds like a good risk to me if we can get him without committing too much to him. He has the ability to be better than anybody else we have in the farm and thus I think he’s probably worth a decent risk.
Bloomquist on the other hand I am rather unsure about. I actually kinda get a good feeling about the guy when I hear his name as he was a bit of a fan favorite in Seattle (I sometimes listen to Mariners games due to the fact that’s all they play on our sports radio station up here). But he certainly doesn’t have much beyond “versatility” and “grit” to help out his cause. If he is signed for super cheap and some of our AAA guys get a real chance to compete with him for that bench spot then I’m in favor of it simply for the sake of depth.
Not at all worried about Rocco’s condition. When he plays, he will rock. When he can’t play, we will have Bailey at 1b/OF who can also rock, and maybe Willie Bloomquist IF/OF (I still prefer Joe Thurston’s better bat and glove and similar speed) . . . which puts AC or Lugo where?
If Rocco or JD go on the DL, we still have Jon VanEvery’s speed, good glove and very big bat in Pawtucket with Chris Carter, Danielson, Corsaletti, and maybe Anderson rising in September. This surplus of strong backups makes Rocco’s signing good sense with very high upside.
No to Bloomquist. I’ve had to watch him play and I would be loathe to see him in a sox uni. Baldelli? That could be fun assuming the price is right.
Oh god, Bloomquist.
Bloomquist can swipe some bags, pinch run and would be replacing Cora (identical averages/obp) for 100-150 at bats. The guy can’t slug his weight but there are not too many useful guys who can back up short, second and outfield (obviously Lugo would be better if he can’t be dumped and wouldn’t be a distraction not starting). He’d be the 6th outfield option if Baldelli signs (Bailey for 1b/corner of; Drew and Baldelli can play center if needed). If Lowrie or Pedroia are seriously hurt for more then a couple of weeks I’m sure they would bring someone else in. Just curious…who do people want for a utility middle infielder if Cora and Lugo are not brought back? I’m surprised people think he is such a huge downgrade from Cora or expect a huge upgrade from Cora for a back-up utility player.