Given the Florida Marlins’ reputation of loving players until they cost them money, “non-tendered” is a word that every arbitration-eligible player in Miami has to worry about.
This year Joe Nelson, who formally pitched for the Red Sox as well as the Royals and Braves, was the sole non-tendered player for the Marlins. Last season with Florida, Nelson posted an impressive 3-1 record with a 2.00 ERA in 59 innings out of the bullpen.
Although neither the Marlins or Nelson have ruled out coming to terms and returning for the 2009 season, MLB.com is reporting that both the Royals and the Red Sox have inquired about the 34 year-old right-hander from California.
Nelson’s Red Sox career was not very memorable, after being cut quickly in his first stint, he was signed in spring training of 2004 and appeared in three games, one was a scoreless inning against Texas but then proceeded to give up five runs in his next 1.2 IP.
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All joking aside, he had a nice season, in a weak league, in the one of the best pitchers parks. I doubt he’d be a huge contributor if he came to Boston. I’m getting kinda frustrated that we haven’t heard of any real substantial moves, I guess I’ll get excited again once Teix signs. It’s going to happen.
I followed the comments about this in Rumors, two of which claim Javier Lopez was non-tendered. I hope those rumors are wrong, as Lopez had a better year last year than any of the half dozen relievers the Sox are signing, and became a highly effective pitcher last year. It makes no sense. And I’d rather Saito than Nelson.
I agree with Bob, and am also getting frustrated with the little moves, without any apparent motion towards big needs like Teix or Tek or Sheets or Shoppach, or extending Youk, Lester, Paps. This code of silence is painful.
Actually I prefer this silence to the problems we have had in the past where we traded for A-Rod…oh wait no we didn’t, and then we traded for Todd Helton, or wait we didn’t…and go down the line, it’s more frustrating to me where we are so excited about something and then be disappointed. I have not heard that anyone outside of Kevin Cash got the non-tender from the Sox.
I think in the coming week or two we will see a move that leads to another, Theo has been quoted as saying that they have handed out three offers to free agents in the winter meetings.
But when it goes down we will have it for you.
Nelson has been solid the last 3 years. Even if his ERA is 3.0 instead of 2.00 that is still a solid reliever and a benefit to any staff. Its not always about the big moves. The Royals won’t get Nelson because they are already maxed out on payroll wasting 4 mil per, for two years on Farnsworth.