Nomar would have made a good addition for 50 -60 games at 3b, 1b. At $2-3M he would have been a bargain, his shirts would be back in style, and the healing would have been good. He and Orlando Cabrera have signed with the now formidable A’s. Manny, Abreu, Dunn, Hairston, Hinske, Kapler, Keilty, Garland, Ausmus, all signed.
With the ’sky is falling’ gloom and doom re: Penny and JD, I went searching the remaining list of FA’s for help. No RF, no CF, and few of anyone else left. After the glut of available talent out there for so long that it seemed it would last into June, the cupboard is pretty bare. The hot stove is cold as the ice on Houghton’s Pond. We are on our own, we are what we are, it is what it is, and a hundred other cliches implying that it’s time to love the one you’re with. All that remains is to determine who replaces Kotsay for a month or so, who is the #5 SP on April 14, who starts at SS, and who catches with Tek, and we will know that in a few weeks.
In terms of injuries, it will be interesting to see how soon and how well Santana, Posada, A-Rod, Kerry Wood, Duchscherer, Choo, McCarthy, Longoria and a dozen others recover. I’m not worried about Penny or JD. Both will give the Sox top performances for most of the season, like John Smoltz, and that will be quite enough. Let the fun begin.
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Luckily there is plenty of talent on the farm. Not that I want to part with it, but it is there if a need arises. But the team should be fine.
I can’t recall where I read it yesterday, but the economy could have a number of teams holding fire sales for high priced talent come the All Star Break… and if injuries for ce the Sox to go shopping, they have the talent in the farm system (and the cash) to make a move for.
Bottom Line: Getting Smoltz in June is going to be huge… even if everyone’s healthy.
You are forecasting another, albeit brief and economy based, 2009 Hot Stove season. I imagine teams with $$$, hopefully including the Red Sox, already have a list of possible moves. It will be interesting to see who makes good investments for the future, top talent on long term deals. The Sox don’t have many needs, but I will bet a catcher, young RP, will be of interest. Could this be the impetus for Hanley, Crawford (FA 2010), Fielder? Any ideas?
Just a quick thought. If this happens, other than a signing or two useful for 2009, this could be a great opportunity for the Sox to spend $$ restocking the farm system to get some of those top prospects.