Quick Musings on the Latest Sox Rumors

Billy Wagner

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Billy Wagner is considering accepting an arbitration deal from the BoSox because he “loved his experience with the Red Sox enough that’s it’s now a possibility.” That is an MLB Trade Rumors quote, not Wagner directly from Wagner’s mouth. However, it’s hard not to be skeptical of his sudden change of heart, as no one could love a city enough from four short weeks to make a complete 180 in their opinion of the team and their place within it…

Varitek’s Player Option Due at Midnight

***UPDATE: Varitek has officially picked up his $3 million player option.

As we continue to follow the Jason Varitek story, his contract is undergoing more flip-flopping than a Brett Favre retirement or Florida in the 2000 presidential election. Is he or isn’t he? We’ll find out before the end of the day, though the verdict is still out as to whether it would be better for him to re-sign…

Mauer Extension Talks Begin

While all of Boston awaits the man of our dreams… er, catcher of our dreams leaving Minnesota for our nightly NESN living room broadcast, agent Ron Shapiro is beginning to discuss a contract extension for his all-world catcher…

Zach’s 2009 AL All-Star Roster

Since the American League is once again wholly superior (seriously, one could make the argument that any of the top four teams in the East could win four out of the other five divisions, the West being the exception with the Dodgers) and the league I know better than the back of my hand, here’s my best shot at devising what should be true the 2009 AL All-Star Game Roster complete with nine starting position players, six starting pitchers, six closers and 13 reserves:

Ortiz, Penny on the outs in June?

As Oakland GM Billy Beane once said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “the first two months are finding out what you have, the next two getting what you need, the last two trying to make the playoffs.”

Well, we’ve just passed the two month mark, and we’re already confident there will be changes ahead. Brad Penny has been the most inefficient starting pitcher on the team and with John Smoltz aiming to return June 16 and Clay Buchholz/Michael Bowden in the wings, Penny’s not long for Boston. That is, barring a surprise — and we know how baseball is chock full of them.

Penny won’t fetch an impact player on his own, but if you pair him with Buccholz or Bowden, we could be looking at our new designated hitter.

Yeah, I just said we could have a new DH.

BOS 6, MIN 5: Bang for the buck

Buy low, sell high. Brad Penny continues to fulfill, quite possibly, the oldest investment cliche ever.

American League Central Preview.

Victor Martinez should get back on track upon returning from injury. Martinez may not be a great catcher, but he actually has value outside of the batters box, unlike Hafner. I expect good things out of Martinez this season, maybe not great things, but good. Shoppach will handle some of the duties behind the plate as well, which will help Victor stay rested.
If Carlos Santana can make his way up to the big leagues this season, Victor could basically stay at first, and Shoppach could be moved for another piece, since they will need something, somewhere, eventually…

Chat Transcript: Ortiz, Yankees, Buchholz and more

David Ortiz – Samara Pearlstein

Sit down with a big cup of coffee, because have I a treat for you. I participated in a chat on Tuesday night and they have made the transcript available for Fire Brand to peruse.

I talk about which minor leaguers to keep an eye on… what the Sox need to do to win this year… how important David Ortiz is to us.

Oh, I also throw out predictions such as who will finish at first… scoff at the Yankees… and talk about who the heck can be our future catcher.

Sox have eyes for Joe Mauer

The Sox may end up thanking their stars that they didn’t pull the trigger on a trade for one of the Texas Triangle catchers because Joe Mauer could be donning red socks as soon as this July.

Mauer, an impending free agent after 2010, will command a contract with a salary range between $20-$25 million, reported Nick Cafardo yesterday.

Slated to turn 26 on April 19, Mauer would be one of the most sought after players should he land in the free agent market with both the Red Sox, New York Yankees and other teams bidding for his services.

Linking Away

I think today would be good to put a bunch of different topics on the table and direct you to some other places that I read on a regular basis:
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