A Year ago this weekend, Fenway Park was the site of the 2010 Winter Classic.
December 2010 was a brilliant month of fireworks and good feelings when the Red Sox signed Carl Crawford — this was after getting Adrian Gonzalez.
And before we could say ‘Yeah, but the bullpen is…”, Theo added Bobby Jenks, Dan Wheeler and a heaping stack of ‘projectable’ arms.
When we turned the page on our 2010 calendars, it dawned on me that it was now the month of January and that may mean a very, quiet month.
The Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to camp on February 14.
February 14 seems like a long way away. It made wonder if there had historically been any big activity by the Red Sox as we waited for winter to thaw. Maybe something to hope for or reminisce about.
These are the Top 10 Red Sox January transactions since 2000. Most (but not all), off-season fireworks happen by Christmas. It is good business to sell positive news around the Holidays.
After New Year’s Day, it is different. There have actually been two years in the last decade where the Red Sox made zero January transactions. That’s a whole month of nothing.
But there are a few gems in this greatest-hits list, including the most important transaction in modern Red Sox history.
#10 – January 28, 2008 – Acquired pitcher David Aardsma from the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich.
It’s just too bad they didn’t hold on to him.
#9 – January 7, 2010 – Traded 1B Casey Kotchman to Seattle for UT Bill Hall, a player to be named and cash.
Bill Hall and the Free Home Runs
#8 – January 1, 2003 – Red Sox name Ron Jackson hitting coach.
“Papa Jack” leads offense during prolific time in team history.
In his first two seasons with Boston, the Red Sox led the majors in runs, batting average, doubles, extra-base hits, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging average. – wiki
#7 – January 6, 2003 – Signed free agent relief pitcher Mike Timlin
Balls-to-the-wall, dominant right-hander who won two World Series in Boston. As of 2007, he was the only active player to have played on four non-New York Yankees championship teams: (the 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays and the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox).
#6 – January 26, 2007 – RF J.D. Drew signed as free agent
An enigma to some, but Drew has averaged 3.3 WAR in his four seasons in Boston.
#5 – January 7, 2010 – Agreed to terms with 3B Adrian Beltre on a one-year contract.
Boy did that one year ever pay dividends. Beltre posts a 7.1 WAR in 2010 worth $28 million.
#4 – January 16, 2003 – Signed free agent infielder Bill Mueller
Billy Mueller won the American League batting title with a .326 average. He also set career highs in the power department that season, belting out 45 doubles and 19 home runs.#3 – January 17, 2009 – Signed first baseman Kevin Youkilis to a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year.
Red Sox lock up 6 WAR corner infielder through 2013. Youkilis has already been worth more than the $40 million contract.
#2 – January 25, 2006 – Announced Theo Epstein has returned to the organization as executive vice president-general manager.
Phew.#1 – January 23, 2003 – Agreed to terms on a one-year contract with first baseman-designated hitter David Ortiz, who had been with the Minnesota Twins.
No brainer. Big Papi, the greatest. (And to think he split time with Jeremy Giambi in 2003.)
I wouldn’t bet against the Red Sox continuing to make noise this month either. Hot Stove, Cool Music is coming up in a couple of weeks so the fanfare that has been drummed up will probably be given another shot in the arm by that time.
Lars Anderson and Josh Reddick both look like guys that could be shipped somewhere a la David Murphy. And there is still the question of whether or not the Red Sox would move Daisuke Matsuzaka if given the opportunity.
As for now, all is quiet so far in January. Maybe we don’t need anything in January. Just thinking of this revamped Red Sox team could carry us all until April. Happy New Year’s and go Red Sox!