Happy the-week-is-halfway-over-day, everyone! I’m Brett Cowett, the newbie here at Fire Brand, so be gentle with me, please. I bruise easily.
Let’s get to the link bonanza, shall we?
- Freshly minted BBWAA member Eno Sarris goes over the pricey acquisition of Shane Victorino and how it relates to the current and future state of the Boston outfield over at Fangraphs. (Shane Victorino, Boston Right Fielder)
- Over The Monster’s Marc Normandin speculates on Jacoby Ellsbury‘s availability now that Victorino is Boston bound. (Abraham: Boston “Open” To Jacoby Ellsbury Trade, Shane Victorino Shift)
- The BoSox weren’t without competition for The Flyin’ Hawaiian. Matthew Pouliot tells us who else offered him a sizable payday. (Report: Indians offered Shane Victorino $44 million)
- Ben Buchanan does a quick analysis of the Mike Napoli signing, which looks to make things a bit less…Salty…in Fenway Park. (Red Sox, Mike Napoli Agree To Three-Year, $39 Million Deal)
- Nick Cafardo throws out some other hot stove options for the Red Sox, which includes some talk that an old friend could end up in the Bronx. (Ichiro and other considerations)
- Sean McAdam comments on the Red Sox’s speed of signing free agents this offseason and how it’s quite different than what we’re used to. (Short and sweet: Sox land Victorino, Napoli early on)
- The likeable shortstop-who-wasn’t-Julio-Lugo a.k.a. Marco Scutaro did pretty well for himself in San Francisco, and he’s getting rewarded for his great, although unsustainable, second half of the 2012 season. (Marco Scutaro agrees to three-year deal with Giants)
- Grantland’s very own Jonah Keri goes over the flurry of rumors coming out of the Winter Meetings, and, yep, you guessed it – another mention of Justin Upton potentially being traded. (The Hot News From the Winter Meetings)
When thinking of the offseason, remember: No signing can possibly be as bad as Aaron Cook pitching. Food for thought!