Do we want John Lackey?

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald:

A major-league source said that the Red Sox met with free agent starter John Lackey’s agent at the GM meetings this week in Chicago. The Red Sox expressed preliminary interest in the right-handed starter, who is arguably the top free agent starter available this coming season. The Red Sox are still in the fact-gathering stage in their quest to beef up their starting rotation and are expected to stay in contact about Lackey in the coming weeks.

I'm actually pretty interested in Lackey. Assuming he settles for a four-year deal, he would provide great depth. I do have some concerns about this:

• Can Lackey hold up? He's been beset by injuries recently.
• Will he be in a reasonable price range? If not, what's the appeal to Boston to sign him to a bigger deal?
• What ramifications down the road of signing Lackey is there? Letting Beckett walk?

Here’s a thought: Votto, Harang to Boston?

MLB Trade Rumors wrote a piece yesterday on the Cincinnati Reds looking to pare payroll. The two logical candidates to be moved given their salary and previous availability in trade are Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. MLBTR theorizes that first baseman Joey Votto could be packaged in a deal to entice a buyer, because the club has Yonder Alonso in the minor leagues. That got me thinking. Joey Votto, just finishing up his age-25 season, cranked 25 home runs while hitting .322/.414/.567. He's under automatic club control through 2013. He's definitely a great, young intriguing option at first. Perhaps Boston would be willing to take on Aaron Harang and his $12.5 million salary for 2010 in order to get Votto. Harang, 32, is entering his final year of his contract and is coming off a 4.26 ERA in 26 starts. He's been known as a workhorse, but has stumbled the last two seasons after two straight years of 230+ innings pitched. He's rather prone to home runs, although that could be a product of Great American Ball Park. His walk rate is rather steady, but his strikeout rate is declining although his fastball velocity is consistent at 90 mph. I think this is definitely a deal worth exploring. On a one-year deal, is Harang worth it to get Votto? How is he not?

All-Aughts Team of the Decade SP5: Tim Wakefield

He's certainly not the ace of the All-Aughts Team of the Decade, but Tim Wakefield has himself a spot in the rotation as the No. 5 starter (there are five rotation spots that will be named) as he is the only pitcher to play for Boston every year from 2000-9. In 2009, Wakefield hovered around a mid-4 ERA for the seventh straight year, leading the American League in victories at the halfway point while being named to the All-Star team. (Fire Brand archive: Mr. Reliable, 3/14/09.) It all went to hell in a handbasket after that, as he made just four starts the rest of the way before undergoing back surgery in the offseason. (Fire Brand Archive: Wakefield set to return, but for how long? 9/21/09.)

Sox decline ‘Tek option, he exercises his

[UPDATE: Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 backup catcher will be Jason Varitek. 'Tek exercised his option, and I for one am pleased he did. It'll likely keep him in Boston threads for his entire career, as well as give the club an option to make Varitek the personal catcher for Josh Beckett. $3 million is a bit steep for a backup catcher, but for Boston, it's worth it to keep Varitek.] [One more update: Hasn't happened yet, but... it will.] Not a surprise: Jason Varitek's $5 million club option for 2010 has been declined. As much as I may want 'Tek back in a backup role for 2010, I wasn't willing to commit $5 million to that role. Neither was Theo Epstein. The ball is in 'Tek's court now, and we'll know by the end of the week whether he picks up his $3 million option. If he doesn't, he becomes a free agent who can negotiate with any team. Don't rule out the Sawx offering 'Tek arbitration, though: he's a Type B free agent who would net the Sox a pick in the compensatory round (so no team directly loses its pick).

All Aughts Team of the Decade 2B: Dustin Pedroia

You think the shortstop carousel we've had since 2004 is frustrating? What about second base? Since 1992, only Scott Fletcher (2) and Jose Offerman (3) have been considered full-time Red Sox second basemen that served more than one year in said capacity. To suddenly end the decade with Dustin Pedroia manning the position for three years and having already captured a Rookie of the Year award, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, MVP and World Series ring, then... well, it kind of makes it a no-brainer that Dustin Pedroia is our All Aughts Team of the Decade second baseman.

Alex Gonzalez is set free

The Red Sox chose to decline Alex Gonzalez's $6 million option for 2010 today, putting the shortstop on the free agent market. Quick recap: Gonzalez came to Boston post-Edgar Renteria and served ably, with sensational defense and a penchant for launching the occasional bomb but not much else. He left for a big-money contract in Cincinnati following the season, Julio Lugo taking his place. That contract was marred by injuries, and he was shipped back to Boston in August at which time he exploded, again providing great defense while being above-average on offense. Part of me wonders if the team even would have made the playoffs without him. Just because he's set free now doesn't mean he can't return to Boston. However, Gonzo is not a $6 million player, so the decision was easy. Especially with the news that John Henry's hedge fund business is suffering -- no matter what the front office may say, it will absolutely impact the finances Boston has to work with. If Gonzalez is willing to sign a two-year deal for $6 million, he'll be back in Boston. The risk here is obviously opening the bidding up to 29 other teams, but at this point, I think Boston is willing to pay a shade above market value for him -- just not way above. Delaying a decision on Gonzalez also impacts Boston's ability to continue shopping for a better or more long-term shortstop. The team was in the hunt for J.J. Hardy but lost out to the Twins earlier this week.

Jays talking Chris Snyder

Boston whiffed on J.J. Hardy. Might another whiff be coming? The Arizona Diamondbacks are talking to the Toronto Blue Jays about catcher Chris Snyder. This is not the first time Snyder has come up at Fire Brand. I was on shift at Rotoworld.com when the news broke, and here's what I had to say:

Snyder hit .200/.333/.352 in a scant 165 at-bats during the season, losing his starting gig to Miguel Montero, and having the year marred by injuries. Due $11.25 million through 2011, the 28-year old has a reputation as a great defensive catcher who has a healthy rapport with pitchers. The Jays' top prospect is widely considered to be catcher J.P. Arencibia, so you have to wonder what Toronto is thinking if the rumor is true.

Snyder isn't a world beater, but he did hit .237/.348/.452. If Boston wants to upgrade offensively and defensively, one way might be to go after Snyder, put Victor Martinez at first and slide Kevin Youkilis over to third.

Sign Danny Richar

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds allowed Danny Richar, a second baseman, to become a free agent by outrighting him. I'm here to say I want him as a member of the Red Sox. He became a Red last year in the Ken Griffey, Jr. trade (and Nick Masset). He hit .290/.330/.438 in Triple-A this year before undergoing labrum surgery in July. Richar is 26 years old. He bats left-handed and saw significant time in the bigs with Chicago as a 24-year old, garning 187 at-bats of a .696 OPS. He's seen spotty time since, never impressing. However, along with second base, he's adequate at third. Short in a pinch. Richar may not have hit at the big league level, but he's hit well enough in Triple-A over the last three years (.870, .746, .767 OPS respectively) that I say he's a great option for Triple-A, where he can serve as depth for backup infielder. You remember last year, when Lugo went down... and Lowrie went down? Nick Green was there. I'm advocating Richar as 2010's Nick Green, because he's younger, cost-controllable for years if we so choose with a bit more pop -- and naturally, with a bit higher ceiling. Sometimes it's the little deals that keep the Sox in the thick of it.

Red Sox start offseason with bang, acquire Jeremy Hermida

UPDATE: Theo on the trade: "It was a chance to get a guy with unfulfilled potential for a reasonable cost." The Red Sox consider Hermida an average defender in either left or right field. (MLBTR) The Red Sox have acquired Florida Marlin outfielder Jeremy Hermida for lefty pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. Hermida, 25, has been long on potential after being the 11th pick in the 2002 draft. However, with injuries and no "leap forward," he was a liability to the club at a $2.25 million salary, sure to rise in arbitration.

What could Josh Beckett sign for?

In the coming weeks, Josh Beckett and his agent (Michael Moye) will meet with Theo Epstein and brass to discuss an extension. There's no way that Beckett sniffs $161 million, let alone $150 million, but I'm here to tell you there's absolutely no chance Beckett settles for less than $100 million over his total value. In the end, I'm calling a six-year, $111 million deal for Captain Kickass.