Sox Fans Grab Mallets While Theo Prepares to Be The Whack-a-Mole

This will certainly be a defining offseason when Red Sox historians look back on Theo Epstein’s legacy as Boston GM. If the acquisitions work, fans and media alike will sing high praise – and the untouchable GM will become all the more invincible. If the moves fail, he will be chastised and become vulnerable for the first time in his career. It’s difficult to give a grade to Theo at this point of the offseason - much less begin to rip him in the media. For one, there’s still so much work to be done that any analysis is incomplete, especially with Mike Lowell hanging in limbo. On the other hand, the fact that there’s been so much contention over every signing thus far means that there's likely not a single person left in New England that is happy with our GM - and any failure for the free agents in the upcoming season will be overmagnified. Marco Scutaro, John Lackey, Mike Cameron. There is no concensus – lots of very intelligent people have advocated on both sides for all three acquisitions. Marco Scutaro is the best of a poor class of free agent shortstops. He’ll end up costing the Red Sox a 2nd round pick and is signed to a very favorable 3-year (or some would say 2-year) deal. He’s a late bloomer who some argue is a one-year wonder. Scutaro will have to be every bit as good as his breakout in 2009 for both sides to be satisfied. A good personnel move? Yes. But, it will be hard for Theo to win this one in the media...

Epstein warning fans about Sox downturn in ’10?

In Sunday's newspaper, the biggest caution flag on the 2010 season yet was tossed. This offseason, one of the hottest debates surrounding the Red Sox is if the team should "go for it" this year -- ala sign Matt Holliday/Jason Bay, pull off a blockbuster trade, so on and so forth. The flip side of the argument was waiting until 2011 where there's a more competitive free agent class, an increased likelihood of a blockbuster trade and a farm system whose window is 2011-2013. My opinion has been that the Red Sox are going to stand pat and play out 2010 with their club largely intact along with no major changes. Whether you agree with it or not, it seems as if this is exactly what Boston is going to do.

Thumbs Up to Scutaro

As Harold Ramis once said to Seth Rogen in Knocked Up after Seth knocked up his one night stand, "This is a good thing." It may have looked tragic at the time, but he got a beautiful daughter out of it and even got to spend the night with Katherine Heigl. Not a bad haul for a drunken mistake. The same can be said for the signing of Marco Scutaro. It wasn't quite the way we planned it (myself not included, I like Toronto import, especially given the alternatives), but it's what we have. Maybe the little guy will grow up to be a Rembrandt, maybe he'll be an alcoholic, but either way, he's ours and we need to love him. But let’s get something straight. There is a lot to like here – and signing Scutaro is like making the best of a bad situation. The nuts and bolts of Marco Scutaro are that he is an average fielding shortstop with plus offensive skills for his position. These kinds of players do not grow on trees...

Red Sox ink Marco Scutaro

Marco Scutaro has inked a two-year deal to be a Boston Red Sox, reports Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse. The money is unknown, but I would hazard a guess at $15 million -- $7.7 million per year -- with a mutual option for a third year. (And I think I'm trending optimistic.) Given Placido Polanco got three years, I am surprised Scutaro settled for two. It's an especially nice coup on Boston's end. What is not to like about the deal? I was prepared to dislike the trade at three years, but now I'm neutral about it. There are pros and cons to the deal.

[UPDATE: Scutaro Signs?] Scutaro holds private workout for Red Sox

First, we hear that the Red Sox have requested medical records on Marco Scutaro. Now, Jerry Crasnick tells us that Scutaro worked out in Miami with special assistant to the general manager, Allard Baird, in presence. (Baird is one of Epstein's right-hand men, a keen evaluator who failed at being a general manager in Kansas City.) Crasnick notes the workout seems to have alleviated concerns about a heel injury Scutaro suffered late in the '09 season. It seems as if a contract offer is headed Scutaro's way. Boston would have to give up his first round pick, No. 29, to sign Scutaro. The team already has No. 20 thanks to Billy Wagner inking with Atlanta. UPDATE: A Venezuela newspaper reports that Marco Scutaro has signed with the team. They often jump the gun, so tread with caution.

Wagner to Atlanta, Pedroia to Short, Tito Really to the Tea Cabinet?

Pedroia to Short? Sometimes, the answer is so obvious that it was staring you in the face the entire time. Well, maybe Pedroia to short isn’t that obvious, but I’m surprised that it took this long for anyone to suggest the move at all, myself included. There are risks here, though. Pedroia was moved off short for a reason. Even during the minor leagues, many scouts liked him at the keystone long term. Now, three seasons into his major league career at second base, there is no saying what his arm or his range will look like across the diamond. Though he’s got great fielding skills for a second baseman, there are differences in reading grounders, going to the left up the middle, throwing distances, positional defensive standards, and a litany of other concerns when changing positions...

Assessing Boston’s shortstop options

With the departure of Alex Gonzalez to Toronto, it's time to move on and explore what options are available to Boston to man the shortstop position in 2010 -- and possibly beyond. I've gone through some potential free-agent and trade options and then tied it all in a neat little bow for consideration. Internal options include Jed Lowrie and Jose Iglesias. The free agent market has a bevy of options, but they all have their drawbacks. From Marco Scutaro to Adam Everett to Miguel Tejada to Craig Counsell -- yes, Craig Counsell -- we have you covered here. Want to think trade? Stephen Drew, Cristian Guzman and Hanley Ramirez are considered. Yeah, Hanley Ramirez. The New York Daily News has a note that the Marlins are talking to the Red Sox about a Hanley Ramirez trade.

Gonzalez Signs With Toronto – Scutaro or Bust!!!

Though the Red Sox will be seeing plenty of Alex Gonzalez next season, it won’t be in a Red Sox uniform, as their ultimate fail-safe signed on with the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday. It’s never a good sign to see Plan B go off the market - or Plan C/D/F for that matter - as the Sox’ shortstop options are dwindling, meaning that they are all the more likely to go hard after Scutaro for a contract much more favorable to player than to team. At the off-season’s beginning, the team could select from any of Hardy, Stephen Drew, Scutaro, or a Gonzalez-Lowrie timeshare. Now, with both J.J. Hardy and Gonzalez off the table and Arizona clinging hard to Drew, the Sox’ options have become alarmingly limited to a shot at a trade with Diamondbacks or duking it out with Scutaro’s many admirers.

The 2009 Shortstop Free Agent Market

One of the more pressing issues facing the Red Sox this offseason, the shortstop position can be considered the number two need for the team, behind the gaping hole in left field. But shortstop may actually be the more challenging option of the two, as the position features few legitimate major league options to fill gaps. As Evan outlined earlier, there are a bevy of quality left field options available on the market, headlined by Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, and Bobby Abreu but also including upside buys in Jermaine Dye and Rick Ankiel, as well as plenty of depth. Come December, no team will be left wanting for a left field option. Teams seeking shortstops will not have this luxury, however. Cot’s Contracts lists just 12 free agent shortstops among this class; 2 of whom have club options. And, no, David Eckstein won’t be considered for the position either. He’s a second baseman now, can’t hit, and has a declining glove. Here are the candidates:

Red Sox Offseason BluePrint v.2 : Holliday, Harden, Scutaro

Like most teams, the Boston Red Sox offseason will be defined by the willingness of their owner to open his wallet. Fortunately for Sox fans nationwide, Uncle John certainly has some deep pockets. However, the amount he is willing to spend will have a lot to say about the direction that this team will be headed. The prudent move by the Red Sox will be to look for incremental gains in what is partly a transitional year, while also being a year of opportunity. The club has nearly its entire 2009 starting lineup under contract, including its entire starting staff and at least seven of nine position players. For a team that won 95 games last season, that’s a recipe for success. Still, the American League gets more competitive every year, as the AL West, the Yankees, and our little brother Rays make it harder and harder to buy the Wild Card.