Bringing in Rod Barajas Would Not Be a Bad Idea

Adding Rod Barajas may not be a bad idea at all. As it stands today, the Red Sox do not…

Anything but a Luxury

The Boston Red Sox are clearly a "have" organization in Major League Baseball. Being a "have" however doesn't mean that you can literally "have" whatever your heart desires or that you "have" no budget or parameters around which your team must be constructed. Sure those limits are self-imposed by the current ownership group, but let's not forget, they own the team and fiscally responsible for its management. They have purchased -- literally -- the right to set those parameters to the bounds of their comfort level or desired profit margin. One such parameter currently in the focus of the media, the fans and the organization is the luxury tax threshold. But what does that all mean and how does it effect the 2010 Boston Red Sox or their approach to the upcoming trade deadline?

Looking for Signals that the Draftees Will Sign

In a chat on BaseballAmerica.com, Jim Callis thinks “…the Red Sox have drafted the most highly regarded talent. To have the best draft, they'll have to sign a lot of those guys. No reason they won't, though, that's their approach.” Callis is dead on; a successful 2010 amateur draft will be if Yawkey Way signs most of the amateurs mentioned below.

Theo’s Third

With the team sitting a game below .500 in the second half of May (the latest they've been there since the dark September of 2001), it's almost time to admit the obvious: this is likely not a playoff team.

Yes, I know it's still technically early. I know that many teams have executed comebacks far greater than this one would be, and I know that the Sox are not playing at the level of quality they should be, and the one at which they still might down the line. However, they're chasing two frighteningly talented teams, and a nine game swing will be very tough to overcome.

I also know that just two weeks ago, I wrote a long article discussing reasons for optimism. I'm still optimistic - I believe this team is far better than what we've seen so far, and I think it will wind up being the best third place team the league has seen in some time. But they'll still likely be a third place team. The question, then, becomes this: how will we view this season two years from now? Will it be an aberration? A signal of the end of an era? Or will we see it as the halting first steps of a new contending club? To answer that question, it's worth looking back at the most recent disappointing teams of the Theo/Trio era, and what they each signaled.

Choose Your Own Adventure

With the Red Sox treading water just above .500 after a month and a half of the season, its too early to fully embrace the "wait 'till next year" mentality. At the same time however, you had better believe Theo Epstein and his advisors have played their own game of "choose your own adventure" that has them following the "to become sellers and restock for 2011 turn to page 41" path.

All-Aughts Team of the Decade GM: Theo Epstein

Was there any doubt? The Boy Wonder is clearly Boston's GM of the Decade, taking the job over officially for the 2003 season. 2000-2001 was the death throes of former Boy Wonder Dan Duquette, who was responsible for bringing Pedro Martinez to town, and ... that's about it. Duquette sometimes didn't understand how to properly construct a roster or interact with the media. In his defense, he did put together solid postseason-caliber teams and had a deft hand in picking players up off the scrap heap. (Bret Saberhagen, Troy O'Leary, etc.) 2002 was with Mike Port at the helm as interim GM although some have said that Epstein was the one running things behind the scenes. Whatever the case, Boston courted Oakland GM Billy Beane heavily following the 2002 season, and a deal was thought to be in place. The contract was a go. Oakland's compensation (Kevin Youkilis) was a go. And then... Beane got cold feet. California was home. He pulled out, and Boston was left without a GM.

Payroll Pressures

With arbitration cases kicking in, payroll comes to the forefront of team concerns this week. While the Red Sox only have 4 arbitration cases left to settle, we can start to look at the overall payroll concerns going into 2010 and beyond. 2010 is supposed to be our "bridge" year, but is 2011 really when the Red Sox completely reload? Cot's Baseball Contracts lists the Red Sox payroll commitments, and a handy spreadsheet breakdown for the next 4 years as well. Evan's article yesterday laid out some basic figures for the four arbitration eligible Red Sox. While his figures for Delcarman, Ramirez, and Hermida seem solid ($1M, $1.5M, $3M) I have more reservations about Papelbon, considering the "favor" he wants to achieve for his fellow closers, and think his case will invariably go all the way into arbitration, where he'll get close to $9M. I have a feeling he'll ask for at least $10M, especially after he thinks he should be getting Mariano Rivera-liek deals in free agency. Currently, the Red Sox payroll stands at $149M, taking into account all new contracts, leftover payments for former players (like Lugo) any options exercise upon contract termination (Wagner, Alex Gonzales) and monies received form other teams (via Seattle for Bill Hall).

Adaptation and working the market

Since Moneyball was published in 2003 there has been a clear misunderstanding of what the book meant. I'm sure much of this is by people who never read the book, but perhaps some who missed the message. The message that is spread and widely understood is that Billy Beane was a huge proponent of OBP and that that wins games. If you ask anyone at a baseball game or on a sports talk show what was the point of Moneyball 90% will say OBP. Of course that 90% will also say that Billy Beane wrote the book. So what was the point in a cliff notes version? Learn what the market has failed to value and use it to your advantage. As of the writing of the book OBP was a largely ignored stat and teams were viewing players like Adam Kennedy as quality players for a solid batting average. This made a market for Beane to attack and he did so effectively. The problem is teams adapted and not only followed his model with greater finances, but also stole his staff.

The Red Sox’s Christmas List

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Holidays to everyone! While I celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah, there's no denying the holiday that stops America in its tracks -- that's Christmas. That's why I've chosen Christmas as the holiday of choice to reveal certain Red Sox personnel's holiday gift lists that were acquired in some unseemly ways. And away we go...

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.