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Thursday, January 08, 2009

MLB: Baldelli will join ‘hometown’ Red Sox

Well…half the DiMaggio deal is in place.

Rocco Baldelli all along had planned to attend Boston’s baseball writers awards banquet on Thursday night, to accept an honor reflecting his courageous battle back from injury.

Apparently, Baldelli will also receive something else: a contract to play for the Red Sox.

A popular option for Boston’s outfield ever since Coco Crisp was dealt away, the Rhode Island-born outfielder has agreed to terms with the Red Sox, according to a Wednesday night report by ESPN.com.

The deal is expected to be announced at the Thursday night social function, which would provide a properly dramatic forum for a man who has dealt with a debilitating illness for years and whom the Red Sox have always regarded a hometown guy.

Repoz Posted: January 08, 2009 at 03:52 AM | 17 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Boston

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1. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:06 AM (#3046048)

Penny, Baldelli, Smoltz?

2. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:09 AM (#3046049)

Baldelli is that rare creature: a really good bench player who will be content with a part time position.

3. JJ1986 Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:37 AM (#3046064)

Penny, Baldelli, Smoltz?

I see what's going on. The Red Sox have developed some accelerated cloning technology. When a player gets injured now, they can just replace the limb or mitochondria that's damaged and go right on playing.

4. MM1f Posted: January 08, 2009 at 04:52 AM (#3046075)

I see what's going on. The Red Sox have developed some accelerated cloning technology.

They now have 2 guys named Bard on the roster. You may be on to something here.
Accelerated Cloning IS the new inefficiency!

5. rombuu Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:24 AM (#3046088)

They now have 2 guys named Bard on the roster. You may be on to something here.

Well, Allard Ba(i)rd is working for them now, right?

6. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:26 AM (#3046090)

What does this mean for Buchholz? Traded for a C?

7. Walt Davis Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:57 AM (#3046106)

This is a good match at least -- the Sox don't need him full-time and when healthy he gives them some nice mix-match possibilities.

8. Paxton Crawford Ranch Posted: January 08, 2009 at 10:00 AM (#3046172)

The Red Sox' best offense now includes Baldelli in center and Ellsbury on the bench. Depending on health obviously, I could see Rocco getting 450 ABs and Jacoby playing the Coco role.

9. OCD SS Posted: January 08, 2009 at 12:44 PM (#3046192)

What does this mean for Buchholz? Traded for a C?

I can't see them trading Buchholz for any of the mentioned catchers.

The Red Sox' best offense now includes Baldelli in center and Ellsbury on the bench. Depending on health obviously, I could see Rocco getting 450 ABs and Jacoby playing the Coco role.

Well assuming that Jacoby never, ever actually improves, and his batting line last season is all he'll every put up; and that Baldelli's health improves to the point that he can actually play that many innings in the OF. I think it's more likely that he winds up in the role everyone is forecasting, 4th OF, with maybe a sprinkling of 1B/ DH thrown in.

10. hokieneer Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:37 PM (#3046527)

The Red Sox' best offense now includes Baldelli in center and Ellsbury on the bench. Depending on health obviously, I could see Rocco getting 450 ABs and Jacoby playing the Coco role.

Going to be hard for baldelli to play CF while playing RF for 60+ games when Drew is on the DL.

11. Cowboy Popup Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:45 PM (#3046540)

I see what's going on. The Red Sox have developed some accelerated cloning technology. When a player gets injured now, they can just replace the limb or mitochondria that's damaged and go right on playing.

"The 6th Day" called, it wants it's plot back. It also wants to know why the XFL doesn't exist any more.

12. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:49 PM (#3046543)

Man, I do not like these signings! Risk risk risk. It's going to be 2006 all over again. It's like they're the 2009 Boston Black Swans.

13. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3046549)

Man, I really don't like these signings! It's going to be 2006 all over again.

Between Penny, Baldelli, Smoltz, Lowell, Ortiz, and Wakefield, I think Theo is trying to out-Duquette Duquette. Maybe after two world series, they've decided that the true measure of success is karlmagnus' loyalty.

14. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:55 PM (#3046557)

"The 6th Day" called, it wants it's plot back. It also wants to know why the XFL doesn't exist any more.

I told you I wasn't taking any calls from "The 6th Day" or any other post-T2 Schwartzenegger movies.

15. robinred

Posted: January 08, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3046558)

karlmagnus' loyalty

Having lurked at ST for a couple of years, I think the only way Epstein secures that is going 4/100 for Manny Ramirez while tearfully apologizing at the press conference.

16. jmurph Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:03 PM (#3046571)

I don't think it's fair to group Baldelli in with Penny and Smoltz. Among available part-time players (this is assuming Burrell, Dunn, Abreu, Bradley, etc., weren't willing to sign without being the nominal starter at a given position), isn't he the best option?

Now, Penny + Smoltz < Lowe, that we can agree on.

17. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 08, 2009 at 06:07 PM (#3046576)

Among available part-time players (this is assuming Burrell, Dunn, Abreu, Bradley, etc., weren't willing to sign without being the nominal starter at a given position), isn't he the best option?

The question is whether he can play a full month of baseball as Drew's replacement. If his body will allow him to do that, then I really like this signing. I know he's got a new diagnosis, but as of last year or the year before that, Baldelli was not capable of the primary job of a 4th outfielder - playing everyday when one of the top three outfielders goes down.

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

MLB: Baldelli will join ‘hometown’ Red Sox

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