That solves that problem!

But really, it could be worse with Thurston and Bailey as the 4th/5th OFs.

Yea, hang onto Ohman for too long, and as a reflex, probably just gave Kotsay away. Was Kotsay even going to qualify as a type B FA?

He was having a solid year but his lack of big counting stats probably wasn't going to make him type A, especially since he needed to make up for the last couple years.

I'm really glad we got him, hes been a joy to watch.. a real professional player.. even if it is somewhat painful to remember the young, dynamic Kotsay and think about how this is the same player.

My guess is the Braves didn't want to offer him arbitration anyhow

My guess is Mrs. Kotsay becomes the hottest Red Sox wife. Not much competition there anyhow

I guess this is the alternative to the Brian Giles deal that didn't work out.

that's it. the hot wife puts us over the top. sox win the world series again.

mark it down. i called it here first.

The Braves should be getting Papelbon in this deal, right?

The Braves should be getting Papelbon in this deal, right?

Sounds reasonable.

that's it. the hot wife puts us over the top. sox win the world series again.


I dunno.
It could be a clubhouse distraction : )

Just last night I was watching 'highlights' of Kotsay screwing up two defensive plays and pretty much costing his team the game.

Congrats Red Sox!

Free Devern Hansack?

Free Devern Hansack?

Unlikely to be on the 40 man (which Hansack is).

I take it Kotsay is no longer the defensive force he once was?

Even at his height Kotsay never seemed like a defensive force to me. He could never cover ground like Cameron/Hunter/etc. Strong and wonderfully accurate arm, for sure. I don't know what the advanced numbers say.

The two plays I saw both came from someone who 'thought' he was better than he was. Basically sliding/diving type plays where he missed and gave up more than the single they would have gained if he had played more conservatively.

It is hardly a telling sample size. He might have just had a bad day.

Keith Law over at ESPN says it is Sumoza, who ain't a bad pick-up all things considering.

Unlikely to be on the 40 man (which Hansack is).

They have no room on the 40-man. Even if they trade a non-roster player, they'll need to drop, trade, disable, or outright someone on the 40-man once Kotsay is added.

True. And that will probably be McBeth or Hull. Or outrighting poor Mr. Thurston - again.

But, it they couldn't easily trade Pauley or Hansack because someone would claim them (as a player on the 40 would have to pass through waivers to be claimed). They could do a complicated PTBNL trade involving a 40 man player, but that was unlikely.

It is all moot now as the player traded has been named.

Can anyone give a quick synopsis as to who McBeth, Hull, and Dusty Brown are, exactly. Are these Rule 5 pick-up guys I've forgotten about? Because from their bios on the official site, I can't for the life of me figure why any of these 3 have 40-man roster spots.

I've also been wondering if they have any plans of calling up Bard or Bowden before 8/31 to make them at least eligible for the postseason (giving them an extra bullpen option), but of course doing so would require additional 40-man moves.

Luis Sumoza is a pretty damn good "consolation prize" to this Braves fan. What exactly would we get if Kotsay stuck around until year-end? The off-chance he's a type B free agent if we offer arb (which we wouldn't)?

A defensive outfield of Kotsay/Crisp/Smellsbury might just catch everything.

Anybody know much about Sumoza? He struggled as a teenager in rookie ball, but hit really well this year. How is his defense? He's been mostly a left fielder, so my guess is "not spectacular."

Marcus McBeth was a waiver wire pick up. He throws hard but doesn't do much else. Other teams passed (or didn't have an avialable 40 man spot) when the Sox claimed him from Cincinnati. He is in AAA. He is probably behind Hull in the depth charts, though I'm not sure who counts that far.

Eric Hull is a reliever in AAA acquired from the Dodgers for the immoral Christian Lara, a glove first SS in the low minors. He is about 3rd or 4th in line to get a call up after Chris Smith, Pauley, Hansack... etc.

Dusty Brown was added to the 40 man last off-season to prevent his becoming a minor league FA (iirc; I believe it was MFA, not Rule 5, but I could be wrong). He could be an adequate backup C. He'll probably get a call up after the Pawtuckett playoffs are done if only to be the 3rd catcher, unless David Ross gets called up instead (a real possibility, but a roster issue as Ross would have to be added to the 40 man).

None of them are guys the Red Sox picked up via the Rule 5 draft; you can tell this because none of them have played day in the majors this year, as a Rule 5 draftee would have to play the full season in the majors.

I'd be incredibly surprised (and probably disappointed) if Bard or Bowden make it up this season, let alone in the next 4 days.

Thank you, Josh! Good info, and totally new to me.

Or outrighting poor Mr. Thurston - again.

A player can only be outrighted once.

I've also been wondering if they have any plans of calling up Bard or Bowden before 8/31 to make them at least eligible for the postseason (giving them an extra bullpen option), but of course doing so would require additional 40-man moves.

They don't really need to do that. Essentially any player in the organization as of 8/31 is playoff eligible. All the Sox need to do is name an "eligible" disabled player to their playoff roster, then they can replace that player with anyone in the organization (with a restriction that a pitcher has to replace a pitcher and a position player a position player).

A player can only be outrighted once.

Ahh, right. I forgot.

So, according to a poster on SoSH (hearing it from 'EEI), he was DFA'ed.

That Joey Devine is one hell of a guy.

I don't really get this deal. What does Kotsay offer that Crisp does not? Is his defense even any good anymore?

Why is that worth Sumoza, who's admittedly a low-level prospect. One of these tools goofs they trade away is going work out sooner or later, and it's going to result in one ugly trade.

Crisp just doesn't fit in to the new all-white Sox persona.

What does Kotsay offer that Crisp does not?

A better bat. Kotsay's glove isn't as nice as it used to be but he is still a fine CFer.

Am I wrong in assuming that Kotsay would be playing RF for the Red Sox? Kotsay in CF with Ellsbury in RF would be absurd.

Slowing guy with decent range and a great arm in center while speedster with a below average arm is in right?

Am I wrong in assuming that Kotsay would be playing RF for the Red Sox? Kotsay in CF with Ellsbury in RF would be absurd.

Slowing guy with decent range and a great arm in center while speedster with a below average arm is in right?

Yeah, he was picked up with an eye towards Drew's injury, I'm sure. He'd be the #3 CF at this point, I think.

One of these tools goofs they trade away is going work out sooner or later

Hanley Ramirez

What does Kotsay offer that Crisp does not?

In addition to the better bet mentioned above, Kotsay has a much stronger throwing arm.

One of these tools goofs they trade away is going work out sooner or later

This guy, like the one in the Gagne trade, is so far from the majors that they haven't really invested much in him, and he's basically worth the signing bonus it would cost to go find another guy like him.

Kotsay's glove isn't as nice as it used to be but he is still a fine CFer.

Not really. Watched him all year. He's not terrible or anything but probably a click below average. Maybe playing less would help.

His bat is better than Coco's? Not by much.