Jose Iglesias 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 BB, HBP in two AFL games so far. He's making me giddy.

The Red Sox need a right-handed hitter coming off the bench. Maybe bringing back Baldelli is the best they can do there. It would definitely be good, though, to have someone who can spot JD Drew against tough lefties, since keeping him fresh seemed to have helped prevent injuries this year, and might continue to work in the future. Fernando Tatis might work out in that kind of role, too.

I'd be kind of surprised if Rocco isn't back if the Sox want him. I don't think there are many other teams that will be able to handle his medical requirements.

It kind of seems like Rocco wants to play more somewhere else, just reading between the lines. I hope he's back though

As an Orioles fan, I think we would consider a trade for Lowell if we only have to take $3-4 million of his contract. Why would we want him? Currently we have 3 in-house candidates for the corner infield positions - Ty Wigginton (terrible glove, not exactly an awesome bat), Michael Aubrey (unproven 1B), and Luke Scott (very streaky, also only plays 1B).

So unless we're willing to live with Wigginton's 700 OPS and -50000 UZR/150 at third base, we need to sign someone to play there for a year or two (until Josh Bell, one of our best hitting prospects, is ready).

Who would be available in free agency? Adrian Beltre, Joe Crede, Hank Blalock? None of these guys are particularly young, nor would they be any cheaper than Lowell in my scenario. (Crede is just as much of an injury risk, I might add.) Personally I would take Beltre over Lowell if similar money were involved, but none of the other FA options.

Wow. Go Pedro.

Pedro's been frickin' brilliant. and as important, he's throwing 91-92 on every important fastball. Pedro has to be a Sox next year. Make it happen. Pedro!

I know you're irrational and crazy and all that, but Pedro on the Red Sox doesn't even make sense in your world.

alls you need to do is trade dice-k, casey kelly and another prospect for prince fielder and hardy. then sign pedro to fill in for the innings that dice-k once gave you.

don't think about it too hard. it works!

Pedro is our 5th starter. Wakefield is our 6th starter.

I thought the pony was your fifth starter and Pedro was going to be president.

And don't worry--if the Sox fail to sign Pedro, I'm sure they can get the nearly-as-dominant Vicente Padilla.

Pedro v. Manny was enjoyable. Pedro looked good - I'll second MCoA's motion at 110.

Pedro is our 5th starter. Wakefield is our 6th starter.

What are Rolando Arrojo and John Burkett up to these days?

Thank textbook - been going crazy in Oz since it was announced that Pavement are returning!

I was considering heading over to the USA to see them if they didnt come here...

Not a problem, Phil--Glad a fellow Pavement fan will be able to catch them.

Signing Pedro is an interesting idea, if you plan on using him as a true Sunday starter/guy who starts every 10 days or so to give everyone an extra day. Used judiciously (against non-AL East teams would be my preference), I can see it working over 15-18 starts or so.

The problem is that Pedro on the 25-man basically leaves you 1 man short in the pen all year. Now if you have rubber-armed guys or a bullpen that has multiple guys who can go at least 2 innings on back-to-back days, then I think you can do it, but it wouldn't have worked with the 2009 Red Sox bullpen, because so many of the guys seemed to go to pieces when they tried to go 1+.

Of course, this is where the Masterson loss hurt most toward the end of the year--his swingman abilities were never really replaced. Perhaps Bowden (if not the 5th starter) can do that for 2010?

But basically, if Pedro is used every 8-10 days, I think it can be a worthwhile gamble and certainly worth taking a flier on, if you can figure out how to construct the staff/25-man around a guy who's only used 3 days out of every month.

From CBS Sportsline:

Adrian Gonzalez will be dealt, it is only a question of when the Padres' former GM told the New York Daily News. "They're going to have a $40 million payroll for the foreseeable future," recently fired Padres GM Kevin Towers told the paper, "and there's just no way they can devote half of that to one player. It's just a matter of when they decide to trade (Gonzalez)."

ORLY?

Rotoworld
Miami Herald

The Red Sox have reportedly acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins for left-handers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.
Source: Miami Herald

Hermida stinks, but it's better to spend a few million dollars on a Hermida-type lottery ticket than a Smoltz-type lottery ticket if you are one of the few teams that can afford to take those types of risk.

Hermida stinks, but it's better to spend a few million dollars on a Hermida-type lottery ticket than a Smoltz-type lottery ticket if you are one of the few teams that can afford to take those types of risk.

Agreed, although I think there are probably 8 teams or so that can take that risk. The Boston Globe wrote that the Sox seem to have him slotted into the 4th outfielder role that Rocco filled this year. He has some pop already and will be only 26 at the start of the season so the power could increase. Much lower risk for similar reward than Smoltz at 5.5M. Nice pickup.

Much lower risk for similar reward than Smoltz at 5.5M. Nice pickup.

I agree. Judging from the general reaction in the various threads on this trade, I think I like Hermida better than most Primates.

Let's hope the "reward" is quite dissimilar to that which we got from Smoltz, though.

The Boston Globe wrote that the Sox seem to have him slotted into the 4th outfielder role that Rocco filled this year. He has some pop already and will be only 26 at the start of the season so the power could increase. Much lower risk for similar reward than Smoltz at 5.5M. Nice pickup.

They need a RH who can play CF to be the 4th OF. I like the Hermida as lottery ticket idea, but where do his AB's come from?

They need a RH who can play CF to be the 4th OF. I like the Hermida as lottery ticket idea, but where do his AB's come from?

Yeah, kind of a confusing move. It doesn't really get them anywhere. I wonder if the Red Sox' plan is basically a 'persue players with upside if they don't really cost you anything and sort out the details later' type of thing. I guess there isn't a ton of downside to having Hermida around for the offseason. They can always dump him or Kotchman in Spring Training if needed.

They need a RH who can play CF to be the 4th OF. I like the Hermida as lottery ticket idea, but where do his AB's come from?

I wrote this in one of the other Hermida threads, but I think he's half of a platoon in LF if they don't sign one of the marquee free agent outfielders (Bay or Holliday, basically) or acquire a new LFer via trade. In that case, I figure they bring back Baldelli or someone like him to partner Hermida in left and cross their fingers.

They need a RH who can play CF to be the 4th OF. I like the Hermida as lottery ticket idea, but where do his AB's come from?

Mike Cameron? It might make sense if they don't land Holliday... Drew in RF, Cameron/ Ellsbury/ Hermida in CF and LF?

NESN is reporting that Tek will pick up his option - $3,000,000 - the incentives are based on starts and I don't see him getting over half the starts unless Victor gets hurt. The Sox have already picked up Victor's option, as expected, and slotted him as the #1 catcher. The hope (which springs eternal) is that Tek will be more effective at the plate with a lower workload. This also seems to assume that Lowell will pick up where he left off and continue to hit well as his hip heals and that Papi will hit like the Papi we saw in the summer not the one we saw in the spring.

Regarding SS - I hope they resign A-Gon and just let him and Lowrie share the job. I think the ideal SS solution is a healthy Lowrie who in turn yields to one of the young SS's in the system. I wouldn't be surprised to see Inglesias next year - certainly in September but maybe earlier. No need to go for another 4 year contract to someone who'll be useful for a year or two.

I'd bet that Bay will be back in Boston. Hermida's insurance against the usual Drew ouchies.

-- MWE

Cappy OPS'd at .807 vs lefties last year. Spot his starts right and he'll be just fine...

Boras denied reports that Tek will exercise his option.

Boras denied reports that Tek will exercise his option.

So you're saying there's still hope?

If CBT is such a big deal, offer Tek $10 million to replace Mills.

If Boras can get Tek more than $3,000,000 elsewhere - then he is worth every cent that he makes. I don't see how that can be done.