The 2005 Red Sox and Beyond

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Red Sox Come to Terms With 4 Free Agents

The Red Sox agreed to contracts with 4 of their free agents. They agreed to a 3 year 4 million dollar deal with starting pitcher Wade Miller, a 1 year 900 thousand deal with infielder Ramon Vazquez, a 1 year 1.35 million contract with reliever and spot starter Geremi Gonzalez, as well as outfielder John Mabry exercising 2.05 million player option for '06. The club was reportedly interested in resigning long time Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, but he decided that it was time to hang up the spikes and retired. The players that were not retained include SP Odalis Perez, SP Bronson Arroyo, RP Mike Myers, as well as a few others.

[Coach Owens]

What happened to Olerud?

[rockiesfan4ever]

My guess is he was released as he said "The players that were not retained include SP Odalis Perez, SP Bronson Arroyo, RP Mike Myers, as well as a few others."

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

His contract didn't expire.

[rockiesfan4ever]

OH that might be why

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

OH that might be why

Yeah, for some reason the computer resigned a bunch of my expiring contracts and different points throughout the season, and I think Olerud was one of the guys it randomly resigned. Guys like Damon and Mueller, who I may not have kept. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.

[Coach Owens]

Whew! I thought he had retired.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Notable FA's on the Market

There are always a ton of guys on the market, but here are some of the more notable ones that teams with a big hole, or teams looking to make a splash, may look at signing.

Catchers:

Ramon Hernandez (83) - Solid offensive catcher (16 homers, only .311 OBP however) that really knows how to handle a pitching staff and is very good defensively.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Reds, Rockies, Dodgers, Mets

Dave Ross (84) - Amazing power, hit 27 homers, with a .469 SLG% last season, but very poor contact ability, hit only .236 last season. Also a good defensive catcher with a strong arm, 26 CS% last season, and handles the pitching staff well.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Reds, Rockies, Dodgers, Mets


First basemen:

Shea Hillenbrand (85) - Good balanced offensive player, hit .313 with 21 homers last season for Toronto, but has a terrible eye, drew only 31 walks all season. Can play 1B and 3B, though he isn't a particularly good defender at either position and would be best suited to a DH role.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Indians, Marlins, Astros, Dodgers, Angels, Twins

Sean Casey (84) - Basically a left handed, much better defensive version of Hillenbrand with slightly less power and a better eye.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Indians, Marlins, Astros, Dodgers, Angels, Twins

Jeff Bagwell (84) - Balanced power/average hitter with an excellent eye, as evidenced by his .400 OBP last season. Little to no defense and best suited as a DH at this point.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Dodgers, Angels, Twins


Second basemen:

Freddy Sanchez (85/88) - EXCELLENT contact ability with little power. Has some speed, though not much. Very good defender. Prototypical second basemen. Can also play SS and 3B.

Possible Destinations: Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Mets, Yankees

Nick Punto (84) - Defensive minded 2B. Also capable of playing SS and 3B. Decent contact, eye, and speed.

Possible Destinations: Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Mets, Yankees


Third basemen:

Melvin Mora (83) - Decent offensive player. Not much defense. Teams may look at a SS/2B to convert to 3B if they have a hole to fill here.

Possible Destinations: Orioles, Indians, Twins, Pirates


Shortstops:

Julio Lugo (82) - Decently well-rounded player. Good speed and contact with average, at best, defense.

Possible Destinations: Mets, Giants, A's, Brewers

Alfredo Amezaga (82) - Excellent defensive player, won NL Gold Glove at SS for 2005. Poor offense, 40SB potential.

Possible Destinations: Mets, Giants, A's, Brewers


Left Fielders:

Barry Bonds (84) - Excellent offensive player with a great eye. Will be pursuing the All-Time home run record next season. Not a great defender, not even an average one, but still good enough to play LF on a consistent basis, though he would be better served as a DH in the AL.

Possible Destinations: Braves, Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Rangers

Shannon Stewart (81) - Decent offensive player. Good contact ability, with decent speed and a decent eye, little to no power however. Strong fielder, though health could be a concern.

Possible Destinations: Braves, Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Rangers


Center Fielders:

Coco Crisp (84) - Excellent contact and speed, with some power. Good range and fielding ability in the OF, though his arm is a concern.

Possible Destinations: Cubs, Red Sox, Reds, Rangers, Indians, Brewers

Corey Patterson (83) - Very well balanced player. Good contact and power, though neither is outstanding, and very fast. Terrible eye. Good range, fielding ability, and a decent arm.

Possible Destinations: Cubs, Reds, Rangers, Indians, Brewers

Juan Pierre (83) - Great contact and speed. You'd be lucky to get 2 homers out of him, however. Solid eye. No arm whatsoever. Great range and fielding ability. Injuries shouldn't be a concern. Prototypical lead off man.

Possible Destinations: Cubs, Red Sox, Reds, Rangers, Indians, Brewers

Laynce Nix (82) - Good power, but little contact. Decent speed and eye. Top flight defender in CF with good range and a solid arm.

Possible Destinations: Cubs, Red Sox, Reds, Rangers, Indians, Brewers


Right Fielders:

Miguel Cabrera (94/97) - Best player on this FA market. One of the best hitters in the league. Good eye. Not very fast and is a poor defender but the bat more than makes up for it.

Possible Destinations: Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Angels, Yankees

Jacque Jones (86) - Good, well rounded player. Good contact, power, and speed, but poor eye. Gold Glove caliber defender.


Possible Destinations: Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers


Relief Pitchers:

Luis Ayala
Ray King
Matt Mantei
Mike Koplove


Starting Pitchers:

Kip Wells
Odalis Perez
Bronson Arroyo (injured till next season)
Mark Redman

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Sox Lose Out on Cabrera; Signs with Mets

The Red Sox lost out on the Crown Jewel of this free agent class. They were reportedly close to a 3 year 10 million dollar deal with slugger Miguel Cabrera, but could not close the deal. Miguel has since signed a 3 year 11 million dollar contract with the New York Mets.

The Red Sox will reportedly now target Jacque Jones, Coco Crisp, and Jason Lane in the free agent pool, and look at trade possibilities for Washinton's Endy Chavez and may even take a crack at Seattle star outfielder Ichiro, to fill their RF vacancy.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Red Sox and Mariners Complete Blockbuster Deal

Coming off the heel of losing out on the Cabrera sweepstakes the Red Sox completed a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners. The trades looks as follows:

Red Sox acquire:

SP Felix Hernandez (82/96) 19 yrs old 8-11 6.57ERA .300BAA 160.1IP 152K 72BB

RF Ichiro Suzuki (88) 32 yrs old .333BA 6HR 100RBI 34SB 4 time Gold Glove winner

SS Yuniesky Betancourt (81/93) 23 years .373BA 6HR 77RBI 402B (AA)

3 million cash


Mariners acquire:

SP Theo Albermarle (51/91) 19 yrs old .212BAA 3.62ERA 1-1 31.IP (R)

SP Jon Lester (77/91) 21 yrs old .201BAA 2.97ERA 5-0 75.2IP (R)

RP Keith Foulke (86) 33 yrs old 29SV 4.95ERA

SP Matt Clement (86) 31 yrs old 8-8 6.34ERA 138K .275BAA 157.2IP

RF Kevin Youkilis (79/90) 26 yrs old .256BA .360OBP 8HR 57RBI 115H


The inclusions of Clement and Foulke were to even off the salaries.

With this trade the Red Sox managed to kill 3 birds with one stone. They acquired the young ace they were after, they shored up RF, and acquired a middle infielder to play whatever position Hanley Ramirez doesn't next season.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Red Sox Agree to Terms with Lefty John Parrish

In what appears to be the last move of the offseason for the Red Sox, they have agreed to a 2 year 3 million dollar contract with left handed reliever John Parrish. Parrish will join a bullpen that is losing Jonathon Papelbon because the team has decided to move him to the rotation.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Notable Signings and Trades of the Offseason

RF Miguel Cabrera signed a 3 year 11 million dollar per year contract with the New York Mets

SS Julio Lugo signed a 4 year 4.7 million dollar per year contract with the New York Mets

LF Barry Bonds signed a 2 year 13 million dollar per year contract with the Atlanta Braves

1B Sean Casey signed a 4 year 8 million dollar per year contract with the Los Angeles Angels

OF Kevin Mench signed a 3 year 5.8 million dollar per year contract with the Oakland A's

1B Jeff Bagwell signed a 2 year 8.9 million dollar per year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers

1B/3BShea Hillenbrand signed a 3 year 7 million dollar per year contract with the San Fransisco Giants

3B Melvin Mora signed a 3 year 4.9 million dollar per year contract with the Detroit Tigers

OF Corey Patterson signed a 4 year 5.9 million dollar per year contract with the Arizona Diamonbacks

RP Ray King signed a 3 year 4.6 million dollar per year contract with the New york Yankees

SP Mark Redman signed a 3 year 6.1 million dollar per year contract with the New York Yankees

RP Matt Mantei signed a 3 year 2.7 million dollar per year contract with the New York Yankees

RP Al Reyes signed a 2 year 2.95 million dollar per year contract with the New York Yankees

SP Kip Wells signed a 4 year 3.9 million dollar per year contract with the New York Yankees

OF Jacque Jones signed a 4 year 5.6 million dollar per year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays

2B Juan Uribe signed a 2 year 3.8 million dollar contract with the Oakland A's

SP Odalis Perez signed a 2 year 4.1 million dollar per year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies

C Ramon Hernandez signed a 2 year 3.75 million dollar per year contract with the New York Mets

C David Ross signed a 2 year 3.9 million dollar per year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays

[rockiesfan4ever]

Wow busy offseason. The Yanks seemed to sign every body :-D. Interesting to see how the King Felix trade will play out.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

They signed more than that, those were just some of the guys rated above 80.

[rockiesfan4ever]

Wow. Typical of the Yankees though.