Sometimes you have to go behind enemy lines to find the stories and this is one we want to hear.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thinks that Mike Lowell’s return to the Red Sox “is inevitable” and has decided to go other ways in replacing ARod at third base.
“We’re hopeful,” Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday at the general managers’ meetings. “We’ve had discussions since the end of Game 4. Hopefully those discussions have moved the ball forward a little bit. We’ll just have to see how it turns out.”
The two sides had differed in number of years on the contract, but it’s believed they’ve found common ground there. Lowell likely will sign a deal that guarantees him three years. “I personally believe the player’s preference would be to stay in Boston,” Cashman said. “I believe that’s probably accurate.”
If this is true, it would be great news. With the exception of Coco Crisp, the starting eight fielders should be returning for a chance to repeat as World Champions.
couple of good things to note..there looking at catchers which i think is a good move…the team needs a good backup for tek..i thought we should have tried for saltiamacchia at the trade dead line this year…and he can play firstbase too…possible trade w/coco…i hope the sox even look at ramon castro of the mets too. he ’s a great off the bench hitter too.
Yet while they are looking for catchers, none of those guys can catch a knuckleball. Remember Tim Wakefield is back next year although we don’t know in what role yet.
I’d like to see them pick up Salty. Like you said he can catch and play first base. And could prove to be the heir apparent to the Captain once he retires.
yeah i know the wakefield situation…i still think he would be a good pickup…and you never know he may like the challenge but we really need a good catcher to back up tek…especially if he gets hurt…and he would fit the bill…wakefield unless he gets hurt is going to be allowed to break clemen’s record…and at some point the redsox know that dougie is a liability and there going to have to bite the bullet and be patient w/ some catcher to see if can handle it..
Ok first there is no way in hell the Rangers will part with Saltalamacchia he is the best young catching prospect in the game right now and for the next 6 years he is under their control. Second Ramon Castro? He is a former first round pick that amounted to nothing. He will be 32 next year, almost as old as Varitek, he has never been a starter and despite hitting .285 with 11 HR and 41 RBI he is still a career .234 hitter. He also made almost as many errors as Variyek in about third of the games. I’d rather see them get a young catcher in a trade or bring one up (Kottaras?) that can learn from guys like Varitek, Farrell, Schilling, Wakefield etc and groom him to replace Jason than spending money on a guy who wont be here more than one year. Dont forget Varitek is up after 2008 and that is a need that has to be addressed.
What about Chris Iannetta from Colorado? he started the year as the Rockies catcher and fell off in favor of Torreabla. He is only gonna be 25 and youput him with the vets this team has he could be a good one. also J.R. Towles from the Houston system had a good year in the minors in ‘07 and came up as a September call up. he will only be 24.
Iannetta just had hand surgery to remove a bone spur which is odd place to get that. And it also looks like the Rockies will have him start in Triple-A next year and go with two veterans behind the dish.
I still think Iannetta might be a good choice. I’m still looking for other candidates that are young and can be groomed. Seattle has Jeff Clement seemingly stuck behind Kenji Johjima. What’s the take on Kottaras in Pawtucket? I didn’t get to any PawSox games this year and didn’t get to see him play. At one point he was the Padres top catching prospect (#2 overall) but they gave him up for David Wells. He will be 25 in ‘08.
Kottaras’ 2007 stats with PawSox:
87 Games (caught 83) .241 BA 9HR 39RBI, 22 Doubles, 32 BB, 71 K, .316 OBP, .408 SLG, 12 GIDP, 2 SH, 4 SF bhind the plate he made 10 errors and had 8 PB but he did catch Charlie Zink who is a knuckleballer. He threw out 23 of 108 base stealers (21%).
According to Joe Haggerty of the Boston Metro who was on CSN Sports Tonight the Red Sox “strong offer” to Lowell is 3 years/$36 million. He went on to say that on Tuesday the Angels, Dodgers and Phillies are planning on making 4 year offers.
he also reported that should the Sox go after Cabrera the Marlins are asking for Lester or Buchholz and Ellsbury.
This is the scouting report on Kottaras. It’s from the same site that pegged Buchholz.
Scouting Report: Offensive-minded catcher with 15 home run power potential and excellent plate discipline. Struggles a bit against left handed pitching. His patience at the plate has led to leaving his bat on his shoulder a bit too much. Strong arm with average accuracy, but Kottaras lacks quickness in his release when throwing runners out. Average glove. Scouts claim that his catching flaws are correctable. Could stand to add a little bit of bulk. Has experience catching knuckleballer.
They predict is MLB arrival as 2008.