All is quiet right now on the free agency front as there was no real news coming out of the Boston Red Sox offices on Yawkey Way other than the announcement of placing 3 players on the 40-man roster.
Curt Schilling had his annual thank you reception for those who supported “Curt’s Pitch For ALS” in 2008 and talked about many different things with the media. He also said that he had talked with Jason Varitek and here’s what the Big Schill had to say about Tek.
“I get the fact that you have so much slotted into that position, and how much do you want to pay the guy?” Schilling said. “I talked to ‘Tek very briefly over the last couple of days, and I think that he understands he’s at that point of his career where he’s not going to catch 135 games. I’m not sure he’s mad about that. It’s a great situation, if you can work it out, where he spends the next two years here at a minimum and brings along the kid you want to fill that role. I think they’re out trying to find that kid right now. They’re kind of running parallel, talking to ‘Tek and trying to make that move. I don’t know that, but that’s what I would guess.”
No one wants to see Varitek leave and I hope Schilling is right that Tek’s here for another 2-3 years. He is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. But look, I understand baseball is a business and that he could be gone. We’re just hoping he isn’t.
The Red Sox will be facing some stiff competition for the services of Mark Teixeira.
The Red Sox offseason puzzle is starting to take shape according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland will be out 4-6 months after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Microsoft employees in the Northeast are active with the Red Sox charities.
If selected, Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to help Japan defend it’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) title in March.
Westmoreland is already my favorite lower-level Sox prospect. I hope he’s set to start next season in Lowell. I’m excited to see him play.
That seems to be the timetable of about when he’ll return to game action so it is quite possible he’ll start in Lowell depending on how the rehab goes.