So while the rest of the United States is talking about Barack Obama becoming our next President, it’s time for us here to take a look at the Boston Red Sox news from yesterday.
Last week when Jason Varitek filed for a free agency, we ran a poll here at SOX & Dawgs about whether or not the Red Sox should re-sign Varitek. 108 (71%) of the readers said YES the Red Sox should re-sign him.
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Now this should probably have been a post of it’s own given the fact that Scott Boras has once again made some outrageous comments.
During yesterday’s GM meetings in California, Boras talked with the media about what he thinks Varitek should command on the open market.
Agent Scott Boras told reporters that New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada’s four-year, $52.4 million deal, which was agreed to last offseason, will serve as a benchmark for any team looking to land Varitek.
“It’s probably representative, age-wise,” Boras said, “and it’s also representative of what a player on a winning team (is worth). You’re not going to have many catchers who have the performance levels and a 60 percent winning percentage on a franchise and have won two world championships and caught four no-hitters. The idea of it is that there just aren’t many in the marketplace that can lead a club like Jason Varitek and that’s going to be his value.”
Are you f’ing kidding me? Is Boras nuts? The Yankees overpaid Posada and gave him money based on what’s he done for the team. There’s no way the Red Sox are going to give him that kind of money considering the season he had at the plate.
Don’t get me wrong because I’ve said it here before. You cannot question the leadership that Varitek brings to the Red Sox behind the plate. Sure maybe his down year at the plate could be attributed to his divorce from his wife Karen but that’s still no excuse. He’s definitely not worth a 4 year contract at that price. To me, he’s probably worth about $7-10 million a year for 2 years.
There had been a report yesterday that the Red Sox and San Diego Padres had been talking about a trade of Coco Crisp for Khalil Greene. Both the Red Sox and Padres shot down that rumor yesterday.
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb here when I say free agent Jay Payton won’t be returning to the Red Sox anytime soon.
The Red Sox and Texas Rangers have had very preliminary discussions about a trade for one of the catchers the Rangers have in their stables.
While just yesterday the Red Sox may have been frontrunners for the services of Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa that might not be the case now as the Atlanta Braves have offered him a MLB contract.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com has a full look at some news and notes from the Red Sox concerning Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo among other things.
Dustin Pedroia could be among the Gold Glove winners when they are announced tomorrow.
Mike Timlin was the final member of the Red Sox to file for free agency and we already know he won’t be coming back.
Don’t forget to take a moment to vote for the 2008 This Year In Baseball Awards over at MLB.com.
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