There’s only so much we can write about the different possibilities and scenarios in trading for Johan Santana from the Twins. So I will avoid that today as much as possible.
The Red Sox front office will be busy over the week leading up to the Winter Meetings next week as they field offers for Coco Crisp, plus talk about what they might give up for Santana. There is other business to discuss though. They have been talking to the agents of Mike Timlin, Doug Mirabelli and Bobby Kielty. The Sox still need a bullpen arm, backup first basemen, backup catcher and backup outfielder should Coco be traded.
Odds are that Brandon Moss could fill the backup first baseman/outfielder spot that Eric Hinske had last season as he has been working on his first base skills in the Dominican Winter League playing for Aguilas Cibaenas, where he is hitting .322 right now with 6 RBIs. The Red Sox are high on Kielty as well and hopefully he will return as well. Timlin has been offered a 1-year deal but hasn’t responded back to the Sox.
As far as the backup catcher spot goes, the Red Sox have been in contact with the Texas Rangers about the availability of their two catchers and could dangle Coco to them if he doesn’t get traded beforehand.
Gordon Edes has a great article about Jacoby Ellsbury’s return home and that leads off your links on this brisk Sunday morning.
Man of the peoples [Boston Globe]
Give Santana a look [Boston Herald]
Sox tickets sell like hotcakes – as yet unissued [Boston Globe]
Be sure to play Steve’s trade game as well.
