Curt Schilling, Eric Hinske, Bobby Kielty and Matt Clement were the first four Red Sox players to file for free agency today. The Red Sox still have more guys who are eligible to file for free agency. This includes Mike Lowell, Mike Timlin, Eric Gagné and Doug Mirabelli.
The Red Sox also hold the club options on the following players’ contracts: Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez.
If you don’t understand the free agency period, here it is in a nutshell. A player who does not have a contract for the following season can file for free agency for a period of up to 15 days after the World Series ends. The team the player plays for has exclusive negotiating rights for those 15 days. After that time is up, it’s open season. Other teams can be in contact with the free agents but they can’t talk contract or money.
Basically, the Red Sox will have first choice on their free agents. To me Curt Schilling is a big question mark. While he has proven himself over the years, he was clearly not the Schilling we all know and love. Would he accept a 1-year deal for less than the $13 million he made this season? The answer to that question lies with Schilling and also the Red Sox brain trust as to whether or not they want him back.
I’d like to see the Red Sox re-sign Kielty. To me, he proved himself in his brief time in Beantown. He would give the Red Sox a switch-hitting backup OF off the bench who can play the corners in the outfield.
As for Clement and Hinske, I think their time in Boston is done. For Hinske, Brandon Moss is working on his first base skills in the offseason and could fill the role Hinske had this season as the backup 1B and OF. Clement’s time in Boston was marred by injuries and would only asked back on a minor league deal, if at all.
Gear up folks, this is only the start.
