Red Sox Team Report
INSIDE PITCH
Kevin Youkilis(notes) admitted things might be a little different for next season’s edition of the Red Sox, and that the team will dearly miss Jason Bay(notes) on and off the field—a fact driven home by the news that the former Boston left fielder had agreed to a four-year deal with the Mets.
Youkilis lost a pretty close friend in the Boston clubhouse with Bay heading south, and his team lost a consistent 30-homer, 100-RBI bopper from the middle of the lineup. Instead of replacing Bay with another offensive force for the middle of the batting order, the Sox secured free agent righty John Lackey(notes) and brought in Mike Cameron(notes) and Jeremy Hermida(notes) as outfield options.
Just like that, Bay was gone after posting team highs in home runs and RBIs in the middle of the Red Sox lineup last season.
“It’s definitely going to be tough for all of us,” Youkilis said before receiving the Dick Berardino Award at the Lowell Spinners Alumni dinner Dec. 29. “Jason was a good friend, and I enjoyed playing with him. He’s a great ballplayer, but it’s a business, and things happen. On both sides, I know there were things that were discussed, but it’s one of those business moves on each side for the Red Sox and for Jason. It just didn’t work out right. I wish him the best in New York, and I hope we meet up down the line in the World Series.”
Did Youkilis hold out any hope that Bay and the Sox would come to an 11th-hour accord after seemingly breaking off talks roughly a month ago? The Sox corner infielder indicated he’d been in close contact with Bay, and that it appears that any renewed talks in recent days between free agent player and the Boston front office weren’t quite as fruitful as some had thought.
“I have more personal contact with (Bay), so I know what’s true and what’s false,” Youkilis said. “I knew what was going on just by talking to him. You’re never surprised in this game.”
It’s clear that the Sox might score fewer runs, but they might also prevent many more runs next season as well—and a return to form for David Ortiz(notes) along with a full season from Victor Martinez(notes) could yield more offense than currently expected. Boston might not end up with the 872 runs that the team piled up last year—more than the run total from Boston’s 2007 World Series title team—but there’s plenty of potential to work with if things fall exactly right offensively.
“I think we have a great team. Signing Mike Cameron is a good move. I don’t know who is going to be playing where; I’m not the manager,” Youkilis said. “But picking up John Lackey was huge in that we’re not going to allow as many runs. So the offense doesn’t have to be as great when you have great pitching. Great pitching always wins championships.
“We’re back to having six great starting pitchers again, so who knows what is going to happen. You can put in all the (stats), and I guess with Bill James and stuff that the season is already figured out. We joke with Bill James about that all the time, but you never know what’s going to happen. This team has some guys that can improve on their numbers from last year, and there’s a few guys added to the team that can improve on the numbers as well.”
One thing Youkilis knows for certain is that he’d like a crack at the third base position he played throughout his baseball career before sliding over to first base when Boston traded for Gold Glove third baseman Mike Lowell(notes) prior to the 2006 season. The newly clean-shaven Youkilis admitted that he’s always viewed himself as a “third baseman playing first base” and doesn’t think he’ll be shifting back and forth between the corners as much in 2010.
“I have never lost that feeling of playing third base,” Youkilis said. “I have no problem with it. For me, sticking at one spot would be nice. It would be a cool thing. It probably won’t happen. Wherever they want me to play, we’ll see. I get in shape to play baseball rather than playing a particular position.”
Two things remain pretty close to certain despite Youkilis’ continued willingness to allow manager Terry Francona as much flexibility as humanly possible: the ultimate Sox grinder won’t make the cameo appearances in the outfield that have cropped up in each of the last two seasons, and the 30-year-old won’t finish 2010 with the kind of split he achieved last year between the corners while playing in 78 games at first base and 63 games at third base.
NOTES, QUOTES
—3b M ike Lowell underwent surgery on a torn right thumb ligament on Dec. 30, and he had a 95 percent tear in the tendon repaired by doctors, according to the Boston Globe. Lowell will need roughly six to eight weeks to recover from the procedure, but is expected to be ready for full-time duty during spring training. While Lowell is currently with the Sox after a trade with the Rangers was rescinded due to a failed physical, it’s expected that Boston will again revisit the possibility of dealing Lowell.
• Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino went on CNBC on Dec. 30 and conducted a wide-ranging interview that broached topics such as Jason Bay’s departure and the overall financial state of the team. Lucchino repeated the stance that the Red Sox have increased payroll for the 2010 season and are intent on keeping the team competitive short term and long term.
• 1B Kevin Youkilis accepted the Dick Berardino Award at the Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner on Dec. 29 given to a major league player that has displayed tremendous coachability, dedication, a passionate work ethic, determination and the heart while also playing for the Class A Lowell Spinners en route to the big leagues. Berardino presented the award to Youkilis at the dinner, and he lauded Youkilis’ hustle and his unparalleled unwillingness to give up at-bats over the course of a baseball season.
• 1B/OF Jeff Bailey(notes) spent the last six seasons bouncing between Class AAA Pawtucket and Boston, but he has officially moved on from the organization after signing a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks. Bailey, 31, was named the International League MVP in 2008. He played in 56 games with the Red Sox over the past several seasons while hitting .228 with six home runs at both first base and the corner outfield spots. Bailey is expected to gain an invitation to big-league spring training from the Diamondbacks.
• C Jason Varitek(notes) said recently to reporters that he’s ready to battle for a job just like every player at spring training, and that he doesn’t believe a “C” on his Red Sox jersey guarantees him a spot. Instead, the switch-hitting catcher is ready to battle for the backup job behind starting C Victor Martinez and adjust to a new role with less playing time at 38 years old. “Everybody does (have to make the team),” said the team captain, who skated with several Boston Bruins legends on the makeshift rink built at Fenway Park for the NHL Winter Classic. “I don’t think a decal makes a difference, an extra letter on a uniform,” Varitek said.
By The Numbers: 3—Saves for Red Sox pitchers other than RHP Jonathan Papelbon(notes) in 2009. RHP Takashi Saito(notes) had two, and RHP Daniel Bard(notes) had one.
Quote To Note: “I prepare myself that I’m going to go out there and be ready this spring and work my way into being ready to play at a high level.”—C Jason Varitek, adjusting to a reserve role.
ROSTER REPORT
The Red Sox haven’t stood pat in the offseason. They attempted to improve their defense by signing free agent Mike Cameron to replace free agent Jason Bay in the outfield. They also upgraded the rotation by signing the best pitcher on the market, RHP John Lackey.
Biggest Needs: The Red Sox still need to find another dynamic bat for the middle of their lineup to address the team’s inability to carry the offensive pace away from Fenway Park. There is a pretty good chance, however, that the team will go into the season without that big bat, and it will work to acquire more offense—if needed—around the trade deadline. It appears that the Sox will place Mike Cameron in center field and shift Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) to left, so there will be no “big ticket” replacement for Jason Bay in left field.
Arrivals: RHP Boof Bonser(notes) (trade with Twins), INF Marco Scutaro(notes) (free agent from Blue Jays), OF Jeremy Hermida (trade with Marlins), INF Tug Hulett(notes) (trade with Royals), OF Mike Cameron (free agent from Brewers), RHP John Lackey (free agent from Angels).
Departures: LHP Hunter Jones(notes) (traded to Marlins), C George Kottaras(notes) (claimed off waivers by Brewers), SS Alex Gonzalez (free agent, signed with Blue Jays), LHP Billy Wagner(notes) (free agent, signed with Braves), RHP Takashi Saito (free agent, signed with Braves), OF Brian Anderson(notes) (free agent, signed with Royals).
Free Agents: OF Jason Bay, OF Rocco Baldelli(notes), RHP Paul Byrd(notes), SS Nick Green(notes).
Bay has been courting interest from teams in both leagues this winter, but there’s still a chance he could re-sign with the Red Sox.
Arbitration-eligible: RHP Manny Delcarmen(notes), OF Jeremy Hermida, 1B Casey Kotchman(notes), LHP Hideki Okajima(notes), RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Ramon Ramirez(notes).
Papelbon received the highest salary for a closer in his first year of arbitration eligibility at $6.25 million last season, and he conceivably could net anywhere from $8 million 10 million this winter.
In Limbo: 3B Mike Lowell was nearly traded to Texas for C Max Ramirez(notes), but the deal was scrapped when it was learned Lowell had a thumb injury. He had thumb surgery Dec. 30, and it’s possible Boston will try again to deal him.
RHP Jonathan Papelbon was mentioned in trade rumors immediately following his blow-up in Game 3 of the AL Division Series, but it’s less about one playoff game and more about (1) his rising cost and (2) his potential on the trade market two years away from free agency. The fact is, the 28-year-old closer had to work that much harder for his 38 saves and 1.85 ERA this season than in past years. He could be traded if Boston could get a big-time bat or a young, top-of-the-line starting pitcher in return.
Medical Watch:
RHP Tim Wakefield(notes) (back surgery in October 2009) expects to be ready for the start of spring training.
SS Nick Green (back surgery in November 2009) should be ready by spring training.
3B Mike Lowell (right thumb surgery in December 2009) will need six to eight weeks to recover before he’s ready to resume regular baseball activities.
OF J.D. Drew(notes) (minor left shoulder surgery in November 2009) is expected to be healthy enough to play the outfield in spring training.
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