An intersting twist in the Red Sox offer to Varitek

We all know by now that Jason Varitek has until Saturday to accept the Red Sox’ 2-year contract offer, however this nugget in the Globe has me intrigued:

The Sox’ proposal contains standard award incentives (for MVP, Silver Slugger, and honors of that sort) that could increase the value of the package slightly, but there are no incentives based on the player’s health or playing time, both of which are often staples of incentive-laden contracts.

Link: Tony Massarotti

That basically eliminates the chances of Tek earning any of the $3m of incentives on top of his $5m 2009 base salary. It also will not hamper Terry Francona in his playing time decision making.

My stance has been that it’s time to cut the cord with Tek and trade for Miguel Montero, but when word of this offer broke I thought it would be enough to bring him back; however this new news has me thinking the chances of him coming back are again down to 50/50.

When Tek called John Henry for the face-to-face meeting I figured Scott Boras’ influence was now little in the negotiation process, but with the offer now roughly five days on the table, I think Tek alone would have informed the Red Sox one way or the other.

Maybe he has.

What to expect, when you’re expecting Miguel Montero

Interested in having the Red Sox trade for Miguel Montero, backup catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Thought so!

With the Diamondbacks singing Chris Snyder to a long term deal, it is clear what direction they are going at catcher and would probably be best served getting the best package they can for Montero. What’s nice is that the price tag is expected to be considerably less than what Texas wants for Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden.

Using Bill James’ Brock2 career projection system, here is a rough outline of what Montero’s Major League path may look like after 414 at-bats through his age 22-24 seasons.

Highlighted are the four seasons he is under control for, including all three arbitration years.

———

YR	AG		AB		BA	OBP	SLG	OPS		2B	3B	HR
2009	25		397		.247	.318	.432	.750		23	1	16
2010	26		416		.249	.319	.445	.764		27	1	17
2011	27		413		.270	.345	.496	.841		27	1	21
2012	28		416		.246	.313	.464	.776		25	1	21
2013	29		428		.244	.316	.474	.790		25	1	24
2014	30		435		.247	.317	.456	.773		25	1	21
2015	31		420		.245	.315	.447	.762		24	1	20
2016	32		420		.233	.304	.414	.718		22	1	17
2017	33		409		.230	.308	.399	.708		21	1	16
2018	34		404		.231	.299	.391	.690		21	1	14
2019	35		196		.222	.296	.367	.663		9	0	6
2020	36		99		.218	.289	.353	.641		5	0	3
2021	37		13		.204	.278	.320	.598		1	0	0

Red Sox interested in Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez is locked up for six more years, two more years before the big money kicks in and we get to the point where Florida will probably be actively looking to move him. However, blowing their socks off with an offer of four of our six top young players and prospects would probably be very enticing.

Of course you eventually get to the point where the value you are trading is not worth the player, but using Bill James’ model of player projection, here are Hanley’s next six seasons:

	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	2B	3B	HR
2009	.317	.393	.559	.953	40	5	32
2010	.321	.403	.594	.998	39	4	39
2011	.330	.410	.621	1.032	40	4	42
2012	.312	.390	.611	1.000	37	3	44
2013	.308	.387	.620	1.007	37	3	48
2014	.312	.389	.606	.995	37	3	44

D-A-M-N, damn.

That is your middle of the lineup, run producing God with speed for over half a decade, whereas all the pieces you trade away are shiny young toys that right now only carry your hopes and dreams, not your franchise.

In losing out on Mark Teixeira, there is no player on the horizon that will make the Red Sox open their checkbooks for $150+ million dollars, thus we need to let Theo Epstein do what he does best, develop young talent. Investing money in international free agency and the draft will continue to make the rich pipeline to the major leagues flow, also allowing us to package those chips for the young, cost controlled superstars that very few other organizations could put together a package for without setting them back a decade of young talent.

Would I bet that this deal is going to happen, no. But this is why I love our baseball operations people, trying to make creative things like this happen. You know that Hanley isn’t the only player on their radar too, I guarantee they have price checks out on Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Cain, Joey Votto, Zack Greinke, and anyone else you can think of.

Teixeira to the Yankees

Yankees sign the three biggest free agents of the winter and will have the four highest paid players in baseball next season.

Merry freakin’ Christmas, Sox fans.

Ugh.

Red Sox back out of Teixeira chase

Stunning to say the least

Red Sox owner John Henry just e-mailed several media members with a stunning twist in the team’s pursuit of Mark Teixeira. Henry’s words: “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/12/henry_we_are_no.html

Breaking News: Red Sox hope to sign Teixeira tonight

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox may be close to signing Mark Teixeira, the premiere free agent available this off-season.

SportsCenter 5’s Mike Lynch reported that team owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein were in Texas Thursday evening meeting with Teixeira’s agent Scott Boras.

Lynch reported the Red Sox were offering an 8-year contract with an annual salary of $23 million.

The Red Sox were hoping to close the deal Thursday night or Friday morning, Lynch said.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/18311921/detail.html

Of course this comes out to $184m for an 8-year deal. When the Red Sox make a move like this it probably means they want something to happen quickly or they will move on. I think Boras might have a small window to accept the deal.

The Red Sox have been the expected landing spot for Teixeira by baseball people for a few days now and it looks like things are coming to a head.

Update:

By Peter Gammons and Buster Olney
ESPN.com

The Boston Red Sox have taken strides toward completing a deal for first baseman Mark Teixeira, major league sources indicated on Thursday evening, to the point that team executives may have face-to-face negotiations with Teixeira’s representative, Scott Boras, in the forthcoming hours. Boras has told teams in recent days that he’s “getting close” to resolution in Teixeira’s negotiations, and Teixeira was quoted this week as saying he hoped for a conclusion by Christmas. A rival executive involved in the negotiations believes that a Red Sox deal with Teixeira will fall in the range of eight years, for a salary of about $22 million a year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3780408

Source: Red Sox getting closer to Teixeira deal

Ken Rosenthal: Source: Red Sox getting closer to Teixeira deal

The Red Sox are making progress in their quest to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, according to a major-league source.

“Headway was being made earlier today,” one source said.

A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox’s addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer.

Teixeira is the Red Sox’s No. 1 offseason target. They view him as the perfect fit for the middle of their order.

Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years.

With CC Sabathia taken, Teixeira is now the biggest prize on the free-agent market. He hit 33 home runs and had 121 RBIs as a member of the Braves and Angels last season. Teixeira has never hit less than 26 homers in his six major-league seasons.

Good news. I can only imagine the amount of web analysis that would come with a Teixeira to the Red Sox deal, but no need to jinx anything right now…

Red Sox in discussions with A.J. Burnett

Providence Journal: Tuesday afternoon update: Sox talking to Burnett

LAS VEGAS — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said Monday night he wasn’t optimistic he would be able to get anything done during the winter meetings this week at the Bellagio Hotel.

That might change.

The Red Sox and free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett have had significant dialogue, and there could be more on this development later today.

Epstein, manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell reportedly met with CC Sabathia on Monday, but it’s Burnett who appears to be Boston’s main free-agent pitching target.

The veteran right-hander posted an 18-10 record with a 4.07 ERA with the Blue Jays in 2008 in 35 games (34 starts). The 32-year-old opted out of the remaining two years of his deal with Toronto to become a free agent.

Even being filthy dominant when healthy, the Red Sox going hard after Burnett is somewhat of a surprise to me even though starters who can handle the AL East are hard to come by. Over the last three years he has pitched 135.7, 165.7 and 221.3 innings, not shockingly the workhorse-type season came when he was able to opt-out of his contract.

If we can keep his contract at 4-years and a vesting option based on innings or awards, instead of his desired five guaranteed, that would be quite nice. More when something breaks in this story.

The Jarrod Saltalamacchia Watch

With so much talk about one of the Rangers catchers coming to Red Sox, a move I am lukewarm on at best if the price tag is Justin Masterson or Clay Buchholz, I thought I would check up on how Salty is doing in the Dominican Winter League.

He has only played in four games so far, but is hitting 6-for-12, 2B, 3 HR, 6 BB, and 2 K for Leones del Escogido. He has also gunned down 2 of 3 attempted base stealers (his defense and arm are the main reason I am down on bringing him to Boston).

We all know he said he was excited about the possibility of being traded here, maybe he is trying to send a message to Theo. (Riiiiight)

Headway Being Made In Possible Manny Ramirez Trade

According to Providence Journal Red Sox beat writer Sean McAdam on WEEI at 4:15pm, he has learned that the Red Sox are talking to one National League team right now and headway is being made in trade discussions. His source said that a trade could happen tonight, saying, “For now, Manny is in the lineup.”

A trade to the Marlins for Jeremy Hermida would be very, very intriguing.