Red Sox Team Report
INSIDE PITCH
While there are plenty of Red Sox roster mysteries to be answered this winter, the team did announce a finalized coaching staff for the 2010 season after bench coach Brad Mills(notes) departed for the Astros’ managerial job.
Mills and manager Terry Francona had been together in Boston since the Red Sox skipper’s first season in 2004, and Francona insisted on making any coaching hiring internal once there was an opening.
So longtime Red Sox minor league manager Ron Johnson, who managed the Pawtucket Red Sox for the last handful of years, was appointed first base coach.
Tim Bogar moved from first base to third base, and DeMarlo Hale was promoted to bench coach. Hale is one of the brightest managerial prospects in the game, and he seemed a natural fit once the organized, ultra-prepared Mills moved on.
After all, Hale had stabilized a third base coaching job that was seemingly in constant tumult through the last 10 years with Mike Cubbage, Wendell Kim and Dale Sveum, who tried with varying degrees of success to read the baserunning tea leaves as balls bounced around nooks and crannies of Fenway Park.
“It’s the toughest market to be at third base and the toughest field, and you never heard people talk about him, so that was a huge compliment to him,” Francona said of Hale. “Part of the reason, a big reason you never heard about him, was because he did such a good job. He will take that and do the same thing as a bench coach.”
In addition, minor league fielding coordinator Rob Leary was promoted to the major league staff in a role patterned after Bogar’s previous coaching position with the Tampa Bay Rays prior to joining Boston.
Leary’s job description will range from advance scouting and spring training workouts to administrative duties that will free up the rest of the coaching staff to instruct the players.
“While he doesn’t know the American League yet, that won’t get in the way because he’s not getting asked to sit in the dugout during the game,” Francona said of Leary.
“He’ll get a chance to learn the league and learn our team, and we can use his strengths in the meantime, which are plenty. He’ll help us prepare our scouting, he’ll run our spring training and he has a chance to really help our staff round into shape.”
Johnson also will be learning the major league ropes after years spent riding buses and managing in the minor leagues. But the Red Sox will also take advantage of the unique relationships that the affable Johnson has built with the many homegrown Red Sox players who have come up and developed through their minor league system since Theo Epstein and Co. took over the organization.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am about it,” Johnson said. “I think it means more to me because it is the Boston Red Sox. To have an opportunity after all these years, to get an opportunity to go to the big leagues with one of the premier clubs in all of baseball, to me makes me even more proud.”
NOTES, QUOTES
—ss T ug Hulett was acquired by the Red Sox from the Royals in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. The left-handed hitter batted .111 with one RBI in 15 games for the Royals last season while playing shortstop, second base, third base, left field and right field. Hulett hit .291 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs in 99 games at Class AAA Omaha last season as well. He is the son of former White Sox infielder Tim Hulett. Hulett will serve as insurance for the Red Sox in case SS Jed Lowrie(notes) continues to have problems with his left wrist.
• RHP Jonathan Papelbon(notes) was selected as the Red Sox 2009 Fireman of the Year by the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, while RHP Daniel Bard(notes) was named the 2009 Red Sox Rookie of the Year. Papelbon holds the franchise record with 151 saves and is the only pitcher to win the award four times. Bard ranked among the best AL rookie relievers in just about every category imaginable, and was sixth among all AL relievers with 11.49 strikeouts per nine innings. The awards will be presented at the 71st Boston BBWAA Awards Dinner, which will be held Jan. 14.
• SS Nick Green(notes) is almost definitely moving on to another major league destination next season after proving invaluable as a stopgap shortstop solution for the Red Sox last season, but he will be honored by the BBWAA with the Jackie Jensen Award for “spirit and determination.” Other baseball individuals to be honored at the dinner include Colorado skipper Jim Tracy, who will receive the Boston Chapter’s Manager of the Year award. Minnesota’s Joe Mauer(notes)—who was selected AL MVP—will take home the Ted Williams Award as baseball’s leading hitter.
• 3B Mike Lowell(notes) reportedly is being shopped around to several teams, with the Red Sox willing to pay some of the veteran’s $12 salary, according to a FoxSports.com report. Lowell, 35, batted .291 with 17 home runs and 75 RBIs for the Red Sox last season while recovering from offseason hip surgery, but he had noticeably diminished defense range around third base. Lowell has seemingly been involved in trade rumors nearly ever offseason he’s been with the Red Sox and could be a moving part if Boston lands one of its prized targets in the corner-infield/big-bat market.
• LHP Billy Wagner(notes) probably will be presented with offers by eight teams in the next week, according to a WEEI.com report from a conversation with Wagner’s agent, Bean Stringfellow. The 38-year-old reliever will no doubt be offered salary arbitration by the Red Sox, according to Stringfellow, because of his Type A free agent status and because Wagner still has interest in returning to Boston in a non-closing role. “Billy is absolutely, believe or not, open to going back to Boston,” Stringfellow said to WEEI.com. “If you asked me if he would be open to returning to Boston right after the season ended, I would say there was no chance. But he’s the one that brought it up to me. He shared some stories that gave him comfort there in Boston, that made him feel like he could come back there. It was one of the most positive experiences that he ever had.”
By The Numbers: 0—Spring training games between the Red Sox, who train in Fort Myers, Fla., and the Yankees, who hold their spring training camp in Tampa, during the 2010 Grapefruit League schedule.
Quote To Note: “It’s the toughest market to be at third base and the toughest field, and you never heard people talk about him, so that was a huge compliment to him. Part of the reason, a big reason you never heard about him was because he did such a good job. He will take that and do the same thing as a bench coach.”—Manager Terry Francona, speaking about former third base coach DeMarlo Hale, who was promoted to bench coach when Brad Mills took the Astros’ managerial job with the Astros.
ROSTER REPORT
The Red Sox have some real issues that need to be addressed on their roster, but they don’t appear to have a lot of freedom for wholesale changes other than hoping for healthier, more productive seasons from Mike Lowell at third base and David Ortiz(notes) at designated hitter. The biggest challenge for the Sox next season figures to be in left field; Jason Bay(notes) took his 36 home runs, 119 RBIs and 103 runs to the free agent market.
Biggest Needs: The Red Sox badly need to find another dynamic bat for the middle of their lineup that will help address the team’s inability to carry the offensive pace away from Fenway Park. A replacement for Jason Bay in left field becomes a major priority should the free agent sign elsewhere, and the Sox will also be in the market for a shortstop if they don’t re-sign Alex Gonzalez after turning down his $6 million team option.
Arrivals: OF Jeremy Hermida(notes) (trade with Marlins), INF Tug Hulett(notes) (trade with Royals).
Departures: LHP Hunter Jones(notes) (traded to Marlins), C George Kottaras(notes) (claimed off waivers by Brewers).
Free Agents: OF Jason Bay, LHP Billy Wagner, SS Alex Gonzalez, OF Rocco Baldelli(notes), RHP Paul Byrd(notes), RHP Takashi Saito(notes), SS Nick Green.
The Red Sox declined the options on Saito and Gonzalez, but they still have interest in bringing Gonzalez back at less than the $6 million price tag on his option. Bay is the big-ticket free agent this winter, and the Sox have no ready-made solution for a slugging outfielder should he sign elsewhere. Wagner has indicated through his agent that he may be willing to return to Boston, but the Sox are only interested if he’s willing to accept a setup role.
Arbitration-eligible: OF Brian Anderson(notes), RHP Manny Delcarmen(notes), OF Jeremy Hermida, 1B Casey Kotchman(notes), LHP Hideki Okajima(notes), RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Ramon Ramirez.
Papelbon could net anywhere from $8 million to $10 million this winter. It’s expected that the Sox will offer arbitration to everyone on the list with the possible exception of Anderson.
In Limbo: 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.
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.

Over the Monster
149 Comments
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"Firt Off.... I hate the Yankees....Not because, They win! but Because,They can Buy anyone they need! A First Baseman? buy one,Outfielder? buy one ,Pitcher? buy one etc,"
Let's see who the bosox have bought:
Catcher: Víctor Martínez, Varitek --- CHECK
1base: Kasey Kotchman --- CHECK
SS: Alex González/Julio Lugo --- CHECK
3base: Mike Lowell --- CHECK
LF: Jason Bay --- CHECK
RF: JD Drew --- CHECK
DH: David Roid-rtíz --- CHECK
Pitchers:
Beckett --- CHECK
Matsuzaka --- CHECK
Wakefield --- CHECK
Penny --- CHECK
Smoltz --- CHECK
Okajima --- CHECK
Saito --- CHECK
Tazawa --- CHECK
Ramón Ramírez --- CHECK
Billy Wagner --- CHECK
Paul Byrd --- CHECK
Billy Traber --- CHECK
Fernando Cabrera --- CHECK
And there's still: Nick Green, Kotsay, Baldelli, Laroche... etc.
:-)
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Since the inception of free agency the MLB has been having that kind of behavior from players. In 2009 alone, the Bosox had Varitek, Víctor Martínez, Alex González, Mike Lowell, David Ortíz, Jason Bay top fill 6 of 9 spots in the lineup, all of them are players brought to the team either by buying their contract off other team, as free agents or via trade (they were involved in controversy, because illegaly contacted JD Drew and asked him to terminate his contract with the Dodgers to play for the Bosox). Right now they have 9 players from "outside" our of the 14 in their depth chart, and 14 out of 21 counting the pitchers: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bos/depthchart
The World Series Champion Yankees have 3 out of 12 players they've bought, and overall 8 out of 23: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/nyy/depthchart
Even if we count Damon and Matsui... 14 bought players by the Bosox 10 bought by the Yankees
It's nothing new, and those with more accquisition power will always have the advantage, it's "funny" hearing bostonian fans calling the yankees expletives for "buying" a world series, but at the same time they are yelling for their team to buy yet another starting pitcher that would bring their total to 4 starters bought versus 2 homegrown (Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wakefield + Halladay if they get him).
Cheers and i bid the bosox team good luck on their yearly shopping spree by the end of the year :-).
M.
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Uhm... the Yankees have 6 titles (1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009) the Bosox 2.
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Yes the Yankee history is great, but what about the last 10 years? And the Yankee merchandise sales are over inflated because to many young kids buy the stuff because they wanna act like "gangstas", and claim to be from New York so people seem to think they are tough, not because they are Yankee fans.....
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Better luck next time.
04 to 07 is home grown?Pedroia and part-time Lester, and Youkilis. Dice-K and Beckett instead of Pedro and Lowe. Please, you're kidding yourself.
Now for the 03 Marlins, Luis Castillo, Miguel Cabrera, and Josh Beckett with bought players like Pavano, Lee, Pudge, and Lowell compared to the 03 Yankee farm.
Williams, Jeter, Rivera, Pettite, Nick Johnson, Jose Contreras, Alfonso Soriano, and Posada.
Oh yeah, The Tigers are in Detroit same as the Lions, they'll be having problems selling tickets as long as the auto trade is in the tanks. Not my problem or concern, move out.
Matt C,
Easiest team to cheer for is the one that is expected to lose. There's no pressure or high expectations. Just the free feeling of hope and shock like I felt in 07' with the Giants. Consistent loser's pull out there crutches. Watching the Yankees win these days is nothing like the old. Now you expect these wins, anything less is complete and utter failure. The price I pay to go see these guys play, they better win.
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Sell your horse@#$% on the Yankee site. This is the Redsox site. We could care less. You've spent $2 billion in salary over the past decade at $200 Mill a year and haven't won anything...literally anything for a decade. You love to live in the past. I live in SD and see lots more Sox memorabilia than Yank stuff about a 2 to 1 ratio.. people root for the underdog. To waste an hour writing on a Boston blog shows bitterness and jealosy.
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Sell your horse@#$% on the yankee site. We could care less. You've spent $2 billion in salary over the past decade at $200Mill a year and haven't won anything...literally anything. I live in SD and see lots more Sox memorabilia than Yank stuff about a 2 to 1 ratio.. people root for the underdog. To waste an hour writing on a Boston blog shows bitterness and jealosy.
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Strife... tell me this... Yankees (and Sox) make a tremendous amount of money from fan base, merchandise sales, television network, etc... Where should that money go if not the players? Parity does not mean boston or new york fans paying to make sure pittsburgh fields a good team... so who gets that money in a salary cap? where does it go? (and don't tell me lower ticket prices... this is america... ticket prices are what they are because people are willing to pay them)
And finally... all ridiculous NY fans... there is no question in anyone's mind, league wide, and even in Boston, that New York is the class of the league in terms of franchise marketability, history, championships, and talent. They are the best ever... unrivaled in accomplishment... and consistent in their ability to improve on an already championship caliber team... Most young players see arriving at the Yankees to be arriving at or near the top of their career... a team that will compete year after year... All of this is known by everyone ... so try to start acting like it. To put down a nation of fans who are just excited to compete makes you seem small. To constantly parade the number 26 makes you sound ignorant. One would think that the most recent non-championship years with the best talent in the league would at least be a little humbling... One would think that the biggest post season collapse in all professional sports would incite at least a nod in the direction of a competitive rival... I mean, come on... that was amazing. So... really.... at this point... shhhh. Win something with THIS team... and resume your place as proud fans of the easiest team to cheer for ever.
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Does anyone have any word as to how Kaye Gabbard is recovering? For, I liked how he pitched for the BoSox in his first tour of duty, but now is recovering from various injuries.
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Better look at the 2007 roster for your beloved Red Sox.
Manny, Ortiz, Lowell, Drew, Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Gagne
Yep, lots of home grown talent there.
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I'll just keep it at that.
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Oh, and so you don't get all high and mighty, even for your own ego ... you have safely been rooting for the Baltimore Orioles this entire time.
The Baltimore Orioles moved to NY in 1902 ... so yes, you are cheering for Baltimore every time you wear pinstripes and play make believe.
Just thought I'd point that out.
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