Red Sox make $14.1 million offers to Ellsbury, Napoli, Drew
General manager Ben Cherington said Monday that the Boston Red Sox extended qualifying offers of $14.1 million to outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, first baseman Mike Napoli and shortstop Stephen Drew.
"We'd like to have all of them back," Cherington said. "We'll continue to talk to them and see how it shapes up."
The Red Sox won the World Series for the third time in the past 10 years and tied for the best regular-season record at 97-65. Manager John Farrell said Monday at a press conference at Fenway Park that Boston would continue to prioritize pitching.
"I think we have to go into this offseason with the same general mindset, general philosophy, to build as deep a roster as we can," Cherington said. "Our players who are free agents, we have interest in bringing them back."
Cherington said right-hander reliever Joel Hanrahan and catcher Jared Saltalamacchia were not extended the one-year offer to prevent them from leaving in free agency without netting the Red Sox draft pick compensation. Hanrahan was acquired via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates and, along with former Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey, was expected to be the primary closer or set-up man in 2013 before injuries knocked both players out.
Free agents officially begins at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday.
Cherington said Dustin Pedroia was headed for surgery soon to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, but no date was set.
