Red Sox Free-Agent Roundup
It’s Friday and the weekend looms. All that stands between it is a few more hours of the work day and a Friday afternoon conference call. How can you tell it’s another slow news day on the Red Sox front. With that, here’s another edition of the Red Sox free-agent roundup and here’s what we know:
Cherington insists on staying patient when it comes to starting pitching options and his lack of noise is evident he’s holding true. Nothing new has come out on the Roy Oswalt or Hiroki Kuroda fronts, other than they continue to remain out of the Red Sox price range. Both are willing to accept a one-year deal, an option that is very intriguing to the Sox, but it’s the price tag associated with that one-year that has Cherington a little gun shy. Kuroda is reportedly seeking between $12-$13 million for next season, while Oswalt is said to be over $10 million. Cherington hopes their price will fall in the coming weeks, but with many clubs looking for starting pitching improvements, including the Yankees and the Blue Jays (who have money to spend), it may not drop far enough to meet Cherington’s wishes.
Edwin Jackson is all but out of the picture in Boston, at least right now. Jackson’s agent, Scott Boras is looking for a similar deal that A.J. Burnett and John Lackey got a couple of years ago. We all know how well both of those contracts have turned out for New York and Boston. Currently the price tag on Jackson is minimum four-years, preferably five at a cost of $15 million per season. It’s extremely high for a guy who has worn six different MLB uniforms in nine seasons. Knowing Scott Boras and what he’s done in the past, he might just get something in the ballpark that he’s asking for from a team desperate for starting pitching help. I’d count the Red Sox out. River Ave. Blues does a great job comparing Jackson to how Boras held out with Rafael Soriano last season and ended up cashing in for his client.
Rich Harden is still available but is rumored to be on Oakland’s radar and could be asked to move to the bullpen. If Harden weren’t so injury prone, he would be a nice gamble for Cherington.
The right-field options have also slowed liked molasses.
Seth Smith is being shopped by the Colorado Rockies, but another left-handed bat isn’t what the Red Sox need. Besides, if the club is to relinquish prospects in a trade, they’d be better off acquiring a bonified starting pitcher.
Cody Ross is a nice option, but again he’s looking for a mutli-year deal, a sticking point for Cherington. Ross may not want to platoon the position in what is already shaping up to be a crowded Pesky’s pole.
Both Ryan Ludwick and Brad Hawpe would be possible options, but the only way they might be signed is if Ryan Kalish‘s recovery is slowed for some unforeseen circumstance. If not, right field may be set.
Kickin’ the tires is about all that’s happening right now on Yawkey Way. Thank goodness it’s the weekend soon!
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