What's Theo Plotting?
If you think Theo Epstein is content to bring the team that fell just short of making it to the World Series back essentially intact for the 2009 season, you haven't been paying attention.
Because of injuries to David Ortiz and Mike Lowell last year, coupled with the departure of Manny Ramírez, the Red Sox have been trying, without any luck, to secure another power bat in their lineup. Even before they were outbid for Mark Teixeira, Theo proposed a trade with Florida for Hanley Ramirez, the same player the Sox traded during Theo's "hiatus" for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett.
The bargaining chip in all this has been Clay Buchholz, who appears on just about every GM's list of demands when trading with Boston. The problem is, teams know Theo wants to shore up his offense, so they're asking for Buchholz plus Jacoby Ellsbury and others.
Be patient, Red Sox fans. Some pitcher will go down in Spring Training or during the injury-creating World Baseball Classic, and some team will take Theo up on his offer. If Theo doesn't want to wait that long, there are other sluggers available.
1. Jason Giambi: It looks like Oakland will be taking back its former Golden Boy, but if things don't work out, the former Giambino can still knock 30-35 balls out of the park every year. Let's just hope he left the porn-stache and golden thong in the Bronx.
Odds of signing with Boston: 80-1.
2. Barry Bonds: Forget about the perjury charges he'll face before the season starts, Barry Bonds just had surgery to repair a faulty hip. This guy is just waiting for an offer. Sure, he said he wouldn't play in Boston, but the guy's a pathological liar, so why should we believe him? Odds of signing with Boston: 75-1
3. Sammy Sosa: He's never failed a drug test, he's got no ties to BALCO, he was never fingered as a suspect in the Mitchell Report. And yet, he's often grouped with the two players listed above. Like Bonds, he still wants to play, even after missing the 2008 season. Odds of signing with Boston: 70-1
4. Milton Bradley: Scratch him off the list. Cubs just picked him up.
5. Adam Dunn: The Dodgers are threatening to sign Dunn, even though Manny Ramírez has been officially proclaimed the Dodgers' first choice. If Manny takes a deal to play for Washington or San Francisco, Dunn will sign with L.A. But if Manny returns to la-la land, Dunn would be a fine bat to add. Despite his low average, he hit 40 homers and drove in 100 runs. But Theo likes a solid OBP, and that does not bode well for Dunn to call Fenway home. Odds of signing with Boston: 30-1
6. Manny Ramírez: I'm not even going to attempt this one. Odds of signing with Boston: 1000-1
7. Ken Griffey, Jr.: He'd come on the cheap, he'd be a solid fourth outfielder, he has no drug cloud over him, and he can still hit a little (18 HR, 71 RBI).
Odds of signing with Boston: 25-1.
8. Rocco Baldelli: Showed the Sox in the ALCS that while awake, he can slug with the best of them. Rhode Island wants him, he grew up a Sox fan, and he could follow Lowell and Lester as players who overcame adversity. Like Griffey, a fourth outfielder, but with J.D. Drew on the team, that can mount up to a lot of at-bats.
Odds of signing with Boston: 12-1.
So there you have it: available full- and part-time players who could have an impact on Boston's batting order. But my gut tells me Theo is plotting one of his crazy four-team, nine player deals.
I guarantee it. Odds of me being right: 2-1.
Because of injuries to David Ortiz and Mike Lowell last year, coupled with the departure of Manny Ramírez, the Red Sox have been trying, without any luck, to secure another power bat in their lineup. Even before they were outbid for Mark Teixeira, Theo proposed a trade with Florida for Hanley Ramirez, the same player the Sox traded during Theo's "hiatus" for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett.
The bargaining chip in all this has been Clay Buchholz, who appears on just about every GM's list of demands when trading with Boston. The problem is, teams know Theo wants to shore up his offense, so they're asking for Buchholz plus Jacoby Ellsbury and others.
Be patient, Red Sox fans. Some pitcher will go down in Spring Training or during the injury-creating World Baseball Classic, and some team will take Theo up on his offer. If Theo doesn't want to wait that long, there are other sluggers available.
1. Jason Giambi: It looks like Oakland will be taking back its former Golden Boy, but if things don't work out, the former Giambino can still knock 30-35 balls out of the park every year. Let's just hope he left the porn-stache and golden thong in the Bronx.
Odds of signing with Boston: 80-1.
2. Barry Bonds: Forget about the perjury charges he'll face before the season starts, Barry Bonds just had surgery to repair a faulty hip. This guy is just waiting for an offer. Sure, he said he wouldn't play in Boston, but the guy's a pathological liar, so why should we believe him? Odds of signing with Boston: 75-1
3. Sammy Sosa: He's never failed a drug test, he's got no ties to BALCO, he was never fingered as a suspect in the Mitchell Report. And yet, he's often grouped with the two players listed above. Like Bonds, he still wants to play, even after missing the 2008 season. Odds of signing with Boston: 70-1
4. Milton Bradley: Scratch him off the list. Cubs just picked him up.
5. Adam Dunn: The Dodgers are threatening to sign Dunn, even though Manny Ramírez has been officially proclaimed the Dodgers' first choice. If Manny takes a deal to play for Washington or San Francisco, Dunn will sign with L.A. But if Manny returns to la-la land, Dunn would be a fine bat to add. Despite his low average, he hit 40 homers and drove in 100 runs. But Theo likes a solid OBP, and that does not bode well for Dunn to call Fenway home. Odds of signing with Boston: 30-1
6. Manny Ramírez: I'm not even going to attempt this one. Odds of signing with Boston: 1000-1
7. Ken Griffey, Jr.: He'd come on the cheap, he'd be a solid fourth outfielder, he has no drug cloud over him, and he can still hit a little (18 HR, 71 RBI).
Odds of signing with Boston: 25-1.
8. Rocco Baldelli: Showed the Sox in the ALCS that while awake, he can slug with the best of them. Rhode Island wants him, he grew up a Sox fan, and he could follow Lowell and Lester as players who overcame adversity. Like Griffey, a fourth outfielder, but with J.D. Drew on the team, that can mount up to a lot of at-bats.
Odds of signing with Boston: 12-1.
So there you have it: available full- and part-time players who could have an impact on Boston's batting order. But my gut tells me Theo is plotting one of his crazy four-team, nine player deals.
I guarantee it. Odds of me being right: 2-1.
I'd go with Baldelli. Bonds? I would feel compelled to turn in my Red Sox Nation card. Sorry, that is one guy I do not wish to see here.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
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Not to worry, Julia. Bonds is unlikely to return to MLB, unless a team is desperate and he plays for $5 million or less, which won't happen.
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I like the blog! It was a good one. Bonds was a great player but sat out for to long. He did already say he would play for the league low contract and donate the money to get tickets for kids to go to games. He's not about the money right now. Just think the only thing he knows how to do is swing the bat, and he's lost right now by not playing.
-King of Cali
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I think Rocco will sign with Boston. I think the odds of Sosa signing with Boston are a little bit smaller.
Bigpapi72, http://bostonsports.mlblogs.com/
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Giambi would have fit right in with your '04 team (the 'stache, the thong, the bad boy thing). But I think the Sox have gotten too upstanding for him now. And you're right: Theo's probably plotting a six-team/16-player deal as we speak.
- http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
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Seems like Baldelli is on everyone's radar, eh? Is he really healthy? Or is it just hype? Always liked him though... I think Sosa's probably lost too many steps to get back to the Bigs. He was way off with Baltimore a while back, bottled some lightning with Texas, but nothing sustainable in my opinion. Would add some more drama to the AL East though, eh?
--Jeff
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Foxsports has tied Boston to Baldelli and John Smoltz today. It seems that Rocco makes a lot of sense. I would love to see what Rocco could do with 500 or more at bats but his condition probably won't allow for that. Smoltz, however, is unexpected. I support this decision - Smoltz likely has a lot to offer- but with Manny's contract off the books I think the Red Sox should be a bit more liberal with who they pursue - they lost Tex to Mrs. Tex's love for NYC. They shouldn't lose anyone else they want.
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