DANA POINT, Calif. -- San Diego general manager Kevin Towers has been working hard trying to put together a trade package with the Atlanta Braves for righthander Jake Peavy.
Towers still believes the Braves are his best match for a deal. Towers has spent a lot of time speaking to Braves special assistant Jim Fregosi about what they would deal. For the time being Atlanta is still unwilling to part with some of their top young talent, though it appears it would give up shortstop Yunel Escobar, who is coveted by San Diego.
Where do the Red Sox stand in all of this?
Peavy, who has a no-trade clause, is still making it clear that he wants to stay in the National League. While he hasn't ruled out Boston, it would be far down the list after NL teams such as Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Theo Epstein will arrive in time for tonight's general managers' dinner. Most of the GMs have scattered until then as their presence isn't required at the arbitration meetings, which are going on right now. Most assistant GMs or the financial folks who put together the arbitration cases are required at those meetings.
Derek Lowe's name has been mentioned a lot in the last 24 hours. He still appears to a coveted pitcher, even at age 35. Lowe would solve a lot of needs. While he'd like to return to Boston, both New York teams, Detroit, St. Louis, and the Cubs are also possible destinations for the former Sox sinkerballer.
Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin was disappointed that pitching coach Mike Maddux elected to leave the team to take a job with the Texas Rangers. Melvin felt that long-time organizational coach Bill Castro would be the frontrunner for the position.
While the World Series champion Phillies, as expected, named Ruben Amaro Jr. as their new GM -- replacing Pat Gillick, who has retired (at least for the time being) -- they lost long-time scouting director Mike Arbuckle, who decided to resign after being passed up for the job. Arbuckle, 58, is responsible for drafting much of the young talent the Phillies have built their team with, including Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, and Jimmy Rollins.
Agent Scott Boras has not yet arrived, but he'll be the focal point of the meetings once he does. With his clients Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira as the top hitting free agents, this is expected to be a bonanza for him.
One new team that a couple of executives have speculated might have some interest in Jason Varitek: the Dodgers. With the Frank McCourt connection, the Dodgers like players with Red Sox ties, and there's always the possibility they could play Russell Martin at third some of the time.
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Cah-fado,
You wrote the below:
"Derek Lowe's name has been mentioned a lot in the last 24 hours. He still appears to a coveted pitcher, even at the age of 36. Lowe would solve a lot of needs. While he's like to return to Boston, both New York teams, Detroit, St. Louis and the Cubs are also possible destinations for the former Sox sinker-baller"
"While he's like" is an obvious typo, but it could go two ways. Should it read "while he's likely.." or "while he'd like" because either meaning could be true.
Which one is it? What happened to the editor at the Globe? Budget cuts? I find these boo-boo's all the time. It pains me to find so many typo's from well-paid, "professional writers". It happens all the time! Most on the inet can write better, and for free! (I am not one of them!)
Tomen8r
What, does Jake Peavy like playing on losing teams? Why wouldn't he want to come to a team like Boston that has a proven track record of reaching the playoffs and doing well when they get there? I say don't waste the energy on someone who can't cut the mustard in a big time market. We have a great pitching staff and there are still a few big names out there that would probably love coming to Boston to pitch on the big stage. I say go after D-Lowe, he's proven his value and he's still loved in Beantown.
"One new team that a couple of executives have speculated might have some interest in Jason Varitek: the Dodgers. With the Frank McCourt connection the Dodgers like Red Sox guys and there's always the possibility they could play Russell Martin at third some of the time."
There is simply no accounting for how idiotic this sounds. If McCourt is really that stupid, I say we re-sign Varitek for three years at $25 million per and then offer the Dodgers 'Tek for Martin and Matt Kemp straight up.
Go Get LOWE!!!!! Put Wake in the Bull Pen.
I read a quote where Scott Boras was suggesting that Manny should be the highest paid player in MLB......LMAO. What a joke. Notice how he proclaimed his love for all things Los Angeles but then wasted no time filing for free agency once the filing day arrived. Manny is a selfish moron and I, for one, am glad he is out of here. Anyone that signs that tool to a long term deal needs to have their head examined.
As for Jake Peavy.....the guy wants to stay in the National League because he's soft and he knows it. He's not dumb, he knows he would get shelled pitching to AL hitters.
Peavy should'nt be on the Sox list either. The American league would eat him up. Let the Yankees have him he's not worth any of our youngsters.
I think that Peavy should go with the Sox!!!Alot of $ will be spent for a contract if he goes with boston.he is too good to stay with some bad NL team when he could go with the sox. Pevy could go with boston for :Paul Byrd and minor league star David Murphy.Also V-Tek could go to D-Backs for SS S. Drew. Even though thats irrelevent it aint a bad deal
I'd hate to see Jason go but even the most beautiful trees lose their leaves in the Fall. It's hard to accept the fact that the time comes for everyone to step down. What I'd like to see is Varitek accept a backup role as catcher in '09 and then a place managine in the organization.
I don't care how great a game you call as a catcher, you can't hit the way Jason Varitek did this season and still be an elite catcher.
Is there any doubt the HR he hit in the playoffs was a result of the ball hitting the bat?
The first sign of loss of bat speed is popping up and no one did that more than Varitek. He never made any adjustments at bat, shorten his swing or go opposite field. His strike 1 swing was the same as the strike 3.
It hurt to watch him bat. There were times I felt sorry for him as he has been as loved a player as there has been since Nomar.
Sign him 2 years, $10 million with team option for third.
Kenn
Very happy that Peavy is not big on coming to Boston! Yes, he is talented, but huge money for a NL pitcher who has pitched in a pitchers ballpark and with some negative trends starting to sprout - NO WAY!!
Good because Im not that high on Peevy.he is a typical over rated NL pitcher.Bringing him to the AL east you have to add a run to his era and I have questions if he has the make up to thrive here..Id rather sign D Lo at least we know he wont choke in big games
I wouldn't want to come to an area with this rabid of a fan-base, this crappy of weather, this much of a hitter's park, and no end to the epic AL line-ups either. No harm, no foul to us if he stays in the NL.
Peavy will get shelled in the AL...and he knows it.
Stay out in blah land Jake, the city is much like you...70 degrees every day with not a hint of personality in sight.
Peavy pitches in the PUTRID NL West.....The Giants and Diamondbacks are awful offensive teams..The Doders without Manny (2/3 of a year) were a bad offensive team......Peavy's ERA of 2.85 is very misleading besides the easy lineups he faced, and no DH.....His ERA in MASSIVE Petco Park was 1.73...Petco is THE best pitchers park in the major leagues....His ERA on the road, pitching against easy lineups?? 4.28 4.28 in the NL West with no DH is like a 5.65 in The AL East with a DH..He gave up ony 4 homers in Petco, but 13 on the road...They can keep him!!!
Maybe Epstein dooesn't understand the economy....Lugo, Drew, Renteria, etc. But thern again what do you expect....he lives in Brookline. Let's see what he says when HIS taxes go up !!!!
You know what I think, well I don't know what i think. Actually, I think we should keep the team the way it is!!!! I mean with everyone healthy, the sky is the limit! I mean, we got one game away from the World Series with an injured, tired team playing with a rookie backup at shortstop. Beckett pitched hurt, Wake pitched with a bad back, and we didn't have Lugo or Lowell. Keep the team the way it is and we'll win the World Series.
Go Red Sox! Go get Peavy! Go get Lowe! Go vote!
@Bat Insider
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