Sox proceeding with caution

The "ultimate price"? Well ultimately, I certainly don't expect the Sox to sacrifice Theo Epstein's first born son on an alter in center field.

Just like Lugo... I love Theo in a baseball way, but i never understood his fascination with Julio Lugo, and I don't see the fascination with Burnett. He's a lifetime .500 pitcher, and has shown that he only preforms in contract years. Stick with the young guns we have in AAA, and AA and keep the rotation we got now.

I hope we are just showing interest in Burnett for the sake of driving up the cost on the Yankees. We have so many great young arms and more coming up in the system. I would rather see them save the money and make a solid play for Texeira.

SIGN TEX

Me no likey Burnett. Me likey Teixeira.

this is brian birolini from weymouth,MA. i was just wondering if Julio Lugo was getting tradeed by willis or robertson

If I hear another "fan", other than an eight year old, suggest that Mike Lowell can play second next year while Pedroia sprints around at shortstop or Youk shags balls in left I will start to regard Red Sox nation as a nation of nuts...By-the-way trading Ortiz is another cockamamie notion, we need his presence in the heart of the order, the man was significantly injured last year yet he drove in 80 runs and challenged for the team lead in homeruns; without Ortiz the Sox would be an ordinary lineup...I'll keep this quiet in case a Yankee or Ray fan is lurking about (just what is an Oriole fan?), but it sure appears that Theo is placing a number of irons in the coals to drive up the price on several free agents while all along executing his "plan" or the organization plan, let's never forget, this guy knows more about baseball than all of us...Also isn't it interesting how Lars Anderson has boomed on the scene, in this forum, as the next Ryan Howard. I hope, for his sake, he does not turn out to be Dave Kingman.

If they can get fair value in trade for Mike Lowel then by all means go for it
with Teixeira........love to see him here ....but doubt you will get fair trade for
Mike Lowel....He also is a good one and a gentleman.....they cant eat two
salaries such as Mike Lowel and Lugo.

Burnett??? NO!!! Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! N-O!!!! He's a fragile player, spending WAY too much time on the DL or sitting in the trainer's room for the kind of money everyone is talking about. I'd much rather save a few bucks and get Derek Lowe back here. He wants to come here, providing the dollars are in his ballpark, and is much more durable. Burnett has a history of good/great seasons when he's playing for next season's contract, so unless you plan on giving him a series of one year deals, let the Yankees waste their money on him. Burnett is another Carl Pavano waiting to happen, so let Hank & Hal have the fun all over again.

ortiz may have driven in 80 runs but were was he during the end of the season and the play-offs

I am really not excited by Burnett. He is a decent pitcher, but not great. Any team that offers him $16 million per year is wasting their money.

This is another case of the red sox not paying for type 'A' free agents. When I found out the Sox were not raising ticket prices, I new that they were not going after anyone of substance in free agency. This is just a smoke screen. Its the way they run the business. They intend to pocket the money that they saved on Manny and lower payroll as they have done consistently since taking over ownership. Get used to it.

Every opportunity to upgrade this year carries its own problems. All the FA's want ridiculous money, double what Josh or Daisuke are making, yet AJ, Ben Sheets and Brad Penny bring an extensive history of injuries and downtime to the table. Derek Lowe wants to return to Boston, and we want him back, but at a huge price and long term that Warren Buffett would laugh at. What to do about these Boras manipulations?!? When we look around at all the failed big name pitching contracts, alternatives seem necessary.

I wonder if Juni Tazawa is one of them? The Red Sox are big time good guys in Japan, but signing Juni means alienating the Japanese Majors and setting a precedent for retribution in kind. The Sox may come off much better by passing on Tazawa in 2008, signing Kawakami, and remaining a favored and favorite destination for future Japanese stars. And signing Kawakami and starting Masterson in the rotation would remove us from the insane bidding wars on these FA pitchers.

With or without Teix, the Sox will remain among the best hitting and defensive teams in all baseball, especially with Papi, JD, Mike, Jed all returning healthy, and Bay, Ellsbury, Youk and Pedroia comfortable and going to the next level.

T.E.I.X.E.I.R.A

The Sox really should concern themselves with Texiera , move Lowell after spring training sign Tek for two years and move a young pitcher for Saltamacchia and have Tek groom him.

teixeira is a no brainner, burnett is a risk ??????????

theo doesnt want burnett, hes just driving the price up for hank and hal. theo wants tex. he'll get him 8 yrs 175 million.

theo doesnt want burnett, hes just driving the price up for hank and hal. theo wants tex. he'll get him 8 yrs 175 million.

Ballplayer salaries make me sick. Ordinary people are suffering with our broke-down economy and every agent is trying to figure out how to keep their players from falling into Obama's proposed 39 percent tax bracket. The Beatles were paying TWICE that to remain English citizen, fer crissakes!
In the meantime Joe Citizen will pay through the nose just to see one stinking ballgame from a decent seat. I love the Red So but I'm sick of this crap.

...living here in Toronto, and getting to see Burnett pitch regularly, he is in no way worth the numbers I hear being batted around. As a life long Sox fan, I think those numbers can be spend some where else, like for Texeria. Burnett has proved he is will not pitch witha stubbed toe...hardly Red Sox material!

An open (albeit short) letter to Theo
Dear Theo,
I am a season ticket holder. If you should be walking down the street and see AJ Burnett coming towards you, please cross the street and keep walking. I'm begging you.
Thank you,
BobL

AJ Burnett is another Matt Clement. He is an average major league pitcher who is going to make a lot of money this off-season because the crop of available starters is so weak. I'd rather see them give D Lowe $30M for 3 years and go after the stud. If the Sox had Mark Teixeira batting 4th during the playoffs this year we'd be raising another banner in Boston. D Lowe, Teixeira, and good relief pitching in return for Lowell should be the plan.

If the Red Sox are going to spend money, I'd say sign Teixeira. Let Varitek walk. They shed payroll with Manny leaving, so they can afford a huge contract with Teixeira. He proved his worth in the playoffs. Lowell did nothing in the playoffs. You can say he was hurt, but again......he was hurt and you don't want to be that a factor again in the playoffs. In fact, Lowell's absence from the playoffs is the reason that I think the Red Sox lost. They had to pick and scratch at getting a good lineup, and it just didn't work. One additional bat would have put them over the top against TB, and I think they would have taken Philly. Sign Tex, move Youks to third, and all will be well. Youks wants nothing but to win, and if that means him moving to third, I don't think that will be a problem

Sig.

i think that tex should be our number one priority! lowell is good and has been a great aspect to the sox over the past few years, but i think that his age is catching up with him. we cant afford him having injuries in the season and yook can play 3rd just as well if not better than lowell anyways. plus the fact that tex averages 35 hrs and over 100 rbi's every season. hes a powerful switch hitter and is young. his youth sets him up to sigh for a long term high paying contract. plus the fact that he will help give confidence to our line up, just in case ortiz still isnt ortiz and bay and yook could use some offencive help, but i also cant forhet the MVP pedroia leading the league in doubles and having hit 17hr's this season. if i was theo epstien i would be gunnin for tex for i'd say 5-6 yrs and fast cuz we know that the yanks and angels are gonna want him aswell. theo SIGN TEX!!!!!!

Yankee fans are always lurking and I'm a lurker. Who is going to take Lowell given that teams don't know if he is game time ready. Signing A.J by Yankees or Sox is a gamble, an expensive on as is CC dude can't pitch in post season plus he's picked 513 innings over the past two seasons. So there are the negatives positive I would love to have booth, its not my money right ?

Gee Whiz...and I was hoping you were going to sign Burnett...

Did anyone really think they were serious?

No way on Burnett. I'd rather see Derek Lowe back in Fenway if the Red Sox are interested in a starter.

Please keep Ortiz and Lowell! And please make room in the organization for Tek-if not as a catcher, at least in some form of coaching or something. He is too precious and too good to send to a team--like the Yanks!

Please keep Ortiz and Lowell! And please make room in the organization for Tek-if not as a catcher, at least in some form of coaching or something. He is too precious and too good to send to a team--like the Yanks!

If Lugo leaves and now that Crisp is gone, please spend the money and keep Tek-he is too good to go to a rival.
How about Roco B. from the Rays.
I am nostalgic for players but I trust Theo. Look at 2004 when Nomar left! Sox won the World Series!

come , tony maccaroni---give us some insight on tex---is he coming to beabtown or not????????....never mind this other b.s....who cares about this jap dude, or tek, or anyone else---like big papi said---we need a 30 plus homerun guy in this lineup or no playoffs next year!!!!!!!!

Lugo will have a good year if he gets out of Boston and the pressure is off him. He will be a totally different player somewhere else. Ill bet he hits about 280 and has far fewer errors. I thought like theo that hed work out but he couldnt handle the Boston pressure cooker

Burnetts initials should be D.L. instead of A.J. ,Don't do it,!

TIME TO TRADE CHAD FINN

If I read another newspaper story that reports NO FACTS WHATSOEVER, I wil have to suggest that my local library move the Globe to the FISTION section of the periodicals.

Well, there are facts in Chad Finn's sorry story - David Ortiz plays for the RedSox and came from the Twins and his name was once David Arias. Much beyond that, it is just the fansasy of a very weird hack writer

Gone are the days when the media reports on something based in fact rather than pontificating their own sorry opinions. If I want opinions, I can go to a bar...

If the Red Sox sign Teixeira, they will have to trade someone to make room.
I don't want to do this, but I would trade Lowell (in a possible Jake Peavy trade?)

If the Red Sox sign Teixeira, they will have to trade someone to make room.
I don't want to do this, but I would trade Lowell (in a possible Jake Peavy trade?)

Ken.......he wasn't healthy !!!!

Burnett is not worth the money....will just get hurt. I'd go after Lowe.....he can eat up innings and is rarely hurt.

But none of them should come before Texeira, Baldelli (need a 4th outfielder), and possibly more bullpen help.

Sign Tex, trade Josh Reddick, Lowell (pay some of his salary), and either bowden or buchholz for Peavy.

SIGN TEX! HE IS ENTERING HIS PRIME

I don't think the Red Sox are serious about signing any of the high-priced free agents. I believe all the stories about their interest in Texeira and Burnett are merely media plants to drive the price up for some other team. John Henry is too smart to be considering spending big bucks on the brink of what could very well be the second great depression.

Sign Teixiera, then worry about making room for him. Lowell was terrible last year and his hip surgery could continue to hold him back...heck, he's an overpaid 36-year-old. And let's not get so optimistic about Ortiz...I think there is much to worry about in that body.

sox need tex...no power bats in the minors..papi and lowell coming back from injuries with unpredictable results..plus papi is never going to be the same without manny behind him (as good as youk is, he isnt feared)

tex anchors the lineup for the next decade with great discipline, gold glove fielding, power, rbi machine...we need all of these things. i agree with the idea that burnett is not needed- he isnt. the phils just won a title with cole hamels and the not quite dominant group of moyer/blanton/myers..im sure that becks/diceK/lester/masterston/wake will be fine.

they need mark tex. and they need to make that happen.

I agree with #19. Professional sports needs a market crash, so going to ball games are affordable. Greed, same cause for our real estate, stock market, and credit woes. Stop living vicariously through professional sports. Prices will continue to go up as long as you fill the seats. The games are not that good. Get a hobby and a clue, SIMPLIFY!!! You will like the home team regardless of who is on it.

The sox have already WAY OVERPAID for Drew and Lugo. Burnett falls into this category. Texiera would be a good fit for the Sox despite the fact that someone would have to go. I just hope that if they keep Ortiz that he is not heading into a Mo Vaughn decline.

Theo, sign Teixeira to a long term contract. Sign Tek to a two year deal, trade a top pitching prospect to Texas for catcher Saltalamaccia and let him understudy Tek for the next two years. Trade a couple of prospects and/or Lugo and Lowell for Peavy or sign D. Lowe. Stay away from Willis(bad mechanics) and Burnett (bad health problems that will only get worse with age.

Tex is a no brainier but why give Lowell away for nothing and eat most of his salary to do it. We have to pay him anyways, lets use him as a corner infielder, with Youk becoming your 5th outfielder. Drew, Bay and Big Papi can have a day off each week which will give Lowell at least 3 games to start and a huge bat off the bench in the others. If we have to pay him anyways, why not USE him. He is a great teammate who hit his jackpot already so he should be OK with it.

Bubba, they could sign Tex and trade Lowell (pay some of his salary), Josh Reddick, Kris Johnson, Argenis Diaz, and maybe Bowden/Buchholz for Peavy. If the Padres throw in Khalil Greene, we could throw in Lugo. Then they have this lineup:
Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Tex, Youk, Drew, Bay, Greene/Lowrie, (insert catcher)

Rotation: Beckett, Peavy, Lester, Dice-K, Wake. Pretty good right there.

Here's an idea: let's keep the same team and see how they do. And root them on regardless. And instead of throwing away money on outrageous salaries, let's lower ticket prices. Keeping ticket prices constant is supposed to be some great sign of concern for fans? The price of a family outing to Fenway will soon be more than the cost of a house.

The "trade Lowell", "trade Papi" contingent - they have value to retain, but not as much for trade due to age/recent injury status. Maybe Lowell once the season is underway and he proves he's healthy. Most older vets get traded with 1 yr remaining in contract (and for prospects - not for a young 1a-1b pitcher like Peavy). Baldelli is the only player *more* injury prone than Drew who he would have to sub for 10-30 days at a whack. AJ Burnett - let the Yanks replace their DL spot Carl Pavano freed up. If you'd sign him you must be the GM or Chrysler CEO!

Forget the pitchers for now...just do what it takes to sign Texeira.

I heard from someone familiar with the baseball "scene" that Teixeria is HATED in the clubhouse. his words. he says NO ONE would go near the guy. This goes against all the other stuff I've heard, and it did come from a Yankees fan, so I don't believe it fully, but do the Sox know how MT is in the clubhouse? Do they think Big Papi and the culture of winning can calm any internal clashes?

Here's an idea: let's keep the same team and see how they do. And root them on regardless. And instead of throwing away money on outrageous salaries, let's lower ticket prices. Keeping ticket prices constant is supposed to be some great sign of concern for fans? The price of a family outing to Fenway will soon be more than the cost of a house.

F AJ BURNETT! THAT WOULD BE THE STUPIDEST MOVE IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME....SIGNING AN INJURY PRONE PITCHER WHO IS DECENT AT BEST FOR UPWARDS OF 20 MILLION..PLEASE. TEX WOULD BE NICE IF WE CAN NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE CONTRACT WITH HIS SCUM SUCKING AGENT...I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY WE DIDNT GO AFTER HOLLIDAY

The Sox will be alright without Teix,providing Lowell is healthy.Then,what about Lars? His name keeps popping up that he's going to be an accomplished player in the near future.........Maybe,now, a frontline pitcher,then later on in the year something may become available,when teams unload at yardsale expense.But,I'd rather not see the kids go.........I keep coming up with Randy Johnson for a quick fix.He might be a 2009 answer.The market is quiet on him.Masterson should be an improvement after 2008.He put up some good numbers with a 3.16 era.Maybe he starts.Teix makes sense,but the monies in BB have to come down.

NO lets just sign D-LOwe And Texiera!! YAAAAAAAAA BaBBYYY!!

NO lets just sign D-LOwe And Texiera!! YAAAAAAAAA BaBBYYY!!

Type your comment here...
I wonder if Mike Lowell would be willing to platoon in at 1st, 3rd, and DH?
Seems to me to solve the log jam if the Boston Red Sox sign that guy they want.

I am Japanese .
I can hardly speak English.
But I like Red Sox before Matsuzaka joins the team.

I think TAZAWA is overrated.

BOWDEN,PIMENTEL,HAGADONE,Kyle Weiland,・・・・・・・・・
They have a potentiality that is better than TAZAWA.

The league to which he belongs now is 1A level.

To rickb101 ... [current management] "intend to pocket the money that they saved on Manny and lower payroll as they have done consistently since taking over ownership. Get used to it."???????????????????

Exactly what are you smoking and/or what planet are you from? the current management has dramatically increased payroll every single year they've been in Boston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second only to the Bronx boys.

At least try to get facts straight before you spout off!! This one was beyond ridiculous.

I agree with most - sign Texiera - his bat and defense will make us lethal. Avoid Lowe and Burnett. Trade Lowell (I say this with great regret) for another solid middle reliever so Materson can move to the rotation. Trade Lugo for a 4th outfielder - a platoon guy. Sign Tek if he'll do a 3 year deal - you anti-Tek guys should be ashamed of yourself. His went thru a divorce this summer and that can be a big burden on anyone's job. Tek has caught 4 no hitters and more importantly, helped bring to WS titles to Bean Town in the past 5 years. Bring back Cora as our 4th infielder. After that, play ball!

If we do nothing else but sign Teixeira we'll be in the catbird seat for next year.

Although the Sox may get Tex, the pinstripes are definitely signing both Burnett and Sabathia.

The best thing redsox can do is go after tex but dont overpay for him. Lowell is still a gamer and can play if healthy. He was the 2007 WS MVP. Or did everyone forget about that. He tried to play hurt and it got worse. Possibly with some time to recover he can get back into form. No need for pitchers and look for a catcher.

Burnett does not belong in Boston. Let someone else overpay for him. Same goes for Lowe unless he wants to sign at around 10mil a year.
The Red Sox NEED to sign Teixeira! He will help create an awesome lineup, not to mention his great defensive skills.
I will be disappointed if I do not see him in a Red Sox uniform soon.

Just saw on NBPtracker.com that the Rangers met with Tazawa for 2 hours yesterday and made him "the best offer yet." You would think if this guy knows his baseball and Boston's rich history and tradition, he'd want to come here.

Get rid of Lugo.....Sign Tex and keep Lowell. With Lowell with the team, Papi, Youk and Tex get consistant days off without taking that much of a hit at the plate or in the field.

I think the rotation is looking pretty good right now so a big price tag for a FA is crazy. Before last season the rotation was rated one of the best in the majors and that was before Lester showed that he was legit. Beckett back to normal along with Dice-K, Lester is 3 #1 starters. Wake, Masterson and Buchholz can keep the #4+5 spots respectable. Oh and there are others in teh minors that could show up.

Sign AJ, there is no such thing as too much pitching (don't worry about the DL stuff, all Sox pitchers go on the DL he'll fit right in)and as far as Tex goes...let him move on. He doesn't strike me as a Boston type....I think he'll stay put.