Kotsay in fold . . . and in Caribbean

This is one of the final pieces to the puzzle, besides our catching situation, and makes our team that much more solid. The Skankees don't have any great bench players and in baseball it's a guarantee that you are going to have injuries throughout the year. I will take our team any day over any other team in the AL East.

Great news! Having Kotsay gives them versatility and options in the infield and outfield.

Maybe Kotsay can be the Sox catcher?

It's great that Kotsay is coming back. He has a great attitude and fills two holes. Now all we need to do is sign a catcher who knows which end of the bat to hold (can you say Jarrod?) and pray that Lowell and Papi can find their hitting shoes.

I'm happy to hear that the Sox are close to re-signing Kotsay. I watched him carefully last year and was impressed - he always played hard and kept his mouth shut. He has one of the best glove-hands that I've seen. It's reported that he wants to look for a full-time job and I think he's right - he has the ability to be a starter. He also has instincts that just can't be taught. He will need to focus on his batting skills. He won't hit thirty homers but could become another one of those left-handed batters who happens to excel at Fenway and there's been a few of them! Just think - wouldn't it be ironic if he became a starter with the Sox this year? Let's face it, he played the outfield and first base last year very, very well. I just wish that he could also catrch or play shortstop..

I am very pleased about this, I was hoping Kotsay would see that based on Drew's likelihood of injury, Ellsbury's potential inconsistency, Youk hurting himself by trying too hard, Bay actually have a day off now and again, and Baldelli's risk, and also how much Crisp played last year and how much Crisp and Ellsbury played at the same time, that Kotsay will probably only miss like thirty starts all season. He seems like a really good guy, he is fast and did anyone notice that we had no hole at first base? I mean usually we have one of the best first basemen in the game and if Kotsay was missing anything, it made him just a really really good first basemen.

The Sox are very fortunate to get Kotsay back on the team. I also think that he will hit for a higher average this year than he did last year. Now, if only the Sox could pick up a catcher who can hit above 0.260 with about 15 to 20 HRs & who can throw a base runner from time to time. Please, do NOT bring back the dead to catch again.

Wouldn't that 25th spot belong the the rule 5 draftee, Gonzalez?

Marc will get plenty of playing time playing for Tito. I like his style. I was glad when we got him and I'm glad he's coming back for at least one more season.

This team is shap'in up!...and I have to say: I like what I'm seeing!

No brothers. Bring back Pumpsie

very good bargain pick up. Now let's get Saltalamacchia or Teagarden and be done with the overhaul.

I must admit, I like the way the Sox roster is shaping up for next season. If they could pick up a catcher who can contribute offensively, they would have a solid lineup top to bottom to complement a pitching staff as good, if not better than the Yankees. Only thing is I'd like to see Tito hit Ortiz cleanup. Drew is a born 3-hitter, and Lowell and Bay are interchangable in the 5 and 6 spots. Ortiz, healthy or not, at this point without the most prolific cleanup hitter in the game behind him, is best suited to cleanup.

Ellsbury and Kotsay don't have problems with lefties.

So Kotsay is cool with being the 4th/5th outfielder? Kind of a surprise considering he was looking for a starting job somewhere.

This shows the Red Sox place great value on role players and having the flexibility to move players around somewhat and to have ample depth with starters, complemented with a very strong core of 6 or 7 high-value position players. They don't just go out and buy every Boardwalk, Park Place and Pretty Boy that comes on the market.

I'll take Theo's strategy over Brian Cash(cow)man's any day.

Ah plan the World Series parade....in New York, or Tampa, soewhere else.

Keep up the great work Golden Boy.

Kotsay? Hit 220? He is not the answer.

Bringing Kotsay back would be great! He showed he can play first and of course he is a great outfielder. He was a disappointment at the plate, but now he will have a full season with the ball club and I believe that will help. Let's get V-Tek back in the fold and this time give him some rest! We all know he is not an everyday type of catcher. Now start looking for youth at catcher.

So Cora is out of the picture? Can we still unload Lugo (can he play anything well?) and keep Cora? Is Bard Paw bound if we sign Teck and make that trade for a young catcher? Is anyone from Boston going to miss Zink? I was hoping he would have gotten his chance to make the roster this Spring. What about Jeff Bailey, Chris Carter and Jon Van Every; do they have a future in Boston? Are they throw-ins pieces in any trade for a young catcher? Enough crap about Tex and where he is NOT playing next year. We already have a first bagger that is very comparable to Tex, so what was the big deal anyways??? Oh...and great move for Kotsay! Good to have him back. What a great job he did last Oct. It will nice to see his first at bat next year and the standing ovation he'll get. He's the new Kapler.

He is a bum and hit like 001 in the post season for the Red Sox. Thinks he can play regular - but apparently could not find a job in MLB! I do not want him, he only hit in the minor league - aka - NL. What a waste!

Aardsma might not be a bad choice for the number 12 spot, but I think a case could be made for Buchholz to start off as the long relief/spot starter. It would also allow him to ease back in in lower pressure situations, instead of being called up on a Friday night to start in Yankee Stadium.

They just keep gettin' whiter and whiter.

I'm sorry for Kotsay's sake that he couldn't find a starting position, but I'll be glad if he plays in Boston again this year. He's the best option for this role on the team and he did a good job in the post-season. One of the guys who kept us in the running last year.

Maybe it's just sentimentality, but I like the way the team's shaping up for 2009. There's a chance of a lot of players to live up to their potential. Of course, if everything goes pear shaped, Kotsay might see a lot of action during the summer.

Why does it say that the Sox CAN only carry four players on the bench since Kotsay plays both the infield and outfile. It is nice to only carry four and have twelve pitches, but is there a rule that states that.

Interesting the sox have such depth defensively at center field after they traded away perhaps their best defensive center field, Coco Crisp this off season

Rice, Lynn, and Evans were the best Red Sox outfield that I've ever seen.

i would expect better from the red sox than this

Who fact checks this stuff?? Some experience playing center field? He has played 997 games in center field, including 84 last year. He is much more of a center fielder than a first baseman....

Maybe he can find out what happened to Natalee Holloway while he's down there.....

Kotsay's versatility at LF/CF/RF and 1b allows him to back Youk and Rocco and rotate coverage for JD if his back siezes up, minimizing any worry about Baldelli learning to deal with his new diagnosis. Best of both worlds. He is a .280/10/60/.751ops hitter with excellent glove (2 -3 E per year) and speed. The Sox may have the best and deepest defensive OF in baseball, and one that, combined, could hit 90 - 100HR. In the wings? The big bats of Bailey, VanEvery, Carter. Another great off the radar signing that adds talent and depth.

Good move, Kotsay plays hard and is versitile. He hit more hard outs last ALCS than any other player

GREAT, SO WE CAN SEE HIM SWINGING FOR THE FENCES LIKE HE DID IN THE PLAYOFFS !!

You gotta love this signing. This is really a difference maker!!! I'm so glad we swooped in and beat everyone out for Kotsay. Damn if we could have only done the same and got Carl Pavano.

You gotta love this signing. This is really a difference maker!!! I'm so glad we swooped in and beat everyone out for Kotsay. Damn if we could have only done the same and got Carl Pavano.

I love this pickup. Kotsay is a consummate professional who will add to the clubhouse and provide Lowell, Bay, and Youkilis an opportunity to sit 15-20 games each v. tough righthanders over the course of the year while adding insurance against long-term injuries to Ellsbury or Drew, thus allowing Baldelli to stay in his role as a lefty-mashing RF/CF who only starts 40-60 games. Although C and SS are still weaknesses (Bard is Bard, and Lowrie is not the answer--he's weak v. RHP and below-average defensively, contrary to what his fielding percentage suggests), the team has a solid lineup, a strong bench, effective & deep bullpen, and a good rotation that has the potential to be phenomenal if Beckett, Penny and Smoltz bounce back. Not to mention we have 5-10 trade-worthy prospects to use in a pinch, either as subs. or trade bait. Sox are looking good for another run in '09.

Now that they have signed Baldelli, I do not think the signing of Kotsay makes sense. This is a typical Red Sox move, though, stocking up on OF/!b?DH types of guys. I think they should carry an extra utility infielder rather than an extra outfielder/1B.

I hoped they'd bring him back. He showed that dirtdog mentality the sox are known for and made some great plays at first during the playoffs. I too am a bit concerned with our left handed heavy bench, but in Theo I trust.

Get a catcher! And buy a carload of canes, band aids, cots, rubbing alcohol, and aspirin. Then on to the World Series!