Sox agree to terms with Baldelli, Smoltz
Read a transcript of tonight's Baldelli press conference
The rest of Red Sox roster is taking shape, with the club coming to terms today with a pair of well-known players who have battled injuries and health problems in recent seasons.
Shortly after the Red Sox formally announced they had agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay outfielder and Cumberland, R.I., native Rocco Baldelli on a one-year contract, the Associated Press reported that former Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz reached a preliminary agreement to join the Red Sox, ending his lengthy and remarkably successful association with the Atlanta Braves.
The Baldelli signing was announced tonight before tonight's Boston Baseball Writers' 70th Awards Dinner at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston.
"This is a very exciting day for the organization," GM Theo Epstein said. "We’ve admired Rocco from afar for a long time now as a player and as a person and we think he is a great fit for this organization going forward. Couldn’t be happier to announce the signing here today."
The Rhode Island native said it was a childhood dream to play for the Red Sox.
"My family and friends are as crazy as any other Red Sox fans out there," Baldelli said. "I know the loyalty that these people here have for this team and it’s really an honor for me to be a part of it."
Baldelli will wear No. 5 for the Red Sox. He'll be the first player to don that number since Nomar Garciaparra.
"It was brought to my attention that obviously this has always been a special number in this town and I recognize that as much as anybody ..." Baldelli said. "I accept it and I think it’s great and I am very happy about it."
Smoltz, 41, will sign a $5 million guaranteed deal with Boston that includes the possibility of earning another $5 million in bonuses. The Smoltz deal was expected to be finalized later today according to a source familiar with the negotiations, the AP reported.
Smoltz issued a statement through his agent and said he had little choice except to talk with other teams after hearing what the Braves planned to offer.
‘‘I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team, but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves,’’ he said. ‘‘There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams.’’
"I have always loved the city of Atlanta, and it will always be my home," Smoltz said in his statement. "I will cherish my 21 years with (manager) Bobby Cox and all my Braves' teammates. I continue to wish the Atlanta Braves nothing but success in the future."
The Red Sox did not announce terms of Baldelli's contract, but a baseball source told the Globe that he will receive $500,000 guaranteed, and can earn another $1.75 million in bonuses solely for remaining on the active roster -- in other words, his salary would be $2.25 million if he remains on the active roster all season.
On top of that, the 27-year-old also has significant bonuses based on plate appearances that could elevate the value of the contract to as high as $7.5 million, though that number is attainable only if he makes 600 plate appearances, which is highly unlikely.
Baldelli batted .263 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 28 games for the Rays in 2008. The righthanded hitter spent a majority of the year on the disabled list with a mitochondrial disorder. He was placed on the Rays' 60-day disabled list March 28 and reinstated to the roster Aug. 10 following two rehabilitation assignments.
The Red Sox have done extensive background work on Baldelli's health. The mitochondrial disorder was re-diagnosed as channelopathy this winter, and there is hope that Baldelli, through diet and medication, can play more than previously anticipated and not suffer the same muscle fatigue to his legs that nearly ended his career a year ago.
Baldelli said tonight he was hopeful as well.
"Once I get to spring training and I start to get on my feet again, I am going to have a lot better idea of how I am feeling," Baldelli said. "I feel very good right now and the Sox have been helping me -- consulting people to further help me feel any better than I already am. I anticipate being able to do more than I was doing last year and that’s pretty much it."
To make room for Baldelli on the 40-man roster, knuckleballer Charlie Zink was designated for assignment.
Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and 150 saves -- he owns 210 of the former and 154 of the latter -- had pitched in the majors for the Braves since 1988, though he did miss the entire 2000 season after elbow surgery. The eight-time All-Star and winner of the 1996 National League Cy Young Award was acquired by Atlanta from the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Doyle Alexander Aug. 12, 1987.
After three years finishing games for the Braves, Smoltz moved back to the rotation in 2005 and didn't miss a beat, going 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA. He went 47-26 in his second run as a starter, but shoulder pain cut short the 2008 season after only six appearances.
Smoltz tried to pitch one game as a reliever, then underwent surgery to fix what he said were "five or six problems," including his labrum, AC joint and biceps.
While acknowledging that similar operations have end the careers of many others, Smoltz felt encouraged enough about his rehabilitation to begin making plans for the new season. The Braves, however, were reluctant to make a deal with the aging pitcher, especially coming off a dismal season in which they missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.
"I've been written off before and I'm sure this is finally the time when everyone says, 'Finally! This is the end,'" Smoltz said late last season. "But I certainly don't think that."
His departure figures to create a major public-relations problem for a franchise that has fallen on hard times since the longest stretch of postseason appearances in baseball history.
Smoltz is not expected to be able to pitch in the majors until May or June, but his acquisition gives the Red Sox their desired depth in their pitching rotation, and may make it more feasible to consider trading a young starter such as Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden for a catcher.
Baldelli has compiled a .281 average, 52 homers and 234 RBIs in 447 games over five seasons, all with Tampa Bay. He was 4 for 20 with two home runs and six RBI in his postseason debut this past fall, and delivered a pivotal hit in Game 7 of the Rays' American League Championship Series victory over the Red Sox.
For perseverance despite his health problems, Baldelli was voted the winner of this year's Tony Conigliaro Award, presented to a major league player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C. The award will be presented tonight at the Boston Baseball Writers' Association of America's annual dinner.
Amalie Benjamin, Tony Massarotti and Nick Cafardo of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Material from the Associated Press was also used.
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Which draft picks (if any) do the Sox lose for signing free agents Penny, Balldeli, or Smoltz? Which picks do they receive if they don't sign Tek?
Why the hell are the Redsox signing injury prone players? Instead of spending money on players who are durable they are spending money on players who either live on the DL or may never even pitch again.. One set back for Smoltz in his rehab at 42 years of age and his career is over. This is just pure stupidity on the part of theo. Where do i apply for his job????
Incremental improvements. I like the Smoltz signing. He's a gutsy competitor who has pitched in 24 postseason games (12-12) but he's a pitbull on the mound. The young kids can learn a lot from him. As far as Rocco, pitchers have to respect him when he's at the plate. I wish him a healthy 09.
If Smoltz has a good year, the Sox staff just got a power boost!
Perhaps they can use all these washed up players in a trade for a CATCHER!
Will this mean they can trade Ellsbury and Buccholz for Hanley Ramirez?
Nice signings by the Red Sox. Baldelli is an improvement over Coco Crisp in terms of having a better arm and more power at the plate. Smoltz looks to be a nice midseason addition to the team. Hopefully he will add depth to the rotation and pitch well enough to win a fair amount of his games. Neither one need to be great, just good enough to be contributors during the yr.
Being a long time fan, I have gone through the bad years too. The Impossible
Dream team and prior, but moves like this make a lot of sense. The sox are not spending a lot of money and most important to me, giving up players with futures in Fenway. It is a big chance, but look back to 2004!!!
Baldelli was on the DL for what was thought to be a mitochondrial disorder. However, the diagnosis was changed to channelopathy, a much more treatable disease.
Good solid baseball moves. And Baldelli has the best arm the Red Sox outfield has seen since, possibly, Dwight Evans. If he's healthy, the fans will really embrace that guy. He can be an exciting player.
ANYone with money can spot and sign a Teixeira. He's a very fine player, without doubt a real standout. He'll help the Yanks, just as he would have helped the Sox. But building a team by properly evaluating and signing guys like Bay, and developing players like Pedroia - that takes patience, conviction and insight.
Hopefully this put some pressure on Varitek to smarten up and sign with us instead of waiting for us to make a trade with Texas for one of there catchers. Can't wait to have Smoltz in the rotation come June. Going into the season with 6 solid starters has been a staple the past few seasons and it pays off in the long run.
I'm loving this. Boston has needed someone to supply some of the power that is usually supplied by traditional corner players at 1B, 3B, LF, and RF and because Boston has good players at most of those positions who are underpowered or in Drew's case, injury-prone. I would keep the powder dry and not move one of the pitchers too early. We've got to see whether Smoltz is effective and whether Ortiz is able to come on. Especially in the latter case, we might need to make a deal in a hurry, although I hope he is able to come back.
Great signings. I love that Theo is being fiscally responsible and this could very well open the door to a deal. The idea that by June 1, we could have 6 starters available in the rotation is fantastic.
This should be worth the risk. As a lifelong Braves fan (Since 1979) I am sad to see Smoltz go. But the upside to this deal for the Sox could be well worth the risk.
These signings are great! Smoltz gives a veteran presence in the bullpen and if he can rebound from his injury can be a proven arm for the staff. For the money, Smoltz cannot hurt one bit! He has done it all. Rocco gives needed depth in the outfield! These types of players are what the Redsox need, not the overpaid, overhyped Texiera types. Well done Theo!
Smoltz is a great sign! He has a high cealing if his arm problems were not serious...
Could someone place call Homeboy Tom Glavine. He and Smoltzy add three quality stopgap seasons and go to the Hall in Red Sox Caps! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-gasp-HAHAHAHA!
Buy your WS hotel rooms now!
Jobu says, "Give Rocco number 5!" This is the number he wore with the Rays. For some reason the Sox don't give out #5--hopefully it's not out of respect to "No-mas" Garciaparra. "No-mas" ain't comin' back (because I put a curse on him after he left Boston).
I'm sorry, but these off season signings are pathetic.The FO heads need to be examined a long with Baldelli's health. Can he even play a full game?! How long will these new meds and diet plan take to make a positive effect?! Probably not until the end of the season..
And Smoltz, at 41 spending his entire life pitching in the NL, Yeah, great pick-up LOL Don't get me started on Brad Penny, (I've seen him pitch) Just an over weight head case with basically one good year under his enormous belt.I'm glad our team was good enough last year, because we definitely didn't get any better with these guys.
I'm
Typical of the Dead Sox; operate with worn out and/or damaged goods.
GIVE ROCCO # 25
Now, this is what I'm talking about! You don't trump the Yankees by playing Boras's game and try and outbid them. All you end up doing then, in most cases, is overpay for money grubbing, me-first, heartless guys like Texeira. You do just what the Sox did and go find high character guys, who are all heart, and gamers like John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli, fantastic teammates, who's primary goal is to play and win a championship (money is a distant second, I'm sure). Way to go, Theo, Larry, and John Henry! Believe me, and this is not sour grapes, I'd rather cheer for guys like Smoltz and Baldelli any day, than guys like Texeira. I wonder if all the Yankees fans are still laughing as loudly about their reported "coup" of Texeira. If we do best the Yankees this year, this will be the sweetest one yet (ok, maybe the second sweetest, you can never beat 2001) and will prove conclusively the adage that, those who laugh last, laugh best.
What really would have been cute ,would have been if the Sox gave Rocco Tony C's #25, but that belongs to our all-star 3rd baseman!!!!!!!
I'm glad Mike Lowell is a Red Sox today!!!!!!!!
Is Smoltz really as much of an obnoxious fundamentalist homophobe as the Big Swillmeister? Hard to believe that anybody could have such toxic diarrhea of the mouth as the Ol' Goosestepper. What an ignorant, hate-spewing machine.
HOT-TEEEHH, heeey!
Give Rocco #5!!! If anyone who comes along deserves it, the Tony C award winner does! (Somewhere, Buckley is smiling with giving Nomar's # to a Tony C winner!)
Next move: Charlie Zink DFA'd
what has happened to curt schillng????is he returning or retired???
LOL You have to love the insane delusions of Sox fans and writers. Only they could celebrate signing washed up National League pitchers with arms that disintegrated long ago. Congrats though to Sox management for fooling the dumb lemmings into thinking they actually did something this off season.
While the Yankees got younger and signed healthy superstars, the Sox are fielding a team of rickety aging has beens. i.e Ortiz, Lowell, Smoltz, Penny. I cannot wait until April.
Pete22 what was so sweet about 2001? Did I miss something or do you have your years on backwards? I thought '01 was the year I was a Diamondbacks' fan!
Typical lefty blather about Schill. One thing for sure, there has been a lot more hate speech directed towards him than has ever emanated from his pie-hole. He certainly has done a lot more in the community than the nay-sayers have ever dreamed of doing. Remember one thing, Sox fans of all political, ethnic, gender and whatever other persuasions: if Curt Schilling had not brought his attitude along with his considerable pitching skills to Boston, we old Sox fans would now be at ninety years and counting.
John Smoltz has had a great and unique career (the only member of the 200-win, 150-save club), and he has been a great competitor. And if he is indeed a born-again Christian, I'm even happier to see him on the Sox.
nice signings. like them both.
BUT as much as i'd like to see salty catch for the sox, there's NO WAY i'm trading either buchholz or bowden for just a good catching prospect. i dont care how glaring a need the sox have for the position. mediocre catchers are a dime a dozen and can be picked up on the cheap anytime. starting pitching carries the highest premium in baseball for good reason. buchhy and bowden both have top of the rotation potential and can't be given up for an unproven catcher. if you're talking about a special player i.e. joe mauer then it's an altogether different story. if texas is willing to accept delcarmen (who in my opinion has the stuff to eventually make it as a closer), plus maybe a second tier prospect then fine you've got a deal. otherwise, target the many other options out there.
also, avoid kelly shoppach. his numbers were inflated last year. 133 strikeouts in 352 ab's will likely translate into a regression in '09.
Great interview in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (ajc.com) today with Chipper Jones talking about how frustrated he is with the Braves for not bringing back John Smoltz. Apparently Smoltz is healthy & pitching well (for January after surgery). Smoltz is a sure bet HOF when he retires & his departure is HUGE in Atlanta today.
For the Sox, this is another low risk, very high reward if things work out (he was expected to be a #1 or #2 on the Braves this year). Not to mention Smoltz is a 1st class guy & should be a great addition to the dugout. I don't follow the Braves but my guess is he could be a good mentor for some of the younger pitchers too.
I've been a Rocco Baldelli fan for a number of years. Somehow felt he would end up in Yankee Stadium like another American of Italian ancestry who wore #5 as Rocco did in TB. Good luck to him.
If Smoltz can keep that shoulder healthy he will be a fine mid season addition.
All we need now is a catcher and a spare first baseman, like Kevin Millar
what can be better...a kid from New England....an Italian and a hitter who can help...Im thrilled...like having Tony C. back.
Who cares about Nomar's number? It's not like Nomar was Jim Rice. Number 25 should be more forbidden (Tony C). Dustin Pedroia is already more of a player than Nomar ever was... not to mention a better teammate... They each won ROY but Pedroia has won a Gold Glove (Nomar never did) and Pedroia won MVP...
You know what's hilarious? The guy who says he would respect red sox fans if they were classy coming to a red sox post and calling a red sox player an ignorant, hate-spewing machine. Pot, meet kettle. You, sir, put the 'moron' in oxymoron.
These are 2 great signings and the risk-reward potential is huge. I see the usual Yank trolls have already chimed in w/their stale drivel. These trolls need to get a life! Sox now favored to win the WS, Yanks battle Jays for 3rd.
Tony C., take two.
Good chemistry moves for the Sox. Simlar to Seau with the Patriots. They'll contribute in more ways than one. Seems the Sox are taking notes from the Pats and the Celtics. Avoiding the megastars with mega egos and mega contracts in favor of guys who love the game and want to win.
Baldelli looks thrilled in the picture
Andy,
Why should you care whether or not the Red Sox are being "fiscally responsible?" Are they going to give back to the fans any of the money they didn't spend by not signing Tex or another big bat? I think not. Now the money goes to line John Henry's pockets. Yeah that's great for the Red Sox and the fans. I am not knocking either of these two signings I'm just saying...
Channelopathy is a group of diseases, not the name of a disease itself. It's like saying someone has a fractured bone but not saying which bone.
I think rocco has myasthenia gravis, from the sound of everything.
Nice signings, but it's not Sabathia/Teixeira.
IF/When they sigb Smoltz I assume he will be placed on the 60 Day DL because he won't be ready to pict until June but would they have to clear a spot on teh 40 man roster first, then add him then put him on the DL? Or can they just put him on the DL right away?
WOW, #5 should be in the RF facade .... and I was hoping for a Nomar 2.0 in 2009.
i think these are solid signings, maybe aren't as flashy as people would want, but remember, championship teams are built with solid role players, and not with big fancy names....if Smoltz who has proven to be a hall of famer continues to play as good as he has been, to the age of jamie moyer...we're going good!
i think we just need another good bat and a catcher, and we are in a good position to the playing in oct...sorry, in november!
From down here in Tampa Bay, GOOD RIDDANCE! SEE YOU LATER ROCCO! Glad the Rays aren't wasting any more payroll on his lazy behind. And don't go all "he has a mitrochondrial disorder, he's an inspiration, how dare you say anything bad about the almighty Rocco, etc." Whether it's his hamstring issues, energy problems (from DRINKING TOO MUCH, and staying out all hours to chase women in St. Petersburg), he'll be lucky if he makes it through the first month of the season before the Sox dump him to Pawtucket, or back to the beach. I'm SO SICK of these players getting paid millions of dollars to pretty much dupe professional organizations and mislead the fans.
I'm happy for Baldelli and I hope he stays healthy. If he does, he's going to be a great addition. Smoltz. Wow, if only it were in his prime. But, he could very well contribute too. Neither one of these guys is a season-changer but, with good fortune, they can really make a difference. Now, who's going to catch?
I love the thought of Baldelli coming home to Boston to play! Can you imagine how he is going to feel wearing a RED SOX jersey after growing up coming to Fenway to watch the SOX? Oh man, I am gonna get chills watching him play with our shirt for the first time!!
I say kudos to Theo, you are the man! He has our best interest at heart too growing up a Sox fan, he wants the best for us and he's gonna make sure we get it!
Screw the Yankees - RED SOX WORLD CHAMPS 2009!!
RE
ROCCO
Good Luck Rocco I am pulling for you to have a great year welcome to Boston.
Rocco gets #5? Now Johnny Damon can get a good night's sleep.
A great move, Rocco can come off the bench with a highly respected bat or simply pinch run if you need great speed on the bases.....I am sure the Doctors at Mass General have the situation in hand.....if Smoltz just sits in the pen and helps coach the young pitchers he is worth the shot......And it would be great to see the Yankees miss the playoffs with the top salaries in MLB
At the start of the offseason, the Red Sox and ankees were in two different spaces. The Yankees are in rebuild mode and they are trying to short cut this by spending big bucks. The Sox are in tweak mode because they were only one game away from a world series last year. Assuming both are healthy, who would you prefer to have in the postseason, C.C. or Smoltz? I know who I would rather have and it ain't C. C.
How good is the AL East looking this year though? Any one of three teams can win it, though I have a feeling the Rays will regress a bit this year. I have no basis for that, but just a feeling.
One team's trash is......a new Red Sox Player!! Way to keep up with the Yankees you cheap b******s
What is up with the OVER REACTION. Nomar (ramon) Garciaparra closed the book on boston in his mind. He didnt care about us. If he cared rememeber that game in 04 when jeter jumped in the stands and ramon nomar just stayed in the dugout.
NOMAR did not retire a redsox. Boston was too intense for that rudy-poo. See ya nomar ramon I was happy that the door hit him in the a** on the way out..
POST NOMAR 2 rings...need I say more
What is up with the OVER REACTION. Nomar (ramon) Garciaparra closed the book on boston in his mind. He didnt care about us. If he cared rememeber that game in 04 when jeter jumped in the stands and ramon nomar just stayed in the dugout.
NOMAR did not retire a redsox. Boston was too intense for that rudy-poo. See ya nomar ramon I was happy that the door hit him in the a** on the way out..
POST NOMAR 2 rings...need I say more
looking good Rocco welcome home!
I think the Red Sox are taking a bad risk with Rocco Baldelli. He has a great reputation and would be a great addition if healthy but he's not. Worse yet, I believe his illness is being misdiagnosed and so he is not even getting proper treatment. I will put odds on the fact that he has Lyme disease. I'm not a doctor but I've been intensely involved with Lyme disease for eight years. My daughter missed all of high school because of it. It is a very misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease. The myth is that it can be treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. The truth is that if not caught early, its highly debilitating.
Sox fans are now saying Teixeira has no character? The same "character" guy that the RS organization targeted for two years and the fans lusted over this winter? And Theo is being fiscally responsible, how's that? By Boras not taking their bid and Teix wanting to go to NY? That's like calling me fiscally responsible after I went to the ATM to try and draw out money but it wouldn't let me because I didn't have any. Real, true fiscal responsib ility their folks.
My, are you guys a bunch of scorned head-cases.
Welcome Home Rocco!!!
Great moves by the Sox! 10 Mil for Brad Penny and John Smoltz is a bargain!
As a life-long Braves fan, I was heartbroken today when I heard the news about Smoltz. Let's be honest, there is a lot of risk in signing him. But there is huge upside if he is anywhere near form. My gut tells me you guys will not be disappointed. Smoltz brings a lot more than an arm with him. He is an all-around great guy in the clubhouse, community, and on the field. And he will absolutely leave it all on the mound. I swear to God, I wouldn't be surprised if someone said Smoltz learned to pitch left-handed just to keep going. He would probably still carry under a 3.00 era.
Anyway, looks like I'm in the market for a new favorite team after this crap.
Good move on Rocco. IF he is healthy they can work out a long-term deal on a very talented guy who loves New England. If not he is only a backup anyway so they don't need more than 50 games out of him. Smoltz is like Colon was last year. Maybe some good innings but they shouldn't trade Buchholz or Bowden counting on it.
If Rocco get's healthy, I'd rather have him than Texciera. He has equal power, batter baseball skill and is, believe it or not, better at his position. The Yankees fucked up.....Again.
Will ticket prices be going down to pay for this low rent talent they are bringing in? Take off Manny's $20 million and add Rocko's $1 million and we should call it a wash.
Rocco is not a Cumberland, RI native, he is a Woonsocket, RI native and Cumberland, RI resident. He played LL baseball in Woonsocket and moved to Cumberland in high school.
Any chance the Globe & NESN (Don Orsillo) can stop referring to Rocco as "Rhode Island's own..."? I think anyone who has access to either is WELL AWARE of where he's from. Who cares?!?! You don't hear Jack Edwards going on and on about "Melrose's own" Keith Tkachuk, do you?
Good luck, Rhodeislandsownrocco Baldelli. He's from Rhode Island, you know.
Smoltz's postseason record is 15-4, 2.65 ERA, 207 IP, 194 SO, 67 BB. The best postseason record of any pitcher in history when accounting for both quality and quantity. Sox got themselves a hell of a pitcher. I will miss him dearly.
is zink going to get a shot with another team? he had a few nice seasons in the minors but one bad start when called up to the SHOW. seems like KC or another low end market should be able to give him a shot.
Earl,
They don't lose any picks for these signings, as none are Type A or Type B free agents. If Jason Varitek signs with another team, the Red Sox receive a 1st round draft pick.
www.wbrs.org
Rocco may very well be a good addition, and his being a New Englander is cool, but No. 5? Nope.
Again, the Red Sox Executives have proven to acquire quality baseball players for a good price. If these two ballplayers can have just good years, the Red Sox organization and the fans can bask in the glow of the playoffs. This just proves good baseball players are still able to be had at a good price!!! Go Red Sox!!
I'll take quality AND substance over these overpaid other players. Welcome Home Rocco! You have the heart of a lion and hope to see you play! Same goes for Smoltz, another player that can coach even if he isn't performing. Yeah they aren't the big name high priced players but the Sox haven't lost much for it comparitively.
How can you question these signings? Didn't Theo put together teams that won 2004 and 2007 World Series?
Should be an intersting season. When do pitchers and catchers report? Can't wait...
Good low risk/high ceiling signings. If they dont work out, not the end of the world, but they could be very useful. Absolutely love his getting #5... it's about time. No-Mo has done nothing but diss the Sox since he was traded... worse than Damon. We owe him no respect. Next, give #21 to Smoltz. Perfect. Interesting this happens the same day as the Cubs give Sammy Sosa's #21 to Milton Bradley.
These signings dont cost any picks. None are type A or B free agents
More important than whatever number Baldelli will wear is what Francona was wearing today. Is it me, or is he trying to channel Gandhi?
Someone tell me WHY the Marlins would trade Hanley Ramirez back to the Sox?
I mean really, people just so cavalierly assume that all we have to do is say we want Ramirez back and we'll give you Jacoby Ellsbury & Clay Bucholz and the Marlins will fall into line and do the deal.
Also, when did Hanley Ramirez become the next coming of Cal Ripken? Don't get me wrong he's been a good player for the Marlins well except in t he field where he's averaged 22 errors a year at short his entire big league career
I like the Baldelli and Smoltz signings, they're minimum investment for a possibility of a great return.
I LOVE Smoltz's flexibility, he can comne out of the ''pen in long relief or as an option if Paps gets injured he can also spot sstart and provide more of a veteran influence on the staff too, I think it's great!
Baldelli will be good as a fourth outfielder and just the fact that he knows what he needs to do to keep himself heal;thy and warding off his condition he'll follow through with it and will have a good year.
hey why did you guys not try and sign carl pavano.. i am sure he would have gave john henry a run at the yankees.. john smoltz? rocco who?, brad penny? MAN OH MAN... I GUESS THE YANKEES SHOULD BE BRINGING THINKING ABOUT CRAWLING UNDER THEIR SEATS NOW!! LOL.. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THEO? ALWAYS LOSING OUT ON STAR PLAYERS WHO PREFER TO BE YANKEES WHILE YOU GUYS SETTLE FOR THE SCRAP LEFT ON THE FLOOR!!
LOL OMG LOL!!! YOU GUYS CAN ENJOY WATCHING THE YANKEES SMACK THE LIVING DAY LIGHTS OUT OF YOU.. ENJOY WATCHING THE YANKEES IN OCTOBER WHILE YOUR TEAM LOOKS FOR A RETIREMENT PLAN!!!! LOL LOL
I like the Smoltz signing. Baldelli comes off the bench I suppose. Now trade Bucholtz right now for Saltalamacchia(sp?). Varitek can not be a full time hitter for the Red Sox anymore.
All the speeches from the Boston Baseball Writers Awards Dinner are posted at www.bostonbaseball.com -- including Baldelli's speech.
Earl, the Sox don't have to give up any draft picks for Penny, Baldelli or Smoltz, which is great. If another team signed Varitek, they would receive a 1st round draft pick, which is why he became far less attractive to a team like Detroit once the Sox had offered him arbitration.
The Sox of recent memory have a history of trying out low risk/high reward contracts for the aged (John Burkett, Brett Saberhagen, etc) and infirm (2008 Schilling, Wade Miller, etc), most of which had moderate impact at best. But the advantage the Sox have this year is that they have a lot of depth in the rotation should anyone go down, which is not something they had before - so in that regard, I think the signings of Penny and Smoltz are very good ones. Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Penny, Wakefield, Smoltz, Masterson, Bowden, Buchholz.
IF Penny, Smoltz and Baldelli play even close to their potential, they are three great signings. More likely however, none of them will play a significant role.
First: Losing Tex was inexcusable....simply inexcusable. Especially to the Skankees. But, that is water over the dam now. So, despite the fact that Baldelli is now injury prone and Smoltz is.......injury prone....I think both can help the team. Now they need Salty to catch along with Bard and Tek as the mentor. It will be an interesting season for sure. After all..when the Skanks got A-roid Red Sox nation thought the sky would fall on us.......it hasn't. Just because they got him doesn't mean he'll produce. More pitching would be nice though......
You know what's funny. The retards that bring up the Tex signing with the Yank Mees in an article that has nothing to do with Tex (the conceded one) or the yank mees (the noncontending ones).
This is about the best team in the AL getting that much better. We lost nothing to gain these players that could start for any team while getting them for next to nothing. ANY team would start these guys and we have them to fill in when we might need them.
Nice work Theo!!!
It kills me reading what some of these haters write. What are they doing on Boston.com anyway?
OK, I gotta go. gonna log on to newyork.com and post on that site.
idiots!
Way to go sox
Would've been nice to get Tex but all the Red Sox really needed is a few tweaks and good health. With Penny, Rocco, Smoltz and Kotsay you've got some outstanding tweaks. Just don't trade Buchholz or the other kids for catching. Tek should be persuaded to return to redeem himself, because he is much better than he showed last season and still has a lot left.
If Ortiz doesn't stop from shaking his head after a failed at bat and get serious about stranding base runners, the Sox and Kotsay's non productivity will render the sox more useless in 2009. The signing of Tek will not encouarage him to get serious about how he swings like he's using a styrofoam bat, and still collects he thinks he derserves millions for hitting into double plays with go ahead runners in place.
Hi all. We cannot destroy kindred: Our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break.
I am from Romania and too bad know English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Email this article when you are learning how to write a resume you will need to expand your vocabulary."
Thank you so much for your future answers ;-). Wilson.
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