Kotsay expected out at least until May after back surgery

Kotsay will have more value towards the later half of the season anyways as a option to rest Ortiz, Youkilis, Drew, and so on...and if needed Wilkerson would at least be a bat and outfield glove for the first part of the season.....

but honestly.. is there ANY member of the Red Sox that isnt coming off of some kind of surgery

Wouldn't the money that was spent on Kotsay and Wilkerson(double it if you like) have been better spent on someone like.......................... Dunn?!?!?! With ATLEAT double the production!!

not really because dunn is one dimensional the red sox try to field players that have many dimensions to their game which gives them flexibility during the long season. dunn would only make sense at 1st base, but now your infield defense becomes much worse, the only reason texiera made sense is because he wouldn't have hurt the team defensively. don't even try to suggest he play outfield for the sox.

And Dunn would play Where everyday?

Forecaster ,you're not serious are you?? Both Kotsay and Wilkerson's contracts when put together AND doubled are still no where near what Dunn is going to command. Grow up, this isn't a video game.

I don't think Dunn would have had ATLEAT double the production of guys that frankly don't strike out as much. I agree that Dunn would have made for a more dramatic acquisition, but he is a one dimensional hitter. You know if he doesn't hit a home run, he will strike out.

Forecaster, you have the 1980's Red Sox mentality going. Dunn is like Michael Jackson.....has a glove on one hand for no apparent reason.

Who did his physical before the Sox signed him, Dr. Strangelove? They couldn't see this coming?

Hmm. Time to reconsider Abreu?

Forecaster- No.

A) Kotsay is signed for 1.5 million plus incentives and Wilkerson is signed for the major league minumum 400k plus incentives. 2mil isn't enough to land Dunn.

B) Dunn isn't a "Sox type player". I know it sounds cliche but Dunn is seriously a cross between Bellhorn and a donkey. He can't work counts and he breaks up
momentum.

C) Dunn won't sign on to ride the bench or be a situational player- he wants to be a starter. and he should be- but not on the sox

Dunn is, at best, a $12 million one year option. Kotsay and Wilkerson are maybe 25% of that.

Where do you play Dunn? Why do people hate Mike Lowell so?

Dunn is, at best, a $12 million one year option. Kotsay and Wilkerson are maybe 25% of that.

Where do you play Dunn? Why do people hate Mike Lowell so?

The only sure things for this season are:
Pedroia, Youkilis, and Bay

The rest have had injury issue last season or are beginning the season on the DL. I know we've signed some relief help but until i see them in the AL East, Im not counting on them.

Dunn would be a nice compliment to this lineup, but... my guess is he will get somewhere in the neighborhood of 4/60m. I doubt Kotsay/Wilkerson have 2-5m guaranteed dollars TOTAL. A big difference. Also don't forget that whenever Dunn plays someone (Lowell/Ortiz/Drew/Ellsbury) must sit. Is it really worth it?

I did enjoy this lil zinger aimed at the Yankee organization by Theo...
"We're not building this organization through free agency. I don't think that's an intelligent way to build an organization."

2009 Salary for Adam Dunn >>> 2009 Salaries of Mark Kotsay and Brad Wilkerson combined. He will probably end up taking a 2009 contract that will pay 3 or 4 times the total 2009 contracts of Kotsay and Wilkerson (if not more).

Did the Sox know about the back problem before they signed Kotsay? If they knew, why are they so secretive about these things? What else don t we know going into spring training? It seems like Lowell is not 100% and I am sure that the predicition for his return on opening day is premature and his return will be put off until May or June. The sox front office is beginning to behave like the nixon white house.

no.

Kotsay and Wilkerson play all three outfield positions fairly well. Dunn can barely make a play in LF and is basically just a DH. He would be a terrible choice as an extra outfielder.

Kotsay's contract is peanuts and Wilkerson has to make the team. Why not bring in either Dunn or Abrieu? The Sox have the money, give one for these guys a one year contract.

Kotsay is reflective of the difference between the Sox and the Yankees this off-season: gigantic improvements across the board for the Yankees versus the odd and questionable tweak here and there for the Sox. Who would you rather be?

I've had that surgery and that recovery time seems long. The relief was immediate for an old tub like me and tons better in just a few weeks. An elite athlete like Kotsay could be back sooner.

Both Kotsay and Wilkerson are signed for one year at almost nothing. Sox will get someone at the trading deadline if they need too

Dunn can't play CF, and Kotsay/Wilkerson can.

Forecaster, I don't think Dunn can be had for 2 million, as you suggest.

Except that Dunn's defense is very suspect to say the least and he strikes out like its his job. production is great, but that is playing every day. Do you really think that he would accept a part time gig? Or be able to perform at the same level if he can't get in the rhythem of the season?

I keep repeating that Red Sox need a hospital plane to follow Red Sox on road trips as team is full of walking wounded.

I don't get all the clamoring for Dunn. I mean I would if I were an Angels fan and had Rivera and Morales lined up to play everyday. But if the Sox sign Dunn who are you displacing and at what cost defensively? Tex was a huge upgrade offensively and a minor upgrade defensively. Dunn is a minor upgrade offensively and HUGE downgrade defensively regardless if you put in the OF or 1B or DH (with Ortiz in the field). The net effect is nearly a wash. Yes, if Lowell struggles to come back from the surgery he'd be a big upgrade offensively, but look at the other side, what if Dunn doesn't adjust to the more difficult American League well? It's not like he's a fundamentally great hitter. His value is tied to Walks and HR's. What if the K's INCREASE and the other two decrese with the new league? Where are you then? Answer, you've got Wily Mo Pena at 10 million a year.

Forecaster - where do you play Dunn defensively??? Have you ever watched him trying to catch the ball? He makes Canseco look like a gold glover. He's just not worth the money unless you plan to use him as a DH and last I checked we already have a DH under contract.

Isn't Kotsay only getting 1.5M and Wilkerson about the miniumum? Together they'll fill the lefty option at 1B to spell Youk and they can play all OF spots. What they're expected to do has nothing to do with a possible signing of Dunn...he's a poor left fielder and a failed first baseman...comparing the 2, and bemoaning as if it were a choice berween them, sounds like Theo-hating.

Dunn won't play a part-time role on any club. It would only hurt his number's and his opportunity to make more money is what might be a more economicly friendly market next season!

Double the strikeouts for sure.

Hey knucklehead, Wilkerson was a minor league deal, that's like free for the Sox

I completely agree with Forecaster!!! What is the reason the Red Sox, or any other team has not gone after Dunn. And, why is it this urgery wasn't performed immediately at the end of last season? I just love the way all athletes wait to have necssary surgery to miss all pre-season training and part of the regular season. This is true in all sports.

Sign Dunn and be Dunn with it!! He'll produce for the half season Drew will miss!!!

I wonder if they knew about this before they signed him? I don't know anything about Wilkerson but Dunn is an absolute mess defensively, either in right field or at first, he is slow with no reflexes and he is guaranteed to cost the team runs. I moved to Arizona a few years ago and I watched him play here last year. His offense is over-rated, too. He also strikes out constantly.

No, actually it wouldn't make more sense to sign Dunn, because he lacks versatility. I don't have his stats in front of me, but Dunn is basically a RH David Ortiz, which is exactly what the Sox do not need or want. The outfield is set, and I would take Bay over Dunn any day, because Bay is better all around player, by far. And I like Youk at first, because he's a superior defensive player to any alternative. The Sox do not need Dunn, and should not sign him.

Forecaster...I have heard that Dunn is poor defensively, while Kotsay is adequate in both infield and outfiled and has an adequate bat. I think the Red Sox want the flexibility that Kotsay offers. Dunn could only replace Ortiz.

Adam Dunn!

Dunn can't even field firstbase....never mind outfield.

he's a bigger hole than the grand canyon.

Except Dunn is looking for more than twice that...and a starting job.

Forecaster, as if Dunn was coming here for $6 million? C'mon! He wouldn't even have a place to play. The man cannot and does not want to play 1B. Our OF corners and DH are all set. Your complaining doesn't make any sense.

What would happen if we went after Griffey Jr.? Is there a chance? Plus he could relieve Drew and Ortiz.

I agree. We should have signed Dunn. 1B/OF. Lots of POWER. EXTREMELY HIGH OBP--which, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't THAT what Theo has stressed in our offense?

No. Dunn won't hit .300. He'll hit .250, but he'll have 35-40 HR's and an OBP higher than .370. That's INSANE #'s for a power guy. If he doesn't hit one out, he's walking.

THAT's where our money should have gone!

Forecaster, Kotsay is going to make $1.5 million and Wilkerson up to $1.5 million with incentives which I doubt he will reach with the Sox.

You seriously think Dunn can be had for $3 million? I am guessing he goes for 6-8 million per year.

Forecaster,
the money they paid they paid kotsay and wilkerson isnt even close to half of what dunn will command on a 1 year deal if he is forced to end up signing a 1 year..not to mention dunn does not have regular ab's here, which he would be looking for on a 1 year deal, as opposed to kotsay and wilkerson who are aware of their roles..

that being said, it does kinda suck they wasted any money at all and a roster spot on kotsay considering he will end up missing the 1st month or two at least...not like he was all that great of a bench player to begin with, sure he is versatile and plays solid defense at a few positions, but his offense is below average...not like he is some dangerous bat off the bench if needed..he's not much more than a guy you can toss in the outfield and/or 1b and he wont screw it up and thats about it

Kotsay - back. Youk - back. Beckett - back. Drew - back. Etc. This club needs a chiropractor.

Dunn would never have accepted a backup role, so I don't feel that would have been an option. It sure would have been nice to do, but unless the planned to bench one of the starting outfielders, or a corner infielder, Dunn wouldn't work

This is disappointing... I was happy when the Red Sox resigned Mark Kotsay this offseason. He seemed very professional. I hope the surgery went well, and I hope the recovery and rehab go well too. Hopefully Kotsay doesn't miss too much time. He's definitely a valuable bench player for the Red Sox this season. We all saw that last season when the team was bitten by the injury bug.

Adam Dunn as in the same subpar defensive outfielder who has had fewer than 500 abs in one of his full major league seasons?

The Adam Dunn who has announced that he wants to stay in the NL? The career .247 hitter with bad defensive skills, who has struck out 170, 195, 168, 194, 165, and 164 times in 6 of his 8 major league seasons? The natural DH that wants to play outfield? Yeah, he wants to sit on the Sox bench as the 4th outfielder, and the Sox want to pay him his desired $10-14 million per year to sit there. I hear Manny's looking for a job, too. He could be the 5th outfielder!

Dunn would not take the Kotsay role of being a 4th outfielder and backup 1st baseman. You cannot have 25 stars on the team. Kotsay is a great bench player and when healthy will fit in. I hope the Sox knew about this when they signed him.

"Wouldn't the money that was spent on Kotsay and Wilkerson(double it if you like) have been better spent on someone like.......................... Dunn?!?!?! With ATLEAT double the production!!"

What good would Dunn be to the Sox? Sure, his bat would be nice, but the guy is an abysmal fielder and has never served as a backup in his career. Many players lose a big part of their batting ability when they're reduced to a backup role, as it's harder to consistently catch up with the ball when you're not getting routine at bats.

Wikerson and Kotsay are both utility fielders, used more for their defense and versatility than anything else. They're only in the lineup if someone else can't be. Say we sign Dunn, what do you do with him? Take Bay, Drew or Youk out of the lineup and hope like hell his consistently terrible fielding doesn't give up more runs than his bat produces?

Dunn would not come to the Red Sox to be a fourth outfielder/back-up first baseman anyway. He wants to start. Plus I would only be interested in Dunn as a DH, he is bad in the field. The Sox need to win with pitching and defense and a balance offense providing most everyone comes back healthy.

Didn't Kotsay have a physical before the contract kicked in?

In this employee friendly market, we should not be signing guys who need surgery and will miss at least the first month!

Where did this come from?? There was no mention of back surgery when they decided to re-sign him! This whole offseason strategy of "Low Risk/High Reward" signings has been a joke. Do the Sox have any intention of actually competing with the Yankees and Rays? The only good moves I saw were locking up Youk and Pedey for years to come, and at the least signing Papelbon to avoid abritration! Other than that, this team will have many question marks.... If they do win the East and move on, it would be the "feel good" story of the year. I hope Theo and company are proven right, for the sake of the team and fans.

You can't spell Dunn without a K

Sure Dunn hits for power but his batting average is down right awful!

Sign Dunn, he can play outfield, First or be a DH ...with him, you've got 40 plus home run power and 100 rbi's either on th field or coming off the bench at ALL times.
Drew's always hurt, Papi needs rest from time to time.....
That's the real deal, Not Kotsay or whosay...

Good grief where did this come from? This guy just signed a contract. Did he pass a physical??? Where is Trot Nixon? Geez, what is next.

Not a big loss; this opens up more playing time for Rocco!

Nice team