?

Didnt see that one coming....Kottares? or making a move?

Does this mean they are in the process of acquiring Salty, Teagarden or someone (hopefully not overpaying with Bucholtz and/or Daniel Bard)? I know that 'Tek went 2 or 3 yesterday, but the Sox do still need a "back up" catcher to spell him for a good number of the games.

Huh? Who's catching Wake now?

He was a waste of money anyways!

PLEASE bring Saltamacchia to the Red Sox.....NOW. Even if it means trading Buchholz. The Red Sox desperately need a big bat in the line-up and he would also allow Tek to rest more during the season.

More to come huh...is it a new catcher in the Sox future or is it someone from within who has shown enough that the Sox felt the could release Bard? I'm guessing a trade, possibly involving Kottaras (since he is out of options) and a pitcher...

This guy must want to kill Theo at this point.

This makes no sense. He's having a great spring, and seems to be the only major league level hitter the Sox have at catcher. Unless this is a precursor to announcing a trade for some young stud, I'm amazed.

I hope a trade is in the works because Dusty Brown as the backup isn't acceptable.

Well I have to say this move really confuses me. Varitek was hitting under .100 and Bard was batting over .350 with a couple homers I think. I am not huge into spring stats, but this was a move I didn't expect. Neither Kottaras or Brown were tearing it up...well Brown was doing ok in limited playing time...

Kottaras is a left-handed hitter, not a switch hitter. That said, I've been hoping he'd make the club all along. I'd like to see what he can do with 250 ABs at the major league level.

as well as Bard was hitting this spring, I dont know if it makes sense to release him in favor of Kottaras... So I wonder if an announcement will be comming at some point that they have acquired Saltalamacchia or one of the other young catchers they have been persuing.

It's pretty clear to me now that Bard was brought aboard initially to be insurance in case the Sox couldn't retain Jason Varitek. With Varitek returning the backup position is best served being filled by the catcher the Sox hope to mold into his permanent replacement. Whether they ever viewed Bard taking that role in the organization is questionable.

Could we please just get rid of Wakefield instead? Every year we hear how valuable he is and in the end he is around .500 with a deplorable ERA. Bard has proven he can hit, excluding last year when he was injured, and catch, and seems to be a good guy. How about dumping Wakefield and letting someone with some upside take his spot?

Maybe with Daniel Bard looking so good, Sox are trading Bucholz for young catching help? Can't believe they think Kottaras is long term answer.

I thought Kottaras hit soley lefty??

I dont mind the move so much Kottaras hit 26 Homers in the minors even though he only hit somewhere around .240. Maybe some of that power will translate to the majors.

Does anyone know what Kottaras' numbers are this spring?

Pudge Rodriguez would be a fine addition.

a little suprised by this move but I guess Kottaras proved he can play @ the major league level this spring.

Is "briefer" a word?

No - it won't be Kotteras, they want some offense from the catcher, they resigned Tek as a mercy good will old timers tour. They want one of the platoon guys from Texas, Teagarden or Salti - this isn't news - this just got back burnered

No, the Sox can't use a catcher who is batting .462 ... even if it's just a spring training average.

What the heck are they thinking? I thought the plan was to platoon him with Varitek with the idea of Bard getting more than just the Wakefield starts and really get some serious playing time? Don't tell me their plan is the same with Kottaras cause from what I hear, his catching skills are iffy at best.
The only thing that makes sense is that they weren't convined that Bard's skills were good enough and that a Salty trade is happening soon with Texas so that he can be groomed now by Varitek.

Post #9: Yeh, he wants to kill Theo for putting 350k in his pocket for 10 exhibition games of which he played a total of 35 innings?

Thank you sir, may i have another.

Pudge signed - with the Houston Astros - yesterday I think

Let's all hope Kottaras can make an inpact and be groomed as Tek's replacement.

"Could we please just get rid of Wakefield instead? Every year we hear how valuable he is and in the end he is around .500 with a deplorable ERA."

Tim Wakefield's ERA+ has been at least 100 every year since 2001. I'm not sure the word deplorable means what you think it means. Either that or you're talking out your backside.

Doug Mirabelli is at home waiting for his state police escort.

Doug Mirabelli is at home waiting for his state police escort.

I heard that the sox are going after Rich Gedman or Rick Cerrone. This would be a great move for the sox and make them the front runner in the division. This is why the sox got rid of Bard, for way better talent that is surprisingly still available.

I heard gedman has been working out...

Jezz, a quarter million for a month's work- not too shabby!

Pudge Rodriguez would be a fine addition.
Posted by Talkshowhost March 18, 09 12:17 PM
Pudge got signed by the Houston Astros, so this is not an option. However, I am a bit perpexed by this move. Does beg the question, do the Red Sox have a trade in the works to fill the other catcher position? I find it difficult to believe that the Red Sox are going to use George Kottaras as the back up catcher, so I have to believe a trade is in the works. I guess we have to wait and see.

DO NOT TRADE BUCHHOLZ!
especially for a decent hitting catcher who is not even a good catcher!

I'd be miffed if I was Josh Bard...

Shoot, I'd catch for $500k!

So he made $300,000 and some change for catching a few knucleballs in the Florida sun?

.......not too shabby!

Imagine hitting .462 in ST and getting cut anyway

someone will surely pick him up and he'll hit a home run against the Bosox to steal a game sometime this season...just hopefully not in game 7 of the WS

"Could we please just get rid of Wakefield instead? Every year we hear how valuable he is and in the end he is around .500 with a deplorable ERA."

Your definition of "deplorable" is far away from the actual definition, friend. You seem to forget that Wakefield is the 4/5 starter, back end of the rotation. His numbers may seem rough when you've got a team featuring Lester, Beckett and Matsuzaka, but Wakefield has consistently been one of the better back of the rotation guys in baseball this decade. He's the mark of consistency back there and that's something exceptionally hard to come by. Would you prefer a guy like Sidney Ponson back there? Perhaps bring back Julian Tavarez for the spot? Maybe Daniel Cabrera would better suit your standards?

Face facts, man. The back end of the rotation is not a spot you're going to see a sub-4 ERA. Wakefield is a guy who will guarantee you at least ten wins and a league average ERA pretty much any given season, and inexpensively to boot. He's never going to light it up, but he's a valuable piece of the puzzle.

In terms of Bard, I have to think the answer's obvious: Kottaras is five years younger and making around a fourth as much money as Bard. Odds are that the two will be a push at the plate, so why not go with the cheaper option? Before anyone pulls out spring stats, I would like to remind you all that Julio Lugo was batting .400+ and a thirty year old career AAAA player is leading the team in average.

Yet another in a long line of votes of confidence for Good Ol' J. Varitek. Captain Tek wows the Sox fanboys and front office with a rocking 2 for 3 performance yesterday, so the Sox outright waive the only other MLB proven catcher in the organization.

I simply cannot wait to watch Tek bring the dirt dog mentality to the park each day, call a gosh-darn good game, struggle to hit his weight and slug his way out of a wet paper bag, and sulk when his buddy Tito occasionally gets the sack to PH for him.

Go Tek! The Sox are the best!! I can't wait to get my new alternate jersey with Varitek's name on the back and a replica "C" on the front for our captain!!! Yippee!!

I'm inclined to trust Sox mgt on this. Despite Theo not calling me for my opinion, I don't believe this move will deny the Sox the chance for success.

What do we need Epstein for? Dozens of people making comments here apparently know more than he does!
(Sheesh!!)

We need Dougie Mirabelli now more than ever!!!!!!!

epstein has got his head up his ass on the catcher position....varitek posts .220 last year, can't even reach .100 this spring....epstein hands him 5 million dollars....and then releases bard who's at about .467 this spring....and rodriguez is signed for 1.5? epstein, get over the mesmorization with varitek, he sucks....try to improve your ballclub, don't try to ruin it...

Can Julius Peppers catch ?

First, you don't trade Buchholz for Saltamacchia, who might become an above-average catcher but is unproven. Both players are at the same level of development and a tremendous upside. If both reach the top of the upside, I'd rather have it in a pitcher.

Second, don't start quoting spring stats. Yeah, Bard is having a good spring but his stats have gone down steadily since 2006 -- he batted .202 last year -- and hardly has Tek's pedigree. I would have liked to see the Red Sox keep Bard because he's a good guy who you can root for. But if he can't catch Wakefield, you need someone else behind Varitek.

And yes, you keep Wakefield. His 4.13 ERA was more than respectable and it's hardly a given that the Red Sox have two pitchers to start the season in the 4 and 5 spots. Penny might not be ready when the Sox need a No. 4 so Buchholz might have to go. Having at least three pitchers for the two spots is great insurance. Buchholz was supposed to be the No. 5 last year and look what happened.

What the hell?!?!?!

Let's see... Bard was hitting .462 when he was cut. I saw him hammer a monster line drive HR vs the Pirates in Bradenton last week. Nothing wrong with his bat. I guess it was the catching part. Maybe we can find another Haywood Sullivan (joke for old-timers)...

If I was Theo - I'd keep an eye out for Bard sneaking up behind me & knocking me senseless LOL. The RS had plenty of time to decide they didn't want Bard in '06. I was wondering what changed. I think there is more to it than making Theo want a second look. He only batted .202 in 08 for the Padre's. Must be a trade emmient.

I would have preferred Bard and Kottaras....no Jason Watney (that is before even considering the money)!

Do. Not. Trade. Buchholz. Theo.

goes to show how using wakefield, with the highest post seaon ERA in history, continues to hurt the red sox, he takes up 2 roster spots! Do you want wakefield on the mound in a big game? I don't

He was the only catcher we had that could hit. Stupid move, unless there is a trade on the way.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Theo Epstein has no idea how to manage the catching position.

Letting go of Shoppach, the Mirabelli fiasco, Javier Lopez, allowing Cash to sign with the Yankees. Bard here, Bard gone, Bard here again, Bard gone again.

Incredible.

It's as if signing Varitek tied the hands of the team - will they regret it? I'd rather have Bard than Kottaras, because I think they need a somewhat proven major leaguer to share the catching with a possibly washed-up Varitek. (Though Kottaras is just speculation at this point.)

Another shining example of ownership scroooo'ing a guy. This time for the second time in one career !!
We all get that Bard wasn't going to be a starting catcher....but they sign him in 2006; ship him away to San Diego. They sign him in 2008; cut him in Spring Training while he's batting .429 ??
I know Kotteras is a switch-hitter and catches knuckle-balls....but....

I "WORSHIP" at the altar that is The Red Sox (Team & Players)....but this ownership has shown it's true-colors to me at this point.

That's my 2 cents on it.

(Watch, Ortiz is next.... Ownership has their pet "Youkilis" mouthing off about Ortiz during the WBC. Laying groundwork for Ortiz's dismissal - "Ortiz isn't a team-player since we traded Manny....CANCER in the clubhouse") -- My God !! I can only see the nonsense now.

Pudge signed with the Astros.

Tek hits one HR and Bard is gone?

Kotteras & Buccholtz for Teagarden.... Saltalamachia has been announced by Texas Rangers as the starter for Opening Day.

Talkshowhost: Since Pudge Rodriguez signed with The Astros; it may be hard to get him signed here....CLOWN !! -- Pudge is a selfish-catcher anyways; let him stay where he goes.

pudge has signed already.....

Kottaras actually is a decent hitter. He got off to a lousy start in Pawtucket but came around the second half.

Wow,

They sure screwed him on the money. Everyone makes a big fuss about players being greedy. Hell if they weren't the teams would just screw them over.

Business is business and the players (especially the 2nd tier guys) should take every penny they get and give a damn about club loyalty.

You need to look out for #1 like Manny, Arod, etc because no one else is sure looking out for you.

There must be something else going on here?
Or did we just want to save the $1M?

Pudge Rodriguez would NOT be a fine addition. The fact that he already signed with the Astros on Monday notwithstanding...

Wow, if the sox make no more moves as far as catchers go, they will arguably along with the yankees have the weakest backstop position in the majors. Please tell me there is a trade in the works because I would roll the dice for Bard over Varitek at this point.

Jack, don't trash Wake. We wouldn't have beat the Yankees in 2004 if Wake hadn't been willing to take one for the team in the horrendous game 3 of the ALCS. And while Wake was around .500 last year, (10-11), his ERA was below the league average at 4.13, and for those of you who understand WHIP, Wake's was 1.18 last year. Yes, that's not a misprint. Those WHIP and ERA numbers are Wake's best in five years. Pretty good for a #5 starter with a 68 mph fastball when there's a tailwind.

Bring Back Manny!!!!

Immediately.

Thank You.

Lamabe...you're just wrong. Wake had a terrific year last season. With decent relief, he would have won 15-16 games; the bullpen blew half his leads. He as the toughest pitcher to hit on the staff, and was second in innings pitched. Wake's ERA is never bad, and it is always misleading, because when he gets hammered, he really gets hammered, and his ERA is distorted by about four bad innings. And he's a terrific bargain at only 4 million a year.

#15 - Deplorable ERA? Tim Wakefield's ERA has been better than the league average for each of the past eight years. How many pitchers can say that?

In response to Jack: Get rid of Wake?! If the Sox gave him some run support once in a while (like they do with Dice-K), Wake would be a 20-game winner every year. Even in his 40s, Wake pitches more innings than anyone. He is the backbone of the pitching staff.

.462 batting average and gone??? I hope we don't regret this one!!!!!

.462 in about 14 at bats or six games....cannot base your decision on this. I will trust the guys that are there every day in camp...

"Could we please just get rid of Wakefield instead? Every year we hear how valuable he is and in the end he is around .500 with a deplorable ERA. "

He has won twenty-six games over the last two seasons. His 4.13 ERA last year was well below the league average of 4.36.

Facts are stubborn things.

Ditto on poster 15...let's hold a wake for Wakefield...I have a bet with a friend that he will not make it to 10 wins this year...he should have retired after 2007 season

Theo is going to be embarassed by this move again. Watch the Skankees or Tampa Bay get him and he hits 320 with power.

Wow. It is a sad day when someone gets cut from the roster because of Tim Wakefield.

Theo will regret this move again. Watch him hook up with the Yankees or Tampa Bay and hit 320 with power.

i think it may be a good move. kotteras caught zink last year and did fine. why not give him a chance instead of rushing for salty or teagarden which we only know off cause the media made them look like saviors. give kotteras a chance i say.

i think it may be a good move. kotteras caught zink last year and did fine. why not give him a chance instead of rushing for salty or teagarden which we only know off cause the media made them look like saviors. give kotteras a chance i say.

Kottaras is out of options, so he makes the team or someone else snatches him up. It's actually kind of simple - Keep Bard and lose a young, cheap catcher, or keep Bard and lose that young guy. Bard's good, not great.

I suspect Kottaras was catching ZInk a lot (and with some success), and that was key to the Sox' thinking. Just a hunch.

Rodriguez signed with Houston on Monday.

Sure it's a word brief, briefer, brieferer, briefest, then you go to mostbriefer only in the Boston globe.

A lot of comments for a backup catcher.

This guy can't catch a break in Boston (no pun intended).

Talkshowhost - Pudge signed with the Astros yesterday.

Joe Johnson - Bard is a reliever and Buchholz is a starter, I don't think the performance of the former has any effect on the status of the latter.

That said, I'd hate to see either of them go for Salty or Teagarden.

I liked the Bard signing a lot - he was 1 injury-filled year removed from 2 very solid seasons in San Diego. I was expecting good things from him and he was having a very good spring. Let's hope Kotteras can get it done, because it looks like he'll be starting 60+ games.

the tribe will take him back today if the $'s are right

"in the end he is around .500 with a deplorable ERA"

When your 4 or 5 starter goes .500 you are pretty good. When he goes 17-12 you can win a WS. His ERA is usually league average too, not deplorable for back of the rotation at all. Learn about baseball.

Poor Josh the yo yo. We hardly knew ya. I think you would have done fine. I don't buy the lefty hitter rationalization. I think it's obvious...they were unsure about Tek because he stopped hitting last year, and that's why they left him on the vine so long...and signed Bard as a replacement when they couldn't get the deal they wanted for Salty. Then they made a cutrate offer to Tek as he was still the best thing on the market, and surprise surprise he took it. He's apparently convinced them he's listening to Magadan, changing his approach, and making progress. Bard is the fall guy because they didn't want to lose the cheaper, younger Kotteras. If indeed they do make a trade for Salty or some other, do they carry 3 catchers, or is Kotteras part of the trade?

What about Gary Allanson? What a tandem he'd make with Gedman.

Do you people even read before you post?
To the 5 people who got what we pad Josh Bard for his services wrong. He made ecactly $283,333.
AND!!!!
To the people who could not read the bottom of the article, and would rather ask what the hitting stats were. Here:
Bard batted .462 with six hits in 13 at-bats this spring.
Kottaras is hitting .286 with one home run in 14 at-bats this spring. He hit .243 with 22 home runs in 395 at-bats last year at Pawtucket.

Dear Teo,
I think you released the wrong guy. I think you should release Mr. Wakefield. He is 42? I think its time to think about the better good of the "team" then good old Tim. Tim has struggled the last 2 seasons with age related problems. He also takes up 2 roster spots. You need to be thinking about the future at catcher. Pleaese think about the big picture. I'd like to see Tim work with younger guys in the organization on throwing the kneckler ball, keep him in the organization, but not on the active 25 man roster. He is a great guy and had a great career, but he needs to know its time to go.

WANTED: Spring Training Catcher. Must be able to play 4 innings. 350k.

Send Inquiries to P.O. Box 1967, Yawkee Way, Boston MA 02134

Helloooo...he got cut because he has an arm like a rubber chicken.

Can we get updated on Youk's injury? Apparently he left Team USA to get an MRI on an ankle injury????

Everyone calm down. I have seen this panic attack before from Sox fans. In 2007, everyone freaked because the Sox didnt sign Loretta at 2nd and they were going with some rookie named Pedrioia...."Pedrioia cant hit, his swing is too big for a little guy, whats wrong with the front office...blah blah blah." Yeah, he had a killer year, ALCS and WS, ROY...then followed that with MVP. Kotteras has been chosen because Tito, Theo and the Ownership know what the F%*@ they are doing. 2 world series trophies in 4 years, only team in MLB that has 2 in the 21st century.....I am writing a prescription for a Chill Pill.....take it and call me after the sox win the 2009 WS.

do you guys really feel bad for a guy who made $350,000 for one month of work?!?! Bard will sign somewhere for a million dollars for the season. In this economy I would be happy to receive $350,000 for a month, hell, I'd take a mere $35,000 and still feel pretty frisky.

Everyone calm down. I have seen this panic attack before from Sox fans. In 2007, everyone freaked because the Sox didnt sign Loretta at 2nd and they were going with some rookie named Pedrioia...."Pedrioia cant hit, his swing is too big for a little guy, whats wrong with the front office...blah blah blah." Yeah, he had a killer year, ALCS and WS, ROY...then followed that with MVP. Kotteras has been chosen because Tito, Theo and the Ownership know what the F%*@ they are doing. 2 world series trophies in 4 years, only team in MLB that has 2 in the 21st century.....I am writing a prescription for a Chill Pill.....take it and call me after the sox win the 2009 WS.

Cripes! It’s apparent that many here don’t even bother to read the body of the story before posting. Let’s take it at face value. The Sox think Kottaras (5 years younger) has more upside and happens to be out of minor league options. I’m sure the search for the “catcher of the future” will continue. Nothing appears imminent, and there is no panic.
Bard wasn’t ripped off here. He signed the contract and knew the score. And he gets >280k for spring training. Not bad. And now he’s free to try and sign on with another club.
“Mike T”.... I wouldn’t use Manny as an example of “business is business”, or “looking out for #1". Most players actually live up to the contracts they willingly sign. And I don’t mind any player getting the best deal they can sign. But when you sign the deal, don’t cry about it afterward, live up to it. What Manny did was well beyond self interest. He was very well treated in Boston, both financially and by the supportive fans. He sh*t on the fans, and his teammates just to get 2 option years ( at a mere 20 million dollars each) removed from the contract he willingly signed, because he thought he could do better elsewhere. The contract Bard signed was tiered as many are. If he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t have signed it.( Note: I haven’t heard Bard crying about it, have you?)

After Theo's work this week, the team looks pretty solid to me:

1B: All set.
2B: All set.
SS: I might be wrong, but I'm suspecting Lugo will have a fire under his ass in spring training and will win the starting job. If not, the combination of Lowrie and Lugo should be OK, although the offensive output could be subpar.
3B: All set. Even if Lowell goes down, Youk and Lowrie can play 3B and Kotsay can play first.
IF Utility: Lowrie or Lugo, and Kotsay. That's OK. Lowrie and Kotsay are good defensively. No offensive dynamite here, though.
OF: Bay is solid, J. D. is solid when healthy, and Jacoby...not sure. Very good defense, excellent wheels...I can't tell if he'll ever hit.
OF Utility: Kotsay and Baldelli - OK. This is one of the better defensive outfields I've ever seen the Sox have in place.
C: When it's all said and done, Tek will be there, in a reduced role, with Bard picking up the slack. I'll be surprised if the Sox end up with Teagarden or Salty - I don't think Theo wants to let his young guns go...and I agree with him.
SP: Really, pretty well squared away - Beckett, Lester, Dice K, Wakefield, and Penny. (Sorry to the Wake-haters, but the guy is extremely valuable; he's cheap and he gives the team innings.) I'm not sure what Smoltz will have to offer: we'll see. I trust this rotation more than I would trust the Yanks rotation.
RP: All set.

The only glaring hole I see is a big, Manny-type bat behind Big Papi. But...you win baseball with pitching and defense, and the Sox are well squared away. And Lowell or Youk can probably bat behind Papi and protect him.

I don't see that, with regard to FA acquisition, Theo is any better or any worse than, say, Dan Duquette (who honestly should get a LOT of credit for that 2004 WS victory) but he deserves major kudos for his management of low-cost but slightly risky acquisitions and especially the development of talent. I agree with other posters who say that a non-WS season for 2009 with continued development of youth would be just fine. But, I think this team - if healthy - will play well and contend.

wake is a postseason disaster

The right answer is that Bard can't catch, or correctly can't throw a lick. The Padres gave up on him completely last year because of his rag arm and if the Sox had to make a choice, Dwayne at #77 got it right. They were going to lose Kotteras if he didn't make the club so they took a chance on the younger, cheaper guy.

And in the end
The Glove you Take is
Equal to the Glove
You Make.

1918-2003 - Zero Championships

2004-2008 - Two Championships

Hmnn. I guess it's just a coincidence that Theo and the ownership took over the team in 2003.

As for Ortiz, he should shut up. I love him, but he's done. He's over 30, hurt, fat and can't risk taking the steroids. And Youkilis hit AL pitching better than Manny last year, was third in the MVP voting, clutch as can be... should I go on?

What's the point of having Clay Bucholz rot in the minors? Why not trade him for a catcher?

I thought it was Red Sox policy to keep players that may need some sort of surgery or physical rehab that would sign a multi million dollar contract and not play for 3/4 of the season.

Who says Buchholz is going to rot in the minors, Jay? Right now, with Penny still throwing at minor leaguers, he's the #5 starter. And even if Penny gets it together and takes his spot in the rotation, Buchholz is first in line when someone gets hurt or needs a day off.

DOUGIE'S GOING DEEP TONIGHT.
Mirabelli's ready for his escort.