Truth & Rumors > MLB
Red Sox worried about '09 offensive slip
In the wake of the failed pursuit of Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox have indeed reached agreements with pitcher Brad Penny ($5 million guaranteed) and catcher Josh Bard ($1.7 million, non-guaranteed) on one-year contracts, at least partially addressing some of the team's lesser needs this offseason. The latter suggests the Sox still have every intention of re-signing Jason Varitek, but what is clear now is that they must prepare for the reality that they will have a less-potent offense in 2009, meaning that they will have to win with pitching and defense. As for the news that the Sox approached the Florida Marlins about Hanley Ramirez, it only magnifies just how costly the Teixeira fallout is. Ramirez isn't going anywhere after signing a six-year, $70 million extension that begins next year, meaning that the Marlins have him locked up at an average salary of $11.67 million over the next six years. Further, because Ramirez's annual salaries do not begin to explode until 2012 -- his base climbs to $15 million that season -- there is little or no reason for the Marlins to deal him before that time, at the earliest. So why did the Red Sox approach the Marlins? For the same reason they pursued Teixeira. They know their offense is going to slip in 2009. They know that shortstop, more than catcher, is the position where they can make the greatest offensive upgrade. And they know that they need a productive young hitter for the middle of their lineup after breaking up the tandem of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez that served as the nucleus for their entire roster for nearly six years. The more you examine the realities here, the more you cannot help but wonder why the Red Sox got to $170 million and stopped with Teixeira, leading to a scenario where the club was willing to offer prospects like Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury in a package for a young player with a $70 million contract.
David Ortiz, Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
More FanHouse Blogs
- UFC 106 Fight Card
- UFC 106 Results
- Stefanie Spielman Dies at Age 42
- Bears Shun NBC for Sunday Night Game
- Parisyan Pulls Out of UFC 106, Dana White Says Move is Career Ender
- Questions Surround ESPN's NBA Latino Power Rankings
- Steelers Fan Claims He Was Poisoned, Blinded in Chicago Bar
- Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade in Miami
- Chelios Fights Father Time for Last Shot
- Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young Award
Stub Hub
The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Agent: 'Extraordinary' interest in Bay
- Views
- 3851
- Comments
- 1887
-
2
Vikings to consider L.A. move?
- Views
- 55545
- Comments
- 1869
-
3
Mayo rebukes Bruschi's Belichick knock
- Views
- 39443
- Comments
- 240
-
4
Can Iverson lure LeBron to Knicks?
- Views
- 9040
- Comments
- 175
-
5
50 Cent's posse tussles with Marv Albert
- Views
- 61504
- Comments
- 126
Most Active Users
Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns
Message Boards
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
RIP, Stefanie Spielman
- Views
- 297
- Replies
- 14
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
Are college football coaches…
- Views
- 238
- Replies
- 47
-
NFL > Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben accepts Blame for loss…
- Views
- 180
- Replies
- 37
Blogs
-
Your Personal ESPN for the…
Week 10 Review: Monday Night Letdown
In front of a national audience on Monday Night Football, the Baltimore…
- Views
- 9463
- Comments
- 1
-
chris13mck's Blog
World Cup 2010 Qualifiers !!
Teams qualified for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa HOSTS:…
- Views
- 4001
- Comments
- 9
-
From Scrimmage
Why the BCS doesn't need Facebook or Twitter
On the heels of announcing Bill Hancock as Executive…
- Views
- 489
- Comments
- 2
Fantasy Plus
- Fantasy Clicks: Thursday Night Revelations
- Week 11 Projections
- John Rakowski: Snap, Crackle and Pop
- NFL Injury Report: Week 11
- RotoExperts: An Introduction to Fantasy Soccer
Blog Roll
Julie Henderson
Danica Patrick
Cheerleader of the Week
2010 World Cup: All 32 teams
SI Media Kits
|
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Add RSS headlines.
Copyright 2008 Time Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.
Comments (422) Add A Comment
Simply put....."sweet"!!
MC34
Total Comments (905)
everything i read said that if we had gotten hanely he would have played CF cuz we would have had to deal Ellsbury to get him.
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
Ha!!
1Chico
Total Comments (31336)
"In the wake of the failed pursuit of Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox have indeed reached agreements with pitcher Brad Penny ($5 million guaranteed) and catcher Josh Bard ($1.7 million, non-guaranteed) on one-year contracts, at least partially addressing some of the team's lesser needs this offseason".
Yeah, i also didnt win the lottery jackpot, but got my free McD meal...
AirJordan
Total Comments (542)
you mean they don't think that PUKE and PAPI can save the team this year???? hummmm isn't looking so smart now to get rid of you 1-2 punch with manny...
YANKEE'S will be back where we belong his year.... in the world series!!!
NYY25to13
Falcon, CO
Total Comments (776)
Wanna bet on that??
becca e.
Total Comments (35921)
Relax - the Sox in the end will be better ff without Tex. It would have disrupted Lowell's position, who has been an excellent player for Boston and tied up money that they maybe in a position to pay somebody really good like Senor Pujols or Miguel Cabrera.
Purnell
Millbrook , NY
Total Comments (105)
I love it! Keep Hanley, Florida, why would you trade and All Star for two half rate prospects?
Sean Connery
Pemberton, NJ
Total Comments (941)
cuz thats what the marlins do.
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
lowell's swing was made for the monster
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
I love Mikey... I hope he rehabs well. I would hate for him to get traded.
becca e.
Total Comments (35921)
Ya but Lowell may never be the same player again, seeing as how he now has the hip of a 60 year old man. This year will be a washout for the Sox and pretty much every other team that is not the Yankees.
herbs and spice
Ottawa, ON
Total Comments (313)
i just cant see that happening. i think getting tex is the only way that happens. theo pushed hard for him to sign back with the sox and he gave us a discount. there is a lot of mutual respect with him and the club. i wouldnt wanna see that ruined. esp someone as wise as lowell
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
ohh ye of little faith. lets keep our fingers crossed that u are innocrrect
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
I don't hink it's as bad as all this. The main difference will be that Manny is gone, and Papi will have to learn to be pitched to. Don't think he'll have much of a problem with that, especially since Bay has shown that his numbers can be in the same nieghborhood as Manny's. And it's a bit too early to be rolling out a wheelchaior for Lowell. The AL East will still be a highly competitive division in '09, and the Sox will be right in the thick of it until the end. That being said - Ruck the Fed Sox.
Atro Steals Yer Base
World Champs, NY
Total Comments (21701)
hahaha i was gonna say....half way thru that i thought you were a fake atro
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
Ain't nothin' like the real thing, Lally. Happy new year.
Atro Steals Yer Base
World Champs, NY
Total Comments (21701)
bosox fans shouldn't be too worried. pitching and defense is what wins and they definitely still have both. not to mention pedroia, papi, bay, lowell, youklis, drew........all studs. that ought to be good enough for 2nd place in the div. and wild card spot. HA!
Al_Cheese
Richmond, VA
Total Comments (1451)
you to buddy, you too
Lallybone
Ya Motha, PA
Total Comments (1759)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.